A Living Alternative

As most of you know, Saint Francis of Assisi is well known for his love for nature- preaching to birds, reconciling wolves, etc. In honour of his love for Creation, I have added a new pet to the blog. This small tree frog is named Francis, of course. He has a permanent home on the side bar, so feel free to play with him. He loves to eat flies which you can feed him by clicking on the image.


Have a great weekend!

Known to millions as the masterful author of the dark "Vampire Chronicles", novelist Anne Rice surprised many when she returned to Christianity after 15 years as a self-identified athiest. Since that time, Rice has dedicated her life and craft entirely to the Lord, clearly stating that she would not return to the darker themes of her earlier works. True to this commitment, she hs now published two books in a series that follows the life of Christ. Both books - "Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt" and "Christ The Lord: Road to Cana"- are written from the first-person perspective of Christ Himself, with more volumes promised for the future.

Since publication, the books have been received very favourably. While Rice's return to faith was to the Roman Catholic Church of her youth, she has touched readers from various Christian traditions, as well as those from other religious backgrounds. Presenting these stories as works of Christian art, she held herself to a high standard of both literary and theological integrity in writing these books, leading her through an impressively staggering amount of source material (which she presents in the afterward of "Out of Egypt").

Anne was kind enough to spend some time chatting with me about the books, her faith and Christian art.


Jamie: The challenge of writing the life of Jesus in novel form (and in first person no less) obvious must come with many significant challenges. What were the biggest challenges you faced in the process of writing these books? Were you concerned about getting Jesus "wrong"? How did you respond to these challenges?

Anne: To get Jesus right in novel form was the essence of the challenge. I'm an orthodox believer. For me the Gospels are truth and Jesus in my novels has to be conform completely to the Jesus of the Gospels. I prayed, wept, studied, read, and wrote, struggling all the time with the fear that I wouldn't meet my own expectations. I sought to depict the Lord as Human and Divine, yet putting aside his Infinite Knowledge in order to live with us as a human being.

I think my vocation is to focus on the Humanity of the Divine Christ and to try to depict a probable life for him in First Century Galilee and Judea. This is a difficult theological task. But the gospels do give us overwhelming evidence that Jesus could be surprised, He could marvel, He could pray for the cup to be passed, He would weep, and He could be angry. And of course in Luke He grew in wisdom. So we have here strong evidence that He allowed Himself to experience this world as a human for our sake.

This is what I sought to describe in fiction: the pressures, the alienation, the difficulties Our Lord might have faced as a Jewish man who would not marry and who was sinless.

Jamie: In telling the life of Jesus, were there any stories that you wanted to include, but ultimately were cut in the editing process or due to length? If so, could you share an example?

Anne: No, there are no stories that were cut. I did at one time imagine some stories for Jesus as an adolescent, but the Bible really gives us nothing on this so I soon moved away from the idea. I went from His childhood in the first book to His last year in Nazareth in the second book. I felt I could capture what the intervening time might have been like --- a long period of waiting for the fulfillment of prophesies made at His birth.

Jamie: Jesus' mother, Mary, has always been a significant figure in the faith, especially for Roman Catholics and increasingly today with Protestants. You capture her so well in both books. What has Mary meant to you in your faith and in writing these books?

Anne: In my personal faith, Mary means a great deal to me. As a Catholic, I've never worshipped her. We venerate her as the Mother of God, and as The Immaculate Conception. Each week I go to her shrine in the church and talk with her, and pray to her and ask for her intercession. I find our 2,000 year old tradition of art pertaining to the Mother of God to be infinitely inspiring.

In the novels, clearly, I imagine life being difficult for a Galilean girl who insists she has been visited by an angel. And I imagine Mary as obedient, gentle, and totally loving when it comes to Her Divine Son, her "husband," Joseph, and the rest of the family.

Saying the rosary is a favorite devotion of mine, and meditating on the mysteries as I recite the prayers has had a definite influence on my writing. Ideas have come to me during this meditation that went right into the novels. The Rosary is a marvelous combination of elements. I've given rosaries to a Jewish friend and to Protestant friends and they take comfort in reciting it.

Jamie: The story of the nativity is one of the most widely known stories about Jesus, but it is often treated with over sentimentality. Beyond the beautiful telling in "Out of Egypt", ave you ever considered writing the nativity story from Mary's perspective?

Anne: I haven't really considered writing the Nativity scene from Mary's perspective, because in a way I've already done it in Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt. Mary is the one who finally tells the Child Jesus all about Christmas and what happened. In the second book of the series she tells him a little more of the prophecy she heard when He was taken to the Temple. ---- I think Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt does tell the Christmas story in a way that has never been done before, from the point of view of those who were there, including Jesus' older brother James, the son of Joseph by an earlier wife. (The Eastern Orthodox have always held that James was Joseph's son, and I followed that tradition with him.). I hope some day that this novel will be republished with Christmas art, as I do think that it is about Christmas.

Jamie: Which characters did you most identify with in the writing of the "Christ The Lord" books? Why?

Anne: Which characters did I most identify with? Well, of course I drew as close to the Lord Himself as I possibly could. I think I was attempting to meditate on Him, identify with His suffering, and with His difficulties in the human world, and for me He is the character most cherished, loved, and well developed in the two novels.

Jamie: Engaging the person, life and teachings of Jesus in the narrative form of a novel offers a refreshing and exciting look into Scripture. In your research for this book, did you come across any other novelized treatments of Jesus' life that you felt were worth noting?

Anne: Other novels on Jesus? I looked at them but I did not find them inspiring or helpful. I was very disappointed in Norman Mailer's "first person" treatment of the Lord, and I only glanced at The Greatest Story Ever Told. Some Christian novels did inspire me, and I would have to say that Ben Hur was the most inspiring but it is not the life of Our Lord. It was an immense achievement for Lew Wallace, its unique author, and what so touched me was that Wallace wrote a novel that would bring Christians and Jews together. I strive to write a fiction that Jews will respect and I think that we must understand Jesus as a Jew in His milieu and this means not villifying the entire Jewish nation when we write about Jesus.

Jamie: While your books are widely read throughout the world, being a writer in the US, what has been your experience with the response of American Christians to these new books about Jesus? Given how some Christians use Jesus as something of a blunt object in politics, what do you most hope they will discover about Christ in your books?

Anne: So far Catholics and Protestants have embraced these books. I'm humbled and grateful. I expected dismissal the first time around and I was amazed. People are hungry for true Christian art, that is, creative work in novels and films that depicts the Jesus in whom they believe. I think they found this in my novels, and again, I am humbly grateful.

The question of Christians and politics in America is a hot one right now. One thing I sought to emphasize is that Jesus was not the warlike Davidic Messiah. He came to be the Suffering Servant. My novels will continue to focus on this choice on His part.

Jamie: Christian fiction has not always had the reputation of being high quality (in the last several decades, at least), often stumbling into shallow moralizing through mediocre writing. Your books set the bar much higher (for which I am very grateful). What advice would you give to fiction writers who want to write about issue of faith?

Anne: My advice to anyone working with Christian material is, of course, Make it as good as you can make it. Being a Christian is no excuse for making mediocre or sentimental art. We don't need another mediocre book on any subject. Mel Gibson's audience revealed that people wanted high production values in a Christian film as well as immense faith and devotion reflected in the film.

We Catholics are blessed with a long vibrant artistic tradition. Some of our Protestant brothers and sisters are still influenced by a Puritan background that causes them to be suspicious of all art. I think we Catholics can offer a new approach, and some risk taking in novels and films.

Excellence has to be the standard. The greatest paintings we have of Christ are indeed great paintings. The greatest music- by Bach, Vivaldi, others- is indeed great music. We novelists must strive to write great novels. It's insulting to Christians to offer them sentimental, shallow art and think they ought to go for it because it's Christian. And I do think that is happening in some areas. We can't let that happen. We need to offer Our Lord all that we can offer Him, and our art should be the very best we can do.

Jamie: You have said that you are now writing only for the Lord. While these current novels obviously consume most of your time and attention, have you considered any possibilities for future works beyond them?

Anne: These novels do consume my present time, but I hope, if I live long enough, to write about the early years of Christianity. As a child, I was very inspired by the films Quo Vadis and The Robe about the early Christians in Rome. I'd love to take a crack at that period. I'm particularly interested in writing about Peter in Rome and his relationship with John Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark from Peter's recollections. I'd love to do a fresh, realistic and action packed novel set in this time.

I think each generation has to approach the old stories in a new way. In those older films, the pagans have all the fun. I couldn't help but notice that even when I was a child. I'd like to treat the material in a different way. I've already started in my Christ the Lord novels, with, say, the description of the marriage feast at Cana as a big, lush, celebration. I want to describe the life of the early Christians as vibrant and exuberant. The old movies had the Christians walking around in a daze a lot of the time. Epiphanies were done with music and lighting, and silent faces. I'd like to go for something far more "realistic" about life day in and day out for the Christian community. I think their enthusiasm was as great as their serenity.

Jamie: From your years of living outside of the church, especially given the genres you most commonly wrote, I am sure you have faced your fair share of "critique" at the hands of Christians. what advice can you give Christians about how we can better love our neighbours outside the church?

Anne: Loving our neighbors and our enemies is the core of the Sermon on the Mount, the core of Christianity and I think we have to approach our critics, both Christian and atheist, with immense patience. We have to demonstrate that we are Christians by being people who know how to love. Love trumps judgment. Our Lord will do the judging. Satan does the accusing.

We have to regain our credibility as people who know how to love in the name of the Lord. And some times our worst test comes from another Christian. Again, we must forgive, and love, and reach out to all. I think many people despise us because they don't think we follow the commands of our founder. They don't think we love others. This is tragic. To love all is one of the hardest things we have to learn how to do. And we must never give up trying. Christ's most radical demand is that we love all in His name.

Jamie: Thank you so much, Anne.

Anne Rice Interview Christ The Lord Road To Cana Out Of Egypt Jesus Christianity Art

With Easter weekend behind us, those of us here at YWAM Urban Ministries Winnipeg enter into the busiest week so far this year. We will be hosting several youth groups on short-term service and training in Winnipeg, meaning that I will be spend most of my spare time at the bookstore. Keep us in prayer as it is a very full and demanding time. Short-term missions can be very effective if handled well, which I believe we do. Again, your prayers are welcomed.

I am also excited to be posting my interview with Anne Rice later this week, so stay tuned. Anne has been incredibly gracious and helpful. I know you will all really appreciate what she has to share with us all. For those who haven't read my review of her recent book, "Christ the Lord: Road to Cana", you can find it here.

On March 19th, while paying a visit to the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announced his faith in Christ.

"St Francis is, for me, the alter Christus, the other Christ," said Mr Gorbachev. "His story fascinates me and has played a fundamental role in my life," he added. (source)

I look forward to hearing more of the story of Gorbachev's faith journey, as it clear much of it has remained (by necessity) hidden. I am not surprised that St. Francis has played such a central role in cutting deep into his soul. Like myself, the former (and last) communist leader of Russia is pursuing research and study into the life and teachings of this amazing saint. I hope his discoveries are as much to him as mine have been to me.

Saint Francis Mikhail Gorbachev

The following video is posted here more for the music than the images. The Passion is sung by the hauntingly beautiful voice of Lebanese singer Fairouz. Take a quiet moment to listen to the music and consider the Good Lord whom we celebrate on this Good Friday.

In later 2005 I picked up the new hardcopy novel "Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt" by Anne Rice while heading to Vancouver for a week. Having always found Rice a brilliant storyteller and unrivalled historical researcher, I was intrigued that she had decided to take on the life of Jesus in her next projects (first person from Christ's perspective, no less). As my review of that book demonstrates, I was not disappointed. As a prolific reader, I rarely find time to reread books, this one has already brought me back more than once.

Needless to say, I was thrilled when I saw that the next installment in the series had hit shelves. Where the first book introduced us to Jesus as a child, returning home after years in Egypt, the second book "Christ The Lord: Road To Cana" picks up the story in the droughted winter prior to Jesus baptism by John. Moving towards His first miracle in Cana (as the title suggests), Rice uses this novel to set the stage for Jesus' coming ministry and ultimately journey to the cross.

In a daring, but powerful exploration of Christ's humanity, the story begins with Jesus' wrestling with His feelings from a beautiful woman (whom it is expected He will marry) that He knows can never come to fruition. While stories of His birth set Him apart as different, people are uneasy with a man Jesus age remaining unmarried. The unjust stoning of suspected homosexual youth in Nazareth hint at the uncertainty some feel towards Jesus. Even His family do not understand, but ultimately stand by Him.

The story continues, powerfully retelling the events of Jesus baptism, His temptation in the wilderness and calling of His disciples. Rice choose to also include, prior to the wedding in Cana, Christ's exorcizing of Mary Magdalene's demons. While the timing of this miracle detracted something from the later miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding, I believe it is easily overlooked, fitting well nonetheless. The book finishes, as it promises, in Cana, where we are ushered into the extravegant wedding rites to Jesus day. After transforming the water into wine, seen by a small number of family and followers, Jesus leads His disciples to the road on a journey towards Jerusalem.

Some critics of the first novel felt that the story was bogged down in too much historical and cultural details, an assertion I disagree with. Those details brought the world of Christ (and ultimately the Gospel as well) to vivid life for me. While the second book lacked these details (for which I was slightly disappointed), where it shone the brightest was in the development of the emotional realities the Jesus and those around Him might have felt. Jesus was fully divine, but He was also fully human, a fact clearly seen in this novel. Did it come at the expense of His divinity? I do not think so, trusting that Rice will explore that aspect more thoroughly in later volumes.

Whenever a novel about Christ is written, especially one which attempts the first person perspective of Jesus Himself, there are bound to be challenges. Inevitably creative license, personal beliefs and biases and other factors will colour the story. These novels are no exception, with aspects that will leave some Christians frustrated with the liberties taken.

That being said, Anne Rice presents a remarkably orthodox perspective through the unique lens of narrative fiction. She does not claim her works to be "Gospel", admitting that every write does (and must) bring themselves to the story. These books should not be read as a replacement for the Bible, but can serve to creatively challenge our limited and biased expectations of who Jesus was (is) and how He lived. In this way, these books are a gift to readers, serving almost as icons to a deeper understanding of Christ the Lord.

For myself, both books were easily worth the full hardcover price. Surprisingly, they made me hungry for Scripture like I haven't been for some time, drinking in the Gospels with fresh and new understanding. I highly recommend both books to be read carefully and with discernment, but with enjoyment as well.

On an exciting sidenote, Anne Rice has agreed to do an interview with me, which will be posted here in the coming weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Anne Rice Book Review Christ The Lord Road To Cana Out Of Egypt Jesus Christianity

As someone who can easily get lost in my own ideas and imagination, it dawns on me from time to time that I forget to talk the things that are most important to me. As I try to overcome this failing, I am thankful that object of that too often unpraised affection is filled with a patience and grace and love that I hardly deserve. I am ever humbled and grateful to have as my dearest friend, companion and lover the woman I call my wife, Kim.

The red haired beauty from the land Down Under gave up so much to follow God's call to the poorest streets world's coldest city. She is the epitome of leadership at it's very best, leading alongside by example, empathy and encouragement. She longs for excellence, not by the standards of worldly efficiency and domination, but as a reflection of her passionate devotion to the God she so clearly loves and serves. She has given up so much for God and others, not out of some self-flagellating piety, but rather out of genuine and generous conviction.

She is at the same time a warrior and a lover. No damsel in distress, she won't put up with injustice, big or small. And yet, she carries in her chest a heart so tender and sensitive that feels deeply the pain of those around her. She loves me fiercely and sweetly, as often my knight in shining armour as I am hers. And I love her with a painful intensity.

I have no illusions about her, knowing her faults better than most. However, it is even here that my love finds rich soil to flourish. The flame that burns inside her when we fight is the same fire that fuels her passion. Her stubborn refusal to give in is a frustrating gift to my own arrogant pride. Truly steel sharpening steel, it is in conflict that our love finds strength and refinement.

I am not given to poetic outbursts (nor any good at them when they emerge), but I cannot understate how deep and wide and long and true my love is for my bride.

I love you Kim.

Over the last few months, our ministry (YWAM Urban Ministries Winnipeg) has been in dialogue with a denomination to partner with them in the planting of a new church in our inner city neighbourhood. As we were still in conversation about possibilities, I kept many of the details under wraps. However, we are now at a place in this journey where both groups are confident that we are going ahead with this exciting partnership, therefore allowing me to share with you more details.

Last year, my good friend Norm Voth, Director of Evangelism and Service Ministries for Mennonite Church Manitoba, approach Kim & I about the possibility of partnering with us (YWAM) in forming a new missional church plant in the heart of our community. While we had always dreamed of the possibility of seeing a new church plant emerge from our life and ministry in the area, we were particularly encouraged at the potential to partner. Norm is a guy I have come to deeply respect for his passion, wisdom and vision. He is also someone I am happy to count as a friend. This dynamic played a big part in our openness to the possibilities.

As part of his role for the MC Manitoba, Norm is responsible to see new church plants happen. He plays an important part in identifying potential church plants, developing resources and working with the developing congregations. Through relationship with us and his excitement about our new missional thid place, The Dusty Cover, Norm felt the partnership would be a good one. While YWAM is not denominationally oriented, our local expression resonates deeply with many of the values and practices of the Mennonite Church and Anabaptist tradition.

Our vision is to see a locally rooted group of missional-minded Christians who will make the choice to orient the rhythmes of their lives, not only with each other, but with the neighbourhood we are called to love and serve. To this end, we hope to intentionally resist becoming a commuter congregation, looking rather to see it as a church by, for and with the local community. To that end, our desire would be that the most significant portion of our church community would be from the neighbourhood. Few things could make me happier than seeing those outside our area who wish to be a part our new community choose to relocate their lives to the neighbourhood to missionally align with our vision. However, it is the local residents where our primary commitment is focused.

Our hope is to meet for worship in The Dusty Cover as an intentional resistence to identifying with any place or building as "our church". This will offer three promising dynamics- first, it will challenge us to live our lives in the open to the neighbourhood; second, it will encourage us to practice the discipline of hospitality in our homes; third, it will link us to a place (the bookstore) of missional engagement with the community. We vision would be that the bookstore as a missional third place might grow alongside our growth as a missional community.

We are under no illusions that this will be easy. I have already had several sleepless nights considering what we are getting ourselves into. While Kim & I have essentially been pastoring a small community for several years, it is more akin to leading a monastic/mendicant order than a more "traditional congregation". We also know that partnering brings it's own challenges.

However, we are excited and confident about the future. We will keep you all posted. If there are any in Winnipeg who are interested in being a part of this new vision, please drop me a line.

Missional Missional Community Christianity Mennonite Church Manitoba Mennonite Church Planting Jesus YWAM Youth With A Mission

For those who are not aware, Kim & I are the co-directors of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Urban Ministries Winnipeg, a small missional community we founded over six years ago in Winnipeg's inner city. We live on the financial gifts of family, friend and churches, for which we are very grateful and humbled. Every few months we put out a newsletter to keep everyone up to date.

Well, it is that time of year, so head over to our family blog and check it out!

Some time ago I was chatting with a leader from a small rural church who was trying to find ways to engage his congregation in missional activity to their community. As I listened to him, he expressed frustrations in the process of getting people on board with the vision. As he engaged the great resources that are emerging on the topic of being missional, he faced some challenges in communicating it effectively to others.

First, people were often confused by and even suspicious of the new language surrounding missionality. As we all know, even the word "missional" has been so used, over-used, misused and down right abused that it is no wonder people are confused. Second, people become overwhelmed by the vast amounts of information and possibilities available. This is most surprising, as it seems that the more information and options people have, the more crippled (by fear and indecision) they become making choices. Third, people are intimidated by the level of knowledge and/or theological depth (real or perceived) of many missional "experts. They are more likely to dismiss ideas as too complex for their "simple little church".

As I considered these challenges, I realized how common they are for people wrestling with the real challenge of becoming missional communities. Each of these three dynamics needs to be acknowledged and addressed, both by those seeking to engage being missional and those seeking to promote and nurture missionality in others. Here a few simple thoughts that I would love your feedback on:

1. Strange New Language: When the people of Greenland were first introduced to Scripture, missionaries experienced the inevitable challenge of explaining concepts like "the Bread of Life" and "the Good Shepherd" to a culture that had seen neither bread nor sheep. In response, they needed to translate God's Word into both linguistic and conceptual models that they understood- not as a condescension, but as a contextualization. In the same way, if we want to see Christian embrace their vocation as missional communities, we must take the responsibility to translate the ideas into language and concepts that they understand.

In time, through education, experience and globalization, Greenlandic Christians were able to converse in both their contextual understanding and the historic context of Scripture and faith. However, it took time and patience. We must be careful not to judge people as ignorant simply because they do not "speak our language". In fact, it is too often that I see ignorance in those who promote missional Christianity, coming off as superior, condescending and paternalistic. Time, patience and humlity are necessary.

2. Information Overload: I recently read a study that showed how choice (even between several good options) seems to cripple intelligent people in making decisions. Before people are able to take in, process and integrate new imformation, they must have a foundational, conceptual framework in place. Remember that many of the ideas in missional living can be perceived as very threatening to long-held, cherished beliefs and practices. Sensitivity and an intentional pace are critical.

We have to remember that those of us who are most passionate and active about modelling and promoting missional Christianity are wired in such a way that we are more likely to embrace experimentation over sustaining (in fact, if you find yourself saying "Duh! Of course. Who wouldn't?" you are probably one of us). Not everyone is wired that way, having a great deal invested in the current reality. I am not suggesting that people are closed-minded protectors of the status quo (though some most certainly are), but rather that most people legitimately expend most of their energy sustaining good communities, making change a scary concept. Have grace and patience.

3. Intimidation Factor: While I love reading and engaging new ideas, I know that I am not much of a theologian. There are many theological discussions that leave me scrathing my head. As significant theologies of missionality are being explored by great Christian thinkers, it is not surprising that people are becoming overwhelmed. I can remember a time when terms like "eschatology", "epistimology", "ecclesiology", etc. left me scratching my head. It took time and work to begin (and I am just beginning) to understand. This is why storytelling is so critical- not to replace theology, but to communicate it in tangible and engaging ways.

Interestingly, as we embrace a storytelling approach to the theology of missionality we discover that there are many churches and communities who have been deeply missional for a long time. While they may not have the articulated theology behind it, they are deeply informed by Christ, His Word and His example. Look for the stories of missionality as they already exsist in a community. Not only will it help create a bridge of learning for that community, they will most certainly have much to teach the theologians themselves.

Have you experienced these challenges?

Have you seen any other barriers?

What has worked in overcoming them?

Missional Missional Community Christianity Jesus