Brett Tilford

I’m discussing the place of the Eucharist (Communion, Blessed Sacrament, Lord’s Supper, or whatever your tradition calls it) at our small struggling Church in a few weeks.  I’m looking forward to the challenge of getting everyone as enthused about the tradition as I am… although undoubtedly I will fail.  Long term I think I can wear everyone down with my incessant pestering, “Isn’t this just so cool? What an amazing tradition that has lasted all these years. Eh? Eh?” on and on I’ll go until people start to see the light.

A few years back I sat on the Porch of Potbelly’s sandwich shop on the eve of Easter and expressed to my wife that I didn’t really care anymore.  It wasn’t that I hated the idea of Jesus’ resurrection. It was just that it was all so familiar and hum drum.  I just couldn’t fake the enthusiasm anymore.  This was also a low point in my Eucharist taking.  Now I see that my perspective on the Resurrection of Jesus was directly tied to my view of the Eucharist.  As one rose so did the other.

I was never a big fan of coffee.  Then I read a book by Howard Schultz (founder & CEO of Starbucks Coffee) and within a few short months I became a certified coffee snob.  I was never really a big fan of the Eucharist.  That is until I read the likes of N.T. Wright and became a certified Communion snob.  I had never heard anyone talk so passionately about the implications of the Resurrection.  He says, that the Eucharist is remembering that God has promised to resurrect all of creation.  That it’s full of hope. Not just that you can go to heaven one day but that at the end of all things- love will win.  When you take that bread and cup in your hands you’re saying, “I remember that God gave himself up so that the world could be set right. I remember the sacrifice of Jesus. I remember with all of the Christians through the ages that there is hope.”   To me that’s really beautiful.

They say that to be passionate about something you have to interact with someone who is passionate about it themselves. I hope to be that person for others when it comes to the Eucharist.

I think the world needs more crazy people in positions of power. Not crazy as in “physcopathic” but crazy like “unconventional”. That’s who changes the world. That’s who takes the road less traveled and potentially takes our organizations to the next level.

I also think our churches need more crazy pastors. Kooky types who mutter about the kingdom of God, yell at parishoners, and occasionally get thrown in prison. Unfortuantely, we prefer good looking well spoken pastors who would make great politicians.

Too bad.

There’s an interesting idea that I find myself daydreaming about off an on.  It’s the idea that none of us are Christians, instead we are all becoming Christians.  At first glance this may seem like nothing more than a slippery semantic twist.  ”Oh I get it” you say to me with a knowing wink, “we say we’re not Christians but we really are. We just say we’re not, so people will think we’re humble.”  To that I would reply, “Nope. It’s not really humility as much as an acknowledgement of the reality that as human beings we’re an awfully mixed bag.”

There’s a big theological word called “sanctification” that basically says we are works in progress.  We are literally becoming saved.  Doesn’t Paul say something about working out our salvation with fear and trembling?  I think somewhere in our evangelical scramble to assure everyone that they’re really saved and going to heaven we lost this idea that it’s a process.  We’re on a journey.  We’re literally becoming Christians.

Next time someone asks if you’re a Christian I think an interesting answer would be “Nope, but I hope to be someday.”  Not to be tricky or evasive but to be more honest about the reality of our religious lives.

Take a few minutes to read the speech that shook a nation: I have a dream…

So today is the official launch of my blog. Much thanks goes to Caleb, Josiah, and Charles for helping/pushing me to become more web savvy. Honestly, a few months ago I was probably the last person in the world you would have thought would have a personal blog. However, a few months can change a person, and I am a changed man. I feel that to be a good citizen of this new world, a basic understanding of all things web (html, css, wordpress, etc.) are a must. So this is my attempt to embrace the new world.

I will be updating this site quite often, so be sure to check back.