Merry Xmas!

Just noting what stood out to me this Xmas season:
 - people who get upset about Xmas vs. Christmas.
 - what type of man was Joseph?
 - what a celebration! looking at the angelic activity, the reactions of the shepherds, and the long pursuit of the wisemen.
 - materialism is quiet yet strong.
 - some people really like to give gifts.
 - some people really like to get gifts.
 - it's alot of fun to give to our kids. Is this pleasure a taste of what God feels when He gives us something?
 - it's very easy to take this miraculous event for granted.

I hope that you and yours have a great Christmas Eve and a great Xmas Day!

Drops Like Stars

I was surprised to find this at our local library, so I grabbed it up on my way to the checkout desk. Since it's due back today and I had only made it through the first few pages before this morning, I wasn't sure I could finish it and turn it back in on my way home. But this has to be the biggest book I've ever read in less than 20 minutes! There are alot of images and negative spaces in it's 160 pages. Here are some other things that stood out to me:

- Rob Bell is a creative.
- The images are nice.
- There is a broad spectrum of resources.
- The beauty and value of suffering was communicated well.
- The idea that Jesus identifies with our suffering is accurate and encouraging.
- Jesus' relationship to us and our suffering was not explained beyond that.
[I think that's unfortunate because He is more than the Great Sympathizer.]
- "...sometimes the most important work is knowing what to take away." p. 74
- The last story (from which the book's title is derived) is a very good endcap; it's memorable.

I've only read one other book by Bell. As before, he did a great job of expressing his thoughts. He writes (and speaks) in ways that cause me to think things over, and for that I am grateful. I am sure that some people will find some comfort as they are reading the book, but I am not sure that they will find comfort beyond that moment. As I noted in the bulleted points, I wish that he had said more about Jesus. Jesus' own ministry to those who were suffering was more than a ministry of presence or kindness, it also involved repair and restoration. While the book has good thoughts delivered in nice packaging it will not be the first book, about suffering, that I will recommend to others.

The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

Nora Gallagher’s book, The Sacred Meal, is about the Christian tradition known as Communion. As she examined the different elements of Communion, the author drew out the at-large value of that element and, in a very transparent manner, relayed the more personal values and lessons about that element as learned from her own Communion experiences. The bottom line in her mind is that the Sacred Meal is exactly that – it is sacred because it is uniquely spiritual, communal, and powerful.

While I scratched my head on a few comments, I did connect with her call to recognize anew the powerful ceremony that is Communion. A major contention of her short work (137 pages) is that the Sacred Meal is intended to move us from one spiritual place to another spiritual place. It is more than a token ritual. But even though the personal accounts that she shares are interesting and, at times, moving, they are subjective. I think the book would have been more accurately titled, ‘My Thoughts on the Sacred Meal.’

While I have not read any other books in the Ancient Practices Series, I had expected more info on the ancient side of this ancient practice. Gallagher majored on personal, modern-day stories. There was no tracing of historical developments in Communion traditions. There was no significant examination of the Biblical texts regarding Communion.

Having said these things and for fear of sounding angry, let me be clear. I hold some different theological beliefs than the licensed Episcopal preacher does, but I do appreciate the high value she places on the Sacred Meal. Her willingness to share her stories and observations caused me to think again on this valuable practice instituted by Christ. And as was her intent, I did not think on the nuts and bolts or the history of this ritual but rather the meaning, the spirit, and the power of this ancient practice. If you are looking for a textbook of sorts, look somewhere else. If you need some food for thought, give this book a try.

Friday Funny

I got a kick out of this idea - matching well-known preachers with their celebrity look-alikes. Take a look at these two matches:

Brian Stetzer - Dan Kimball

Paul McCartney - Alistair Begg

For more (including Tim Allen & Joel Osteen) go to http://www.outofur.com/archives/2009/11/separated_at_bi.html

Surprise

Last week someone said something that I wasn't expecting. It was not a pleasant surprise.

Last night I saw someone I hadn't expected to see. It was a pleasant surprise.

This week someone said something that I never expected to hear. It was a pleasant surprise.

I think surprises are the spice of life.

tweets from Stetzer

I enjoy following Ed Stetzer on twitter. He has a nice blend of principles, reflections, and regular life. Here are a couple of recent tweets that caught my eye:

• Holiness is not separation from sinners. It is separation from sin.
• We love how we do church more than we love reaching people around our church.
• In church life, the people that are rocking the boat are hardly ever the ones rowing it.
• Leaders must multiply leadership rather than centralize leadership.
• When I think of a good place for a pastors conference, Las Vegas always tops the list! Yeah, baby! Next stop, Vegas! :-)
• Heading to Denver tmrw, and escaping Nashville, to see what a GOOD NFL team looks like. Can't find one here. ;-)
• If we dmnd thngs in worship tht can't be in evry culture, we're dmndng cultural preferences, not biblical
• "Relevance is not a goal, it is a tool."

If you like those, go here http://twitter.com/edstetzer to follow him. His blog is also worth reading, http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/.

Press Conference

I went to my first press conference today, here are some random thoughts:

• this one was like a mini-memorial service for the deceased.


• it is an interesting to observe the continuing impact of a well-lived life.


• while some people like to move on after a loved one's death, this group seemed happy to revisit the memories.


• words of thanks and appreciation dominated the podium.


• i wonder what a press conference for Jesus would look like?


• i wonder how a press conference for the Church would go?

Almost 39, almost 40

Since my bday is tomorrow I'll take a moment to reflect.


I'm done now.

Friday Funny #6

This video is the most unique entrance to a wedding ceremony I have ever seen. If it doesn't put a smile on your face you can have your money back!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0#
[They turned off the embedding so you gotta click the link.]

People and Trees

I was mowing the lawn today and I had a thought as I passed the apple tree in our backyard. [sidebar: I used to enjoy mowing the lawn but now I anticipate the last cutting of the season.]

Trees can handle a lot more than we think they can - intense rains, strong winds, snow, sleet, ice, and squirrels. Trees are strong. Unless there is something wrong on the inside, something that we cannot see. Then at a time we expect them to be strong and sturdy, they break and fall. Because something was wrong on the inside.

the 4th

From The Toilet Paper (Daily News for the Thinking Man):

9 hours 27 minutes. Length of the longest firecracker display. Part of a 1988 tourism promotion in Johor, Malaysia, it consisted of 3,338,777 firecrackers and 1,468 pounds of gunpowder.

CA Trip w/family

It was a great treat to go to CA with my wife and kids! Our main reason for going was to visit my parents and brothers and it was a good visit. Here are a few of the things about the trip that stick out to me:

- People drive differently on the 405 in LA (and much of CA) than they do on I-75 in Flint.

- Our friends, the Thorntons, are in a unique situation and it is fun to watch them in it, better than TV.

- My dad is doing very well with his cancer (his oncologist called it a 'semi-miracle') and it seems to be good for everyone. He's been able to get out and about, cut back on some meds, and resume some of his painting projects.

- Our kids were pretty well-behaved, enjoyed the different cultures they entered and the different kids that they met. (Shout out to Wes, the In-n-Out Burger guy!)

- SF is so unique that it's really cool and weird at the same time.

- CA is a big state.

- Standing on the sand reminds me that the ocean is BIG and I am small.

- Much has changed in the areas where I grew up. Things I remember about those childhood days are confined to a very, very small geographical area when compared to the size of the greater Sacramento area.

This post doesn't do justice to the miles we covered and the sights we saw and the people we visited. But the best thing about the trip was being able to do it together. In one sense we do life together every single day but this was different and very enjoyable. I love my family and thank Him for allowing us to do this trip, and life, together.

Woodwork Parenting

I used to work with wood every single day. I was no craftsman but I learned what to look for and a few basic things about woodworking.

Parenting has some similiarities to that job: 1) I didn't know much when I started. 2) But I did it every day. 3) I learned along the way.

The following quote is a combo of Max Lucado's thoughts and Max quoting James Dobson. It tied parenting and woodworking together.

The key, I repeat, is sensitivity---tuning into the thoughts and feelings of our kids, listening to the clues they give us, and reacting appropriately. The sensitive heart rubs its fingers along the edges, feeling for the deep cracks . . . the snags . . . taking the time to hear . . . to care . . . to give . . . to share.

That's a good word from Max!

Christian book trivia

Prayer of Jabez - 12+ million sold
Left Behind series - 60+ million sold
Purpose-Driven Life - 40+ million sold
Your Best Life Now - 4+ million sold

I gathered these tidbits from Michael Hyatt's May 29 blog entry, 'Why Religious Book Sales Are Down'. He is the CEO of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Here is the link if you want to read the whole interesting thing: http://tinyurl.com/kqwe8o

CA Trip #2

I flew into San Jose; my brother lives in nearby Los Gatos.

Daniel is 3 years younger than me and through the years we have become good friends. We like sports. We don't like stupid stuff at church. We have the same perspective on our family.

I admire him for making a life for himself. Slugging through college. Finding a job. Relocating to a new area. Immersing himself in his work (he's a great art teacher!). Now he's looking at buying a condo (probably a good time to do so). He really has made a nice life for himself and I admire the moxy that he's shone along the way.

He's also pretty dang good with people and 'situations'. He's got a good read on why people do what they do. He's good at cutting through the bologna. He's great with strangers. He's good at mapping a plan out of the sitch. Plus, my kids like him!

I'm proud of my brother and glad he's mine!

the Max Dream

In the altered words of Martin Luther King, Jr. - "I had a dream!"

Yesterday I had a migraine. When I sense one coming on, my first strategy is to sleep it off. Many times that works for me and yesterday was not much different in that regard. I slept and when I awoke it was still there but not at full throttle. Knowing of others with much more severe migraine issues, I am glad to have something that works for me.

Anyway, as I was sleeping I had a terrible dream. I was talking with my son in his 9-year old state, but we were in a 'museum' from which he could not leave. That's because he was dead. The wounds on his head were from a golf club, some kind of iron/wedge by the looks of it. Apparently he had been killed by a violent idiot who had struck him in the head. First, a single killing blow on one side and then some blows, for effect, on the other side. And it was rather strange that we could talk while I was alive and he was dead. And he couldn't leave because he was actually on display. Apparently, the event was newsworthy in a sick tourist kind of way.

What bothered me most was the twisted ability to connect with my son but not being able to really connect with my son. No hugging. No high fives or fist bumps. No playing soccer or basketball. Just talking at odd (after business) hours. Not being able to leave together. He had to remain in his designated spot and I could only speak with him. That's such a big departure from our normal relationship that it bothers me even now as I recall those dream-world constraints. We are two physical guys. We wrestle. We smell each other (if you think that's weird you're ok, so does the rest of our family!). We play sports, tease and punch. We often 'wruggle' (a combo of wrestling and snuggling) at the end of a day.

Even though a wacky, migraine-induced dream prompted this, I'm so glad for the relationship we have. It's hard to think of it being different. Yet some day in some ways it will be that way; we will be limited in how and when we connect. [hopefully, his head won't be bashed in by a golf club.] Thank you Max for loving me even though I've got lots to learn about being a father. Thank you God for my son; thank you for our sweet relationship.

CA Trip #1

I was in CA for four days and four nights. The occassion was my dad's health, Stage 4 melanoma that has spread to his lungs.

It was good to visit my family and some old friends. One visit of note was seeing my dad's half-sister Judy; it had been 17 years. My brother and I picked her up on our way from Los Gatos to Sacramento. She's an original! But talking with her about her father (Harold. also my dad's dad.) and the whole family dynamic back then was really enlightening. I have never been one to be too curious about our family tree but this was a room that had never been opened.

Harold was quite an artist in the area of photography. He hobknobbed with respected area artists of the time and owned his own studio for awhile. His mother was a control freak and strongly disliked Judy. Whatever his relationship with my dad's mom (Regina), at some point it was completely shut down. That's why my dad was adopted by the lady known to me as Gramma Holmes. Strangely enough, Harold seemed to be a kind man and the harshness in shutting out Regina was either a dark and hidden contrast or the result of his mother's influence.
Learning about Harold gave me some insight into my father, and even myself. It is interesting how physical and character traits are passed on from one generation to the next.

Back to Aunt Judy. She and I won't agree on some moral or political issues but I appreciate some things about her. She's frank. And in a world of cover-ups and appearances that's refreshing. She's a hard worker. [several aspects of the newspaper biz, real estate agent, cattle nurse, librarian] She cares about animals like my oldest daughter does. She cares about people close to her. She really likes my dad. I don't know how things will go for her over the next 17 years but I do hope that things take a turn for the better. She's a unique lady and I like her.

miscellany

Here's a good quote from 'Christ the Only Savior of Interpretation' an article by Vern Sheridan Poythress.
"The radical nature of human depravity means that sin contaminates every aspect of human life. The hermeneutical circle simply traces ways in which such contamination operates.
In this situation, hermeneutical self-consciousness can be an instrument that we use to discover, criticize, and root out sin. But it can be so only if our own self-consciousness is purified by the work of Christ. In other words, our hermeneutical reflection must itself be an instance of "working out our own salvation in fear and trembling, because God is at work in us both to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Phil 2:12-13). "

Jammin'

Winter Retreat is coming up. [It won't be winter but that's okay.] Was scheduled to start a new SS series on Acts. Need to visit some people. And am teaching an entire gospel each Wednesday night. Things feel a little jammed together right now.
But I enjoyed teaching Matthew's gospel last night. The retreat stuff will come together because it will and it has to. I'll delay the Acts series until I'm ready. And the visits will happen because people are important. So with all this activity, what could be better?
Well, I need to be careful with my family. I could be absorbed by the job/ministry stuff and let them drift away. We had a good night at The Whiting Tuesday night and really enjoyed the Wizard of Oz. It was definitely more captivating and more fun than Annie. The busyness could be fun but it'll be worthless and shameful if I let the family go kapoot.
I'm reminded of 1 Timothy 5:8 "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Although the immediate context is speaking to material matters, there's plenty of biblical weight to apply this to spiritual matters as well.
God, I need help to not be a slacker in providing for my family. Don't let me be materially or spiritually cheap with them.

Guest speakers

As a youth pastor, with few exceptions I rarely deal with guest speakers/teachers. I had the privilege of hosting Dr. James Grier at our church this week. Here are some thoughts about the weekend:

• You don't have to be young and high-energy to preach effectively.
• A well-researched sermon is appreciated.
• NT cultural nuances can really add meaning to the story.
• Jesus was a great story teller.
• Everyone hears what they want to hear. I heard various responses to his lecture on Ministry in a Postmodern Context and it baffled me at first. Then I realized that people had had an itch scratched but the drum wasn't banged exactly the way they wanted it.
• For some groups the evaluation of anything can be divisive. Therefore, the call to measure things against God's plans, standards, and activities must be sounded. Otherwise, people are left to be their own authority.
• A specific example of the previous point is modernism versus postmodernism. All of us are drawn to, or shaped largely by, one or the other. However, believers are not called to be one or the other because they are a part of God's family and his perspective is different from both of those. Believers should be drawn to or shaped by 'God-ism'.
• My kids are great! They interacted with Dr. Grier in a way that made me proud. They enjoyed hearing about his overseas experiences.
• My wife is an excellent hostess.
• Praise God for men like Jim! He inspires me to be smarter (I'm not sure that's possible with my small amount of gray matter), well-studied, well-prepared, gracious, and kind. He ministers with all that he's got and he doesn't want to quit.
• It was interesting to learn of his friendship with Ivan French. We could see alot of similarites between the two.

All in all it was a good weekend. I'm curious to see what the Lord does with it.

slogans

I read a bunch of slogans the other day as I was thinking about a lesson. I really liked these two that I had never heard before:

* Skim milk does not come from skinny cows. - Alba Dry Milk
* Only 1 out of 25 men is color blind. The other 24 just dress that way. - Mohara Suits

Picked up a book I had stalled on, Redemption Truths by Sir Robert Anderson, and found this inspiring thought on page 69:

'Our salvation depends on the Lord Jesus Christ; not on the measure of our appreciation of Him. The slenderest wire may suffice to convey the current which floods our room with light. Not that there is any light in the wire itself. There is no merit in faith; yet the faith which, as it were, but touches the hem of His garment 'makes the connection' which brings divine light into the soul.'

• enjoyed preaching Sunday night, having people sit in the back helped sell the point of the passage and was fun.
• enjoyed preaching Tuesday night at Carriage Town. I'm not exactly sure why the group applauded when I was done. Met several people far from 'home'; tough life stories at the mission. Heard their director quit today.
• enjoyed the teens that went along. one word that describes them: compassionate.
• I wish Jack Bauer was an accountant, I just know he could fix the economy. "Give me the books! GIVE ME THE BOOKS NOW!!'
• I wasn't home much Tuesday and won't be home any more on Wednesday, must be home on Thursday to see my awesome family.

thoughts

• i like Ed Young's book, Creative Marriage. written at a popular level, lots of applicational stuff and the Gospel is blam!blam! there in chapter 3 - good job Ed!
• i was anticipating this week with John Stott looking at Jesus' miracles but it's not meeting the expectations.
• i preach on Sunday night, aka SuperBowl night. i like the passage (ephesians 2.11-22) and am looking forward to it.
• my oldest has gone to school one day this week - what a bum! but what a brain! she's doing great and i hope she always thinks sharp.
• i wish i could fix/walk with people who've got problems but there's too many and i'm not sure they all want to be fixed.
• i (might have) cancelled a beloved ministry event, not sure what's gonna happen.
• i think SuperBowl 43 will be a great battle. Cardinals: really hot offense, solid defense. Steelers: good offense, awesome defense. Go snacks!

heart medicine

One book I read that wasn't on my 2008 list was Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is excellent! Very challenging thoughts about God's crazy love for us and, is our love crazy for him? I sensed that I have slipped into a comfortable love; I'm asking him to make me crazy, obsessed.

Over the last few weeks I also realized a yucky thing about myself. I have been, too frequently, a tightwad/cheapskate with my own family. I can look back at times I've splurged on-the-moment for others, and yet I've told my own that we'll just have to wait. I don't wanna be stupid and get 'em whatever they desire but I don't wanna be stingy with my own family, that is stupid. I've got some debt I'd love to get rid of tonight but it'll happen even if it takes longer than I like. I can't let that goal make me a jerk either. And the big picture is this: God has always taken care of us, no matter how tightly or loosely we've spent/saved/scrimped/etc.

I'm still enjoying John Stott's Through the Bible, Through the Year. There are some readings and observations that get a second or third read from me. I appreciate that man.

I had some real cool (maybe crazy) thoughts about Samson but I haven't told any one yet.

This saying (I think I made it up) gets to me: "To be a better man, you'd better make better choices."

2008 books

There once was a list. A list of 9+ books that I wanted to read in 2008.
I finished 3:
Fields of Gold by Andy Stanley
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Time for Truth by Os Guinness
I purchased 2:
Goldsworthy Trilogy by Graeme Goldsworthy
The Present Future by Reggie McNeal
I started another 1:
Creative Marriage by Ed Young

Obviously, I detoured a few times with books like It, Trinity & Triunity, various fiction pieces, The Pixar Touch and some others. But I'm getting back to the list because it's pretty balanced, at least I think so. Creative Marriage is next.

inaugural thoughts

First of all, Happy New Year to myself and my family. And I welcome me back to the blogosphere.

About the Inauguration:

- What a crowd! Had at least one good friend there. Followed her on twitter even though she didn't twit much.
- Nice prayer Rick Warren.
- Love the furry hat on 41.
- Nice speech by 44 but a little long.
- Nicer prayer Rev Lowery! A virtual rap-master!!
- Go America!