Scott’s Thoughts

Building Before the Rain

2011-02-15T13:37:00.002-05:00

"When it rains, it pours." Okay. I'll buy that.

"When it pours, it floods." Yup. I've been there. In fact, I'm there today; can't believe how fast life is moving all of a sudden.

"When it floods, build an ark." Oh, absolutely. But I just gotta ask: Isn't it a lot easier to build a solid ark of refuge before the rain starts falling in the first place?

Seriously. Can you picture it? A desperate man, fearful of the rising waters, feeling his feet sinking in the muck below him, trying desperately to construct something that will float him away to safety. His only hope is to cry for help and grasp the hand that reaches down to pull him up from the waters and onto a place of safety.

Praise God for the hand of grace! Absolutely! But isn't it better to build a life according to God's instructions while the sun is still shining, when we're thinking clearly, when we can make decisions carefully and deliberately? If we're safe and secure with our Creator while everything is bright and clear, then all we have to do is hold on tightly with love and faith when the floods come our way. No fear. No danger. "When sorrows like sea billows roll... it is well with my soul!"

"The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The LORD reigns as king forever. The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace." (Psalm 29:10–11 NLT)

"I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built." (Luke 6:47–48 NLT)

Sunrise

2010-11-15T11:21:00.003-05:00

Yesterday morning, I awoke early to prepare for Sunday's service. It's part of my routine. I sneak downstairs while the house is still quiet, curl up with a copy of my message, spend some time praying, and then go over what I've prepared to share at church. It's become a pretty sweet and sacred experience every week.

As I sat there yesterday morning, I looked out the window in time to see the very first rays of dawn creeping over the horizon. Dark black gave way to gray, and then suddenly there was a burst of intense reddish-orange beyond the silhouette of the trees. In just a few minutes, the whole sky began to brighten as ribbons of yellow-gold licked across the horizon. It was like the edge of the world had caught fire.

I sat there in the stillness of the new day holding my breath, amazed at how quickly the sunrise broke forth. And my thoughts were instantly drawn to the words of Jeremiah:

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!'" (Lamentations 3:22-24 NLT)

Just think: Every night as we sleep the Lord is still awake, loving us, pouring out compassion upon us, preparing fresh mercies to greet us in the morning. And just as we can count on the sun to break forth with each new day, we can depend upon God's relentless faithfulness. He's always there... waiting, loving, guiding.

Surprised by the Divine

2010-07-24T21:12:00.002-04:00

It's been an exhausting week. Well, exhilerating, but exhausting. We're in the midst of our annual Youth Drama Camp, and I'm putting in a lot of time toward the production in additon to full-time hours at church. And there are other special projects that are adding to my daily "to do" lists -- preparing for our Discover Hope class this week, getting some things together for Beth's graduation party next week, wanting to accomplish some projects before heading off to Indiana and then some vacation time with the family at the beginning of August. So I'm having a blast, but I'm also tuckered out.

So it's been an awesome joy to have God surprise me in unexpected ways throughout the week. I've had a chance to watch him "show off" in many of the projects I'm working on; he just has this incredible way of accomplishing things far beyond our mortal ability.

A phone call from a very precious friend sent me soaring earlier this week; God reminded me how incredibly blessed I am with the people in my life. And just when I was feeling all blessed, I reconnected with a couple of other friends that I haven't talked to in a while... kind of like "icing on the cake."

This morning, I led our newcomer's class at Hope, which is always a kick. I love connecting with new people and hearing about their journeys! And my heart was totally stoked as a few of them shared how welcome and blessed they've felt at Hope. When one person talked about how obvious the Spirit's presence is in our midst, I felt this big ethereal smile spread across my soul, as if God was beaming his smile in me and reminding me of how awesome it is to trust him and rest in him.

A little later, a couple of us chatted about a really radical idea for a church facility -- and I mean really radical! It would be the kind of place where Jesus would love to hang out and where I imagine the community would be drawn to hang out as well. And, well, you know what happens when people hang out where Jesus is... :) Whether or not something like that ever becomes reality, it was fun just to imagine for a while.

And that's really just the start. Over and over again throughout this past week, I've turned around and been surprised by little blessings from the Divine -- including the simple joy of drifting off for a really long, deep nap this afternoon. It's amazing how something as simple as sleep can be such a satisfying blessing.

Bookends of Refreshment

2010-06-25T07:45:00.002-04:00

I love my commute. Yeah, I know that's a rare sentiment in Northern Virginia, but it's true. Of course, I admit that I don't have the typical commute for this area.

Fifteen minutes of driving down a country highway through the rolling hillsides of Virginia. It's a perfect bookend to my day in the office -- a chance to take a deep breath, gather my thoughts for the day ahead (or leave them behind in the office), listen to a couple of songs, or pray, or just sit quietly and enjoy this incredible place to which God has brought us.

This morning, the sun was peeking over the horizon, casting long shadows and flickering light through the trees. I popped on some Chris Rice, rolled down the windows, and opened the sun roof. I saw a fox, a couple of deer, and a whole bunch of very happy cows munching lazily on sweet grass. There as no real traffic -- just a handful of other drivers enjoying the ride as much as I was.

Yeah, it's the small blessings of life that are often the most satisfying!

Being Dad

2010-06-20T06:33:00.003-04:00

In the summer of 1990, I joined Margo in reading lots of "what to expect the first year" books and attending Lamaze classes. I had finished with my Masters, Margo left her job with the law firm, and we were preparing to relocate to small-town Nebraska for what turned out to be a huge culture shock. But the climax to our "summer of change" came when Benjamin arrived and made me a Dad.

Even 20 years later I vividly remember the details of the birthing center in Chicago. I remember Margo having long, agonizing back labor (something she suffered through for all three of our kids). I remember his birth -- that breath-taking moment of indescribable miracle. I remember holding him for the first time and being unable to wrap my mind around the implications of that precious, fragile life in my hands. I remember Ben giving us the scare of a lifetime as we were leaving the hospital and he stopped breathing momentarily. (The nurse patted him on the back a few times and sent us on our way... totally freaked out and terrified.)

Less than a year later, Margo stopped by my office with the news that we were going to do it all over again. As before, the details are etched in my mind. We had talked with our Family Physician about allowing me to deliver Elizabeth when the time came, but Beth had different plans. She rushed the process -- less than an hour from first contraction to birth. We were just glad to have made it to the hosptial and to have a random doctor walking through the hallway step in to "catch" at the last second (without even having time to put his arm through the second sleeve of his gown; Beth was in such a hurry!).

Rebecca took a different seventeen months later. After Margo's water broke and we rushed to the hospital, Becky decided she'd hang out a while longer and labor stopped. We had to coax her back into the birthing process with inducement, but it allowed me the opportunity to deliver her myself (with Doctor Freuhling standing close by). So amazing and wondrous, it's a memory I'll treasure forever.

Being a Dad has been a difficult task, and it's brought out both the best and the worst in me over the years. I loved snuggling with my kids, reading books to them (using funny voices, of course), going to soccer games together, laughing and playing games, offering what little tidbits of wisdom I've picked up along the way, etc. I'm not so keen on the times when I allowed my patience to be tested, my temper to rise, or my selfish injustice to take over; oh, what I would do for a cosmic "Rewind" button sometimes!

Yet, all in all, being a Dad has been an amazing, overall life-changing experience. My life is so much richer because I get to share it with Ben, Beth, and Becky! What's more, I've gained a better perspective of what it's like to relate to my Heavenly Father and what he has experienced with me as his child. I understand his heart, his love, his grace, his discipline, and his persistent loyalty to me so much better because I've tasted that experience as a Dad.

So Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. I know it's certainly a happy day for me. :)

The Struggle For Silence

2010-05-17T17:33:00.002-04:00

This past Sunday, our afternoon Small Group watched Rob Bell's "Nooma" video entitled "Noise." Bell challenged us to consider why silence is such a difficult thing to deal with, and he suggested that if we really want to hear from God perhaps we should begin by shutting off some of the noise in our lives. Our group enjoyed a great discussion following the video.

The pursuit of silence is a really important spiritual discipline to me. One of the things I learned in making the transition from Arizona to Virginia is how much I crave moments of solitude to recharge my batteries and regain my focus. It was easy when I first arrived here since Margo and the kids were still out in Arizona selling our house. For a couple of months, I lived kind of like a single guy once again. It was simple to find some alone space, to shut off the noise around me, and to listen for the whisper of God's Spirit.

But as we've become more integrated in the overly-committed lifestyle of northern Virginia, my pursuit of silence has become an increasingly rare treat. So I've resolved to be more intentional in simply being quiet before God. After all, Psalm 46:10 has become the pivotal verse of my life -- "Be still (literally cease, stop, be silent) and know that I am God."

Last night I had the opportunity to get a good start on this renewed pursuit. I was awakened in the middle of the night and had trouble falling back to sleep. So I lay there in the dark listening to the gentle rain falling outside. Everything was so hushed and still. It really felt like a sacred moment. I deliberately quieted my thoughts and just listened, my soul straining to hear the whisper of God's Spirit. Time crept by slowly, and it was beautiful.

I'm looking forward to making these moments a regular part of life once more. It's a wondrous thing to hear God when everything else is quiet and still.

Unforgiveness

2010-05-10T13:17:00.003-04:00

From Jerry Sittser's outstanding book, A Grace Disguised:

"Unforgiveness should not be confused with healthy responses to loss. The quest for justice, for example, reflects our belief in the moral nature of the universe. When wrong is done, we believe the wrongdoer should be punished. Anger, in turn, is a legitimate emotional response to suffering. When someone has done something hurtful to us, we want to strike back and hurt them. And grief is a natural condition that follows on the heels of loss. When we feel the absensce of someone or something we lost, our soul cries out in anguish. These responses indicate that a normal person has just suffered loss and has begun the healthy but painful process of healing.

"Unfortiveness is different from anger, grief, or the desire for justice. It is as ruinous as a plage. More destruction has been done from unforgiveness than from all the wrongdoing in the world that created the conditions for it...

"Unforgiveness uses victimization as an excuse. Unforgiving people become obsessed with the wrong done to them and are quick to say, 'You don't know how unbearable my suffering has been! You don't know how much that person hurt me!' They are, of course, right. No one can know. But I wonder sometimes if being right is worth all that much. Is it worth the misery it causes? Is it worth living in bondage to unforgiveness? Is it worth the cycle of destruction it perpetrates?" (pp. 136-137)

Necessary Injustice?

2010-04-28T09:31:00.003-04:00

I've been reading... actually, make that savoring... Jerry Sittser's book, A Grace Disguised. It's a deeply personal account of Sittser's discovery of God's presence and blessing in the aftermath of catastrophic loss. Without a doubt, this is the best book on the subject of grief and soul restoration I've ever encountered, and I've been deeply blessed by the author's transparency and wisdom.

In chapter 9, Sittser explores the idea that the injustice of the world is a necessary component for the existence of grace. It's an interesting thought. If the world was fair -- if everyone received exactly what they deserved because of their choices -- then every criminal would be found guilty. Every heroic deed would be rewarded and every sin would be punished. Yet in such a world I would never experience mercy or unexpected kindness. I would never be shown a kindness that I didn't earn for myself. I would never discover grace -- that outrageous overflowing of God's favor simply because it brings him delight, not because I deserve it.

Sittser concludes, "I would prefer to take my chances living in a universe in which I get what I do not deserve -- again, either way. That means that I will suffer loss, as I already have, but it also means I will receive mercy. Life will end up being far worse than it would have otherwise been; it will also end up being far better. I will have to endure the bad I do not deserve; I will also get the good I do not deserve. I dread experiencing undeserved pain, but it is worth it to me if I can also experience undeserved grace."

So even though I might hunger for justice -- a God-given trait that accurately reflectes the image of a just God in my creation -- I hunger for grace in this world even more. That may not offer comfort in the moment of catastrophic loss, but it does provide perspective on why living with injustice in this world is actually necessary.

Sittser offers this powerful testimony of his own experience of comfort in the discovery of grace: "If I have learned anything over the past three years, it is that I desperately need and desire the grace of God. Grace has come to me in ways I did not expect. Friends have remained loyal and supportive, in spite of my struggles. Quietness, contentment, and simplicity have gradually found a place in the center of my soul, though I have never been busier. I go to bed at night grateful for the events of the day, which I try to review and reflect on until I fall asleep, and I wake up in the morning eager to begin a new day. My life is rich and productive, like Iowa farmland in late summer."

Lotsa Reading!

2010-04-20T14:08:00.003-04:00

I have a terrible habit of starting a book but not finishing it. Typically I get about three-fourths of the way through when the next title on my "to read" list begins shouting at me for attention, and... well... I end up missing a lot of final chapters. I'm working on changing this, but just to give you an idea of how many books I'm juggling right now, here's the list from the past month or so -- all books that I'm still working on.

A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser

The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley

TrueFaced by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNichol, John Lynch

Seeking the Pillar of Fire by Steve Musser and Eric Orke (for Leadership Team)

I.D. by Mark Batterson

Primal by Mark Batterson

Bo's Cafe by x (audio; on my Zune)

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis (audio; just finished this one today)

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (audio; on CD in the car)

And I've got about a half dozen other books just waiting to be started between now and summer, including:

Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin (recommended by my friend, Mike Minter)

The Ascent of a Leader by Bill Thrall

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham (when it comes out next month)

There seems to be something of a common theme to many of these books. A lot of them focus on the life-changing grace of God and how that radically impacts our identity. We learn to relate to God entirely by trusting him rather than working to earn his trust. No matter the circumstance -- whether catastrophic grief that shakes our very souls or the mantle of leadership which demands selfless, honest, nurturing character -- it all comes down to getting out of God's way and allowing him to live through us.

I'm really grateful for so many friends who recommend great titles (and sometimes even loan or give me a copy!). It's keeping me challenged, feasting, and growing.

Peace in the Dark Valley

2010-03-16T08:09:00.006-04:00

As I write this, Margo's mother, Marge, is being prepped for surgery. For some people, it would be a frightening venture. But for her, it's become an opportunity to savor peace.

Marge was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer well over a year ago. They discovered it when her femur cracked and her legs collapsed under her. The cancer had metastasized to her bones. Thus began the gueling treaments of chemo and radiation, but we were all rejoicing when they declared the cancer had gone into remission.

Now she's faced with something entirely new -- a mass in her uterus that has grown from the size of a baseball to the size of a basketball (!) in the past month. They're unsure if it's a rapidly growing benign tumor, uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer. In any case, the mass has got to go. It's causing her extreme pain and diminishing her lung capacity.

The last time Marge was in the hospital preparing for this surgery, she developed pneumonia and had a pulmonary embolism that could have taken her life. That led to various blood thinners and other medications that postponed this surgery. So Marge had to wait many weeks for the chemicals to clear her system... all while this mass has grown and her pain increased. Even now she's gone through two full transfusions this past weekend in an effort to prepare her for this day.

I spoke with Marge last night. We talked about how she's feeling, what to anticipate today and in the days that follow, etc. We laughed. We prayed. And then Marge wanted me to know something important: "Well, this is the only world I've known, so I'd like to stay around for a while longer. But if the good Lord wants to introduce me to a new world tomorrow, I'm ready for that, too."

You see, in the midst of the cancer and diminishing health, Marge discovered the grace of God. In fact, she's even expressed gratitude for the disease because it helped her realize how much the Lord loves her, how he desires her now and forever, how he's surrendered his own life on the cross to satisfy the justice for her sins, and how she can freely embrace God's forgiveness and leading.

Through all of this, Marge has become a follower of Christ. And it's that peace with God that allowed her to share such genuine words of serenity with me last night.

We don't really know what to expect next. We're praying they're able to remove this mass, that it's benign, that the follow-up pain would be minimal, that recovery would be quick, and that Marge could go back to enjoying her life surrounded by such great friends. But whatever is in store, God has it all planned out and will be with her every step of the way.

Psalm 23 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

2010-03-11T07:40:00.005-05:00

In 1844, Thomas Haynes Bayly plagiarized Francis Davison's 1602 Poetical Rhapsody when he wrote the poem Isle of Beauty. In doing so, he popularized the beautiful words "absence makes the heart grow fonder."

He's right, of course. We often don't realize how wonderful something -- or someONE -- is until we're missing it.

This past week, Ben has been home from Virginia Tech on Spring Break. It just feels right to have him here. On his first night home, I realized just how much I missed his infectious laughter, his very blunt way of sharing his thoughts, and the friendship of my son (not to mention having another guy around the house!). It's going to be tought to send him back to school this weekend.

Becky is also heading out this weekend for an overnighter with our Youth Group. Meanwhile, Beth is preparing to take off on her own Spring Break adventure. She'll be spending next week with her aunt, uncle, & cousins in Tennessee.

And Margo, my beautiful wife, has already departed for Kentucky. Her mother is preparing to undergo surgery for a very serious cancerous tumor, and Margo is grabbing some time together with her mom before the surgery. Then she'll stay as long as needed to help her mother through the recovery. We're thinking it will be a month or two.

When I woke up this morning, our dogs began scouring the house looking for Margo. They have this rather wild and noisy routine of greeting each other in the morning. After a while, when the dogs realized Margo's not here, they just sat down outside our bedroom door and kind of pouted.

Well, if absence makes the heart grow fonder, my heart is going to grow a whole lot over the next few weeks. It's only Day One and I'm already feeling that emptiness. (But I'm also praising God for the wonders of modern technology. I may not be able to give my wife a kiss goodnight, but we can chat on cell phones several times each day!)

Trampled Pearls

2010-03-10T15:01:00.003-05:00

Well, I did it. I said I wasn't going to do it. Margo gently encouraged me not to do it. A couple of friends warned me against doing it. And everyone who's heard about me doing it has asked, "What were you thinking?!" But I did it anyways.

I cast my pearls before swine.

That's an interesting phrase, isn't it? Personally, I don't like it very much. It's so harsh! It refers to some people as pigs, and that's an insult in just about every culture throughout history. Actually, the context starts by referring to some people as dogs and then escalates the insult to swine.

The phrase comes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6 NIV) I wish the quote was more gentle -- something like, "Don't be too quick to offer something beautiful to someone who doesn't want it." At least, then I wouldn't feel so guilty referring to it.

I've read a lot of scholarly opinions trying to explain this passage. Most suggest it has something to do with extending the good news of God's grace to someone who has already decided to reject the truth. You can't drag unwilling people into the wonders of God's Kingdom; even the Almighty God doesn't do that! And there comes a point where continued persuasive efforts become like throwing something precious into a pigpen... or so the scholars say.

Hmm. I don't know. Perhaps. That's certainly one application of this harsh truth. But I suspect Jesus' comments are a bit broader considering the context.

Prior to this statement about dogs and swine, Jesus was talking about judging others hypocritically. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1 NIV) He then goes on to talk about trying to fish a speck of sawdust out of someone's eye while you've got this giant plank of wood sticking out of your own eye. "First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5 NIV)

Then comes the verse about withholding what is sacred from dogs and keeping your pearls away from swine.

Sure, it's possible that this harsh phrase stands independently in the midst of Jesus' sermon. After all, the verses that follow seem to indicate a change in topic. (Jesus moves on to talk about praying faithfully and receiving God's goodness.)

Yet I suspect the whole "pearls before swine" thing is expanding upon the idea of removing that speck of dust from a brother's eye. Assuming that we've done some serious soul-searching and can approach someone "plank free" (a pretty daunting challenge in itself!), then we're encouraged to help someone else discover God's love and be set free. Of course, remembering the context of Jesus' comments, we must only help others without becoming judgmental or condeming. Our actions must be motivated by compassion and kindness, and the help must be offered without hypocrisy.

But there are those who simply don't want to deal with the speck in their eye, even when offered help in purity and grace. In this case, extending compassion, forgiveness, and liberty are sacred, precious gifts. Yet there are those who will reject those blessings, "trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Sadly, some people have become blind to their own sin; their pride keeps them from accepting the grace that is offered to them because they're convinced they don't need it.

Nonetheless I tried last week. Against the cautions of people who know and love me, I sought to extend peace and forgiveness to someone who boldly declares that he's done nothing he regrets and feels no remorse for his past behavior.

At least my intentions were good.

There was a time when I could have rattled off a list of this guy's sins and the ways he hurt me and my family. Of course, that's when I still had my share of lumber in my eyes so who knows if I was seeing clearly. It took some time -- and a whole lot of God's grace -- to help me truly forgive him of hurts (whether real or merely perceived). I vividly remember the night when I was finally set free, when the aching was replaced by an overflowing of joy. I was blown away by God's grace and my bitterness toward him began to be replaced with compassion.

So when he contacted me kind of out of the blue and talked about "seeking to be at peace with all men," I made my heart vulnerable again. Could it be that I could finally extend to him the grace that I discovered so long ago? Is it possible that things wouldn't be left with simply a one-sided decision to forgive but rather a genuine, godly reconcilliation? Yet I was cautioned to guard my heart. "You don't know what's going on with him. Be careful. Look closely at what he's saying. He's telling you he wants to be at peace, but he's not taking ownership of having done anything damaging. In fact, he's flat-out saying that he has no regrets. Go slowly here. Don't get hurt again."

Ah, but I was so eager for the possibility. I am so totally enamoured with the "precious pearls" of grace God has given me that I was quick to offer a forgiveness that was never being sought out.

Then came the disappointing, somewhat caustic reply revealing how little has changed. So I'm kicking myself. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I knew better. I was warned. Yet I risked my heart once more, tossed my pearls out there, and watched as they were trampled. Ouch!

Still, even a disappointing experience can be a good thing in the hands of God. This encounter has prompted me to take a really good look in the mirror and see what slivers might still be left in my own eyes to cloud my vision. It's been an opportunity for self-reflection and the pursuit of purity. The exchange helped me realize just how free from past bitterness I feel... praise God!... but also how easily past hurts can start growing again like weeds if we're not careful.

I just hope that next time I will be wiser. I will learn to listen to my wife (who is rarely wrong in these things!). And I hope I can truly fulfill the desire of God's heart when it comes to these kinds of situations.

Romans 12:9–21 NLT

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,”says the LORD.

Instead,“If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Danny Gokey: My Best Days

2010-03-02T08:35:00.006-05:00

Danny Gokey's new album, "My Best Days," is being released today. And it's a great album.

Last night, we enjoyed sitting up close to Danny as he sang a handful of songs from the new album and took time to greet a boatload of fans. And, yes, his voice is just as amazing in person as you remember it from American Idol. The guy is loaded with talent.

Hearing Danny was kind of a surprise adventure for us. It was my day off and I was pondering what we might do to have some fun. I remembered that Danny's album was being released soon, so I figured I'd check the date. Perhaps we could pick up a copy while running through town or something. Then I saw that Danny was actually performing live and releasing the album about an hour from our home. So we drove over, grabbed front row seats (about 10 feet from Danny), and enjoyed the mini-concert. Cool stuff!

Having listened to the album a couple of times now, I'm really impressed not only with the music but also with the spirit and the content of the songs. There is an distinctively optimistic tone throughout the album which was born from Danny's story.

Just a month before Danny Gokey auditioned for American Idol season 8, his wife Sophia died unexpectedly after what should have been routine heart surgery. The two had been high school sweethearts, and Danny was devestated. Music and faith became Danny's refuge, and he decided to audition for American Idol anyways because his wife had encouraged him to give it a shot. That journey took Danny all the way to third place and launched his career. As Danny shared with us last night, before American Idol Danny really didn't want to live anymore. His grief was so deep that he just wanted to check out. But the experience on Idol became a season of growing hope once more, and now he realizes that there is so much to live for.

His season of grief is captured on the album in his powerfully emotional song "I Will Not Say Goodbye."

    Sometimes the road just ends
    Changes everything you've been
    And all that's left to be
    Is empty, brokey, lonely, hoping
    I'm supposed to be strong
    I'm supposed to find a way to carry on
    I don't want to feel better
    I don't want to not remember
    I will always see your face
    In the shadows of this haunted place
    I will laugh, I will cry, shake my fist at the sky
    I will not say goodbye

But that outpouring of love and grief is contrasted with the joy of the title track, "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me."

    Age ain't nothing but a number
    Sometimes I have to wonder what does it really mean
    Hey, I'm still putting it together
    I keep getting better, if I keep getting better
    I can be whatever I wanna be
    My best days are ahead of me
    I've got sunsets to witness, dreams to dance with
    Beaches to walk and lovers to kiss
    There's a whole lot of world out there
        That I can't wait to see
    My best days are ahead of me

And all of these great lyrics are served up with a classic urban-country style that showcases Danny's incredible voice, tinged with a bit of a "gravel" sound and blessed with the smoothest falsetto transition I've ever heard. It's great toe-tapping stuff that lingers in your mind long after the album has finished playing.

Here's hoping this is just the first of many more albums from Danny in the years ahead. I look forward to seeing where his career and life's adventure carries him.

Contentment Is a Choice

2010-02-23T14:25:00.002-05:00

Contentment is a choice.

Oh, sure, it often feels like a natural, instinctive, emotional response to the circumstances we're experiencing, but that's just not true. People have endured some of the most orrific experiences known to mankind and still felt content, while others have been surrounded by outrageous luxuries and conveniences and still felt discontent.

So contentment can't be merely a response. It must be a choice.

It's easy to be fooled into thinking the grass is greener in someone else's situation, but that's an illusion. The idea of jumping ship, of moving on, of giving up, of changing loyalty, or even fighting back often seems like a path to greater contentment. But that assumes contentment is determined by our circumstances.

It isn't. Contement is a choice.

The challenges we face are tailor-made opportunities to practice perseverence, learn wisdom, and build character. Comparisons errode our satisfaction, but focusing on being grateful makes it SO much easier to choose contentment.

Perhaps that's why worship needs to be a way of life (as opposed to simply singing a bunch of songs or rehearsing a bunch of religious rituals on Sunday mornings). When we worship, we get our focus off ourselves and onto God. And when we focus on God, we can't help but notice how awesome he is, how generous he is, how gracious he is, how wise and wonderful and loving and kind and fun and mysterious and protective and over-the-top he is.

Pretty soon, our emotions are detached from our ever-changing circumstances and locked into his never-changing glory. From that springs gratitude, and from gratitude flows contentment.

Let's face it: All of us have days when we feel like we just can't endure it anymore and that there has to be something better out there -- some new job that will make us happy, some new relationship that will make us feel better, some new church with a better pastor where we will grow closer to God without enduring challenges, tensions, misunderstandings, or that weird guy who always sits in the row behind you and sings offkey... loudly!

But what if the circumstances we're facing are exactly what God knows we need in order to refine us and help us become all that he knows we can be? What if the dissatisfying brown grass on our side of the fence is actually the best place we can be right now? What if God was telling the truth when he said, "When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. And if you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." (James 1:2-5 NLT)

We can choose to panic. We can choose to run away. We can choose to fight. We can choose to mope and grumble and complain so that everyone around us feels miserable and dissatified, too.

Or we can choose to worship and be content. Sounds like a good plan to me.

The Blessing of Hot Water

2010-02-17T09:02:00.002-05:00

As I was showering this morning, I found myself feeling very grateful for the simplicity of hot water.

I know, I know... that may seem kind of silly. But think about it: How many people throughout the world today don't have access to the simple pleasure of a hot shower in the morning? How many people throughout world history lived their entire lives without this wonderful luxury?

Yet I take it for granted. On a chilly winter morning, I can crank a dial, wait a few moments, and step into a steamy booth of hot water. I can feel the morning chill chased away. I can scrub away the sweat and dirt of life. I can let the warmth ease aching muscles. I can just enjoy the luxury and the blessing.

And hot water is only the beginning. Stepping out and drying off, I've got a closet full of clothes to choose from. I've got a gadget in the kitchen brewing me up a hot cup of coffee while I shave. (And, come to think of it, I've got a razor with multiple blades, shaving cream, aftershave balm, and of course hot water!) I've got a radio updating me of the latest news, and my Zune full of tunes to keep me company on the way to the office. I've got electric lights to keep things bright and a furnace to keep things warm while my refrigerator keeps my food cool.

Sometimes it's good to just pause, take note of the delicious hot water streaming down your face, and worship.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." (James 1:17 NIV)

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

The Pursuit of Contentment

2010-02-15T13:01:00.003-05:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah... It's been MONTHS since I've posted to the blog. Time to change that. I hope. Stay tuned (and wish me luck).

Too. Much. Snow.
We've been hammered with some serious snowfalls over the past two months. One big one back in December left us locked up at home for several days until plows eventually reached our neighborhood. And even then we had to hire a guy with a bobcat to clear our long, steep driveway. Since then, every time it's snowed, I find myself going into "battle mode." I have this fierce desire to keep the driveway clear and not let it pile up, even if that means running the blade every hour or two all the way through the middle of the night. I feel like I'm fighting off the invading white horde (and sometimes losing the battle because we've had so much snow that there's just no place to push it).

As a result, I've missed out on some of the beauty of this winter. The truth is that snow is such an amazing -- almost magical -- event, especially the way it falls out here in Virginia with hardly a whisper of a breeze. Just big white softness falling everywhere making the world seem so very still -- as if the universe was holding its breath. During one of the recent storms, Margo and I enjoyed dinner with friends living a few blocks away. We bundled up and hiked through knee-high whiteness in the dark of the evening. It really was beautiful. But I've been so focused on fighting off the drifting banks on our driveway that I've overlooked the wonder of it all.

So, even though I'm not excited about any more snow this season (how many more weeks 'til the Cherry Blossoms?), I'm determined to "live in the moment" and just enjoy it all, even if that means getting snowed in again.

And even as I write this, white flakes are beginning to drift down outside my window pretty heavily. I guess I'll get to test out my new attitude before this day is done.

Logos Bible Software
Last week, I enjoyed a couple of days down in North Carolina at "Camp Logos," the training event for Logos Bible Software. I've been using the product for many years; it's my primary tool for research and study, and I was pretty proficient with the last version. Yet they upgraded the entire product last fall and since then I've found myself totally lost. The new interface (which is really powerful but not intuitive) baffled me.

Now all that's changed. After a couple of intensive days of hands-on learning, I've got a pretty good handle on how to access all the power of my updated software. The program is really amazing, and I can barely remember what research was like without it.

Of course, the seminar had another unfortunate effect on me: it left me with this uneasy discontent. Throughout the event we were shown all sorts of additional resources that will make our tools even more powerful. All of these resources are available in electronic format at an incredible discount, but they're also all big-ticket items. So, for example, I've enjoyed the print version of the Expositor's Bible Commentary from Intervarsity Press. But here in Virginia, there really isn't room in my office to unpack my full library. So these volumes are packed away in my basement, essentially unavailable at those moments when I might want to access them. The print version of all 12 volumes is available for around $350 on Amazon, but I could pick up the whole thing and integrate it into my Logos library for $130. Great discount, but it's still $130 bucks. And I'd also love to pick up the 28 volumes of the NIV Application Commentary ($775 in print, $380 in Logos), the 59-voume Word Biblical Commentary ($1200 in print, $500 in Logos), and a zillion other sets like that. And, of course, I'd love to upgrade my "Scholar's Edition" to the "Platinum Edition" (which is another $850 right there, though it unlocks thousands of dollars of resources and tools). Suddenly I'm wishing I knew the meaning of the phrase "money is no object." :)

Learning To Be Content

Oh well. I suppose it's a good opportunity to practice disciplined contentment -- for the snow, for limited resources, etc. Hmm. What did Paul tell his apprentice, Timothy? "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT) Words to live by...

Touring Israel

2009-08-27T13:26:00.003-04:00

Next week, I'll be fulfilling a life-long dream. I'm heading to Israel.

My Dad invited me to join him for this tour, and I'm so excited about all that we'll see. Not only will it be an incredible experience of walking through sacred history, but it's an adventure my Dad and I will share together and treasure all our lives.

I'll keep a journal and take lots of pictures to share with the folks back home. And I suspect the folks at Hope are in danger of listening to me offer way too much geographical and cultural detail in my sermons for a while.

Here's where we're headed.

September 3: Depart from D.C., change planes in New York, and fly overnight.

September 4: Arrive in Israel. Visit Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Dinner at the Dan Panorama Hotel on the Mediterranean Sea. Evening walk along the shore.

September 5: Early morning walk along the beach (maybe even swimming in the Mediterranean!). Visit Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Nazareth, the Jordan River, and Tiberias.

September 6: Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Visit Nof Ginosar, the Golan Heights, Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi, and the Mount of Beautitudes. Dinner on the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias.

September 7: Fly from northern Israel to Eilat on the northern end of the Red Sea. Lunch cruise on the Red Sea (a view of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia). Dinner at Herod's Palace Hotel in Eliat.

September 8: Explore the ruins of the rose-red Nabatean city of Petra in Jordan.

September 9: Drive through the Judean Wilderness to the Dead Sea. Visit Masada and the En Gedi overlook. Dinner at the Le Merridien Hotel at the Dead Sea.

September 10: Visit the Dead Sea (dare I swim/float in it?) and Qumran. Drive to Jerusalem and visit the old city.

September 11: Tour the Western Wall, the newly excavated southern wall, and the Yad Vashem (memorial to the victims of the Holocaust).

September 12: Morning panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, the Kidron Valley, the Via Dolorosa, and the Garden Tomb.

September 13: Return home.

Doubt: A Parable

2009-07-15T12:30:00.002-04:00

This week I finally got around to watching "Doubt" starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams.

The story takes place at a Catholic High School in the Bronx in the fall of 1964. The winds of change are figuratively and literally blowing through the community, and a likeable priest named Father Flynn is struggling to connect with his people while also accomodating the school's strict disciplinary approach. Meanwhile, Sister Aloysius Beauvier is intentionally fearsome in her pursuit of personal integrity and maintaining control of the students. These two leaders find themselves in an emotionally tense conflict over unproven suspicions and... well, doubt... which leads to devestating hurts between them and within individuals in the community.

"Doubt" originated in 2004 as a off-Broadway play by John Patrick Shanley (with an even better title -- "Doubt: A Parable"), which led to a handful of awards including the Tonys for Best Play, Best Actress, Best Featured Actress, and Best Director. The film adaptation fittingly earned its cast Academy Award nominations for Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, as well as the nomination for Adapted Screenplay.

I found the movie to be absolutely fascinating for a variety of reasons. The story is well-crafted and complex, creating a "whodunnit" kind of tension that centers around suspicions and uncertainties. Streep crafts an amazingly believable character in Sister Aloysius, and I found her subtle accent and facial movements riveting. Likewise, Hoffman offers us an empathetic hero/villain (depending on what you conclude about his innocence/guilt), and I quickly resonated with his eagerness to love a community, respect the rules, and usher in much-needed change.

But I admit that I am drawn to this story for deeper, more professional reasons. Every pastor alive has met their own Sister Aloysius -- the unmoveable accuser who may not have any proof but they have their certainty (as Streep tells us). Without simplifying things or promoting some kind of "martyr complex," the sad truth is that everyone who has committed themselves to representing God and sharing his message finds themself a target of relational, emotional, or spiritual tension sooner or later. It's been this way since the days of the prophets in the Old Testament, and Jesus promised that it would continue until the close of history.

However, the movie got one crucial thing wrong: the Sister Aloysiuses of the world are rarely found alone in their efforts; they usually travel in packs -- fueling each other's suspicions, convincing others for their crusade, and leaving a trail of wounded hearts and relationships in their wake (sometimes hidden away in the shadows of silence but hurting nonetheless). As Father Flynn shares so dramatically from his pulpit during the film, there are those whose gossip is like the scattering of feathers on the wind -- impossible to retrieve once released -- and the results are tragic for everyone involved.

Though I enjoyed the story immensely, I honestly was not connecting with the film from a pastoral perspective until the climactic conversation between the Father and the Sister. Yet in that cinematic moment, I heard echoes of other conversations from years past -- both those I've experienced personally and those I've heard from other pastors that I have come alongside.

I was especially touched by the comments of Father Flynn during that encounter. It seemed to me that he was making a painful choice to suffer personal devestation in hopes of protecting his flock from the emotional war that was being promised. And in a moment of scriptwriting brilliance, he told Sister Aloysius to always remember that there are things he simply cannot disclose -- things that she cannot and does not know, even if she never realizes it. He indicates that his role in the community has resulted in him being aware of facts that bear on the circumstances that must remain private, even if it costs him his happiness.

Naturally, my heart wanted to side with Father Flynn throughout the film, though I often found myself empathizing with the passion and sincerity of Sister Aloysius' motivations. And though I have my own thoughts about what really occurred in the story, I was pleased with the filmmakers' success in leaving the audience with doubts.

In the end, I find myself cherishing a commandment in Scripture and being grateful for serving those many people who have faithfully carried it out throughout my experience as a pastor:

"Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live in peace with each other." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NLT)

Celebrating My Son

2009-06-30T11:09:00.005-04:00

This weekend, we're celebrating Ben's graduation from High School.

It's been an amazing journey for us, especially since Ben has been homeschooled from the very beginning. I still don't remember clearly how we arrived at the decision to take on our kids' education at home, but I'm awfully glad we did. Not only were we able to provide an outstanding learning experience (thanks to the heroic work of Margo! Whoohoo!), but we were able to spend far more time together as a family than we would have by pursuing a more traditional approach.

I can still picture us snuggled up on the couch, picking out the words with him in his first "Bob" book, watching him discover the world and figure out how fun it is to learn. Ben was always very bright and inquisitive, and he excelled in his academics... right up through his great SAT scores and early admission to Virginia Tech's engineering program. We are so very, very proud. It's also been fun to be a part of all the "well-rounded" parts of his education over the years -- athletic teams, music, drama, community service, etc. I'm going to savor all those terrific memories.

But now our little boy is all grown up and our time together with him grows shorter. My thoughts and emotions are saturated and confusing right now. I'm so excited for him, so proud of the incredible young man he's become, so sad that he won't be sitting at the dinner table with us this Fall, so eager to see what life holds for him, so desperate to hold on to whatever memories we can still share. As we celebrate his journey and this great milestone, and as we release him into the even greater adventure that awaits, I find myself praying a simple blessing for him over and over -- a blessing straight from the mouth of his Heavenly Father:

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

And So It Begins...

2009-06-24T16:36:00.005-04:00

When I agreed to help direct this summer's Youth Drama Camp production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat last January, I thought we had plenty of time to put everything together before August. So many months to nail down all those pesky administrative details -- like finding a place, securing the rights, arranging for the music, etc.

So when everything was kind of put on hold until a couple of weeks ago, I was thinking that perhaps we're getting too close to the actual Drama Camp week in order to pull this off. The other directors -- who have all done this before -- assured me that everything would be okay. They talked about how wonderful it is to watch God work miracles and accomplish the impossible at the last minute.

Still, I grumbled. I thought, "Oh, sure, God can pull it off at the last minute. But that's no excuse for not using the time we had available wisely. Now we're looking at needless stress." The other directors just smiled and patiently endured my reluctance.

Then it happened, and I'm now a believer.

We started off this morning finding out from the folks who hold the rights to the show that there may not be time to secure a license for our production. They said they'd try and rush things, and that we might call them back next week to see if it's even possible.

We also started off this morning with no background music for the show. Our time frame doesn't allow for live musicians (where would we get a rock opera orchestra to pull it off in a week, anyways?), so we were hoping to use a "karaoke" kind of CD that promised an all-instrumental version of the show. But when the CD arrived, we found that they had only left off the solo voices; all the chorus parts were still performed on the CD making it totally unusuable.

Over the past couple of days, I have spent many, many hours chasing down leads for an instrumenal recording of the show that we might use. The only things I found were either really, really bad (amateurish MIDI files of some of the songs) or in keys so high that there's no way the youth could perform it (i.e., Joseph would have to sing like Mickey Mouse).

No rights. No music. Both pretty serious obstacles to producing a musical.

Then God did his thing. Just a couple of hours after hearing that it may be weeks before we'd know anything about the rights, we received a license agreement from Rogers and Hammerstein. And they were very generous with a reduced cost for royalties. Things were looking better.

Unfortunately, the royalty fees are not the only costs associated with producing the show. They also require that we rent rehearsal materials (music for the musicians that we don't have, for example), and that became expensive. Very expensive. As in "well beyond our entire budget" expensive.

Meanwhile, I contacted Aztec Showtrax about renting recordings of an orchestral performance for the show. After talking with Ken (very nice guy!), they were eager to help us out. However, there are still some steep costs involved. Basically, they've had musicians perform and record the score for use in various theaters. Luckily, they've already done Joseph in the past and have the whole thing available right away. (Hmm... "luck" had nothing to do with it... *grin*) So when they rent the background trax, they have to pay a royalty to those musicians. They offered us an incredible deal because they want to support what we're doing here.

Still, a great deal doesn't accomplish much if we're already over budget with the license. So we contacted Rogers and Hammerstein again -- the folks who already were so generous with our royalty fees -- and they helped us by trimming expenses even further. In fact, they trimmed exactly what we needed in order to secure the musical trax and stay within budget. To the dollar.

See? That's just God showing off again!

We started this morning with nothing, and are finishing the day with a license and a complete musical performance that surpasses anything I could have anticipated.

I suppose this is just the beginning. After all, Joseph is a story about how God accomplishes unexpected, impossible, wonderful things even though the circumstances look totally bleak. I'm looking forward to seeing what else he has in store for us as the production continues!

(Oh yeah, one more thing. We've started receiving registrations and inquiries about auditioning for vocal leads. It really has begun...! And if anyone wants to know more, just check out the link at www.hopecf.net)

Words Are Inadequate

2009-06-11T17:02:00.003-04:00

Words are inadequate. We rely on them to communicate information, share stories, express thoughts, and so much more. Coupled with facial expressions, physical gestures, and even touch or actions, they're the best tool we have to connect with each other.

Yet words are inadequate on a day like today. I've sat in tears in my office, hoping to come up with words of encouragement that might chisel away at grief or express the inexpressible irony of shared sorrow in a time of loss and shared joy in the hope of eternal reunions. But sometimes life hurts in ways that words can neither soothe nor express.

I received a letter from a friend and fellow pastor about the death of his 18-year old daughter last week. Todd and Kellie shared life with Margo and me while we planted a couple of churches in Arizona. I cannot imagine the empty aching of their hearts at this tragedy. And as I sit here trying to grasp for words, something deep in my soul finds peace and hope and comfort in my relationship with our Father. His Spirit even prays on my behalf, giving words to the emotions stirring in my heart. So I let go and find myself swept away in prayer for my friends, their children, their church, and all the lives that Makenzie touched during her brief journey through life.

I encourage you to visit Todd's blog to hear his heart during this time and to read about the life celebration they shared in Makenzie's memory.

Todd Stocker's Weblog:
When All Is Said and Done

Shackles and Serenity

2009-05-27T07:10:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I became aware of an incredible scene of contrast unfolding before me -- a contrast between freedom and bondage.

I spent the morning with dear friends at a sentencing hearing at the Fauquier County Court, including offering brief testimony as a character witness. My friend is a terrific woman and great mom, but she has made some terrible choices that resulted in a lot of people being hurt. I sat there in tears as she shared her sorrow with the court, fully admitting her wrongs, taking full responsibility for the harm she has caused, and accepting whatever consequences the court felt were appropriate. At the end of the sentencing, she was taken into custody and has now spent her first night in jail.

However, after the hearing, I encountered another woman on the sidewalk outside the courtroom. Just looking into her eyes revealed so much; she is obviously carrying a lot of bitterness and heartache. In the brief conversation that followed, I learned that she has embraced a lie and has shared that lie with others -- a lie that empowers her sense of anger and combativeness. She was quick to throw out accusations and blame, though she wrapped it all in the language of spirituality and religion. As she walked away, she obviously carried this burden with her. In her efforts to be hurtful, she merely revealed just how hurting she is inside.

I realized that these two women offer a powerful contrast. Though one of them left that courtroom in physical shackles, she also walked away with a sense of freedom and serenity. She has surrendered herself to the brokenness, and in her surrender she has discovered real victory. Yes, she has to endure very difficult consequences, but she can do so knowing that she is surrounded by compassion and respect for her honesty and humility as well as a loving commitment to her and her family. Her surrender is resulting in peace and healing.

The other woman walked away with a different set of shackles. She might be free to go about her business, but she does so in the deceptive bondage of bitterness. Rather than surrendering to God's grace, she chooses to pick fights. As a result, instead of experiencing victory and serenity, her combativeness just results in more people getting hurt.

This world is already filled with such sadness and tragedy. And though I understand the instinctive desire for justice and the emotional need to vent frustrations, the last thing the world needs is more conflict. Life is just too brief and precious to be wasted in bondage, especially when freedom is so easily gained through the surrender of our pride and anger.

I'm hoping that the next time I feel my "rights" challenged or my irritation provoked, I'll remember the contrast of these two women. May their example serve as a reminder to simply surrender it all and walk away free.

What Does It All Mean?

2009-05-02T10:05:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned to our church family at Hope that we are in the midst of a huge social transition on a global scale. That morning, I briefly touched on the philosophical shift that is taking place (and is occurring so quickly that we're really not sure where it's all headed just yet, despite all the defintions of "post-modernism" that various authors are proposing).

But consider for a moment the technological shift that is taking place. Heck, I remember being in Junior High when I was given my first digital watch. It was all black with a cool black faceplate. By pressing a little silver button on the side, the time would display in red numbers until I let go of the button. At the time, it was pretty amazing technology. (Remember that local access computers were just transitioning from punch cards to tape at the time; software for my dad's home computer actually came on a cassette tape.)

Now look at what's going on. Check out this great video, and ponder the question at the end...

Very Satisfying

2009-04-22T18:03:00.002-04:00

This afternoon, I enjoyed the honor of speaking at a retirement home in Culpeper. It's only my second time there, but I found myself enjoying it very much.

Of course, the setting is quite a bit different from what I enjoy every week at Hope. There were about a dozen seniors in varying degrees of health scattered about the room. Some of them listened intently while others seemed pretty drowsy. We sang a couple of songs from a hymnal -- one with the help of an organ, the other led by a guitar. A nice gentleman performed "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord," complete with a quirky-but-charming rhythm and melody. The message was very short -- sort of a 15-minute version of what I shared with Hope last week. (Hmm? Can I really make the same point in just 15 minutes? Uh oh...)

When it was over, I stood by the door and shook a few hands, received a few "Thank you for coming" messages and a boatload of smiles. But the real reward was something intangible. It just felt... hmmm... _satisfying_. It was an honor to offer a few words of encouragement to these senior saints. I can only imagine all that they've seen and experienced, as well as their many years of serving God faithfully. I had this profound awareness of God's love for this handful of men and women, especially in light of some physical challenges I noticed. Our Father cares for them with a beautiful tenderness, and I had this satisfying sense of representing his love simply by being there.

Sometimes being a pastor is just the coolest job in the world.

An Amazing Week!

2009-04-13T10:32:00.002-04:00

This past week has been absolutely amazing! I can hardly believe all that has happened.

We began renovation of our new office suite and meeting room (we're calling it "The Basement"). The offices include space for current and additional staff as well as a conference room, some storage, and a bathroom. They've now been painted, the bathroom overhauled (poor Mick Martin and his hatred of plumbing!), and are mostly ready to go. Thanks to some offices closing in Arlington, we've even got new furniture... and it is nice nice! There are a few little details to finish up, but for now we're up and running.

The Basement saw the biggest changes -- the removal of a wall, relocating electrical outlets, lots of paint, a bathroom renovation, cutting all sorts of trim, etc. There are still a couple of big projects to go -- installing carpeting, putting in a kitchenette, trimming out some of the windows, hanging drapes, installing the A/V system (speakers throughout, a big video screen, some fun lighting), hanging corrugated metal along the bottom half of the walls, putting up a shelf around the room, cleaning out the storage room, etc. But it's amazing how far we've come already.

Of course, embracing a renovation project and moving offices the week before Easter Sunday is pretty crazy for a church. But it was also exciting, and it was great to see so many folks pitching in with the work.

Easter was a very special celebration at Hope. It was amazing to look into so many faces and see that special "twinkle of the eye" at the joy of new life and new beginnings. And it was an honor to share the heart of the Christian faith and to see so many seasoned believers sitting there praying for the people around them. Really cool!

After church, we had a quick meeting at "The Basement" to iron out some details for this week's work, and then we spent the afternoon with friends. Great food (and lots of it!), goofing around (including an all-ages egg hunt), playing games, and even sneaking in a few minutes for a quick nap. I came home feeling totally fulfilled and refreshed.

In the evening, we settled in for a movie together, and then I realized that the BBC broadcast a new episode of Doctor Who for the holiday. Thanks to the Internet, we finished the night off with a family favorite.

And to top off this amazing week, I'm confirmed for a trip to Israel next September. It's something I've wanted to do all my life. My Dad is taking me -- talk about the ultimate Father-Son experience, eh? I can hardly wait... I'm so excited!

Life in the Gallery

2009-04-07T15:46:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Margo and I took Beth to check out a college near D.C. As it turns out, we only needed about 15 minutes on campus to realize that this wasn't the place for Beth.

But since we were already in the metro area, we decided to swing along the National Mall and check out the cherry blossoms in full bloom. It was a beautiful day, and the trees really are spectacular.

Of course, our trip landed us smack in the middle of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which meant sitting in total deadlock by the time we reached the Washington Monument. Even the sidewalks were in deadlock! At least the view while we waited was breathtaking.

That got me thinking... Hundreds of thousands of people enduring the stress of such crowds just to soak in the beauty of a bunch of flowering trees. And every single one of them somehow knows instinctively that those trees are beautiful and worth seeing.

That same week, as we kicked back at home, we were watching television when a close-up of a leapord's face came on the screen. Everyone in the room reacted; there were a couple of "Ooos!" and "Ahhs!" along with one "Rewind, rewind! I wanna see it again!" (I'm telling you, High Definition and Digital Video Recording is simply amazing tech!)

We paused the image on the face of the leapord, admiring the shape, the subtle golds and blacks of his fur, the complex and random pattern of his spots, the ferocity of his gaze. He was magnificent... and I'm betting anyone else who watched that creature with us from their own homes agreed.

You know, if ever we needed convincing of the existence, intelligence, and awesomeness of God, all we have to do is check out the crowds gazing across the Grand Canyon, or strolling through a local zoo, or cutting wildflowers to bring into their kitchen, or buying an annual pass to our National Parks, or sitting quietly in the haunting shadows of the towering Muir Woods.

Certainly random, designer-less evolution could not have generated such a universal appreciation for aesthetics and a particular love for the wonders of nature. I suppose you could argue there is some psychological benefit from picking out certain colors for the walls of our homes, but it's hardly the kind of thing that qualifies as a "survival of the fittest" development. Loving the twisting shape of a tree, or the hush of a heavy snowfall, or the way sunlight glistens off the ocean waves... That didn't come by chance. SomeONE put that recognition of beauty in us by design.

What's more, our love for music, for art, and for other human attempts at creativity give us a glimpse at the desire to connect with the Creator in some way. Think about it: How many of man's artistic endeavors is an effort to capture or communicate the greater art found in creation? In my office I have a painting of a couple of birds sitting on the limb of a birch tree. Yet they're just images of the more wondrous reality. Those birds just sit there in two dimensions and pigment, while outside the window there are zillions of living, breathing birds to amaze us. Artists can try to capture a glimpse of the reality, perhaps even communicating some unique perspective or emotion in addition to their skill. But there is a great Artist and Creator that is merely reflected in even the best human endeavors.

Here's a more geeky way of thinking about it: If you're a fan of fiction with fantastical themes -- scifi, fantasy, etc. -- have you ever noticed that all the aliens and mythical creatures men create are really elements pieced together from the Creation all around us? So that ancient Greek chimera may be a monster, but it's pieced together from a lion, a snake, and a goat (original works from a greater Creator). Those aliens invading the earth in the Saturday matinee? They look a lot like a cross between giant flies and lobsters, don't they? Humans find it very difficult to create anything original without first drawing on the artistry of the true Creator.

So I'm choosing to look out the windows whenever I can this week. Even while working on other projects, I want to gaze at the cosmic gallery of the greatest Artist of time and space. And as I see the flowering trees dancing in the gentle breeze, it dawns on me that Father made all of this in just six days. I can't wait to see what he has in store for eternity!

Mitchell is Coming

2009-03-26T11:12:00.002-04:00

Once upon a time, there was a man. We’ll call him Mitchell. And on a dreary, drizzly Autumn day many years ago, Mitchell turned his back and walked away from God.

It wasn’t nearly as dramatic as it sounds. In fact, Mitchell doesn’t even remember that moment as a significant milestone in his journey. After all, he had been wandering further and further away from the Lord for many years.

You see, Mitchell knew all about God while growing up. His parents used to take him to Sunday School every week. He learned all about how God created the world, and how Noah saved a boatload of animals during a great flood. He remembers the stories of David & Goliath and Daniel in the lion’s den. For some reason, he was especially fond of the story of a short tax collector named Zaccheus sitting up in a tree to get a closer look at Jesus.

When Mitchell was in 4th Grade, he attended a Vacation Bible School at his church one summer. At the end of the week, after a really nice teacher had explained all about Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the grave, Mitchell bowed his head, said he was sorry for his sins, and asked Jesus to come into his heart. (Now that he thinks back on it, he’s not really sure what “Jesus coming into his heart” meant, but it’s what the teacher told him to say… so he did.)

In High School, Mitchell continued to go to church on Sundays as well as a Youth Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. He even went on a couple of weekend retreats with the group, and he had a lot of fun. But as graduation drew closer, and as Mitchell pondered what he wanted to do with his life, his thoughts drifted toward how he might find a career that earned him a lot of money so he could enjoy all the things that his very middle-class family had skipped out on.

When Mitchell went away to college, he had it pretty easy. Years before, his grandfather had set up a trust for him, and the money paid most of his tuition costs. His parents scratched together enough to cover the rest. Mitchell majored in Business Administration, and he graduated with a solid B average, a bunch of friends that promised to stay in touch as they headed into different careers.

Mitchell didn’t go to church very often during those years — pretty much only when he was home visiting his family for the holidays or Spring Break. But he somehow steered clear of the party scene and made his parents proud. He never really thanked them for putting him through school, but they didn’t do it for the appreciation. They made sacrifices because they loved their son.

In the summer following his college graduation, Mitchell was hired by a pharmaceutical company where one of his college buddies had some connections. In fact, Mitchell started work in the same office as his friend, and the two of them decided to share an apartment. Together they started making some pretty good money. Mitchell bought a new car and a big screen TV, and his roommate began introducing him to another world.

Hitting the bars after work became pretty common. After all, Happy Hour, cheap appetizers, and plenty of 20-something women looking for fun was a powerful attraction.

By October — just three months after starting his new job and establishing his independence — Mitchell forgot all about God. Well, he didn’t actually forget… but he sort of tucked God away in this box that he thought of as his childhood past, and certainly not his adult future.

Mitchell was gladly swept away with the rest of the crowd. His life became all about making money, watching for opportunities to climb the corporate ladder, and squeezing as much life as he could out of the weekends.

Getting drunk occasionally and having different women spend the night made Mitchell uncomfortable at first. So did mastering the art of office politics to get ahead at the expense of his coworkers. But it became increasingly easy to drown out the nagging sounds of his conscience, especially as he surrounded himself with others who shared his lifestyle.

He went through a long series of girlfriends before meeting Amy. They were together for 11 months when the unexpected happened: Amy found out she was pregnant. She and Mitchell decided to terminate the pregnancy, and the tense aftermath in their relationship became almost unbearable. They broke up, got back together again, and repeated that cycle several times before deciding to get married.

The years have flown by quickly for Mitchell as he’s blended in with the world around him. They now have a couple of kids. Mitchell has been skipped over for the Regional Manager position three times, but he keeps holding out hope for the next opportunity. He and Amy have habitually lived beyond their means and are shackled by huge credit card debt, but they figure that’s pretty normal for people their age. With the current economic uncertainty, Mitchell worries a lot about getting caught in the downsizing trend. In fact, he worries about a lot of things these days.

Mitchell and Amy have had their share of problems — Amy thinks that Mitchell drinks a little too much and spends too much time watching sports with his friends, and Mitchell thinks Amy is really controlling (especially when it comes to raising the kids) and that she’s too quick to ring up another charge on their Visa card. They don’t fight a lot, but they’re also not especially happy in their relationship either.

Lately, Mitchell has been pondering his life. On his commute to work, his thoughts focus on how dissatisfied he is with it all. He feels stuck in a system, watching the years go by, wondering when life will have any real meaning or happiness. He has all the toys that he wants — a nice house, nice car, nice stuff. He has a wife and kids. He has friends. Yet he still feels so… empty. Like it’s all just a game. He worries that he’ll stay stuck in this life, and that in a couple of decades he’ll look back and feel like he wasted the whole thing.

Mitchell has tried talking to Amy about feeling so unsettled and unhappy, but she kind of blows it off as “a mid-life thing” that he’ll get over. Mitchell isn’t so sure.

A couple of months ago, Mitchell decided he’d try visiting a local church. Maybe what he’s looking for is what he’s had all along. Maybe there’s something about this whole “Jesus loves you” thing that he learned as a kid. He feels like it’s a long shot, but he’s also feeling increasingly desperate.

So this coming Sunday, Mitchell will be sitting in a church somewhere. He’ll listen carefully to the lyrics of the music and the words of the message. He’ll watch all the people around him for any sign that they have figured out how to get whatever it is that he’s been missing in his life. He doesn’t really know what to do, but he’s open to suggestions.

If God is real — if everything he learned as a kid is true — then Mitchell is hoping Jesus will love him enough to make himself known. Because if it doesn’t happen soon, Mitchell has no idea where else he might turn.

Opening the doors of a church is a heavy responsibility. On any given day, Mitchell might walk through those doors.

Sometimes we arrive at church thinking that it’s all about us — about enjoying the worship, about learning from the Bible, about reconnecting with friends, about fulfilling responsibility.

The truth is that it’s all about Mitchell… about connecting him with God and others.

Okay, that’s not quite theologically correct. It’s really all about God — about him being glorified, about displaying his grace in a compelling way so that Mitchell can see the love of Christ fully revealed.

It takes a lot for a guy like Mitchell to walk through the doors of a church. There’s a whole lot of story that leads him to that moment. We may feel like it’s just another Sunday. We can be busy setting up chairs, brewing the coffee, catching up with friends, chasing around the kids, etc. But for Mitchell, it is an opportunity for a divine turning point in his journey.

Mitchell is coming. Mitchell will be watching. Let’s be ready!

Pushbrooms and Dustpans

2009-03-23T08:37:00.004-04:00

Yesterday at Hope, we continued our look at "The Joy of Being Forgiven," and we spent the day walking through Paul's letter to Philemon. We saw that this letter is tucked into the New Testament as an example of what following Christ looks like in the real world of difficult relationships.

Onesimus, Philemon's slave, had discovered God's grace and a new beginning, but he had unfinished business with his master. Philemon had been wronged by Onesimus, and there was uncertainty and damage in their relationship. Paul masterfully wrote an appeal that would allow the two men to take their relationship way beyond that of master and slave; he urged them to be reconciled as brothers in Christ. After all, as Paul wrote elsewhere to the Christians in the region of Galatia, within the family of Jesus' followers there is no distinction between Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, etc. (Galatians 3:28).

It's almost like Philemon and Onesimus needed to take a big pushbroom to sweep away all the garbage that had collected in their relationship -- a task that was so big that it required Paul's assistance. Sometimes, when damage and emotions and all sorts of challengeing obstacles pile up in our relationships, it takes a huge, courageous effort and the help of wise friends and counsselors to clean things out. And though the task is difficult, it is so important that we tackle it together in order to experience the fulness of joy that comes from being forgiven and extending that forgiveness to others.

But sometimes we don't really need a big pushbroom to clean things out; we simply need a little whisk and a dustpan. In a world full of broken people, it's only natural that little "hairballs of misunderstanding" and "dustbunnies of bad moments" will accumulate in our relationships from time to time. Instead of waiting for them to pile up and become a major problem, it makes sense to "clean as you go" -- to keep an eye out for bits of debris and whisk them away as soon as possible.

Of course, this is simple and natural for Christ's followers who truly recognize the blessings and forgiveness of God. The more we realize the wonders of his grace and renewal in our lives, the easier it is to extend that tenderhearted patience and forgiveness to others. That's why Paul appealed to Philemon to live out the abundance of his faith by first focusing on all the good things we have in Christ. (Philemon 6)

I'm really proud of our church family at Hope. I see lots of people carrying little dustpans around with them, ready to brush away debris and keep relationships pure and healthy. And it's a delight to share life's adventure with so many folks who truly embrace the joy of being forgiven.

(Thanks to Bart Garihan for the word picture of "pushbrooms and dustpans." Great mental image, bro!)

Expository Preaching

2009-03-16T18:19:00.005-04:00

This past Sunday, Hope enjoyed hearing from Mick Martin -- a member of our leadership team and an incredible guy. Mick challenged us to think through what it means to be a healthy, effective church. At the end of his message, he invited everyone to share some feedback about where we're at and (more importantly) what each of us can do to help make Hope even better.

One person shared a really interesting comment, suggesting that one way a church can become better "would be to preach expository instead of topical." They even added an enthusiastic exclamation: "God's Word!" Of course, the feedback is absolutely correct in saying that the proclamation of God's message from the Bible must be offered through exposition, and I hope that's at the heart of all our teaching at Hope. But is "expository" teaching in conflict with studying the Bible topically? What about organizing systematic exposition thematically? Hmm. Perhaps it's time to consider some definitions together!

"Exposition" literally refers to "a setting forth of meaning or intent." When it comes to preaching, exposition involves proclaiming Biblical truth in a manner that derives the content of the message (i.e., the main idea as well as the sub points) directly from scripture itself. It's an effort to be true to the text -- to set forth the meaning or intent of the original Biblical author.

J.I. Packer says it this way:

Expository preaching is the preaching of the man who knows Holy Scripture to be the living Word of the living God, and who desires only that it should be free to speak its own message to sinful men and women; who therefore preaches from a text, and in preaching labors, as the Puritans would say, to 'open' it, or, in [Charles] Simeon's phrase, to 'bring out of the text what is there;' whose whole aim in preaching is to show his hearers what the text is saying to them about God and about themselves, and to lead them into what Barth called 'the strange new world within the Bible' in order that they may be met by him who is the Lord of that world. (J.I. Packer, "Expository Preaching: Charles Simone and Ourselves," an essay in Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching, page 141)

It's not the traditional definition of exposition that seminary students hear in their Homiletics 101 class, but I think Packer is quite profound here. Expository preaching involves knowing the power and authority of God's Word, and remembering...

The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT)

Through the exposition of the Bible, the preacher seeks to direct attention to the life-changing truth of the Bible in a compelling way, according to the intent of the original author as inspired by God. Expository preaching proclaims what God thinks, not merely what the preacher thinks.

But there are several legitimate approaches to organizing expository sermons in a series.

One way -- and the manner in which the original feedback was intended, I suspect -- is to preach through a book or section of the Bible. For example, at Hope this past year we walked through the book of Galatians together very slowly and deliberately (though I titled the series "Grace is Still Amazing" because of a central theme in the book rather than "The Study of Galatians" in hopes of making the messages accessible to newcomers). In my Sunday afternoon Bible study this past year, we explored the books of Philippians, James, Habakkuk, Amos, and Daniel.

Of course, systematic exposition isn't limited to an entire Biblical book at a time; sometimes it involves just working through a single section of a book (such as our recent exploration of the letters to the churches in the book of Revelation, or our study of the life of Joseph in the final portion of Genesis).

Personally, I enjoy working through a book of the Bible as the basis of a sermon series. From a preaching perspective, it's refreshing to simply allow the agenda of a Biblical author to outline the subject of the various messages in a series. Not only does it offer a full reflection of the original author's message in its complete context, but it provides a demonstration of how we all can study the Bible personally. (I also prefer to go back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament when planning these kinds of series.)

However, the "book at a time" or "section at a time" is not the only valid means of expository preaching. It is equally acceptable to organize a message series thematically. For example, I've been preaching on the theme of "The Joy of Being Forgiven" for the past couple of weeks. Each sermon in the series is, in itself, an exposition of a single passage of scripture. The first message in the series focused entirely on Psalm 32 (which, itself, stands independently), and that was followed by a look at Peter's restoration from John 21. Each message allowed a single passage to define its content, though the two stood back-to-back because of a common thematic element.

I also think it's possible to present solid exposition in a topical manner, even within a single sermon (though, admittedly, the preacher must carefully guard himself to remain accurate to what God wants to say rather than using a series of verses to enforce what the preacher wants to say). In a systematic or thematic expositional series, the preacher is asking "What does God have to say in the book of Hosea, or Acts, or the letters of John?" In a topical series, the preacher asks "What does the whole of the Bible have to say about the subject of friendship, or sexual purity, or the end of history?" As long as the answers are drawn from scripture itself by opening up the meaning and intent of the original authors, even the most topically organized message can be expository.

And this topical/expository manner of preaching is what's commonly seen in the New Testament. Consider Peter's sermon at the dawn of the church in Acts 2. Peter begins by explaining how the events of Pentecost are the fulfillment of ancient prophecy, and he uses Joel 2:28-32 as his main text. However, in just a couple of paragraphs, Peter turns to explaining Psalm 16:8-11. Then he moves to discussing the opening of Psalm 110. Without a doubt, this is a prime example of a topical sermon, yet it certainly remains expository in nature in that Peter seeks to reveal the meaning of each passage according to the intent of God.

And how about the entire Sermon on the Mount? In Matthew 5-7, Jesus draws from passages all throughout the Law of the Old Testament (and even the teaching of rabbinical tradition) rather than preaching on a single book or section of scripture. Yet he persists in being expository in his preaching -- in "exposing" the full meaning of each passage -- even while organizing his presentation in a topical manner.

Personally, I believe there are certain passages of the Bible that are best served by a topical approach. It's practically impossible to preach from Proverbs without drawing from the various passages topically. And any good study of one of the gospels will always be presented with an awareness of the parallel and supplementary passages found in the other gospels, as well as the theological commentary on the identity and work of Christ throughout the epistles.

So there are a variety of valid, effective ways to organize our study of scripture and still remain expository. The key is to always point attention to the truth revealed in the Bible and allowing God to speak to us rather than wrapping up a personal agenda with Biblical references and illustrations. Hopefully our teaching at Hope continues to meet people right where they're at and helping them hear from God in the pages of scripture. We must also show sensitivity for those just joining a study (rather than making them feel "left in the dust" because we're on week 18 of a study of Romans and they've missed all the rich wonders that the rest of us have already pursued). And it's important to convey a sense of consistency in content, not to mention compelling memorability, as any series unfolds regardless of its organizational premise.

Here's to expository preaching! May it continue to be a core value at Hope as we continue to share God's life-changing love with others!

Book & Software Giveaway

2009-03-14T12:31:00.004-04:00

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

I've been using Logos for years, and am a total fanatic. Hardly a day goes by when I'm not immersed in this tremendous tool. If you even want me to show off what it can do, let's grab a cup of coffee. You'll be amazed!

The Rebuilding of Babylon

2009-03-14T11:41:00.003-04:00

I recently finished reading the 5-book series of novels by Joel Rosenberg (The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option, The Copper Scroll, and Dead Heat). Really great books, particularly considering the eerie true-to-life circumstances that coincided with their development and publication. Typically, I'm not a fan of "end of the world" Christian fiction, simply because there's an abundance of clumsy, heavy-handed writing out there (not to mention some sloppy eschatological assumptions behind some of it). But Rosenberg offers both a compelling suggestion of prophetic events as well as some really good stories that are just plain hard to put down.

So I've begun stopping by Rosenberg's blog every so often. He posts some fascinating news over there, especially as it relates to tensions in the Middle East and the possible connections to Biblical references.

Of particular interest to me was a story that appeared last month regarding the rebuilding of the city of Babylon. Apparently the goal is to create a setting that will attract global tourism, and the Obama administration is already contributing funds to the World Momuments Fund's "Future of Babylon Project" through the State Department. A summary of the project can be found here.

Of course, all this is particularly interesting since the book of Revelation refers to a city by the name of Babylon at the end of days. There's been a lot of eschatological speculation over the years regarding what the prophecy is referring to -- perhaps some symbolic global center of commerce and power, or the heart of a religious empire, or the deceptions of a grotesquely hedonsitic world culture. But there's no reason that it couldn't refer to the actual city of Babylon being rebuilt (a significant theme in Rosenberg's novels).

One thing is for sure: Whether it's the WMF's project to restore the historical site in Iraq or whether it's some completely different entity at the end of history, Babylon will rise again, bringing with it the oppression, deception, idolatry, and debauchery made famous in Nebuchadnezzar's days. But as surely as it will rise again, Babylon will eventually fall in the face of God's judgment and the completion of history.

And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, "How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God's judgment came on you." (Revelation 18:9-10 NLT)

Losing Faith

2009-03-14T07:35:00.002-04:00

According to the "American Religious Identification Survey" of 54,000 people in 2008 (conducted by Trinity College, Hartford, Conneticut), America is gradually losing its faith.

The survey found that 15% of respondents said they had no religion, compared to 8.2% in 1990. According to the same survey, Christians make up 76% of the U.S. adult population, compared to 86% in 1990.

The survey showed an across-the-board decrease in all major Christian denominations. Roman Catholicism is claimed by 25.1 percent of the population (was 26.2% in 1990); Baptists made up 15.8% (was 19.3% in 1990); and mainline Protestant denominations — Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and United Church of Christ — dropped from 18.7% in 1990 to 12.9% in 2008.

One group that did increase in relevance was “non-denominational” Christianity, which claimed just 0.1 percent of the population in 1990 and increased to more than 3.5 percent in 2008. Many of those who claimed this identity belong to “mega churches” that are known for using rock-style music and less structured services.

"There is now this shift in the non-Catholic population -- and maybe among American Christians in general -- into a sort of generic, soft evangelicalism," said Mark Silk, who directs Trinity's Program on Public Values and helped supervise the survey.

The survey substantiated several general trends already identified by sociologists: the slipping importance of denomination in America, the growing number of people who say they have "no" religion and the increase in religious minorities including Muslims, Mormons and such movements as Wicca and paganism.

The survey results are really not a surprise to those of us who have been deeply involved in church development and spend time seeking to understand our culture. I just wish there was a way to monitor more short-term developments, especially during the current economic crisis. Will more Americans seek God during difficult times, or will they pull away from him?

You can read the full article at the Washington Post.

A Vacation! A Facelift!

2009-03-13T14:46:00.003-04:00

This past week, my church family has offered me an extraordinary gift: I've had an entire week away from any responsibilities -- kind of like a vacation, but our family spent the time at home. It's been wonderful! I've slept in almost every morning (I even made it to 8:00 AM once!), gone out to dinner with our family and with friends, caught a movie, napped in the hammock, and basically recharged my batteries. Margo and I spent a glorious spring afternoon touring Mount Vernon (what a cool place!), and I even read a couple of novels -- the 5th in Rosenberg's Last Jihad series as well as Grisham's latest, The Associate.

I've also had a chance to finally update this blog with a new facelift. The old design was so very black and dark, and I've wanted to play around with a different color scheme for a while now. Hope you like the new look.

Mark Brown once asked me why I blog. It's a really good question! I know a bunch of guys whose blogs are narrowly focused on a specific topic -- pastors writing about church leadership or theology, artists writing about technique and showing off their latest sketches, pop culture sites offering reviews and resources, tech gurus sharing news and tips, etc. For me, I started blogging as a way of "thinking out loud" and staying connected with folks when beginning our new life here in Virginia. I didn't really have an agenda, other than rambling a bit about whatever thoughts crossed my my mind.

During this past month's break from the blog, I thought a bit more about why I'm blogging and what I hope to accomplish. Do I want to come up with a "big idea" approach to blogging? Am I writing for a specific audience or just rambling for myself? In the end, I decided that I'm really happy with the "potpourri" approach of just sharing my thoughts, ideas, experiences, perspectives, etc. for whatever that's worth. I just needed a breather.

But I've caught my breath and am ready to dive back in to all the stuff life has waiting. Thanks for your patience, and I hope you'll feel free to join in the conversation...

Taking a Break

2009-02-18T10:58:00.003-05:00

Hmmm. Blog posting has become increasingly sporadic and far less "deep" lately. The truth is that I'm doing a lot of deep thinking about life, God, family, church, culture, etc. But so much of my thought process in the past couple of months has been unfinished and incomplete, and a lot of it has been triggered by my involvement with other people's circumstances (and therefore not really the kind of stuff I can share here).

So I'm officially taking a bit of a break from blogging. It won't really be a big change, since I haven't been too serious about posting lately anyways. But my plan is to step away for a while, retool the blog, and eventually return with a redefined purpose. Will it be a day? A week? A month? Who knows?

In the meantime, you can always catch me by e-mail -- scott.heine@gmail.com

See ya later...

Movies!

2009-02-10T14:12:00.001-05:00

Looking back on the past decade of Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, how many of them have you seen (either in the theater or on DVD)? Below is my list.

2008
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button <-- YES
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire <-- YES

2007
No Country for Old Men*
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
There Will Be Blood

2006
The Departed*
Babel
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen <-- YES

2005
Crash*
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich

2004
Million Dollar Baby*
The Aviator
Finding Neverland <-- YES
Ray
Sideways

2003
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King* <-- YES
Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World <-- YES
Mystic River
Seabiscuit <-- YES

2002
Chicago*
Gangs of New York
The Hours
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers <-- YES
The Pianist

2001
A Beautiful Mind* <-- YES
Gosford Park <-- YES
In the Bedroom
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring <-- YES
Moulin Rouge!

2000
Gladiator* <-- YES
Chocolat
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon <-- YES
Erin Brockovich
Traffic

1999
American Beauty*
The Cider House Rules
The Green Mile <-- YES
The Insider
The Sixth Sense <-- YES

* Winner

Hmmm. Apparently I'm not doing very well in appreciating the kinds of films that impress the Academy. Judging from the collected nominations and votes of all the Academy members, I'm missing out on a lot of the best films from the past decade.

On the other hand, consider the highest grossing movies domestically of the past decade and which of these you've seen. Here's my list:

2008
The Dark Knight <-- YES
Iron Man <-- YES
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull <-- YES
Hancock <-- YES
WALL*E <-- YES
Kung Fu Panda <-- YES
Twilight <-- YES
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Quantum of Solace
Horton Hears a Who!

2007
Spider-Man 3 <-- YES
Shrek the Third <-- YES
Transformers <-- YES
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End <-- YES
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix <-- YES
I Am Legend <-- YES
The Bourne Ultimatum <-- YES
National Treasure: Book of Secrets <-- YES
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Ratatouille <-- YES

2006
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest <-- YES
Night at the Museum <-- YES
Cars <-- YES
X-Men: The Last Stand <-- YES
The Da Vinci Code <-- YES
300 <-- YES
Superman Returns <-- YES
Happy Feet <-- YES
Ice Age: The Meltdown
Casino Royale <-- YES

2005
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith <-- YES
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire <-- YES
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe <-- YES
War of the Worlds <-- YES
King Kong <-- YES
Wedding Crashers
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory <-- YES
Batman Begins <-- YES
Madagascar <-- YES
Mr. & Mrs. Smith

2004
Shrek 2 <-- YES
Spider-Man 2 <-- YES
The Passion of the Christ <-- YES
Meet the Fockers
The Incredibles <-- YES
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban <-- YES
The Day After Tomorrow <-- YES
The Bourne Supremacy <-- YES
National Treasure <-- YES
Shark Tale <-- YES

2003
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King <-- YES
Finding Nemo <-- YES
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl <-- YES
The Matrix Reloaded <-- YES
Bruce Almighty <-- YES
X2 <-- YES
Elf <-- YES
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
The Matrix Revolutions <-- YES
Cheaper by the Dozen <-- YES

2002
Spider-Man <-- YES
The Lord of the rings: The Two Towers <-- YES
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones <-- YES
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets <-- YES
My Big Fat Greek Wedding <-- YES
Signs <-- YES
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Men in Black II <-- YES
Ice Age <-- YES
Chicago

2001
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone <-- YES
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring <-- YES
Shrek <-- YES
Monsters, Inc. <-- YES
Rush Hour 2
The Mummy Returns <-- YES
Pearl Harbor <-- YES
Ocean's Eleven
Jurassic Park III
Planet of the Apes <-- YES

2000
How the Grinch Stole Christmas <-- YES
Cast Away <-- YES
Mission: Impossible II <-- YES
Gladiator <-- YES
What Women Want
The Perfect Storm
Meet the Parents <-- YES
X-Men <-- YES
Scary Movie
What Lies Beneath <-- YES

1999
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace <-- YES
The Sixth Sense: <-- YES
Toy Story 2 <-- YES
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
The Matrix <-- YES
Tarzan <-- YES
Big Daddy
The Mummy <-- YES
Runaway Bride <-- YES
The Blair Witch Project

(By the way, did you notice how few films made both lists? Hmm... I wonder what that says about the Academy's opinion of what makes a great film and the popular opinion of what's worth seeing?)

Personally, reviewing these lists has been interesting to me. I've discovered that there are some films out there that I still want to see (and a few that I either wish I hadn't seen or have absolutely no desire to ever see). I've also discovered that I have spent a lot of hours in my life this past decade just being entertained. Ack! Finally, I've discovered that my own tastes and interests are a lot closer to pop culture than to the artsy folk in Hollywood.

How 'bout you?

The Gold Medalist of Bong Hits

2009-02-05T17:26:00.003-05:00

First this week's news story from the Boston Herald:

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

Big Dope Michael Phelps Admits to Having "Bad Judgment"
By Inside Track
Monday, February 2, 2009

Michael Phelps may have won a record eight gold medals during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but now he’s gaining notoriety for a less lofty achievement after a photo of the swimmer allegedly smoking marijuana from a bong was published in the United Kingdom’s News of the World, the New York Daily News reported.

Phelps said yesterday he was sorry for his actions, issuing a public apology.

“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” Phelps said. “I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me.”

He continued by saying he was “sorry” and vowing to his fans that this was a one-time mistake. “I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”

The picture of the famous swimmer was shot during a Nov. 6 party at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he was visiting a co-ed.

Sources told the British paper that Phelps was asked if he wanted to smoke marijuana. He said yes and was then led to a back room.

“He looked just as natural with a bong in his hand as he does swimming in the pool,” one witness said. “He was the gold medalist of bong hits.”

Phelps’ rep, Clifford Bloxham, was caught off guard by the photo and reportedly attempted to keep the photo from being published, with offers of cash as well as a deal to have the swimmer write a column for the paper for three years.

Phelps is on track to earn approximately $100 million from endorsements and he’s already signed deals with Speedo, Visa, Frosted Flakes cereal and the video game Guitar Hero.

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

So, just to make sure I'm understanding what's being alleged, Phelps goes to see a co-ed at the university. He's invited to smoke pot, expresses a desire to smoke pot, and goes to a back room to... well, smoke pot. Apparently he appears very comfortable in this setting and with this activity.

But then someone snaps a picture. And Phelps representative tries to supress it with money and a writing deal. The picture gets published. So Phelps says this is a "one-time mistake." (I can't help but be suspicious that the "one time" he's referring to has more to do with only getting caught this once and not so much about how often he's smoked pot.)

Then comes the kicker. Phelps describes his behavior as "youthful and inappropriate." Wait. What? "Youthful?" Smoking pot is a youthful activity? It's something that would have been okay if he was, say, in high school? But now that he's "23 years old" and has had "success in the pool," he's too old for that kiddie weed? Now it's "inappropriate?" It's "bad judgment?"

I don't know Phelps, and I certainly don't feel like being condemning here. Yes, he made a bad choice. Everyone makes bad choices. That's why we need a Savior, right? That's why we're so grateful for God's grace? That's why the "gospel" -- the "good news" -- is all about how Christ already took all the consequences of our sin upon himself at the cross so that we might be spared the judgment we deserve. I'm not at all surprised that a public figure and a sports hero screws up and makes bad choices.

I'm just struck at the efforts to hide what happened. (If the UK's News of the Word had asked to be paid to supress the photo, it would have been blackmail, right?) And I'm thinking about the language used to explain away a sin. "Bad Judgment." "Youthful." "Inappropriate." Why not just own up to doing wrong and leave it at that? Why the spin?

Oh, it's not just Phelps; he's just a convenient public figure to pick on here. Softening the truth about our moral failures has become an international tradition. It keeps us from feeling the shame of our bad choices. The only problem is that as long as we're euphemizing our sin, we're avoiding the conviction of our concience (not to mention the whispers of God's Spirit). And if we deaden our conscience as a society, we deaden our awareness of our need for redemption. And if we don't recognize our need for redemption, we won't cry out to God and experience his forgiving, life-transforming grace. Rather than pursuing holiness, we pursue a complete re-write of morality so that society shrugs and says, "Hey, it's not a big deal." I'm okay, you're okay, right?

Kinda makes me think of an old Steve Taylor song from 1982. And though it's much better on the album, I actually stumbled into a video of Steve and his Some Band performing it. I'm liking the trend of blogging with decades-old Christian pop... :D

The Sheep and the Goats

2009-01-30T11:20:00.002-05:00

One of my heroes in life is Keith Green. His fiery passion for God, his authentic love for others, his incredible gift of music, his poetic words... he has inspired me since I first surrendered my life to God's leadership so many years ago. Even today, when I'm feeling spiritually dry or emotionally worn out, Keith's music has a way of filling up my soul and refocusing my vision.

This Sunday at Hope, as we continue our discovery of The Art of Compassion, we'll take a look at a powerful and startling story that Jesus told in Matthew 25:31-46. And as I've worked on this message throughout the week, the song of Keith Green keeps stirring in my mind. I hear his incredible skill on the piano. I hear the urgency of his voice. And I keep being drawn back to the very simple, powerful, and compelling point of Jesus' story. I just wish Keith were with us in person to share the song...

Great Leaders

2009-01-23T16:10:00.003-05:00

I know I often ramble on and on about how great it is to work alongside such extraordinary leaders. But I can't help it. I continue to be amazed at how the leaders at our church continue to step up to the plate and knock it out of the park.

For instance, this past Sunday I did something that I've only done once before in the past 23 years as a pastor -- I actually missed church even though I was scheduled to speak. I've been preaching on the subject of compassion -- of getting involved and "sharing the struggle (the literal meaning of "compassion") -- and God clearly wanted me to practice more than preach on the subject that day. So I was released to be with a family walking through an extraordinary crisis while our Elder Team and Worship Leader quickly figured out how God might have them lead the service.

The end result, I'm told, was terrific. (Hmm. Always nice to be reminded how utterly unnecessary you are, right?) Wade prayed, Mick preached, some musicians quickly changed roles and re-learned their music on a different instrument... and everyone was blessed.

What's funny is that our Elder Team had just talked about the need for us all to be prepared to jump in at the last minute should something happen to make me unavailable one Sunday. Little did we know that God would call upon us for that very purpose just 60 hours after our meeting.

And now, as we're preparing for our Annual Church Family Meeting, I've been impressed once again at the dedication and expertise of our church leaders. From putting together a complex budget in the midst of a season of extraordinary ministry growth, to finding ways to mobilize and empower even more volunteers for ministry, to getting involved in people's lives and truly showing them God's grace in such practical ways, the folks at Hope constantly amaze me.

I know that having such committed, capable leaders is a real blessing. It's not something that every church enjoys, and I've been in previous situations where the lack of a servant's heart or the lack of biblical integrity on the part of leaders has caused entire churches to suffer and decline. So I thank God every week for the gift he has given us in our Elders, Deacons, and Ministry Team leaders, and I count it a joy to serve alongside them.

Even if that means I continue rambling on about how wonderful they are...

Life With Puppies

2009-01-15T09:34:00.002-05:00

I've often said that dogs are about the purest expression of unconditional love around. So you'd think that having two puppies at home would be twice the unconditional love, right?

Well, sorta kinda, but not really. You see, Margo and I have never had more than one dog at a time. And when there's one dog at home, all that love and affection is focused on its masters. It lives to be happy, to have fun, to serve, to explore and discover, to eat (!), to snuggle, and to share its love with you.

But with two puppies, I'm seeing that sometimes all that love and attention is focused on each other rather than us. Our puppies love to play! They wrestle and chase each other, steal tennis balls and bones from each other, hide under furniture and bait each other to scrap. They get noisy and frenzied, and they're obviously having a blast.

However, all that attention they show each other doesn't diminish the unconditional love they show us. When I walk in the door at the end of the day, it warms my heart to see their ears pull back as they burst forth in a full-on charge to welcome me. They love to snuggle up on our laps, to be scratched and nuzzled, to walk and run and play just as if we were great big puppies like them.

Oh, sure, sometimes their unconditional love is a challenge. The other night we decided to let Rose sleep in our bed. Several times during the night I woke up to have her up on my pillow, pressing against my face the way she would when she sleeps with her sister. At one point, she even climbed right on top of my face (which is a starting way to wake up, by the way!).

All-in-all, we're having a great time with these guys. They're adorable. And the truth is that there's plenty of that unconditional love to go around.

The Skill of Serving

2009-01-06T08:51:00.002-05:00

Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else." (Mark 9:35)

This past week, I've had an opportunity to observe extreme contrasts in the skill of customer service.

On New Year's Eve, we joined Doug and Marian Eicher (good friends from Nebraska) for dinner at the Chart House in Alexandria on the banks of the Potomac. We arrived in Old Town a little early so we could browse some of the shops before the crowds began arriving for the First Night celebration. By the time of our reservation, we were hungry and ready for a great meal.

We also had high expectations. The Chart House is a special place for Margo and me. We wrote our wedding vows at the Chart House in Half Moon Bay, California, almost twenty-two years ago, and it's where we returned to celebrate our twentiteth anniversary. It's also the place Doug & Marian enjoyed during their last visit to Washington, and they discovered what a terrific (albeit pricey) restaraunt it is.

When we arrived at the Chart House, we were seated by a window looking out on the river and told that "Mr. T" would be our server. As it turns out, Mr. T didn't show up with a mohawk and lots of gold chains; this Mr. T was a petite Asian gentleman with an impeccable skill for serving. Having worked in restaurants, I really appreciate good service, and Mr. T's skill at making us comfortable and anticipating our needs was incredible. It was the little things that caught my attention -- treating our wives with special attention and honor, pacing the delivery of food so we never felt rushed, topping off our beverages so they never even reached half empty, etc. When the rest of the table was off to the salad bar (I ordered the steak & lobster soup so remained at the table), I saw Mr. T swing by to clean off any crumbs from the bread and actually refold everyone's napkins so they'd be fresh upon their return.

Here we were on a very busy night at a very popular spot, and the service was polite, refined, relaxed, professional, and very satisfying. It was great.

But I saw the exact opposite this past Sunday when Margo and I swung through the drive-thru of McDonald's in Warrenton. We had a long drive and an important visitation to make in-between church services and our home Hope Group in the afternoon, and Margo wanted to grab a quick soda for the drive. So we pulled through McDonalds. This location has a little "hut" in the drive-thru and someone greeted us there in person to take our order. Pretty simple -- we just wanted the one drink, a Diet Coke. But Margo asked if they could top off her Diet Coke with just a splash of regular Coke; she discovered that it gets rid of that chemically after-taste found in so many diet sodas (try it, it really works). The guy said to tell the person when we pulled up to the first "pay here" window.

So we pulled around the corner, approached the window, and Margo made her request to the woman there. Instantly, we encountered an ugly attitude as the employee said, "We can't do that. It's a computer." (The employee was referring to the fact that the drinks are poured automatically by a conveyer belt device in this drive-thru.) I was surprised by how very hostile the employee sounded at Margo's request. So Margo politely replied, "Sure, just splash a little of the regular Coke on top." The employee then said, "Well, I'm not going to do it." Then she closed the glass window by hand and walked away.

I couldn't believe it. But we pulled forward to the "pick-up" window where we could hear the disagreeable employee ranting in the background about this woman wanting a mixed beverage and how she wasn't going to do it. Meanwhile, the employee in the "pick up" window kind of stared at us like a deer caught in headlights. Margo explained her request, but before she finished someone had brought over her beverage; apparently they just topped off her Diet Coke with a little Coke from the manual dispensers on the other side of the counter. Easy enough, and certainly not worth the attitude.

Again, my experience as a supervisor in restaraunts prompted me to ask for the manager's name. I figured I'd call him later and let him know of our experience; it's certainly the kind of thing I would have wanted to know if one of my employees had treated a customer that way. But when we asked for the manager's name and number, we were told that if we wanted to speak with him we'd have to come inside. And if we wanted the name of the employee who had shut the window on us and walked away, well... we were out of luck. The employee in the "pick up" window wasn't about to give it to us.

So I stepped inside and quickly spoke with Brian, the Assistant Manager. Apparently he had heard the woman's ranting, wondered why it was a big deal (he said it was no problem to mix the drink manually), and apologized for how we were treated.

All of this got me to thinking: I wonder what people think of our serving skills when they visit our churches. Do we go out of our way to anticipate their needs and make their visit comfortable and pleasant? Do we save the best parking spaces for them and have people available to greet them sincerely and make them feel welcome? Do they get to cut ahead of us in line at a potluck, and do we offer to take their empty plates to the trash for them? Do we make sure they know where they can get any questions answered, and do their kids know how very honored we are to have them in our classes? Do we intentionally select music that will feel familiar and appealing to them, and do we use terminology that is easily understood rather than alienating? Are we quick to slide over to the middle of the row when they arrive so they can have the aisle seats? Will they feel so warmly included that they look forward to their next visit?

Oh, I realize that when Jesus talked about "being the servant of everyone else," he was referring to far bigger things than the "customer experience" aspect of a local church. Still, the principle definitely applies.

From what I'm hearing from the newcomers at Hope, we're doing a great job of genuinely welcoming people and making them feel at home. Perhaps that's part of why God continues to send us new people and why they usually return the following week (we broke another attendance record just this past weekend as the church continues to grow).

The challenge is continuing to be genuine servants as the crowd increases and the task becomes more difficult. When we were first seated for dinner at the Chart House, we were Mr. T's only table. But by the time we were ready for dessert, he had a full section and was zipping about to care for a bunch of people and still have such great timing and service. Well, our "section is getting full" at Hope which means we all have to kick it into high gear as we practice hospitality and the skill of serving others.

I hope folks will honestly be telling their friends about their positive experience with us, and that we'll be more like Mr. T instead of Mickey D.

New Beginnings

2008-12-31T08:04:00.003-05:00

There's an old Native American proverb that says, "No river can return to its source, yet all rivers must have a beginning." There's no going back; there's only going forward.

We stand at the threshold of a New Year. Of course, when the ball drops in Times Square tonight and people start shouting and kissing, nothing really magical has happened. The clock will have merely ticked forward one more second. The transition to a new calendar date based on some man-made organizational model doesn't really bring about a new beginning.

And yet we celebrate the opportunity to start afresh anyways. Millions of people will make resolutions about how the next 12 months will be different from what has come before. Television ads will be dominated by various diet programs at the very same time many guys will be huddled on the couch with nachos and beer watching the ball games. Habits will be broken, followed by resolutions begin broken and habits being resumed.

Still the river rushes forward from here, and it's as good a time as any to lay down a milestone and mark the opportunity for a new beginning. Personally, I'm excited about what the New Year holds in store for me personally, for my family, for our church, and for our nation.

Personally, I've got some goals I'm going to work on this next year -- from getting outside more and enjoying more physical activity to stretching myself artistically to trying to learn a new instrument. Somewhere lurking in the recesses of my dreams is this hunger to write a book (no, I'm not discussing the idea publically yet), and perhaps this will be the year I get started.

For our family, a lot will change this year. Ben is heading off to Virginia Tech in the fall, and I'm SO excited to see what God has in store for him! Of course, that will leave me in a house full of girls, so I'm expecting to be stretched in unexpected ways. I'm also expecting a desire to seek out regular settings for testosterone-filled gatherings of guys.

Our church is destined for some big changes. God continues to bless us with new families as we share life's adventure together. I have this overwhelming sense that God has something unique in store for us; there's something very special about Hope, and it feels like God is taking us in a unique direction when it comes to impacting our community with his love and grace in practical ways.

This next month, our nation will have a new President -- one who has promised wide-scale change. He will certainly need our prayers as he embraces a seemingly impossible task.

Yet with all the changes taking place and new beginnings being launched, one thing remains absolutely constant: the sovereign Lord of the universes loves us beyond description. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that even as we fall asleep sometime after welcoming in the New Year, God remains awake and prepares new blessings for us in the coming day (Lamentations 3:23).

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not. Thy compassions, they fail not.
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

A Long Winter's Nap

2008-12-23T10:50:00.002-05:00

"Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap..."

Okay, so Margo doesn't wear a "kerchief" and I don't sleep in a cap. But boy did we catch up on some much needed rest this week!

On Friday and Saturday evenings, we hosted our church Christmas party at our home. Saturday brought a quiet, intimate group and we enjoyed actually getting to chat with folks. But Friday was a huge gathering with every room packed with folks. Margo had kept notes about how much food and drink we went through last year and scaled things up for this year's parties. However, on Friday night we blew through all the beverages and cups we had prepared for both nights (which meant unexpected shopping trips on Saturday along with a zillion other last-minute Christmas customers). All day Saturday we were feeling totally wiped out, yet we knew that we had a long way to go. Not only did we still have Saturday's event and Sunday-morning service to go through, but on Sunday afternoon our Hope Group surprised one of our members with a birthday party. ("Surprise" is the right word; she caught one glimpse of us all in her kitchen with hats, balloons, and a cake and she scrambled up stairs to hide!)

So we took Monday off. I mean totally off. No work. No phones. No e-mail (okay, okay... well, a little e-mail, but only on some essential matters). Other than an unexpected -- and really unpleasant -- need to negotiate an insurance matter over the phone, we basically zoned out for an entire day. I never even changed out of my PJs! We slept, we munched a bit, we played with the puppies, we watched a couple of movies, we ignored the dirty dishes... and it was wonderful! I even slept 10 hours Sunday night (my average is about 6.5), plus I took a nap Monday afternoon.

Now I feel totally refreshed and ready for Christmas, ready for guests joining us next week, ready to start a new message series, and ready for a New Year.

It Makes Me Feel Like Scrooge

2008-12-16T14:42:00.002-05:00

In the past two decades, I've had countless experiences of answering the church office phone and listening to requests for financial assistance.

I've found that the requests tend to fall into predictable categories. Most people ask for assistance with paying some overdue bill -- usually a utility or rent. These are usually the most bold, and sound something like "Do you help people with their bills?" (the short version) or "I'm calling because my husband lost his job and my daughter has been really sick and we cannot afford the medicine and they're saying they are going to kick us out of where we're staying tonight if we don't come up with $500 right now and my car is broken down so I can't go to work and I don't know where else to turn" (the long version).

Every once in a while I'll stumble into something new and unexpected, such as the time when a blind gentleman was stuck downtown because his ride never came and he couldn't reach anyone from his own church on the phone. (He turned out to be a great guy, by the way, and we were happy to come and give him a lift. His pastor later called and thanked us for stepping in, and it made me feel really good.)

Or then there was the time when someone wanted to know if we help people pay overdue rent. It turns out that sometime in their past they received help from a church themselves. now they'd stumbled into some extra money and were hoping that a church could pass along the generosity on their behalf.

The most surprising one I've received was from a Jewish man who was stranded and unable to reach anyone in his own synagoge on a Sabbath (we helped him get in contact with someone he knew). We ended up having a very interesting conversation along the way, and I was really glad that God allowed our paths to cross for that brief moment.

Over the years, I've responded to these different requests for help according to the wishes of the church leadership. Some churches set aside funds to respond to such requests along with guidlines for their disbursal. Others set up referrals to organizations more equipped to evaluate the needs and assist appropriately. I remember one church I served that was contacted by the local police department asking that we refer all these kinds of requests directly to them and allow them to make referrals from there. (Apparently it's pretty common for some people to go from church to church in the yellow pages, asking for assistance, and kind of "milking" the system.)

Unfortunately, these kinds of calls are pretty common. At Hope, we get at least a couple of them every week, and sometimes they come in waves. I think my record was something like 10 in one morning (though I suspect they were all from the same family passing around a couple of phones asking multiple times).

But for some reason I keep forgetting about how much these calls increase in the week or so before Christmas.

I've received 6 such calls in the last two hours, and they all took the same approach: "Do you help families at Christmas?" and from there they launched into a request for assistance with a utility bill. Sadly, most of them said that they regularly attend another church (though, admittedly, I had not heard of any of the churches they mentioned, nor could I find information quickly online). When I asked about turning to their own church for assistance, they each told me that their church doesn't help people in need. So I made the proper referrals and offered them a phone number they could call in pursuit of assistance.

The first person who called started the conversation by saying, "Do you help families at Christmas? I was told to call you." When I asked who gave her the referral to call me, she quickly hung up.

The last person who called proceeded to cuss at me (!) for not immediately cutting them a check, saying, "How can you call yourself a church and not help people when they ask for it?" (Just a moment before, the lady had sounded like she was almost in tears as she told me that her family would be kicked out tonight, how none of the other charities in town would offer her any help, etc. But when I asked her questions instead of giving her money right away, it was like someone flipped a switch and made her venemous. Really scary stuff.)

This kind of thing makes me feel just horrible. The needs of mankind seem so infinite, and the situation is only made more challenging by the necessity of determining which requests are legitimate, which ones are exploitations of other people's generosity, which ones are enabling an ongoing problem in their lives, and which ones should be redirected to the kind of assistance that will make a difference in the long haul. All I want to do is show them God's love and point them to his grace. I realize that "when you refuse to help the least of these brothers and sisters, you refuse to help [Jesus]" (Matthew 25:45), and I truly want to pour out generosity in response to every request.

But that's just not possible in our circumstance, nor would it be wise based on experience that leaves me more than a little bit jaded. So I end up feeling like a Scrooge sitting in my office the week before Christmas.

And I hate that feeling. I really do.

Bah. Humbug.

Christmas in Heaven

2008-12-15T09:04:00.002-05:00

My Dad has been visiting with us this past week. It's kind of a combined Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday (with cheaper in-between airfares!). I really enjoy having him around, and the puppies have been especially delighted to jump into his lap.

Last night, we opened Christmas gifts together. I was really impacted by my Dad's gifts to our family. Each of us received a book about heaven, along with a personal note. Since my Mom's passing earlier this year, Dad has been thinking a lot about what heaven is like. In Dad's note to me, he talked about how he and Mom used to travel the world. They would usually buy a travel guide to tell them what to expect upon their arrival. And he encouraged me to consider this book about heaven as a kind of travel guide for the ultimate destination of our journey. Dad finished his note with a comment about how the book has already impacted his life: "It has been a great blessing to me as I wait His calling me home."

Dad also shared a letter that he recently received from some friends that had worked on projects with Mom and him. The letter contained a beautiful poem and talked about what a great person my Mom was, and how she's now enjoying her first Christmas in heaven. As Dad read the poem to us, he was all choked up with grief and joy, and it really touched my heart.

----------

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,
with tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular! Please wipe away that tear
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
but the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
for it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me. I see the pain in your heart,
but I am no so far away; we really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones. You know I hold you dear,
and be glad I'm spending Chrismtas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift from my heavenly home above.
I send you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, "love" is the gift, more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,
for I can't count the blessings or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Rmemeber I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Savor the Celebration, Andy

2008-12-03T15:37:00.003-05:00

Last night, my good friend Andy Mathews passed away. He was young. He had a beautiful wife and 2 small, energetic boys who will need our prayers and support for the difficult journey ahead.

I will miss Andy more than words can express. Andy's friendship was very special to me. His wonder at life, his enthusiasm for God, his joy and creativity... he was such an encouragement to me. Andy touched my life in the most unique and precious ways; nobody else has ever had that kind of gentle impact on me (and I don't think Andy ever realized it or believed me when I told him).

Andy faithfully listened to the messages from Hope each week at our church web site, and would often e-mail me or call me with insights or implications in his life. Most of the folks at Hope only knew Andy from his two visits with us; they never realized that he was truly a part of our church family.

This past summer, Andy and I spent several days together at an event in Indiana. Despite being exhausted each day, we talked and talked into the early hours. I treasure those conversations and the heart of my friend.

Many people knew Andy through his creativity and design as the Art Director for Hero Games, though people seldom paused to realize whose artistry they were enjoying. Andy's blog -- jestersbasement.blogspot.com-- reveals even more of this special man. But there's just no way to capture the incredible heart and mind of this guy without having known him.

Andy was a special blessing to me, and I know he is now worshiping in the presence of his heavenly Father. Savor the celebration, my friend. And save a spot for me; I look forward to sharing the experience with you one day.

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. (Isaiah 57:1-2 NLT)

Getting Ready to Meet with Christ

2008-11-29T19:34:00.002-05:00

Our Thanksgiving was very special this year. I think it was the first time Margo and I haven't hosted other folks; we just spent the day as a family (and caring for the new puppies). Because this is likely Ben's last year with us before heading out to college, he played a major role in determining the menu. It was fun to break tradition a bit. It was even more fun to have enough leftovers to share with another family later in the afternoon (who had an unexpected hospital experience interrupt their holiday plans, and then share dessert with more friends in the evening.

Friday was spent decorating the house and launching into the Christmas season. I totally love our home at Christmastime. Having spent so much time in the flatlands of Nebraska and the desert of Arizona, it's an almost storybook blessing to spend Christmas here in Virginia. Everything is so beautiful, and there are delightful traditions in this community. We'll be there for the Christmas parade in old town next weekend. We've got guests with us for about half the month of December. We're hosting two nights of Christmas parties for our growing church. I can't wait for Santa and the Fire Department to visit later in the month. But for now, the house is twinkling with lights and anticipation.

But as much as I love the simple wonders of the holiday in December, this time of year is always an opportunity for me to reflect on my relationship with Christ. After all, we're celebrating God's decision to enter into our world as one of us -- to draw close to us, to make himself wholly available and revealed, and to establish an intimate friendship with us based on his willing sacrifice. The Incarnation is an utterly amazing event, and I sometimes feel sad for pastors who actually dread this time of year because they can't think of anything fresh to say, or because they feel the oppressive competition with commercialism, or because they know their own workload is likely to increase significantly. I even read a note from another pastor this week who was quick to point out that the early church didn't celebrate the Incarnation as a holiday; he implied that we might be better off following their example.

Oh, but I love the celebration of God With Us. I don't have any trouble seeing past the tinsel, snowmen, retail sales, or fat flying elves. All that cultural myth is simply a lot of fun. And, after all, I alway say that Christmas isn't really here until I've heard Elvis' "Blue Christmas" playing on the radio. Yet past all that holiday chaos is the most wondrous truth, still celebrated with magnificent carols and beautiful expressions of kindness and cheer.

God drew near to us. He's drawn near to me. He has entered our world and entered my life. He has made himself available so that we can fully know him in a way our modest mortal minds can comprehend. He's shown us what a truly purposeful and compassionate life looks like. He's demonstrated purity and holiness so that we might follow his example. God Almighty, the Creator of the universe, the Lord of Hosts and the Ruler of all nations, has become my friend and desires nothing more than for me to be totally engulfed in his love and grace.

So as we're hanging up the stockings and putting out the little nativity figures, my mind and heart are wandering to the much bigger task of preparing myself to meet with Christ all over again. At this time in my journey, I'm feeling hungry for more -- for more depth, for more passion, for more guidance, for more healing, for more understanding, for more discipline and refinement, for more fellowship, for more transformation... and so much more. I'm eager to know and experience Immanuel afresh. I'm eager to join the armies of heaven in shouting out for God's glory in the night. I'm eager to stand alongside the wise men and offer what meager treasures I have in celebration of my Lord. I'm eager to sit with Mary, gaze in wonder, and ponder all these things in my heart.

The Hunger of the Heart

2008-11-24T10:01:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, we celebrated Beth's birthday. It wasn't really her birthday; that event took place last week when our family was stretched out with other commitments. So we agreed to take the entire day just to celebrate with Beth. We ate dessert for breakfast. We played games (made even sweeter when Beth beat us all in a really complicated game of Catan). We went out to lunch in Culpeper.

Then we saw a movie together. The girls have read the Twilight books, and were interested in seeing the film. Now, being the great dad that I am (*ahem*), I actually tried reading the first book in the series; just another way I want to show interest in my kids. *grin* I made it through just over 50 pages before I decided I simply couldn't do it. The books are clearly written to appeal to a teenage girl, and I found it agonizing to wade through. Still, the least I could do is enjoy the film with my family, right? After all, it was Beth's birthday!

We went to the 4:00 showing in Culpeper, and the theater was absolutely packed with teenage girls and the occasional mom. Ben and I felt very awkward (and secretly plotted ways we could escape the theater when the lights dimmed so we could see whatever was playing in the next theater). One mother even looked at me and said, "Wow. You look out of place."

Still, we endured the film. Now, I realize I'm a guy so I suppose I'm probably not supposed to get it. But, well... I don't get it. I don't resonate with the adolescent connection with these characters -- at least not on a personal level. When Edward stepped onto the screen for the first time, several girls in the row in front of us actually reached out their hands toward the screen as if they could grab this boy and pull him close.

Ew.

At first, I chalked up the attraction to the rather timeless "girl wants the bad boy" dynamic that Hollywood throws our way every so often. But it's more than that. From what I can tell -- and from what my daughters have since told me about the stories -- it seems that Edward represents some kind of restrained, gentleman's attitude toward self-control, protection, passion, and intimacy. He loves Bella and would do anything to keep her safe (even from himself and his family). Sadly, this relationship leads to a pretty tangible sexual tension between the characters, and so the story teases its readers with unsatisfied appetites. I was particularly concerned with the relative ease with which Bella was willing to throw away restraint in the film (and, it seems, in the later novels) -- especially since Bella is the protagonist that all those teenage girls are supposed to be connecting with.

It's amazing how powerful mankind's desire for intimacy can be. Of course, I'm convinced that God placed this hunger within us by design; ultimately, it should draw us to the true source of self-control, protection, passion, intimacy, acceptance, hope, joy, and life. Deep down in our souls is this craving for God himself, though most people spend much of their lives trying to satisfy the hunger with something more immediate, tangible, and short-term.

Perhaps it's this hunger for intimacy that Twilight manages to tap into so successfully with its targeted audience. Throwing in all those pubescent hormones doesn't hurt, either.

Someone at our afternoon Bible study this weekend provoked a thought that perhaps there is something at work in the dynamic of romantic relationships that is just a shadow of the ultimate romance of God and man -- of Christ as the groom and his followers as the bride. Perhaps the hunger for intimacy in us which is naturally fulfilled in human relationships -- husband and wife, best friends, fellowship, etc. -- has much greater and more divine implications than we often realize.

I'm sure there's truth in this, and it's one of those things that kind of swirls around in the corners of my mind awaiting more intentional and concentrated consideration. How many times have I sat with a couple in counseling and talked about how their ultimate needs cannot be fulfilled in their imperfect spouse because only God can totally satisfy the hunger of our heart?

For now, all I know is that I endured Twilight the movie and probably deserve some kind of medal. Now pardon me while I go find a bunch of guys to hang out with, watch football, eat junk food, laugh at each other's belches, and generally enjoy some freeflowing testosterone.

Habakkuk and a Deeper Hunger

2008-11-18T10:02:00.001-05:00

For the past couple of weeks, our Sunday afternoon home Bible study has been looking at the book of Habakkuk. After spending most of this year working our way through Paul's letter to the Philippians and the letter of James, we were ready to head back into the Old Testament for a while.

The implications of the book of Habakkuk have been a bit haunting to me; I find my thoughts frequently drifting to the conversation that the prophet had with God. (If you're unfamiliar with the book, it's basically the account of Habakkuk's complaint against God for allowing wickedness and injustice to prevail in Israel. God replies by saying that he's sending an even more wicked people to wipe out Habakkuk's people in response. Habakkuk respectfully questions how that could possibly be considered justice if it results in a greater evil prevailing. God then explains that the wicked invaders will, in turn, face his judgment as well, and Habakkuk comes to grip with the complexity of God's sovereignty, wisdom, and justice.)

As we talked about this conversation last Sunday, it struck me that what Habakkuk was really seeking wasn't what his words were describing. His complaint was about injustice. He longed for God to set things right. But when he heard what that would look like, he cringed away from it.

I wonder how often our own sense of indignity at the injustices of life is really just a smokescreen for a greater desire down in our souls.

I've been in plenty of situations when people have hungered for justice. I've spoken with victims of crime -- from rape to theft to attempted murder -- who desire some sense of closure that they think will come through the justice system. And yet, even while sitting in a courtroom and hearing a verdict of "guilty," they discover that justice doesn't satisfy a deeper, almost unknowable desire.

There have been times in my life where I've been the victim of someone else's sin, and sometimes that has provoked a vengeful desire in me that's manifested itself in the kinds of imprecatory prayers we find throughout the Bible. I've even felt a little bit noble in handing over the offenders to God so that he might pour out whatever justice he sees fit, and then I've tried my best to simply forgive them and let things go (sometimes easier said than done).

But the truth is that I've never really wanted to see justice. I've wanted to see something much more significant.

Think about the Hebrews who were commanded to act as instruments of God's judgment upon the evil paganism of the Canaanites. With swords in hand, they were to walk through the cities of their enemies and slaughter every living thing, right down to the smallest child. God was pouring out his wrath upon the sin of mankind, driving evil from the promised land, and setting a stage from which his chosen people would accurately represent his holiness to the rest of the world. And he wanted his people to be a part of that so they could see firsthand how severe and absolute God's standard of holiness is.

I don't know if I could have done it. Or, if I could have, I'm sure I would have been deeply scarred from the experience. No matter how much anger I feel toward those who abuse and brutalize the innocent, no matter how much I want to see them face justice, I don't actually want to be a part of bringing them harm.

That's because what I want isn't really justice. You see, the deeper longing of my soul -- and the craving at the heart of all victims -- is actually a hunger for a world in which justice is not needed. What we want is the paradise that God originally intended for creation. We want a world where people are not hurt by others, where innocence is protected, where abuse never happens, where locks are not needed, where gossip is never shared, where there is no fear or hurt or anger or sadness. And though justice may be an appropriate response to evil, it doesn't satisfy the deeper desire for paradise.

Because God is just, our own desire for justice is a reflection of his image in us as his creation. But the desire for justice is merely a stepping stone to the desire for grace and purity. I suspect that God takes no pleasure in justice, either. His deeper craving is for mercy and a return to the wondrous intimacy he shared with man in the Garden at the dawn of the world. In fact, everything he's done since man's original rebellion has been focused on redeeming all of creation and restoring paradise for eternity.

God has promised justice in the world. Ultimately, all of creation will face his uncompromising judgment. Yet it is his greater desire for a return to intimacy that delays the inevitable. As Peter has said, "The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

Praise God for his amazing grace! As Habakkuk sang out his response to God's plans,

"I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2 NLT)

Tolerance?

2008-11-12T10:34:00.004-05:00

Clock on the following link and watch the video, then come back here. I'll wait. *grin* (You have to wait through a brief commercial blurb before the news video begins.)

VIEW VIDEO

Last week, I had an enjoyable conversation with an individual who does not share my views on the reality of God, the significance of his grace, the exclusivity of Christ's sacrifice as the basis of establishing a relationship with God, the reliability of the Bible, or the eternal destiny facing each of us beyond this life. Though we were in utter disagreement regarding some very fundamental issues, we had a very respectful dialogue and I was deeply appreciative for the opportunity.

It bothers me that so much of the world thinks of Christianity as "intolerant." In fact, that label itself sort of annoys me, because it elevates "tolerance" to some kind of virtue. Personally, I think "respect" and "honor" and "graciousness" and "patience" and "understanding" and "consideration" and "kindness" are virtues. When "tolerance" refers to these things, then I'm cool with it. But if "tolerance" includes embracing behaviors and attitudes that are harmful -- especially to the innocent -- then it shouldn't be a virtue. For instance, I don't want to "tolerate" a pedophile. I don't want to "tolerate" corruption in government. I don't want to "tolerate" the guy whose reckless driving is endangering the rest of us on the road. In those cases, I'm seeking accountability, not universal acceptance. (Like it or not, "I'm OK, you're OK" moral wishy-washiness is not a helpful development for society.)

Still, us Christians get blasted as being judgmental and "intolerrant" and condemning of others who don't share our moral standards or spiritual convictions. I'm sure it's a reputation many of us deserve, because Christianity is filled with broken people trying to figure out what an authentic relationship with God really looks like worshiping right alongside broken people trying to feel better about themselves through the dysfunctional art of comparison. Sad, really. And our reputation isn't helped by those people who call themselves followers of Christ and get all confrontational and derisive, thus tarnishing the reputation of all of us (not to mention Jesus himself).

Yes, I'm completely aware that there are similar videos out there that show individuals claiming to be Christians just as badly and even worse. It sickens me, really.

But to think that Christians are the heart of the problem of intolerance is naive. I wonder when society will understand that the cliche labels applied to various groups don't really fit most of the time. Take this video, for example (which I found on my friend John Kuvakas' blog today). Here we have a group of people protesting for "equality for all" (notice some of the signs as they're flashed in front of the camera); they're appealing for society to embrace their moral choices as acceptable right alongside others who would disagree with those moral choices. Along comes a woman carrying a cross. Who are the intolerant ones here? Who is behaving in a hateful way?

Okay, okay... the woman was kind of setting herself up for this confrontation. Just look at the size of that cross being paraded into the middle of a pretty agitated group! I wonder what she expected to happen. Still, from the few moments we see her, she seems like a sweet, gentle-spirited lady who certainly deserved better than what she received. Where's the respect? Where's the kindness? Where does this "equality for all" come into play when it comes to her opinion? Can you imagine what kind of response she would have received if she organized a "Straight Pride Parade" the same way that community hosted its recent "Gay Pride Parade?"

I found myself watching the video clip and actually getting all teary-eyed this morning. My heart ached for a world filled with such hatred and (dare I say it?) intolerance.

I'm not about to compromise my convictions, and I'm certainly committed to being as persuasive and contagious with God's grace as possible. I fully expect the same from others. But I simply crave resepect and mature dialogue instead of protests and bashing and insulting labels and endless, ugly confrontation.

Lord, give me a heart like Jesus showed us -- a heart that fiercely holds to what is true, yet also is quick to pour out compassion. Help me listen respectfully to others who believe and live differently from me. Help me to treat all people with the infinite value they deserve.

Dixie & Rose

2008-11-10T08:55:00.003-05:00

We arrived home last night with Dixie & Rose, our two new English Springer Spaniel puppies. They're a little younger than I would normally want to separate them from their mom (only 6 weeks), but mom has clearly weaned them and the vet gave the okay.

Yes, they're absolutely adorable! And even after one night we can see their unique personalities. Dixie is the larger of the two and definitely the more dominant. She's also the more vocal (though the 2 in the morning cries to come out and play will get her nowhere). Rose barely makes a peep, but she is very affectionate. She is also pretty adventuresome; after dinner and a successful potty trip outside, Rose came in and decided to explore... everywhere! Her little tail was wagging as she discovered our new home.

Margo and I took the first turn with the pups last night, and we're all following a pretty strict schedule in hopes of early housebreaking. That means setting a timer so we can take them out to the bathroom every two hours. When they're successful, they get to play for a while (which is a hoot) and then it's back in the crate. We ignore about 3-5 minutes of whining, and they fall asleep again. So far, so good.

If you're in the area, please feel free to come on by and meet them this week. Because we have lots of people in our home for all sorts of functions, we're eager for the puppies to meet as many different people as possible so they get used to new folks. (Besides, they're puppies. Cute, adorable, funny, soft, affectionate, lovable puppies. Who can resist?)

And Now For Something Completely Different...

2008-11-06T18:21:00.001-05:00

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - With a fox locked onto her arm, an Arizona jogger ran a mile to her car, where she was able to dislodge the animal, throw it into the trunk and drive to a Prescott hospital. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said the fox, which later attacked an animal control officer, tested positive for rabies.

The unidentified Chino Valley resident told deputies she was on a trail Monday at the base of Granite Mountain when the fox attacked, biting her foot. The woman said she grabbed it by the neck when it went for her leg and it latched onto her arm.

Thinking the fox was rabid, she wanted to make sure it didn't get away so she ran to her car, where she was able to pry open its jaws, wrap it in a sweat shirt and toss it into the trunk.

The woman is receiving rabies vaccinations, as is the animal control officer.

(Nov 5 03:27 PM US/Eastern)

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Hmm. I tried to think of something pithy I could add to that story. Perhaps something about how there are sometimes issues in our lives -- issues that are dangerous and poisonous to us -- which seem to lock onto us and... No, that's no good. Or maybe something about how there are times in our lives when we try to run from our troubles, when in fact what we should do is hang on to them so that... No, that's no good either.

Oh forget it. Just be glad you don't have a rabid fox biting into you right now. No matter how bad your day might get, it's probably not ending up in a hospital getting rabies shots.

I'm... Dead?

2008-11-05T17:04:00.002-05:00

I received an interesting letter in the mail today. It's addressed "To the Estate of Scott Heine," and sent from American Express. The letter reads,

----------

To Whom It May Concern:

We are writing you regarding the American Express Card account in the name of Scott Heine listed above. We recently learned from the Social Security Administration that Scott Heine has passed away and we wish to offer you our sincerest condolences for your loss.

Scott Heine was a valued Cardmember and we are committed to working with you during this difficult period. While we understand that this letter has come at a difficult time... (blah, blah, blah)

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The letter goes on to offer instructions to the caretakers of my estate regarding closing the account, settling any remaining balance, etc.

Of course, there's one problem: I'm not dead. At least, not that I know of.

A quick call to American Express revealed the source of the problem. Someone apparently typed in my Social Security number incorrectly; they were off by one digit.

Still, it's a little startling to receive a letter of condolence for your own death. Kind of funny, actually, but in a haunting way. I suppose it's a good reminder that life is very fragile, and that we shouldn't take any moment for granted. Here's to making the most of the time we're given!

Christian Leadership

2008-11-05T13:50:00.002-05:00

"Real theological thinking, which is thinking with the mind of Christ, is hard to find in the practice of ministry. Without solid theological reflection, future leaders will be little more than pseudo-psychologists, pseudo-sociologists, pseudo-social workers. They will think of themselves as enablers, facilitators, role models, father or mother figures, big brothers or big sisters, and so on, and thus join the countless men and women who make a living by trying to help their fellow human beings to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday living.

"But that has little to do with Christian leadership because the Christian leader things, speaks, and acts in the name of Jesus, who came to free humanity from the power of death and open the way to eternal life. To be such a leader it is essential to be able to discern from moment to moment how God acts in human history and how personal, communal, national, and international events that occur during our lives can make us more and more sensitive to the ways in which we are led to the cross and through the cross to the resurrection."

(Henri J. M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (New York: Crossroad, 1998) pp. 65-67

"So, What Do You Think?"

2008-11-05T11:10:00.002-05:00

For the past few weeks, I've found myself drawn into a variety of conversations with people discussing the presidential election. Regardless of which candidate we supported, the one thing we all agreed upon was a sense of "voter burnout" from the constant bombardment of advertising, debates, fund-raising phone calls, yard signs, bickering and biased pundits, etc.

Now that the election is completed and our nation begins to turn its perspective toward whatever lies in store for us, I received an interesting e-mail this morning with a very simple question: "So, what do you think?"

I think that God truly is El Elyon, the Most High God, whose sovereignty over Creation is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I think that it's a good thing that our new President Elect has declared his faith in God, and has called upon God's blessing at the conclusion of his acceptance speech (whether or not it was offered in deep sincerity or simply as a cliche closing line for all presidential speeches). I may have some serious concerns about our President Elect's understanding of the implications of the divine standard of morality and the infinite value of all life (especially the mandate to protect the innocent), but I will pray for him and all of our leaders as they seek to fulfill their responsibilities and serve the people.

I think all followers of Christ should earnestly pray together for our newly elected officials, just as we have been instructed: "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

I think our leaders -- both past and present -- deserve our respect, just as we have been instructed: "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished." (Romans 13:1-2)

And I think that our President Elect is facing an almost impossible situation as he steps forward to lead a nation that is engaged in two foreign wars, is struggling with economic confusion and loss, is embroiled in a bitter conflict of ideals and world views, and so much more. Yet I believe that our leaders serve not merely at the pleasure of the people but ultimately at the pleasure of God. As one ancient king observed after God had humbled him dramatically, "...The Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses—even to the lowliest of people... His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’" (Daniel 4:17, 34-35)

I Miss Her Already

2008-10-30T09:05:00.003-04:00

Margo left this morning to help with music at the women's Tres Dias weekend, and won't be back until late Sunday evening. For anyone who hasn't heard of Tres Dias, it's a "three day" (obviously) retreat in which participants are given an opportunity to experience the love and grace of God in a surprising, overwhelming, and tangible way. Participants are sponsored by someone who has gone previously, and alumni have the privilege of sharing the experience with others by serving on various teams for future weekends. There are a lot of people working for months to prepare for the weekend in order to make it a very special experience for the participants. I've had the privilege of serving as a Spiritual Director for a men's weekend last Spring, and will do so again for a women's weekend next Spring. Margo worked in dining room last time, and now she's working with Nikki and Linda on music. Watching them plugging away on various projects for the past few weeks has left me very impressed by their dedication and sacrifice.

We've got three women from our church heading up this time; their husbands all went to Tres Dias two weeks ago and have been dodging questions to preserve the surprises that await their wives. I can't wait to hear all about it when the weekend is over. And I'll be glad to have Margo back; I miss her already.

Awwwwww...

2008-10-27T14:21:00.001-04:00

Now we just need to come up with a couple of names we can all agree upon. (And, yes, we are all very excited!)

Puppy? Puppies?

2008-10-27T06:43:00.002-04:00

I wasn't really sleepy last night, so I spent some time searching the Internet for a puppy. Since Blossom's death, Margo and I have been talking about getting another English Springer Spaniel. We just love the breed, and we're totally missing that furry example of unconditional love in our lives. The house just feels empty without a dog running around. Margo and I have even decided that we'd consider getting two puppies this time if the price was right. But we would want one black & white and one liver & white, both females. Kind of a narrow criteria.

We've already been in contact with a couple of breeders who have great Springers with championship bloodlines. There are even litters coming soon, and one of them is very close to where we live. But we're a bit concerned about the high price such pedigrees will demand.

So imagine my delight when I stumbled into a listing of even more Springer breeders along the east coast, some with litters that are available right now. One of them even has exactly what we're looking for (though he didn't have any pictures posted, so we couldn't check out the markings). I was so excited that I barely slept last night because I wanted to greet Margo with the news as soon as she woke up. (And, yes, she stirred just enough sometime before dawn for me to ask "Are you awake yet?" and begin the day with dreaming together and even browsing pictures of puppies on my laptop while we were still snuggled under the covers.)

I have no idea of any of these puppies will work out and join our family, or if we'll continue to wait for a couple of litters that are coming our way. But just the thought of pursuing a new dog or two has me pretty excited. I'm convinced that dogs are one of God's greatest blessings for mankind -- great big fuzzy bundles of tactile love whose very lives are focused on sharing fun and adventures with their owners.

Boy, I miss our dog. And I can't wait for the sounds of scurrying paws in the house again.

Ah... So Wonderfully Content

2008-10-26T22:12:00.002-04:00

This morning at Hope we talked about the 10th Commandment and the opportunity to choose contentment and celebrate whatever blessings God extends to us and to others. It was a terrific morning for our church family, with a lot of enthusiastic worship, tons of warm welcomes and friendship, and a fun time together in God's Word. At the conclusion of the morning, I encouraged us all to focus some attention on the wonders God has worked in our lives and cultivate a sense of gratitude and satisfaction. And as I've reflected on this topic all week, I can truly say that I am deeply satisfied and wonderfully content down to the core of my soul. Oh, sure, there are moments when my appetites are lured by the stuff of the world and when my competitive instincts are provoked; it's very easy to slip into the "I'll be happy when..." way of thinking when I lose my focus on the Kingdom. But then I find some time just to be alone with God and my thoughts, and the joy and satisfaction come flooding right back in.

A couple of blessings in particular struck me today. I am so blessed to be part of such a wonderful church family -- a community that truly understands what the love of God looks like and how to pour out that love to others. I'm convinced that our church family continues to grow not because of anything special we are doing (and certainly not because of our facilities... ha ha!) but because God is present in our midst, stirring in our hearts, and overflowing in our relationships.

I am thankful for our Worship Team that ushers us into God's presence every week. This group has truly embraced the priority of connecting people with their Creator, and are humbly offering their time and their talents week after week as a gift for each of us. There were moments in today's service when I could hear the passionate voices of our church family rising even above the Worship Team's music coming through the speakers right in front of me. I turned around and saw people surrendering themselves to the simple pleasure of delighting our Father. It was beautiful.

I am thankful for our incredible Leadership Team at Hope. What a joy to have Gavin welcome us in this morning's service and to share the latest information, and for Wade to lead our church family in a time of prayer. Our Deacons and Elders are doing a tremendous job, and I am so very proud.

I'm thankful for dozens and dozens of volunteers who pour themselves into serving God by serving others -- from hauling the trailer and setting up the equipment, to caring for little ones in the nursery, to brewing the coffee, to teaching and encouraing our children and youth, to coordinating special events, to printing and distributing materials, to facilitating Hope Groups, and so much more. At Hope we like to say that "church is not a spectator sport," and it warms my pastoral heart to see this incredible team of people giving of themselves week after week just for the pleasure of serving others.

I'm thankful for our Hope Group and the deep, trusting relationships that we've cultivated. Today was an especially powerful day as people shared their hearts in a very transparent way, and as I had an opportunity to lead our reflection on the Psalm that made such a huge impact on me during the most difficult season of my life. It was refreshing to be able to be so vulnerable and safe among such loving people.

As I looked out my back window this afternoon, I found my heart soaring with gratitude for God's leading us here to Virginia, and then for blessing us with such abundance. The glorious colors of the trees, the beautiful hillsides, the birds flying about the feeder, the deer wandering through the woods, the smell of Autumn in the air, the comforts of such a gorgeous home, and the opportunity to share it all with others... God has been so gracious and generous.

Over dinner with friends, I thanked God for bringing such terrific people into our lives. Yes, I miss so many dear folks who have blessed us along life's journey, and I would do anything to be able to share every day with great friends on opposite sides of the country. But wherever we've been and whatever we've faced, God has always brought the most special folks alongside us to laugh, cry, encourage, and challenge each other. What a blessing!

And tonight, as I kissed each of my family goodnight, I remembered once again just how blessed I am. Truly, I feel so very unworthy. But that's sort of the point, isn't it? The blessings of God aren't prizes that we win through our efforts; they're gifts of love that our Father grants to us despite our shortcomings. And all around me are reminders of his limitless love and kindness. I'm overflowing with delight this day, and I know that it only gets better as each day brings me closer to glory.

Husbands & Dads

2008-10-22T12:59:00.002-04:00

One of things that several of our Elders have mentioned recently is a growing desire to focus more attention and resources toward the development of husbands and dads in our church family, and to make outreach to men a priority in our efforts to impact our community. After all, if a church succeeds in drawing children to Jesus, they've done a great thing even though they may or may not succeed in drawing their parents. If a church connects a mom/wife to Christ, they've done a great thing and will likely draw in her children as well, though they may or may not succeed in reaching her husband. But if a church can get a husband/dad excited about knowing God and experiencing his grace, they've not only done a great thing but will usually impact his wife and his children as well.

I'm not really sure what this will look like, and I know we're committed to "doing a few things with excellence rather than many things with mediocrity." Our recently expanded Elder Team is just beginning to work through some important foundational issues as we seek God's guidance for Hope together. But it'll be fun to see how this growing passion becomes part of God's design for our church family.

In the meantime, this week someone pointed me over to the Husbands and Dads web site. I've had fun beginning to poke around in some of the articles and features. It's always neat to discover new resources.

The Shack: Continued Thoughts

2008-10-21T07:02:00.003-04:00

I'm continuing to work my way through William Young's The Shack, and my hesitation about this book continues to grow. I'm feeling a bit frustrated as a result. I really want to enjoy the book, especially in its presentation of the compassion and intimacy God extends to us. There really are some beautiful sentiments here.

But just when I start to feel intrigued by a perspective or idea, the book trips me up again with theology that ranges from clumsy and incomplete to dangerously erroneous. For example, I found Young's thoughts on authority interesting. Essentially, he suggests that authority within a relationship is a necessary result of the sinfulness of man. Prior to the introduction of sin in Eden, there was no need for authority structures because relationships were expressions of perfect mutual submission and love. Furthermore, Young presents God as existing with no sense of "chain of command" within the Trinity because God is the perfect expression of mutually submissive and loving relationships. (Okay, that a bit of a simplification, but it's the essence of a very long conversation in the book.) I think I understand the idea. And though I can poke some pretty quick holes in the theory, I don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water. The appeal to interdependence, intimacy, and submission is really beautiful. But then Young has Jesus in the story essentially suggest that in a perfect relationship with Christ there would be no sense of authority or chain of command; God is inviting all of us to join him in the kind of mutually submissive relationship already experienced within the Trinity. And as I listen to the story, my soul begins bristling at the idea of stripping God of his expression of dominion and peeling away the idea of Lordship from Christ. The end result is that the God presented in The Shack continues to differ from the reality of God as revealed in history and scripture, and that leaves me deeply concerned.

What's more, I finally figured out the bigger issue that has left me feeling a bit defensive as I listen to this story. I heard one pastor arguing that critics of the book just don't "get it," suggesting that it's a tragedy because The Shack is written precisely for those kinds of guys whose preconceptions of God are leaving them blinded to a greater and deeper reality. (That's kind of an unfair, undebatable approach; it's like telling someone that they're too defensive, and then saying that they're proving it when they disagree with the accusation.) I honestly don't think that's my problem here. I'm truly striving to connect with the message that so many people have found so beautiful.

But my biggest problem with The Shack involves the continuing fictional representation of God. In the story, God chooses to reveal himself to the protagonist in a very unconventional way in order to help him (and the reader) see God from a fresh perspective. It's not a new literary convention. So why is it that I can totally embrace C.S. Lewis' anthropomorphic metaphor for Christ with Aslan but find Young's presentation of Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu provoking a defensive posture in me as I read? I think it's because Lewis chooses to embrace a metaphor that God himself has already chosen as a means of expressing himself. In world cultures, lions are already common symbols for sovereign kingship and authority. And in Genesis 49:9, the tiny Hebrew tribe of Judah is characterized by a lion as part of its blessing. So it's not a surprise when God uses the idea of "the Lion of Judah" to reveal a dynamic about Christ's origin and dominion (Revelation 5:5). Lewis takes this imagery and expands upon it in a beautiful way, helping his readers understand the personality of Christ better without actually attributing to Jesus specific actions beyond the fictional setting. (Lewis once explained that the Narnia series are essentially the answer to some simple questions: What if a world like Narnia existed? And what if Christ chose to enter that world as he entered ours? What would that encounter look like? Lewis never attempts to say that Aslan is a theological lecture woven into a fairy tale.)

There are a zillion images that God has chosen to reveal something about himself: king, father, breath/wind/spirit, lion & lamb, bread, water, head of a household, groom, vine, light, judge, dove, etc. The ultimate revelation of God is the logos, the word, the expression of truth, the Christ. But, for some reason, Young has chosen to come up with his own metaphors for God -- a large (rather cliché) African-American woman named Papa, an Israeli named Jesus (complete with jokes about him having a big nose), and a somewhat translucent Asian woman named Sarayu. It's as if God's own expressions of himself are inadequate for the ideas that Young wishes to discuss, so he's created his own. And though I appreciate the idea, I can't help but feel hesitant that the book is dipping into Second Commandment territory in presenting a God of man's own design that differes from the real thing in both subtle and significant ways.

Not Real Virginia?

2008-10-18T18:27:00.003-04:00

On MSNBC this morning, McCain adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer asserted that "real Virginia" does not include Northern Virginia: "I certainly agree that Northern Virginia has gone more Democratic. … But the rest of the state — real Virginia if you will — I think will be very responsive to Senator McCain's message."

MSNBC host Kevin Cork gave Pfotenhauer a chance to revise her answer, telling her: "Nancy, I’m going to give you a chance to climb back off that ledge — Did you say 'real Virginia'?"

But Pfotenhauer didn't budge, and instead dug a deeper hole: "Real Virginia, I take to be, this part of the state that’s more Southern in nature, if you will."

Thorpe ended the segment noting that Pfotenhauer was appearing via satellite from Northern Virginia. "Nancy Pfotenhauer, senior policy adviser for the McCain campaign, joining us from Arlington, not really Virginia."

(quoted from ThinkProgress.org)

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

Huh. I guess I thought that little "VA" at the end of my address meant I was living in the real Virginia. Now I know.

So... How many more days 'til we're done with all this political nonsense?

The Shack: Initial Thoughts

2008-10-17T10:14:00.003-04:00

I've been somewhat reluctant to read The Shack by William Young. Truthfully, the premise of the book just hasn't caught my interest. But I haven't succeeded in avoiding the debate over the book. I know some folks who say that the book has had a profound impact on their intimacy with God and their understanding of his nature, while others are deeply concerned about theological errors it introduces. I've spoken with one pastor who suggests that it's a great tool for helping people pierce through their preconceptions about God's character, and another pastor who refers to it as "poisoned grass" from which us shepherds must protect the flock.

So I've finally started working my way through the book. (I'm actually listening to it on unabridged audio CD, which is interesting because the reader uses subtle inflections for each character.) I'm about half way through.

For those who are unfamiliar with The Shack -- and without spoiling the plot here -- it's a novel about an individual who has faced extraordinary tragedy and deep personal pain. This individual has an opportunity to encounter God in a very unconventional way. The book uses the form of narrative to explore theological and relational issues as God seeks to reveal himself and his compassionate heart for mankind.

So far, I've been somewhat unimpressed by the writing style of the author. It feels a bit clumsy and predictable, and I find that a bit distracting. This is especially true when the story transitions to the conversation with God. The introduction of miraculous elements is fairly jarring and awkward.

But I've appreciated the development of the central character of the story -- Mack -- whose sorrow and anger is easy to sympathize with. I find myself increasingly curious how the author will have God answer his painful questions about his life's experiences.

Now, I don't want to give anything away for those who intend to read the story, but I have to talk a bit about the manner in which God reveals himself. The author has intentionally chosen an uncomfortable form in which God appears in the story. God even explains to Mack that this form of revelation is an intentional way to overcome preconceptions and stereotypes, so that Mack (and, presumably, the reader) will have an opportunity to see God in a fresh, new way. I completely understand the author's motivation in this approach. I really do get it.

However, I can also begin to see why the book has stirred up some controversy because of this. Without a doubt, the theological implications of the author's presentation of God are erroneous, especially in describing the nature of the Trinity and the dynamics of the atonement of Christ. In listening to the story, I find myself struggling to move beyond the faulty doctrine in an effort to grasp the author's more central point of God's compassion and desire for intimacy. It is this relational aspect of God that has clearly touched so many readers, and I truly want to understand that impact. But everytime God begins to explain some theological mystery, I find myself bristling a bit as so often the results range from speculative to inaccurate. Perhaps it's because I've been preaching through the Ten Commandments recently, but I can't help but thinking that the narrative presentation of God is brushing agains the second commandment in presenting a false or distorted image of the reality of God. Maybe the book will resolve some of this before its conclusion -- I'm certainly committed to hearing the entire story -- but at this point the "Papa" character is decidedly a different God than what I see presented in the history of Israel and the theological instruction of the New Testament.

I can't help but compare my feelings about this book to my initial response to Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christian. McLaren also used a narrative approach to refelect on theological and relational issues, though he avoided the difficult territory of having God himself appear as a character in the story. When I read A New Kind of Christian and its sequels, I found myself drawn to the questions and conversation McLaren presents, even though I sharply disagree with several critically important theological assertions he makes. (I remember one woman in our church being deeply concerned that I enjoyed the book and actually recommended it to others because of the theological inaccuracies, but I'm completely comfortable sharing a book that presents a disagreeable conclusion if it stimulates deeper thinking and discussion. Sometimes I don't think Christians give people enough credit for thinking critically, so we react out of fear and slap on "taboo" labels inappropriately.) However, whereas I appreciated the questions McLaren raised -- even though I disagreed with some of his answers and quite a bit of his theological premise -- I'm finding myself responding to The Shack more defensively. I think there is a serious danger in presenting a mental image of God that strays from the truth that he has revealed about himself.

Still, I'll persevere through the story with a sincere appreciation of the author's efforts to reveal the heart of God and the deep intimacy that God pursues with each of us. I'm trying to keep an open mind, and I can already understand why many people are being impacted by this story. But I also want to be theologically discriminating. I realize that most people are intelligent and perceptive enough not to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" here and discard what seems to be a compelling communication of God's love. On the other hand, mental images of God can be a difficult thing to shake. Even the author of The Shack is concerned about our preconceived ideas of God's character limiting us from embracing the fulness of truth about his nature. I'm just concerned that this story may be replacing one faulty idea of God with another.

Yay! Leaders!

2008-10-10T08:10:00.002-04:00

One thing every pastor dreams of is being able to work with a team of leaders who are able to take initiative, think biblically, act courageously, demonstrate integrity, and be genuine servants of the church family.

I am so thrilled to say that's exactly what God has been putting together at Hope! Last week, our new Elder Team met together for a time of prayer and getting to know each other better. The guys shared at a meaningful level, and I sensed our hearts beginning to knit together for the task ahead. This month we're reading a book together to provoke discussion and be a catalyst to the vision-casting process. Having been freed up from the administrative chores of leadership, the Elders can truly focus on being a team of shepherds for Hope. And I couldn't be happier.

Last night, our Deacon Team met to hammer out a full agenda that ranged from facilities challenges to the transition for our new bookkeeper, from job descriptions to budget adjustments, from event planning to missions commitments. Over the past year, this team has embraced these responsibilities in an incredible way, and I feel privileged to watch them at work.

Both leadership teams are working in ways that compliment each other and function according to the pattern seen in the New Testament, and everyone agrees that God has some really big things coming our way. Add to that the incredible leadership of our children's ministry by Lissa Little, our youth ministry by Bill Little, and our worship ministry by Nikki Stamps, along with a great group of Hope Group leaders and hosts, and I'm just blown away by how things are coming together. It's amazing!

I praise God for his provision and empowerment of each of these leaders, and I feel so deeply humbled to be among them.

Pandora

2008-10-09T09:43:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't heard of Pandora, it's this terrific web site that lets you create custom music stations. Based on something they call the Music Genome Project, it takes your suggestion of certain artists and songs and then attempts to build an entire station of songs that you'll like based on the melody, harmony, rhythm, instrementation, orchestration, arrangement, etc. of the music you've suggested. When it plays a song, you can give it a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down," and it remembers how you voted and attempts to refine your station for you based on what you like. It really is amazing!

You can even share your custom stations with other users. So, for instance, I created an "Easy Listening" station that I often play when I'm working on projects in the office. It's got a lot of gentle instrumentals, some new age influences, and a kind of peaceful feel to the music. You can even check out my stattion for yourself.

Now if we only had the technology that would allow me to program my car radio to play the Pandora stations I like. I know that I can run Pandora from my cell phone (a Windows Mobile thing on AT&T), but that would require a special cable that I'd have to hook up from my phone to the AUX in jack on the car stereo, and would mean my phone is streaming the Internet the whole time I'm driving. Not quite sure I want to take that step yet, but at least the potential for a new way of enjoying custom music is emerging. Nifty stuff!

My Political Rant

2008-10-08T08:24:00.000-04:00

I began watching last night's debate, but simply couldn't sit through the whole thing.The constant flow of rhetoric and promises, the appeal to hear out the candidate's whole plan for fixing just about everything, the puffed chests and subtle digs... I'm just tired of it. I'm tired of this whole political season. And I'm convinced that Washington politicians simply don't get it anymore.

A couple of weeks ago, I made a comment about an unnamed individual who is running for federal office. I described the individual as holding onto the spineless, stupid position of believing that life begins at conception but also believing that it is not his responsibility as a lawmaker to protect what he believes are innocent children. That ridiculous logic would prevent our lawmakers from doing anything to protect anyone! Why stop at the issue of abortion? Why not say that they believe all motorists are living beings but it's okay to run a guy off the road if he's slowing you down on your way to work? Why set policy to protect people if it infringes on other's sense of convenience?

What amazed me is how many people assumed they knew who I was talking about. Now, I know a few folks were aware of the news story I was referring to, because the subject came up at a recent college Bible study. But of all the folks who came to me and tried to guess which candidate I was referring to, nobody pegged it correctly. Even more astoundingly, both of our presidential candidates received about equal number of guesses.

The truth is that I'm absolutely sick of this presidential race, and I find myself feeling frustrated that there isn't an individual that I can really get behind with my vote.

On the one hand, we have Senator Obama running on a platform of change. But if you listen to all the things he's proposing for change, they're almost all issues that would need to be addressed at a legislative level rather than an executive one. After his years in the Senate as a member of the legislative process, if he's not acted to bring about these changes then, what makes anyone think that he'll be more successful over in the executive branch? I suspect that if Obama becomes president, he'll quickly discover that Washington is such an entrenched, stubborn monster that most of what he proposes will be impossible. Certainly that was the discovery of our current president, who began his first time with a startling effective bi-partisan effort but was then swept into an entirely different agenda after the attacks of 9/11. (Hmm. Perhaps Senator Obama would be wise to read James 4:14-16 and rephrase his promises a bit?) Besides, as I've said, I will never again cast a vote for any politician who will not courageously stand against the holocaust of the unborn in our nation, much less a president who will not appoint Supreme Court judgest capable of establishing new precedent to protect innocent children. Over 1.5 million babies will be killed this year alone in the name of convenience, and I won't extend my vote to anyone who is accepting of that.

On the other hand, we have Senator McCain running as a maverick promising reform. But I was a resident of Arizona for 10 years and have had an opportunity to already grow disappointed with McCain's leadership. I believe McCain used Arizona as a platform in his pursuit of federal power without really caring about his constituents or their concerns. And when I compare the McCain running this year with the McCain running 8 years ago, I see two totally different presentations. McCain has sought to redefine himself in order to win popularity and thus greater power. He has a track record of recklessness that goes back to the naval days of his youth, and his efforts to "stir things up" in Washington have resulted in more animosity than unity. Besides, as much as I find Sarah Palin charming, I believe McCain placed her on the ticket for the simple purpose of mobilizing a conservative, mostly religious Republican voting base even though she clearly lacks the experience to sit in the Oval Office should something happen to him. Well, I'm part of that conservative, religious voting base, and I'm not that easily fooled.

What's more, I'm fed up with Republicans and Democrats altogether. Here we are in what may be the most treacherous financial situation of my lifetime, and the House Democrats vote down a bailout package (er, excuse me, apparently they want us to call it a "rescue package" now), and then point the finger across the aisle at the Republicans for letting the measure fail. Excuse me, but don't the Democrats have a majority in the House right now? If their own party could have pulled behind the bill (and weren't afraid of re-election troubles in some districts because the idea of a bailout is so unpopular), it would have passed. And don't get me started on the Republicans who voted against it as some kind of punitive action against Speaker Palosi. Hey, we already know that Palosi has a habit of shooting off her very partisan and divisive mouth in public; did it really surprise anyone that she would try to pin all our troubles on the Bush administration?

Meanwhile, over in the Senate, they take up the issue and try it again. But this time they decide that it's the perfect opportunity to tack on a zillion other little projects that need to pass as well. After all, the second attempt at a bailout... er, rescue package is bound to pass, so why not slide in other stuff and turn a simple proposal into a 400-page monstrosity?

Personally, I'm sick of all the bickering and blaming. I'm sick of politicians promising to accomplish something as president when their own records show little effort to accomplish something with the power they already have. I'm sick of presidential candidates setting 10-year goals when they know they can only serve for 8 years (and thus, if their plans fail, they can easily blame their successors and protect their own prideful legacies). I'm sick of television ads that spent 30 seconds telling me why the other guy is untrustworthy rather than simply presenting an idea or solution to support. I'm sick of news reporters acting as if their own educated opinions should be respected above the opinions of the average voter. I'm sick of networks and magazines trying to hide their obviously partisan leanings as they report the news. I'm sick of the entire process that has begun to feel like little children squabbling in a sandbox rather than dignified leaders presenting options to respectfully consider.

I'm ready for something entirely new. If there were a way to overhaul our system and dethrone both the Republicans and the Democrats in favor of people with intelligence, integrity, and a genuine servant's heart (instead of a quest for personal power), I'd eagerly throw my vote that way. In the meantime, I sit here a month away from an election with absolutely no candidate that I can get excited about.

Yet I'm also completely confident that no matter what happens in the voting booths next month, God's sovereignty will continue as it has since the dawn of time. Though the world walk through turmoil, though the nations continue to war against each other, though the markets crumble around us, the Lord still reigns and is worthy of praise. And I'm committed to the simple instructions of 1 Timothy 2:1-4, and I will pray for our leaders (whether I personally am excited about them or not) and for our nation. Our leaders deserve our respect, encouragement, and prayers not so much because of their performance but because of the position God has allowed them to hold.

Lord, be gracious to us. Forgive our nation of our sins and failures. Be glorified in our midst. And draw us into the new kingdom as it is unveiled around us. To you be the glory and the honor and the dominion now and forever. Amen.

Goodbye, Blossom

2008-10-07T10:16:00.002-04:00

Margo made sure Blossom had an afternoon outdoors yesterday. Though her poor body has been withering away from cancer, our dog's mind has been as alert as ever. Even though she had to hobble about, she enjoyed being outside on a gorgeous Autumn day. She followed Margo around as they planted a couple of dogwoods out front. She sniffed under bushes. She wagged her tail with excitement when the birds flew into view. And when I pulled into the driveway at the end of the workday, she was there to greet me.

But as everyone came in for the evening, it was obvious that our poor dog was weary and aching. She had such a wonderful last day, but spent most of the evening nursing her swollen leg and belly. Blossom spent last night in our bedroom, curled up on a big pillow on the floor by Margo's side.

We both woke up early today; sleep eluded us. Margo gently lifted Blossom onto our bed, and she curled up in between us and continued to sleep as we stroked her fur. In the past, she would have been eagerly jumping about, pressing us to get up and get going. But this morning she didn't stir from the bed, even after we both left the room.

I found myself watching the clock all morning, trying not to think about the dreaded appointment yet very aware of how much time was left. At some point, my mind began thinking in terms of "Blossom only has three hours to live." "Ninety minutes." "Fifteen minutes." It was eerie and macabre, but my grief couldn't be avoided.

The Lord gave me one great blessing in all this, however. Seeing our dog's weariness and discomfort made it easier to cope with the decision to put her to sleep today. Things would only get worse, and she had already begun spending more time in pain management than enjoying life.

Finally, the time had come. The dog hopped into the car and sat on Margo's lap as we headed to the vet. I rolled down the window, and she enjoyed the air rushing into her face one last time. Carol Zoebel had made some home-made biscuits for her, and Margo and I each saved one to offer her once we arrived at the vet.

Our vet is terrific, and allowed us to remain outside with Blossom for a few final minutes in the sunshine. It was obvious that Blossom was hurting, but she still wagged her tail and took interest in the world around her. Eventually, the vet and an assistant came to us, bringing a large blanket. The vet embraced Margo, and our tears began to flow.

Margo and I sat under a large tree, spread the blanket out on Margo's lap, and Blossom came and laid down. Together we stroked her fur and whispered in her ear as the doctor gave her the injection which would allow her to fall asleep and eventually stop her heart. It was very beautiful and peaceful.

On the way home, we wept. When we pulled the car in the garage, we wept some more. Our family stood in the kitchen, and we shared the story with our kids. Together our entire family embraced and just shared the grief.

I feel so very sad today. It's going to be difficult to get anything meaningful done. Yet I also feel this odd mix of haunting and peace. We loved our dog deeply, and she will be missed. But she had a good, full life and her final moments ended well. I'm also warmed by the thought that Margo and I were able to share this moment together. As we stood holding each other, weeping softly, sharing memories of great moments with Blossom, I don't think I've ever felt closer to her. Margo is such an amazing gift from the Lord.

Thanks to everyone who has sent quick e-mails and words of encouragement. It's such a wonderful thing to go through life's adventure together with the people that you love.

Saying Goodbye

2008-10-06T09:18:00.002-04:00

We called the vet this morning, and have set up an appointment to say goodbye to our dog tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM.

I feel so guilty and sad.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2008-10-04T19:32:00.002-04:00

Some Good:
* Had an amazing Elder Team meeting this week. I am SO excited about Mick and Wade joining the team. This was really the first time the guys could begin to explore what our role will be at Hope. It's really an honor to serve alongside guys who are genuinely seeking the Lord's leading and are eager to dive in courageously. My experience has been that a really biblical Elder Team is a rare thing in this world, even after years of effort. And here God is pulling it together beautifully in such a simple, gentle way. I can't wait to see what's next!

* We've got a full compliment of teachers for our Hope Kids program which is awesome. And Bill Little has offered to host a special session for Middle School students during the message tomorrow. This makes me feel really good since we'll be diving into the less-than-comfortable subject of the 7th Commandment.

Some Bad:
* Believe it or not, our dog is still hanging in there. But not for long. Every day we wake up wondering if this will be the day when we need to say goodbye, but she's still eating and wanting to interact with us. Her mind is totally there, even as her body is giving out on her (which makes the inevitable decision so much harder). But we're thinking that we're seeing the signs that say it's finally over. The cancer has spread from her belly into her thighs, and now it's moved down one of her legs. It's so hard, because it's really obvious that she wants to be up and about, playing, exploring, digging in the yard, etc.

Some Ugly:
* I've come down with some kind of bug. Spent way too much time Friday afternoon and evening running between the couch and the bathroom. Bleh! Today I feel totally wiped out -- as if something has sucked all the life out of me. So I'm heading to bed early (before 8:00 PM!) and hoping the Lord can refresh this aging body... at least enough for a great morning of worship together at Hope. 'Night, all!

Yay! Iron Man!

2008-10-02T11:20:00.002-04:00

Our family watched Iron Man last night. It was great just to be able to hang out together as a family for the evening — life has seemed so very busy lately!

And what a great movie! My dad and I saw it when it came out in the theaters, but Margo and the kids had not seen it until last night. I remember telling them it was the "Best... Superhero... Movie... Ever...!" and now they know why.

Lots of fun!

An Onslaught of Entropy

2008-09-29T07:20:00.002-04:00

Good grief! Everything is breaking down around our house lately! In just the last month or so:

Margo's car needed new tires
Margo's car needed new brakes
Margo's car still needs a new battery
A deer hit Margo's car (we're thinking the big dent adds character)
My car needed exhaust system repairs
My car needed new tires
My car still needs a fuel pump and possibly rear brakes, plugs, and wires
The dryer needed a new thermostat
The refrigerator needs some part in the freezer to stop ice formation
Margo's sewing machine has been in for repairs... twice!
That leak in our roof that we fixed last month? It leaked again over the weekend
Margo's computer needs a replacement motherboard and power supply
The pipes under the kitchen sink sprung a leak
Something tore a hole in our bed sheets
The soap dispenser the kitchen isn't working all of a sudden

And that doesn't include 3 vet appointments related to the dog's cancer. (And notice I'm totally avoiding mentioning the huge global economic crisis and its implications...)

We're feeling like this onslaught of entropy is eating away at us financially a few hundred bucks at a time, and we are very eager for it to stop.

Then again, it's been a good reminder not to hold on too tightly to the stuff of this world. We're merely sojourners here, and it's good to travel lightly.

Our Hope Group has been working our way through the book of James, and we finally reached the beginning of chapter 5 this weekend. It's the place where some of James' recurring themes and overall appeal is completely revealed. James is greatly concerned with people who claim to follow Christ and yet are unchanged by that relationship. And he refers to clinging to wealth vs. self-sacrifice for the poor as an indication of an authentic, life-changing relationship with the Lord. At one point he asserts that holding on tight to the stuff of this world actually makes us enemies with God, and he appeals for us to grieve and repent (James 4:4-10). And by the time we reach the beginning of chapter 5, James points out that the errosion and crumbling of all the wealth we accumulate for ourselves actually serves as condemnation for our Christ-less greed. (James 5:1-6) Heavy stuff!

So, on the one hand, I'm frustrated with the deluge of repair bills this month. But on the other hand, I'm thankful for the reminder that this earth is not my home; I'm only passing through. My hunger for simplifying -- for "the pursuit of less" -- continues to grow as God continues to loosen my grip on the stuff of this world in favor of clutching tightly to the stuff of eternity.

Picnic!

2008-09-21T16:44:00.002-04:00

Today was an absolutely awesome day! Though it was certainly chilly when we arrived at Crockett Park, it warmed up nicely by the time our worship began. And the Lord couldn't have blessed us with a more beautiful day by the time we were munching hamburgers and playing volleyball.

Everywhere I looked this morning, there were small blessings unfolding. Our setup team arrived early and showed us all what true servants look like. Hauling equipment down the hill to the amphitheater, moving picnic supplies to the pavillion, running cables, setting up instruments, and then cleaning up the site so everything looked nice... it was terrific. And they got the job done so quickly! Our Worship Team had plenty of time to check sound and run through music.

Speaking of the Worship Team, they did a great job. These young musicians are also true servants, and most people don't realize the time and commitment it takes for them at rehearsal, at setup, and in their own personal preparations. It was fun to see Jeff crank up the volume this morning (hey, no back wall to bounce sound from the monitors). It was even more fun to look around and see people singing, with the sound of our worship rising right to the sky.

I really enjoyed watching people greet each other this morning. Everywhere I looked, I saw people having fun, exchanging hugs, laughing, welcoming, and chatting. Hope is such a warm and loving group of folks, and I'm finding that the more people invest themselves, the more blessings they experience in those relationships.

I personally had a great time sharing from John 13:34-35 and 1 John 4:7-19 this morning. God has given us an incredible challenge of loving each other in a self-sacrificing way, and he has promised that he is revealed to the world in our sense of true community. I'm convinced that this is a central part of our mission as a church family.

It was interesting to see how many people in our church identify themselves as part of the "mosaic" generation -- nearly a third of our church! For some reason, God has made Hope a very young congregation, with zillions of kids and youth. There can really be no doubt that we have a very specific purpose in our town, and it's going to involve discovering how to be an authentic community of grace in a new way to a new generation.

After the worship service, we went up the hill for lunch. Wow! What a spread! There were the folks working hard over the hot grills to dish up the hamburgers and hotdogs (another example of servants at work), followed by this long table filled with food. And that's not counting the dessert tables on the other side of the pavillion! Lunch was amazing.

Then, in the warm afternoon, all around us there were people just soaking in the sunshine and chatting with friends while others tossed a frizbee, played volleyball, climbed on the playground, chucked a few water balloons, rented a boat, and more. Margo and I had a chance to swing around to many of the clusters of people, and it warmed my heart to see all the smiles and hear all the laughter.

Hope Christian Fellowship is becoming more and more sweet with each passing milestone in our journey. It's been a long time in this transitional "wilderness" stage of life together, but people are really growing and the love is increasing. I know there are huge challenges ahead of us, along with wonderful opportunities of showing God's grace to our community. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for this great family!

(Oh, yeah, one more thing: When we got home, I pulled out the hammock and quickly fell into a deep sleep... swinging gently in the shade of the woods out back, breathing the fresh air, and truly being refreshed. Thanks, God!)

Quick Updates

2008-09-21T05:45:00.002-04:00

• My Dad is here! He's spending 10 days with us. That's great!

• Blossom is still with us, at least for a few more days. We're keeping a close watch on her, knowing that the end will be "real soon now." Yes, it's awful. Thanks to everyone who has offered their encouragement.

• Today is our church picnic! I am REALLY looking forward to hanging out with everyone, having fun, worshiping in the great outdoors, etc. Praise God for a beautiful weekend! What awesome weather for this event! I also really like the message God has given me to share today, and I pray that I can present it with the true zeal I feel. It touches on what I believe is the very simple and beautiful ultimate mission of Hope Christian Fellowship.

• I haven't been sleeping well the last couple of nights. Seems like once I get thrown off rhythm, my body has a hard time getting back into sync. Bleh. (I've been up since 3:30 this morning, but at least I've had time to really review my message for today... heh...)

• I've noticed a definite trend toward darker themes in television shows that I've enjoyed; writers seem to be fixated on exploring the less pleasant sides of characters this season. Hmmm...

• I've begun quietly working on ideas for a total overhaul of this blog. I'm ready for a visual theme that is lighter, includes some nifty tools and links, and... well... I don't really know. I'm still figuring it out.

• We finally bought curtains for the kids' rooms. Heh... It only took a year! Still working on other stuff throughout the house, but I'm finally feeling that "nesting" ambition here. I'm surprised it's taken this long.

How Does God Do It?

2008-09-19T04:39:00.005-04:00

It's 4:30 AM as I write this, and I've been awake most of the night. My heart is feeling incredibly heavy and my thoughts are racing.

Last night, we saw that our dog's tumor has about doubled in size from last week, and it's starting to break through the skin. She doesn't seem to be in a lot of pain at this point, but all through the night I could hear her licking at the wounds. Last night I even saw her nibbling at her belly, so I know it's becoming incredibly uncomfortable. So this morning I need to make that horrible call to our vet.

What's killing me is that her mind and personality are still as bright as ever. She brought me her toy last night and wanted to play (though that lasted only one toss). She snuggled up to me while we watched some TV. She was excited when Margo and the kids got home from Worship Team. In many ways, she's going on as if nothing is wrong.

So I've been laying awake all night wrestling with how I'm supposed to know when it's time to end her life. I certainly don't want her to suffer. But I feel this terrible guilt over having to make this decision... and it's been nagging at the back of my mind all week.

I've tried talking to God about it as I lay awake in the dark. But, to be honest, those prayers haven't offered me any comfort because all I've done is raise questions and heard only silence in reply.

How does he do it? How does God become intimately involved in the lives of billions of people that he has created and loves with immeasurable passion, and in his sovereignty appoints the times of their births and the times of their deaths. I read Psalm 139:15-16 and know that God is with us from beginning to end. But how does he cope with the grief on such a cosmic scale?

I've come to hate the word "cancer" in a fresh way this year. And my hatred for Death has only grown. Death is an enemy. Death is the result of the sin of mankind; it's our moral failures that introduced this judgment into God's beautiful creation, bringing with it the sadness and the goodbyes.

Oh, I know that Death is already defeated. I cherish the promises of 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, and I celebrate that Death's sting gives way to the victory and the hope of life everlasting through the Lord Jesus Christ.

But today -- here and now -- my heart aches with that bitter sting.

Later today, many of our friends will gather in memorial of a woman in our community who surrendered to the sting of death following a 12-year struggle with depression. Her surviving friends and family have to walk through the extraordinarily painful task of moving on without her, and coping with the aching sense of emptiness that her death leaves behind. As a Pastor, I've shared that journey with many families over the years. Though I always feel privileged in trying to offer the compassion and perspective of Christ during those days of grief, there's always a time after the funeral is done, after everyone has left the graveside, when I'm finally alone with my own thoughts, that I struggle with this private hatred of the inevitability of death.

Oh, I long for the day when the promises of Revelation 21:3-4 become a reality -- when history is finally at an end and paradise is restored, when there will never again be any grief, when we will never have to say goodbye to those we love.

But today is not that day. Today I am laying awake contemplating saying goodbye to this beautiful furry friend that has become such a precious part of our lives. Yes, I know it's a small grief compared to the much greater sorrows being felt by families all around the world. Yet is the grief that sent my wife to bed last night in tears, that has kept me awake asking questions of God all night, and that will likely break my heart before this day is through. I realize the vet may tell us to wait just a little longer, and I will certainly treasure any extra hours we may have with our dog. But the lingering specter of the inevitable is weighing heavily in our home this day.

"Isn't That the Point?"

2008-09-12T11:03:00.004-04:00

As I continue to work on our sermon series on the Ten Commandments, there have been many times when I feel entirely inadequate. Any serious contemplation of God's standard of perfect, holy righteousness is bound to leave us feeling that way. Last week, I struggled with my own failings to regard my "Sabbath" time as truly holy and totally dedicated to the Lord; too often I'm willing to compromise, reschedule, interrupt, ignore, or even use the day as an excuse for just being lazy. But I continue to strive to pace myself and to carve out time to cultivate my relationship with God and simply enjoy the infinite blessings he has poured out. Based on a suggestion from Margo, I'm going to try a different approach this week to setting aside extended time for refreshment, and that's going to require a different attitude toward some of my responsibilities.

Margo also offered me this absolutely incredible insight this morning when I was whining a bit about my inadequacy for yet another week's topic. On Sunday, we'll be looking at the challenge to honor our parents. One of the points I'll touch on is how parents have the opportunity to make it easy to honor them by simply being honorable. And as I think about that idea, my mind wanders back to all those times when I've made it difficult for my kids to honor me -- times when I've been too angry or severe, times when I haven't listened well to them, times when I've been too busy to invest in them the way that I should. In many ways, I think I've done a good job as a dad. But there are many, many things I wish I could go back and do differently.

So I was telling Margo this morning that the more I look at the various commandments and their full implications as illustrative of "loving God and loving others," the more inadequate I feel. Without missing a beat, Margo fired back, "Well, isn't that the point?"

Doesn't the Law ultimately show us that we are morally inadequate and in need of redemption? "Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins." (Galatians 3:19, NLT) Oh yeah. That's right. On the one hand, the Law illustrates what a life of loving God and loving others looks like (particularly in the context of the nation of Israel as they settled in the Promised Land), and provokes us to pursue righteousness in our own lives. On the other hand, it reminds us that we are desperately in need of God's grace.

Always nice to be reminded of the truth. Now pardon me while I go spend some time in prayer thanking God for his grace, his leadership, and his redeeming power.

It Probably Sounded Good on Paper...

2008-09-11T11:09:00.002-04:00

Confirmed

2008-09-09T15:31:00.002-04:00

We were so hoping for different news, but our vet just confirmed that Blossom has an aggressive carcinoma. Also, the sore on her belly around the area of her surgery will never really heal, and it's getting worse almost daily. The vet is checking with a pet oncologist for recommendations and will call us tomorrow.

Blossom is still very much a puppy in many ways. She's got a lot of life in her. Just yesterday afternoon, she was jumping and running after her toy and barking at the birds on the back patio. But she's also spending a lot more of her day just laying quiet near wherever we are.

I realize that we are quickly approaching the impossible decision of determining when her suffering has grown too great and deciding to say goodbye. Honestly, I dread that moment. I really, really love my dog.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

2008-09-06T16:18:00.002-04:00

A bunch of us from Hope spent a wonderful hour in prayer together this morning. It was a very special treat! People spoke from their hearts with genuine passion as together we praised the Lord, sought his guidance, and renewed our dependence upon him for his provision. Even as we poured our hearts out to God, he was busy filling our hearts to overflowing. Absolutely incredible! We have to do this more often!

Sad News

2008-09-04T18:55:00.003-04:00

Our household is feeling very sad this evening. Despite a couple of surgeries to remove tumors from our dog's belly, it looks like her cancer has persisted. Since our last English Springer Spaniel had to be put down prematurely due to the same mammary cancer, this was about the worst diagnosis we could have received. We're now facing the choice between potentially expensive (and possibly fruitless) treatment, or letting everything take its course and just enjoying the time we have left with her.

Our dog, Blossom, is a huge part of our lives, and the vet pointed out that if it weren't for the tumors she would certainly have many more years with us. At this point, Blossom is still very lively and adventurous, and there's no evidence that she's in any pain.

As you might expect, we're praying for a miracle.

Speaking of Politics

2008-09-04T09:50:00.003-04:00

Yes, I watched Sarah Palin's speech last night. Yes, I'm impressed with her poise and comfortable demeanor. Yes, I find her "hockey mom" approach to politics refreshing.

But I also watched Obama's speech from the Democratic convention. And let's be honest: they're both excellent, impressive communicators. (And with all the media flurry around Palin this week, it's easy to forget that she's not the prime candidate for consideration, isn't it?)

Yet, as impressive as these two speeches were, I remain disappointed with the ugly "attack dog" elements of both campaigns. And I fear it's only going to get worse. Oh, sure, I understand why they're jumping all over each other. Stirring up the voting base, capturing the attention of the media with clever and memorable sound bites, trying to direct attention to the flaws of a political opponent -- they're all necessary tactics for getting elected at the national level these days. Obama sought to attack with a sense of "you and I are buddies at the water cooler" approach, and Palin fired back with a "wink and a nod over a cup of coffee" charm. But it's mudslinging, no matter how delightful and entertaining the speaker might be.

However, in the midst of this long, tedious, ugly campaign season, there is at least one clear moral contrast that continues to present itself: the priceless value of all human life. In the interviews with Rick Warren, McCain was concise and clear regarding his understanding of the beginning of life at conception, while Obama made a joke about the topic being above his pay grade. In her acceptance speech (and obviously in her life choices) Palin made it clear that all life has value -- whether it's her "perfect" baby boy who will struggle with disabilities, or her teenage daughter's unexpected and unborn child (I'm impressed by the Palin's commitment to supporting their daughter through all this). But in Obama's acceptance speech, he commented that we should all be able to agree on the need to reduce unwanted pregnancies even if we disagree on the issue of abortion.

And suddenly I feel this outrage growing in me. Abortion is not a simple political issue. We're talking about the slaughter of 1.37 million babies in the United States every year as a matter of convenience! (That's just a fraction of the 42 million abortions performed worldwide every year.) This isn't a political issue; it's a horror of unimaginable proportions. And, to be honest, the thought of empowering any individual for the Presidency who might further this slaughter of the sacred turns my stomach.

Whether or not we should drill for oil domestically is a political issue. Directing targeted tax cuts to different segments of society to stimulate the economy is a political issue. Defining the most effective diplomatic -- and even military -- strategies to promote freedom and keep the world safe is a political issue. There are lots of political issues on the table right now in which opposing candidates are suggesting radically different solutions. I truly believe that the individuals on both tickets have a sincere desire to promote domestic prosperity and ensure international peace, even if they're proposing going about it in totally different ways.

But the preciousness of human life is not a political issue. (And, by the way, I'm not just thinking of abortion here, even though it is probably the clearest lithmus test between the candidates right now. This issue of the sacredness of life extends to the way we use our military abroad and the true motives of our endeavors in the Middle East right now. I am fully aware that this is a very complicated issue.) For me, I've decided that moral issues like these easily trump political issues. Ending the slaughter of innocents easily trumps breaking free of dependency on foreign energy sources. Protecting life easily trumps economic stiumulus tax strategies.

Oh, sure, there are plenty of other issues that involve matters that I consider sacred -- social justice for the oppressed and opportunity-deprived, parental rights to be the primary influencers of their children, being peacemakers in a dangerous world without adding to that danger or forcing ourselves upon the innocent because of economic motivations, preserving God's definition of marriage with a sense of authentic compassion for others, ensuring the freedom to communicate truth without fear, and so on. These are the issues that matter the most to me, no matter how opinionated I might be on what would be the best strategy for economic stimulus, creating jobs, and creating prosperity for the long-term. The issues that touch on matters of righteousness are the ones that define how I choose to vote.

It saddens me that the national media just doesn't get it. It saddens me that our political leaders often don't get it. I'm just hoping that the average guy on the street gets it. And I'm praying that the community of grace gets it, embraces it, promotes it, and invests ourselves in protecting it, empowering it, and securing it for our nation in the voting booths.

(And, yes, I still hate politics. I'm looking forward to this season being over in a couple of months.)

I Hate Politics

2008-09-03T07:15:00.002-04:00

There. I've said it. I hate politics.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I love the representational form of governing authority that politics allow, and I'm as patriotic as the next guy. I even love the idea of politics. But I hate the reality of what politics do to the hearts and minds of people.

From a civic perspective, politics bring out the very worst in people without them even realizing it. Condescending attitudes toward people who disagree with us run rampant (and, yes, I'm guilty of this). Complex issues are reduced to ridiculously simple and emotional talking points. Hypocrisy swells as politicians use ugly tactics to attack their opponents for using those same ugly tactics (and I sit there wondering if people are intelligent enough to notice... there's that condescending attitude again...). Empty promises drip from the lips of politicians; candidates from both major parties promise benefits that they'll never have the power to provide because of the way our government is set up, or they set goals that will be completed outside their terms of office so that if the goal fails it won't be their fault (ya gotta love when presidential candidates say they'll accomplish something in ten years when they can never hold the White House for more than eight).

I hate politics. Yet here we are in another election season, and I find myself drawn to conversations about politics (yeah, I know, it's a huge surprise to everyone that I'd be opinionated on political subjects and candidates... *grin*). I believe it is really important for Christians to be involved in the political process, and even to be persuasive with our perspectives. Yet it's equally important that we're wise enough to distinguish between political opinions and theological integrity. For instance, I have some strong opinions about economic models that will best serve the broadest majority of people and provide the most effective assistance to the poor in the long term. But I recognize that it's just my opinion. Great, intelligent, well-intentioned, God-honoring people will disagree with my thoughts, and it's important that I understand their reasoning and respect their opinion without "spiritualizing" the debate or thinking that they just don't "get it" because they disagree with me.

On the other hand, it's important that Christians recongize moral issues at stake in the political process. I am fully aware that it's impossible to legislate righteousness (hey, the Old Testament Law failed to make people righteous, and it was written by God himself!). Yet laws and policies exist in a society in order to maintain peace and promote the ethical treatment of others. So I can't dismiss the slaughter of unborn children as just another political issue for consideration right alongside the development of alternative fuel sources or various ideas for immigration policies. For me, moral mandates trump political opinions every time. (Supporting a candidate who

Yet, despite my passion for moral issues that have become part of the political discussion, I'm also keenly aware that Christians need to represent Christ to the world, and that means we conduct ourselves with grace and honor even as we express our zeal. How can I communicate a deep love for individuals pursuing what they see as the fair and equal treatment of homosexuals while also arguing for the preservation of the traditional (and divinely given!) definition of marriage? I want to express my opinion and even persuade others to join me in protecting something that I believe is sacred, but I also want to express genuine compassion and compelling grace to those who disagree with me. I find this so much easier to do in a non-political season, when people aren't caught up in the flurry of drawing lines, throwing around labels, repeating sound bites, and preparing for battle.

Oh, and don't get me started on how political ideas and methods have crept into the way so many churches do business. I'm just thankful I'm serving a church family that is focused on God's leading, common sense, and respectful relationships instead of the tools of personal power, boards, committees, parlimentary procedure, etc.

Okay. Enough ranting. I'm gonna go watch JibJab's latest cartoon again, chuckle a bit, and get back to building the Kingdom.

Back From the Beach

2008-09-02T20:19:00.003-04:00

Our family returned home this afternoon from a quick couple of nights with Mick & Tricia Martin at their place in Colonial Beach. It was a wonderful, restful time.

And by "restful," I mean lots of rest! I slept in both mornings (which, for me lately, means past 6:30), and on Monday I squeezed in not one but two naps.

We had a wonderful time tasting and munching at local winery. We ate dinner out on the upper deck looking across the Potomac. We listened to seagulls and lapping waves and a crackling bonfire at night. I read a little, played games with the kids, admired our incredibly intelligent and obedient dog (!), and simply "caught my breath." But, more than anything, we enjoyed just hanging out with new friends.

On the drive home today, it struck me how often God gives us such simple, wonderful blessings and how easy it is for me to take them for granted. When I pull back a little and look at life, I am reminded again at just how incredible the Lord has been to me over the years. Even the darkest days of my life have been a tool to bring me even greater blessings.

And I am so utterly, completely undeserving. Which just makes me marvel at God's grace all the more...

Darker? You have to be kidding!

2008-08-25T17:47:00.002-04:00

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov indicated the studio intends to explore the darker side of superheroes in future films based on DC Comics properties, also owned by Time Warner. Prompted by the success of Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel “The Dark Knight,” which he credits to the profoundly grim tone of the film, Robinov told WSJ’s Lauren A.E. Schucker, “We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it. That goes for the company's Superman franchise as well.”

Darker? Superman? You have to be kidding! As if the last film -- Superman Returns -- didn't spoil the character enough already. In that one film, we saw Lois Lane shacking up with her new boyfriend as they raise the offspring of the sexual encounter between Superman and Lois Lane way back in Superman 2. Lois doesn't tell her boyfriend or her son about the true parentage of the child. Now, if I understand the storyline correctly, Superman had sex with Lois back in Superman 2 and then used his powers to make her totally forget about the encounter. (Sounds like a twist on the traditional definition of date rape, I think.) Thanks to the developments of Superman Returns, can you imagine how poor Lois must have felt when she discovered that she was pregnant... and had no memory of how a child might have been conceived?! Yeah, let's see if we can make the Superman franchise any darker, shall we?

And don't get me started about the totally ugly costume changes they've already made to Superman with Brandon Routh taking over the character. The bright red cape, trunks, and boots were turned into a dingy brick-brown color, and they slung the belt line lower to make him... I dunno... more modern? (I'm trying not to use some of the adjectives that come to mind here.) Essentially, they took the great American icon -- the quintessential hero -- and scraped off some of the bright colors and wholesome nature of the character in hopes that audiences might better connect with him.

Personally, I think Warner Bros. has totally missed the boat on what makes Superman such a special hero. It's that whole "heroic" thing! He should be noble, honest, pure, wholesome, self-sacrificing, and... well, heroic, dagnabbit! But after the success of the very grim and disturbing Dark Knight, they now think their best hopes lie in tarnishing the character even further.

*sigh*

Thank goodness Marvel comics seems to be on a roll, what with this summer's Iron Man flick and all. Here's hoping our culture can keep the "hero" in "superhero" somehow.

My Friend Andy

2008-08-22T06:41:00.002-04:00

Let me tell you about my friend Andy.

Andy Matthews is the art director for Hero Games, and he's an incredibly talented guy. As a graphics/visual person myself, I can appreciate the oft-overlooked skill of turning text into art, managing space and flow, and working with a variety of artists and their diverse personalities (not to mention writers, editors, publishers, printers, etc.). Andy is uniquely gifted for this task, and his sensitivity and wisdom are impressive.

But more importantly, Andy is a worship leader at his church. Last weekend, as Andy led the worship service at our convention, I discovered that he has a really great singing voice! And he has a tremendous passion for praise and helping others enter into the presence of God. Andy's church has gone through a bit of a rough struggle, and I was deeply moved by the way Andy has come alongside his pastor to offer encouragement and loyal support. Andy is the kind of guy every pastor wants to have on the team, because he is focused on glorifying the Lord and not getting tangled up in the challenges of organizational management. It really is all about God.

Yet even more importantly than that, Andy is a great husband and father. Throughout the weekend, Andy was constantly talking about his wife and sons back home. It was obvious how much he truly loves them and missed them. And as his boys grow up, they are going to be so blessed by having a dad who hasn't forgotten what it means to be a kid. I got a kick out of Andy buying a Star Wars toy to bring home to one of his boys, but admitting that it was hard not to rip into it and begin playing with it himself. A father who loves to play with his kids -- I see a reflection of God in that.

When Andy and I first met face-to-face in a bagel shop in central Virginia last year, it was a bit awkward at first. You know, one of those "we both know the same people but we don't really know each other yet" kind of things. But within minutes, we were chatting away about everything under the sun, and I knew God was blessing me with a special friend. That kind of easy, comfortable friendship continued this past weekend as we shared a room in Indiana. We stayed up late talking every night. By the end of the convention, we were both a bit sleep deprived from all those late nights. In fact, on the one night when both of us had independently decided to go back to the room early and catch up on some sleep, we still ended up chatting for over four hours before finally turning out the light.

Andy doesn't realize this -- because he's such a humble, gentle soul -- but he has really inspired me. I find his faith and friendship refreshing, and his love for God contagious. I am so deeply grateful that we not only share some of the same friends and hobbies, but that we're brothers for eternity. And I praise God for the simple and beautiful gift of a good friend.

An Unexpected Encounter

2008-08-21T10:29:00.002-04:00

We arrived back from our trip late last night, and I'm busy in the office trying to catch up on a pile of projects before the weekend. In the coming days I'll try and post some of the incredible things that happened while we were away. But for now, I have to share the highlight of the trip for me.

It was Sunday morning. Andy and I had been up way too late (again!) talking about everything under the sun. We were awoken by the sound of the alarm, and neither of us rushed to shut it off and get going. Somewhere in the darkness I heard Andy groan, and I knew how he felt. We finally drug ourselves to life and I hopped in the shower. As we were getting ready to leave, I looked over at the clock and realized that my church family at Hope was arriving at the Fairgrounds and getting ready for their own time of worship together. I paused to pray for them and especially for Mick as he would share God's message.

We made our way over to the Embassy Suites where a meeting room had been set aside for the convention worship service. I wasn't sure what to expect. Apparently the last time Andy had led worship at this convention, it was pretty much just the band, the preacher, and one person in the audience. But the convention staff had already moved this year's service to a larger room on the balcony overlooking the atrium and food court (where a couple dozen people were below us having breakfast).

There were just a handful of people in this large room as the time for our worship service drew near. Then they started arriving. Person after person walked in the room, grabbed a song sheet, and found a place to sit. Before long, the room was full. Full! Wow!

Then the music began. It was so simple; everything was acapella. We started with the doxology, and I was taken back by the hearty, enthusiastic voices that filled the room and spilled out the open doors to the atrium below. Here we were at a gaming convention, praising God with gusto for everyone to hear.

Suddenly I found myself totally surrounded by an almost electric presence of the Holy Spirit. I'm really not sure how else to describe it; I was overwhelmed by what was practically a tangible sense of God's presence in our midst, and the tears began to stream down my face. I couldn't even sing. I just stood there as the sound of worship washed over me and God stirred deep in my soul in ways that I still don't totally understand.

The message that followed was great; Derek did a terrific job of being both compelling and engaging (gamers have a great, quirky sense of humor!). I enjoyed the privilege of sharing communion with brothers and sisters whose names I may never know. And I was deeply impressed with Dave's relentless, stubborn commitment to simply bringing glory to God in every circumstance -- including bringing worship to the convention.

But it was the worship that still lingers with me almost a week later. When I left for our trip, I was thinking of it as a moment of escape -- a time to get away from the responsibilities of church and the challenging expectations people have of a pastor, and an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, laugh, and simply have fun. Never did I expect to encounter the Lord in such an amazing, transforming way. I suspect it will take me a while to process all that God revealed to me during that time. I tried to share some of it with Margo, but I found myself tripping over my words because it was almost a "you had to be there" kind of experience.

One thing is for certain: I have a renewed passion for people who desperately need the grace of God -- a sense of urgency that is burning deep within my soul, and a priority which absolutely must shape the dreams and visions not only of my church but more importantly of my own life.

Happy Birthday, Mom

2008-08-12T05:50:00.002-04:00

Today is my Mom's birthday -- the first one in my lifetime that I won't be able to celebrate with her, or call her up and chat about life, or even wrap her up a present (the postman doesn't deliver to heaven, after all). I miss Mom, and I think about her often. I can barely imagine the limitless joy she is experiencing in God's presence, and I look forward to being there with her one day.

I'm also thinking about Margo's Mom today as we pack up the car and head west. We're dropping me off in Indiana to spend the weekend with friends, and then Margo and Becky are heading down to Kentucky to be with Margo's Mom as she goes through the next round of chemotherapy. I'll join them there at the end of the weekend... just in time to celebrate Margo's Mom's birthday next Monday. I'm reminded once again how precious life is, how special each moment is with our loved ones, and how important it is to savor and celebrate each birthday because there's no guarantee we'll be together for the next one.

So go hug someone you love today. Let them know how much you love them and treasure them. Celebrate their life and the blessing God is giving you through them.

On a Donkey with a Lion on a Sunny Day

2008-08-09T12:53:00.004-04:00

Okay, okay... It's not quite as spectacular as Mark Batterson's In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowwy Day (which, if you haven't already read it, you should immediately order yourself a copy and enjoy this great book!). Still, it's a pretty amazing news story. Makes you wonder what you would do in the same situation... that, and perhaps rethink that upcoming Acupulco vacation you were dreaming of...

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ACAPULCO, Mexico - A Mexican woman said she fought a 500-pound lion with a machete near the resort city of Acapulco and scared him away. Celsa Aleman said she and her 7-year-old niece were riding a donkey Monday along a road when the lion went after the animal's legs.

The 35-year-old woman says she found the courage to fight the lion because she thought it would attack her niece. She hit the animal with a machete until the beast ran away. Aleman and her niece were unharmed.

The state government said in a statement that the lion had escaped from a private zoo owned by a former local congressman. It said the animal killed two dogs and ate a pig before it was sedated and taken back to the zoo.

original story here

Playing Catch Up & Watching the Time Fly

2008-08-06T22:56:00.003-04:00

I am really looking forward to this Sunday at Hope, because our youth will cut loose with music, drama, interviews, and more. Hope is full of such incredible young guys and gals, and it's been exciting to see the Kingdom unfold in their midst with such enthusiasm. I'm also looking forward to formally introducing our new Youth Ministry Coordinator who will provide oversight, vision, and guidance for the year ahead. (We had lunch to go over stuff this past week, and I'm really excited... as both a Pastor and a Dad!)

Next week, Margo and I (and Becky!) will be taking off for parts west for a week. Margo will drop me off in Indiana to have fun with some old friends, then she and Becky will turn south to spend some time with her Mom in Kentucky. At the end of the weekend, I'll join them and we'll all get to celebrate Margo's Mom's birthday there. (Margo's Mom continues to go through chemotheraphy and will be in the midst of treatment while we're there. We sure would appreciate your prayers for her.) While we're away, Mick Martin will be sharing at Hope, and I know everyone is in for a real treat. Mick is such an amazing guy, and his genuine enthusiasm for God and people is contagious.

Since I've got a couple of Sundays without having to prepare a message, I've spent the time playing catch up on a bunch of projects, and meeting with people to talk through church leadership stuff, personal stuff, fun stuff, and more. At first, I thought these would be an easy couple of weeks with less pressure and less deadlines. As it turns out, my schedule has been surprisingly full. But I'm excited about how much has been accomplished! And I'm especially happy to finish up the revision to Hope's governing documents after several months of work with church leadership. Now it's back to the Elders and Admin. Team for one last review before we present the proposal to the church for their decision (probably in September?). It's been a huge project, but I'm really proud of the work our leaders have done.

On a personal level, I've been experiencing this odd mix of excitement, nostalgia, and even a little grief as we prepare to celebrate Ben's 18th birthday this Saturday. My precious boy is all grown up! I'm so incredibly proud of him, and I'm confident that God has an amazing journey in front of him. But I'm also feeling kind of blown away by how fast the time has gone; we've only got one more year of him at home before he heads out into the world. Just think... it seems like only yesterday that I was snuggling him in his little fuzzy green pajamas (with built-in booties!). I have this weird sense of powerlessness because I kind of want to travel back in time and savor the different stages of his life all over again.

But, since that's not possible, we're throwing a barbecue for him and a bunch of friends on Saturday. It's gonna be a blast!

A Moment of Geekiness

2008-07-25T12:08:00.002-04:00

Pardon me for taking a moment of pure geekiness here. But, you see, I've been using Windows Vista on my office computer since the release, and I really like it. And I've found myself watching the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" adds with a lot of amusement. That entire advertising campaign should be a lesson in groupthink and cultic proselytization. Oh, without a doubt, the ads are really, really entertaining, even if they're not always factual. (And, for the record, I'm not against Macs at all. I was a Mac user way back when. But there are three things that annoy me about Macs today: (1) they don't always play nice with others [especially when it comes to multimedia exchange], (2) some of the "Mac Evangelists" who love their Macs are often annoying, and (3) some of my favorite software doesn't run on a Mac [especially scholarly Bible study tools].)

So I got a big kick out of the following news story this morning:

REDMOND, Wash.--After months of searching for ways to defend its oft-maligned Windows operating system, Microsoft may just have found its best weapon: Vista's skeptics.

Spurred by an e-mail from someone deep in the marketing ranks, Microsoft last week traveled to San Francisco, rounding up Windows XP users who had negative impressions of Vista. The subjects were put on video, asked about their Vista impressions, and then shown a "new" operating system, code-named Mojave. More than 90 percent gave positive feedback on what they saw. Then they were told that "Mojave" was actually Windows Vista.

read the rest at the source

Ode To Joy!

2008-07-24T14:11:00.003-04:00

For the past couple of weeks, I've had this really strange thing going on with God when it comes to his sense of timing. You see, as part of our study of life in the wilderness, I've been getting ready to preach through the Ten Commandments as a basis for God's moral standard for his community. After all, we're part of God's community at Hope, right? And God has standards for his community, right? And we're supposed to learn those standards and make them an uncompromising part of our lives, right?

So lately I've been working all week on launching into these Ten Commandments on Sunday. But it seems like every Thursday God de-rails me. Two weeks ago, I was struck by a need to simply experience the presence of God and celebrate in worship together. Last week, I felt compelled to revisit the implications of the Tabernacle in our lives today. Now here it is Thursday again, and I have this sense that the Lord is pushing me to put off that first commandment yet another week so we can consider the much bigger (and, admittedly, much more controversial) tension between Law and Grace. After all, we can't really begin considering the impact of God's legal code and moral standards in our lives if we have confused ideas about some erroneous distinction between the Old and New Testaments, can we?

As a result, I find myself spending a huge chunk of time wrestling with old debates and discussions thrust upon us by people who celebrate a theological system instead of simply pursuing the beauty of truth. (Yup, that's a loaded statement right there!) I don't want to get caught up in the terminology and extreme arguments of systems like "dispensationalism" and a whole bunch of other "isms" that come into play here. The simple truth is that I don't like the way some theologians have framed the debate in the first place. I can sympathize with what they're trying to understand and communicate, but so many theological considerations become muddied with the shallow thinking of the masses who simply want to be told what to believe rather than explore the wonders of truth for themselves.

Paul had it right when he talked about explaining "God's mysteries." Rather than drawing lines between those who agree with us on some systematic theological point and those who hold to a different (but, in all fairness, reasonable and intelligent) perspective, I feel compelled to simply immerse myself in the wonder of it all -- and, in doing so, to be challenged to the very core of my being regading my own adherence to what God has revealed about his practical standard for personal holiness.

So I grind on with all these very chaotic trains of thought rushing through my mind, and I strive to hear the clear whisper of God's Spirit in the midst of it all so that I can accurately forge the words to explain it in a way that is clear and compelling for my church family. And I must admit that I'm also trying to hammer down these occasionally rising feelings of frustration -- and even outrage! -- at some of the theological folly I'm reading. It only makes it worse when I come across statements of absurdity from brothers who I respect or who are widely popular and trusted among followers of Christ today.

(Can you tell it's been one whopper of a day?!)

Anyways, in the middle of all this, I was on the phone with Margo just venting about the struggle of starting my sermon prep over again on a Thursday, rambling on about theological integrity, thinking aloud about some of the strange ideas I'm reading on law vs. grace, etc. Suddenly I hear the delightful sound that I've got new e-mail waiting for me to read. Oh, look! It's from Andy! And it's a link to a YouTube video, along with some mysterious blurb about "Ode to Joy" and Muppets.

Well, see for yourself. All I can say is, "THANK YOU, ANDY!" for totally making my day. I sat here and laughed, and somehow the simple escape of a moment of humor brings refreshment to my weary thoughts. Loads of fun!

Cardboard Testimonies

2008-07-18T14:03:00.001-04:00

Way to go, Hillsong. Just beautiful. And you've left me in tears. Too cool!

A Busy Week!

2008-07-18T12:06:00.003-04:00

It's been an interesting... and busy... week!

After church last Sunday, we shipped the kids off with the rest of the Youth Group for a week at Impact Virginia, a service and construction oriented project and retreat. Though the project was only 20 minutes from our home and didn't feel like much of a trip at all, it meant that Margo and I have had the whole house to ourselves this past week. Wheee!

Somehow, I envisioned the week being fairly quiet, with lots of time to just hang out with Margo and relax. But it didn't quite work out that way. We did get some time to ourselves along the way, but there were also a lot of projects and engagements to fill up our time. As a result, I'm actually feeling more worn out as the week draws to a close.

We managed to put up 4 ceiling fans this week -- one in each of the kids' bedrooms and one in our living room where our Hope Group meets. I know the kids will appreciate them when they come home on Saturday. They have been so used to having ceiling fans from our time in Arizona, and have missed them in our new home here in Virginia. Margo also pointed out that I've got a track record of installing ceiling fans now. Nebraska=3. First Arizona House=10. Second Arizona House=7. Virginia=5. Yup, that's a lot of ceiling fans over the years.

I finished several pieces of artwork for Hero Games upcoming Book of the Destroyer, which was fun. I get a kick out of illustrating, and it's always a pleasure to work with Art Director Andy Matthews. (And I'm really looking forward to sharing a weekend with Andy in Indianapolis next month.)

We had a great time hosting the Underwoods and the Martins last night for dinner -- what fun people! Of course, we ate too much food (2 entrees and 2 desserts!), so I'm paying for it today. I'm looking forward to getting together with them again soon.

Tonight we're heading to a barbecue with the Pierces' Hope Group, which should be a blast. But in the meantime, I'm knocking off work a bit early today so Margo and I can sneak in a movie together. Ah, at last -- some time to just hang out and have fun!

I've had a great time working on my message for this Sunday. Last week was a terrific time to just worship, celebrate communion, and reflect on the implications of the presence of God in our midst. We drew on the imagery of the ancient Hebrew Tabernacle, but there was SO much more that I wanted to say. So, instead of moving on to the next topic in our current series, I decided to linger one more week on the implications of the Tabernacle. I've had a marvelous time with God in study and preparation! I have no idea if my enthusiasm and discovery will carry over well in this week's sermon, but at least it's been personally fulfilling in a very satisfying way.

This weekend, we get to host Doug and Marian Eicher from our old church in Nebraska. I really, really love these guys, and I can't wait to spend some time with them! The kids will also be back tomorrow, so the house will suddenly feel very full and busy once more.

Aging Eyeballs

2008-07-11T15:22:00.002-04:00

Several years ago, I experienced one of the greatest blessings of my life: lasik. Gone were the glasses and contacts. For the first time in my life, I could clearly see the stars at night as zillions of crystal clear points of light rather than just a hazy gray area on top of a hazy black area. I could read signs waaaaaay down the highway. I could see the experessions on the faces of the people tucked far away in the back row of the sanctuary (and let me tell you, sometimes it's hard to keep a straight face!).

Of course, when I had my surgery the doctor warned me that this would correct my distance vision probably for life. But the sad truth is that all of our eyeballs are aging, even with the very best of surgical correction. And there comes a point sometime in our early to mid-40s when our reading vision begins to decline. Some folks may have a distance prescription that actually compensates for this phenomena and delays noticing the change. But, for me, it's finally beginning to hit.

A couple of years ago I began printing my sermon notes out in a bigger font. "Easier to read," I told myself. This past year, whenever I've checked out a novel from the library, I've gone immediately to the large print editions. "Easier to read," I told myself again. Even all my Bibles are now large print editions.

Still, I thought I could hold off the idea of reading glasses just a little longer. I'm really enjoying being glasses-free; I don't want to have to keep a pair of magnifying specs at the office and home. It would just make me feel... old.

But there's no denying the need now. Yesterday I sat down to ink a couple of sketches that I'm doing for a book for Hero Games, and I found myself really struggling to focus on the fine lines. If I moved further back from the paper, the lines came into focus but I lost the precision of close-up work. If I moved close to the paper, it became increasingly blurry.

After inking both illustrations, I put down my pen and noticed that my fingers were all tight from clutching the tool with the stress built up from not seeing clearly.

*sigh*

"But, Daddy, I don't wanna wear glasses again! Can't you pull off some miracle that makes me different from all the zillions of other people who have to go through this very same thing? Please? Oh, alright. I get it. Life moves forward, and our time on this earth is increasingly brief. I know that you're making me a new world for eternity, and I'll have great new ageless eyes there that can stare straight into your glory and still see with laser-sharp precision. I guess I can tolerate these aging eyeballs for a while longer. And I apologize for complaining. I realize how grateful I must be that I can see at all, and that you've filled the universe with such wonderful things to see. Thank you for the technology of optical lenses. Thank you for the years that I've enjoyed without needing glasses at all. Thank you that you've given me your Word to read and savor, even if I have to move to large print editions now. I look forward to seeing you face-to-face one day; thanks for allowing me glimpses of your presence and activity while I wait."

Granny Bumper Cars!

2008-07-10T13:16:00.002-04:00

Yes, yes, yes... I know. I've been sluggish in posting lately. I'd love to throw excuses -- life has been really busy lately, I've taken on a couple of art project, our social calendar has been really full, etc. But the truth is that my mind is really deep in thought about where I'm at with God and life and Hope and family and friendships and all sorts of other stuff. God is continuing to refine me, stretch me, and challenge me. It's like drinking from a firehose sometimes, and it's certainly far too much to process in a blog. At least for now. I'm sure more details will bubble forth as I wrap my mind around some stuff.

In the meantime, for your reading pleasure, a news article from the Telegraph. Boggles the mind, doesn't it?

----------

Grannies on Mobility Scooters
Fight in Supermarket
By Rupert Neate

Two grandmothers on mobility scooters had to be dragged apart after getting into a fight where they were "ramming each other like dodgems" in a supermarket.
The women were separated after they started trading blows in front of shoppers in an aisle of the Iceland store in Crawley, West Sussex.

They were prized apart after staff heard screams.

A store worker said: "It was shocking.

"Seeing these two old ladies going for each other like that was truly disturbing."

The shelf-stacker, who did not wish to be named, added: "They could have been seriously hurt - they were ramming each other like dodgems."

Police were called to the scene after the warring pensioners - who had been friends - fell out over money.

They arrested one of the pensioners, who has not been named, on suspicion of assaulting the other 78- year-old woman who suffered an injury to her arm. She was later taken to hospital.

The grand-daughter of one of them said: "The two of them met some months ago and this lady was always at grandma's house.

"They became really friendly but fell out massively over money."

It is not yet known whether charges will be brought.

It is not the first time mobility scooters have been used dangerously.

In Rugby, Warwickshire, the policy introduced a speeding clampdown on mobility scooters, which can reach a top speed of 8mph, after a series of collisions and near misses in the town centre.

original link here

100K

2008-07-01T08:50:00.003-04:00

With the exception of a brand new gray Toyota Corolla that Margo and I purchased when we lived in Chicago before Ben was born and which was totalled by a careless driver backing out of our neighbor's driveway in Arizona (Grrrr...!), I've always driven older cars. You know, cars that are seasoned. Cars that cost less for insurance and registration. Cars that sort of make you wonder how much longer they'll last. Cars that challenge you to contemplate that magic point when the cost of maintenance and repairs outweighs the value of the vehicle.

I've been driving a great Honda Accord that we purchased with the insultingly low restitution amount offered to us from the totalling of my Corolla a couple of years ago (Grrrr...!). Chad Robinson and Pat Tudisco helped me narrow down the search for this vehicle, and it really is a nice car (though it has a few quirky personality traits -- mostly electrical twitches). It's showing signs that it needs a new fuel pump pretty soon, and it would be great to get inside the dash and make the fuel warning light actually work. But I'm hoping to keep it running for a long time to come.

This last week, we were treated to one of those rare milestones in car ownership: We watched the odometer click over to 100,000. Of all the old cars I've driven, I've never watched this happen before. I always seem to catch it at around 100,004 or something. But this time, we were ready. On my way home from work Friday, I knew that the big moment would come the next time I drove into town. So we packed up the family Saturday morning and drove into Warrenton for breakfast at IHOP. Right as we came down the hill with Carousel in sight, the kids peered over my shoulder, Margo fired up the camera, and we caught this momentous occasion on film.

Okay, probably not the most earth-shattering milestone in our lives, but it was fun nonetheless.

I wonder what our lives would be like if we had odometers -- little guages to show how far we've come and how much wear and tear we've been through along the way. What would some cosmic mechanic tell us if they could peek under the hood of our emotions and spirits, pull out the service record to review how well we've been taking care of ourselves, and offer advice about what maintenance steps we should take to prolong our safe and happy travels.

The Price for a New Beginning?

2008-06-24T16:44:00.003-04:00

I was thinking of waxing eloquent about the true price that was paid for all of us to experience a new life (hint: it had something to do with a carpenter, a cross, and an empty tomb). But the more I thought about the following news story, the more I stumbled upon the complexity of implications. What price does someone place on a totally fresh beginning? What does it say about the value of human relationships? What about the intensity of grief that would cause someone to go to this length? Or how about the provocation toward skepticism that this is just a publicity stunt to generate money? And of course there's the issue of earning extra money for sharing the sordid details of a crumbling marriage. Anyways, read it for yourself. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

LONDON, England -- A heartbroken Briton is one step closer to starting a new life as he tries to auction his "entire life" online following the break-up of his marriage.

Ian Usher, who moved to Australia six years ago, is selling his house, car, job and even an introduction to his friends on eBay. By 1530 GMT on Monday bids had reached almost US $285,000.

Usher is saying goodbye to his three-bedroom home in the western Australian city of Perth and all its contents, including his car, motorbike, jet ski and parachuting equipment.

The auction closes at 2 p.m. Australian time on Saturday (0600 GMT) after which he said he would leave the country. "My current thoughts are to then head to the airport and ask at the flight desk where the next flight with an available seat goes to, and to get on that and see where life takes me from there," he said.

The 44-year-old, who originally came from Darlington, in northern England, will even include an introduction to his friends and a trial run at his job. "On the day it's all sold and settled, I intend to walk out of my front door with my wallet in one pocket and my passport in the other, nothing else at all," he said on his Web site, ALife4Sale.com.

Usher said he wanted a fresh start because his current life reminds him of his former marriage.

The couple parted a year ago but details of the breakup are only available to those who pay a fee on Usher's Web site.

He said: "Everything that I have -- the furniture in the house -- all has memories attached to it. It's time to shed the old, and in with the new."

Usher's employer at the rug store in Perth where he worked as a shop assistant, said she backed the auction. Her company vowed to offer the successful bidder a two-week trial run that could result in a permanent job.

She said: "When Ian came up with this idea, because we had seen him go through a break-up of marriage and pain and bits and pieces, I thought it was really exciting.

"We thought, why not give it a go?"

Usher said his friends in the city were prepared to be introduced to the highest bidder so he could advertise his auction as offering a complete lifestyle.

(Link to original story)

John Smith For President!

2008-06-24T12:30:00.003-04:00

Scott Pierce is one incredible guy. He's quick-witted and talented, and his commitment to family is inspiring. I just love him!

But what some people don't know is that Scott recently filmed his first presidential candidacy video! Seriously! As the promotional face of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Scott donned the garb of Captain John Smith and... well,... see for yourself!

J.R. Davison

2008-06-20T12:12:00.003-04:00

The memorial service for J.R. was awesome (and I'm not using that term lightly here). I am amazed and in awe of the impact that J.R. had on the lives of the people around him. I know how very special my own times were with him, and I really wish that we had known each other longer. I actually sat in the service feeling a bit cheated by God that J.R. was taken away so soon and so young. It's a very rare thing to find a man who is so passionate about his Father, so committed to connecting with other guys, and so selflessly persistent in offering encouragement, pespective, and loving confrontation. I hope that the lasting legacy of J.R. will be a contagious multiplication of his servant's heart among so many of us whose lives were touched by him.

Random Thoughts

2008-06-19T11:13:00.004-04:00

Yeah, yeah... I know. I've become a bit sluggish about keeping up with the blog. I'm sorry about that, and I've got a zillion lame excuses. Part of the struggle I've had is knowing what is appropriate to share lately. I've been doing a lot of deep thinking about very personal stuff. Margo and I have had a couple of great conversations about what's going on in my head, what I'm feeling about life and ministry, and stuff like that. But there's more to it than even what I've shared with my wife. I have this sense that I'm standing on this threshhold or at some crossroads with God. And for a variety of reasons, I feel a bit paralyzed to move. It's a bit unnerving, and I think I've been hesitant to share because just putting it into words sort of obligates me to take action. So I guess I'm that little kid standing at the edge of the diving board trying to muster up enough courage to leap forward and desperately hoping that everyone else around the pool isn't watching because I feel kind of vulnerable and intimidated.

I wish I could explain it better than that, but I'm really not sure how -- at least, not in writing like this. And maybe it's just a personal thing that needs to be explored privately between me and God anyways. I don't know. The great thing is that God is certainly moving in my life, and I am very aware that he's whispering in my ear.

In the meantime, while I figure this stuff out, a lot of things are going on.

This afternoon, Margo and I will join hundreds of other people in bidding farewell to J. R. Davison. I first met J. R. through Tres Dias, and I've enjoyed some great conversations with him this past year. He was an amazing man who invested so much of himself in others. I'm confident he is having a great time celebrating in the presence of his Heavenly Father, but he will be greatly missed around here.

The kids have been pushing to be ready for The Prince and the Pauper performances this weekend, and that's meant some really late nights for Margo and me (last night, I picked them up at 10:30 PM after over 9 hours of dress rehearsal!). I'm looking forward to finally seeing the show tomorrow night... and twice on Saturday!

Next week we'll be hosting some friends from Arizona. I'm really looking forward to seeing them! And right after their visit concludes, we'll be visited by great friends from our days in Nebraska. I expect this month will be filled with lots of catching up, reflecting on past experiences, and having a lot of fun with people we love.

We really enjoyed having my Dad visit for Father's Day. I am so glad we were able to fly him out here to Virginia to spend more time with us, and I felt especially honored to be able to talk about his influence on my life this past Sunday.

It also dawned on me that I've been a father for 18 years now. My oldest is turning 18! Talking about filling out draft registration, university applications, and all the other stuff that comes with this stage of life has been sobering. I'm finding more gray hairs (oh, hush... there may not be much hair in the first place, I know). I'm feeling very middle age all of a sudden, and I'm realizing that it won't be much longer before it's just Margo and me at the house. It's kind of an odd, haunting experience.

I received a very painful letter from someone back in Arizona this past week. They were one of the people wounded by what happened at our church, and it saddened me to hear how they're still grieving. I have to admit that I sympathize with that sadness more than I expected to after this much time has past, though in a very different way. God has blessed us extraordinarily, and I'm really grateful. Still, I miss so many friends.

I'm increasingly excited about the upcoming release of Champions Online by Cryptic Studios. I was especially intrigued to see what they're doing with characters that I developed with Hero Games way back when. It's really interesting to watch how another designer uses your material, and I'm wondering what it will feel like to see the characters from behind the controllers of an XBox.

Yes, I'm still poking my way through unChristian, and I'm looking forward to discussing the book with people once I've had a chance to ponder it further. Really interesting stuff!

We're looking forward to adding some ceiling fans to the house this weekend; the kids will be especially happy to have the airflow in their bedrooms at night! Though, admittedly, the weather has been spectaculara here in Virginia lately. This is such an amazingly beautiful place to live!

Anyways, enough rambling with random thoughts. Stay in touch, everyone!

The Prince and the Pauper

2008-06-13T10:46:00.003-04:00

Next weekend, our three kids are performing with the Torch Drama Players as they present Mark Twain's "The Prince & the Pauper" at St. John's School Auditorium in Warrenton. Shows are Friday, June 20 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, June 21 at 1:00 and 7:00 PM. Tickets are $5/student or $8/adult. For more information, call (540)937-3355. Just figured I'd post this for those in town who'd like to join us.

Twenty-One Years

2008-06-12T20:14:00.003-04:00

Tonight marks the completion of the first twenty-one years of my marriage to Margo; tomorrow we will celebrate our anniversary and begin another year of adventure together. It's been an incredible experience, and I am so grateful that God has blessed me with such a great woman.

There have been times along the way when it was really, really hard. God brought together two stubborn, opinionated people with strong personalities because he wanted us to grind against each other and file off the rough edges. He wanted us to learn about our own shortcomings by seeing his grace reflected in each other's strengths. He wanted to stretch us and make us something better together than either of us was apart.

And there have been so many times when it's been just incredible. We share so much in common, and have had so much fun together. I totally understand what God was saying to Adam when he talked about creating woman to complete him. I marvel at the gifts God has given Margo and how she accomplishes things I could never do. She has blessed me with her creativity, her discipline, her compassion, her organizational skills, her passion for worship and music, her fierce love for our children, and her sincere desire to bless the people around her.

I have no idea what the future holds; I'm just glad that the Lord has it all under control. And I'm so very grateful for twenty-one years of learning, memories, laughter, and love.