items of the utmost importance and extreme significance for the week of november 26-december 2nd.
- today is the last day in november which means i have been in durango for four months...part of me wants to say "four months...that's all," the other part realizes that this constitutes one third of a year, amazing.
- i love the exchange between sarah and ryan in the comments...good stuff...
- i am currently reading "what is the what" by dave eggers (number two on the all time favorite authors list). this book is very different from the other stuff he has written (including, but not limited to, "a heartbreaking work of staggering genius," "how we are hungry," and "you shall know our velocity") what is the what is to do with the story of a Sudanese refugee and in many ways this book is actually the heartbreaking work of staggering genius. (here is a plug for www.savedarfur.org)
- now that the hockey fiasco is winding down, things are pretty slow at the soccer shop...until january when indoor starts. arsenal is also disappointing us as well. they'll have a great game (see their 3-1 win over hamburg in the champions league), then stink it up with a inexplicable 3-1 loss to bolton (in the EPL). way too inconsistent.
- CTK-durango's momentum continues to build...we will be multiplying our small groups in january, moving into the bigger room in pickles on christmas eve, and looking for more ways to expand our service in the community. personally, i am enjoying this season very much, but i can't wait for the calendar to flip over to january because i think many exciting things are going to start happening once the holidays are over.
- i'll be in salinas and available to hang out the last week of december...let me know if you'll be around.
- lastly, this man is a genius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BcT4MXcNwY
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
02959
hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving. the first major holiday in durango was a ton of fun!
in the spirit of thanksgiving, i want to do just that (give thanks) for everyone who has interacted with the ID...some of the feedback i've received indicates that people seem to love the comments almost as much as the blog itself, which is a lot of fun to hear.
lastly, i would like to highly recommend the film: "stranger than fiction." it's the best movie i've seen this year, and a definite top 10 of all time. anyone who loves stories and literature will enjoy the film. the acting and writing are superb (i especially loved dustin hoffman's character....and in a moment of vulnerability i will say that maggie gyllenhaal's character is my ideal woman). it's the kind of movie that leaves you with a melancholy smile on your face as you walk out of the theater (and that, of course, is the best kind of movie).
in the spirit of thanksgiving, i want to do just that (give thanks) for everyone who has interacted with the ID...some of the feedback i've received indicates that people seem to love the comments almost as much as the blog itself, which is a lot of fun to hear.
lastly, i would like to highly recommend the film: "stranger than fiction." it's the best movie i've seen this year, and a definite top 10 of all time. anyone who loves stories and literature will enjoy the film. the acting and writing are superb (i especially loved dustin hoffman's character....and in a moment of vulnerability i will say that maggie gyllenhaal's character is my ideal woman). it's the kind of movie that leaves you with a melancholy smile on your face as you walk out of the theater (and that, of course, is the best kind of movie).
Saturday, November 18, 2006
02859
some weekend ponderings...
1) the fort went down in the DII championship, 1-0, to dowling (some school from NY). we listened to it on the radio in the shop today and they fought hard, but just couldn't finish a goal. i also hear that there are going to be some big changes this offseason...we'll see what happens next.
2) i got my ears pierced...been wanting to do this for a while and it finally happened. i had a great conversation with my piercer. when he found out i was a pastor he couldn't believe it, and not for the reason one might suspect. i thought he would say something to the effect of "pastor's don't get their ears pierced." this didn't seem to be weird to him at all. what he couldn't get over was how young i was. a direct quote: "i thought pastors were just a bunch of old guys who voted republican." i assured him that i know some young pastors who lean more towards a blue state perspective. it was a fun conversation and another moment where i left assured that i am in the right place at the right time.
3) i encountered my most angry customer in my time at the soccer shop. words cannot convey how angry this lady was (not at me specifically, although i got to bear a good deal of it). i wonder what message that sends to her kids, and i pray for anyone who can get so bent (i've never seen anyone this angry, even in a movie) over something like a jersey.
4) i am listening to the new damien rice cd on my ipod and loving it. (it happens to be titled "9", which is very much approved of here at the ID).
5) i can't wait for tomorrow. i love our little community, and the morale is so high right now on our team...this is a really fun time for us...the giddiness level at our staff meeting on wednesday was off the charts.
1) the fort went down in the DII championship, 1-0, to dowling (some school from NY). we listened to it on the radio in the shop today and they fought hard, but just couldn't finish a goal. i also hear that there are going to be some big changes this offseason...we'll see what happens next.
2) i got my ears pierced...been wanting to do this for a while and it finally happened. i had a great conversation with my piercer. when he found out i was a pastor he couldn't believe it, and not for the reason one might suspect. i thought he would say something to the effect of "pastor's don't get their ears pierced." this didn't seem to be weird to him at all. what he couldn't get over was how young i was. a direct quote: "i thought pastors were just a bunch of old guys who voted republican." i assured him that i know some young pastors who lean more towards a blue state perspective. it was a fun conversation and another moment where i left assured that i am in the right place at the right time.
3) i encountered my most angry customer in my time at the soccer shop. words cannot convey how angry this lady was (not at me specifically, although i got to bear a good deal of it). i wonder what message that sends to her kids, and i pray for anyone who can get so bent (i've never seen anyone this angry, even in a movie) over something like a jersey.
4) i am listening to the new damien rice cd on my ipod and loving it. (it happens to be titled "9", which is very much approved of here at the ID).
5) i can't wait for tomorrow. i love our little community, and the morale is so high right now on our team...this is a really fun time for us...the giddiness level at our staff meeting on wednesday was off the charts.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
02659
alright, boutry, enough of this silly soccer stuff. tell us something of substance...something important...something about your church, for crying out loud!
ok, here it is...i'm the small groups pastor, so i must tell you that my small group is amazing. it is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites. we have all kinds of interesting people, people who are quite open about their brokenness, and they have all jumped in and gotten real with each other very quickly. this is encouraging to me because this is our church! more than anything else we want people who take relationship and mission seriously and i am really starting to see that take shape.
i can't help myself...the fort plays on thursday...
i've been playing a lot of cribbage lately. i am still a master!
finished reading"tempting faith" by david kuo...fascinating tale of the seduction of power (and a lot of other things as well).
last but not least: it's cold and starting to snow!
ok, here it is...i'm the small groups pastor, so i must tell you that my small group is amazing. it is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites. we have all kinds of interesting people, people who are quite open about their brokenness, and they have all jumped in and gotten real with each other very quickly. this is encouraging to me because this is our church! more than anything else we want people who take relationship and mission seriously and i am really starting to see that take shape.
i can't help myself...the fort plays on thursday...
i've been playing a lot of cribbage lately. i am still a master!
finished reading"tempting faith" by david kuo...fascinating tale of the seduction of power (and a lot of other things as well).
last but not least: it's cold and starting to snow!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
02559
you know it's going to be a good day and you're in the right place for a soccer match when the last song they play before kickoff is dave matthew's "two step." and it was a good day for the fort lewis men's soccer team. they took out all their frustations from last week and put five in the back of the net...four of them off beautiful set pieces. it was a clinical (if anti-climactic) showing by a confident team. next weekend they go to pensacola florida to defend their championship. good luck boys!
the hooligans!
the hooligans!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
02459
some things that have been shaping my thoughts recently...
1) the irresistible revolution...
2) crowder and his concept of a rescue that has happened and will happen...
3) a book (i know, another book...where does he get the time) titled "body piercing saved my life: inside the phenomenon of christian rock"...
4) a quote from this book, where the author describes evangelical culture as "constructing an ever more-impregnable fortress in which Christians can amuse themselves while waiting out the apocalypse." (Ouch!)
5) my fear that the election results will exacerbate this reality and evangelicals will continue to retreat instead of engaging in mission...
6) relational conflict (how it seems to always lack a perspective of the bigger picture)...
7) bonfires with homeless friends...
8) trailer parks and run down apartment complexes...
9) a sermon on what you have to know vs. what you can know (see Mt. 22:37-39, Mk. 12:28-31)...
10) joy and soccer and worship...
1) the irresistible revolution...
2) crowder and his concept of a rescue that has happened and will happen...
3) a book (i know, another book...where does he get the time) titled "body piercing saved my life: inside the phenomenon of christian rock"...
4) a quote from this book, where the author describes evangelical culture as "constructing an ever more-impregnable fortress in which Christians can amuse themselves while waiting out the apocalypse." (Ouch!)
5) my fear that the election results will exacerbate this reality and evangelicals will continue to retreat instead of engaging in mission...
6) relational conflict (how it seems to always lack a perspective of the bigger picture)...
7) bonfires with homeless friends...
8) trailer parks and run down apartment complexes...
9) a sermon on what you have to know vs. what you can know (see Mt. 22:37-39, Mk. 12:28-31)...
10) joy and soccer and worship...
Sunday, November 05, 2006
02359
when you see or experience unbridled joy it can be a disarming experience. today i witnessed one of the most amazing sporting events of my life. the fort lewis men's team is ranked #2 in the nation, won the national championship last year, and in the last two years has only lost once. that loss was earlier this season to midwestern state (from witchita falls, tx). the two faced off today in the "sweet sixteen" round of the div. II playoffs.
2000 people packed into Dirks Field. It was one of the most intense environments i've ever seen...it was easy to forget that the crowd was so small (compared to say 60,000 at an nfl game). the fort controlled the ball most of the first half. i was standing with the fort lewis "hooligans" and the goons were getting restless as chance after chance presented itself with no results. then about 30 min in midwestern got a breakaway and put away their only shot of the half.
the second half began with the fort in all out attack. as the half wore on the crowd grew more nervous and boisterous. again and again the fort had great opportunities to score and just couldn't put it away. but you could see midwestern wilting in the altitude. finally, in the 88th minute (with 2:30 left on the clock)...david barden (a freshmen nonetheless) found the back of the net. pandemonium ensued. i was hugging people i'd never met...fort players were jumping into our arms along the sideline.
two overtime periods came and went with no goals, which meant a dreaded shootout. i've been impressed with the fort's goalie (tom donelly) all season and he did not disappoint with three great saves. when he knocked away the last one the place went absolutely ballistic...no one could believe what they had seen and no one wanted to leave.
what strikes me is that i went from there to church just an hour later. worship tonight was awesome and chip taught on the great commandment and i think we all felt a similar joy. the question i have is how to bridge these worlds. most of the people at the game went in to town to drink and celebrate (not a bad way to spend the evening really), but i wish people could see that joy can come on a soccer pitch and in a small room in the back of pickles worshipping God. this is what is driving us...this is our mission...
2000 people packed into Dirks Field. It was one of the most intense environments i've ever seen...it was easy to forget that the crowd was so small (compared to say 60,000 at an nfl game). the fort controlled the ball most of the first half. i was standing with the fort lewis "hooligans" and the goons were getting restless as chance after chance presented itself with no results. then about 30 min in midwestern got a breakaway and put away their only shot of the half.
the second half began with the fort in all out attack. as the half wore on the crowd grew more nervous and boisterous. again and again the fort had great opportunities to score and just couldn't put it away. but you could see midwestern wilting in the altitude. finally, in the 88th minute (with 2:30 left on the clock)...david barden (a freshmen nonetheless) found the back of the net. pandemonium ensued. i was hugging people i'd never met...fort players were jumping into our arms along the sideline.
two overtime periods came and went with no goals, which meant a dreaded shootout. i've been impressed with the fort's goalie (tom donelly) all season and he did not disappoint with three great saves. when he knocked away the last one the place went absolutely ballistic...no one could believe what they had seen and no one wanted to leave.
what strikes me is that i went from there to church just an hour later. worship tonight was awesome and chip taught on the great commandment and i think we all felt a similar joy. the question i have is how to bridge these worlds. most of the people at the game went in to town to drink and celebrate (not a bad way to spend the evening really), but i wish people could see that joy can come on a soccer pitch and in a small room in the back of pickles worshipping God. this is what is driving us...this is our mission...
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