On April 14, 2012, we welcomed our second child into the world.
Reid Matthew Dolive
Born: April 14, 2012 @ 4:28 a.m. in Beaumont, Texas
Weight: 8 pounds, 1 ounce
Length: 20.5 inches
Needless to say I am a proud papa đ
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Author: Rev. Evan Dolive
New Project In The Works
A few months ago I started working on a project with friend, fellow minister and seminary alum, Laura.
Back in December Laura and I were talking and told her about a book idea that I had.  I wanted to look at church marquee signs and break down the messages that they were conveying.  What could someone learn from these signs about the gospel message or the church?  We see these signs all over the place and some of the signs have the most cliche Christian sayings and quite frankly I can’t stand some of them. (Fellow Disciple Christian Piatt has blogged several times on what he calls “Church Sign Fails” click here)
Basically I wanted to look into how churches were summing up their theology through the marquee sign, in as few words as possible and the messages that they were promoting.
Laura liked the idea and through our conversations we began to talk about how the church was reflecting the culture.  The culture today is fasted paced and we like people to get to the point and get to it now.  We don’t like long emails, phone calls or blog posts (hopefully this one wont be too long đ ).  So Laura suggested that we look at how the rise of social media like Facebook and Twitter is contributing to the discussion of faith.  If we don’t like long emails and we like people to “get to the point faster”, how can we ever have a serious discussion about God, faith and the afterlife (just to name a few)?  I doubt anyone can sum up their theology in 140 characters or less.
We decided this book needed to be written.
So we contacted Chalice Press (our denominational publishing house) with our idea and they asked us to write a proposal for a book on this topic.  Thankfully we were able to meet a couple of time face to face and work on the lengthy proposal and even worked via Google Docs on it.
On April 10, 2012, we officially submitted our proposal to the powers that be at Chalice Press.
All we can do now is wait…
Stay tuned for more updates.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan đ
(“Red Hardcover Book With Flipping Pages” available under the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0 at http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/4268153789/)
Misconceptions About Christians: Part I
Below is my latest article in the Orange County Record.
Being a minister, I am often asked why more people are not Christians. Sometimes this question comes from a person struggling with the notion that there are others who do not believe in Christ. Others ask this question because they see the decline in the particularity of the Church.
Whatever their reasoning, the question is asked out of love for their faith.
To be honest there really is no clear cut answer; this is something the Church has struggled with for centuries. But it seems like today this predicament is on the minds of Christians of all walks of life. People leave the faith or are not interested in Christianity for various reasons. Maybe they had a bad experience with a particular minister, maybe they could not âwrap their brainâ around a particular theology, maybe they were told that their beliefs were wrong or that their questions were not valid. For whatever reason the fact of the matter is that the Church itself does not hold the cultural and societal significance that it once did. I do not know if it ever will be that way againâa sobering thought for a young minister like me.
There are a lot of misconceptions about Christians today and I want to explore some of them over the next few weeks.
I believe that the âAchilles heelâ of the Church are Christians themselves. Mahatma Gandhi is quoted to have said âI like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.â If we claim to be followers of Christ, then why arenât people experiencing the presence of Christ when Christians are around them? There seems to be a disconnect between what is professed in sanctuaries around the world and what is actually followed through with by fellow Christians.
So what are the misconceptions about Christians?
Misconception #1- Christians have to read the Bible literally. – The Bible is the foundational document of the Christian faith and has been the focal point for millennia. However, the way that it has been read and interpreted varies greatly. The Bible has been read by billions of people and each person has taken something different from the text.
How much are we limiting the Bible and the power of God to reveal Godself through the pages of scriptures if the Bible is limited to one interpretation? If there was one way to read the Bible then all of the churches should be on the same page. But the last time I checked this is not the case at all. Many people who believe in the literal interpretation of scripture often do not all agree on how that looks in actuality. First Corinthians states that women should cover their heads in worship, but a small fraction of Christian women actually do this. If the Bible is to be taken literally then how to do you know what to take literally and what not to take literally? Obviously one cannot take Jesusâ parables literally because they are stories in help get across a main point. What about the commandments on how to treat slaves? What about the dietary laws in the Old Testament? Not many Christians have ever sold all they had as Christ stated was a requirement to enter the Kingdom.
Does this mean that the Bible is unimportant? No, but the way that one person interprets the scriptures may be completely different than the way another person interprets the scriptures and the shocking part is they both might be in the same congregation. Too often all Christians are labeled as literalist and this is flat wrong. Some of the most famous and prolific Christian thinkers did not take the Bible literally. Maybe some people believe that women should not hold a leadership position in the church, others do. Some people believe that world was created in six days and others do not. They are both reading the same scripture, following the same Christ but see the Bible in completely different ways. Does this mean that one is wrong and the other is right? No, it just means that they see the experiences of the faithful of God printed in the pages of scriptures in ways that speaks to them.
Next week, I will continue this series on the misconceptions about Christians. I would welcome your insight and feedback. You can contact me at evandolive@att.net.
So Now What?
Lent is over. We have sung our Easter hymns, celebrated the risen Christ, and heard the story once again about out God conquered death. Easter Day has come and gone.  I often wish that Easter was not in the Spring time but rather in the Summer. It was only four months ago that we celebrated the birth of Christ and now Good Friday where he has died and Easter when he was resurrected.
For some people Easter is the highlight of Christian calendar. Jesus Christ has come and has lived and was unjustly killed, but through the miraculous power of God humanity has seen what God can do.
So now what? What do we do now? What are followers of Christ to do in the interim between Easter and Christmas (the next High Holy Day in the Christian calendar)? In most churches during the summer attendance is lower due the busy summer months. Families go on vacations, grandparents go to visit children and grandchildren and our calendars begin to fill up with picnics and gatherings.
Since the Christian calendar is defined so much by Christmas and Easter what are we to do this in between time? The story of God does not stop because Christians do not have a reason to party and exchange gifts. The message of the gospel does not continue to serve as a model of love and forgiveness for humanity because we are busy with other activities. By muting the story of God to just Christmas and Easter, we greatly restrict the story of how God moved in the lives of people for centuries. The gospels writers took those experiences and put pen to paper for all of humanity to have.  They did not limit the story of Christ in the world to his birth (which only two gospels even mention) and his death. Most of the New Testament is about how the followers of Christ responded to the teachings of Christ after his resurrection.  If we believe that God is continuing to world in our lives then we have to tell the story.
How can we continue telling the story? How do we continue to tell people that Christ is risen?  It doesnât have to be standing in front of a group of people and reiterating how God has moved in your life. Telling the story doesnât have to even use words. Oneâs actions can serve to tell the tale of impact that God has had on oneâs life.
Whether it is through service to others, care for a loved one, making a phone call to someone in need, all of these actions (and many more) reflect the message that Christ is alive in the world today and we have been transformed because of it.
Letâs not wait until Christmas to feel the presence of God and to share Godâs love with everyone.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Happy Easter
Happy Easter!
 May this day be a reminder of the renewal of the spirit that this found in Christ Jesus.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
(“Cross” by Glen Van Etten availble under the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0 at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tejedoro_de_luz/2350566557/)
The Easter Detour
We are in one of the most holy times of the Christian year. We have been in Lent for several weeks as we are preparing with other Christians around the world for Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion. In Disciples of Christ churches (the denomination I am ordained in) and most Protestant churches we don’t generally observe what is known as “holy week,”the week that is from Palm Sunday to Easter.
I had an opportunity when I was in seminary to preach at our weekly chapel service and I was assigned the Tuesday of Holy Week. I struggled with the notion that for most Christians the Easter journey went from Palm Sunday, a day filled of joyous cries to the one who comes in the name of the Lord to Easter Sunday when Jesus arose from the dead. I called this jumped from Palm Sunday to Easter, âThe Easter Detour.â
It’s easy not to think about or reflect on the implications of the Last Supper and even Good Friday, the day Christ died. But Easter doesnât mean as much if we fail to recognize the significance of Holy Week; it is during this time of Lent, of reflection and of prayer that we are able to understand with better clarity what Easter is about, what Easter can mean for us, how Easter effectively changed the world.
We can’t jump from Palm Sunday to Easter and still learn that lesson. I pray that this season of Lent has been one where you experienced Christ in a new way and were able to focus on this journey we are taking together. I also pray that during Holy Week you would be able to attend a Maundy Thursday Service and/or maybe participate in a Good Friday Prayer Vigil. If you are not able to then try to find time in your day to pray and reflect on the meaning of these Holy Days.
May we experience Christ this Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter in a powerful way.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
1+1+1=0
My latest article for the Orange County Record
The pie of Christianity has been cut, sliced and served a myriad of different ways. Since the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and subsequent reformations, the Church has become splintered. Every week millions of Christians flock to their respective congregations and faith communities, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Methodist, Presbyterian (USA), Presbyterian Church of America, Baptist, Southern Baptist, Northern Baptist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Orthodox, Episcopal and ânon-denominationalâ churches⌠do you see where I am going here?
Too often doctrinal differences have separated followers of Christ even to the point where some denominations do not do certain practices in worship because it is too much like âthose people.â
How can the Church have a unified voice proclaiming the love that is found within God and Christ if we cannot stand the sight of each other?
We believe that our way of worship is the ârightâ way and others are not. We believe our values, principles and doctrines are more Bible based than others. We believe we have perfected the way the church should and ought to be and everyone should emulate us. We sit back in our sanctuaries and proclaim that if Christ himself were to walk in, he would be satisfied.
Arenât we all serving the same God, the same Christ, answering the same call to serve the world? If so, then why are we allowing things to separate us?
The Church for far too long has waged an internal warâŚwho can have the best, most unique ministry? Who can get the most people in church? Who can have the best youth program? Who can serve the most meals? Why has the conversation shifted from the love of God to fighting battles that for the most part are quite pointless and completely miss the point of what the church could be?
Between the denominations it has become us against them, Protestants against Catholics, young against old, King James Version readers against The Message readers, old gospel hymn singers against more âcontemporaryâ song singers, and on and on and on. Because of this ecumenical dialogue has dropped to a level that is almost non-existent.
Somewhere the Church lost its way. Is this the church Christ advocated for and wanted? I seriously doubt it… donât you?
I know that even when the church was âoneâ there was still dissention and quarreling and sadly it has not stopped. I understand that people like their particular way of worshiping and theology but can we at least try to see eye to eye on something? More than likely, the followers of Christ would agree that the world outside our windows is full of pain, hurt and disgust. People are living on the streets; children go to bed hungry at night while others are beaten by those who are supposed to love them. No matter your Christology, theology of sin or salvation, ALL followers of Christ can agree that something has to be done. Coming together around the common theme of hope, joy, peace and reconciliation is the foundation of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the one that Christians are to follow.
I doubt that the church will ever be unified in every facet of theology and doctrine ever, but one thing is for certain. There is a lot of work to be done and there are few workers. If churches banded together, pooled resources, skill sets and passions, imagine what could be done, not just here in Orange, but around the world. We all have something to share, let us work with each other, together under the banner of love in Christ.
No one has a monopoly on God, letâs stop acting like it.
Religious Rollercoaster
It seems like yesterday we were sitting in the sanctuary that was decorated with greenery, the Advent wreath and songs of the coming of the Messiah into the world. How fast the Church calendar speeds by as we approach Easter.  It can be an odd disconnect. One minute we are praising God for the birth of Jesus, the Holy One, the Messiah in our midst and the next we are at the foot of the cross while he is being crucified.
Itâs a religious rollercoaster.
The story of Lent is one that is filled with images and stories of Jesus proclaiming the end of his ministry and the ultimate end that is to come. It is a confusing time for not only the original disciples but us today. We look forward to the time when the world is set right again and the promises of God are fulfilled. We long for the time when peace reigns on earth and that the gospel message of hope, joy, love and reconciliation is made manifest in every human heart.
As we look outside our window and see the world around us it is hard to imagine that day. But the Easter message is one that is full of hope and yearning. Through the glorious resurrection of Christ, God makes a statement that the way things are now, are not the way they have to be. Christ died but God resurrected him, darkness descended, but the light covered it, fear and dislike sent Christ to the Cross, but an all consuming love of God brought him back to the world.
The story of Easter can be glossed over so much because we hear it year after year, even to the point where we skip Maundy Thursday and Good Friday altogether. Easter has so much more to offer us as followers of Christ.
As one of my professors in seminary once said, âEaster is more than about the reanimation of a body.â Christ was resurrected but the story is more than that. Christâs resurrection set into motion a story that the world has not yet stopped telling.– a story about how God indwelled with humanity.
This Easter I pray that God does make things new in your life, that you (and me) have a spiritual resurrection. May the Easter story have a special meaning to you this year.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Prayer Napkin?
This is a scan of the actual note that was left on my car a couple of months ago.  Whomever penned this obviously wanted a lot more room to get or out of their vehicle.  Here’s the thing though, the parking structure where I was parked must have been built in the 1970s or 80s or in a time when bigger vehicles were not around.  I wedged my car in the parking spot WITHIN THE PAINTED LINES! Not with my back tire on the line or cutting into another spot, but within the lines.  If I had been in the wrong I would have taken my napkin and gone home and probably remembered the next time I parked somewhere.
This was not good enough for the prayer napkin writer.
I am glad that someone out there is praying for me even though it is for me to learn a skill I have already mastered, but nonetheless I am thankful.
Is this what Christianity for some has become?  Passive aggressive prayer warrior-ship?  Is this what the followers of Christ are supposed to do, leave napkins on unsuspecting cars starting off all nicey nicey and then hitting you over the head with your faults?  I have trouble believing that is something called for by God.
And then I began to wonder if it was because of the “clergy” sticker on the back of my car… sure it is helpful on pastoral visits at the hospital but did it make me a target?
Whatever the answer may be I got a good laugh out of it and a nice piece for my office.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Lent: Disconnecting in a Connected World
Below is a link to my first article printed in the Orange County Record. Â It is entitled “Lent: Disconnecting in a Connected World.”
I was given some short notice for this particular article but I am pleased with it.
Link to the Article: Click Here
Also, they put me on their “Authors Page”- check it out here.
Let me know what you think and if you have any topics you think I should tackle!
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Rev. Dr. Evan M. Dolive 