Phase Out Notice

I am writing to all who frequent Interpreters House to let you know I will be phasing this blog out soon. I have been managing two blogs~this one as well as Mikespot~and now that Mikespot is up and running, it will replace IH.

And so, this my first blog will soon close. My plan is to figure out how to archive IH, after which I'll transfer some of it's content to Mikespot. I will then send a final phase out notice giving the date of close.

All the best.

Coffee, Art and Good Conversation

I frequent coffee shops~like Peet's or Starbuck's~almost as a past time. I find coffee shops are community cross roads, where people go for coffee, but for much more. At coffee shops people meet together for business~they talk~they network~they meet new people~and yes, they enjoy a good cup of coffee or some other specialty drink. At coffee shops, America comes together (someone should make that into a bumper sticker). That is why I was very encouraged after a visit to the Mars Hill Coffee House in Hollister, California.

The Mars Hill Coffee House was the brain child of a couple of friends of mine who are pastors in Hollister, California. One of these guys had the idea of opening, not a Christian coffee house per se but rather a coffee house run by Christians~people who follow Jesus~as a service to the community~where people could gather and where good conversation is encouraged, with the hope that in the mix, Jesus and spirituality could be discussed as it once was on Mars Hill in ancient Athens. And so, on Wednesday I drove down to Hollister to visit with one of my friends (who pastors of Hollister Christian Fellowship), and after a simple chinese lunch visited Mars Hill Coffee House. It was the highlight of my day.

As we entered, I was immediately struck by the warmth of the place. The decor invites to hang out. My friend Don, one of the guys who got this going, says the decor is kind of 1950's bohemian. He and some others designed the interior, all the way down to the paint scheme and floor tiles~and though I'm not up on 1950's bohemian, I was drawn in to their idea.

On the walls, art from various local artists hang, both for looks and for sale, while good music plays in the back ground. To one side is an area for bands and singers and the like; and there are tables of various heights with chairs as well as couches around coffee tables, all calling people to sit a chat, not to mention free wi-fi and really good coffee. The hope is that, as word spreads, this coffee house will become a gathering place where ideas are traded and people connect with people~and as this happens, connection will be made by many with Jesus who is called Christ.

Having visited Mars Hill, I was impressed in several ways. The atmosphere, the clientele, the coffee, the music, the art are all a draw for me; and the freedom to exchange ideas with others is very refreshing and attractive. But the idea behind this venture is perhaps the greatest attraction. The more I read the gospels and Acts the more I am convinced Jesus followers are called to be out in the highways and byways of life, engaging people, serving people, helping people in the name of Jesus~with or without sharing the gospel. Our master went about doing good, while many of us content ourselves with just going about. Mars Hill Coffee shop was envisioned, planned and launched as a way to go out and do good~to be in the highways and byways~for the sake of the Master~and the good of others.

With all this going for it Mars Hill Coffee House is a great place to be~and is a place I will find my way to, to study, to talk, to network, to serve~in Jesus name. If you are ever in Hollister, make it a point to visit too~and let me know how you liked it.

What does this picture remind you of?

When is the last time you were really, really hungry? Well, it really depends on how one defines "hungry". I was hungry today (wasn't I)? My stomach rumbled once letting me know it was time to eat~and because I don't like the feeling of discomfort I get whenever my stomach rumbles , I drank some water and ate because, well, I was hungry~wasn't I?

Along these lines I often hear friends, who have missed a meal, exclaim "Wow, I'm starving. I can't wait to get something to eat!" Of course, they are not really starving~they have only experienced mild hunger pangs. Words are used dramatically here in the west creating an imaginary sense of crisis. 

Can you imagine what life would be like if you were a boy like this one? If he says, "Wow, I'm starving" he speaks the truth. Do you think he would believe we ever felt hunger if he could see how much food we leave on our plates unfinished, only to be thrown away? Would he believe us if he heard us exclaim, "Wow, I'm starving"? 

What would I do if this was my son? What would Jesus do? More important, what would Jesus have me to do about situations like this one, repeated thousands of times over every day in our world? 

Pictures like this remind me how I have a Matthew 25: 31-39 responsibility which calls me to action, albeit in small ways. Pictures like this remind that this boy~a real boy~is really starving, while I have never really known hunger. Pictures like this remind me how here in the west, talk is cheap~and words are even cheaper~and it prompts me to change that, at least in some small way in my own sphere of influence. Does it do the same for you? 

For more insight into life in the developing world, check my latest post on mikespot titled 'Food for Thought'. Realize there was no pun intended !! 

Keeping Secret the Ultimate Cure

I was thinking this morning about the tragedy of Christians who don't share their faith through word and deed. The gospel of Jesus is, after all, the ultimate cure for personal evil, public evil, and national evil. And yet, many never pass the cure on to those who need it most~and often, no one ever even says how unjust and tragic this is. 

I mean, look at it this way. What would you think if a set of doctors really, truly, discovered the cure for cancer, but decided that, instead of sharing the secret with the world at large they instead chose to keep the cure for themselves, limiting its use only to people who were insiders to the medical community? We know if this happened, we would consider the act exceedingly unjust, narrow and even criminal, despite the fact that a cure for cancer would bring temporal blessing at best.

And yet, when as Christians we choose not to communicate the gospel in deed and word to people in the world around us, keeping it instead as a message given or heard inside the church and for the benefit primarily of Christians, we are, in essence, guilty of a more heinous crime, for the benefits of the gospel cure are not merely temporal but eternal for all those freed and delivered from evil by it.

I am convinced that this is what Jesus was alluding to when he said in Matthew 5: 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand and it gives light to the whole house. Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 

Part of following Jesus~of walking even as he walked~is surely allowing our light~the light of the gospel~to shine before men, in deed and word. To do so is simple obedience. To fail to do so seems tragic at best~while at worst, it is even criminal. 

Slumdog Millionaire

Recently, Rachel and I went to see the movie Slumdog Millionaire; and came away from it deeply moved, and even more committed to the plight of the poor in developing countries. Often, when one views a movie, what is seen is seen in its context-"Oh, this was ONLY a movie". With Slumdog, both she and I can attest that yes, this was a movie, but what is portrayed was actual and factual. In my view, it is a must see for everyone.

For some further insight into the content of the movie versus the reality, check out my latest post at Mikespot where I posted a review of the movie by an Indian national and pastor; and let me know what you think, after you have seen the movie. Grace and peace !!!

Presidents as Saviors

I find it interesting how so many people seem to view our new president, Barak H. Obama, as a sort of savior. During the run up to the elections, it was clear that many were looking to him as Princess Lea did in a galaxy far, far away when she pleaded, "Help me, Obi wan Kenobi, you're our only hope". If I was Mr. Obama, I don't think I would enjoy this sort of pressure...but I'm not a politician, nor a president; and he is not only a politician and a president, but a history making president, complete with wealthy supporters, overwhelming charisma and polished eloquence. He has a plan, after all; and so, many are looking to him with much hope. I hope he can produce. It would be a shame for the masses to be disappointed. This may happen though, because presidents and Caesars never make very good saviors. 

Around two thousand years ago, there was a man on trial for failing to conform to the expectations of the religious powers of the day, a man who had proclaimed himself the king from heaven. This man was clearly innocent of all charges brought against him. The religious authorities wanted his head, nonetheless, and so clamored for his death. The Roman procurator at the time knew the man was innocent and so tried to convince the crowds and the rulers of the man's innocence, even proclaiming, "I find no fault in this man". They responded, "Crucify him, crucify him." Making no headway, the religious leaders finally leveraged Pilate's political loyalty, proclaiming to the procurator, "If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar". At this, the procurator chose to have the innocent man crucified, but before turning him over to death, he cried to the crowd once more, "Shall I crucify your king?" The crowd responded strongly, "We have no king but Caesar", sealing the man's fate; and he died.

The crucified man was of course Jesus Christ, who claimed to be savior of the world, with miracles, signs and teaching to back up the claim. He later rose from the dead and has become the most influential man in history, being that he really is the savior of the world. The men who clamored for Jesus' death, on the other hand, finally died and were long ago forgotten. And the Caesar they chose over Jesus would later do the very thing they feared the most. He sent his armies to destroy their capital city and also took away their place and nation.

Caesars (and presidents) don't make very good saviors. They have a funny way of disappointing people, and sometimes even enslaving them. Jesus, who is called Christ, on the other hand, makes a great savior. He is good news to the poor, brings liberty to captives, opens the eyes of the blind, frees the oppressed, and brings in the Lord's favor. He did this while here. He has done this for two thousand years. He will continue to do so in the future. He is the savior and sets people truly free.

Mr. Obama on the other hand, isn't. He may promise liberty, but can he really provide it? At best, some may end up with more money in their pockets, or even with a job, but four years later, the rich will be still richer and the poor will still be poor. It is the way of history. Presidents, and Caesars, don't make good saviors. Politicians never do. But who really cares? After all, it was time for a change!