Don’t see this everyday…

No this will not work for junior high retreat.  This is for people in Northern Russia who don’t get much sunlight for parts of the year.  This one to two minute ultraviolet light bath provides much needed Vitamin D.

There has to be a sermon/teaching illustration in here somewhere… ideas?!?!?

 

The Beautiful Story of Freedom

I’m back from an extended summer long blog fast and want to share this story and a couple questions with you…

God has had me in the Exodus story for about a year now.  It all started with a devotional, gained momentum in a short writing project and then exploded with a speaking assignment for the Mid-Atlantic Nazarene Teen camp where the Scripture was… you guessed it… Exodus.  An evolving group of us shared thoughts and ideas on the week’s theme, “Freedom”, starting in January.  The process was quite helpful for me personally as well as in developing the teachings for the week.

I used the following rough outline as a guide for the week:

1.  Freedom from Slavery – Exodus 1 – Talking about the things that enslave us and how God wants to bring us our slavery and into freedom (Definition of slaver: submission to a dominating influence)

2.  Freedom from Circumstances – Exodus 3 – Talking about how many of us, like Moses, have never really felt like we fit in or belonged, and how God can free us from circumstances, our past, our weaknesses and our excuses and use them to call us into loving others to freedom.

3.  Freedom from gods – Exodus 7-12 – Talking about how God used the plagues to defeat the main gods of Egypt at the time and how in God love wins out over the gods of our culture and lives too.

4.  Freedom for relationship – Exodus 19-20  – Talking about how God has freed us not to fall back into the same slavery, or into a new slavery, but has freed us to be in right kind of relationship with Him and with others – the best kind of life.

One of the great expressions of our journey as a camp through this Exodus was on Thursday night.  We did “Cardboard Confessionals”  We had students come up and on one side of a poster board write the things that God had has freed them from and on the other side the things that God has freed them to (or called them to).  It was heartwrenching and beautiful.  The courage of students to pray together, to be honest, and to share part of their story was a true Kingdom moment!

Two observations:

1) I wonder what more of our communities would look like if we were willing to be that honest with one another?  What hope would we offer one another as we share how God is working in our lives?  What light would we bring as we express the freedom that we are experiencing?  What truth could we share as we confess together?

2)  Collaboration makes us all better.  This great moment only came about because some of the people at the camp – notably Gregg Alsbrooks and Brian Miller – were willing to share this idea with me and work with me to find a way to incorporate more student involvement and sharing.  Their ideas on this came from the below YouTube video of another church’s similar experience.  While it is not exactly the same, it will give you an idea of what it can look like and the power of it.

A couple of questions for you:

1) What has God freed you from?

2)  What has God freed you for (or called you to)?

 

Quitting on Coffee

You read that right.  I’m quitting coffee.  Actually this is the beginning of week 2 and  I’m doing pretty well with it. Some mild headaches and occasional shakes, but all in all, pretty good.

coffee!

Some might remember that I tried this a few years back.  Quit cold turkey mid-winter.  That did not go well.  My family was ready to pack up my things and send me out into the cold.  The co-workers commented on my “grumpiness”.  [I guess throwing that Jr. Higher out of my car going 70 down I-95 wasn't a good idea...]  This sounds so silly because it’s just not drinking a beverage every morning, but it was one of the hardest things I’ve done.  [BTW... just kidding about that - I was only going like 63.]

Why quit?  It’s part of my normal cylce of dependency.  This is the third time in my life I’ve completed the cycle.  Here are the steps.

1.  Drink 1 cup of joe occassionally as needed

2.  Drink 1 cup/day

3.  Drink 3 cups/day

4.  Drink 3 pots/day

I’ve worked up to number 4 and its time to reset the cycle.  Besides I’m eyeing an i-touch and am thinking the $25/month could go a long way to getting me there!

In all seriousness, it is also an attempt by me to recognize that I should not live my life dependent on anything other than God.  I’m trying to cleanse my life a bit.

Will I ever drink coffee again?  Probably?  Considering PhD work + teaching full load begins in the fall.

So what about it?  Anybody else show some discipline in their life lately and quit something old or start something new?  Do you think Jesus would be a coffee drinker?

 

Spiritual Stimulus Plan

This is the newest term for “revivals”.  And I think I like it.  Very 2.0 if you ask me.

 

Christianity: My hobby?

Some interesting news coming out today from the American Religious Identification Survey about the US and Christian church attendance… You can see articles here and here about this already… The data says that fewer Americans are calling themselves Christian (75% down from 85%), more are saying they are non-religious (15% up from 8%)  and perhaps most disturbing is this quote from Barry Kosmin the survey co-author…

“religion has become more like a fashion statement, not a deep personal commitment for many.”

 

Lent Meditation

For Lent this year my family and I have each chosen a beatitude and are meditating on it.  I’ve chosen, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Special thanks to City Side Church for the guides.  Each week they’ll add more to the meditation process.  You’re welcome to join us!

 

Christmas Cheer

My kids say it all the time, my friends joke about it and my students remind me of it often… I’m old.  I’m also pretty goofy.  Hopefully these two things will make you realize how goofy you are and perhaps how you too are getting old…

1) Tis the season for some “Elf-yourself” fun.  You can try it with your own pics here.

2) How about this site for some major league fun and flashbacks?  Atari anyone?  How about the A-team van?  Or how about this clip of Bo Jackson on Super Techmo?

 

Even the darkness… UPDATED

For the last two weeks I’ve been listening pretty much non-stop to “Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings” worship album, “Songs from Jacob’s Well”.

It is dyn-o-mite!  Which is the highest rating I can give anything in the world.

Why, you may ask, is this so dyn-o-mite? Let me count the ways…

1.  Great music, great songs, great production.

2.  All these songs are “worship” songs, but not happy, crappy praise stuff.  These are really well done songs that come from within the heart of the community of Jacob’s Well.  Songs written out of Scripture passages that they worked through together, songs written out of struggles, joys, pains and victories.  In short, it’s the real stuff of life that comes out here and comes out so beautifully.

3.  Okay, I’ll reveal a little bias on my part.  We just moved from Kansas City where we were a part of Jacob’s Well and these are the songs that I love and miss.  I’ve told friends about them for years and now I get to share them (and some of my stories that go with them).  Plus I count Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings as friends.  BUT, don’t let my personal bias sway you because…

4.  As someone who has spent some time working with bands, musicians, etc. in the events I’ve done, I can honestly say that this album bears out what is heard most every Sunday at Jacob’s Well.  Excellent musicians.  Small touches of artistry within songs that reveal a deeper level of both revelation and beauty.  Well written songs that poetically capture in words and music what the heart is already saying.  The album music and the live music match up.

5.  I am pro-Jesus and pro-Scripture and this album is chocked full of great references to our hope, peace and love found only in Christ and revealed in Scripture.  For another level of fun you might listen to the album with Scripture in one hand.

6.  Album artwork... well it’s pretty much perfect for this album.  Also well done and completely authentic.

7.  I’ve saved this one for last because it is the most revealing and to be honest as a man who grew up in Flint, Michigan, a little hard to admit.  It makes me cry.  That’s right.  Pretty much every time I listen to the album all the way through when I get to “Words” the last song (and my favorite song in the Universe which is undoubtedly is being sung by angels as we speak), I cry.  Sometimes its just tears streaming down my cheeks, and other times its a bit of blubbering, but its true.  It moves me that much.  There I’ve blogged it and its out there for everyone to see.

If that’s not enough for you… my family loves it as well.  Go here and buy it and have it shipped immediately to wherever you are.  You will smile (and maybe cry).

UPDATE:  Here and here are a couple more reviews worth checking out.  I’d also recommend this interview with Mike.  If you are super lucky and live in KC or will be in the area this weekend check out this great opportunity.  If you go, give Mike and His Secret Siblings an appropriate man hug for me.

 

Emergentia: check out this event!!

I’ve been working on this event for the last almost year.  I’m really excited that it is finally coming together and believe that God has some great things planned as people connect to Him and each other through this event.  Here is the info… hit me with questions!

I’d like to invite you to an exciting event that I’m a part of this fall. I think you’d really enjoy this type of event and hope you can make it. Give me a call if you have any questions.

Emergentia:

a gathering of co-journers for conversation on ministry in an emerging culture

When:

Nov. 5-8, 2008 – Portland, OR

hosted by Community of Adsideo

Who:

All practitioners, advocates and those in between who are doing and supporting ministry in an emerging culture.

Why emergentia:

Latin, n. – “an unforeseen occurrence”. As we join God in his work in this emerging and post-modern culture, we literally join God in helping the gospel “to rise up” or “to come to light” in new and exciting ways!

What:

This is a gathering of people who are doing and supporting ministry in an emerging culture. None of us have been here before and none of us are experts, but we all bring our lives and experiences with us to share. Therefore, the format of our Nazarene gathering will be largely conversational. The various conversations will be set and lead by those in attendance. (You could think of it as a place to have all the conversations we cram into meals and breaks at other conferences!) We will also serve together, learn together, play together, pray together and worship together.

Registration:

Cost will be $39/person to help cover facilities and administrative costs. Registrations after October 7 will be $49/person. Housing and meals will be on your own. You can register and get more information at uc.nyitoday.org. Once you register you’ll get information on housing options and message boards where you can submit topics for discussion, arrange ride sharing, etc.

Schedule:

We will begin registration at 6pm on Wednesday evening with opening session at 7:30pm. We will be finished by 11:30am on Saturday. (More details to follow.)

In collaboration with

USA/Canada Nazarene Youth International and USA/Canada Mission Evangelism/NewStart

 

Intuitive Leadership Conference Reflections

I just finished up at Tim Keel’s Intuitive Leadership Conference here in KC.  It was phenomenal.  God has truly gifted Tim with the poetic ability to put words to the things we are experiencing and feeling.  The conference is a follow up/supplement to Tim’s book which I highly recommend.

Here’s a summary: