Picnic pictures

Some pictures from our small group leader's picnic. More to come

"All we want to do is eat your brains..."

My 2 year old walks around with her arms flapping in front of her... saying... "Braaaains....braaaains..."

Kevin and Patrick... this is for you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear mdog!
Happy Birthday to you!

I'm glad I'm a man

So we had a discussion tonight at our church that I won't get into here. I thought it was well done and the panel did an excellent job. I respect each of the women on that panel tremendously and think they all love God and are biblically grounded. I also believe there is room for disagreement on issues in the body of Christ.


With that said (and because this is my blog and a place for me to voice my thoughts and struggles in a way I would not do from the platform), for those who were there, I will say this:

I'm glad I'm a man. Based solely on my gender, no one questioned my calling tonight. No one put limits on what I can or cannot do. No one restricted me. No one told me I was "equal," but then quickly put limits on my role. (Question: If we are equal but different, what are the "limiting roles" of men that make us different?).

Because I'm a man, I can serve God as I wish...

Because I'm a man.

And I went home, pulled my 2-year-old daughter out of bed, put my hands on her head, and prayed that she would be a women who found her sufficiency, identity and leading from God and God alone. And that she would be a passionate follower of Jesus who would live out her calling in whatever ways God was leading her.

I'm glad I'm a man.

And my daughter would be quick to say, "Actually, I'm 2 1/2"

life...

I can tell when I have been working too much and it is starting to affect me. It is something I have learned about myself over the years. When this area of my life is out of balance, I notice a couple of signs:

1. The phone rings and, no matter who it is, I just tense up. It's almost like I become resentful for someone intruding on my life. Of course, this "someone" could be my wife or best friend. Even people I enjoy talking to, even people I want to talk to... the sound of my phone just makes me tense during these times.

2. I don't really enjoy the things I normally enjoy. This includes my job, but it also includes being with my family, eating out with my wife, spending time with friends, etc. And again, it's not that I don't "enjoy" these people or things... it's that I'm unable to enjoy them or be fully present much of the time.

I have been aware for several months that my life was going out of balance. To be clear, this is through no fault but my own. I have said "yes" too many times and haven't managed my calendar well. To be clear, my calendar is filled (largely) with things I want to do and people I want to meet with. But it doesn't matter...and that is part of my point. It is a matter of boundaries and my desire at times not to want to set them.

Just this week I noticed bright light at the end of the tunnel. But here is the thing (and for you observant folks, the reason I pulled the first version of this post and changed it)....

I feel I "missed" a lot of the last couple of months.

There, but not fully present. Does that makes sense?

I have been more on edge, less filled with joy and just enjoyed life less... I have probably been a pain to be around and not as much fun to work with. When I am doing one thing I can't give myself fully to it...

And I regret that.

I know (and am discovering more and more) that much of my inability to enjoy life is due to pace and workload. But I also need to return to some practices that are a part of who I am... that I have let go of.. and I need to learn some new habits.

So you, my dear readers, get to hear my list (I can sense the excitement in the blogosphere).

Here are some things I am working to embrace (actually re-embrace)

1. Fasting. I used to fast very regularly. Within the last 2 years I have let that discipline slide and only recently have begun again. But this is one of those disciples that sharpen me and actually help me enjoy life more. Go figure.

2. Days with God. Up until the past two years (timed with the birth of my daughter), I would regularly take a day a month and go away to just read and pray and write. I have the time, the place... why don't I do this? Well... there is always one more ministry thing to do, one more person to meet with, one more teaching to write.

3. Reading. I read a lot. But as only one who preaches week in, week out can tell you, there is something very different about random reading ("oh, I feel like reading") and disciplined (an hour a day) reading. For the past couple of nights, I sat down and read Dallas Willard (big surprise to any of my readers?) for an hour or so. Just me on my couch. It was really, really nice. And I felt my soul grow.

4. "Werewolf" - I like being with groups of my friends and playing interactive games. I find it very relaxing. The key for me is to plan it so I know it's coming and I can build a buffer in my life so I actually have the evening free. Not just free from commitments, but "free" in that I can give attention to the moment.

5. Early mornings. Now, there is nothing spiritual about mornings... but I used to get up at 4 or 5... and I really miss that.

Things I need to give up to make this happen...

To be continued

"The real issue relating to exclusiveness is whether the Christian actually has a relationship with God, a presence of God, that non-Christians do not have. Apart from Christian spiritual formation as described here, I believe there is little value in claiming exclusiveness for the Christian way.

The realization of this may be what is reflected in the current mass abandonment of the exclusiveness of Christianity that is going on among Western Christians now, especially in its academic centers. Why should one insist on the exclusiveness of Christianity if all it is is one more cultural form? But let the reality of the Christian spiritual formation come to its fullness, and exclusiveness will take care of itself. If the witch and the warlock, the Buddhist and the Muslim, can truly walk in holiness and power equal to that of Jesus Christ and his devoted followers, there is nothing more to say. But Christ himself, and not Christianity as a form of human culture, is the standard by which "we" as well as "they" are to be measured. (Acts 17:31)"

Dallas Willard, "The Great Omission"

Age

So I have had some meetings this week with folks in which I was keenly aware of how old I was. And this is not an, "I feel old post," this is a, "man, I remember when I thought like that" post.

It's funny how much time gives you perspective on issues.

Things that used to bother me that now don't.

Situations where I used to know it all... and now realize how little I knew.

It's tough being in a town where the majority of people are 1/2 your age... but you know... I think there are some advantages to age.

I know the feeling...

Cat Herding

My quote of the week...

"Science can be a joyless monster sometimes, even though it has its moments. I know [my non-Christian friend] believes in his book learnin' every bit as much as I believe in my God, but textbooks don't romance your soul. You're right ... it is hard to fathom why some people don't want to believe that there is a God that aches to be loved and to love."


For the context of this, visit Laura's blog.

Humph

No

Sin

"What always drives us, at the soul level, is that if I believe that I cannot trust God to care for the satisfaction of my soul, then I will take my soul's satisfaction into my own hands."

John Ortberg, "My Holy of Holies"



“Failure to attain a deeply satisfying life, always has the effect of making sinful actions look good.”

Dallas Willard, "The Spirit of the Disciplines"



"To the extend at which you have authentic joy, then temptation (which is always the offer of the illusion of joy) is just not going to be very tempting."

Some pastor

You ought to go.

So all of my readers ought to break out their calendars. Go ahead, I'll wait.

[Waits patiently]

Okay, mark out these dates on there - November 28-December 5, 2007. And write over those dates, "I'm going to Honduras with Paul."

Great, 'cause I know you want to go. Or maybe you are like me and don't want to go... which is why you should.

What will you do?
Work hard.
Hug kids.
Meet Jesus.

What better things do you have to do with your time?

silence

if you haven't yet...

go read this. I have read it a couple of times now and every time it gets deeper and deeper for me.

But apparently not spelling

Maybe prooftexting is not so bad?

Pastor Makes 1 Timothy 4:8a His "Theme Verse"
YOUNGSTON, GEORGIA

Rev. Charles "Chuck" Dewease, pastor of the First Pentecostal Church of Youngston, is not ashamed to tell anyone his weight.

"I'm a little over 415 pounds and proud of it." He says.

About ten years ago while reading the book of 1 Timothy, Dewease came under "intense conviction" when he read 1 Timothy 4:8a which says, "For bodily exercise profiteth little." Since that day Dewease has made it a point to avoid any and all manner of exercise, intentionally gaining a tremendous amount of weight to show his "conviction."

"I've never been what you might call a 'small man.'" Said Dewease. "But ten years ago my life changed. It was a liberating and freeing experience when I read that verse in 1 Timothy. I never much cared for diet and exercise, but when I read those words my heart just leaped for joy! I knew that I didn't have to worry about it anymore."

Now, Dewease no longer concerns himself about what he eats. His breakfast often consists of a large six-egg omelet with cheese, ham and sausage, four or five biscuits with gravy, a large serving of grits, and 8 strips of bacon. During the day he usually keeps a large stash of snack foods and soft drinks in his office. For lunch he normally eats out.

"I love fried chicken." He said. "There's a local place just down the road called "Claire's Cafe" that makes the best you'll ever eat, and I go there just about every day. They all know me. I just walk in and say 'I'll have the usual' and they bring me my ten-piece family meal with baked beans and potato salad."

Dewease does not concern himself with how people might look at him but rather refers to his obesity as his "testimony to godliness," claiming that the larger he gets, the more he displays himself as one who is not concerned with bodily exercise.

"What I'm doing is found right there on the pages of the Bible." He said. "This is how we are all supposed to be living our lives, not spending time at the gym. I don't have time for that. With so much sinning going on in this world, with so much alcohol and tobacco use in my own community, I've got my work cut out for me. This is a holy pursuit."

Despite Dewease's passion for "holy pursuits" some members of his own congregation are concerned about his weight.

"I just think he needs to slow down a bit." Said one member who wished to remain anonymous. "He's going to keel over with a heart attack one day."

But despite the criticism Dewease is unwaivering.

"I don't care what anybody says." Said Dewease. "They can mock me, ridicule me, and scoff, but it is better to obey the Bible rather than men."

Taken from: tominthebox

WWJS

Well, I don't want to lose any of my loyal readers, but this might induce the "Sheep Shift" from one congregation to another.

I give you the Temple 420 church.

If you haven't done it already, go ahead and click on the link, I will wait.

[Waiting]

Now, this gives new meaning to the phrase, "High and lifted up."

Do they open their greeting time with people by saying, "Hey everyone, what's the latest buzz around here?"

Do they say, "whoa" or "dude" instead of "amen"?

Does the 4:20 refers to Luke 4:20? (“Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him”)**

Is their vision statement, "Temple 420—where the grass is always greener.”

And exactly how big is their snack table?



** BTW, it doesn't.

Truth in Advertising?

Yea, there is just so much to be said about this.

I see a sermon illustration in this picture's future.

Which?

When worship goes bad.

For those times when "worship" goes bad, the band doesn't gel; when they just don't seem up to par... always remember, it could be worse.

Psychic

I predict a blog post.

What wouldn't Jesus do?

From the "I want to know YOUR God" files...

My Dad

As I type this I'm sitting in the family waiting room at Lee County Hospital in Florida. I really should be working on my message but I just need a break.

My dad had surgery on his back on Monday and my brother and I flew down to be with him and my mom. The surgery went really well, much better than we imagined. There will be some rough spots ahead and some really bad stuff can still happen...

But it almost seems that I have my old dad back.

I learned what it means to "be a man" from my dad. I hope that doesn't sound too machismo, actually the reverse is true. My dad taught me that loyalty, generosity, love, respect... those are the things that make a man. I have always respected the way that my dad treated my mom. We would go to festivals and people who didn't know them would always think they were newlyweds. As my dad has been in incredible pain the past several years, his disposition has changed a bit. Honestly, he has gotten more grumpy. But today I saw that spark of my old dad back again.

I know we won't physically live forever. I know that outwardly we are waiting away... but I would like to have my dad around for many years to come. I still have so much to learn.

Too cool.

There is just something way cool about this.

Write the @#$@ book.

"Brokenness is weird. To refuse its presence, we are nothing. But when we acknowledge it, we gain power beyond measure." mdog

So I've been thinking about this quote a lot, partially because I think mdog should write a book, partially because I'm going to steal the quote and use it in a sermon in May...

And partially because I realize how broken I am.

I want to hide it. Even when I am vulnerable, I realize that I am vulnerable only to a point. Even vulnerability can involve image control. And some of that is good. We don't need to be spilling our brokenness all over everyone all the time.

But there is this truth... there is this reality that (as James says), "when we confess our sin" to one another... power comes. Healing comes.

I'm glad the Bible is true. And I'm glad it works.

As Jim pointed out on Easter, I'm glad for life after death... but also for the chance at life before death.

Happy Sarcastic Wednesday

To all those who "love" their jobs... finally a holiday just for you.

Thoughts?

If I might encourage you to go over to this blog I think it would be an interesting conversation.

Get your tickets now!

who would ever want to miss this.

I don't think He's there anymore.

“The Christian life does not deny brokenness; it denies that brokenness has the last word." [Brennan Manning]

I used to fear death, but now the rules have changed.

Can of Worms, part 2

I have always liked Tony Campolo (who, by the way, is speaking in Athens on May 10). I'm always challenged by his concern for the poor and the marginalized. And, his theology has always pushed me.

I'm challenged by the quotes below. I think it's good to talk about them and to discuss them and to wrestle with them.

But where does wrestling end and orthodoxy begin? At what point do we leave the fundamentals of the Christian faith? How do we see and understand the centrality of Jesus?

And yet, I confess I too believe that Jesus is bigger than we see or know or understand. That his love for the world may be bigger than some simple formula that brings people to faith ("ALL you have to do is simply...")

So here are some thoughts by Tony. Feel free to add your own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I am saying that there is no salvation apart from Jesus; that's my evangelical mindset. However, I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians"

-Tony Campolo
(National Liberty Journal, 8/99)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...what can I say to an Islamic brother who has fed the hungry, and clothed the naked? You say, "But he hasn't a personal relationship with Christ." I would argue with that. And I would say from a Christian perspective, in as much as you did it to the least of these you did it unto Christ. You did have a personal relationship with Christ, you just didn't know it."

-Tony Campolo
EVANGELICALS AND INTERFAITH COOPERATION, An Interview by Shane Claiborne

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It seems to me that when we listen to the Muslim mystics as they talk about Jesus and their love for Jesus, I must say, it's a lot closer to New Testament Christianity than a lot of the Christians that I hear. In other words if we are looking for common ground, can we find it in mystical spirituality, even if we cannot theologically agree, Can we pray together in such a way that we connect with a God that transcends our theological differences?"

-Tony Campolo
EVANGELICALS AND INTERFAITH COOPERATION, An Interview by Shane Claiborne

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Jesus is the only Savior, but not everybody who is being saved by Him is aware that He is the one who is doing the saving"

-Tony Campolo
EP News Service, Oct. 4, 1985

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Today, some of the most spiritual people I know claim to be without religion."

-Tony Campolo
"Mystical Encounters for Christians"
www.beliefnet.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“What I am trying to say is that Jesus who incarnated God 2,000 years ago is mystically present and waiting to be discovered in EVERY person you and I encounter”

-Tony Campolo
"A Reasonable Faith" 1983 page 171

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I do not mean that others represent Jesus for us. I mean that Jesus actually is present in each other person."

-Tony Campolo
"A Reasonable Faith" 1983 page 192

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"going to heaven is like going to Philadelphia...There are many ways....It doesn't make any difference how we go there. We all end up in the same place."

-Tony Campolo
"Carpe Diem: Seize the Day", 1994, pages 85-88

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians."

-Tony Campolo
Charlie Rose show on January 24, 1997

"notes"

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter got really sick. Either a cold or allergies, but she couldn't breathe. So my wife decided to put a "Vicks" children's patch on her as she slept. It really helped and she slept well. The problem is that now, for some reason, she is terrified of them. And she won't even let us take her shirt off.

I was afraid I screwed her up for life and her husband would hate me so I talked with a woman who is a children's counselor and she told me stuff like this is normal. That children develop fears for strange reasons and, over time, she would work through it.

Parenting is really, really strange.

Speed Limit for the highly educated

A Winner!

Congratulations to Mdog on winning my first, "Name-the-Big-Jesus-Statue" contest. [Insert cheering and applause] We were all drawn to her initial entry, but her rough photoshop model put her over the top (remember that for future contests -- I'm a very visual person).

Mdog gets... LUNCH WITH ME! She is welcomed to invite a friend or two if she wants. So now you can start sucking up to her.

Mdog, break out your fork!

Now let's feast our eyes on the winning entry!










And now all we have to do is raise the money.

I suggest we start a prayer ministry. Now, I need some big hair and a nice suit and we are ready to go!

We need to do this!

Okay, let's keep our eye on the ball here and don't forget about the "Big Jesus" contest below, but I just HAD to post this. (From Dallas New Religion)

____________

Benny Hinn Ministries lays off 60

Benny Hinn Ministries is letting go about 60 call-center employees at its Grapevine headquarters. The work of taking calls for prayer requests and book and tape orders will soon be outsourced.

Spokesman Ronn Torossian says it's not an economy measure.

"The biggest issue is simply our ability to handle the incredible call volume at the hours and times it comes in from throughout the world," he said.

The laid-off workers will get severance packages and help finding new jobs, he added.

Benny Hinn is famous and controversial for his TV appearances, crusades and emphasis on faith healing and fund raising.

______

Yes... we need a Big Jesus AND we need to outsource our prayers. Those pesky tear off sheets. Those prayer emails. I have no time for prayer.

Which makes me wonder if Benny Hinn REALLY lays his hands on my prayer request and prays for me by name... with 60 full-time employees taking prayer requests.

We need one of these!

When I was at my previous church, my wife and I would often go to Cincinnati. We had friends there, restaurants we liked, malls we shopped, etc. And often we would drive by the Solid Rock Church. Now, I don't know much about this church. My sister-in-law went there once (only once) when she lived in the area and so my only impression of the congregation is from her. I have always felt that there are enough pastors shooting down other pastor's ministries that I don't feel the need to enter into that calling at this moment. So this blog is not about that...

But since I have moved, the church has added a statue. I have to say it makes an impression. (Click on the image for a larger view)

This is the front of their building and yep, that is Jesus comin' up out of the water.

That is one really big Jesus.

Now, this big Jesus (not to be confused with this big Jesus) is called the "King of Kings" statue. It is supposed to be the largest statue of Jesus in the US. I'm told by a friend that it has come to be called, touchdown Jesus, although I can't see why.

But after much prayer and fasting, (I haven't eaten since dinner last night), I have decided we need one of these. Central needs a Big Jesus statue.

The question is... what kind of statue?

What would Jesus be doing? Where would he be located?

So if any of you want to help me... I say we have a contest. The winner gets lunch out at their favorite Athens restaurant (to be redeemed after Easter) with... well... ME of course.

If you are out of town and you come up with the best idea, I will find a way to get you a gift certificate to a restaurant in your area. The winner will be chosen by either a totally unbiased, randomly chosen panel of judges... or me.

Now, I am off to call a Trustees meeting. I need to raise some money. Hummmm...Let's see, how can we get that money raised? Could we cut the budget somewhere? Who could be responsible? Oh, I know!

Christian Chat

So I am needing a break. My brain hurts. I've been working on stuff and just needed a diversion.

So I went to a christian chat room.

Big mistake.

Let's see how much religious jargon we can use. How much God talk can we type in one sitting.

Look, I don't need someone typing the words to, "I want to see Jesus High and Lifted Up!" one line at at time, in between my questions about jobs, hobbies, location, etc.

I don't need someone to ask (and I swear I'm not making this up), "Hey, does anyone know a great blessing they could pray over this room?"

No one could talk about anything other than Jesus.

Now, I like Jesus... I love Jesus in fact. I think Jesus is the best thing EVER.

But ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! Talk to me like a real human being!

Wow... some "Christians" are weird. It's no wonder people don't like us.

Worth seeing with some friends...

So I just watched "Jesus Camp" with some friends and we talked about it afterward. The movie was thought provoking and is good to process, which is why you should watch it with people (this is coming from a verbal processor).

It seems that the movie is an attempt to expose a right-wing political agenda...and this agenda is frowned upon. Now, in many ways, I agree with this. I don't think the focus of the church in the US is to see that the US should be a "Christian Nation." But I found myself saying, "Yea...but..." a lot during this movie.

The "evangelical church"* was criticized as having an agenda and raising their kids (indoctrinating their kids) to embrace certain beliefs. Now, in some cases (many cases?) I didn't embrace those beliefs either... but don't they have the right to do that?

Here is my thing: everyone has an agenda (the Right, the Left, Christians, Muslims, Atheist, and pro-wrestling fans). Let's just put that on the table. To say that the "evangelical church"* has a political agenda and so BEWARE (insert stupid arguments of separation of church and state) or that it has a societal agenda (insert stupid arguments of indoctrination) is.. in my humble opinion... well... stupid.

This is from a review I read on the link above:

"This film made my hair stand on end and I came away from it thinking that the adults in it ought to be indicted for child abuse. These children are being intellectually immobilized in the name of goodness and purity. Do they really think they are superior to other young religious zealots who study nothing but their holy book but who are not Christians? It seems that children ought to be exposed to all the wonders of the world instead of being told that their job is to point out the errors of others. Children are highly impressionable and mostly believe what adults tell them. We can only hope that some of these children get some exposure to reality later which will help them live productive and caring lives as people who can accept the world's diversity. The prospects are not good."

Okay... am I the only one who thinks this is bad logic? I know that is politically incorrect to point that out... but I feel it is. "Children are highly impressionable and mostly believe what adults tell them [like, for example, this author]. We can only hope that some of these children get some exposure to reality [as defined by this author] later which will help them live productive and caring lives [as defined by this author] as people who can accept the world's diversity [this author's agenda]."

So there is the agenda... accepting diversity. And if this author had his or her way, children would be "indoctrinated" to accept diversity. Now, this is not a bad thing. I'm pretty sure we don't want kids to think that white supremacy is a good thing, etc... but let's just call it what it is... an agenda.

And I'm not sure I buy the idea that kids (or any people) "make up their minds for themselves." We all "make up our minds" based on the input we get. (Now, I'm hoping that God plays a role in some of this)... but I'm not sure the role of parents is to keep their kid's minds as blank of a slate as possible so that someone else can write their agenda on it, because everyone has an agenda.

I don't agree with a lot of what these kids were taught. I don't agree with some of the way they were taught it. But I can't criticize parents for trying to raise their kids to embrace the values they, themselves hold.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Opinions expressed on this post are not necessarily the final opinions of this author. This is a verbal (keyboard) process...therefore I reserve the right to change my mind.


* What the producers of this show labeled the "evangelical church" I would label the "charismatic/fundamental church." Evangelicals embrace a much wider view than this movie (although they may be seen as a subset.)

I thought for sure...

that I saw Tobias tinkering with a remote control that looked siminar to this.

I love it

Being an old advertising guy, I love commercials.

I really like this one...

Funk

This has been the proverbial "one of those days." I tend to blog more on those days... so I'm not always depressed... it just seems that way. :)

Actually, I'm not all that depressed, just faced with the reality of life which is a lot less glamorous than the picket fence picture we paint in childhood.

Both my daughter and wife are sick. I was cleaning up baby vomit to start my morning. This transitioned into doing laundry. My wife is sick so I try as best as I can to make her comfortable. I work a bit from home, make lunch for us...and leave for my office.

I go to work and "one of those days" just continues. It was one of those times when you work and put in the time... and nothing happens. I missed a meeting. I got an email that could have been bad, but turned out manageable. I worked on a message... consisting of staring at a computer screen trying to make sense of stuff that made perfect sense the week before. I had a meeting with my creative team that I was so out of that it I felt it was a waste of their time. I was reminded that my worship leader is leaving and we have to find a replacement...

I came home to my sick wife and daughter...

I made dinner for Laura and me, fed Lydia, cleaned up dinner, clean up Lydia. I got her ready for bed... just in time for her to start crying again for mommy. So Laura got to put her to bed and cuddle with her (which is why you have kids...the 30 minutes putting them to bed... it makes up for all the time cleaning up vomit.)

So rather I sit here and type as a way to vent. As a way to connect. Maybe to others, maybe to God... maybe even to myself.

Thank you Patrick and Sarah but...

I don't think so.

Hear that sound?

That is the sound of the proverbial can of worms being opened. And here I stand with my can opener.

So I have bad feelings about this.

No matter what your view on the practice of homosexuality, I'm not sure this is a biblical solution.

Will I be alone?

Will everyone miss the time change? Will I be speaking to a bunch of empty chairs?

My phone (which serves as my alarm) didn't catch the time change. Of course, once I turned it off and then back on...THEN it figured it out, but by then I was still an hour later than I wanted. Maybe it's time for an alarm clock?

I think I am "in favor" of the early time change, but the first day is always hard. Can't they figure out a way to do it a minute at a time over a period of 60 days?

No... Sprint would mess that up.

Highlighters

"You guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to one guy too.

[And he paused in awkward silence]

"But I guess that's why God invented highlighters, so we can highlight the parts we like and ignore the rest."

[Rich Mullins speaking at a chapel service in Wheaton, IL.]

A while back, I was looking through the bible I had in college. I was looking at the things I had written in the margins, the passages I highlighted (my campus ministry was big on highlighters). But mostly I was looking at the questions I asked. And I was struck by something. Most of them were questions I don't ask anymore. Not because I have the answers, but because I have bigger questions.

Many of my questions in college were about "them." Other people. ("What about the person on the island of [Bowa Bowa] who doesn't hear about Jesus?") Or they were about theological issues ("How can people NOT believe that adult baptism is necessary for salvation!!! It's right there in the bible!" AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was in the Church of Christ at the time.)

I "used" the bible a lot...reading it topically on subjects like baptism, predestination, homosexuality, women in ministry...mostly to prove the things I was being taught at the time (Which is strange if you think about it).

Back then, we called it "defending our faith." I'm not sure what I call it now.

I loved highlighters.

Now I'm older. Maybe more cynical, but probably just more awestruck by the Uncaged Lion ("...He is not a tame Lion...but he is good.").

Maybe I like letting The Lion out of the cage more. He never really belonged there in the first place...

And apparently the "cage" didn't hold him anyway. (1 Cor. 15:54)

But what that means is that, more and more, I keep running into This Lion in random places. He is not contained by my little study guides. He sneaks into my life... sometimes he prowls into the places I would least expect Him. My worry, my eating, my understanding poverty, my understanding of my poverty in riches, my relationship with my neighbors, my buying patterns, my relationship with the earth and the environment. Rather than Him being all consumed that I looked at pornography (my big college struggle), He asks me to question why pornography exists in the first place. Why do we live in a world that objectifies people? Why do we think that lust satisfies? What about the young girls (and boys) who are objects of the porn trade?

The questions are bigger, and they are not as easy to answer... there are not enough highlighters. And the answers don't fit into the study guide blanks. Sometimes they seem at odds with them.

It was easier when it was just me, my bible (and study guide!)...

And my highlighter.

The Prestige

Go rent this movie.

An "Inconvenient Truth"

POWER: GORE MANSION USES 20X AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD; CONSUMPTION INCREASE AFTER 'TRUTH'

Mon Feb 26 2007 17:16:14 ET

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee through free market policy
solutions, issued a press release late Monday:

Last night, Al Gore's global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore's mansion, [20-room, eight-bathroom] located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh-more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh-guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore's average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore's extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore's mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

"As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk to walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use," said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.

For Further Information, Contact:
Nicole Williams, (615) 383-6431
editor@tennesseepolicy.org

Giving up Christianity

Well... it's over. James Cameron (director of Titanic and self proclaimed, "King of the World") has debunked the "myth" of Jesus raising from the dead.

In this "revolutionary discovery" [yawn] they have found Jesus tomb.

Don't people read?

Why is this news?

This was found over 25 years ago! Archeologist dismissed it and said it was ridiculous! ("Wow, someone named "Maria!" Never heard THAT name before!)

Three sentences from the article say it all...

"To a layman's eye it seems pretty darn compelling," executive producer James Cameron, the Canadian director of the movie Titanic, said at a press conference in New York.

Wow... "pretty darn compelling." [yawn]

"A senior Israeli archaeologist who thoroughly researched the tomb after its discovery, and at the time deciphered the inscriptions, cast serious doubt on the documentary's claim."

But Cameron finds it, "pretty darn compelling." [double yawn]

"Professor Juergen Zangenberg, an expert on the New Testament at the Dutch University of Leiden, said the documentary's claim was unrealistic, and more likely "about money and headlines".

NO... not about money and headlines! NO... this is about the search for truth! This is about archeology and science... pretty darn compelling stuff!

[wipes sarcasm from dripping chin]

Leaving...on a jet plane...

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

worth dying for...

"Essentially, I went to Iraq because I believe in a God of scandalous grace. I have pledged allegiance to a King who loved evildoers so much he died for them, teaching us that there is something worth dying for but nothing worth killing for."

Shane Claiborne, talking about why he went as a peacekeeper to Iraq
From "The Irresistible Revolution"

Waking up is "hard" to do?

Not the greatest pictures... but man... I wish we could all wake up like my daughter.

These are taken probably within 2 minutes of each other...

Pulling back

My daughter is growing up... and it is just amazing to watch. She was around 6 months old when I took this picture. That is her sleeping... as caught by her baby monitor. (My wife and I have decided we are going to keep this camera well into her teen years.) We call this, "Lydia TV!" ("All Lydia, all the time.")

It is amazing how much joy this video baby monitor has brought to our lives. Originally purchased for her safely/my paranoia, it has been a bonding thing for my wife and me as we watch her sleep. When we first got it, she would easily fit within the shot on the camera. Sometimes during the night, she would slip down out of the view of the camera. (The vanishing baby trick.) By the time this was taken, she could not fit all of her body in the shot.

Eventually, I had to pull back. In two years, she has grown so much that now, in order to see her, we moved the camera back so that, basically, her entire crib is in the shot. Where she once had so much room in her crib it was laughable, she now often has limbs sticking out one side with other limbs sticking out the other. As she grows, continual adjustments had to be made.

I don't know, but maybe much of parenting is learning the art of pulling back. I'm not sure what this means exactly, but I know after 2 years, the way I relate to my daughter is already changing. She is getting some independence. Although most of the time, she still would rather be with her mother or me... every now and then, she just wants to be alone. And so I pull back.

By pulling back, I get perspective. By pulling back, more comes into my vision.

But it's hard... and many people don't navigate this well.

"And a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife... "

"God, remind me that the "one flesh" relationship is with my wife... not my daughter. Remind me that my goal in life is not to cleave to her, but to my wife. That our marriage was meant to be permanent, and that the goal of parenting is designed to be temporary. Help me to enjoy these years with her to their fullest, to help her to grow... and to pull back."

Haggard

My sincere hope is that my collegue is on the road to healing and restoration, but it takes me almost three weeks to change my socks.

I knew it!

Okay, my blog strike is over. Rumor has it that someone has snuck on my computer over the past couple of days, logged on using my username and password, and has been making posts using my name!

The nerve of some people!

I, for one, have been wayyyyyy to busy to do something as worthless as blog.

But now, for the really important stuff.

Ready?

I'm glad I'm using Safari and Firefox.

My friend Tobias was right.

Bill Gates is the anti-Christ.

And I have found proof.

Now, wasn't that worth the wait until I finished my blog strike?

On Strike

Due to the comments of certain members of the blogging community, I am officially on a blog strike.

It appears my comments are not prized and my valuable opinions aren't sought.

I feel nothing but disillusionment. :O)

I also am way too busy, with way too much to do, to spend anytime reading certain blogs of little or no sociological value.

I hope you all enjoy writing your posts without my commentary

Some Favorites, part 1

On Sunday, the team that went to Honduras got together to show our favorite pictures. Thought I would share some with you all.



I have nothing profound to say and won't comment on any of them...

yep... here they are...

I am so stinkin' busy...

For Patrick

ahhhhhh...

I'm not sure... is this really wise? Is this really a smart thing to do?

Great PR guys.

MP3

Okay...Does anyone know how I can post an MP3 song to this blog?

Can any of you do this through your hosting spot?

I really want you to hear a song.

No, seriously.

No, you really need to hear this.

I will always be Blue...

And that is a good thing.

A old friend of mine is one of my newest readers (Welcome!). Just hearing from him and reading his blog has made my reflect on a previous life. It is a life that is long past and will never return, but was a good thing.

I was privileged to be a member of the Bluecoats, a drum and bugle corps based out of Canton. I (along with pjeff) played lead soprano (trumpet) and got to play high, loud and fast. It was a trip. At one point in the show, 6 of us went out front and got to play high loud and fast together. (In this picture, pjeff is the one on the right of the line of 6 down front, I'm the guy right next to him to his left.) There was the official "written version" of the sextet, (which was pretty high and loud) and there was the version we made up... which was much higher and louder. Sometimes after the shows, a group of "fans" would come to the busses as we were putting our stuff away and we would play the "higher, louder, faster" version... which to them was the coolest thing. About 3 minutes of 15 minutes of fame.

Pjeff was one of my heros. He had an amazing solo (that I got to play once when he was sick) that was... well, high and loud. (You see a theme here, don't you?) At the time, I didn't know all he was struggling through, but he later became a Christian and then a pastor. (So that makes at least two of us! I'm not sure anyone in that line would have ever thought either of us would have been pastors... those were VERY different days for both of us.)

Honestly, I miss that part of my life. I've never been a person to live in the past. My best years are right now in so many ways. But that part of my life, now long gone, was great, and I wouldn't trade those years for anything. So if you ever find a 1988 Bluecoats CD, and are listening to "Autumn Leaves" (the closing song) and hear some people playing high and loud, now you know.

The Swing

Mondays are hard for many pastors. It's funny, it's not talked about a lot, but there is an emotional brokenness/drain that happens for most pastors after they teach. I have a friend who is leaving ministry this year because of the "Monday Crash." He just can't handle it anymore and he fears it will cost him his marriage... or his soul.

Rob Bell spoke about this at the conference I just attended... and I almost cried. I was like, "Yea, that is exactly how I feel." And it was so weird to have someone name it so honestly. His "take on it" is that every time you are blessed, it was because someone else is broken and poured out. It is a spiritual thing that happens. It felt a bit strange because I had 6 folks from my congregation with me... and I felt like Rob was exposing part of my soul to them.

So it was Monday.

"God, some pieces have been taken out of me this week. I have taken some hits. I have poured myself out. I feel broken. I ask that you put me back together. And I will willingly do it again... for Your sake."

Depressed and tired

Just being honest.

My birthday is in June...

So all you who are a part of Central... take note.

All together now...

yikes

Nothing to add.

Ha Ha!

I'm blogging and Sarah and Mdog aren't!

They don't have the power I have... and yet they are sitting in the same room.

Mwahaaaaaa!

Brian M's response to my speaking topics...

"Paul,

Thanks for the topic suggestions... Maybe I won't be out of town that Thursday after all. Yes, any of those topics will work just fine...however, I just did a whole 40 week series on the Ten Horned Beast in Revelation so the last one might not be good. "

Yea, Brian is a good egg.

Mars Hill

So as I type this, I'm sitting in the worship center of Mars Hill Church in Michigan (Rob Bell is the pastor here). It is a really interesting place. I drove here two summers ago when I took my Sabbatical and spent a couple of days. It's the anchor store of a mall... pretty sparse. They have painted the walls green... which is better than the white... and there is a kind of platform in the middle, but other than that, it looks like a K Mart.

I like it.

Now, I like beauty. I even like cathedral-type churches... there is an architectural beauty that honors God. But so does simplicity.

So on the drive up, a group of us were talking about "cool." What is "cool?"

I still don't think I'm cool, but I do know this... if cool is the traditional bald head and goatee... there are a lot of cool people here.

And I'm on my way to being cool... if only by nature.

Excellent

This is an excellent post. I'm sure she would appreciate your thoughts.

Okay, I'm Impressed

"This is an email I wrote tonight at 7 pm and sent to Andrew Peterson.

__________________________

Andrew (or maybe whoever is managing Andrew's email for him while he is off writing cool songs)

As a 39-year-old pastor, I am sad to say that I only recently discovered your music. A friend of mine lent me "Appendix A" -- largely for the song "Land of the Free" -- as a response to a blog post I wrote.

Anyway, I just love it. I was a big Rich Mullins fan and your music has that same mix of cynic, poet, prophet and "guy next door I want to hang out with" feel.

So I started buying up your stuff.

But I was saddened to learn that "Appendix A: Bootlegs and B-Sides" is no longer available. I read somewhere on your site that you are putting some as downloads on your site in the future...

BUT, seeing it was out of print, I was wondering if I could bootleg my friend's copy of "Bootleg?"

First, I would be happy to pay you anyway. I will send you the full amount.

Or second, if I find a copy of it, I will buy it... but I can't.

I want to honor copy-write and your work as an artist... but I really want that recording. :O)

Suggestions?

Thanks for the great music,

paul


____________

At 9:20... this shows up in my inbox...

_________________

Howdy, Paul. Thanks for the kind email. Being mentioned in the same context as Rich always freaks me out, as he was and is a huge influence on me spiritually and artistically. Feel free to burn the record. Thanks for listening!

AP"

_________________

Now I like the guy even more. Not that he gave me permission to copy his out of print CD, but he had the class to actually write back.

I'm impressed. Andrew Peterson is now on my list of "good eggs."

Speaking at Campus Crusade

I have been asked to speak at Campus Crusade in February. Last night, I got an email from Brian M. (the director) suggesting some topics, but he said he was open to what I wanted to talk about. He closed it by saying that most of the staff (including Brian himself) will be out of town that weekend for training.

Big mistake.

So I sent him the following email...

"Honestly, I have been thinking about some topics... but I appreciate the guidance you offered. The topics below have been burning in my heart recently... I believe God has given me a direct word for each of them...

So, from the Home office in Sugar Creek, Ohio I give you:

"Top Ten Speaking topics Paul is considering when Campus Crusade Leadership is away:"


#10 - "Baptism of the Holy Spirit: The importance of speaking in tongues for Christians today"

#9 - "Double Predestination and the Election of God's People : Don't worry about evangelism, they are all going to hell anyway"

#8 - "Open Theism: God is not sovereign, so you can get away with it."

#7 - "Politics and Christianity: If you don't believe like me you are not a Christian."

#6 - "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God: the Sequel"

#5 - "Dan Brown Was Right: Why you should be studying the gnostic gospels"

#4 - "Prophecy and The Church: Why you need your own personal prophet and why I should be him. (subtitled: "Reach in them Jeans and Pull out them Greens!)"

#3 - "Eternal Security: You don't have it -- so spend all your energy worrying about sinning your way out of the Kingdom of God."

#2 - Two Words: "Open Cannon"

And the #1 speaking topic is.....

#1 - "The End Times: Jesus is coming back, I know exactly when, and you might as well not study for that test on Tuesday!"


I'm guessing any of those would do... right?"

I should have known...

So I have a friend who keeps lending me albums... usually of people I have never heard of before. The normal way this works is she says, "Hey, I think you would like this..." and she hands me a CD. It then sits on the island in my kitchen for several weeks or until I take a car ride of substantial length.

And then I listen to it...

And then I say, "Why didn't I listen to this earlier!!!!!"

So I've been listening to Andrew Peterson... of course given to me by this same friend...and it is really good. He reminds me of Rich Mullens (who is a hero of mine) not just in sound, but also style. There is a bit of cynic, poet, prophet, and "guy next door I want to hang out with" mixed together. I first got hooked by the words to the opening song off this album, "Land of the Free." It reminds me of Honduras.

"Appendix A" is largely a live recording... and I am a HUGE fan of live recordings. Quite honestly, if every CD was recorded live, I would be mostly okay with that. There is an energy that happens live that is hard to capture in a studio. And you get to get a "sense" of who he is... beyond his lyrics, which are pretty raw and honest anyway.

So... join me is rushing out and buying this. Until then, Mdog will just have to do without her CD.

Are you ready?

In keeping with my New Year's resolution to be more profound, I give you...

"300 ways to eat toast.

At least 3 disturbing questions arise from this...

1. Who has enough free time to come up with 300 ways to eat toast?
2. Who actually reads this? Ah.. well...Forget that second one.
3. Who actually eats this?

A new game-night game!

Throw about that evil Werewolves game!

Gather your friends. Save sinners...meaning those instrument-playing, song writing, sinner rock musicians!

Never-mind lousy theology! Now the people who brought you "Left Behind" the book, bring you...

"Left Behind" the game!

For an amazing review of this game, go here.

Patrick! Please save us soon! "Come, gamer Patrick," come!

Why Spiders should not have hair... Reflections on a week in Honduras, part 5

Journal Entry - December 3, 2006

It's Sunday morning. I slept for the first time last night...only woke up three times! (I'm guessing it really is the medication.) There was no hot water this morning, so I skipped the shower. Heck, my pants can almost walk by themselves anyway... why put a clean body in them to get in the way!

Father, I pray for this country. There is so much poverty here. There is so much oppression and pain. But where I want to pray for this country, it makes me want to pray for the U.S. even more. In the U.S. we have a poverty of spirit... we are often the oppressors... we are numb to life and try not to feel pain. It takes so much to satisfy...

We search for fulfillment... through our jobs, relationships... our stuff... and yet we already have so much. Maybe the secret of being full really is being empty. (Food taste better when you are hungry. Sleep is better when you are tired.)

As I write this I'm sitting in the chapel. The doors are open and it overlooks a small town called, "Nueva Esparanza" (New Hope) which is the town just down the hill from Montana De Luz. Nueva Esparanza was built after the hurricane and it is (I guess) supposed to be a sign of what the government can do if it "really puts its mind to something."

If you couldn't see some of the detail, or if we didn't have to drive through the town to get to Montana, you might mistake it as quaint... all nestled in the mountains. But even from here you can see the small houses... houses that probably anywhere in the U.S. would be considered slum. You can see the roads (and I use that term loosely). Every now and then you see people walking or gathering. The town is filled with real people, with real hopes and real dreams and real struggles.

But I sit up here separate.

I am removed from it all.

On a mountain. Sitting in a chapel... protected. I have light, shelter, an appearance of protection from the "creepy crawlers." I have privilege on the mountain.

I fear this is an analogy for much of my life. I sit in safety... objectively looking a the rest of the world. Protected by my wealth... my position... my status. Now, I know that emotionally this is not true. I know emotionally I enter into people's pain all the time. (But even writing that betrays or justifies.) But much of my life is a life removed.

I think a lot of us have this tendency to see God this way. Kind of up in heaven... in the safety and protection of heaven... looking down on the pain of earth. God is the one with all the money, all the resources... all the power....but maybe the problems are just too many.

Or maybe God doesn’t really care.

I think we tend to see God looking at us like I look down on this town: we are just one big mass of people... problems... and the need is so great and it is just overwhelming.

Contrast this with Vicki, the project director. She can't walk through Montana without having kids hanging off of her. She drives her truck through town; she can't go 100 feet without getting ambushed by people yelling, "Buenos Dais, Vicki!" or her stopping to say "hi." She knows most people's names and even their families. She speaks Spanish fluently. She is a part of their lives. She has entered into their world.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent: and I begin, once again, to reflect on the truth of the incarnation: the Word became flesh and lived among us.

If the gospel is anything to me, it is this truth: God does not sit removed. But He lives among us. He has learned our language... He has entered into our world.