John Gunter

Thoughts on Life and Living

I was nearly crushed by a car today…and 2 life principles observed

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Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.
Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.

This morning, around 10am, I was helping my friend Rush Stuart with the TV he had just purchased. We were in a very busy section of town, where there are many electronic stores. Many people and cars and motorcycles and buses and three-wheel Asian contraptions were going every which way. People were crossing streets talking on cell phones and carrying obscene amounts of “stuff” everywhere. It was a typical Asian street scene. In a word, chaotic.

After 11 years here, I have gotten used to scenes such as this. Actually, I have become impervious to them. They aren’t stressful or exciting or strange or colorful; they just are. This morning was a scene such as this. A scene I have lived in for much of my last 11 years.

Anyway. . . as Rush and I walked to cross this chaotic street, Rush in back and I in front, we were carrying his new TV to my car. Nothing unusual. Then. . .

[Read more…]

The imperative of the “both/and” Christian mentality

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Sundays here in Asia are a time when I try to read, pray, and generally emotionally unwind. Today is a little different. I started out the morning by reading an article forwarded to me by my friend Troy Coons and it has me thinking.

Cool world map from the 16th century
Cool world map from the 16th century

In World Magazine’s article “The ‘new legalism’”, author Anthony Bradley writes on “how the push to be ‘radical’ and ‘missional’ discourages ordinary people in ordinary places from doing ordinary things to the glory of God”.

In this article, the author criticizes David Platt and other Christian leaders in America for calling people to live out “radical” Christianity. David and others place a great deal of effort in calling their churches to live their lives consistent with the teachings of Christ. Embedded in this teaching is caring about issues such as poverty alleviation, orphan care, and people groups who have never been exposed to the Gospel of Christ.

The author of this article claims that this teaching is leading to “legalism”, resulting in Christians feeling guilt over leading “normal, quiet Christian lives.” Specifically, teachers such as David Platt cause Christians “to experience an intense amount of shame for simply being ordinary Christians who desire to love God and love their neighbors.”

The heart behind this article, I think, is to free people up to simply serve and enjoy Christ where they are in life. There is no such thing as “varsity Christianity”, with the first-teamers being missionaries and pastors and the “b-team” being those lowly others who are content to live “ordinary lives” in suburbia America. I completely agree with this point. There is no hierarchy within the body of Christ.  None.

However, while I appreciate the sentiment and agree with some of this article, I think the author completely misses the overall point of this teaching. [Read more…]

My two Asian earthquakes (and what I’ve learned)

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Pics taken by a friend two days after the big earthquake.
Pics taken by a friend two days after the big earthquake.

“Get back in the car and drive off of the bridge!!!” These words broke the chaotic, rancorous silence as I anxiously shouted in the local language at our terrified cab driver. My world was in the process of crashing down. . . literally.

It was May 12, 2008 at 2:28pm. My good friend, Paul Quiros, was with me. I had been working with him all week in investigating the possibility of his law firm opening up a practice somewhere in this country. Our second leg of the journey landed us in the middle of a bridge, seemingly at the end of the world for most people in my life in America.

As we drove and talked and prepared for our next meeting, the bridge underneath us abruptly began moving. When I say moving, slamming back and forth is more like it. It was a packed road. There were buses and trucks and cars back to back as far as the eye could see.

EVERYONE panicked in abject fear, abandoned their vehicles, and ran. No one really knew where they were running, but frantically run they did. Paul had the presence of mind to yell that we had a better chance of survival by staying in the car and getting off the bridge than we did running.

I screamed at our driver to get back in the car and drive. His eyes were literally [Read more…]

An open letter regarding prayer and (seemingly) Bible contradictions

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As was the case a few weeks ago, I wanted to share another “open letter”.  This one was to both the same girl from the previous letter (CLICK HERE to read it) and her best friend.  In follow-up to the question about dating, they sent me the following questions regarding prayer and the Trinity.  I answered their questions by explaining my principle in dealing with seeming contradictions of faith and the Bible.

Tools of the trade for writing and emailing. . . at a local Starbucks
My setup at a local Starbucks. . .

I know this is more technical than any other post on this blog, but hopefully it will be helpful to someone with similar questions.  Again, I do not claim to be a theologian, but rather a Christian who has wrestled with my own faith on many levels.  This email is the product on some of my personal wrestlings.

As was the format with the letter on dating, the first part of this post is the email the two women sent to me.  Following this is my response.  These are both abbreviated, as I deleted the personal content of the exchange.  (I have added some headings in this post to better assist in organizing it.) [Read more…]

“Mad Men” and the futility of sin

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I published this article last June. However, in light of the fact many new people are now reading this blog and in honor of “Mad Men” beginning this weekend, here it is once more (slightly revised).

MM.edited
The iconic image of the tv show “Mad Men”.

The activities of last night have become somewhat of a routine. A new episode of Mad Men hits the internet, I feverishly download it, and then Chris & Ann Marie Musgrove and I watch it. We take it all in and then promptly discuss what we just witnessed. . . what we just experienced.

Mad Men has become one of my favorite tv shows for this simple reason. . . it is a realistic study of the nature of sin. Nothing glamorous about sin. Nothing desirable. Just a weekly glance into the lives of people that live for the single purpose of satisfying their personal desires and gains.

The show does not make sin seem appealing. In fact, the exact opposite is true. The characters are pathetically and tragically enslaved to their own sin. They gain everything the world has to offer. Professional success. Financial wealth. Sexual prowess.

However, while the characters of Mad Men get EVERYTHING they want, they are miserable. Chris, Ann Marie, and I literally cringe

[Read more…]

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