by Dicky G

Most people don't realize that, contrary to what the plethora of bowed heads pre and post-athletic events might lead you to believe, God does not intervene in games with finite outcomes. Games with infinite outcomes? That's a different story. God does, however, like to kick the metaphorical Divine feet up and watch a little B-ball. And while it is true that God does not embody nor favor a particular gender, it turns out, God is a BIG fan of Dick Vitale. (I know – go figure). Not only that, God tends to speak about competitions in the voice of Dicky V. When this happens, God goes by the name of “Dicky G,” proving that while infinite in power and compassion, God's sense of humor is somewhat more limited that most of us had imagined.

That said, God has decided to step in and prognosticate about the outcome of a particular finite game that's chocked full of good humor – The American Jesus Brackets. In God's divine sense of fairness, God has also stepped back into our limited linear understanding of time in order to be made unaware of the actual outcomes - a point which will become abundantly apparent once Dicky G's picks are compared with the actual outcomes.

(Editor's note: I've been asked to remind you to read this in the voice of Dick Vitale. It would seem that being Divine doesn't necessarily mean you are completely confident about your ability to impersonate a well known personality like Dicky V).

Tim Tebow vs. Ray Lewis

Yeah, baaa-by. THIS is the kinda' match-up I like to see. Real PTPers bringing their whole bag of tricks to the game. Tebow is is the reigning champ in the house and you just KNOW he wants to keep the trophy on his mantel – but he's squaring off with a guy who's not only PLAYED in Super Bowls (keep on prayin' Tebow, I hear ya!), but has WON a Super Bowl. You just KNOW this one is going down to the buzzer. I'm calling it though – Lewis is DOA... Tebow takes a win.

#RickWarrenTips vs. Mark Driscoll Tweets

You KNOW I love seeing Twitter accounts in the Big Game! 140 characters of Godly goodness coming atcha! (So what if it's not always Godly more or less good – it's primetime entertainment)! And while #RickWarrenTips “can't explain all the reasons,” Dicky G sure can! You better believe it BABY! RickDub is going down, down, down the drain. He just can't take the masculine heat that Mark the D is bringing!

Scot McKnight vs. Albert Mohler

Look at me I'm Dicky G! (For my Old School followers that's, “הנה or hinneh”). And I'm about to do a new thing. It's my thing. That's what I do! And that's why Mohler's got no shot at pulling off a big W here. He doesn't have eyes to see it – and more importantly he keeps spouting off at the mouth saying I can't do it. The new thing I'm doing in the church is here to stay – we're rockin' and a rollin' it! McKnight's got it going on. He's visionary – even feels me on the science thing, baby! It's a cake walk for McKinght and who doesn't like cake?

Pope Benedict XVI vs. The Next Pope

I'm gonna' make it easy for you one this one. Prada shoes or a church for the poor? Man, if you can't see this one, I need to send my son to spit in some mud to rub in your eyes! Can I hear you say, “Next Pope for Pope!”? You know it!

Mark Driscoll vs. Christian Humility

Oh, no! I can't even believed it happened. My head's all-a-spining-back-and-forth! Driscoll in twice? And his REAL matchup is against Humility? Irony of ironies. What a raw deal for Humility who's really too humble to win. Driscoll gets a freebie on this one - people! But I see a matchup for the ages coming for him just a couple of rounds away.

Joel Osteen’s Smile vs. Joel Osteen’s Mullett

<cue the music> “He's bringing sexy back. Them other pastors don't know how to act.” I might have given him the smile, but he grew the mullet – all business sexy in the front and party sexy in the back. His hair brackets out what society says is good and decent and moral and upright and okay, and it just does it's thing! The mullet takes it to the bridge, baby!

History Channel’s ‘The Bible’ vs. ‘DJesus Uncrossed’

I'm absolutely shocked – socked I tell ya'! It's hard to believe that something this funny AND so clearly historically incorrect at the same time could have been taken seriously enough to make it to the Big Dance! But there it is! On those grounds alone, I gotta' go with it's competition – just gotta'. Djesus wins.

Mark Sandlin vs. Justin Lee

This is a matchup made in Heaven! Two guys totin' Wake Forest credentials who just totally get me. It's love baby! Love! They both are doing the day-in, day-out, sweat-of-the-brow hard work to “set my people free” - busting down closet doors and making it biblical baby! Either one of these guys would be my dark horse of the tourney. The one to watch, though, is Sandlin. He's not just a TPTer, he's a triple threat! He’s awesome, baby, with a capital “A” and Dicky V sees him being the Cinderella story this year. I've got your glass slipper Sandlin, come and get it!

Rachel Held Evans vs. Biblical Womanhood

Jesus? Came back from the dead. Lazarus too. But a zombie Biblical Womanhood? Some dead things should just stay that way. Besides, RHE is a Diaper Dandy! She showed us last year that, even more than Coke is, she's the real thing baby! This. Could. Be. Her. Year!

Peter Enns vs. Ken Ham

<Dicky G, no longer in a Dicky V voice, but in the voice of God> (which, by the way, is an impeccable imitation of God). The Bible is not a science book. <back to the Dicky G voice> Case closed! We have a winner! Enns takes a figurative win!

Hobby Lobby vs. Chick-Fil-A

I just hafta' say, these two know sin! I mean they are scrappy. Have you seen the way they go after homosexuality? I know Reformed folk say “sin boldly,” but this is taking it just way too far. What part of “love your neighbor” didn't they understand? In the end, breaded and deep fried always wins, particularly when it comes to sinful things. Chick-fil-A by a beak.

Rob Bell’s New Tan vs. Rob Bell’s Missing Glasses

It isn't natural I tell you. It. Just. Is. Not. Natural. Which one? Either. That is a spray on tan – from my lips to my ears – spray on. And Bell needs glasses the way American Jesus needs surfer dude hair and blue eyes. There's no denyin' Bell's got talents. He's a real contender! Has been for years. He's on fire! Somebody call the Fire Chief to put it out. H-O-T. Hot, hot, hot. And nothing's hotter that Bell in geeky glasses. Dicky G says the glasses are making a comeback!

The Gospel Coalition vs. Homebrewed Christianity

It's tha' thrilla' in vanilla. An epic battle of podcast proportions - baby! A lot folks don't know it but ol' Ben Franklin was actually talking about wine when he said it was proof that there is a God. I'm bringing the liquid bread back! Liquid gold for the soul. I'm here to tell you beer is proof that I love you! Drink 'em if you've got 'em and give a toast the the champs for this round: Hombrewed Christianity.

Ann Voskamp vs. Tim Challies

It's the AMERICAN Jesus Madness, not the CANADIAN Jesus Madness. And yet, there's Tim Challies – a minister in CANADA. That is just rich, people! How can you not love it? Tim! Tim! Tim!

John Piper vs. Christian Decency

“In the name of all that is Good and Decent!” That's right – baby! Capital “G.” Captial “D.” Who do you think coined that phrase? That's right! Me! The Big “G.” Sure the capitalization has since been lost, but the fact remains that Decency is the Glue Guy in this game – it may not be the star, but it sure helps you get in the winner's circle. IT holds EVERYTHING in the game together. If you are looking for a mid-range sleeper, let me spell it out for ya' – d-e-c-e-n-c-y.

Tony Jones vs. Stephanie Drury

A lot of people seem to think this one is over before it starts. It's over? No, it's not over! It's not a closed case. Sure, ol' Jonesy-boy's been around for awhile and sure he's got a name that looks good up in lights, but I'm tellin' ya', Drury's got talent. She single handedly put stuff Christian culture likes on the map. When you look at her numbers you just gotta' believe this is a dangerous team. I can't go with with convention, I gotta' go with conviction. Drury takes it in a surprisingly easy win.

There you have it folks my elevator teams of the first round. They've all got a chance to take it to the top. This round's PTPers – baby! Until next time, this is Dicky G saying, “it's nothing but net when you've got me on your side... and I'm on everybody's side – just ask them.”

 

by Zac Bailes

They've done what so many say can't be done. Reverend Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani transformed a slowly dying all-white congregation into a diverse community full of the least of these. Chronicled in the pages of "Beyond the Possible" is a voice that stands out against the cynical voices so often heard when people herald change. Cecil and Janice evoke the deeper hopes of change and transformation the bellows deep within the Christian tradition.

After all, Warren Buffett, Desmond Tutu, Maya Angelou, and Bono all endorse their work. It's hard to come by that diverse of an endorsement. Yet what makes their story so provocative is the endorsement of a changed community. It's not the words of famous and respected people that make this community stand out, it's the transformation that the community has made. 

At the heart of "Beyond the Possible" is the ethic of the beloved community. We've heard about it from Dr. King, but seldom do we see it lived out. It's difficult. It challenges our histories, privilege, and desires. In our fast-food society, too often we resist communal transformation because it takes time—and, no, not time for people to die off. It takes time to transform how communities view themselves. It takes time to help communities grapple with their history. It takes time to draw deeper into each other. 

It also takes love.

As one journeys through "Beyond the Possible" they will find themselves challenged and provoked. It's as though one reads a contemporary gospel. No, Cecil and Janice aren't messianic. They are, however, living into a love like grace under pressure. They are helping communities see the Jesus in each other. 

Anyone reading this work shouldn't expect a step-by-step model. In the stories, the challenges, and the hopes people will see that all communities are capable of radical transformation. The question is, how do we continue to live into unconditional love? What does that look like? Cecil and Janice demonstrate it well. There's too many words to share on this, but I will leave you with one quote from Cecil, one that gracefully haunts me:

"We don't expect any particular outcome, and we don't judge them for being in the food lines in the first place. We're in for the long haul. We persist in accepting them and loving them without condition because their humanity is our humanity."

This review was published as part of the TLC Book Tours. You can read more about it here. 

"The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it."
                          ~ John 1:5

"Light in the Darkness"
words:  Tommy Brown & Bryan McFarland
music:  Bryan McFarland
© 2012 sasssafrasongs


In a fine little village along the seashore
Jonathan, Timothy and their wives
Though beside one another deep grudges they bore
"It's your fault!" - "Watch your mouth!" - "That is mine!"
Now their wives barely patient were the closest of friends
Seeking only some peace for the Yule
"We live near one another - you two must make amends!
Be at peace not at odds - you old fools!"
Yet when John shoveled snow on Tim's land that next day -
Came a fight...  Find the priest...  Father Glen...

Now to Glen the two wives their sad story they spun
Of their men and their hopes and their fate
And in silence Glen mused - knowing peace is hard won
He sat a while, pulled his beard, scratched his pate.
Father Glen said, “On Christmas Eve here at my barn
We will put on a contest for three.
Equal parts of the barn given to each of us -
Fill your part with whatever you see.
Then by dusk we will know if my garden you’ve won.
But, if I win: promise then... be true friends."

So in the fine little village along the seashore
Jonathan, Timothy - running 'round
Bales of hay, sacks of grain in the barn they did store
Fill it up... to the roof...  all they found...
All day long Father Glen did not even appear
But then just as the darkness was on
In his hand but a candle and a smile ear to ear
On his lips were the words of St. John

He knelt down, lit the candle & the light filled the barn.
From the crowd came a cheer.  He had won!
In the darkness the Light of the Christ overcomes
Shaking hands.  Best of friends.  From now on.
In our darkness the Light of Christ still overcomes
Peace on earth.  Hold the Light.  Let it shine.
Peace on earth.  Share the Light.  Let it shine.