Community

Bellian or Piperian

2011-03-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

In the 4th - 5th century people were defined as Pelagian or Augustinian. This month, (an possibly year) a different sort of identification has risen. John Piper tweeted, "Farewell Rob Bell" last week, creating a media, blogging, and flaming frenzy as people worked to criticize and support Bell for a book that hadn't even been released yet, Love Wins.

Both Bell and Piper are respected pastors, both Bell and Piper believe in Scripture, and both seek to serve God, their hermeneutics, (the way that they study and read the Bible) however differ.

Here's a quiz to help you figure out which side you stand on.

1. When God looks at you…
P. His Holiness sees one totally depraved, a sinner deserving nothing but damnation
B. Your Creator sees a beautiful part of God’s Good world

2. We know that God is Love because…
P. The salvation of even one sinner
B. Our Redeemer continuously, freely, and faithfully pursues us through Sin, Law, and Death

3. God’s work in the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus is Good News for…
P. A limited number of people God chose before time (and not for the reprobate majority)
B. All of God’s Creation…every person, society, and all of history.

4. The Christian Gospel is persuasive because….
P. You have to! God wills your election, gives you faith, and preserves it.
B. You get to! The story in scripture, the work of God in the world, and life in the way of Jesus is eternally good, true, and beautiful.

(HomebrewedChristianity)

Hopefully by understanding which side you resonate with more, you will be more understanding and patient with those on the other side .

Universalsm or Pluralism or ??? What??????

2011-03-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

I believe that 2011 will bring a new schism into evangelical and popular Christianity. Being familiar with these definitions will help in the conversation:

Universalism is the general belief that all will be saved, regardless of religious beliefs. The Muslim and the Christian are on the same basic path—and for universalists all will be saved.

Universalism needs to be distinguished from pluralism (though as I have sketched “universalism” above there is precious little difference). Pluralism focuses on the legitimacy of each religion and belief system and that each of them prepares a person for final existence with God. For pluralists, there’s no unique saving place for Jesus Christ.

Christian universalism is a bit different: Christian universalism denies pluralism and balder forms of universalism by contending that all can or will be saved, but only through the saving work of Jesus Christ. While many who advocate this fail to recognize that those in other religions simply don’t believe such a thing, and in fact may say they don’t want to be saved through Christ, the Christian universalist confidently trots out the idea that whether they know it or not, God saves through Jesus Christ. But the big point here is that all can and will be saved through Christ.

Evangelical universalism is newer on the block and argues that God saves exclusively through Christ and that those who deny Christ, or who have not heard of Christ, or who have rejected God’s natural revelation to them, will be judged and will experience hell. In other words, these folks believe in hell—though they believe “less” (or as they might say “more”) than the traditionalist. But they believe hell is not eternal but instead temporary and once one has experienced judgment for one’s sins one will have, by the grace of God and through the merits of Christ, the opportunity to respond to the Gospel—and this news is so good and God’s offer so gracious that eventually hell will be emptied and all will find redemption in Christ to enjoy God’s salvation forever.

There is yet another version: annihilationism or conditional immortality. This view is traditional in its appeal to evangelism and to the gospel of salvation through Christ alone—it is an exclusive claim—and that those who don’t respond to the Gospel will be judged and will experience hell, but that eventually their punishment will run out and they will be utterly destroyed and annihilated and cease from existence. Here one has both a traditional view of hell and, at the same time, some kind of correlation between temporary sins—say 75 years of utter rejection of all things pertaining to what they know of God and Christ—and the experience of justice. When that justice runs its course that person will be utterly extinguished. Instead of an eternal consciousness of separation from God, these folks believe only in eternal consequences.

Then there’s the traditional view: those who reject Christ, and some believe God’s mercy will be wide enough to include those who have never heard of Christ but have responded to the light they have comprehended (inclusivism)—and there’s latitude here for variations of several sorts—will be judged on the basis of that light. For traditionalists and some inclusivists their number is few so that billions who have not responded to Christ will suffer eternal and conscious separation from God. Some inclusivists would contend that many, if not most, humans will be finally saved.

(Definitions from Scott McKnight from an article in Relevant Magazine)

Serving as a Family

2010-09-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

I made the decision long ago to serve the youth as a family, rather than to serve the youth with a family.

Looks like I wasn't the only one.

Andrew Jones, Tall Skinny Kiwi, recently posted this as a major game changer in his life:

BONUS GAME CHANGER: To minister as a family instead of a trying to minister as a man with a family. My kids and my wife, and even our dog, are all an integral part of what God has called us to do. That game changer has been great for all of us and has opened up more doors than you could imagine.

Naked Religion

2010-03-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't read Richard Rohr's The Naked Now, but after reading this excerpt posted by Zach of Jimmy Eat World, I'm tempted to.

If certitude, predictability, and perfect order were so important, Jesus would have come in a time of digital recorders and cameras, and he would have at least written his ideas down somewhere–and more clearly! He would have described his task as the establishing of archives instead of a sprawling banquet of rich food and wine, as he consistently did. He said, “I have come that you might have life, and a very abundant life at that” (John 10:10). How did we ever get correct rational ideas confused with an abundant life? This happens perhaps to folks who are unwilling to let got of their attachment to their images of themselves, the world, and God. They will not let go of their attachments for a living relationship. “The old wine is good enough,” they say (Luke 5:39), and so they miss out on the great banquet that all the mystics, the prophets, and Jesus describe.

Surely God does not exist so that we can think correctly about Him — or Her. Amazingly and wonderfully, like all good parents, God desires instead the flourishing of what God created and what God loves — us ourselves. Ironically, we flourish more by learning from our mistakes and changing than by a straight course that teaches us nothing.

Qualities for work force

2009-12-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

Posted in the class I am subbing:

"The two most important qualities for students seeking permanent places in the work force inthe 21st century are:

Flexible thinking.

Getting along with people who are different from you.

SCANS Report - US Department of Labor"

Shane Claiborne in Esquire?

2009-12-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

Great article, great audience.

From the guy who brought you Blue Like Jazz

2009-08-31T14:05:00.000-07:00

A Million Miles In A Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Youth is fleeting

2009-07-20T13:41:00.001-07:00

Wow! From woodstock to middle aged...what will my next 60ish years entail?

(taken from here)

Memories of my youth

2009-07-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

When I was little my dad would visit me every Tuesday and take me, my brother & my sister to his house for dinner. For a solid year every Tuesday night we would pick up Little Caesars, "pizza pizza," and watch this:

Still Learning from Hume

2009-06-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

God has used many books and people to shape me. One teacher who was influential in my spiritual development was a Hume Speaker, Mike Devries, who spoke at camp the first year I was youth pastor at OVCC. On Mike Devries blogsite, he quote's a friend's posting that I have already verbally shared with many, and that I have found tremendous in helping me to understand church.
In it, Peter Rollin's book, How (not) to Speak About God, is quoted, and I must confess, I started the book years ago, but was never able to finish it. After reading this excerpt, perhaps I'll add it to my summer reading and give it another go.

We Teach Others How to Treat Us
2009 June 8
by Rustin

I’m a fan of what Peter Rollins does with his Ikon ‘community’ in Belfast. This section (below) of a recent interview caught my attention.

I have seen too many people I love get upset at ‘the church’ because, after they withdrew from involvement and disappeared for weeks, ‘the church’ didn’t call them. I could write all day about the consumeristic assumptions behind those kinds of sentiments that I simply don’t share. But more simply, that view lets ourselves off the hook for building authentic relationships and puts all the accountability on others.

The fact is (rightly understood) we teach others how to treat us. We actively receive care and concern from others. We communicate that we aren’t interested in receiving concern and care when we don’t participate, don’t show up, don’t take responsibility, and don’t ourselves call to show concern about others. How others treat us is often an accurate reflection of our own commitment (or lack thereof) to the community.

Here’s Peter Rollins:

Paradoxically, I say, “Ikon doesn’t care about you. Ikon doesn’t give a crap if you are going through a divorce. The only person who cares is the person sitting beside you, and if that person doesn’t care, you’re stuffed.” People will say, “I left the church because they didn’t phone me when my dad died, and that was really hurtful.” But the problem is not that the church didn’t phone but that it promised to phone. I say, “Ikon ain’t ever gonna phone ya.” Pete Rollins might. But if he does, it will be as Pete Rollins and not as a representative of Ikon. Ikon will never notice if you don’t come. But if you’ve made a connection with the person sitting next to you, that person might.
Ikon is like the people who run a pub. It’s not their responsibility to help the patrons become friends. But they create a space in which people can actually encounter each other.

Jesus and Economics

2009-06-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

While listening to Donald Miller's book, Searching for God Knows What, I came across the story of "Supply Side Jesus." When I got home I googled it, and found this video: (click here for the comic version)

Excerpt:

Shouldn't you feed the Lepers, Supply Side Jesus?

No Thomas. That would just make them Lazy.

Then shouldn't you at least heal them, Supply Side Jesus?

No, James. Leprosy is a matter of personal responsibility. If people knew I was healing lepers there would be no incentive to avoid leprosy.

Obviously there are political overtones here, but I still like the point, Jesus wouldn't be near as popular today as we would hope.

From the lips of a five-year-old

2009-06-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

Sage:

Dear Jesus, please help all of the kids without mommies or daddies, and please help them to if they ever see a coyote to run and run and run, and not stop even if they get hot, and if they get to a house to knock and the door, and to tell the person, even if they are a stranger that they need to get away from a coyote. And please help kids that see mountain lions to go into the house. Amen.

Gospel-less, really?

2009-03-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Now really...I don't go looking for this stuff. I'm actually a little bit bummed out that I found it.

The internet gives a voice to anyone, and occasionally I come across these "Christian" web pages that are devoted to telling its audiences why every popular Christian leader is somehow a false leader.

James Choung, a graduate of MIT, and now a divisional director for Intervaristy, has popularized a diagram for evangelism called, "the four circles." Here it is, read below for one website's critique:

So what's your response to the diagram?

The authors of "a little leaven" wrote:

Not too long ago Christians used the "4 Spiritual Laws" to explain the Christian faith. Today we now have an Emergent influenced witnessing tool that utilizes 4 circles to try to explain the Christian faith (this 4 circles presentation is all the rage among college students). The big problem with this new tool is that it completely misses the point about Biblical Christianity and sinful man's need for a savior and Christ's death on the cross for the sins of the world. Instead, this is some squishy eco-friendly Jesus presentation where you can choose to make Jesus the leader of your life so that He can work through you to bring healing and restoration to the world.

And one of their readers surprisingly wrote:

All I could do was yell WHAT???...WHAT???...WHAT??? at the screen. Excuse me, I have to go pick my chin off the floor.

Did this diagram really miss the point about sinful man's need for a savior? Is a diagram meant to exhaust the entire conversation about a relationship with Jesus?
Which diagram, if any, would Jesus have been able to recognize?

Regarding the four spiritual laws, James Choung writes:

Well, what was missing from the diagrams I had learned was anything substantial about one of the most important themes in Jesus' own preaching: the kingdom of God. I was reading a lot about the kingdom of God, in the Bible and in recent scholarship, but when it came to sharing the core message of the faith, I'd always fall back on an evangelistic diagram that didn't include it. And it dawned on me: Even though there are tons of books out there about the kingdom of God, very few people will be able to share it with their friends unless they are given some tool or aid—some icon—that will help them remember the key points. So even though I'm not a fan of canned presentations, I felt that creating a diagram was essential to help us understand a bigger picture of the gospel that Jesus taught.

You can find an interview by Andy Crouch with James Choung here,
and the Christianity Today article, "From Four Laws to Four Circles" here.

Not For Sale...For Free!

2009-02-23T09:57:00.001-08:00

Every month christianaudio.com offers a free book for download. This month the offering is, Not For Sale, a book that I was made aware of at a conference on human slavery a few years ago. If you have a road trip coming up, or some room on your ipod, get a $24 download for free!

What a difference a street or fence makes.

2009-02-21T16:19:00.001-08:00

Venezuela

Brazil

I wonder how much control one has over the variables that determine what side of the fence they live on.

Excited

2009-02-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

Hooray for presidents and their birthdays!

(On Kirkwood's website, it claims 59"-80" of snow in the last SEVEN DAYS!

Timesuck warning: Overheard

2009-02-06T12:49:00.000-08:00

I came across a website, Overheard in New York:

Disgusted mother to little girl who picked up a Swedish fish she dropped on the bus floor: Don't eat that.
Little girl, dusting it off: It's okay, I'll kiss it up to god.
Mother: Don't you dare put that in your mouth. You have no idea what was on the floor.
Little girl, putting it in her mouth and chewing it: It's okay! I kissed it up to god! (swallows it) What are you going to do about it?
Mother, angrily: I'm not going to do anything. You're just going to die.

--Q18 Bus

Homeless man: You need to pray to Jesus everyday. Do you thank Jesus for your food or your family or the newspaper? The devil is killing you through newspapers and the media. Are you thankful to Jesus? He loves you if you talk to him everyday.
Person on train: I would be thankful to Jesus if you would stop shouting in my ear so I can listen to Beyonce's newest album.

--N train

hidden pictures

2009-02-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

So, while this makes perfect sense to the artist, I am not the artist. I do think that it is an amazing mural regardless of whether or not I naturally see the "O-V-C-C."

Next time Sage goes to the dentist, remind me to grab a camera

2009-02-04T23:35:00.000-08:00

I saw this video on Zach, from Jimmy Eat World's, blog site. I'll include his description too, 'cause it sums it up well:

Check out this clip of a little boy still high out of his mind after going to the dentist. It’s like a cute version of the buddy you have who always overdoes it on the booze.

"Is this real life?"

Finished Piece

2009-02-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

6 Hours & 10 cans of paint

Youth Center Remodel

2009-02-03T23:15:00.006-08:00

The community painted on the plywood covering the tacky 50's stained plastic/glass was looking pretty shabby and faded, so I asked a friend to repaint it. If you look closely you might be able to make out "OVCC."

Planning sketch:

Background:

Rough Outline:

Adding Color:

Fading:

Background:

Adding Black...4 hours later:

I left Jake to finish up tonight at 7:30... 5.5 hours into it. Final Picture to come.

2009-02-03T23:15:00.003-08:00

2009-02-03T23:15:00.001-08:00

Vandalism at OVCC

2009-02-03T22:19:00.000-08:00

Restoration on classrooms that had been damaged in an act of vandalism three weeks ago were completed today.

On January 15th, someone thought that it would be clever to flood "The Lounge," a classroom that I transformed into a jr. high Sunday School room, by setting a cinder block on top of a hose and shooting water from a hose at full blast between two doors into the classroom. Water then seeped through the walls into four adjoining rooms.

Three weeks later, and about $9k later, the damage is repaired.

Paul McCartney for $99

2009-01-31T09:33:00.000-08:00

Not to mention Franz Ferdinand and Brighteyes too. That kind of works out to Paul McCartney for $33, sound even better.
Not sure if the chaos and possible heat stoke of Coachella is worth it to me though. I feel old and pampered. I'd much rather watch McCartney from a box seat at the staples center.

OUCH!

2009-01-28T14:18:00.001-08:00

Try the genderanalyzer for yourself here. Was it accurate?

Alright, I'm going to go pee standing up now.

And I thought my excursion was tough...

2009-01-24T12:54:00.001-08:00

Obama's blood for a transfusion? That's being prepared. (Click picture for full picture)

Still Sick and Tired

2009-01-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

Just when you think you've kicked it, here it comes again, creepin' up.

Essentially the entire Christmas break, I've felt like crap. I'm getting pretty tired of it. This isn't exactly how I planned on spending two weeks off of work, but I guess there isn't really a better time to be sick, than when there's no work to go to.

It actually has forced me, (and Amber) into a Sabbath, as we really are prohibited from doing anything to further ourselves. It's crazy how God built this time of rest into everything, and yet we don't really take him seriously in it.

Leviticus 23:3 " 'There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

Leviticus 25 3For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. 5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.

Leviticus 25 8 " 'Count off seven sabbaths of years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years. 9 Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan. 11 The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.

The year of Jubilee is crazy. Both Shane Claibourne and Ched Myers expand on it a lot in their writings. Read the whole Jubilee passage, it'll shake your world, and make you look at capitalism, 401ks, and retirement, a little differently.

Toy Hauler from 1938

2008-12-08T12:31:00.001-08:00

I was watching some Mickey cartoons with the girls this morning and was surprised to see a "toy hauler" travel trailer from "Mickey's Trailer," made in 1938.

Then

Now

Keirsey Personality Test

2008-12-05T20:25:00.001-08:00

My sister sent me this personality test because she was curious what the results would point towards.

I think that these type of tests aren't impressive because they teach us anything new about ourselves, but it is amazing to take a quiz involving 50 questions or so, and to then be surprised with how well the descriptions match who we really are, (or at least who we see ourselves as).

So here's what I reconfirmed about myself:

Idealists share the following core characteristics:

* Idealists are enthusiastic, they trust their intuition, yearn for romance, seek their true self, prize meaningful relationships, and dream of attaining wisdom.
* Idealists pride themselves on being loving, kindhearted, and authentic.
* Idealists tend to be giving, trusting, spiritual, and they are focused on personal journeys and human potentials.
* Idealists make intense mates, nurturing parents, and inspirational leaders.

Sounds like a pretty accurate description of how I would describe myself. Take the test for yourself, and see if it matches up with what you see in the mirror.

Funny stuff.

2008-12-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

I wish I had that much creativity, but I'm pretty sure that Amber is glad that I don't.

MARIO KART (REMI GAILLARD)
Uploaded by nqtv

My Favorite New App

2008-12-04T12:25:00.000-08:00

If you have friends outside of your own city, (or more specifically "longitude"), I've found a great application for thinking about them throughout the day:

EarthDesk is available for mac or pc, and replaces your desktop wallpaper, with a satellite image from space in real time. You can watch the sun and moon rise and set over the entire planet. Seeing where it is dark, where lights are on, what the cloud cover looks like, and where the sun is shining.

It's been awesome to open my computer and see how far along my brother's day is in Philadelphia, whether or not the Kingsley's are sleeping in Ireland, and I get to think about whether the Rhodes are going to sleep, or waking up.

It helps me to be more globally aware, knowing that my life represents just one perspective among many.

The trial version is free, and places a watermark in the center of you map, and it costs $24 to buy the offical version.

(The sun is about to go down in Philly)

Kevin's Spoken Word

2008-12-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Since Mike DeVries spoke at Hume, I haven't really been excited about any of our speakers, but this summer I was deeply impacted by one of the speakers, not the hired speaker, but by one of the staff.

As worship ended, the lights on the stage went dark, and a spotlight came on a single person who performed a poem that he wrote a year earlier. It was one of the coolest things I have seen at Hume. I would be so up for going to Hume for a week of camp where the evening messages were three minute spoken word performances, or that made use of other mediums besides 45+ minute didactic monologues.

While at camp I told Kevin and Rich how much I appreciated him sharing his poem(s) with us, and in October I received a DVD in the mail with both of Kevin's "performances" on it.

Now through the blogosphere I've been able to keep in contact with Kevin, and recently got his approval to post them on YouTube.

Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

I've seen this posted on a lot of friends' blogs, but just in case you haven't seen it here it is:

It's a video for the Advent Conspiracy, and I love how it emphasizes Christmas presence over Christmas presents.

This is the first Christmas that we are really focusing on presence over presents, and I am really excited about it.

This Made Me Cry Tonight

2008-11-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's just recovering from an 8 hour drive home towing about 13,000 lbs, but this made me cry when I read it tonight:

A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island store Friday morning, police and witnesses said.

The 34-year-old employee, a temporary maintenance worker, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

You can read the whole story here, and you can read more about how:

He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Wal-Mart worker Jimmy Overby, 43.

"They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me.

"They took me down, too ... I didn't know if I was going to live through it. I literally had to fight people off my back," Overby said.

This is so insane...and sad.

Sad

2008-11-14T16:17:00.000-08:00

Weird to see one of my old classrooms looking like this:

I think I took at least 10 classes in this room.

For more info click here.

Recessive Gene Genie

2008-11-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

With Christmas time rapidly approaching, the season of pictures of the blond haired, blue eyed baby Jesus are back, or as many refer to him, recessive gene Jesus.

Today Aspen and Sage were wearing their princess Jasmine outfits, and it reminded me of Ojai Local, Larry Hagman's show, I Dream of Jeannie. Which got me thinking...Why was Jeannie, the major's genie in a bottle, Caucasian? And was she in fact Caucasian, or like the "dear sweet baby Jesus," was she a Middle Easterner who just happened to not inherit any of her people's dominant traits?

Inspirational Posters

2008-11-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

Do these things really work?

First Think
Second Believe
Third Dream
Finally Dare

The most important part of Attitude is U (Thanks Garfield)

We can only see with open eyes
We can only listen with open ears.
We can only think with open minds.
(Man silhouetted by a sunset)

You never know how much you CAN do until you TRY.

To be a winner, give all you've got. (Girl kicking a soccer ball)

Take your best shot. (Girl holding a basketball)

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't make them ALL yourself. (Oh, what a cute polar bear slipping on the ice...didn't he see the sign that said "Watch for ICE"?)

Be Yourself! (Giraffe among zebras)

Never let
yesterday's
disappointments
overshadow
tomorrow's
dreams. (Locker room with a Notre Dame Player, maybe it's Jimmie Clauson)

If you want to be happy for an hour
GO WATCH T.V.
If you want to be happy for a day,
GO TO AN AMUSEMENT PARK.
If you want to be happy for a lifetime,
GO OUT AND HELP OTHERS.

The problem
when solved
will be simple.

Those were the signs hung in the classroom I subbed in today. And so far, I don't have much confidence in them. I saw kids with piss poor attitudes, I say lots of kids give up and quit trying on their test. Very few of them were trying to be unique, and I have a hard time believing that most of them were giving it all they had.

It's not just the over simplified inspirations either. The graphics themselves are so trite and cliched, that they mock themselves for lacking any creativity whatsoever.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe they inspire left and right. Personally, I like these better:

November

2008-11-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

So, November is a fantastic month:

Cooler weather
My sister's birthday
Presidential Election
Dumont Dunes for Thanksgiving
and
No Shave November

UPDATE: Yeah...well, I made it about 10 days. Then the comments about how I looked tired, and like I just got out of bed got to me. One person even said, "Look, you have bald patches like me."
I wasn't feeling it, so I shaved the parts that don't grow very well. We will see how long I can handle the mustache.

Worst Job in America?

2008-11-04T22:40:00.000-08:00

I doubt many of the readers of my blog frequent "the Onion," so I thought that I should post this "story" for you:

Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job

November 5, 2008 | Issue 44•45

WASHINGTON—African-American man Barack Obama, 47, was given the least-desirable job in the entire country Tuesday when he was elected president of the United States of America. In his new high-stress, low-reward position, Obama will be charged with such tasks as completely overhauling the nation's broken-down economy, repairing the crumbling infrastructure, and generally having to please more than 300 million Americans and cater to their every whim on a daily basis. As part of his duties, the black man will have to spend four to eight years cleaning up the messes other people left behind. The job comes with such intense scrutiny and so certain a guarantee of failure that only one other person even bothered applying for it. Said scholar and activist Mark L. Denton, "It just goes to show you that, in this country, a black man still can't catch a break."

I WAS looking forward to going to the zoo.

2008-11-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

First, my day with the girls riding little dirtbikes at Simon's gets rained out, and now it looks like some crazy guy might ruin our planned zoo day.

From Santa Barbara Independent:

A man in Army fatigues with a handgun has caused quite the commotion for morning commuters, as Santa Barbara police are attempting to coax him off the La Cumbre Street overpass Monday morning.

According to Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte, just after 7 a.m. police received a call of a suspicious man in the area, and responded to find the suspect waving an American flag and armed with the handgun.

La Cumbre from Modoc through the other side of the freeway has been shut down, as has Highway 101 in both directions, causing quite the backup during rush hour traffic.

The CHP is reporting several vehicles trying to exit Highway via the onramp at Turnpike, while traffic going the opposite direction is reportedly backed up to Montecito. A S.W.A.T team has been brought in to negotiate.

UPDATE:

After dropping his weapon, Van Tassel asked for a Barack Obama campaign sign, which authorities delivered to him using a bomb squad robot, police said. The man attached the sign and the flag to the overpass and later walked backward to officers, who took him into custody.

AND YES, WE MADE IT TO THE ZOO.

Re: Naps

2008-11-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge advocate of naps. While I realize that naps are a luxury, and that for many they are impossible, for those of us who do much of our work from 7-10pm, they aren't always optional.

Given my affinity for naps, it was nice to see a story on the front page of Digg today about the benefits of naps.

The study states:

For years naps have gotten a bad rap, derided as a sign of laziness, weakness, or senility... ...but lately napping has garnered new respect, thanks to solid scientific evidence that midday dozing benefits both mental acuity and overall health. A slew of new studies have shown that naps boost alertness, creativity, mood, and productivity in the later hours of the day.

Hooray for naps!

My daily reads

2008-11-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

Just in case anyone feels that their "blog reader" isn't delivering, and wants something more to read, here are some of the blogs that I subscribe to:

Awakening: Pastor Mike Devries blog, it's occasionally about his kids' soccer games, but usually is very thoughtful. He often blogs on recent Christian research.

Tony Jones: Author and ex-president of Emergent Village.

ACRYLICK: Urban clothing company with a positive message.

Another Ragamuffin: Michaela's

Courageous COWARDism: a friend of Shane Claibourne, who wasn't permitted to return to Iraq after he told his superiors that he didn't want to carry a gun anymore.

D+K got married: Darren and Kate's

Don Miller: Author

Finding Rythm: Very interesting blog by the Chrsitian drummer of the secular band, "Jimmy Eat World" (he's a bit on the liberal side of politics).

Gray Aria: Infrequent blog of Hailey Kingsley

Hodge Lodge Blog: Christine's

Hypermiling, Fuel Economy: Exactly what it sounds like

Improv Everywhere: Performance Art from New York

Jesus Creed: Author Scott McKnight (at times he blogs up to 10 new posts a day)

Kahit Na Ano: My friend Angel's blog. He usually has fun self-assignments like, taking a picture everyday that represents a song.

Kingsley Clan: Matt Kingsley

Miss Cory Coffey: hmmm

My Nursery: Amber's

No Numbers & Co: another urban/lifestyle clothing company.

Once Upon a Time is Now: Gina's

PhotoshopDisasters: A blogsite that makes fun of botched photoshop jobs, (warning: sometimes racy).

So Today...: Alexa's

TallSkinnyKiwi: the UK's #1 Christian blogger

The Ranch House Report: Hume Lake's blog

Urban Prankster: Performance art from cities all over the world

WebUrbanist: Really cool stuff

Wooster Collective: Street Art

Wresting:with:truth: My friend from Hume, Drew's, blogsite

Wow! Are you kidding me?

2008-11-02T08:52:00.001-08:00

Bucket List

2008-10-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

No, not the movie, haven't seen it, but 10 years ago, (on April 27th, 1998 to be exact), I wrote my bucket list, and I came across it while cleaning out the barn last week. It was fun to see the things that I wanted to do as an 18 year old, the things that I have already accomplished, and the things that don't mean anything to me anymore.

Here's the list of my 18 year old self:

1. See a "green ray" *I haven't seen a green flash yet, but I have seen a mock-mirage flash in Redondo Beach.

2. Visit the Holy Lands *Yup, twice, and I can't wait to go back.

3. Go bar hopping in Boston *I could have for Darren's bachelor party, but chose Pismo with Billy instead, (I think I made a good choice).

4. Visit a South Pacific island *Not yet

5. Learn to play the lead to "Free Bird" *I've learned part of it.

6. Drive over 200mph *This one is going to be tough, I might have to sign up for a stock car day at Irwindale or Vegas...still not sure if they'll pass the 200 mph mark though.

7. Get a tattoo *8 more months...maybe.

8. Get married *Check.

9. Have kids *Check

10. Own a lab *Although I don't claim her often, Jasmine counts.

11. Go duck hunting (with my lab) *I've shot one bird in my life, cleaning it made me never want to do it again.

12. Learn Hebrew *I've taken Hebrew, and I have the books to use it as a tool. My Greek is better, and although it would be sweet to take a pill that would make me fluent, I don't see myself ever being a Hebrew scholar.

13. Learn how to be alone *Definitely! I never would have seen it coming, but having kids helped me learn how to be alone.

14. Learn to play the cello *Nope

15. Visit Liverpool *London, but not Liverpool.

16. Learn how to conduct music *I could get by.

17. Buy a motorcycle *Thanks Joanne.

18. Spoil my kid(s) *I'm working hard at it.

19. Be the opposite of father in "Cats in the Cradle" *I'm working hard at it. I probably need to get better at my willingness to get dirty though.

20. Learn to Ballroom dance. *Not yet, but I suppose that Carl could teach me.

21. Go scuba diving *Sage told me when she's 13 we will go together, (Amber has no desire).

22. Bench press 200 lbs. *No problem. Amber thought these last three were desperate attempts to put more things on my list, but as a college freshman, these were the things that I thought about...pretty funny to see 'em now.
23. Bench press 250 lbs. *I didn't know it was a goal of mine. I've benched 245.
24. Bench press 300 lbs. *Maybe someday.

So I'm not sure about how my list would change today. Besides the Hebrew thing, and the duck hunting stuff, I'm pretty good with my list. I guess I don't really care about the cello anymore. There's probably a lot more important things that could be on my list than bench pressing 300 lbs, or driving faster than 200mph, but both of those things would still be pretty sweet...so would a six pack, and custom rims...I've always wanted custom rims. I can't think of many altruistic things right now, that's kind of sad. Should a bucket list be altruistic? Ok...Drive over 200mph, and cure world hunger and eliminate all suffering.

Dreams

2008-10-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

I had a crazy dream the other night, and my apologies to those that have had to hear me retell it.
Sometimes I'll try to tell my dreams to Amber, and sometimes she will try to tell her's to me, and every time, the difficulty of recounting a dream becomes apparent.

How can something that is so vivid and clear to one person, be so uninteresting and confusing to another?

I think that this comic explains the phenomenon that is "dream recounting," pretty well:

(click comic to see full size)

credit

Snow Day in October!

2008-10-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

We took the girls to One Way Boardshop's parking lot in Ventura yesterday to watch a snowboard competition.

It definitely got me excited for the upcoming season. Hopefully we will be blessed with LOTS of snow this year.

Treating Symptoms

2008-09-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

A group of students, (not ones that I knew) were asked, "If you could change one thing at your school, what would you change?"

I was shocked when the first two responses were to eliminate cussing.

A group of adults were asked, "If you had to pick one social injustice in the world to over turn, what would it be?"

I was surprised when several people chose abortion.

I hate abortion. I think that there is a human life in a womb, and that abortion is taking a life.
I believe that we should heed Paul's teaching in Ephesians, and should restrict unwholesome talk, but should use words that are edifying.

HOWEVER, just as I easily pop several Advil to alleviate signs of symptoms that might be pointing to something more serious, I worry that we have gotten so used to Christendom that we would rather police culture, than actually ask what the disease is.

Kids cuss, but their cussing is part of something much bigger, and if all we want to do is white wash their actions, we are missing soemthing.

Women get abortions, but if all we want to do is force someone to keep a kid that they don't want, we lose sight of, the reason they are pregnant, and the reasons that they don't want to keep their child.

Are we willing to just feed the hungry?
Or are we willing to question why they are hungry in the first place?

I think that symptoms can, and should be treated, I just hope that we are seeking to wipe out diseases at the same time.

New Masthead

2008-09-26T07:25:00.001-07:00

In honor of Michaela's birthday this week:

Bridging the Generational Gap

2008-09-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

I found a program online that will take an e-mail, and convert it to snail mail.

That means that I can use e-mail to communicate with my grandparents who, while in New Mexico don't have internet access.

Today, rather than just sending a text filled letter, I created my own postcard with pictures from my computer, and mailed it to them, all for just 59 cents.

Check the program out at postful.com

-Ryan

Beating the System?

2008-09-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

When I was in college, AOL began offering $100 - $400 rebates if you signed up with their services. I had friends who would go to Circuit City, sign up for AOL, receive their voucher, buy DVD players and televisions, go home, and cancel AOL. Apparently in California, customers were not contractually obligated to maintain their AOL/Compuserve account. I watched them do it, all the while expecting it not to work. And yet it did...over and over again for some of them, until AOL recognized that they were being taken advantage of and removed the offer from stores in California.

Part of me regretted not taking advantage of the rebate when it was offered, but a small part of me, still knew that it was dishonest.

I know that the proposed $700 BILLION financial bailout is complicated and is multifaceted, but yet I can't help approaching it with the same attitude as I have towards AOL's rebate.

I and others chose not to listen to those who kept saying that renting is throwing money away. I respectfully listened as people told me that you can never go wrong with Southern California real estate, and I respectfully disagreed with friends who opted to buy homes that they couldn't afford with interest only loans, banking on the rising house prices to give them the equity they needed to refinance down the road and shrink their house payments.

And yet now, it looks like I may have missed an opportunity, not an opportunity to buy low and sell high, but an opportunity to take advantage of a system that seems unwilling to let people live with their mistakes.

I am painfully aware that if the number of people affected by the housing crisis foreclose, that lives will be upset. Children will be uprooted from schools, the economy, (and people's tithings) will stall a bit, but isn't that a consequence for actions. Specifically a consequence for people biting off more than they could chew? For fibbing on loan applications, for counting their eggs before they hatched, for buying something today that they weren't even sure they would have the money for tomorrow?

Perhaps grace is needed. Perhaps a bailout that enables our economy to live to fight another day, and that keeps the middle class in Mini McMansions is the graceful loving thing to do. But maybe it isn't, maybe the best thing to happen would be for a natural adjustment to take place, for the housing market to somehow reflect actual values, and for people to be given the chance to live within their means.

I don't know...I do know that it sucks for the kids either way. They not only are going to be forced out of the homes that some of them lived in, but they are going to be the ones bearing the full weight and repercussions of the sins of our nation, manifested not only in higher taxes, but in place of their inheritance, many will be paying for their parents' retirements instead.

Gosh I'm glad, (or at least I hope) that my life doesn't revolve around the greenback...much.

Anyone up for a road trip?

2008-09-23T09:47:00.001-07:00

This "sounds" too crazy to be true (Pun intended).

The BBC (note spelling of "tires") reports:

A section of road in California has had grooves cut into it so car tyres play the William Tell overture, otherwise know as the theme from The Lone Ranger.

But the noise has been irritating residents in the town of Lancaster so much that it is now going to be resurfaced.

The quarter-mile stretch of road was part of a car advertising campaign.

The sound is made by specially cut grooves in the asphalt that emit different sounds as the tyres pass over them, similar to a stylus on a record player gliding across a vinyl LP.

Check out the video here.

I'm sure it's super annoying to residents, but I still think that it must be a "trip" to hear, (again, pun intended).

Research reveals that it is best to drive over it with a Honda Civic at 55mph. I might have to settle for an Accord.

From Wired:

From the Autopia "Most Annoying Promotion Ever" department comes a dispatch from Lancaster, California. Honda's guerilla marketers joined up with the Lancaster highway department and cut grooves into the pavement of a remote stretch of Avenue K. Far from ordinary rumble strips, this particular pavement modification caused a car's tires to resonate in a way that sounded like the William Tell Overture (yes, that's the theme to "The Lone Ranger"). Honda claimed the music sounded best when "played" on a new Civic driving exactly 55 miles per hour.

Urban Art Gallery in OJAI!

2008-09-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

I love taking the girls on adventures. If Amber asks me to watch the girls during the day, there is a good chance that we will go out on some sort of adventure. We've gone hiking through poison oak on an overgrown road to get to a cave that I vaguely remember from High School. We've gone hiking in the river bottom, to what Sage calls, "Rattle Snake Hike." We've driven up to the little baby waterfall up the 33, just so we can throw rocks. And at the first sign of snow, we drive up to find some white fluffy stuff to eat.

Yesterday Amber had a lunch date with a woman from church, so the girls and I planned another adventure. By the time we were ready to go, (we had to return home for a band aid and tennis shoes), Amber was home from the Emporium and we all headed out on an adventure together.

I took the girls to a secret art gallery that I heard about, with only Sage's Camera to record the images.

While walking around, it was great to hear Sage and Aspen yell, "DAD, THERE'S MORE ART OVER HERE!" They were so excited, and loved the colors. Their favorite picture was one of a penguin.

This is the third "gallery" that I've taken Sage to. If anyone has any tips on any more, let me know.

Guide for questions

2008-09-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

One of the blogs that I subscribe to is Andrew Jones' blog, (who blogs under the name, "Tall Skinny Kiwi"). He's been attending, speaking, and blogging about the Blog World Expo in Las Vegas. Today he quoted John Mark Reynolds, (Professor at this school called Talbot...yeah, I've heard that some pretty cool people go there), on "Crafting a good question for the blogosphere."
His three guidelines were:

1. Don't ask questions to which you know the answer.
2. Don't write about things you know little about.
3. Do read books or online material related to your question.

There's got to be more applications for these guidelines than just blogging.
In fact, I think that those are the same qualifications that I use to ask a question in Community...some of the time.

With this in mind, what are your favorite questions that you don't know the answer to?

*Dinosaurs?
*How free will and sovereignty of God can co-exist?
*Adam & Eve's anatomy?
*Trinity?

My new earworm

2008-09-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:23-24

" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

"It's a Small World After All"

2008-09-02T10:13:00.001-07:00

You know how there are just certain songs that get stuck in your head and you find yourself singing a phrase over and over? There's actually a word for it, it's called an "Earworm."

Lately I've had certain phrases or concepts doing the same thing.

The most recent was, (thanks to Mike Kingsley), John Wesley's exhortation to, "Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can."

Since Sunday's service however, I can't stop thinking about Jesus' words in John 14:

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

Thanks to Matt Kingsley, we asked on Sunday whether or not people agree that, "“We are doing greater things than Jesus did.”

Most of the people disagreed. We haven't brought people back to life, ascended into heaven, hung out with Moses, walked across water, multiplied loaves of bread, or risen from the dead. I did overhear someone point out that they have driven a car faster than Jesus, but I don't think that's what Jesus had in mine when he said that we will do "greater things than these."

If technology isn't what Jesus had in mind, what did he mean, and does this promise still apply to us today? I can look at Jesus' followers, and in Acts I see them do some amazing things by the power of the Holy Spirit. Is that what Jesus was talking about?

Can I have the expectation today to do greater things than Jesus?
Do I have that expectation?
Will I do greater things?

It feels like blaspheme to even ask the question.

Emerging?

2008-09-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought how much trouble would emerge around the word "emerging."

Andrew Jones is one of the most widely read Christian bloggers, and blogs under the name, Tall Skinny Kiwi. Recently he polled his readers asking whether or not he should continue to use the phrase "Emerging Church." Follow the link to read the results, but also be sure to read the pros and cons of the term.

It sucks to think that some of the pain and conversations that I've had over the past couple years aren't isolated, but have been causing pain in all sorts of people's lives.

Andrew Jones writes:

Jenna White who is staying with us, told us that her missionary support had been stopped because a pastor in the Baptist church she attends in USA just preached an anti-emerging church sermon and they put a hold on the money they were going to send her. Funny thing was, it was the same denomination that I had just taught, and we have enjoyed a decade long relationship to this particular church

I think the most upsetting things to me about all of the "emerging" hoopla is that some people give more weight to an anti-emerging pastor's comments re: "Emerging Churches," than to years of relationships with people who they have been serving together with.

Sounds a lot like McCarthyism to me.

Ryan "is blogging infrequently."

2008-08-31T08:03:00.001-07:00

Although I haven't been blogging lately on blogger, I have been writing several [extremely] short blogs a day.

There's a web application called twitter that lets users update their "status" in about 10 words. At first I thought that it was silly, and didn't really have a point, but with the inclusion of "status" in the social networking site, facebook, I have found myself using a "twitter like app" more than anything else online.

I imagine that everyone has two main types of friends:
1) Those who they talk to several types a week.
2) Those who they talk to once a year if they are lucky.

I have found that the older I get the more friends I have in the second category. There are people in my life that I am grateful to know and to have a part of my life, but whose schedule makes it next to impossible to stay in constant contact with.
One of the difficulties with those relationships is that when contact is finally made, my conversations usually involve of getting caught up with one another, and then awkward conversation follows, with an even more awkward goodbye.
Contrasted with those whom are constantly part of my weekly conversations who I feel like I could talk to for hours about the most mundane of things.

One of the reasons that I have been so diligent in changing my status on facebook and checking the status of others, is that I feel like it strengthens my relationship with those who I ordinarily don't get to stay in constant contact with. I know when friends go to concerts, weddings, or on vacation, I know when their planes land, or when their horses get out of their yard and keep them up all night.

I'm sure that there are better uses for the internet than constantly updating one's status, but I am enjoying the popularity of this app that let's me know my friends better.

Made it to NY safely

2008-08-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

Outside our window (We are staying with Maria's sister between Harlem & Washington Heights)

Times Square

Strawberry fields forever, or at least long enough to take a picture

Belvedere Castle

Central Park Fountain

Playing on the "Big" Piano

LOVE (notice Aspen sleeping)

On the subway

New Masthead

2008-08-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jake David for his lettering for my new masthead.

The Shack

2008-08-01T11:12:00.001-07:00

This book with an endorsement from Michael W. Smith, a $300 initial marketing budget, and a seat on New York Time's best seller list has been making quite a stir.

I saw it on a pastor friend's book shelf and hoped that he had read it so that I could get perspective on it without having to actually read it, (I've decided that I like knowledge much more than I like reading).

I have already heard one review of the book by the Angry Pastor, Mark Driscoll, and well, his review was that of an angry pastor.

I came across this review in Christianity Today that I would recommend to anyone who was curious about reading the Shack.
The author of the article possesses the grace and humility that I wish came more naturally to me.

Does made in U.S.A. even matter?

2008-07-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Do you shop at Banana Republic, the Gap, Macy’s, Urban Apparel or Victoria’s Secret?

Check out this New York Times article about a factory in Queens which was reportedly, "one of the worst sweatshops that state inspectors have visited in years, sometimes requiring its 100 employees to work seven days a week, sometimes for months in a row."

At least being in the US, this factory will be penalized.

Good dads sometimes make bad decisions.

2008-07-20T08:47:00.001-07:00

Taking your 4 year old daughter wakeboarding is a good idea. I can think of no better board sport, to take a young child along for the ride:
Surfing? Maybe, but the ride only lasts for seconds.
Snowboarding? There's a chance it will work, but there is a really good chance that you will fall, or be hit by an out of control skier/snowboarder, or hit a tree.
Skateboarding? Yeah...this would work, if I didn't suck at skateboarding. For reals, I'm really really bad at it.

It was amazing getting to ride with Sage, carving up and down the wake, gaining speed outside the wake while cutting away from the boat. And then it happens, while cutting back and forth the thought emerges, "This is going really well, she is staying on without a problem. If Sage likes this she will really like jumping! After all she really loves jumping the car at Ojai's 'dip'."

In the air it became apparent that this was a bad idea. As Sage slipped right off the wakeboard there was only one place for her to land, (I hadn't thought this out very well at all). Her ear hit the top of the wakeboard just as I caught her and pulled her back up. We had the boat pull us one more time that morning, but I kind of ruined a nice morning.

Fortunately it was only Monday, and we had four more days to build positive wakeboarding memories together...sans jumping.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

We like heads closed.

2008-07-08T23:08:00.001-07:00

Sage and Aspen were wrestling on the bed.

Ryan: Be careful not to push Aspen, if she fell her head could crack open.

Aspen: We like heads closed.

(Picture of dirt bike rider, Seth Enslow, after his cracked open skull was stapled back together)

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Bears on the Beach

2008-07-08T23:01:00.001-07:00

Here's a bit of our conversation while coming home from the beach on Sunday.

Sage: Well, Aspen, there used to be bears at the beach, but then God wanted people to come to the beach, so he made the bears go into the mountains.

Aspen: No bears on beach.

Sage: There used to be bears at the beach, but then God wanted people to come to the beach, so he made the bears go to the mountains.

Aspen: Ohhhhhh.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Professional Photographer

2008-06-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

I'm Published!

Check it out here.

Osiris Shoes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Osiris is a skateboarding footwear company based in Southern California. Started in the late 1990's by avid pro skater/surfer Evan Copeland.

I love my wife part II, III, IV & V

2008-06-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

I love my wife

2008-06-24T21:42:00.001-07:00

Reflections on Paul's Whirlwind Journey

2008-06-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

In church today, like many others, I was struck by the stories that Paul lived over the past 5 days. What struck me is how many stories we all would have if: 1) We were obedient to Christ, and 2) We did as good of a job following up with contacts as Paul has with those in Israel.
There are many people whom I have come into contact with, only to lose touch and cease communications. I wonder what my stories would look like were I more faithful to new found friends. Hopefully I won't have to wait long to find them out.

armchair meter maid

2008-06-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

"A while back, during the rain storms, I blogged about my fascination with online doplar radars. Well now that the rain has sadly moved on, and has been replaced with triple digit temperatures, I have new fascination: so say good bye to the "armchair meteorologist" and hello to the "armchair meter maid." Through the internet I learned how to read meters, (it's really simple), and now I constantly run out back, notepad and pen in hand, to decipher how many kilowatts we are using. I'll adjust the a/c temperature, make a note on my pad, and check it after an hour to see if usage increased. Then I'll unplug gadgets, make a notation, and check again.
Amber says that being a pool boy is much more sexy than a meter maid. I guess I'm off to check the jacuzzi chemical levels, 'cause jumping into a 96 degree hot tub to cool off might just work today.

BTW: I have learned that at rest my house uses 1 kw an hour, and that with the A/C blasting it uses 5 kw an hour. If a kilowatt is 10 cents an hour, then my A/C only costs 50 cents an hour. That feels like money well spent...hmmm, now about that global warming...

Got poop?

2008-06-21T13:25:00.001-07:00

A recent study questioning the value of eating locally has been getting quite a bit of press lately. The study argues that the actual transportation of foot produces very little carbon, and that most of the carbon comes from the actual production of the food. The studies specifically state that by moving away from red meat and dairy products, that one will make a much bigger difference than simply buying locally.
As I drove past the big agriculture field in Ventura between Main st. and Seaward I was thinking about how even vegetarians are dependent on cows, (and their methane), for fertilizer. Just think about the way that it smells at Trader Joe's parking lot.
I'm not certain, but I'm fairly confident that "organic" doesn't necessitate absence of cow manure. Maybe a new category is coming, imagine little stickers on tomatoes at the store that say "no cow manure used." Or, better yet, "no shit." That would be hilarious.

Death on the Beach

2008-06-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

I started this post a couple of months ago, (April 10th) but forgot to publish it.

"Today on the beach I saw a dead bird and I thought about how it's going to decay and then become fertilizer and participate in it's role in the ciricle of life. I began to wonder about whether death and decay part of creative order or is it part of grace? Is this what God always intended, or is the death of a living organism returning to the ground part of God's grace, giving death a role towards new life?

"And our guest speaker is..."

2008-05-03T11:03:00.003-07:00

With Amber gone at a woman's retreat, i began thinking about what a key note speaker that appeals to women looks like. Do want a female superstar speaker? What are the credentials for a superstar speaker? Who do Christian moms and wives look up to?
For a guy the questions seems easy, as guys seem to flock to hear a Christian professional athlete, or a successful Christian entrepreneur or CEO.

What does the ideal speaker look like for a woman's retreat. My dad's wife went to a retreat that had Stephanie Edwards from the Rose Parade and Lucky Store's commercials.

Is the ideal speaker the mother of 10 kids? Two? A missionary? Someone who is successful inside and outside of the home? Do they have to be an author, able to communicate with written words? Or is it simply someone who has mastered speaking in public?

I know that Shane Claiborne would dismiss the entire idea of a "Super Hero Christian" as a guest speaker, and although I agree with him, I still know that some people flock to hear one speaker, and dismiss another. One generates excitement, another boredom. And although he would dismisses the hero title, I felt honored to get to hear from Shane, and to chat with him.

When I think about an ideal candidate for a woman's retreat, I envision almost any of the women that I know from church being able to fit the bill.

One reason for this is because I see great value in sharing with each other our own successes, failures and points of view.

But I also think that we hold all Christian women to incredibly high ideals. We expect them to run the household well, to educate, feed, entertain, and taxi their children around. To support their husbands, learn about God, and to make sure that everyone gets to church on time.
When I think about exemplary women of faith who are running, or who have ran the race well, many women come to mind. I don't think that we give them alternatives. We might (perhaps misguidedly) even say that they a woman wasn't being a good mom/wife if they weren't doing the aforementioned things.
The standards seem to be lower for men. As long as he is providing for his family, few would say that he is a bad father/husband. Unfortunately, although I could fill a day's schedule with women of faith whom I know could speak truth to a group of women, the list of men is much shorter.
You have someone who is successful, educated and following God and suddenly, he is the ideal candidate to be a speaker for a men's retreat; he is the exception.
In listening to women's expectations for themselves, it seems that the exception for men is the standard that many women hold them to.

So, besides the obvious of being able to communicate clearly, what does your ideal speaker look like? What experiences do you hope they have?

Pictures from stencil competition

2008-05-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

More can be found here.

Guest blogging

2008-05-02T21:34:00.000-07:00

Since Amber is gone for the weekend I posted over on her site about my weekend with the girls.

I wish I was going to London this weekend

2008-04-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

It's not that I'm not super excited about getting to have a "Daddy & Daughters weekend", but I would really love to watch a stencil art street battle. I love spotting stencils. I think that my favorite one that I've personally seen,(not counting those that I see online by Bansky and others) is this near life size stencil of Audrey Hepburn that Darren found in Sopron, Hungary.

This one that I found in San Fran was pretty cool, but I've seen better one's when I didn't have my camera:

Hmm according to Expedia, Sage, Aspen and I could fly to London this weekend for just $2,000. Only $602 a person...non stop! That would be a sweet "Daddy & Daughters weekend."

A Moofer?

2008-03-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

I found out today that I am a "Moofer". One of my favorite monthly, (bathroom) reads is Wired Magazine, and today I read in the column "Jargon Watch" about a new term: Moofing.

Moofing v. Derived from the acronym for mobile, out of office. Moofers abandon the workplace between meetings, taking laptop and BlackBerry to the local Starbucks or anyplace else where they can escape interruption by talkative coworkers.

I remember reading in another Pastor's blog about the importance of stepping outside of the church office to do work in the marketplace. Their church actually opted out of having offices in order to force them into the public square.

I have gotten very comfortable taking my Motorola Q and my laptop, out of the office, allowing me not only to escape interruptions, but more importantly to be a part of the people's lives that I seek to shepherd.

I love that technology allows me to work on research and messages while living in the very world that I seek to impact through my research and messages.

Sins of Our Fathers Part II

2008-02-23T21:52:00.000-08:00

Judging from the reaction to table talk last week in Community, and from responses to last week's blog post, I think that I worded my last post poorly. We have spent a lot of time in the past dealing with the Revolution, and pondering Jesus' response. Last week's question however, was intended to draw more upon the westward expansion, than the founding of the original 13 colonies.
When I spoke of sins of our fathers, I had more in mind, the extermination of the natives, as was explained during our gathering last week. I may be wrong, but the picture I painted was that of a neighbor who begins to desire his neighbors land to the extent that he kills him in order to take it. And then the murderer procreates, has children, and eventually dies. The question that I have, is what is the responsibility of his children to those whom their father wronged?

Consider the following story told in a PBS show about the gold rush:

In the early days of the Gold Rush, from the very beginning, frustrated Anglo American miners banded together to form groups of essentially vigilante or volunteer militia groups. They were ad hoc organizations, and their stated objective was to exterminate the "red devils," to eliminate the obstacles that the native Californians had become in their minds. And their modus operandi was to attack native villages wherever they might find them in the vicinity of their mining activities, to eliminate their presence utterly, killing the men, the women, and the children. And this was considered to be a necessity.

The only way we will be able to mine in security, if all of these people are exterminated." And the language that they used at the time, "extermination," was precisely describing what they were attempting to do.

So, what is our response to such stories that are central to our great state of California? I shared on Sunday about our local Chumash history, and how the ranchers and Missionaries misrepresented themselves and ultimately dismantled an entire culture. What is our response to that?

My guess is that we have several options:

Claim "Manifest Destiny" (God wanted me to kill them). BTW, if this term is new to you, follow the link.
Claim "Survival of the Fittest".
Hope that I'm not culpable for the sins of my predecessors.
Close my eyes and plug my ears.
Strive to glorify God with what may have been attained sinfully (Gen 50:20)
???

Sins of our Fathers

2008-02-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

Are we guilty for the sins of our fathers?

How many sins can you think of that were committed against God in the founding of America? What evils took place so that we could live in our homes with our white picket fences with two and half kids? What crimes occurred against men and women created in God’s image so that we could sing songs like “God bless America,” and “My Country Tis of Thee”?

Are we guilty of any of those sins today?

A couple of years ago at a conference, I met UK author Kester Brewin, who recently blogged about the movie, There Was No Blood. He wrote:

As an outsider it seems the US is, more than elsewhere, a country in search of blood. Family blood - desperately trying to cling on to Scottish, Irish, African, Spanish heritage - and God's blood - desperately trying to divine Christ's blood to purify all the soiled ground beneath everyone's feet. And, in the final instance, as in the film, there is blood. There always will be. In the madness of the consuming search for God's blood and our family's blood, we strike out and wound the other. If we get blood-fever, like Gold or Oil Fever, then blood we will find. Violent, painful and destructive. The same blood lust that wounded Christ.

As an insider, what are your thoughts?

"So Ryan, you've decided to grow some of your hair back?" -Billy Frisk

2008-02-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

If you want to keep up with the my personal chia experiment, here it is at three weeks.

At least I don't look like this guy:

Control

2008-01-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

I have a new past time: "Arm-chair meteorologist."

If you've flown lately, you may be familiar with this image:

Control freaks like me, find great comfort in being able to change the channel on the television and see exactly where we are in the air, our speed, and our ETA.

In no way does knowing where we are in the air help me get to my destination sooner. Seeing the little picture of the airplane en route to my destination never really gives me control, but it does make me feel a little better.

I have recently found that I can receive the same comfort that I do on the airplane, with the weather.

Whenever I hear the rain pounding the roof, I quickly log on to weatherunderground and see where the storm is in proximity to Ojai. I can watch as the heavy storms move in, and I am aware of the times that the storm just misses us.

Although Amber gives me grief every time, rightfully pointing out that I am a control freak, I am definitely enjoying my own personal Doppler.

100,000 Miles

2008-01-27T15:28:00.000-08:00

I recently saw this on a friend's blog, and thought that I would flatter him with a copy-cat post.

While driving the youth to the snow last weekend, I looked down at my odometer and noticed that I was about 100 miles from hitting the 100,000 mile mark in my (family's) truck. My Grandpa passed the truck on to us with about 67,000 miles, and now about three years later, I made our caravan of 5 cars pull over on a busy highway so that I could take a picture with the truck...pretty silly, Alexa never really figured out why I would take a picture with my truck, but here it is:

Amazing art

2008-01-23T21:08:00.000-08:00

I came across this art today and was blown away as the artist uses only bic pens. I am a horrible student. I like to learn, but I can't sit still for the life of me. I kept all of my old notebooks from both undergraduate and graduate school, and if you were to flip through them, you might find more doodles in the margins than notes on the lines. However, I'm not only a horrible student, I'm also a pretty crappy artist. My drawings suck. They were usually of waves, or mountains, or islands. As a matter of fact they always had to do with where I would rather be...
I know how hard drawing with a bic pen is, but praise God that I am not as a good of an artist as this guy, because then there is no way I would have ever taken any notes if I could draw like this.

If you click on the picture you will go to his webpage, but he is an artist, and some of his drawings may be NSFW.

Geek Cred

2008-01-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

Just to keep my geek cred active with Matt, I'm posting to vent my frustrations over Firefox crashing lately...a lot. Matt uses Safari. I use Safari sometimes, usually when listening to music online. I use Flock for MySpace, but Firefox is my go to browser. I might be in the market for a new browser though, if Firefox keeps letting me down.

Afaid of the Light

2008-01-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

Not Silverstein, but Plato:

‘We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.’

I think that the tragedy comes because children are very aware of the fear of the dark...heck, I'm aware of my fear of the dark. Fear of the light is much different, and more dangerous, because we aren't always aware of it. We find ourselves digging our heals in, and out of discomfort shift our attention away from the light.
I can think of many times when I rejected the light out of fear. I remember denying the existence of dinosaurs, (BTW, I don't think that there are any real scholars that deny the existence of dinosaurs) because my theology didn't have room for dinosaurs.
I've been told a story of a Christian who rejected the miracle of someone being healed, because their "theology didn't allow it."

We are called to live in the light, let us be excited to emerge for the dark into the light. May our false presuppositions be revealed to be exactly that, and may we run into the marvelous light.

The Gospel by Sage:

2008-01-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

I saw a movie at church today,
it was about Jesus.
He died on the cross because strangers killed him. 
But it was ok, because Jesus had to die for us.
But why did Jesus have to die for us?

----------------------------

Why did Jesus die for us? As a pastor you'd think that Sage would have found the perfect audience for this question, but what she didn't know was that her daddy had been struggling with the same question all morning.


It wasn't until college that anyone had really asked me that question in a way that 'for our sins' wouldn't suffice.
The question as to how Jesus' death on the cross provides atonement isn't a new one, but it is a question that the Church hasn't come to a consensus on.

N.T. Wright writes, "I am one of those who think it good that the church has never formally defined 'the atonement', partly because I firmly believe that when Jesus himself wanted to explain to his disciples what his forthcoming death was all about, he didn't give them a theory, he gave them a meal."

As my daughter begins now to ask me the same question that professors asked me 10 years ago, I find myself with even more questions, as the mystery of Jesus' mysterious death is more a mystery than ever.
Although I think that I have a theologically acceptable answer to Sage's question, I hope that she will be equipped to handle the mystery of the crucifixion, and be ok with having questions answered with more questions and stories.

Proud Papa

2008-01-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

Aspen, (23 months) made me so proud yesterday. After watching Dora with her, she walked over to the TV, and said, "TV off." She then turned off the television, I told her to turn off the 'blue button' too, (which powers the receiver/speakers) and I smiled with contentment as she walked over and completed a task that most of her grandparents couldn't have pulled off.
I initially laughed at myself for getting so excited that my almost two-year old could power on and off our entertainment system, but then I got to be truly proud when after turning off the receiver she told Amber that she wanted to wear her "Jesus Shirt."

Is Christmas about compassion or consumerism?

2007-12-05T14:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went shopping. In our defense we started out shopping for children off of the Angel Tree at church, but as often is the case, included shopping for our own kids, as well as for ourselves. As we walked through aisles and aisles of plastic crap, the weight of Christmas consumerism was overwhelming.
This year we made the decision to match what we spend on our family with spending on others. That feels like a start, maybe start that will move from 50/50, to 30/70, and eventually 10/90.
Some relatives ask me what the girls need/want for Christmas, and my mind is blank. There is really nothing more that they need, but I can think of a lot other people who do have needs.

Today I read about the Advent Conspiracy, is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by worshipping Jesus through compassion, not consumption. They point out that Christmas, at its core, is about changing the world, not about buying more and more things.

It's one thing to celebrate the festivities of this winter holiday, to go and look at lights, to cut down a tree, to decorate the house...but it's another thing to continue to worship this false god of consumerism. As we study Colossians at Community, and as I talk to students and hear from them how tight of a grip consumerism has over them, I worry about using this day recognized as the birth of our revolutionary Jesus, to fuel the fire of the adversary.

Now...back to Christmas shopping.

Update: Lisa asked me to elaborate as to what I mean by 50/50
For every dollar that we spend on someone that we know, we aim to spend a dollar on someone with needs who we don't know. Orphans, kids whose parents are in jail, children of migrant workers, etc. The idea is that however much money we spend on our own family/friends, we also spend on "the least of these."

I'm not sure whether or not to be proud of this...but I am.

2007-11-29T14:21:00.000-08:00

I submitted my blog site to "The Blog Readability Test," and within seconds got this response:

This probably is a bad sign, it probably means that I need to use smaller-easier-to-understand-words... but somehow it feels pretty satisfying. ;-)

Count your blessings

2007-11-15T09:35:00.002-08:00

Anytime that Jesus says: for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. It's probably wise to pay attention.
Here's the full pericope:

9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

I'm familiar with this passage, and find solace in knowing that God is a good father, who gives good gifts. But I was reminded on Tuesday night at Rob Bells, The God's Aren't Angry tour how much God has given me, and how hesitant I am to trust him with the future. I realize that it is dumb not to trust God, but it is insane to not trust a God who has showered blessings upon me.

A friend from Matilija who also attended Westmont with me, always reminds me of the goals for my life that I shared with him in College. I wanted to

1) Live in Ojai
2) Have a manicured front lawn
3) Own a truck

Add to that the non materialistic goals that I've always had

a) Get married to a woman who loves Jesus
b) Have two daughters
c) Be a pastor

Alright, so maybe I was/am a bit shallow, but these were my stated goals as an 18 year old, (mixed in there somewhere was the whole goal to teach others about Jesus, but this post isn't about that).

So, I'm sitting listening to Rob Bell while I realize that although I am in fact generous and share with others, my initial reaction is to horde. What makes it really messed up is that out of my 6 stated goals, I now have all of them, and had very little to do with receiving any of them.

1) We can only live in Ojai because family has opened homes up to us.
2) I only have a manicured front lawn because my mom trades tutor services for lawn services.
3) I only have a truck because my Grandpa gave it to my family.
4) Amber married me because...(who really knows how I pulled off that one?)
5) I have two daughters because of something having to do with X & Y chromosomes and God.
6) I'm a pastor because God chose to call me and send me back to my home church.

So, my 18 year old goals have been achieved as gifts from God, none of them were achieved by my pulling myself up by my boot straps, and my initial response to another need seems to be hording. That sucks.

May I recognize that everything I have is a gift from God, and may I hold them with an open hand, trusting in Him.

Freebie

2007-11-10T08:53:00.001-08:00

So, some of you have probably already heard about the new addition to the Smith House. When I was a sophmore in college, my roommates and I went in quarters on a new 25" TV from CostCo. After we were evicted 6 months later I bought my roommates shares of the tv and gave it to my mom. Then, when Amber and I got married we took the TV with us, and it was our first TV that we used for 6 years. Then, earlier this year, Amber's aunt gave us her CRT 35" monstrous TV. It was huge, but had no style...poor us ;-)
Then, last week, much to my excitement, Amber's sister let us know that they had replaced their rear projection HDTV with a plasma, and that we could have their old one.
So, Tim and I took a trip to LA and we picked it up. It had some bizzare blue lines going through some of the images, but after some internet research I took apart the front access panel, twisted a knob and "boom" the TV turned off. After I calmed myself down, I tried to turn it back on again, and there it was, a beautiful 50" image*, sans blue lines. It seems that it is only a temporary fix, and that sometime this year a tube may go ($500 to replace 1 of 3). So, I don't know how long we will get to enjoy watching Grey's Anatomy & Heros larger than life, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Before and After

*Further research leads me to conclude that 50" is the perfect size for my living room, (Viewing distance /2 = ideal diagonal dimension)

When am I going to stop seeing myself as a Pharisee?

2007-11-01T22:02:00.001-07:00

The Evangelical tradition, (of which I am probably a part), makes a big deal about the heart. We ask questions like, "How is your walk with God?" And we make statements like, "Well, Jesus cares about the heart of the individual."
I was recently listening to a sermon on Matthew 23, and was stunned by these words of Jesus, "You have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness." I know that Jesus cares about how I treat the poor, the wronged, the alien... I know that I am to show mercy to others, but I have also lived with the assurance that what was really important was my heart. I have cared about justice, but I have equally (if not more so) cared about religion. I would estimate that I spend more time being"religious," that is, acting in a way that a Christian Pastor is expected to act, than I have seeking merciful justice.
The Pharisees were super religious, they had their tithes down to a science, they didn't omit anything, even the smallest spice, however they missed the more important matters, they missed the obedience that God really was hoping for, they missed the point that obeying God meant more than just being concerned with their own walk with God.

Which Sounds More Pagan to You?

2007-10-31T12:09:00.001-07:00

Halloween?
or
Harvest Festival?

Halloween:

History of name

The term Halloween (and its alternative rendering Hallowe'en) is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day",^[1] also which is now known as All Saints' Day. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions,^[3] until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 to November 1. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.

-Wikipedia

Harvest Festival:

Festival of the harvest?

How bizarre that the same people who get upset calling Easter break "Spring break," freak out at the thought of "Halloween" parties at church...

Like any nine year old?

2007-10-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

I read a news story this morning about Apple responding harshly to a 3rd grader, and was struck by the introduction:

(CBS 13) Like any nine-year-old, Shea O'Gorman spends a lot of time listening to her iPod Nano. So much so, that when her third grade class started learning about writing letters she thought, who better to write to than the man whose company makes her iPod....

"Like any nine-year-old?" Really, most 3rd graders have iPods? I remember getting my first $69 Sony Walkman in seventh grade, (my first personal cassette player my mom got me, it said "Warners" on it, and she got it for free when she bought three bras at Macy's).

I can't imagine most people slapping down close to $200 on an ipod for their nine year olds...what are they going to be listening to on it anyways? But, we'll see what's around in 5 years for me to spoil my girls with.

Do you want a revolution?

2007-10-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
-Lennon/McCartney

Last night, Darren and I went to see the new film, Across the Universe, Sony's new "Beatles Musical". Think Moulin Rouge, (the new one) with only music by the Beatles, (I have been a huge fan of the Beatles my entire life, and I think owned their entire catalog by the time I was 13).

The film is set in the late 60's, and deals a bit with student demonstrations against U.S. policy in Vietnam. My favorite scene in the movie is the scene where the protagonist bursts into a protester's headquarters singing "Revolution," the emotion and gestures are super fun. This scene got me thinking about what is the best way to bring about change. We currently live in a time with similar unrest as the sixties (however with Blackwater in place of the draft, public outcry and personal connections are less), and I think that many people want change. Many Christians long for change, desiring to see the Kingdom break in around us, and I wonder what we can do to be most effective.
I have never attended a student protest, (although I did participate in an International Peace Day rally once where someone through a carton of eggs at us) but I generaly dismiss the impact that a student protest or rally can have, (I would have to say that Kent State did have an impact, but that may be due more to martyrs than to simply gathering and demonstrating). So, if not a public demonstration, then what will bring about change?
As Darren and I talked on the way home from the movie, I think that our conversations in Community have been spot on. We have seen Jesus teach about removing the power of the Romans, not by force, but by disarming their source of power, turning the other cheek, willingly serving others, bartering, etc.

With this in mind, I am really excited about our new series. After considering both Acts and Colossians, I have decided to take a break from narrative to take a peak at an epistle. In preparing our study from Sunday, I came across the following quote, (I think that you will see why I'm excited):

The epistle to the Colossians, we are arguing, was an explosive and subversive tract in the context of the Roman empire, and it can be and ought to function in an analogous way in the imperial realities of our time. This letter proclaimed an alternative reality, animating a way of life that was subversive to the ethos of the Roman empire.
(excerpt from Colossians Remixed)

If you do want a revolution, if you desire change as much as I do, then I imagine that words like "explosive," "subversive," and "alternative reality" are making you as eager as me for our study to begin.

Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

A Poem a Day

2007-09-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I committed myself to reading a poem a day, and already dropped the ball. But today I started fresh, and joined a website that will e-mail me a poem every day. I read today's poem, and was already blessed.

The Conclusion -- Sir Walter Raleigh
Even such is Time, that takes in trust
Our youth, our joys, our all we have,
And pays us but with earth and dust;
Who is the dark and silent grave,
When we have wander'd all our ways,
Shuts up the story of our days;
But from this earth, this grave, this dust,
My God shall raise me up, I trust.

Excited to Get out of Bed

2007-09-18T08:36:00.001-07:00

When was the last time that you woke up in the morning excited to get out of bed?

When my three year old daughter, Sage, wakes up in the morning she never rolls over begging us for five more minutes of rest. She never even wakes up, and slowly climbs out of bed only to mope into the living room. Sage jumps out of bed, and hurriedly runs into our room full of energy and excitement to start the day. She can't wait to, go for a run/watch "Little Einsteins"/eat breakfast/sit with her mom & dad. And this excitement doesn't begin when she wakes up, she goes to sleep excited about the routine activities that will take place the following day.

At what point in our lives do we lose this joy?
How do we go from experiencing joy in the morning as children, to dreading the sunrise as teenagers?
Is it possible for us to, as adults, look forward to the day to come with the same enthusiasm as a three year old?
Am I excited to see how God is going to use me today, and on an even more basic level:
Am I excited to live another God-given day?

Remembering Rightly

2007-09-11T22:07:00.000-07:00

I began by responding to Amber's blog tonight, and then decided that I probably should just go ahead and post.

I was recently reading a book that was all about remembering rightly. I hope that we learn to remember 9/11/01 rightly.

In remembering this event, I want to remember and hear about the lives and families of the victims of the attacks, and not see images of the terrorists' victories of the destruction of the twin towers. In remembering rightly, I would like to be able to see how our country has risen amidst this attack to become a better place to live, or at least be encouraged to personally reexamine my life in response to Al Qaeda's attacks, and to live a life more like Christ. In remembering rightly I would like to somehow begin to wrap my head around the numbers of the lives devastated by this attack:
2,819 - People killed in the 9/11 attacks.
3774 - American Military Casualties in Iraq since 3/19/03
71,720 – 78,296 - Documented Iraqi civilian deaths from violence since 3/19/03
45 - Iraqi civilian deaths yesterday, as a result of violence
2 - Iraqi women killed yesterday as a result of a US raid.
126,000 number of abortions a DAY worldwide.

I don't want these to just be numbers, I want to see these numbers as individuals created in the image of God. I want to be able to see these numbers as people with sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, moms and dads, pastors and teachers. I want to learn how to love those suffering.
How do the emotions that I feel for the death of God's created beings in the Middle East compare with the emotions that I feel for the death of God's created beings in the US?

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To all of Those Curious

2007-08-29T10:10:00.001-07:00

This just in: I am not a heretic...yeah!
I was actually kind of nervous, answering these questions kind of freaked me out. But it looks like my theological training prepared me well, and my seminary professors would be proud.

Are you a heretic?

You scored as a Chalcedon compliant

You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.

Chalcedon compliant

100%

Sadly for years I thought that there would be a test just like this at the gates to heaven. I felt that these were the type of questions that I needed to be prepared to answer. Don't get me wrong, they are great things to know, especially when questioning teachings, and exploring what others believe about Jesus, the only problem is that most of them are answering questions that were extremely relevant in 400 Ad and much less so today, (especially with the given language). But, take a stab, and take the test to see if you are a heretic or not.
If in fact you are labeled a heretic and you want to know why, it probably has to do more with your understanding of terms and language, than with actual belief.

What is the Kingdom of God (Quiz)

2007-08-29T09:36:00.001-07:00

So, after all of this teaching on the Kingdom of God, where do you find yourself? Do you believe that the Kingdom of God is an inner spiritual experience, a counter-system, or maybe Earthly Utopia? Here's a quiz to see where you really stand.

Here's how I scored.
"You scored as Kingdom as a Christianised Society, Christians shouldn't withdraw from the world, but by being present in it they can transform it. The kingdom is not only spiritual, but social, political, and cultural.