I released my very first book, entitled blur: finding jesus in a fuzzy world as an eBook in late 2007, and I’m hoping to have it out in paper-and-ink form sometime in the first quarter of 2008.
This page was created in order to continue the dialogue that I hoped to start by writing blur. Now, I figure dialogues generally work better if you have someone to dialogue with, so this page gives us a venue to do just that! Leave your thoughts/questions/comments/complaints below, and maybe we can all leave just a bit more enlightened (or at least amused).
Feel free to post anything blur-related… other than typos you might find in the book. I’m sure there are still a few in there, and if you find any, please email me.
Thanks so much for reading and supporting my artistry!
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BLUR YET…
Click HERE (or the book cover above) to get your blur!
IF YOU’RE ON FACEBOOK…
Join my blur group here.
I’ll say something.
I love what you said about “christian words.” If we are going to use them, we should use them correctly. Honestly I understand sin better when people say what you’re doing is wrong, instead of you’re sinning.
Non-christians may be like this too. Instead of explaining that Jesus died for our sins, we could say Jesus died for everything we’ve done wrong.
Sometimes when I look around me at some who say they are christians I start to wonder. If they are saved, then why do they do some of the things they do. If you’re saved and going to say it and believe it, live it too.
And I totally agree about the American Church pg’s 25 and 26. The church I attend is similiar in nature in my opinion.
becky’s right (as are you josh, author of blur)…
i am wrestling with the idea that Jesus was ALWAYS embraced by the “sinners” and rejected by the “saints.” that is to say that the established, accepted church did not accept Jesus while those who were not really looking for God found Him-seemingly-by mistake.
i wonder how often this holds true in our day…
and one other thing: i have ALWAYS imagined Jesus as having an orange goatee and an afro… i’m sorry i never painted that picture for you josh, i’m sure it would have been helpful to your quest…
seriously though, great stuff. i’m especially fond of the chapter on art. beautiful stuff.
-m
Hey Becky, thanks for breaking the ice! Do you have a personal list of “christian” words that you don’t really know what they mean anymore? The more I think about it, the fewer christian words I actually find valuable, at least in the larger non-church context.
I almost think that it’s pure laziness that gets us into this mess; maybe we rely too much on our “stock” “christian” answers instead of actually taking the time to creatively and powerfully invoke some new vocabulary… good communication does take time. Thoughts?
Matt, are you saying that it might be easier for folks outside of the church construct to see what Jesus is actually about than for those on the “inside?”
And you know, I really wish you had told me about your Jesus visions… I would’ve had you go to counseling with me.
(But also, thanks for the compliment!)
i think perhaps the outsider is more ready, or perhaps better prepared. the traditional church has done so much to make so many feel as though God is a million miles away, speaking a language we don’t understand, and frankly, looking down on us. so, yes, far too often those who are raised in the traditional christian way are actually taught-albeit inadvertently-that they have Jesus without ever having Him, teaching them to live a lie.
Jesus calls us friends, brothers, one with Him. that’s huge: the unification of God and man… that’s definitely newsworthy and frankly the picture that the church should be painting.
in my opinion (i know, you’re as shocked as i am that i have an opinion) the people that are closest to God are the ones that have the ability to accept and relate to the non-christians of the world. those are the people-the less than godly-that Jesus spent the majority of His time with. Jesus’ entire purpose in coming into this world was to relate to people-all people-that are disconnected from God (which, by the way, constitutes ALL of humankind).
so, long story short, it is my firm belief that the further that a christian pushes themselves from the non-christians of their life the less they look like Jesus. without this quality churches are nothing more than country clubs.
(there is something to be said for sanctification-being set apart for God’s purpose-here: the classic idea of sanctification stipulates that one should separate from the “ungodly” influences in their lives, and certainly, if there are people in your life that simply drag you away from the cross, then yes, you should probably spend a little less time with them. but if sanctification serves the goal of preparation for God’s purpose, let’s remember that God’s purpose IS PEOPLE and the more we separate from them the more we are separated from God’s purpose, which, by definition, would separate us from God.)
so, in just a few brief words i think i managed to answer your question…
i hope.
-m
I don’t remember which words you had, so some may be the same…christian, sin, I surrender all, church…. I think it would be simpliar if we talked in regular words and let the christian words mean what they really mean.
I think another part of “Art” in church is having pictures on powerpoint with the songs. And some churches this may be moving backgrounds that fit the song, and lights.