if there's one thing i've learned from this blogging experience it's this: if you want people to respond, talk about the poor or reveal information concerning your love life...so if you're thinking of starting a blog, take that into consideration!
here's what's going on...
- the early feedback from our new small group format is pretty positive. in particular, i am loving my group. i had some concerns about studying ecclesiastes but this group has definitely risen to the challenge so far.
- interesting things continue to develop with our church...from people stepping up into new/increased roles to developments in terms of a more "permanent" location...it's all very exciting and i am enjoying the moment and also excited about what will happen next.
- congrats to tony dungy...he demonstrates that you don't have to be a certain "type" of person to be a leader and that success is defined in bigger terms than winning and losing.
- finally, i knew this day was coming, but it's sad to see mike matheny go...he is a great man in every sense of the word and the Giants are going to miss him.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070201&content_id=1792094&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
04059
check this out!!!
http://www.myspace.com/waitingforrescue
also, more on tony dungy...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/michael_silver/01/25/colts/index.html
http://www.myspace.com/waitingforrescue
also, more on tony dungy...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/michael_silver/01/25/colts/index.html
Monday, January 22, 2007
03959
thoughts on the world of sports...
1) i know i've made a couple of statements in this space about how i've become a two sport man at this point in my life (soccer and baseball), but last night's game between the colts and the patriots got my attention. i was only able to see the first and last five minutes of the game, but those last five minutes...wow!
a lot is going to be written and said about peyton manning getting to his first super bowl, and a lot is being made about the first two african-american coaches to lead teams to the super bowl. for years now i've been rooting for tony dungy to be the guy to do it first (he's the coach of the colts for those who don't know)...i don't know if there is a classier guy who carries himself with so much dignity in any sport. he's why i'm pulling for the colts in two weeks.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jeffri_chadiha/01/22/lovie/index.html?section=si_latest
2) everyone is talking about what an incredible finish in the colts/pats game, but across the pond another great rivalry went down the last minute as well. arsenal beat manchester united (think red sox vs. yankees) 2-1 on a last minute header by thiery henri. a truly stunning result after arsenal was down 1-0 at half.
3) many experts feel the giants are going to walk away from barry bonds. i don't know how i feel about this, but it will be truly amazing if they have the guts to do it, and it would be fascinating to see who, if anyone, picks him up at this point.
that's it for now,,,
1) i know i've made a couple of statements in this space about how i've become a two sport man at this point in my life (soccer and baseball), but last night's game between the colts and the patriots got my attention. i was only able to see the first and last five minutes of the game, but those last five minutes...wow!
a lot is going to be written and said about peyton manning getting to his first super bowl, and a lot is being made about the first two african-american coaches to lead teams to the super bowl. for years now i've been rooting for tony dungy to be the guy to do it first (he's the coach of the colts for those who don't know)...i don't know if there is a classier guy who carries himself with so much dignity in any sport. he's why i'm pulling for the colts in two weeks.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jeffri_chadiha/01/22/lovie/index.html?section=si_latest
2) everyone is talking about what an incredible finish in the colts/pats game, but across the pond another great rivalry went down the last minute as well. arsenal beat manchester united (think red sox vs. yankees) 2-1 on a last minute header by thiery henri. a truly stunning result after arsenal was down 1-0 at half.
3) many experts feel the giants are going to walk away from barry bonds. i don't know how i feel about this, but it will be truly amazing if they have the guts to do it, and it would be fascinating to see who, if anyone, picks him up at this point.
that's it for now,,,
Monday, January 15, 2007
03859
miscellaneous thoughts...
1) i enjoyed the comments about the most recent post. some good thoughts and even counseling taking place in cyberspace. so, thanks for participating.
2) we're swinging into a new small group season here to start off the new year. my group is studying ecclesiastes and i have been having a great time preparing for that. i have no idea if this is going to work in a small group (i think it will, but that doesn't always guarantee success), but still i am excited to see what happens and where it goes.
3) we continue to seek new ways to serve our community...in the next few weeks we'll start cooking dinner at a different shelter in durango.
4) i've recently been found on myspace by an old friend from college...he and his wife and friends are doing some pretty cool things in stockton, ca...i've added a link to a forum about what they're doing called "The Great Banquet"
5) donald miller has some excellent thoughts about the upcoming presidential campaign...you can read these thoughts at his blog www.donaldmillerwords.com/index
1) i enjoyed the comments about the most recent post. some good thoughts and even counseling taking place in cyberspace. so, thanks for participating.
2) we're swinging into a new small group season here to start off the new year. my group is studying ecclesiastes and i have been having a great time preparing for that. i have no idea if this is going to work in a small group (i think it will, but that doesn't always guarantee success), but still i am excited to see what happens and where it goes.
3) we continue to seek new ways to serve our community...in the next few weeks we'll start cooking dinner at a different shelter in durango.
4) i've recently been found on myspace by an old friend from college...he and his wife and friends are doing some pretty cool things in stockton, ca...i've added a link to a forum about what they're doing called "The Great Banquet"
5) donald miller has some excellent thoughts about the upcoming presidential campaign...you can read these thoughts at his blog www.donaldmillerwords.com/index
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
03759
"if CTK-Durango is an experiment in anything, it's an experiement in the power of relationships." i think this is true of CTK in general, but it's especially true of our community here...or at least that's the goal.
sometimes i feel like this is a new thing, that i am learning all this for the first time...and that may be true in practice, but defintely not in theory. in so many ways what i am doing, in helping to lead this community in durango in the way we are going, is a natural progession of everything that has come before.
most recently, my thinking in the relational dynamic of what God is up to in the world has been pushed by eugene peterson's book, "Eat this Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading."
chip and i have been talking about this relational dynamic for a while...but again, for me this is the culmination of things that began some time ago, most likely in college through intervarsity and learning about the importance of community, through being mentored by the likes of jay d, through ron demolor's (mount hermon) mantra "the kingdom of God is a kingdom of right relationships," through prof. korch at western, through the philosopher john macmurray (see: the self as agent and persons in relation), through donald miller's relentless pursuit of the relational dynamic of the gospel (see: Searching for God Knows What), through conversations and doing life with rmac, through dave browning (lead pastor of the CTK network), through studying John with the nexus, and now live and in technicolor here in durango. it is no surprise that i am here in terms of my theology, hermeneutics, and praxis. and i love it.
here's what eugene is speaking to me about this (he's talking about how we read and interpret Scripture): "here's the thing: every part of the revelation, every aspect, every form is personal--God is relational at the core--and so whatever is said, whatever is revealed, whatever is recieved is also personal and relational. there is nothing impersonal, nothing merely functional, everything from beginning to end and in between is personal. God is inherently and inclusively personal. the corollary to that is that i, because i am a person, am personally involved in the revelation. every word i hear, everything i see in my imagination as this story unfolds, involves me relationally, pulls me into participation, matters to my core identity, affects who i am and what i do."
thanks eugene...
sometimes i feel like this is a new thing, that i am learning all this for the first time...and that may be true in practice, but defintely not in theory. in so many ways what i am doing, in helping to lead this community in durango in the way we are going, is a natural progession of everything that has come before.
most recently, my thinking in the relational dynamic of what God is up to in the world has been pushed by eugene peterson's book, "Eat this Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading."
chip and i have been talking about this relational dynamic for a while...but again, for me this is the culmination of things that began some time ago, most likely in college through intervarsity and learning about the importance of community, through being mentored by the likes of jay d, through ron demolor's (mount hermon) mantra "the kingdom of God is a kingdom of right relationships," through prof. korch at western, through the philosopher john macmurray (see: the self as agent and persons in relation), through donald miller's relentless pursuit of the relational dynamic of the gospel (see: Searching for God Knows What), through conversations and doing life with rmac, through dave browning (lead pastor of the CTK network), through studying John with the nexus, and now live and in technicolor here in durango. it is no surprise that i am here in terms of my theology, hermeneutics, and praxis. and i love it.
here's what eugene is speaking to me about this (he's talking about how we read and interpret Scripture): "here's the thing: every part of the revelation, every aspect, every form is personal--God is relational at the core--and so whatever is said, whatever is revealed, whatever is recieved is also personal and relational. there is nothing impersonal, nothing merely functional, everything from beginning to end and in between is personal. God is inherently and inclusively personal. the corollary to that is that i, because i am a person, am personally involved in the revelation. every word i hear, everything i see in my imagination as this story unfolds, involves me relationally, pulls me into participation, matters to my core identity, affects who i am and what i do."
thanks eugene...
Friday, January 05, 2007
03559
finally, a new post...the last two weeks have been filled with epic events: some glorious (such as spending time with friends and family...the giant's signing barry zito), some tragic (the canceling of flights and the losing of bags). there are many more things to say, books to recommend, amusing antecdotes to share...but for now, all i can say is i'm glad to be home and i am yearning for a "normal" week. here's yet another reason why i love durango...
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
03459
2006...the year of youtube and chuck norris...
...i offer my humble top 5 lists for 2006 in books, music, and movies. you know, the important stuff =)
...as one who claims integration as a high value it pains me to make the following confession: i've had to split the books lists into two groups, what i will call "required" and "non-required" reading...thre are two reasons for this: 1) i read too many books to have just one top 5 list and 2) as much as i like to integrate everything that i read there really are two categories...while all the books i've read, i believe, relate to life and ministry, some speak more directly to the later and therefore deserve their own list. so, here it goes
top 5 in "required" reading for 2006
1) The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (i know, big surprise here...i've said perhaps more than i should have about this book in this space, but for the sake of this list i need to say "thank you shane for giving us permission to be idealists and 'holy fools'")
2) The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch (what Claiborne's book has been to our "staff" discussion the last few months, this book was during the first half of the year...while not a blueprint for what we are doing here in durango, no other book has shaped my/our philosophy of ministry like this one)
3) Deliberate Simplicity by Dave Browning (hopefully he won't fire me for putting his book 3rd...ha ha...this is the blueprint)
4) Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus (at CTK we are about 3 things: worship, small groups, and service...mcmanus says there are three "cravings" of the soul that everyone needs satisfied to be fully human...they are meaning (worship), intimacy (small groups), and destiny (service)...fascinating)
5) Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven But Nobody Wants To Die: Or the Eschatology of Bluegrass by David Crowder and Mike Hogan (this makes the list, closely beating out The Myth of a Chrstian Nation, because of the section of the book called "columns"...i am a sucker for magical realism)
top 5 in "non-required" reading for 2006
1) The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer (best memoir i've read since Angela's Ashes)
2) Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe by Sam Walker (this book follow the travails of a baseball season through the lens of one of the most prestigious fantasy leagues in the country...he absolutely nails the highs and lows of fantasy baseball)
3) What is the What by Dave Eggers (i really expected this book to just rip away at the US for what it's done, or not done, for the Sudan crisis, but i have to say it wasn't like that at all...nonetheless it is a hard book to read, and i don't know what's harder to read: the atrocities of the civil war/refugee experience, or the inhumanity of the robbery of the main character's atlanta apartment and everything that follows from that)
4) Tempting Faith by David Kuo (a tale of how the political machine can grind down even the best intentioned people)
5) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (ok, i know this didn't come out this year, but i read it this year for the first time and i loved it)
top 5 songs for 2006
1) The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves [i unapologetically love this band...i haven't been this excited about a new band since a certain lead man for further seems forever started his little side project...the whole album "we don't need to whisper" is amazing, and in many ways parallels my own journey this year]
2) I've Had Enough by the David Crowder Band [a test of a great song is that it breaks your heart the first time you hear it and it can do the same thing months later after you've listened to it 100 times...this is such a song, and it's only 65 seconds long...genius]
3) When You Were Young by the Killers [i'm not a huge killers fan...i only like 4 or 5 of their songs...but, wow, the ones that i like, i really like...this was the most played song on my itunes]
4) Don't Wait by Dashboard Confessional (i keep thinking i'll grow out of this band one of these days...this last album was far from great, but this song, along with Stolen and Currents, is just too good to ignore...i'll continue to indulge a little while longer)
5) 9 Crimes by Damien Rice (i prefer the demo version with the guitars over the version that opens the cd...but both are perfectly damien rice: haunting and depressing)
top 5 movies for 2006
1) Stranger Than Fiction (i've already talked about this one...there's this great scene where will ferell's character is trying to figure out if the story he's in is a tragedy or a comedy so he keeps score in a notebook...at the end of the day he has 5 points for comedy and about 100 for tragedy...emo kids all over the country will posting that scene on their myspace pages as soon as it's available)
2) Little Miss Sunshine (it'll make you laugh, it'll make cringe, and then it will make you cry)
3) Goal! (it's about soccer, so maybe i'm biased, but i think it's one of the best sports movies ever)
4) Nacho Libre (no explanation is needed)
5) Accepted (if you know me at all, you'll know why i loved this movie)
so there you have it...the art and entertainment that enriched my 2006. feel free to send me (or post) your own top 5's!!
merry christmas...
...i offer my humble top 5 lists for 2006 in books, music, and movies. you know, the important stuff =)
...as one who claims integration as a high value it pains me to make the following confession: i've had to split the books lists into two groups, what i will call "required" and "non-required" reading...thre are two reasons for this: 1) i read too many books to have just one top 5 list and 2) as much as i like to integrate everything that i read there really are two categories...while all the books i've read, i believe, relate to life and ministry, some speak more directly to the later and therefore deserve their own list. so, here it goes
top 5 in "required" reading for 2006
1) The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (i know, big surprise here...i've said perhaps more than i should have about this book in this space, but for the sake of this list i need to say "thank you shane for giving us permission to be idealists and 'holy fools'")
2) The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch (what Claiborne's book has been to our "staff" discussion the last few months, this book was during the first half of the year...while not a blueprint for what we are doing here in durango, no other book has shaped my/our philosophy of ministry like this one)
3) Deliberate Simplicity by Dave Browning (hopefully he won't fire me for putting his book 3rd...ha ha...this is the blueprint)
4) Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus (at CTK we are about 3 things: worship, small groups, and service...mcmanus says there are three "cravings" of the soul that everyone needs satisfied to be fully human...they are meaning (worship), intimacy (small groups), and destiny (service)...fascinating)
5) Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven But Nobody Wants To Die: Or the Eschatology of Bluegrass by David Crowder and Mike Hogan (this makes the list, closely beating out The Myth of a Chrstian Nation, because of the section of the book called "columns"...i am a sucker for magical realism)
top 5 in "non-required" reading for 2006
1) The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer (best memoir i've read since Angela's Ashes)
2) Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe by Sam Walker (this book follow the travails of a baseball season through the lens of one of the most prestigious fantasy leagues in the country...he absolutely nails the highs and lows of fantasy baseball)
3) What is the What by Dave Eggers (i really expected this book to just rip away at the US for what it's done, or not done, for the Sudan crisis, but i have to say it wasn't like that at all...nonetheless it is a hard book to read, and i don't know what's harder to read: the atrocities of the civil war/refugee experience, or the inhumanity of the robbery of the main character's atlanta apartment and everything that follows from that)
4) Tempting Faith by David Kuo (a tale of how the political machine can grind down even the best intentioned people)
5) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (ok, i know this didn't come out this year, but i read it this year for the first time and i loved it)
top 5 songs for 2006
1) The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves [i unapologetically love this band...i haven't been this excited about a new band since a certain lead man for further seems forever started his little side project...the whole album "we don't need to whisper" is amazing, and in many ways parallels my own journey this year]
2) I've Had Enough by the David Crowder Band [a test of a great song is that it breaks your heart the first time you hear it and it can do the same thing months later after you've listened to it 100 times...this is such a song, and it's only 65 seconds long...genius]
3) When You Were Young by the Killers [i'm not a huge killers fan...i only like 4 or 5 of their songs...but, wow, the ones that i like, i really like...this was the most played song on my itunes]
4) Don't Wait by Dashboard Confessional (i keep thinking i'll grow out of this band one of these days...this last album was far from great, but this song, along with Stolen and Currents, is just too good to ignore...i'll continue to indulge a little while longer)
5) 9 Crimes by Damien Rice (i prefer the demo version with the guitars over the version that opens the cd...but both are perfectly damien rice: haunting and depressing)
top 5 movies for 2006
1) Stranger Than Fiction (i've already talked about this one...there's this great scene where will ferell's character is trying to figure out if the story he's in is a tragedy or a comedy so he keeps score in a notebook...at the end of the day he has 5 points for comedy and about 100 for tragedy...emo kids all over the country will posting that scene on their myspace pages as soon as it's available)
2) Little Miss Sunshine (it'll make you laugh, it'll make cringe, and then it will make you cry)
3) Goal! (it's about soccer, so maybe i'm biased, but i think it's one of the best sports movies ever)
4) Nacho Libre (no explanation is needed)
5) Accepted (if you know me at all, you'll know why i loved this movie)
so there you have it...the art and entertainment that enriched my 2006. feel free to send me (or post) your own top 5's!!
merry christmas...
Saturday, December 16, 2006
03359
(1:oo pm) i had this amazing picture i was going to post...it was going to be the center-piece of this particular post, but unfortunately i lost the cable that connects my camera to the computer...so no picture, no wonderful post. now what am i supposed to do? (christmas present idea: usb cable for an hp photosmart r717 digital camera...hint hint).
well, now i just have to wing it...some random thoughts...not excited about the giants 2007 squad...excited about catching up with a lot of people next week...very excited about christmas with the fam...not excited about losing camera cables...loving the fact that the cable has been shut off for a couple of weeks now, it's like a new world without tv...this means tv shows on dvd (i.e. season one of how i met your mother...awesome)...
no book recommendations today (however, check out the new issue of the burnside writer's collective...link is to the right, right over there)...more than enough to keep interested and entertained...later this week will likely be my last post for '06 which means...top 5 lists!
(8:05 pm) the cord has been found! never mind all that at the beginning...here's a totally different, but amazing picture for to you look at anyway!
well, now i just have to wing it...some random thoughts...not excited about the giants 2007 squad...excited about catching up with a lot of people next week...very excited about christmas with the fam...not excited about losing camera cables...loving the fact that the cable has been shut off for a couple of weeks now, it's like a new world without tv...this means tv shows on dvd (i.e. season one of how i met your mother...awesome)...
no book recommendations today (however, check out the new issue of the burnside writer's collective...link is to the right, right over there)...more than enough to keep interested and entertained...later this week will likely be my last post for '06 which means...top 5 lists!
(8:05 pm) the cord has been found! never mind all that at the beginning...here's a totally different, but amazing picture for to you look at anyway!
Saturday, December 09, 2006
03259
whew! that last post really generated some interesting feedback...thanks to everyone who i got to engage in a bit of dialogue with, that was fun! (next time i quote shane i'll make sure i have a little more free time in the schedule...and perhaps next time i'll pick a really controversial quote)
- for those of you who have itunes and are into podcasts, check out the mosaic podcast from 12/3 "new under the sun"...mcmanus has some great things to say to those of us who are idealistically bent...there was so much illumination coming from my computer that i had to leave the room.
- tomorrow i'm teaching out of john 1 and i'm pretty excited about it...(i know what you are thinking...especially if you were involved with the nexus when i was there: can this guy do anything outside the book of John?)
- stephen colbert was voted 2006 media person of the year...awesome! http://www.iwantmedia.com/personoftheyear/06.html
- the david crowder band has been nominated for MSN's artist of the year...along with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Kenny Chesney, Prince, and INXS (http://music.msn.com/music/artistofthemonth) i have a couple of thoughts about this...
1) he's winning by a land slide which is a testament to Crowder's ability to mobilize his fan base (although i wonder if the other artists even know they are nominated...i don't think Christina is too worried about MSN)
2) more importantly, it demonstrates once again (as if we needed more evidence) that Crowder is clearly operating on a different level than anyone else in the christian music industry (especially in that bizarre genre know as "worship")...Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall...insert your favorite worship leader here...are good (please don't take this as a tomlin bashing..wink, wink...) but they are not even in the same league...
one of these days i'll post something about the chapter on crowder from the book "body piercing saved my life"...there's some fascinating stuff in there.
that's it for now...christmas parties abound!
ps. for those of you who are tracking with some of the poverty stuff i've been writing about, here's a book recommendation for you: "the new friars: the emerging movement serving the world's poor," by scott bessenecker...it's a worthy follow up to shane's book.
- for those of you who have itunes and are into podcasts, check out the mosaic podcast from 12/3 "new under the sun"...mcmanus has some great things to say to those of us who are idealistically bent...there was so much illumination coming from my computer that i had to leave the room.
- tomorrow i'm teaching out of john 1 and i'm pretty excited about it...(i know what you are thinking...especially if you were involved with the nexus when i was there: can this guy do anything outside the book of John?)
- stephen colbert was voted 2006 media person of the year...awesome! http://www.iwantmedia.com/personoftheyear/06.html
- the david crowder band has been nominated for MSN's artist of the year...along with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Kenny Chesney, Prince, and INXS (http://music.msn.com/music/artistofthemonth) i have a couple of thoughts about this...
1) he's winning by a land slide which is a testament to Crowder's ability to mobilize his fan base (although i wonder if the other artists even know they are nominated...i don't think Christina is too worried about MSN)
2) more importantly, it demonstrates once again (as if we needed more evidence) that Crowder is clearly operating on a different level than anyone else in the christian music industry (especially in that bizarre genre know as "worship")...Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall...insert your favorite worship leader here...are good (please don't take this as a tomlin bashing..wink, wink...) but they are not even in the same league...
one of these days i'll post something about the chapter on crowder from the book "body piercing saved my life"...there's some fascinating stuff in there.
that's it for now...christmas parties abound!
ps. for those of you who are tracking with some of the poverty stuff i've been writing about, here's a book recommendation for you: "the new friars: the emerging movement serving the world's poor," by scott bessenecker...it's a worthy follow up to shane's book.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
03159
here are a few quotes that have been pushing my thinking lately...
1) this is from an interview with kieran kelly, a music producer who's worked with the likes of sufjan stevens and others in the indie rock scene...he's talking about how his faith informs his work and how easy it is for him to turn conversations to the spiritual.
"That is one of the great things that music does to people; it tends to be a much more open environment to be able to have discussions. As opposed to working in an office where if someone was a drug addict or had some sort of extreme lifestyle, it'd be hidden from public view, in a rock 'n' roll setting, everything goes."
i love this quote and it's implications for our church...i hope ctk-durango will always be more rock 'n' roll than stuffy office.
2) if i could i would probably quote shane claiborne's entire book (the irresistible revolution), but here's something i've definitely been experiencing...shane writes: "it is a beautiful thing when folks in poverty are no longer just a missions project but become genuine friends with whom we laugh, cry, dream, and struggle."
this really hit home for me last week. we've been serving at the manna house (the local soup kitchen) and making a lot of friends with some of the "regulars." last tuesday there was a going away party for one of the employees, and i was invited, but couldn't come until about half an hour into the festivities. when i walked in i was immediately confronted with an interesting scenario. the party had naturally organized itself into four groups. one group was comprised of well dressed older gentlemen (i learned that this was the board of directors)...another was a group of older retired couples, sweet people who serve regularly at the kitchen...the third group was made up of a few middle aged folks, again faithful volunteers...
and then the fourth group was jim, james, randall, and two other "clients" sitting by themselves in the corner. i went and sat with them and was simultaneously welcomed and chastised..."what are you doing hanging out with us?" "don't you realize this isn't the happening social scene." they gave me a hard time, but also expressed genuine gratefulness that someone came and sat and ate with them.
i couldn't help thinking that these guys were the only people in the room i would call friends...what other circle of people was i really going to sit down with.
i share this story not to pat myself on the back, or to say that everyone else there was lame, but to show the reality i see behind shane's quote. it really is a beautiful thing. i didn't sit with those guys because i felt sorry for them, because i am such a great guy, or even because of some holy/guilty compulsion. plain and simple, they were the people in the room i know and who know me. beautiful.
i know a lot of church planting manuals will tell you about how to be strategic and find all these successful people to join your church and tithe big and be your elders, but somehow that seems wierd when Jesus says stuff like: "those who are last will be first...everyone who exalts himself will be humbled...when you give a banquet invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." (see Luke 12-19).
my two deep thoughts for the week. here's to a rock 'n' roll church and jim, james, and randall.
peace
1) this is from an interview with kieran kelly, a music producer who's worked with the likes of sufjan stevens and others in the indie rock scene...he's talking about how his faith informs his work and how easy it is for him to turn conversations to the spiritual.
"That is one of the great things that music does to people; it tends to be a much more open environment to be able to have discussions. As opposed to working in an office where if someone was a drug addict or had some sort of extreme lifestyle, it'd be hidden from public view, in a rock 'n' roll setting, everything goes."
i love this quote and it's implications for our church...i hope ctk-durango will always be more rock 'n' roll than stuffy office.
2) if i could i would probably quote shane claiborne's entire book (the irresistible revolution), but here's something i've definitely been experiencing...shane writes: "it is a beautiful thing when folks in poverty are no longer just a missions project but become genuine friends with whom we laugh, cry, dream, and struggle."
this really hit home for me last week. we've been serving at the manna house (the local soup kitchen) and making a lot of friends with some of the "regulars." last tuesday there was a going away party for one of the employees, and i was invited, but couldn't come until about half an hour into the festivities. when i walked in i was immediately confronted with an interesting scenario. the party had naturally organized itself into four groups. one group was comprised of well dressed older gentlemen (i learned that this was the board of directors)...another was a group of older retired couples, sweet people who serve regularly at the kitchen...the third group was made up of a few middle aged folks, again faithful volunteers...
and then the fourth group was jim, james, randall, and two other "clients" sitting by themselves in the corner. i went and sat with them and was simultaneously welcomed and chastised..."what are you doing hanging out with us?" "don't you realize this isn't the happening social scene." they gave me a hard time, but also expressed genuine gratefulness that someone came and sat and ate with them.
i couldn't help thinking that these guys were the only people in the room i would call friends...what other circle of people was i really going to sit down with.
i share this story not to pat myself on the back, or to say that everyone else there was lame, but to show the reality i see behind shane's quote. it really is a beautiful thing. i didn't sit with those guys because i felt sorry for them, because i am such a great guy, or even because of some holy/guilty compulsion. plain and simple, they were the people in the room i know and who know me. beautiful.
i know a lot of church planting manuals will tell you about how to be strategic and find all these successful people to join your church and tithe big and be your elders, but somehow that seems wierd when Jesus says stuff like: "those who are last will be first...everyone who exalts himself will be humbled...when you give a banquet invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." (see Luke 12-19).
my two deep thoughts for the week. here's to a rock 'n' roll church and jim, james, and randall.
peace
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
03059
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
- 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
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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