#273 – Netflixing Jesus

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , on February 1, 2012 by scotthiga

I love Netflix and happily use the account of a friend with her permission. I’m able to watch movies I’ve never seen and, recently, I’ve been watching old episodes of 30 Rock which makes any day better. For all of its benefits, though, Netflix also ruins TV.

As I’ve been watching 30 Rock my wife, Alycia, has been watching Scrubs. She’s been working her way through the series and I just recently watched the finale with her. (The real finale at the end of season 8, not the one with the medical students in season 9). I loved Scrubs and began watching it regularly during the fourth season. I lived with those characters: J.D., Turk, Carla, Elliot, Dr. Cox and the Janitor for years.

Netflix, though, has turned a years’ long relationship into something that can take place over the course of a few weeks. Instead of walking with our favorite characters season after season we truncate that experience to the bare minimum and the least amount of time possible.

When we Netflix an entire series we miss out on the weekly conversations about a single episode. We miss out on the expectation for a new season. We miss out on the sadness that comes with a final season. We miss out on so much of what brings value to a television show all in the name of speed and expediency.

Sometimes we do the same to Jesus. Read more »

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#272 – Eating Alone

Posted in Uncategorized with tags on January 31, 2012 by scotthiga

I’m an introvert which means I am energized by being by myself. Being around large groups of people takes a lot of energy and is very taxing. As such, I never mind being alone.

Except when I’m eating at a restaurant.

I absolutely hate eating alone at a restaurant. Whenever I want to go out to lunch I always try to find a dining partner. As a pastor it’s not difficult to find someone with whom to have lunch.

Sometimes, though, I am forced to sit by myself and eat my lunch alone. In those instances we do have some options with how to pass our time. Read more »

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#271 – Dallas Willard

Posted in Uncategorized with tags on January 30, 2012 by scotthiga

I consider myself a pretty smart guy. I’m not like Spock smart but I feel like I could go toe-to-toe with Sulu or Chekov. My GPA from college and seminary might not accurately reflect my intelligence but I feel like I can grasp ideas and communicate them clearly.

I think I’m pretty smart until I sit down and read a book by Dallas Willard.

Dallas Willard is a philosophy professor at the University of Southern California as well as a Christian author. Most of his Christian writings focus on spiritual formation and what it really means to be like Jesus. He is intelligent, thoughtful and, through his writings, has pushed me to more passionately pursue Jesus.

He also makes me feel pretty dumb sometimes. Read more »

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#270 – The Sorcerer’s Stone: 1-5

Posted in Uncategorized with tags on January 27, 2012 by scotthiga

I’ve finally begun my journey into the world of Harry Potter. After reading the first five chapters of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone I’ve had some initial impressions. The books are well written and very engaging. I can see why people got caught up in the story and had a hard time putting the books down.

I’m happy I’ve begun eliminating the Harry Potter blind spot from my nerd repertoire. Here are some reflections from the first five chapters. Read more »

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#269 – Looking Back

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , on January 26, 2012 by scotthiga

Last night our youth group gathered for a night of worship with four other churches. In the sometimes competitive and territorial world of youth ministry, our five churches have managed to come together over the past three years for winter camp. This year, in preparation for camp, we all gathered to praise God, introduce the theme of camp and spend some time together.

It was a great night.

Part of what made it so great was the opportunity to do ministry again with some old friends. Two of the other youth pastors are guys with whom I did ministry in the past. We have so much history and so many stories of pranks pulled at camp, weeks spent in Mexico and time hanging out with students.

When sitting around and sharing stories it’s easy to get caught up in the nostalgia of the past. So much so, that it makes me long for days gone by more than the days to come. Read more »

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#268 – Job

Posted in Uncategorized with tags on January 25, 2012 by scotthiga

My Bible reading plan currently has me going through Job.

I feel like reading through Job is my Job Experience.

The first two chapters of Job are great because they’re filled with councils in heaven, Satan being shady and all the calamities that befall Job. After that action-packed beginning, though, Job becomes a poetry book of complaints, like the journal of an emo kid.

For 35 chapters Job goes back and forth with his three friends. Job complains to God and says that it would have been better had he never been born. Job’s friends confront Job and tell him to confess the sin for which he is being punished. Job stubbornly responds to his friends and assures them that he’s sinless.

Thirty. Five. Chapters.

I wrote that beginning a Bible reading plan in Genesis is a bad idea but Job would be much worse.

I’ve attempted to focus, though, while reading through Job and it has helped a little. There’s still a lot of complaining but, in the midst of that complaining, I have been learning about God’s goodness. Read more »

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#267 – Star Trek Catan

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , on January 24, 2012 by scotthiga

Star Trek Catan.

Have there ever been three words better suited for this blog?

Coming this March Star Trek Catan will take the settlers off of the island and into the stars. No longer content to mine ore, herd sheep, fell trees, harvest wheat and make bricks, players of Star Trek Catan will be able to fill their coffers with dilithium, tritanium, food, oxygen and water.

I could not be any more excited. Read more »

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#266 – Sex Talk

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , on January 23, 2012 by scotthiga

For the majority of my life Valentine’s Day was nothing more than a reminder that I didn’t have a significant other to buy flowers and take out to dinner. I didn’t mind that much but it is nice to know I’ll never have to spend another Valentine’s Day alone.

Other than the reminder of my singleness, when I was in high school Valentine’s Day also meant the beginning of our sex series at youth group. All four years while I was in high school, February meant that instead of talking about Jesus and his parables we would talk about sex and its consequences.

Now that I’m a youth pastor I know the importance of talking about sex with our students. We don’t always have our sex series in February but it is coming up. Read more »

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#265 – Harry Potter

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , on January 20, 2012 by scotthiga

As stated before, I’ve never read any of the Harry Potter books or seen any of the Harry Potter movies. I realize that it’s a giant blindspot in my nerd life and somewhat hurts my nerd cred, which is not nearly as cool as street cred. To rectify that situation, though, I’ve decided to finally read the Harry Potter books and I’d like you to join me.

I know a lot of you have probably already read all seven books numerous times. If that’s the case, then why not read them again and share your thoughts and reflections? Perhaps you’re like me and you’ve never gotten around to reading them. Well here’s your chance to participate in something of an online book club for Mr. Potter. And if you haven’t read them because you think they’re evil, please don’t hold it against me that I’m going to read them. Read more »

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#264 – Christian Movies

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , on January 19, 2012 by scotthiga

 

The J.J. Abrams sequel to Star Trek began filming this week. Even though nothing has leaked about the script or the plot, I am so excited. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for a movie beginning filming. In fact, I can’t think of a time when I even knew that a movie began filming.

When it comes down to it, I am far more excited about Star Trek 2 beginning it’s filming than I have been for the actual release of any recent Christian movie.

Fireproof? Didn’t see it.

Soul Surfer? Didn’t see it.

Courageous? Didn’t see it.

I have never had a desire to see any Christian movie. Not the direct-to-DVD movies or those with wider, theatrical releases. No matter how many people tell me that Soul Surfer is actually pretty good, I have made zero effort to see it or any movie like it. Read more »

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