No, I do not want Christians to kill themselves.

But have you ever noticed that Jesus, Paul, Peter, nearly all of the early Christians, and most of the great Christians throughout history would be considered “suicidal”?

No, it is not that they were depressed about life, or were thinking of killing themselves.

Instead, they risked their lives to love and serve others. And when the threat of death reared its head before them, they rushed head-long into it.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus headed resolutely toward Jerusalem, knowing that He would be arrested and crucified. Paul also, was warned repeatedly against going to Jerusalem, but he went anyway. Peter and the other apostles faced imprisonment, torture, and even death in their task of taking Jesus to the ends of the earth.

They did not live safely. They took risks which would be described today as “having a death wish.”

Today, in the United States, we plan and prepare and try to do everything to keep ourselves and our children safe. But maybe it is we are are living suicidally, killing our spirits and our souls in an effort to avoid sickness, pain, and death.

So what are you going to risk? Life and limb, or your bank account and health?

When I was in Junior High, two of my friends, Seth and Andrew, used to get in little fights with each other. They really were best of friends, but Seth loved to bother Andrew, and Andrew loved to inflict pain on Seth. It was a great friendship.

One day, as they were going at each other at Andrew’s house, and I was sitting back watching the whole thing unfold, Andrew’s father walked in the room. Being the authority figure of the household, I thought for sure he was going to break them up. But he didn’t.

He simply walked on through the room, and on his way out, he called back over his shoulder, “Fight nicely, boys!”

I thought it was so funny. What about fighting can be nice?

But the truth is that in fighting, as in love, there are rules.

This is especially true when it comes to marriage. My wife and I never argue (cough, cough), but when we (don’t) fight, there are a few rules we try to follow which often helps us fight nicely. Recently, someone asked me for a copy of them, and I thought maybe I would make them available online for anyone else who could use them…for your friends.

[Read more…]

I hope you have enjoyed the introduction to one of my favorite theologians this past week. The prophetic voice in the music of Steve Taylor provided me with a foundation during the developmental years of my education. I introduced you to:

• Jesus is for Losers
• What is the Measure of Your Success?
• Cash Cow
• Sock Heaven
• Baby Doe
• Lifeboat
• Escher’s World

After his album “Squint” in 1993, which was the crowning achievement of his career, he vanished from the scene. I occasionally checked online to see what he was doing, and in 1994 I was able to meet him at a concert in Texas (I got to help him set up and take down the set). I eventually gave up hope that he would ever put out another album. But even though I gave up hope, I didn’t feel a lot better.

Then about four years ago, I was listening to Donald Miller speak at a conference, and he mentioned that some movie producer had approached him about making his book, Blue Like Jazz, into a movie. I remember thinking, “The producer better be crazy creative, because the book isn’t really a ‘movie book.'” I didn’t think much more about it.

Until about six months ago, when I stumbled upon the movie website Blue Like Jazz – the Movie, and discovered who the producer is: none other than Steve Taylor.

[Read more…]

Five girls were recently rescued from an India brothel, thanks in part to the work of the International Justice Mission. One of them was five years old. Another was ten, and was rescued from the brothel right at the time that her pimp was negotiating her sale for the very first time.

Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times reports:

Unicef has estimated that worldwide 1.8 million children enter the sex trade each year. Too many are in the United States, which should prosecute pimps much more aggressively, but the worst abuses take place in countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Cambodia.

So I set off with the I.J.M. investigator (who wants to remain anonymous for his own safety) into the alleys of the Sonagachi red-light district one evening, slipped into the brothel, and climbed to the third floor. And there were Chutki and three other girls in a room, a pimp hovering over them. Perceiving us as potential customers, he offered them to us.

We demurred but said we’d be back.

[Read more…]

Do you ever feel that this entire world is backwards and upside down? That’s because, according to Steve Taylor, we’re living in Escher’s World.

M. C. Escher has been my favorite artist since I was about eight years old when I first saw one of his drawings, and so was thrilled when Steve Taylor came out with his song, “Escher’s World.” Escher’s art and this song both encapsulate everything I think and feel about this world, and about life in general. Everything appears normal, but on closer inspection, up is down, down is out, out is in, stairways circle back to where you’ve been.

But thankfully, this is the way we are supposed to feel about this world. Things are not right. All is not as it should be. And as I pointed out in Steve Taylor’s songs about “Baby Doe” and “Lifeboat” evil is declared good and good as evil. This world is upside down! But, as Steve Taylor says here, the remake is on it’s way.

By the way, this piece is one of those performed while Steve Taylor was part of the band, Chagall Guevara, which is the “band” he mentions in “Sock Heaven.”

Lyrics:

Through the passing strange I fell,
To the wide-eyed opposite.
My agenda was hidden well,
Now I don’t know where I left it.

I woke up in Escher’s World today.
My mother said it was okay.

Up’s down, down is out, out is in.
Stairways circle back to where you’ve been.
Time falls, water crawls, are you listening?

Did you ever chase your tail
Through a maze of exit doors?
I have seen the light my braille.
I have blazed the road before us.

We’re walking in Escher’s World again,
Rise up you nimble-minded men.

Birds roar, lions soar, sheep are cruel,
Snails pace, papers chase, midgets rule,
Stuffed shirts, status hurts, we ain’t fooling.

Let the sequels have their day,
The remake’s on its way.

We’re living in Escher’s world it seems,
We’re wide awake within our dreams.

Socks hop, lemons drop, butter flies,
Tough wimps, sadoshrimps, mojos rise,
Pips squeak, widows peek, are you surprised?

Ah, living in Escher’s world.

We’re living in Escher’s world it seems,
We’re wide awake within our dreams.

Birds roar, lions soar, sheep are cruel,
Snails pace, papers chase, midgets rule,
Stuffed shirts, Ethel Mertz, we ain’t fooling.

Socks hop, lemons drop, butter flies,
Tough wimps, sadoshrimps, mojos rise,
Pips squeak, widows peek, are you surprised?

Up’s down, down is out, out is in.
Time falls, water crawls, are you listenin’?
Stairways circle back to where you’ve been.
Stairways circle back to where you’ve been.
Stairways circle back to where you’ve been.