closer to God

There seems to be a recurring theme lately in stuff I've been reading or listening to. The theme is "Sabbath". Everywhere I go I hear people saying that we need to slow down, turn off the cell phone, get away from the office, disconnect. Sabbath is a biblical principal that has been all but ignored by the church. Sabbath is more than going to church once a week. Sabbath is stopping EVERYTHING for one day a week to just rest, relax, and experience God.

There are two podcasts which I just listened to the other day that were on this very topic. One podcast was featuring an interview with Rob Bell, author of "Velvet Elvis", and the other was an interview of Eugene Peterson, author of "The Message".
Both podcasts are from the people who put on the Catalyst Conference. You can go to www.catalystspace.com to download the podcast and sign up for their online newsletter, and you can subscribe to their podcast at iTunes.

Katie and I are going to endeavour to make Sabbath a priority for our family. We are committing one day a week to relaxing. No work, no lists, no errands, no shopping, no church, no cell phones, no email, nothing, just relaxing and enjoying God's, and each other's presence.

When I want to get close to God I try to find a quiet place, outdoors if possible, where I can experience the beauty of God's creation. Last week Katie and I went with family and friends to the Northern Coast of California. We spent several days in one of the most beautiful places on earth. As soon as I got out of cell phone range it almost felt like I could feel my soul batteries being charged. I love getting away like this.

This makes me feel closer to God.

Our favorite campground is up in Humboldt County. It's called Hidden Springs. It's right next to the Eel River, and it's right on the "Avenue of the Giants". We had a blast so I thought I'd share a few pictures from our trip.

Here are Obadiah, and Malachi and their cousins Hannah, and Summer. We had the best time going on hikes through the forest!

The boys called this picture their "America's Next Top Model" picture. Strike a pose!

Here is the boy's tent. This is the first time the braved the elements in their own tent.

Here is our swimming hole on the South Fork of the Eel River. It's within walking distance of our campground. This redwood tree fell into the river years and years ago. It landed just right so that it sticks up out of the water like a built in diving board.

And what is camping without SMORES?!?!?!

Obadiah prefers his marshmallows EXTRA well done. Cajun style in fact.

One of our favorite spots to go is a special grove. The ground is covered with sorrel, it looks like four leaf clovers. There are also ferns all over the place. It is so beautiful. This is my favorite place in the entire world.

Good times.

dang!!!

Forecast calls for highs of 104 today and tomorrow.

How I spent my summer vacation

Katie and I got a chance to spend a week in the nation's capitol. It was also our 8th anniversary! We got there at about midnight the day before Memorial Day. Most of these pictures were taken on Memorial day.

There were lots of festivities going on for the holiday. These guys were all dressed up in wartime uniforms from previous wars.

It's been about 16 years since I've been in DC so the World War II memorial was new to me. It was pretty amazing. The fountains were beautiful and left a nice cool mist floating about. It was over 90 degrees each day we were there and the humidity was horrible so it was a nice treat to walk by the fountains.

This wall had over 4,000 golden stars on it, 1 star for every 100 men killed in World War II. It was very sobering to think of all the lives lost.

After the WWII memorial we walked over to the Lincoln memorial. As we were walking up to it we looked up to see Marine One, the President's helicopter flying by. The President was on his way over the Potomac to Arlington National Cemetery for a ceremony at the Tomb of the unknown soldier.

There were hundreds of Vietnam Vets in town for Memorial Day. The streets shook with the sound of their Harley Davidsons. They were all over the Vietnam Vets memorial. It was moving to see these men looking up to see the names of their friends etched in stone.

This is the flag that was draped over the side of the Pentagon on September 12th, 2001.

A few days later we went back to the National Mall to see the museums, and historic museums. We went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. It was a very emotional experience. I've seen pictures of the Holocaust, and footage from Auschwitz, so I thought I was prepared for what I was about to see.
But there was one thing that caught me off guard. One of the first things that you see when you walk into the exhibit is coats that were taken off of the backs of the Jewish prisoners before they were lead into the gas chambers.

At about eye level were two children's coats that would have fit my sons perfectly.

We wandered around the Library of Congress for hours. It is in itself a magnificent work of art.

One of the most treasured articles in the Library of Congress is one of the few remaining Gutenberg Bibles. It was really amazing to see it in person. I didn't realize it but I wasn't supposed to take pictures of it. Sorry Officer...

We spent the large part of our last day in DC at the National Gallery of Art. Katie and I really enjoy fine art and this was a really good museum. Here I am with the "Self Portrait" by Van Gogh, my personal favorite. It's so cool to look up close at these beautiful works of art that you've only seen in a book. You could see every single brush stroke. I was literally shaking.

Katie really liked these paintings by Georgia O'Keefe.

After spending all day in the National Gallery of Art and a great dinner at Capitol City Brewing Katie and I decided to walk the whole National Mall area after dark. If you're going to go to DC you've really got to see the Monuments at night!
This was an inscription at the Jefferson Memorial. It's kind of hard to see in the picture, but the first half of the inscription is pretty amazing. It reads:

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are a gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."

This is at the FDR memorial. Katie and I had never even heard of it. Apparently it's a fairly new one and most of the people we've talked to haven't heard of it either. It was a really cool memorial. These fountains were all over the place, along with many depression era FDR quotes.

Honest Abe, quite an imposing figure, even more imposing at night. He looks amazing all lit up like that. Plus, he's HUGE!!!

This is my favorite picture form our trip. It's almost midnight and Katie is sitting at the World War II memorial looking past the fountains to the Washington Monument. That was a really beautiful moment.

We had a great trip and it was very refreshing, but it's nice to be back home and to tuck our babies in at night.

good quote from a good book

I've been reading this book by Brian McLaren about the ways that Jesus communicated his message. He contends that Jesus spoke in many parables, and hidden messages, but he always spoke in the language of his peers. The chapter that I'm in now is titled "the Language of the Kingdom". One of the points that Brian makes is that Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like..." Brian suggests that if Jesus were speaking to us today he may not even use the term "kingdom". Today you hardly ever see a King that actually rules over his land. In fact when we see a King most of the time that Kingship is symbolic. The power is held by others in government, the royal family is really there as a matter of tradition. It gives the peasants the warm fuzzies. Do you really think that's what Jesus had in mind? Didn't think so. Again Jesus spoke the language of the people.

Brian suggest that instead of the term "Kingdom" of God we might use other terms interchangably. For example, the "Dream" of God, the "Revolution" of God, the "Mission" of God, the "Party" of God, the "Network" of God, and the "Dance" of God.

Side note; I get most of my reading done on the elliptical at the gym. By the time I got done reading the section I'm about to share with you I was unable to hold back tears. It was pretty embarrassing. When the dude with the tattoos and spiky hair starts boo hoo-ing on the elliptical, EVERYONE notices. They stare, they whisper, and they point their fingers. I thought the pointing was a bit overboard, but that's just me.

Here is an excerpt of the section that talks about the "Party" of God;

"The party of God. Jesus often compared the kingdom to par­ties, feasts, and banquets. Today we could say that God is invit­ing people to leave their gang fights and come to a party, to leave their workaholism and rat race and come to a party, to leave their loneliness and isolation and join the party, to leave their exclu­sive parties (political ones, for example, which win elections by dividing electorates) and join one inclusive party of a different sort, to stop fighting or complaining or hating or competing and instead start partying and celebrating the goodness and love of God.

Just today I met some folks from a church in Minneapolis who demonstrate this metaphor in a dramatic and fun way. A group of them gather on a street corner in a poor part of town. They take overturned trash cans, old pots and pans, and an assortment of drums and other percussion instruments and start creating a loud, joyful rhythm. Soon a crowd gathers. It's im­possible not to smile when you hear the joyful music being made mostly from junk. Homeless folk and people from the neighbor­hood start dancing. Then the church members start distributing food-not in the somber style of a soup kitchen, but in the joy­ful atmosphere of a street party. They don't have to say a word, really, they're demonstrating their message-that the kingdom of God is like a street party to which everybody is invited.

My friend Tony Campolo tells a true story that also serves as a great parable in this regard. He was in another time zone and couldn't sleep, so well after midnight he wandered down to a doughnut shop where, it turned out, local hookers also came at the end of a night of turning tricks. There, he overheard a con­versation between two of them. One, named Agnes, said, "You know what? Tomorrow's my birthday. I'm gonna be thirty-nine." Her friend snapped back, "So what d'ya want from me? A birth­day party? Huh? You want me to get a cake and sing happy birthday to you?" The first woman replied, "Aw, come on, why do you have to be so mean? Why do you have to put me down? I'm just sayin' it's my birthday. I don't want anything from you. I mean, why should I have a birthday party? I've never had a birth­day party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?"

When they left, Tony got an idea. He asked the shop owner if Agnes came in every night, and when he replied in the affir­mative, Tony invited him into a surprise party conspiracy. The shop owner's wife even got involved. Together they arranged for a cake, candles, and typical party decorations for Agnes, who was, to Tony, a complete stranger. The next night when she came in, they shouted, "Surprise!"-and Agnes couldn't believe her eyes. The doughnut shop patrons sang, and she began to cry so hard she could barely blow out the candles. When the time came to cut the cake, she asked if they'd mind if she didn't cut it, if she could bring it home-just to keep it for a while and savor the moment. So she left, carrying her cake like a treasure.

Tony led the guests in a prayer for Agnes, after which the shop owner told Tony he didn't realize Tony was a preacher. He asked what kind of church Tony came from, and Tony replied, "I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.” The shop owner couldn't believe him. "No you don't. There ain't no church like that. If there was, I'd join it. Yep, I'd join a church like that." Sadly, there are too few churches like that, but if more of us understand the secret message of Jesus, there will be lots more."

CLICK HERE to go to Brian McLaren's website
CLICK HERE to purchase "the Secret Message of Jesus"

a tribute to mothers

Mothers birth us, care for us, teach us, discipline us, and love us, always.

When we’re sick, she stays by our side.
When we fall down, she dusts us off.
When it’s cold outside she reminds us to bring a sweater.
When we wonder “Can I do it?” she cheers us on.
When we accomplish a goal she says, “I’m so proud of you.”
When we go to school for the first time, she acts brave, but we know she’s nervous.
When we bring home a note from the principal she reminds us that she loves us, but there are still consequences to our actions.
When we go on our first date, she paces the room while anxiously watching the clock.
When we head off for college, she reminds us to watch what we eat, and to keep our room clean.
When we choose a mate, she knows that they’re not good enough for us.
When we raise our own family with loving care she knows that she has done her job well.

So, to all the mothers out there we say, “Thank You”. We commend you for your strength and perseverance.

We count on your love.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

The strangest thing happened the other night, I was at a bar and a worship service broke out!

"There is no better loss than to lose myself in You..."

I got the chance to see MuteMath at Slim's in San Francisco on Thursday night. I had heard about their live shows and I have their debut EP so I was familiar with their music. Their live show was absolutely amazing! The energy they put out on stage was just incredible! If you ever get the chance to see them I highly recommend it!
Their music is great and their lyrics are very straightforward and some of the lyrics directly quote scripture. At several points in the evening you could see people with hands upraised singing along in worship right in the middle of this dimly lit bar. It was really an amazing experience.

Imago Dei

"Imago Dei is taken from the Latin meaning the "Image of God". This concept and theological doctrine states that human beings are created in God'’s image and therefore have inherent value independent of their utility or function. The moral implications of the doctrine of Imago Dei are apparent in the fact that if humans are to love God, then humans must love other humans, as each is an expression of God. The ability and desire to love one's self and others, and therefore, God, can become neglected and even opposed. Striving to bring about the Imago Dei in one's life can be seen as the quest for wholeness, or one's "essential" self, as pointed to in Christ'’s life and teachings."

I was listening to a podcast recently where several moderators and a large crowd were discussing the theological implications of the movie "“Crash"”. The movie deals with the subjects of racism, hatred, power, greed, loss, and love. It is a moving work of art which is very difficult to watch at times. This is one of those movies that you end up talking about for a long time after you see it. I had heard several discussions about this movie but when I heard about this podcast and that they were talking about what we can learn of God'’s character, and our nature through this film I had to have a listen.

The discussion centered around this phrase; "Imago Dei". The thought was that all people are made in the image of God, all bearing His likeness, and none more or less valuable in His sight. The moderators talked about the fact that people who are racist see themselves as better than those who are different. They said that the people who were power hungry and greedy saw themselves are better, smarter, and more important than those around them.

I sat back listening to this discussion and nodding my head. "Oh yeah, absolutely! I agree. Those darn racists are horrible. I can't believe how they think they are better than everyone else. I am SO glad I'’m not like that!"”

Over the next several days the term Imago Dei kept turning about in my head. I became convicted that there were areas in my life were I had thought of myself as better than someone else. Subtle thoughts crept in. Thoughts that I was more valuable because I was better looking, or in better shape, or more talented, or smarter, or because I had more money than someone else.

I was feeling pretty self righteous when I was watching that movie. Thinking to myself, "“Thank God I'’m not a sinner like that."” And yet the root of that sin was showing up in my everyday life. I've thought a lot about the "“Imago Dei" and what that means to treat others as they deserve to be treated because they are made in the image of God. It's made me think a lot more, and talk a lot less. I'm trying to love others the way that God loves me. It'’s hard. It'’s a big deal to try to change my thought processes to be less self centered. It's work. It takes a conscience effort to evaluate each of my thoughts. I need to take my thoughts captive. I need to make sure I am thinking the right thoughts and doing the right things for the right reasons.

I'’m trying to see others the way that God sees them.

He is not here... He is risen

He is risen indeed!

May you experience God's pleasure on this resurrection Sunday.


Happy Easter!!!

passover

Sundown, Wednesday. The beginning of the Passover Feast.

It's so easy for us to get so caught up in tradition that we forget that the events that we read about really happened to these people. The Last Supper wasn't some static event that happened in a vacuum. It's more than just a story, more than a painting. It really happened. I've been trying to contemplate the reality of the everyday thoughts, fears, joys, and all the other emotions that the followers of Jesus had during Holy Week.

I'm looking at the clock right now at 5:32pm on Wednesday afternoon and thinking of what it must have felt like for the followers of Jesus as they prepared for the Passover Feast on this evening so many years ago. They had been traveling so I'm sure they were looking forward to the Passover to sit back, relax, eat a little, drink a little wine, and enjoy each others company. It must have been nice to get away from the crowds and have just the core group around them.

Then, as they are eating Jesus begins to speak. "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." The Bible says that they began to ask one by one, "It isn't me, is it, Master?"

"Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, 'It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?'
Jesus said, 'Don't play games with me, Judas.'"

Matthew 26.25 msg

OH SNAP!!! That must've changed the dynamic in the room. Are you kidding?!?! One of the twelve?!?! One of the elite chosen few?!?!? OUTRAGE!!!

Then Jesus starts talking CRAZY TALK! "Eat my flesh, drink my blood..." WHAT?!?!?

WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!?

By the end of the night they would end up at the Mount of Olives, and the garden at Gethsemane. Jesus would continue to bewilder them by telling Peter, one of the closest to Him, that he would betray Jesus. This can't be. Say it 'aint so Peter. Then eventually by the end of the night Judas shows up and greets Jesus with a kiss. Soldiers appear out of nowhere. Jesus is arrested. The disciples flee in fear for their lives.

What were they thinking at that moment?

What happened? This was supposed to be the King. We thought He was going to conquer the Romans, and now he's been arrested?
This isn't at all what we thought about when He kept talking about "His Kingdom." We thought we were going to be ruling and reigning with him and now we are hiding to save our own skins?

What went wrong?

palm sunday

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this? The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Matthew 21:1-11

I was learning a new song for Palm Sunday called "Hosanna" when I learned something interesting. I learned that Hosanna means "Save Us". I always thought that Hosanna meant "Here is the King", or "This is the promised One", or "praise Him", or "He is worthy". I never realized it was a plea.

Since the fall of man there has been a seperation between the Creator and the created. Mankind has longed for that "connection" to God that we were created to enjoy. Ever since sin entered the world there has been an empty spot in man's soul that could only be filled by that connection.

I wonder if there was some sort of sense that the "connection" could finally be re-established on that day of the Triumphal Entry. I wonder if that is why they cried out "SAVE US"?

good quote from a good book

When I was a kid I used to listen to this Mark Cohn album over and over. He had a song on it about his father and how his father had a silver Thunderbird and used to get up in the morning, very early, and start the car and go driving down the street. Mark Cohn's father used to say that a Thunderbird is better than a Buick, and a Thunderbird is better than a foreign car, and if there is a God up in heaven, He drives a silver Thunderbird. I like that song, but I don't think God drives a silver Thunderbird. And I know nobody really believes that sort of thing, that God drives a Thunderbird, but there are people who believe other crazy ideas about God.

I've met people who say God is mad at people, throwing dishes like an alcoholic on a binge, and others who paint God as a fairy running through flowers waving a wand at a unicorn. And all these people are convinced they are right.

The very scary thing about religion, to me, is that people actually believe God is who they think He is. By that I mean they have Him all figured out, mapped out, and as my pastor, Rick, says, "dissected and put into jars on a shelf." You've got a bunch of Catholics in Rome who think one way about God, and a bunch of Baptists in Texas who think another, and that isn't even the beginning. It goes on and on and on like this, and it makes me wonder if God created us in His image or if we created Him in ours. And it isn't just religion, either.

I met a guy not long ago who was very conservative and had opinions all over him, and he was saying why God agreed with his political ideas and why that made his political ideas right. And I was feeling like this guy with the opinions was presenting a kind of Jesus who didn't even exist. His Jesus was just an invention of his imagination, someone who more or less justified his position concerning a lot of different political opinions. Sitting there listening to him made me feel tired. People like that should have an island.

But I suppose I can't blame him because, in my life, God is always changing the way I think of Him. I am not saying God Himself is changing, or that my theology is open and I blur the lines on truth; I am only saying I think I know who He is, then I figure out I don't know very much at all. For instance, and as I have said, a lot of people believe God responds to formulas, but He doesn't.

So that is one example of how our idea of God is always becoming a bit more accurate. And that's one of the things you notice about Jesus in the Gospels, that He is always going around saying, “you have heard it said such and such, but I tell you some other thing.”

If you happened to be a person who thought they knew everything about God, Jesus would have been completely annoying.

CLICK HERE to get "Searching For God Know's What".

what we've been up to...

Katie and a few of her friends are opening their own salon! She's been doing hair and makeup for weddings and special events for about 8 years and decided to open up a full service salon. They are calling it "the Powder Room".

This is one of Katie's partners, Deeanna, in the building. Before we got it, it was a second hand store that was stuffed from floor to ceiling with every imaginable item.

The first step in getting ready was demolition!!! This building was in serious need of an overhaul. This is Katie with her other partner Jennifer tearing up the old flooring. They had clients booked already so we were on a deadline. Everyone helped out.

Remodeling is dusty.

After the demolition it was time to start rebuilding! This is my Dad and I installing the hardwood floors. With the tight deadline we were at the building until midnight most nights. One night we stayed until quarter to 4 in the morning!!! I still haven't recovered.

On Tuesday morning the building looked like a construction site. By midnight Tuesday night it looked like this! We had clients booked for Wednesday morning!

They've decided to go with a "shabby chic" motif. They found most of the furniture used, and then painted it white and pink to match the salon look. Some of the furniture was more shabby than chic. Oh well, beggers can't be choosers.

We got done just in time for the first clients! There are a few last things to get done before it's totally finished, but it looks great already! I'm so proud of Katie and her crew. They've done an awesome job!

miracles DO happen!!!

Woman Gets Beer From Her Kitchen Faucet!

It almost seemed like a miracle to Haldis Gundersen when she turned on her kitchen faucet this weekend and found the water had turned into beer.

Two flights down, employees and customers at the Big Tower Bar were horrified when water poured out of the beer taps.

By an improbable feat of clumsy plumbing, someone at the bar in Kristiandsund, western Norway, had accidentally hooked the beer hoses to the water pipes for Gundersen's apartment.

CLICK HERE to read the story.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Benjamin Franklin