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Neighbors

I am excited about the Queen Anne Art Walk tonight, I want to invite any of you in the area to enjoy some art and meet some neighbors.

Get a friend, a cup of coffee and stroll.

Nothing is Everything

It's interesting to me how human beings are on a search for meaning and purpose. That is not a cultural thing, a generational thing or a trendy thing. It's a human thing. In our culture people spend millions of dollars and gazillons of hours and much angst trying to find out "Why am I here? What's my purpose?" These are legit questions and they are certainly worth the effort for the discovery.

As this quest becomes tedious and sometimes elusive, others find ways to raise cynicism to a whole new level. Take Seinfeld for an example. The show about nothing. The genious behind the show is that really nothing is actually something. I think sometimes our culture really hates the idea of nothing or starting over or  new beginnings. It almost seems like wasted time to start from scratch. Often I hear people talking about someone who had to "start over" a marriage, finances, or job. The sentiment seems like, "whew, glad that's not me." Granted, wise people learn from the mistakes of others, but the "start over" piece in life is all about grace and second chances and "mulligans."

I think Jesus really embraces the "nothing is everything" way of life. In a conversations with a very wise rabbi, Jesus told him to start over. To be exact, he said: "be re born!" Now, that is a do over; that is truly starting from the bottom and looking up. This is the place of nothing. When Jesus bids us to be re born, to start over, to begin again, he offers himself as the ultimate aide, guide and vested partner to navigate the trials, troubles and tests of life. In fact, he gives you everything and he is left with nothing...except YOU.

Jesus makes nothing look like everything.  

The fog is lifting...kinda

I figured out something, I think. It is truly "work" to keep up with all the tech stuff that is supposed to keep me cutting edge and relevant. Well, I think I am losing the cutting edge and relevant battle. I have twitter, Facebook, a blog and something else that i can't think of right now. I am trimming the fat off of my tech stuff and going to pick two mediums only. So, what would you,(now limited readers on this blog because I have been so neglectful in posts) recommend?

1. Twitter/Facebook

2. Twitter/blog

3. Blog/Facebook

4. Blog/Twitter

How clever of me to get you all involved. (rolling eyes).

The joy of being a Pastor

Saw this and had to post it. It is a joy and honor to do what I do!

We are there for one reason and one reason only: to preach and to pray (the two primary modes of our address). We are there to focus the overflowing, cascading energies of joy, sorrow, delight, or appreciation, if only for a moment but for as long as we are able, on God. We are there to say 'God' personally, to say his name clearly, distinctly, unapologetically, in proclamations and in prayers. We are there to say it without hemming and hawing, without throat clearing and without shuffling, without propagandizing, proselytizing, or manipulating. We have no other task. We are not needed to add to what is there. We are required only to say the name: Father, Son, Holy Ghost. 

All men and women hunger for God. The hunger is masked and misinterpreted in many ways, but it is always there. Everyone is on the verge of crying out “My Lord and my God!” but the cry is drowned out by doubts or defiance, muffled by the dull ache of their routines, masked by their cozy accommodations with mediocrity. Then something happens — a word, an event, a dream — and there is a push toward awareness of an incredible Grace, a dazzling Desire, a defiant Hope, a courageous Faithfulness. But awareness, as such, is not enough. Untended, it trickles into religious sentimentalism or romantic blubbering. Or, worse, it hardens into patriotic hubris or pharisaic snobbery. 

The pastor is there to nudge the awareness past subjectivities and ideologies into the open and say 'God.'"

-Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant

Earl Creps

I am really looking forward to hearing Earl Creps this Sunday at All Saints. Earl is a friend and fellow church planter. He is taking the arduous task of planting a church in Berkley, Ca; probably one of the tougher spots in the country to plant a church. 

Earl brings incredible wisdom and insight and is such a cool guy. He will be at both gatherings on Sunday, August 9, it will be a great opportunity to hear about Earl's church and his understanding of the culture and how theology helps redeem it. 

Earl is also an author, he has two great books that I have read and enjoyed; Reverse Mentoring and Off-Road Disciplines. 

Earl will also be at El Diablo Coffee Co at 10 am Monday morning, August 10th. If you are interested stop by and listen to Earl while drinking some mighty fine coffee.

Orlando, WiFi, hoops and being with Seth.

Being in Orlando didn't afford me the time I thought I was going to have to do some blogging. For one, the wifi was like $10 a day, who makes you pay for wifi? Oh, wait...anything Disney. Our tournament was at the Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World. Seriously, everything there is like $5--10 more than anything outside the park. I look forward to seeing Seth there when he is playing for the West McDonalds High School All America team. (a little Dad pride there). Second, we were watching hoops 8hrs a day. I must say, watching my son compete on this level was amazing. I am so proud of him. The team was playing some excellent talent and the boys from the PacNW held their own. We didn't win every game but man we learned a lot. There are some incredible ballers on the east coast, but there are some emerging ones right here in Seattle.

I enjoyed having this time with my boy, these are moments that you don't get but when they come around, take them. We have some good memories that will last a life time. For that, it was worth the humidity, heat, horrible wifi, and hours of hoops. 

I am fortunate and blessed, I am a Dad.

Off to Orlando

Seth has a tourney in Orlando this next week. Looking forward to the games. Not looking forward to the heat and humidity. The pic is Seth and his buddy waiting to board our first leg of the cross country journey.

I miss Sue already.

A few quotes, and some thoughts on anger and forgiveness

All of us get angry, some get angry and hurt while others get angry and heal. If it is true, and I will appeal that it is, that we are created in the image of God, then anger is part of who we are. We can observe Christ in the gospels getting angry, yet his anger wasn't hurting others or himself. Here is a great quote from a well known person:

    In our efforts at eliminating the monster, we must take care that we do not become the monster. 

— Bono, lead singer for U2

Anger can be used to bring about healing and bring attention to things that matter. It also is a sign to us that we must pay attention to something inside of us that needs to be heard or healed. Another quote:

    One of the seven deadly sins, anger, is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long     past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the     pain you are given and the pain you are giving back—in many ways it’s a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what     you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you. 

— Frederick Buechner

Listen. Be still. Sometimes anger and frustration want you to act. Don't disregard feelings as stupid, trite or dumb. They are feelings. When we stuff, we tend to grow in frustration. When we don't take the time and courage to confront ourselves and others we do become "a skeleton." To forgive someone is such a gift. It is truly freeing. And yet, another quote: 

    To forgive is to set a prisoner free. That prisoner is you. 

— Corrie Ten Boom

Jesus says to us, forgive and forgive and forgive. Don't quit on forgiving, keep forgiving. I have seen unforgiveness grow deep roots of bitterness and it completely wipes away beauty. I have known people, family, who live with bitterness or have died with unforgiveness, the "monster" died with them.  I know of some that use the fuel of bitterness to justify their anger. It is not something that we can tame, or control. Bona is right, in our effort to eliminate the monster, we become the monster. We need to understand the powerful example of Christ. He forgave completely and utterly. In so doing, he demonstrated the most beautiful act in human history.

What a thing of beauty, today you have the power to give a gift to someone, maybe that someone is you.

Sunday @ All Saints

We had a very moving, inspirational and challenging day at All Saints. We began a series on the book of James and the subject was joy in suffering. Such a difficult topic, such a dark place at times. I am amazed when I observe, walk with and pray for people dealing with some incredible circumstances in their life. 

Yesterday, we were able to listen to Kathi Goertzen share her decade plus long battle and four surgeries battle with a brain tumor. It was so inspiring to see her tenacity and strength, her decision to "give it over" to God everyday. We also heard how devastating it has been for her as well. You can listen to the podcast here.

The story of Jesus comes to life when you see and hear from people who experience his power, healing and help. It isn't hard to see...when you are looking for it. 

Thank you, Kathi! You are an amazing woman!

Summer Reads

I read books that require a pen and a hi-lighter, sometimes I just read a good book just to have the experience of enjoying a good story. Here are a couple few reads you might enjoy:

1.  The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers

2.  The Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon

3.  Traveling Mercies by Anne LaMott

4.  The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

5.  A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

If you read any of these send me a review, I would be curious to know what you think.