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Six Reasons Why @BenRedmond is My Youth Ministry Hero

2011-06-09T11:52:00.000-04:00

Last night, I stood in the back of The Hub and watched my good friend Ben Redmond stand up and talk about the birth of this new youth center in Jackson, Michigan. As I watched and listened, I experienced an overwhelming sense of appreciation for who Ben is, and I simply have to share it.

1. Ben is doing what I only dreamed about. In my early days of ministry I read every book, attended conferences, listened to audiotapes from the experts (yes, audiotapes!), and I tried every method to grow the youth ministry I was leading. I remember getting everything in place and having a special unveiling party for my youth group (complete with a fog machine that I constructed myself). Ultimately, it all fell short of my dream. It just didn’t work for me like it did in the books or for the conference speakers. When I stood in The Hub last night I felt as though I was seeing Ben do what I could never do. I turned to my wife and said, “The Hub is every youth pastor’s dream, and he’s really doing it!”. I wasn’t jealous, I was proud. And if I’m honest, there was a little tear in my eye.

2. Ben is one of the most creative dreamers I know. I can still remember some of our very first meetings in the office at Westwinds when Ben first came on staff. From the very beginning I was blown away by his incredible insight and creativity. He had ideas and dreams about what Student Journey could become, about what we needed to teach on, about how to program things, and about how to build the team of leaders. That was about six years ago, but there is still rarely a meeting I have with Ben where I am not thinking that what he is saying needs to be in a book.

3. Ben has walked with me through the tough times. Since I’ve know Ben, there have been a few bumps along my road. I remember sitting in his office wondering if I was still cut out for ministry. Ben listened. I remember sitting frustrated in a hotel room at a youth ministry convention. Ben listened. Since leaving my staff position at Westwinds, I have really struggled to figure out what my role should be at Student Journey. Ben has listened and given me space to figure it out. I’m still figuring it out.

4. Ben is a leader worth following. It’s impossible for me to really express what it’s like to be on Ben’s team. I’m fortunate enough to have twice, in my 15 years of youth ministry experience, been on a youth ministry staff that has had a true sense of camaraderie. The first time felt like a once in a lifetime experience. When that team fell apart, I gained a special appreciation for what we had - though I never thought I’d see that again. Experiencing it again at Student Journey in these last six years has been like a double blessing. Ben makes sacrifices for his leadership team. Ben gives us resources to succeed. Ben prays for us. Ben loves us. Ben is a fantastic leader.

5. Ben loves students as if they were his own. That moment standing in the back of The Hub watching Ben stand up and talk also included another funny experience. As Ben talked, I could see his son (not yet old enough to be in the youth program) playing a game on one of the gaming consoles that surround the venue. Then I looked next to him and saw my son (also too young) paying one too. Then I looked across the room and saw my other son (too young) playing one. At that moment, I remembered something that Ben has said to me several times. He’s always talked about the big picture and about laying foundations for the kind of ministry that our own kids will one day experience. From day-one, Ben has been the kind of youth pastor that treats every kid as his own, and planned his ministry that way. For a second, I got a glimpse of what it will be like when our own kids actually are in that room playing those games and participating in Ben’s ministry. That’s exciting!

6. Ben has always known what Youth Ministry is really about: Students being known and heard. As exciting as The Hub is, Ben has always had a much broader understanding of what kids need. He knows it’s not really about this venue. The venue is just a platform for connecting with kids and giving them space to be known and heard. As cool as The Hub is, Ben is humble enough to know it’s not about him, but obedient enough to lead it with indescribable passion. Ben is brave enough to dream, wise enough to lead, patient enough to listen, committed enough to sacrifice, smart enough to surround himself with others, loving enough to change lives, and faithful enough to be the best youth pastor I’ve ever known.

As Ben closed the service last night, he talked about not being able to do this alone. At that time, several of the volunteer youth staff went up and surrounded him. I went up too, and I walked straight for him. I wanted to stand right behind him, not to share the limelight, but to symbolically show my commitment to be behind him one hundred percent. I don’t know what my role will be as things go forward, but one thing became crystal clear last night. Ben Redmond is my youth ministry hero!

I love you, bro!

A Quote

2011-01-12T22:08:00.000-05:00

•"When our notion of God is confined to the nightmarish enraged Parent so many pretend to love, it is difficult to imagine God's love as other than barely tolerant pardon for ourselves and apparent favoritism towards others. But when we meet the God and Father of Jesus Christ, God's love emerges as a kaleidoscope of wonderful, merry and different operations. And your sin, while real, proves not to be the most important or interesting thing about you. At least as important as being forgiven by God is having God explain you to yourself." (Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls, by Gary Moon & David Benner, p.88)

This is a great Video

2010-12-02T17:43:00.000-05:00

Killers Christmas Video

Catalyst Rules of the Office

2010-09-22T23:14:00.000-04:00

My friend Ben Redmond sent these to me last week. I know he probably (can you say "know" and "probably" in the same sentence?) read them on the Catalyst Blog but I am giving Ben credit for passing them along anyway. I am of a fan of these office environment rules! Implement them if you dare.

1. If you have something exciting to announce, scream it or make a noise with an instrument. But just be loud if it is worthy of announcing.
2. Open Source policy on the drinks and snacks situation. Replenish the snack area as well as the drinks in the frig if you take something.
3. You are always open to a prank….. and you are always free to provide one….. but if you give out a prank, be ready to receive one in return. It’s like the Cold War nuclear policies between the US and USSR….
4. If you’re part of the Catalyst team long enough, you WILL have a nickname. Hover, The Body, Lager, etc.
5. Anyone has the freedom to speak into a project, design, layout, or idea. Anyone’s ideas can be criticized or built on.
6. Business attire is not allowed.
7. We ring bells CONSTANTLY to celebrate.
8. Your title can really be whatever you want it to be.
9. If at all possible, don’t schedule a meeting. We despise meetings, unless it is really needed and leads to action. Or is a collaborative project and requires multiple people speaking into it. But meeting just for meetings sake is lame.
10. Get it done. Always. Execution and the completion of projects is like a drug to us. We take great pride in moving the ball across the finish line.
11. We thrive on competition. None of us like to lose. Fun moments usually involve competition of some sort. Especially cornhole or relay races.
12. We actually like to be around each other. Novel concept I know, but it actually works.

Event: Connecting Like Jesus

2010-09-14T08:18:00.000-04:00

Joel B. Green to present at SAU - come check it out!

2010-09-11T12:41:00.000-04:00

A Quote on Values, Meaning, and Making Sense of Life

2010-08-23T13:48:00.000-04:00

I found this quote about 20 years ago and wrote it on a little piece of paper. Somehow, that little paper keeps resurfasing in my office lately (this may be a sad commentary on the orderlyness of my office). Anyway, I thought it was worth sharing with anyone who may have a minute to read it. Who knows, maybe you'll like it enough to write it on some scrach paper and share it with someone in 20 years.

"I have concluded that the accumulation of wealth, even if I could achieve it, is an insufficieint reason for living. When I reach the end of my days, I must look back on something more meaningul than the persuit of houses and land and machines and stocks and bonds. Nor is fame of any lasting benefit. I will consider my earthly existance to have been wasted unless I can recall a loving family, a consistant investment in the lives of people, and an earnest attempt to serve the God who made me. Nothing else makes much sense."
- Author Unknown

Video: A Vision of Students Today

2010-08-17T22:27:00.000-04:00

I saw this video today during a training session for a college course I am going to teach. Thought it was worth spreading. Interesting stuff.

Spiritual Formation Post

2010-07-29T08:52:00.000-04:00

I found this post by Diane Chandler on Spiritual Formation and felt it was worth sharing in full. I particularly like the illustration of the observable things that happen every day in nature but seem invisible to us. That is a really good way of understanding the ways we grow spiritually. I hope you'll enjoy this short article.

Blogging elsewhere this week...

2010-07-07T23:00:00.002-04:00

In Gutatemala this week and have been recording thoughts on http://royalservants.blogspot.com
Check it out.

Chad Cecil IS NOT Tom Petty: Correction on video post

2010-05-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

As you can see from the pictures below, Chad and Tom can be easily confused. That's not only true in the way they look, but also in their lyrical ingeniousness. Chad sent me a facebook note and reminded me that the video i posted last week of him playing live at SAU was an original tune he wrote called "I Know Your Out There" (It should be noted that Tom did not contact me about the mixup). Chad did cover the Tom Petty song that evening, but what I posted is not the video of that. I thought you all should know. The lyrical quality was easily confused. If you haven't seen the video yet, watch it!

A critical look at the Contemporvant Church

2010-05-17T18:29:00.000-04:00

So, a friend of mine showed me this video. I thought it was really funny - especially since it was produced by North Point Church. I think it was Chesterton who said that the angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly. I think this may be a good example of that kind of light hearted self-reflection. If not... I don't know what it is. What do you think?

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Video of Chad Cecil covering Tom Petty

2010-05-16T22:26:00.002-04:00

Here's a little video of my buddy Chad Cecil playing live at Spring Arbor University last Monday night. This particular song is a cover of Tom Petty's "Crawling After You". I like it. Chad's also got some really great worship tunes that he's been writing. Looking forward to seeing more stuff from him. HT to Stu for shooting this video and posting it on Youtube (channel: thestutube).

Wisdom Chaser Book Event with author Nathan Foster

2010-05-11T20:59:00.003-04:00

Last month Spring Arbor University hosted Nathan Foster, SAU professor and author, along with his father, Richard Foster, for a light-hearted discussion of stories from the Nathan's recently released IVP book - Wisdom Chaser. If you don't already own the book, you'll definitely want to buy a copy after watching these videos! Enjoy.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

My Latest Artwork

2010-05-10T22:11:00.001-04:00

Below are two of my latest works. The first is a sequel piece to this piece (an original which recently sold). The second piece is part of my continued exploration with circles, space, and movement (similar to what I was going for in this piece). In this one I was trying to take advantage of blank space along with circle placement and size in order to create a sense of movement that draws the observer in. Feel free to let me know what you think. Both originals are 11x14 on pre-stretched canvas and are for sale for $80 (prints $20).

Awkward Questions about Jesus

2010-04-23T10:04:00.000-04:00

A Prayer for Today

2010-04-21T15:06:00.005-04:00

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things pass away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

- Teresa of Avila

Foster Event Tomorrow!

2010-04-20T10:21:00.001-04:00

On Teaching Spiritual Formation

2010-01-30T09:25:00.001-05:00

I am taking a class right now on the life and work of Henri Nouwen and I am also teaching a class on spiritual formation. That is turning out to be an excellent combination, since Nouwen was a celebrated teacher of spirituality at both Yale and Harvard. In my readings, I ran across this qoute, which serves as inspiration in my own work as a teacher.

"We are not asked to teach a discipline like mathematics, physics, history or languages, but we are called to make our own faith available to others as the source of learning. To be a teacher means indeed to lay down your life for your friends, to become a 'martyr' in the original sense of witness. To be a teacher means to offer your own faith experience, your loneliness and intimacy, your doubts and hopes, your failures and successes to your students as a context in which they can struggle with their own quest for meaning. To be a teacher means to have the same boldness as Paul, who said to the Corinthians: 'Take me as a model as I take Christ' (1 Cor. 11:1). To be a teacher means to say as those who want to learn what Jesus said to his disciples: 'Come and see' (John 1:39)" - Henri J.M. Nouwen (cited in Wounded Prophet by Michael Ford, 106-107)

Another powerful video...

2009-12-17T11:46:00.001-05:00

Here is another powerful video created by a friend of mine. This one also deals with the issue of human trafficking.

Social Justice :: Boystown from Jerrell Jobe on Vimeo.

A video on the realities of Human Trafficking

2009-12-15T15:37:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine, Mike H., put this 7 minute video together. It is worth educating yourself on the disturbing reality of this subject. Maybe there is something you can do to help?

More Art...

2009-10-24T18:34:00.003-04:00

After spending the afternoon down at ART634 at the Ap(art) exhibit, I was inspired to do some more work at home. This piece ("Burning Bush") has been sitting on my desk for about a month. I started it on a sunday afternoon and didn't quite finish. I finished it up today and then started another one but it is still drying so, no photos of that yet.

"Burning Bush"
2009
11"x17"
Acrylic on Canvas
Yes, it is a real leaf in the paint!

My 2009 Ap(art) Piece

2009-10-24T09:20:00.003-04:00

Thanks to some friends who strongly encouraged me to participate in Ap(art) last night, I ended up producing this piece. It is Acrylic & Oil Spray on 3/4" plywood. Size is 4'x4' (the largest I've ever done). It took me 4 1/2 hours. All Ap(art) work will be auctioned off to the public in order to pour money back into the community. This is a missional effort. Money will be given towards scholarships for art students, expenses for artists in residence, and grants for art programs here in Jackson for underprivileged students. Because Jackson is worth it. Check out the Ap(art) website for more info (and to watch streaming video of the event).

Metaphor on storms of life

2009-09-30T22:29:00.001-04:00

"A geologist was being interviewed. He was a beach geologist, so his field of study was beaches and sand and the like. And at the time he was being interviewed, there was a large hurricane pounding the Outer Banks off the Carolinas. He was being interviewed about what hurricanes do to beaches. We all know what hurricanes do to beaches and beach houses and such. We feel they're very destructive, right? They destroy homes and take down power lines and take away sand, and whole beaches disappear in a hurricane. This is what got my attention: The geologist said, 'You know, I can't wait to get out there in the next 24 hours.' And the interviewer said, 'What do you expect to find out there?' and I was listening and I thought he was going to talk about all the destruction he was going to find. What he said really surprised me. He said, 'I expect to find a new beach.'" - Margaret Wheatley

A thought on spiritual growth

2009-09-30T15:20:00.002-04:00

"It is simply not possible to proceed very far along the path of spiritual growth without honoring the need for individual time, without valuing subjective personal experience, and without cultivating and exploring your own inner life. The wisdom of the ages, if one but culls out the most self-serving of the messages of organized religions, is that the spiritual life begins with the inward journey and moves outward from that. If it does not begin there, it is simply a matter of outward forms - a parody of the religious life in which church is merely a forum for social connection and advancement, and 'outreach' a way of assuaging one's conscience. Faith without works may be dead, as St. Paul argued, but works without a deeply rooted, faithful inner life is shallow, superficial, and ephemeral. More important for our purposes, it does nothing to advance one along the way toward true spiritual growth and the development of the kind of maturity that is essential to life and work in our new cultural paradigm." - C. Michael Thompson, The Congruent Life: Following the Inward Path to Fulfilling Work and Inspired Leadership, p.236

A little encouragement

2009-09-30T14:53:00.003-04:00

"Concerning all acts of initiative and creation there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tuesday Night Art

2009-09-15T22:34:00.004-04:00

Decided to get out the paints tonight for a bit. Ended up with this.
11x14 Acrylic on Canvas.

Latenight Artwork

2009-07-10T01:21:00.005-04:00

So, I've been finding that the only time I can manage to squeeze in art is in the late hours. It also serves as a nice way to unwind the day. Last week I tried to do something with this 18x18 canvas that I have and it totally flopped so I had to start over. I painted the canvas white again and let it sit in my garage for a few days. Tonight I went for round two. As I sat down I didn't really have anything in mind (which makes starting a challenge sometimes). But, I just started throwing paint on the canvas and this is what emerged.
As it started to look like fire I couldn't help but think that it was inspired by a fire that we witnessed earlier this evening. As we drove home we saw smoke and stopped to watch an abandoned factory building burn. The kids thought it was cool. I took a quick snapshot (been trying to keep my camera handy these days). Here's what we saw.
Maybe you can see at least a little of the resemblance.

As I paint, I hate to waste paint. So I rarely clean a brush between colors. Instead I keep a spare art pad handy (Lately it's been a 11x9 book) and when I need less of a particular color on my brush I just do some random designs on that blank page. Tonight, as i finished up the 18x18 canvas I had a pretty ugly looking scrap paper sitting there in front of me. Not wanting to waste the paper, I decided to shift my focus to at least make it worth looking at (some may still argue that point). I looked around for some inspiration and saw, on the shelf in my office, a 9/16 bolt. I'm not entirely sure why it was sitting there but I turned it into my paint brush for the next hour. The result is the painting below which is a base coat of leftover colors brushed on in random patterns and a top layer of acrylic paint applied with the head of a bolt. Even if you don't like it... it was fun, and in a weird way represents the life emerging from the recycled paint of the fire.

Limited Prints Now Available for these Paintings

2009-07-09T17:11:00.005-04:00

I have a limited number of 11 x 14 prints for each of these paintings. If you are interested send me a note. $15 each (shipping included).

New Simply Missions T-Shirts are here!

2009-07-07T15:06:00.003-04:00

Just got some new promotional t-shirts made for Simply Missions.
I am making them available for $15 each or two for $25 (plus shipping).
It's a combination between a little advertising and a little fund raiser for us.
Adult sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
E-mail your order to joe@simplymissions.org!

This Week's Artwork

2009-07-06T20:58:00.003-04:00

Simply Missions is now on Facebook!

2009-06-06T00:01:00.001-04:00

Check out this cool update on the Simply Missions Supporters Blog.

Healing Reflections Artwork

2009-05-29T01:17:00.005-04:00

Over the past few weeks I've been reading Healing Care, Healing Prayer: Helping the Broken Find Wholeness in Christ by Terry Wardle. Tonight I spent two hours on my couch praying through personal issues of inner healing while following many of the principles Wardle presents. It wasn't easy, but I did have some breakthrough moments with Jesus.

Afterward, I wanted to try to capture some of the emotion (which is what I think artwork is anyway), so it seemd logical to turn to the brush and canvas as an outlet. Two pieces emerged. The first is a somewhat abstract piece that I spent the majority of my time on. For me, there is symbolism in the color choices, shapes, angles, and layers. But I think it's best that you allow yourself to see the things that you need to see in it. The second work is just a three-minute piece done in an 11x14 sketchbook. It was more of an afterthought. I have a thing for circles and I really resisted putting any circles into the first piece so I needed a separate place to do that. Hence the second piece.

Enjoy. I'd love to hear comments (if anyone reads this).

Healing Journey:

Healing Light:

Quote of the Day

2009-05-21T23:48:00.000-04:00

"If human words are incapable of describing the distinctive aroma of coffee, how could they possibly cope with something as subtle as God?" - Ludwig Wittgenstein

Fire Destroyed the new unopened Holiday Inn in Jackson

2009-05-07T15:52:00.002-04:00

Holiday Inn Fire

Last Week's Artwork

2009-05-03T18:19:00.003-04:00

Today's Artwork

2009-05-03T18:03:00.003-04:00

2009-04-28T17:09:00.001-04:00

Testing out mobile blogger.

A Paradigm (Revised)

2009-03-27T16:21:00.002-04:00

This paradigm uses a Celtic Cross as a setting for understanding how some of the key elements of Christian spirituality relate. In the image one should first note that the background is “Grace” which is placed there intentionally as a constant reminder that all of the Christian life is lived in the air of grace. As we fumble our way towards a more holistic life we enjoy the repeated opportunities of Grace.

There is no real starting point in the illustration as we do not have the privilege of engaging in parts of the Christian life one at a time. We are thrown in, like children into a pool, to learn to swim as we go. So, without a starting point I will begin at the bottom with Sabbath.

In this particular version of the paradigm, Sabbath creates the roots that keep the individuals life “grounded.” Our time of Sabbath rest can inspire us in our work and propel us toward outward displays of the inward reality of our faith. As we live active lives we often come to places of Surrender (Emptying) where we must come to grips with the things that are hinder us in the race. Surrender leads us into depth of thought as we consider life without those things with which we have been attached. Thought (Contemplation) often cannot move us toward Action (work) without a stop for Sabbath (Filling). With all of this in mind, I realize that others may find themselves rooted in Action or Contemplation. In either case the entire cross could be rotated to allow the roots to grow from that particular arm.

All of this takes place around the four keys of Presence, Awareness, Suffering, and Silence. Sabbath rest helps us become present to God’s presence. In our action we become aware of places where both the World, and our own lives are not “right”. Surrender often takes the form of suffering. And thought is given room to grow through silence.

As we move toward the center we realize that all of this is held in tension between outward expressions of our faith (Hospitality) and the inward reality of our faith (Solitude). Arrows give us the idea of a spinning movement which naturally would cause each of the ends of the cross (Sabbath/filling, Action/work, Surrender/emptying, and Contemplation/thought) to have an outward pull (notice the arrows pointing outward). But our movement must be towards the center (the true self) and against the pulling of imbalance. Too much emphasis on any one side creates instability. The center is the only place where the tension is relieved through balance.

The center is the true self and living in that reality is a Divine gift. Living out of our true self is not something for which we work harder. Hard work may lead us closer in various ways, but ultimately living out of the true self is “life in the Spirit” which is a gift we receive from God not based on merit.

James Finley describes it this way, "Merton once told me to quit trying so hard in prayer. He said: 'How does an apple ripen? It just sits in the sun.' A small green apple cannot ripen in the night by tightening all its muscles, squinting its eyes and tightening its jaw in order to find itself the next morning miraculously large, red, ripe, and juicy beside it's small green counterparts. Like the birth of a baby or the opening of a rose, the birth of the true self takes place in God's time. We must wait for God, we must be awake; we must trust in his hidden action within us." (Merton's Palace of Nowhere, Finley).

Work and Prayer

2009-03-27T11:32:00.001-04:00

"Merton once told me to quit trying so hard in prayer. He said: 'How does an apple ripen? It just sits in the sun.' A small green apple cannot ripen in the night by tightening all its muscles, squinting its eyes and tightening its jaw in order to find itself the next morning miraculously large, red, ripe, and juicy beside it's small green counterparts. Like the birth of a baby or the opening of a rose, the birth of the true self takes place in God's time. We must wait for God, we must be awake; we must trust in his hidden action within us."
- from Merton's Palace of Nowhere by James Finley.

Blogging in Kenya

2009-03-19T16:35:00.001-04:00

I'm in Kenya now and have been posting updates on the trip on the Simply Missions blog. Click here to read the Kenya updates.

A Paradigm

2009-03-19T11:32:00.001-04:00

In this paradigm I have chosen to use a Celtic Cross as a setting for understanding how some of the key elements of Christian spirituality relate. In the image you will first note that the background is “Grace.” I intentionally set this visibly in the background as a constant reminder that all of the Christian life is lived in the air of grace, and as we fumble our way towards a more holistic life we enjoy the repeated opportunities of Grace.

There is no real starting point in the illustration as we do not have the privilege of engaging in parts of the Christian life one at a time. We are thrown in, like children into a pool, to learn to swim as we go. So, without a starting point I will begin at the bottom with Sabbath. Sabbath creates the roots that keep our Christian lives “grounded.” Our time of Sabbath rest may inspire us to Action. Action leads us to places of Surrender (Emptying) where we must come to grips with the things that are hinder us in the race. Surrender leads us to Contemplation which often cannot move us to Action without a stop for Sabbath (Filling). All of this takes place around the four keys of Presence, Awareness, Wonder, and Illumination.

As we move toward the center we realize that all of this is revolving around Community and Hospitality. Arrows give us the idea of a spinning movement which naturally would cause each of the ends of the cross (Sabbath, Action, Surrender, and Contemplation) to have an outward pull (notice the arrows pointing outward). But our movement must be towards the center (Community and Hospitality) and against the pulling of imbalance. Too much emphasis on any one side creates instability.

The center is the true self. And in the last few days I have chosen to rename the center “the Gift of the True Self”. I believe living out of our true self is not something that we work harder for. Hard work may lead us closer in various ways, but ultimately living out of the true self is life “in the Spirit” which is a gift we receive from God not based on merit.

A Parable

2009-03-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

Once there was a kingdom with a King who owned many horses. A certain man worked hard every day from sun up until sun down carrying bags of food for the kings horses to eat. It was an important task as the horses were the Kings prize possession. He did this every day, pulling the heavy cart through the streets. Everyone thought he was a hard worker, and eventually he became the most famous horse food carrier in all of the land. Finally he died. And the next day someone else carried the food.

Star Wars: Retold

2009-02-17T20:03:00.001-05:00

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

If you have seen the films, this is hilarious. If not... well, maybe he could video you next.
HT to David McDonald.

Action & Contemplation - Part 2

2009-02-17T14:53:00.004-05:00

I’ll try to illustrate my point further with an example. I lead groups of people on short-term mission trips. If I were leaving every Saturday for a mission trip and coming home every Friday, only to leave again the next morning, I would lead a very active life (don't worry, this is not my practice). Parker Palmer seems to be an action oriented guy, and good makes defense of the contemplation that can and should take place in action. I agree that something needs to be said to both move the heavy-footed contemplatives toward action and move the light-footed activists toward slowing down. If I kept the schedule above (even if I took a posture of contemplation-in-action) I would not have adequate space to develop, adjust, modify, and properly critique my own work. I would also quickly burn myself out. And the incompatibility comes in that phrase “adequate space.” Space yes, but not adequate space. Palmer seems to invite us to drag the boundary lines over a bit, and increase our percentages, but I don’t think we can entirely merge these two concepts. They are incompatible in that they can not maintain union. We can stir them together but they naturally separate without continuous conscious effort. I believe that is ok, and do not wish to move myself to some middle place where I am constantly doing both.

Palmer, in The Active Life, speaks of the tension between the two and that is what led me to think of the perpetual motion illustration. The balls move/rest/move/rest with a tension that is perpetual. I thought also of a gyroscope and how that as the rotor spins, the two gimbals (here we could call one “contemplation” and the other “action”) help maintain the stability of the rotor. In this illustration, the fact that they are separate “things” actually preserves both themselves and the rotor from into destruction.

The opposite of my above personal illustration is also true. If I stayed home all year and just thought about missions work I may come up with the best “model for missions” ever created but I would grow stagnant. Instead, (and this is what I feel Palmer is essentially suggesting) my action is balanced by my contemplation and my contemplation is done with action in mind. There is a force, or a gravity in my illustrations because that is what I feel in reality. I feel a pull to become active in the poverty and injustice that I see, and I feel a pull to reflect on all that I experience. Action and contemplation are oil and water, high tide and low tide, cats and dogs, but I love them both and need them both because of the unique aspects that they both bring to my life. Something mixed in the middle misses the full joy that comes with living the extremes.

A Devotional

2009-02-17T14:35:00.000-05:00

What is the difference between Compassion, Care & Cure. Parker Palmer says, “Compassion means literally, the capacity to be with the suffering of another.” This means that compassion is often uncomfortable. It is rarely easy to enter into someone’s pain without doing something about it, but compassion doesn’t necessarily bring a cure to the ailment one faces. Compassion’s present (gift) is being present to the other. This is the one sense where, I suppose, it is realistic to view ourselves as “G*D’s gift” to someone.

To truly care for the other we must abandon our “Whatever” attitudes. Whatever is the care-free lifestyle, and we must be care-full. Doing so means to listen, be present, hear, and receive. Henri Nouwen says, “The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.”

A second comparison is that of Fixing & Relationship. Our task is not to fix people. We may desire to pour out blessings and fixings on those who are suffering and broken but pouring is an act that can be done only from above. The posture of “above” is an arm’s-length posture, and “there is no arm’s-length ‘solution’ for suffering. People who offer such only add to the pain… We cannot do good by standing back and pulling levers that drop bounty on people who need it. Right action can be only and immersion of ourselves in reality, an immersion that involves us in RELATIONSHIP, that takes us to our place in the organic nature of things.”

(Palmer, The Active Life, 84).

A third comparison is that of Do & Be. Being there, not as cure but as companion to the person who suffers on his or her slow journey, is one of the best things we can “do”. Compassion & companionship is more about being that doing. Such being requires us to risk. We risk not curing, we risk rejection, and we risk inadequacy. But Love takes risking.

The Scriptures…

Jesus models a life of compassion and care. Mark 6 serves as a good example.

Mark 6:32-44 (NLT)

They left by boat for a quieter spot. [33] But many people saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed. [34] A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

[35] Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. [36] Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food."

[37] But Jesus said, "You feed them."

"With what?" they asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!"

[38] "How much food do you have?" he asked. "Go and find out."

They came back and reported, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish." [39] Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass. [40] So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred.

[41] Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. [42] They all ate as much as they wanted, [43] and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. [44] Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves!

When Jesus had compassion on the crowds he offered them what he had; excellent teaching. Jesus was the “master teacher” and didn’t hesitate to give what he had when he saw people in need. The disciple’s saw the crowd too, but they saw the problem not the people, saying, “Send the crowds away so they can… buy themselves some food.” Here we see what Palmer calls, “The temptation to solve some problem on a level that does not solve it at all, and may even make things worse.” Can you imagine 5,000 people raiding the nearby farms and villages for bread and fish? I’m not sure Wal-Mart could handle that all at once.

Jesus response with the curious, “You feed them.”

“With what?" is the appropriate response. Here the disciple’s faith is being tested and it is in this same “With what?” attitude that we often respond to G*D’s calling in our own lives. How am I going to do this thing that G*D is asking me to do? “It would take a small fortune.” But in the story, Jesus simply responds with "How much food do you have?" He is less concerned with what it takes and more concerned with what is available. G*D is always more interested in availability than in ability. Making ourselves available to G*D is where we find ourselves risking. Opening our hands to God means releasing the death grip we have on all the stuff we are holding on to. But when we open our hands we find Jesus blessing our gift and G*D multiplying it.

Jesus’ solution to this need was not one of pulling levers, it was not an arms-length solution. It was a nitty-gritty, shoulder-to-shoulder, self-sacrificing, self-risking, solution that gave birth to a compassionate response… and a miracle of provision.

Action & Contemplation

2009-02-11T14:13:00.003-05:00

As a kid, my neighbors had in their house a perpetual motion toy that I was always fascinated with (like the one pictured above). Every time we would visit them I would go find this little desktop toy and experiment with it. When you pulled a ball off to the side and released it, the ball would drop down and strike the other balls sending only the ball on the opposite side into motion. This phenomenon took place in varying proportions depending on the number of balls that were “active.” It was no fun to activate all of the balls at once. They would simply swing back and forth together and, for some reason, that seemed completely uninteresting to me. However, to watch a ball immediately switch from the “active” position to the still position was mesmerizing. I could literally play with that toy for hours.

In The Active Life, Parker Palmer views action and contemplation as weights on opposite ends of the same string. They are each propelled into motion by the motion of the other. It reminds me of the perpetual motion toy. The “active” parts must come to rest, and in doing so the resting (or “contemplative”) parts are flung into motion. Palmer wants to balance the scales and give equal weight to both contemplation and action. However, in my experimentation with the toy, I found that there was never true balance. If you activate two parts then three remain at rest, if you activate three parts then only two remain at rest. It seems there is no even or fair way to treat both parts equally. Action and Contemplation are compatible in the sense that they are both attached to the same structure that we call life. They are incompatible in the sense that they cannot be activated simultaneously and still operate correctly.

Thoughts

2009-02-05T22:50:00.002-05:00

I've really been wanting to blog more lately but I don't seem to have either the time or energy to get too serious about any one idea when it strikes me. All I seem to have are little snippets or seed ideas. I think "seed" is a good metaphor because if you look at a seed you really don't know what you are looking at. If you had never seen an orange seed you would not be able to guess that a tree would grow where you planted that seed and that tasty fruit would grow from it. So, like that, I have a few seeds in my mind but they seem so pathetically far from the oranges that I'm not sure they really do justice to all the stuff that is really packed inside.

For example, I've been really overwhelmed by the love of my friends lately. I've got some really cool friends and I am extremely thankful to God for each of them. But that sounds so cliche. It's just a seed. Those two sentences are dry, white, boring, little seeds. It feels impossible to really communicate the orange that I am tasting in my friendships.

All that to say, I am at a loss for words.

Now you are wondering if you are one of those oranges... and if you are reading this... you probably are. : )

A Letter

2009-01-23T16:16:00.003-05:00

Through a series of circumstances that are mostly irrelevant, I received a letter today from my dear friend Randy Shafer. I learned of the letter's existence last week, but was delayed in acquiring it because of my residency retreat. It's timeliness was Divinely appropriate. I know that most people who lose loved ones don't get the opportunity to converse as I did with Randy in his final weeks, and even fewer have letters that come afterward to offer comfort and encouragement. So, it was with humble gratitude that I unfolded those two pages today.
As I read, so many of the things that I have been thinking these past weeks flooded my mind. Randy joyfully recounted not only the blessedness of our friendship but also a few specific conversations that have been lingering in my head. These fresh words from Randy brought joy and tears, but mostly they brought more healing. I will always treasure these pages.
Thank you, Randy!

Remembering Randy Shafer

2008-12-29T14:30:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday many of us celebrated the life of Randy Shafer. I was able to share a few words and wanted to post them here as well.

Randy Shafer was my soul friend. For the past couple of years we met almost every Tuesday morning at 6:15am. We turned a little booth in the center of Bob Evans into sacred space, where we listened to each other and to God.

It would be impossible for me to say everything that I want to say about Randy in just a few minutes. But, when I think of the time I spent with Randy there are a couple of words that really stand out to me.

First is Presence. When I was with Randy he always made me feel like I was the most important person in the world. It didn’t matter what else was going on, he wasn’t distracted. Randy knew how to be with me in whatever I was experiencing, and never let me lose sight of where God was either. Sitting with Randy often seemed like a taste of what it will be like to sit with Jesus.

Next is Patience. Randy knew how to wait for God. His blog title “fogparty” indicates that he embraced the mystery of waiting. Randy’s patience always gave me the freedom to struggle with what God was doing without feeling like I was alone in the fog. As we find ourselves in the midst of that fog now, I know that Randy would be patient with us, in our anger, in our confusion, or in our sorrow, and he would be encouraging us to wait on the Lord. Randy’s presence always made that wait a little easier.

Another word is Prayer. Randy helped me to pray with honesty because he always modeled that kind of prayer. In fact, Randy’s life was a beautiful honest prayer. One of my favorite memories is of a time when Randy came to my house to pray with me. His prayer brought a healing to my life that day, and I always looked for an opportunity to return the favor. I prayed as hard as I knew how to pray for Randy, and though we didn’t see his physical healing, Randy did tell me that a kind of healing took place in him during one of our prayer sessions. And for that I am thankful to God.

There are many other words I would say about Randy but I will share only one more today and that is the word Love. For Love truly summarizes all of the words that could be said. Randy Loved well. He showed me what it was to love. Randy’s love drew me out of the cave that I had hid in for so long and brought me into the light of the presence of God. With eyes of love, Randy saw in me things that I am still trying to discover. He saw who I could be and he loved me toward realizing that vision.

It has been said that "He who feels the beauty of the tulip while it is still in bulb covered by the snow has love for the tulip." Randy’s deep love enabled him to see in all of us the beauty that still lies encapsulated in the bulb beneath the snow.

We honor Randy’s life and influence on us every time we listen to someone without distraction. We honor Randy every time we sit with someone and hear them with patient ears. We honor Randy every time we see someone with eyes of compassion and hope. We honor Randy every time we embrace someone with arms of love. And we honor Randy when we bloom into the kind of people that God has created us to be.

So now, may the warmth of God’s love melt the snow that now covers us all. May we now carry Randy inside of us. And may we all love better, because we were loved by Randy.

A thought on inner Prayer

2008-12-19T00:14:00.002-05:00

"Mental habits of inward orientation must be established. An inner, secret turning to God can be made fairly steady after weeks and months and years of practice and lapses and failures and returns. It is as simple as Brother Lawrence found it, but it may be long before we can achieve any steadiness in the process." - Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion

2008-12-18T08:49:00.001-05:00

just realized that Ping.fm doesn't "really" support SMS updates. So... it's not as cool as I thought it was going to be.

2008-12-17T20:46:00.001-05:00

trying to use Ping.fm to update EVERYTHING!

Where I lived this week...

2008-12-11T23:12:00.003-05:00

Read more about my experience in Lakeshore, Mississippi on the Simply Missions Blog.

The Guest House by Rumi

2008-12-06T11:15:00.003-05:00

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning is a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

On seeing beyond the surface.

2008-12-03T13:35:00.001-05:00

"He who feels the beauty of the tulip while it is still in bulb covered by the snow has love for the tulip." - Ira Progoff

New Artwork

2008-11-30T19:04:00.006-05:00

I'm not exactly thrilled about this one but I thought I'd post the progression anyway. There may be more work that needs to be done.

Reflections from a walk in the park

2008-11-26T16:58:00.006-05:00

I took a run today to my favorite park. I bundled up (since it’s only 32 degrees out), tuned my iPod to some worship music and hit the sidewalk. As I ran, I just tried to worship along with the songs. When I got to the park, I paused my tunes, slowed to a walking pace, and entered into a time of silent prayer by simply repeating the prayer of 1 Samuel 3:10, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

It’s often awkward shifting into silence. I am in such a habit of talking that it is sometimes hard to quiet my inner voice that just wants to keep asking God for stuff. It can be even harder to be silent with my eyes open but walking with my eyes closed didn’t seem like a very good option in a city park. So, as I walked down the path I just looked around and asked God to show me something.

It wasn’t long before I noticed a bird soaring above me. No, not like a dove descending from heaven, just a regular bird. As I looked more closely I noticed that it had what looked like a cracker in its mouth. Now, I highly doubt that it was a cracker, because where would a bird get a cracker? But that’s just what it looked like. Immediately I had some thoughts. I first thought of the bird’s life. It was simply being a bird. I thought of the bird’s day and how the bird may have been feeling (I know it may sound weird to think of what birds may be feeling but that is simply what I thought). I wondered if it was anxious or trusting. I wondered if it was worried about tomorrow. I noticed the cracker and I was reminded of Matthew 6:26 "Consider the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

I continued to watch the bird as I walked. It was barely even flapping its wings but it was flying and turning and floating in the air. The wind was doing all of the work. I thought about my own life, and how I often want to do the work but it is the work of the Spirit. I am simply along for the ride.

The bird landed out of site and I turned my attention to listening again. Soon I heard what sounded like a waterfall (except there is no waterfall… well, let me clarify that. This park actually has a large man made waterfall, but it is closed for the winter). I looked around because I figured what I was hearing was a car with a bad muffler or something, but the sound continued. Eventually I figured out that the noise was coming from the tall swamp grass blowing in the wind. I thought, there’s that wind again, this time giving grass a voice. It is funny that God can make grass sound like a waterfall. But the grass alone wouldn’t make any sound at all without the wind.

About that time I looked down and noticed something strange. The particular section of the park I was in is notorious for goose poo. But the geese were gone and the poo was mostly gone too. It was nice not to have to tiptoe as if I were in a mine field. Then I asked God the strangest question that I think I have ever asked God. I said, “What’s with the goose poo?”

Silence. I started to get cold. I had broken a sweat on my run over to the park and now that I had been walking for a while I was cooling down and really starting to get chilly from the brisk winter wind. I started jogging to warm back up again, and then it dawned on me. The wind held the bird aloft, gave the grass a voice, and moved the geese where God wanted them to go.

I finished the circle trail around this park and hit play on my iPod as I turned toward home. The song that played next was called “If You Say Go” and it goes like this,

If you say go, we will go

If you say wait, we will wait

If you say step out on the water and they say it can’t be done

We’ll fix our eyes on you and we will come

If you call us to the fire You will not withdraw Your hand

We’ll gaze into the flames and look for You

I thought about the geese who were moved south at the beckoning of God. I thought about the birds that had waited and were held by the wind and fed by the hand of God. I thought about the grass doing what can’t be done… speaking.

It was an interesting walk in the park. There are a lot of parallels with things that God is doing in me these days. I am still processing it all.

On ending world hunger...

2008-11-12T22:42:00.003-05:00

"Jesus knows he can end the groaning bellies of the world's starving children, but he resists and says that he will trust in the church." - Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, from Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers, p.46

On helping others...

2008-11-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

"I have lived my whole live with a desire to help others in their journey. But I have always realized that I had little else to offer than my own. The journey I am making myself. How can I announce joy, peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation unless they are a part of my own flesh and blood." – Henri J. M. Nouwen

More Quotes

2008-11-11T17:03:00.004-05:00

The following two quotes are from the DVD documentary on Henry Nouwen entitled "Journey of the Heart". The final quote is by Dietrich Bonhoffer.

"What is most personal is most universal." - Henri Nouwen

"God has loved us before the creation of the earth and He has gifted us with these few short years on this planet tht we might have the chance to say, 'I love you too'." - Adapted from Henri Nouwen

"Conversion is claiming again and again and again the truth of myself. And what is the truth of myself? That I am God's beloved child long before my father and my mother and my teachers and my church got involved. And I will be God's beloved child long after I have died." - Henri Nouwen

"The first service we owe to others in fellowship is to listen to them. If we fail to listen, there are spiritual consequences. He who can no longer listen to his brother, will soon be no longer listening to God either." - Dietrich Bonhoffer

Erwin McManus on Prayer

2008-11-11T16:50:00.003-05:00

The quotes below are from a sermon by Erwin entitled "Prayer: Spiritual Activism" available on the Mosaic podcast through iTunes.

"The difference between a follower of Jesus Christ and followers of other religions is not that we pray, but that we hear God when he speaks and we obey when he tells us what to do." - Erwin McManus

"Faith is not about working up your belief in God. Faith is about hearing God, knowing that when God speaks it is not a request it's a command. So when you hear his voice you move in obedience to his voice." - Erwin McManus

"What the world is looking for are not people who pray, but people who when they pray somehow hear from God and do what God says. The best evidence that you are a man of prayer is that you do what God says when you hear it. Are you willing to become that kind of man of prayer?" - Erwin McManus

I Kings 18:36-39
36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.
37 "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again."
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God."

Art (Stage 3 &4)

2008-10-24T14:17:00.003-04:00

Art (Stage 1 & 2)

2008-10-24T11:08:00.003-04:00

Advice

2008-10-15T22:24:00.000-04:00

"We may not need each other's advice nearly as much as we need each other's prayer and prayerful understanding and affirmation." - Jeannette Bakke, Holy Invitations p.143

Quote of the Week

2008-09-25T23:45:00.001-04:00

Read this quote a few weeks ago and it is still messing with me.

"When our notion of God is confined to the nightmarish enraged Parent so many pretend to love, it is difficult to imagine God's love as other than barely tolerant pardon for ourselves and apparent favoritism towards others. But when we meet the God and Father of Jesus Christ, God's love emerges as a kaleidoscope of wonderful, merry and different operations. And your sin, while real, proves not to be the most important or interesting thing about you. At least as important as being forgiven by God is having God explain you to yourself."

(Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls, by Gary Moon & David Benner, p.88)

Guatemala City

2008-09-20T21:09:00.004-04:00

I'm in Guatemala City right now on a preview trip for Simply Missions. Our time has been spent visiting various ministry locations and host sites for short-term teams. It has been exciting to see the work that God is doing down here, preparing the way for opportunities in the future. It is also difficult to see the extremely poor living conditions that so many people face in this city of 6 million. No matter how many times I see things like this, it never stops hurting a bit. That's good motivation for me though.

Reasons why I love my job...

2008-08-19T23:28:00.003-04:00

Jamaica - Day 2

2008-08-12T23:47:00.003-04:00

Today was an incredible day for me here in Jamaica. Spent the day with Chad from CCCD and we really clicked. We were in the van all day driving around but we had a ton of fun. He took me to a few of the different facilities they run here on the island. We also took a detour to YS Falls, where their short-term missions teams go on their day off. It was worth the drive. I am staying up in Mandeville tonight (it is about 10 degrees cooler up here) and will be back in Kingston tomorrow before the Chapel Pointe team arrives.

Kingston - Arrival

2008-08-11T22:49:00.003-04:00

Here in Kingston now. Settled in after lunch, a quick trip to Port Royal (not much to see), a stop at the bank, a stop at the grocery store, and a tour of the NEST Children's home. Accommodations are nice. I was surprised by how different Jamaica is in spite of a common language (although English is a second language here, everyone speaks it). I must say there is a bit more culture shock here than I expected. I think that's tied to my misconception that since Jamaicans speak english they will act like Americans. That was not a good assumption. There is something strange about the way people interact and I am trying to put my finger on exactly what it is. One thing seems sure, nobody is really in a hurry, except for the fact that we got pulled over for running a yellow light on the way from the airport. That was interesting. Tomorrow I tour three CCCD locations. Hope to post some pictures too.

Kingston - Departure

2008-08-11T19:43:00.000-04:00

When gearing up for a trip it’s always great to have some time with the fam before I leave. In this case I got to spend the last few days with my family in Wisconsin at a family reunion. We enjoyed the rustic setting of some cabins at Kickapoo Creek (don’t ask me how they got that name). It was great to see extended family and to float down the creek with the kids.

Now, it’s 6:40am and I’m sitting here at Gate B8 in Detroit Metro’s less-than-finest Smith Terminal. It’s always crazy for me to think that we drove nine and a half hours to get home from Wisconsin, but in a few minutes I’ll be flying through the sky, and then having lunch in Jamaica. It’s also crazy to think that this is just another day at the office, but this is what I do – and I love it. Special thanks to Randy, who got up at 4am to drive me to work this morning!

Next stop… Miami… then Kingston.

Chagrin Falls

2008-07-29T13:11:00.006-04:00

Spending a few days with my friend Brandon Ansel down near Cleveland, Ohio at a place called Chagrin Falls. I spent yesterday afternoon hanging out at the falls and watching the ducks.

Art of the week: Tuesday Night Sky

2008-04-09T00:40:00.006-04:00

Ok... so it's Tuesday night and that means one thing... Art Night! So, in keeping with recent tradition here's what came out along with a few tweaked versions. This week's work is a bit of a sequel to the March 12 piece. Unfortunately the photo doesn't capture the depth and texture. I experimented a little with some "extra" materials here to give the piece a raised look. Overall... another fun night with the old brush.

Counting Crows New Release

2008-04-03T00:49:00.005-04:00

Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings is the latest album from Counting Crows and I downloaded it the day it was released. It's pretty much all I have listened to for the past two weeks. I am a huge fan. iTunes also gave away a track-by-track interview with Adam Duritz for those who pre-ordered the album (which I did). That alone was worth the download because Adam's perspective really makes listening to the songs more interesting. It clarifies a bit where he is coming from and it makes everything make more sense. So far i think my favorite track is Come Around.

This Week's Artwork

2008-03-28T18:33:00.005-04:00

Above is my latest work. It is painted on an old window and is held up to the sunlight to capture the transparency of the paint. I've shown it here first with some photoshop edits and then in real life. There may be more done to this before it is "finished."

Take the Awareness Test!

2008-03-28T16:24:00.001-04:00

Tuesday is "Art Night"

2008-03-12T00:21:00.004-04:00

Here's my latest piece. First the original painting on canvas, and second a photoshop rendition. The photoshop version looks like a clown head emerging from a black lagoon. Hmmmm. Not what I was going for, but ok.

FWD: Um... Whose Line Is It Anyway?

2008-03-11T12:58:00.000-04:00

I believe the church must be about teaching people to how to read. Would those who struggled to get the Scriptures into the hands of the lay people so that they might read for themselves the Word of God be disappointed with the way we have allowed the Bible to be read?

Creating new reading habits involves releasing the know-it-all attitude that comes with familiarity. Ellen Davis captures this idea when she warns of the danger of the “That’s just what I thought” mentality (16).

Creating new reading habits also involves embracing ambiguities. We could learn a lot in this regard from our Jewish siblings who routinely entertain possibilities of multiple meanings (24).

Creating new reading habits involves enabling “wise wonder”. It seems that the more we study Scripture, the more we uncover new and unexplored layers within the text. Our wise wonder must allow freedom for critical traditioning, or rethinking our formerly accepted theological positions (xix).

The primary obstacle we face in accomplishing this is the expectation of certainty. Do our jobs depend upon our sounding more certain than we are about what is true? (15)

The church must also be about the improvisation of the third act. In the canonization process the church graciously forwarded us the manuscripts of the first and second act. Many have gone to great lengths to place those scripts in our hands and they must be read (and read correctly) in order for us to faithfully improvise the third act. In our reading we gain intimate understanding of the Author of this divine drama. We also see tensions, ambiguities, and mystery, and therefore must anticipate those elements within our own portion of the story. As we realize that the story of the bible is about us we gain clarity (not certainty) we need for our improvisation.

Davis, Ellen F., and Richard B. Hays. The Art of Reading Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

More snow fun with the kids

2008-03-01T19:05:00.006-05:00

Original Art

2008-02-29T22:57:00.006-05:00

Our church just wrapped up a series called "Sleeping Beauty." The series explored the role of art within the church as well as the role art can play in our spiritual development. The series has sparked several dinner conversations with friends, and has inspired me to do more art myself.

I've been living in Luke 5:27-39 for the past two weeks. And as I've studied I've had this image in my head that I decided to actually get out on some canvas. So... here's the finished product... without further explanation.
And... you should be warned, as I was, that amateurs ought not to dabble in the realms of art interpretation. That is for the experts!

BUT... since this is my blog and I make the rules... I say, interpret away! Talk to God about what it means. Come up with your own understanding of this "text." It will doubtfully be my intention but, lucky for you, I don't care.

Dabble with it, play in it, despise it, import it into photoshop and change it, let it speak, speak back.

And remember, your Creator is an artist, so it's probably in your blood too.

A parable

2008-02-25T23:32:00.006-05:00

A rich land owner built a garden and entrusted it to the care of her three best gardeners. The gardeners had difficulty agreeing on how to landscape the garden and after much deliberation decided it would be best if the garden was divided into three separate sections so that each gardener could implement his own plan.

The first gardener laid out an elaborate maze and hired the best woodworkers available to build a complex series of sturdy garden lattices. When the project was finished the gardener had spent most of his resources and had little money or energy to plant vines to grow on the lattice structures. Some seeds were planted but whenever they began to weave up into the lattice the gardener would order them cut down as they seemed to appear more out of place than anything. At first several people came to walk through the garden and to see the maze but most were quickly unimpressed.
The second gardener observed the work of the first gardener and his subsequent failure to grow much of anything. Seeing this he decided to spend all his resources on a gardening crew that planted seeds, shrubs, flowers, and vines equally throughout his space. People quickly gravitated to his garden because of its sheer natural beauty in contrast with the neighboring wooden maze which had by now begun to show signs of weathering. Unfortunately the narrow paths that wound through this second garden were soon overtaken by the vines and plants and the garden became difficult for visitors to navigate eventually forcing people to clear their own paths. Under these conditions there was much disagreement about where the trail actually went and eventually confusion over whether or not there was a right or wrong trail.

The third gardener observed his colleagues and first sat down to develop a plan. He recognized the value of the structure provided by the lattice employed by the first gardener, as well as the idea of a maze which allowed individuals opportunity to discover new things within the garden and take different routes for increased enjoyment. However he noticed the fatal flaw of this gardener to actually “garden” anything. At the same time he recognized the natural beauty of plants utilized by the second gardener, yet his failure to provide adequate limitations resulting is a chaotic and conflict filled environment.

With a desire to make the land owner’s garden the best garden in the entire kingdom, he approached the other gardeners with a master plan. Unfortunately both of the other gardeners refused to cooperate with each other and during the meeting they continually called each other names and criticized each others use of resources. Frustrated, the third gardener left to implement his plan on his third of the garden. He employed the same lattice builders and the same nursery workers to build and plant in his garden. The end result was a beautiful mix of order and nature, a maze that allowed people to navigate the garden freely while hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and seeing the masterpiece. Visitors would often speak of sensing a divine presence as they walked in the garden day after day.

Our historical/critical reading of the Word produces a lattice on which spiritual or formational understandings grow. Reading Scripture formationally does not require completely abandoning our normal techniques for gathering information and framing our understanding. Neither does it involve completely pruning back the beauty of the text as a living Word. Formational reading requires relinquishing our control over the text. We must not allow ourselves to frame it in too tightly, nor reduce it to our personal needs.

Bruce the Shark

2008-02-12T00:13:00.001-05:00

Conditions were perfect for snow sculpting this weekend! So, we drove past a house that had a 6' Nemo in the front yard... and the only real answer to that is a 6' Bruce the Shark!

The last sunset

2008-01-11T01:17:00.000-05:00

With Dallas Willard

2008-01-10T16:54:00.000-05:00

More Pics from Mater Dolorosa

2008-01-08T17:44:00.000-05:00

The Coyotes

2008-01-07T17:35:00.000-05:00

Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center - Sierra Madre, CA

2008-01-05T21:53:00.000-05:00

Arctic Adventure

2008-01-01T16:09:00.001-05:00

The Work of Submission & Service

2007-12-07T16:17:00.000-05:00

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephes. 5:21)

“Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” (Philip. 2:3)

Submission, like many of the spiritual disciplines is counter-cultural, and for those that wish to embrace a life of submission it will require the discipline of hard work. The temptation to give up hard work is always strongest where there is little or no motivation. It is for this reason that we must begin by discussing where that motivation for submission might be found.

Paul encourages us to allow Christ to serve as our singular motivation for submission (Eph. 5:21). It is the example of Christ then, that should guide us into a study of submission. If we could choose only one word to describe the life of Christ the word obedient may serve us well. Christ arrived here on earth, lived, and surrendered his life in humble obedience (Phil. 2:8). Foster labels this obedient lifestyle a “cross-life” and describes this lifestyle as “the life of freely accepted servanthood.”[i]

SUBMISSION

With a clear understanding of Jesus example, we can, in worship of Christ, begin the hard work of living the cross-life of obedient submission.

Three Works

There are three works in which we must engage with our lives if we are to follow Christ’s example of obedience.

The first work of submission is the work of receiving. At first this may sound backwards but we must take note that submission assumes that we have a position or a place from which to step down, yet there are many today, as in the time of Paul’s writing, living without cultural-respect. Paul’s instructions ascribe responsibility to those without status in his society.[ii] Jesus did the same by speaking with women, touching lepers, paying attention to beggars, and spending time children. Additionally there are many who are struggling through life without adequate God-ordained self-respect. Both the dilemma of cultural-respect and of self-respect are not without a multitude of causes today, but with those reasons aside our first task in submission is to receive the honor that is due us as God’s treasured creation. Until we receive from God a healthy and proper self-image we will be unable to fully engage in the discipline of submission.

The second work of submission is the work of releasing. Once we have fully grasped a healthy self-image we can begin the hard work of releasing the entitlement that comes along with our new found position and power.

That entitlement can be released through what Foster calls, the touchstone of self-denial.[iii] Self-denial finds its biblical roots in Mark 8:34 where Jesus says, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.” Here we see that the “cross-life” is a life of releasing our selfish motivations and desires in worship of the selfless life that Jesus lived.

Three Enemies of Self-denial

The work of self-denial has three common enemies. Its first enemy is self-actualization. Our culture thrives on the concept that we can make something of ourselves, and in the process we must call on all of our power and position to produce our actualized-self. Instead of falling prey to this temptation and creating for ourselves a new and even more powerful identity, we are to find our identity in Christ. As we follow His example in the “cross-life” we can elude the enemy of self-actualization.

A second enemy of self –denial is self-contempt. Foster clarifies the difference by saying, “Self-contempt denies the goodness of the creation; self-denial affirms that it is indeed good.”[iv] Jesus himself, in a manner of speaking, lists self-love among the greatest commandments. So, clearly what is intended by self-denial is not self-hatred, self-abasement, or self-pity, but rather a healthy release of our less-than-divine ambitions.

A third enemy of self-denial is self-indulgence. Self-indulgence is the opposite of the disciplines of simplicity and hospitality. In fact, self-indulgence is the opposite of discipline in general. It is the unrestrained collection and consumption of all our selfish desires, and as such, stands as the greatest enemy to the second work in submission, the work of releasing entitlement.

The third work in submission is the work of embracing. Foster says, “The cross-life is the life of freely accepted servanthood.”[v] We must, as we submit ourselves to Christ’s example, embrace a life of servanthood to the suffering. Jesus embraced the hurting and was not deaf to the cries of the needy. Mark 5:21-43 records a perfect example of His unrelenting compassion in this regard. In this story, a man named Jairus whose daughter is sick approaches Jesus. On the way to serve Jairus (and his daughter), Jesus is approached by a woman who is in need of healing. The story that seems to start as a fast-paced race to heal the Jairus’ daughter goes into slow-motion when this needy woman enters the scene. Jesus slows to a standstill and engages the woman in dialogue. There is much we could learn from Jesus’ example here. Often we have a good work in mind and we approach it full-steam and head down. Jesus reveals another approach. He presents the submissive embrace of the suffering with eyes open and heart attentive to the other needs that may be present among the crowd. Oh, that we could learn this art.

If we are to embrace the servanthood of the suffering, we also must embrace Christ’s example of servanthood through suffering. We cannot forget that the image of Christ bearing the cross is only moments before He was hung on it. Paul reminds us of the submission demonstrated by Christ when, “in human form he [Jesus] obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.” (Philip. 2:8). The “cross-life” leads to a “cross-death”. Embracing submission requires not only serving the suffering but also becoming “the suffering” for the sake of others.

Being Shaped by Freedom

When we engage in the work of receiving, releasing, and embracing submission we begin to be shaped by a freedom to conform more closely to the image of Christ. Adele Calhoun notes three specific ways in which this freedom shapes us. We are shaped in our choices, our relationships, and our vocations.[vi]

First, our choices are shaped to reflect God’s desires not our own. Submission is about choosing to follow God’s desires and design. When we sin we do not submit to the sin, we commit the sin. Commission means to carry into action deliberately. Submission means to yield to governance or authority.[vii] When we commit sin we take action when we are supposed to be yielding control. Yielding control in submission brings us freedom, taking control through commission puts us in bondage.

Second, the freedom of submission allows our relationships to be shaped to reflect God’s compassion. As we let go of our own selfish ambitions and allow ourselves to be cared for by God, we become free to slow our pace enough to care for the needs of others. Silence becomes our companion in submission as we give up the need to react to those who disagree with us. Without a need to find our identity in what others think of us, we are free to serve (or associate with) anyone, regardless of their cultural-respect. We are free from the need to have our own way in our dealings with others and we are even free to give up our rights in relationships. This freedom sets us up for the discipline of service

Third, our vocation is shaped to reflect God’s will. Submitting ourselves to Christ’s leadership in vocation places us in a posture where we are willing to respond to the nudges of the spirit. An attitude of submission opens us up to receive the immeasurable gifts of God available to us as we engage in His service.

SERVICE

The discipline of submission kisses the discipline of service in the moments where we are given the opportunity to give way to others in our work. In considering the discipline of service, we often think solely of the literal act of serving others in our physical work. Marjorie Thompson redefines the discipline of service as “hospitality” and views service through the lens of Christ’s words in Matthew 25:35-36 (NLT).[viii] “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'” In response to Jesus’ words the people reply, "Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?” Matthew 25:37-39 (NLT). This passage offers us a starting point for understanding the depth and width of the discipline of service or hospitality.

Six Works of Hospitable Service

The first work of hospitable service is seeing. Though the individuals in the story of Matthew 25 did not see, they would have had great advantage if they had been consciously seeing Christ in the “least”. Certainly those who were cursed into eternal fire would have benefited from an improved ability to see.[ix] Calhoun points out that seeing Christ in the least involves viewing their needs as being as real and important as our own, and she goes on to indict readers by saying, “…many of us look right through others and never see them, let alone care about what they need.”[x] This myopia could find its cure in the discipline of submission. Again Calhoun offers a powerful retort. “When we are preoccupied with our own concerns, much of the world is simply invisible to us. Service is rooted in seeing – in seeing others as God does.”[xi]

A second work of hospitable service is welcoming. The work of welcoming may seem obvious but it is often an area of struggle for ministries. In the 2002 article “The Secrets of Welcoming Youth Groups”, Group Magazine reported that 73% of students cited a welcoming atmosphere where they can be themselves as the most important factor in influencing their commitment to the group, and even went as far as saying, “If they don’t feel accepted and loved by their peers, they’re not coming back.”[xii] Creating church atmospheres where people are welcomed must remain a priority among our work of service. Often times it is the “service of the small things” that communicates the caring needed for individuals to feel welcomed into the community.[xiii]

The third work of hospitable service is feeling. Christ centered service is the service of bearing one another’s burdens. Paul encourages us in this regard, “Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NLT). This process of bearing each other’s burdens requires empathy embedded in love. Foster points out, “Love is most perfectly fulfilled when we bear the hurts and sufferings of each other, weeping with those who weep.”[xiv]

The fourth work of hospitable service is hearing. The work of hearing is offered to others in the gift of presence. First, our presence must be offered to God. Thompson says, “We offer hospitality to God when we make ourselves consciously present to the Divine Presence and listen for what the Spirit is communicating.”[xv] When we marinate in the Divine Presence with a listening heart we invite God to speak to us and fill us with His presence that we may offer the fruits or our submission in service to others. “When we have grown dull in listening to God, we would do well to listen to others in silence and see if we do not hear God through them.”[xvi]

The fifth work of hospitable service is sharing. Dallas Willard points out that “The Way of Jesus knows no submission outside the context of mutual submission of all to all.”[xvii] If submission and service are siblings, then we can see that clearly in the work of sharing. Marjorie Thompson clarifies this familial relationship when she makes the important connection between the servant and the served. “The relationship of host and guest is a mutual one; ‘the very root of the word ‘hospitality’… hospes means both host and guest.’”[xviii] Submission and service are both communal disciplines. The work of service requires our willingness to share “who we are as well as what we have” with those whom we serve and those who serve us.[xix] We must live with open doors and open hands, sharing all that we have with those whom God brings our way.

The sixth work of hospitable service is praying. “When we intercede for others in prayer, we welcome them into our inmost sanctuary of compassion. We participate in the spacious hospitality of God’s grace for each person.”[xx] Our work of service in prayer must include not only the obvious needs of those we hold dear but also those of our enemies, our pastors, and our communities.

The Result: Love Revealed

“The Christian discipline of service is the way the world discovers the love of God.”[xxi] When we humbly engage in these works of service and hospitality we participate in the “centripetal mission” or “evangelization by hospitality”.[xxii] Our works allow the greater community a glimpse of Christ in the world.

The Greatest Example: God’s Hospitality[xxiii]

God has, in His revelation, given us a comprehensive example of how the works of submission and service work in the world, from creation to the cross. In creation, God provided for us all that we would ever need. He anticipated Adam’s needs and filled them before Adam had the opportunity or necessity to make requests. God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone (Gen. 2:18). Here we see emphasized the role of seeing in hospitality. Through procreation, we are given an opportunity to participate in what God began. I remember when my wife and I learned that she was pregnant with our first son. We emptied out our spare bedroom and got right to work removing and replacing carpet, painting, decorating, and filling the room with a ridiculous amount of toys and accessories to accommodate our new addition. In this way, we identified with the hospitality of God when he created the world.

A second way in which we see God demonstrating the example of hospitality is in the incarnation. Christ enters the scene bringing the very things we needed and could not provide for ourselves: forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration. God invited us into this hospitality of the incarnation when he gave us His spirit. “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 (NLT). With the spirit of God in us we carry on the hospitality of the incarnation to the rest of the world.

Finally, we see the hospitality of God given ultimate expression in the crucifixion. God paid the greatest price to purchase us from death. Paul writes, “God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.” 1 Cor. 1:30 (NLT). We gained freedom through His sacrifice and God invites us to participate in the hospitality of the crucifixion through self-denial. In self-denial we have the choice to release our rights and embrace humility for the sake of others. Ironically that sacrifice produces in us a great freedom.

Lord Jesus Christ,
As You will; what You will; when You will.
I yield my body, my mind, and my spirit for Your purposes.
As it would please you, bring me someone today whom I can serve.
Let it be so.[xxiv]

[i] Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. 1978. 25th

Anniversary ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1998. 115-116.

[ii] Foster, 118.

[iii] Foster, 113.

[iv] Foster, 114.

[v] Foster, 116.

[vi] Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us. Downers Grove: Inter Varsity, 2005. 119.

[vii] www.m-w.com

[viii] Thompson, Marjorie J. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life. Louisville:

Westminster John Knox, 2005. 127

[ix] Matthew 25:41

[x] Calhoun, 145.

[xi] Calhoun, 145.

[xii] Miller, Steve. "The Secrets of Welcoming Youth Groups." Group Magazine Feb.-Mar. 2002: 61-65.

[xiii] Foster, 135.

[xiv] Foster, 139.

[xv] Thompson, 132.

[xvi] Foster, 139.

[xvii] Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of The Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. New York: Harper Collins, 1988. 160.

[xviii] Thompson, 128.

[xix] Thompson, 128.

[xx] Thompson, 140.

[xxi] Calhoun, 145.

[xxii] Thompson, 127.

[xxiii] Thompson, 129-131.

[xxiv] Foster, 122.

What's Wrong With the World?

2007-11-25T20:12:00.001-05:00

Haven't been blogging a lot lately. The reason why is nestled in this video that my friend Stu put together. Maybe this will explain the blogging absence when you see it. Too much of the private is public.

Paris, France

2007-11-07T18:03:00.000-05:00

We arrived here in Paris around 2pm. Jumped on a train then took a cab to our hotel, located only five blocks from the famous Sacre Coeur Basilica. In fact... check out the view from my room.

We walked around Paris for a few hours taking in a few of the sites. This is just a short layover before we head home tomorrow afternoon. Looking forward to seeing all my family and my friends again. Here's a few more pics...

Serbia - Continued

2007-11-07T17:18:00.001-05:00

We had an incredible stay in Serbia. I absolutely love the people there. I must say that it was a highlight of my trip. God also opened up some cool opportunities for future ministry there. One ministry is already praying that Global Outreach will be able to bring a team in August of '08. It is amazing how god orchestrates those kinds of things.

We stayed at a bible college in Opovo, about an hour outside Belgrade.

One evening we went to an English speaking "chat club"in Novi Sad. This is a place where students gather to practice English with native speakers. It was fun to chat with a few students and get to know some of the impressions people have of America.

We wrapped up the workshop this morning and headed off to Paris, France. More on that later...

Belgrade, Serbia

2007-11-04T06:53:00.000-05:00

We arrived here in Belgrade around 11:30am. Our flight from Spain gave us all of 20 minutes in Milan, Italy. We barely saw the airport there. Here are a few photos:

The Alps from the air.

If you recall recent history you will know that Serbia was involved in the Kosovo War from 1996-1999 and it is obvious as you drive through the streets of Belgrade.

Gotta love the YUGO!

We just got back to the TWR (TransWorld Radio) office after stepping out for lunch. They like meat here. I had something like a giant korn dog with pork and cheese inside. It was amazing!
We are heading to a bible college where our team will present the stewardship workshop. We won't have internet access there. So... bye for now.

Off to Serbia

2007-11-03T20:57:00.001-04:00

We head to Serbia in 3 hours. I am up late trying to update this blog so that those of you who are reading it will be able to see some of what I am up to. Web access has been limited and we expect more of that in Serbia. Uploading the pictures takes a long time so I am done with that for tonight. I will post again next time I have web access.

Until then... Peace.

Divine Dinner

2007-11-03T20:54:00.000-04:00

Do you believe that God might care who you sit by at lunch? Do you believe that He may have a purpose behind who you sit next to on the bus? Do you suppose God is able to use you in profound ways simply through the situations of your mundane life?

I do.

I sat at the dinner table on Friday night with the teaching team and we were joined by two ministers from Spain. One was an American missionary here who has been here since 1984. The other was Maximo, a pastor here in Spain. We were enjoying a delicious meal together and then he started asking some tough questions. He asked us all if we were prepared for our children to become prodigals. We were all thrown off a little by this question. We weren’t expecting it. Some offered a few different responses and gradually we began to see why he asked the questions he did.

Maximo has a daughter and a son who have both walked away from God. His son walked away because at the age of 9 all of his hair began falling out. His son cried out to God but God did not respond with healing. As a result, he simply walked away from God saying, “If God won’t listen to me, I won’t listen to him.” My eyes filled with tears as I sat with this man who was clearly distraught about the spiritual condition of his children. We all decided to pray for him and his children right there at the dinner table.

This whole thing got me thinking… What is the story of the person sitting next to me? In any given situation I hardly ever really know. God has taken me around the world to show me how to listen, and to teach me how to care about the person sitting right next to me. So who is sitting next to you today? How does God want to use you to bring comfort, healing, or encouragement to their lives? Does God want to use your prayers to change their lives?

We will never know unless we listen and respond in the spirit of Christ.

Madrid, Spain – Day 2

2007-11-03T20:37:00.000-04:00

The seminar on Friday was not scheduled to begin until the afternoon, so our hosts took us to a nearby Monastery in the morning. This was built 500 years ago for Phillip II. The building process took 40 years.

We were unable to view the inside of the castle because the line was too long for the amount of time we had, but were able to walk through the courtyard and the basilica. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside and I found that out after taking this picture of the ceiling inside the basilica.

There was so much to take in that a camera just can’t do it justice, but here is one more picture.

Our stewardship workshop began around 4pm on Friday. This was my first time to hear the presentation with individuals responding to the issues that are brought up. There was a good amount of dialogue and questions that made for a very interesting session.

Madrid, Spain – Day 1

2007-11-03T20:17:00.000-04:00

Spain is beautiful! Sunny and 65. It’s a big change in climate from Bulgaria and Ukraine, which were both cooler and continuously overcast. We arrived here Thursday afternoon. Took a cab to the bus station, which is also a giant mall. We ate lunch and had some time to kill so we walked to a little place nearby.

Did I say place? I meant Palace!

From there we rode the bus for an hour and a half up the mountains to San Martin. We are staying at a camp called Royal Pines. The name comes from the history of the area because the camp is situated along an ancient road that Phillip II used to travel to this area. The campus is beautiful, as you can see from the pictures below.

Our rooms overlook the region of Avelia. Maybe you are familiar with this region because of the writings of St. Teresa of Avelia.

Kiev, Ukraine - Day 3

2007-10-31T13:25:00.000-04:00

In the U.S. we talk a lot about the issue of abortion and as Christians we are obviously pro-life. I think it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that this problem is a global issue. Today I became all too aware of that reality.

This morning we had a great meeting with two women who are involved in “life” ministries. Larysa is the director of Life International for all of the Ukraine and Lena is the Director of a crisis pregnancy center in Kharkov.

These women work intensely to battle the issue of abortion in the Ukraine. From them we learned that it is not unusual for them to counsel women who have had seven abortions. They said of these women, “The pain is so big they can’t get a hold of it.” The goal of Lena, Larysa, and many other life ministries here is to help women get a hold of the deep pain they have experienced and to find healing through Christ.

One of the ways that takes place is through small group meetings that they are doing. Again the statistics they shared are unimaginable. In a group meeting of nine women, they said it was not unusual to have 55 to 65 abortions among the group. These gatherings are focused on naming the pain that they have and getting in touch with the reality of what they have experienced.

Last year in Russia 8 million babies were aborted and in the Ukraine 450,000 were aborted (roughly the population of Grand Rapids, MI). The population of Ukraine is 46 million (roughly double the size of NYC).

At one point the statistics looked like this:

For every 100 babies born… 126 were aborted.

This statistic has dropped but primarily due to increased contraception education, not necessarily the change in attitude or lifestyle.

Unlike in the U.S. the option of adoption isn’t a good “selling point” in convincing young women to keep the baby. Here’s why. There are 150,000 abandoned babies in hospitals across the Ukraine and there are 175,000 street kids. The government doesn’t have a well organized system for dealing with unwanted babies. Typically babies left for adoption are caught in the “system” for at least 9 months. This means that hospitals are filled with babies from 0-9 months that are lying in cribs staring at the white ceiling. As a result these babies are behind developmentally and often show sings of emotional instability due to neglect. With that picture of the “adoption” process, few see it as a viable option.

My heart was broken by hearing these stories.

But there is good news… These women are on the front lines here in the Ukraine, talking with women everyday, saving lives, and bringing healing. It was a joy to meet them.

We spent the rest of the day running around Kiev meeting with ministry leaders from Universities and Associations. Watching God orchestrate all of these meetings has been wild. We came here with only three contact names and had only received confirmation that those three would meet with us the day before we arrived. We leave tomorrow morning at 4:00 am with 32 contacts here and met face to face with about half of those people. What a wild 2 ½ days!

We are unsure of our web access in Spain, so I may not be posing anything for a while. I don’t know. This whole trip has been an adventure. Meeting new people and allowing God to open doors and create opportunities for us.

New view of Bable

2007-10-30T15:57:00.000-04:00

I have a new appreciation for God's judgment at the Tower of Bable. For all of you studying languages, keep it up. We would be lost here in Ukraine without our translator, Servietta (who happens to speak Ukranian, Russian, and English). I feel dumb!

Kiev, Ukraine

2007-10-30T15:14:00.001-04:00

We arrived here around noon yesterday. We met our contacts at the airport and they took us to the House of Gospel, a Baptist church located in the city. Many of the churches here also have rooms to rent. We ate lunch in the basement which doubled as a fellowship area, as in many churches. On the menu was the classic Ukranian dish, borsch, a soup made from beets. It was delish’. Over lunch we met with the leaders from Gateway to Life, a ministry that focuses attention on anything dealing with the preservation of life (ex: crisis pregnancy, those with disabilities, care of the elderly, etc…). We spent the rest of the day getting familiar with our surroundings.

Today we had a 9:00 am meeting with a representative of a Christian university accreditation association. From there we were invited to their staff worship meeting. This was the highlight of my day. We began with a few hymns, they were familiar to us in English so we sang them in English while everyone else sang in Ukranian. It actually sounded pretty cool. Brett (one of our team members) was asked to share a quick word from the Word, and that was followed by one of the pastors also sharing a few words. Afterward (no pun intended), the pastor went to his knees to begin prayer (and we all followed suit). I couldn’t understand a word of his prayer but I was overwhelmed to tears by the experience and the presence of God in this humble meeting. We sang an few hymns and then went on to another meeting with the head of the all Ukranian Union of Associations of Evangelical Christians Baptists (yes, that is directly off of a business card!).

From there it was back to the church where we met Alex from TWR (TransWorld Radio). He took us to lunch and then to his office across the river. All six of us crammed into his little car for the 40 minute ride. It looked like that familiar homecoming game at JCS!

On the way we drove through the center of Kiev and the plaza where the Orange Revolution took place.

Next we just happened to (by God’s grace) meet the Ukranina directors of Christian Camping International, who just happened to have offices upstairs from the TWR offices. Did I mention that this whole leg of the trip wasn’t supposed to happen? Our original teaching in Bulgaria fell through at the last minute so we came to Kiev to make contacts for future ministry opportunities. It’s been a full day.

On the way home from our last meetings we stopped off to walk around downtown on the main drag in Kiev. It is very modern but still has that “old city” feel in many ways. Now I’m back in what has become our favorite stop the “Coffee House” (pictured above behind the trolley). Check out this Latte!

Tomorrow we have another full day of meetings with ministry leaders here in town, and on Thursday we leave here at 4:30am to head to Madrid, Spain via Germany.

I am thinking a lot about everyone at home. As I type this I know that school is just getting out but it’s almost 9pm here. I have been slowly reading through the 3x5 cards that several students gave me. I am encouraged by many of them. I hope the Squirrels are safe.