Blog on the Edges

New Blog...

2009-10-30T13:35:00.002-06:00

Just to let you know that I'm now writing on a new site. The format's a little different, so it might look funny for a while, but I'll get used to it.

www.ethanbryan.com

Love Never Fails

2009-10-23T08:03:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, a song wrote me, and it all started on Facebook. I had posted my status as “Love never fails.” Within a few minutes, one of my friends commented, “Don’t let me ever forget that.”

A little later, another friend and I were “Facebook-chatting,” and he too commented on my status. He has been having some health issues in recent years and told me that he is in that place where he is ready to die. However, he said, I just can’t imagine the hell I’ve put my family through. He finished by saying, I’m hoping with everything I have that love really never fails.

The next morning, I got out my guitar and started. Within a couple of hours, it was finished.

Love Never Fails

Shadows fall across
The threshold of death’s door
Through this vale of endless tears
Desperate plea
How long, how long, O Lord
Must I wrestle with these fears

Sky is falling, wolf they cry
Save yourself and wave good-bye
My heart hears an angel song

Love never fails
Love never fails
Darkest night, no strength to fight
Taunted by these hells
Love never fails

These are the days
Of apathy and greed
Of itching ears and broken dream
These are the days
Of cutting just to bleed
And we’re too numb to run and scream

Sky is falling, wolf they cry
Save yourself and wave good-bye
My heart hears an angel song

Love never fails
Love never fails
Darkest night, no strength to fight
Taunted by these hells
Love never fails

Comes in weakness, comes with power
Healing through the hopeless hour
Love’s the very air we breathe

Love never fails
Love never fails
Stronger than our blood and fears
Deeper than our hells
Love never fails

When the song was finished, I still had some ideas stirring, brewing inside of me. Looking closely at the lyrics, I picked out five phrases and started writing a short devotional book based solely on the song. For the last few weeks, I’ve been reading these devotional thoughts to the youth on Sunday mornings. I “should” be done writing them in another couple of weeks.

One of last week's writings stuck with me and I felt like sharing it with anyone who dared to come this way.

Love bears scars forever to heal all of our wounds. The scars of Love set us free from death’s numbing grip, set us free to live. Love breaks open the calluses that anesthetize our hearts, allowing us to feel again. Love speaks into the chaotic numbness of our hearts and life is born anew.

Love never fails.

Catalyst Musings

2009-10-12T14:10:00.003-05:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to go to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, GA. It was my first trip to Atlanta, where I wasn’t trapped in customs for not existing in the national database of official US citizens. Close to 13,000 people attended the conference, which was packed with music and video and speakers full of inspiration and information. I’ll probably be processing my experience for many months to come, but here’s a brief summary of things that challenged and changed me.

1. Following Jesus is a life of risk and creativity. When we choose to rest on past successes or enjoy current privileges, we lose sight of the God who calls us on a journey to the cross. Failure is part of the journey; so is forgiveness.

2. We live in a culture obsessed with safety and security, leading to the development of artificial environments that have very little to do with day-to-day living or following Jesus. Following Jesus takes place in the real world, full of fears and doubts and questions, not behind closed doors.

3. “Technology separates us from those closest to us” (Shane Hipps). Technologies are an extension of the person (Marshall McLuhan). Our current addictions to all mediums blind us to the hidden powers of those inventions to shape everything from how we learn to how we interact with others.

4. “The flickering mosaic of pixilated light (on the TV) re-patterns neural pathways in the brain. These new pathways are simply opposed to the pathways required for reading, writing, and sustained concentration” (Shane Hipps, Flickering Pixels, 78).

5. We live in a time of overconfident leaders. We need leaders who lead through humility, demonstrated in the willingness to listen to and learn from others (Malcolm Gladwell).

6. Jesus said, “The first will be last.” We don’t believe this, and we certainly don’t live by it.

7. There are 143,000,000 orphans in the world. It is imperative that we come alongside those in need, sharing resources, love, and hope. One hundred--$100!—well-spent dollars can change a village. (Two fantastic organizations are Compassion International and Hope International).

8. Shoes are a gift and a joy. If you don’t believe me, check out TOMS shoes.

9. Sleep is over-rated. Chick-fil-a is not.

10. “There is no place like home.”

Lessons of the Century or "What I learned on last weekend’s really, really, long bike ride."

2009-10-01T09:40:00.005-05:00

Last Saturday, I completed my third century ride in three years. I now have bike riding friends who try and ride a century a month during the summer (which sounds both cool and crazy). Three centuries, I think, is the minimum number from which one can wax (wane? whine?) eloquently about what one learns while on a crazily long bike ride. Now the trick is to remember these lessons in “real life”…

1. It is much more enjoyable to ride together than alone. Riding alone may be good for the soul, but riding together makes the journey possible. I am convinced that bike riding is intended to be a social exercise, not a solo exercise. There were times that I rode with small groups and was able to sustain 22-24 mph for many miles. I am not capable of doing that on my own. Riding with others brings out the best in me, and makes the journey more fun in general.

2. Balance is imperative. At one stop, I lost my balance and bruised my left kneecap. It only happened once, but it was embarrassing and painful.

3. Ibuprofen and Tylenol are miracles of God. Enough said.

4. Enjoy the sights and smells. Even though the slaughter-houses and road kill turned me slightly queasy, there were many simple sights and smells of the wandering and rolling countryside that this city-boy just doesn’t appreciate as often as he should. The blazing sun breaking through the clouds on a crisp fall morning, lighting the way. Simple fields and small forests with meandering streams.

5. “Riding hills makes me stronger.” It’s the mantra I’ve quoted to myself for the last three years, and, in general, I do like riding hills and think that I am a decent hill rider. In my head I know that I only grow stronger through struggles, and there were some impressive hills last weekend. However, riding hills after eating lunch makes me sick.

6. Numbers can suck the fun out of anything. When we were just getting started, we got into a rhythm quickly, and I felt like we were going pretty fast. I leaned over to Grant and asked, “How far have we ridden?” He replied, “Four and a half miles.” I settled in the saddle for a long day. (Side note: Out of 2,000 riders, the lowest number I saw was “2” and the highest I saw was “1836.” I was “1777.” Grant was “203.”

7. Sometimes you pull, sometimes you are pulled. Except for the arrogant team that won’t let anyone new ride with them.

8. Cross the finish line together. I couldn’t have made it to the finish line without borrowing strength from Grant and Eli. When we crossed the finish line, there were those who had gone on before us cheering us on. And we got the privilege of cheering on others too.

9. Remember the mission. The night before the ride, the team (Tour de Ray) went to visit the team’s namesake at an assisted-living facility. We visited for a while and took pictures. Just before we left, he said, “You guys really don’t know how much this means that you are riding for me.” During some of those tough stretches, simply thinking of Ray put everything into proper perspective.

10. Dr Pepper tastes really good after 105 miles.

The Struggle

2009-09-21T13:16:00.003-05:00

We loathe struggling.

The first time I remember struggling in school (apart from elementary school handwriting…ugh) was Mr. Quigley’s Calculus class. A severe case of Senioritis combined with the unanswerable question of “What-will-I-do-with-my-life-when-high-school-is-over?” and resulted in an overwhelming apathy towards anything school-related. The only cure was to play golf. So I did. I completely avoided the struggle.

A little over three years ago, I read Shane Claiborne’s Irresistible Revolution. This incredible story challenged my comfortable suburban assumptions, stirred the slumbering prophet within, and called me to follow Jesus in the struggle of radical and ordinary love. I started learning to embrace the struggle.

Last Saturday, I went riding bikes with some friends to prepare for the MS-150. On this particular loop is the infamous “Longview Hill.” Over the past three summers, I have been training myself to love hill riding with the simple mantra, “Riding hills makes me stronger.” I overheard one rider say, “I would love bike riding more if there weren’t so many hills.” I started seeing purpose in the struggle.

One of my favorite stories in Scripture is the story of Jacob wrestling with God. He’s on his way to meet his brother, and is quite anxious about the vengeance Esau will exact. Instead of resting on a rock-pillow, Jacob goes WWF with God. At the break of dawn, God changes Jacob’s name to Israel. Israel means, “one who struggles with God.”

Jacob was completely transformed in this divine encounter. From this day on, he walked with a limp, because of an injury that occurred in the struggle. The limp was a tangible reminder that he now is no longer who he once was, but a new creation. From this day on, Jacob is no longer “the deceiver,” but the one who will live in light of the struggle. I started finding comfort in the struggle.

Over the past few years, my struggles have increased.

I still struggle living in the relative comforts of suburbia while millions have no place to call home.

I still struggle with our material excesses and easy access to food and clean water while 30,000 will die today from no food or clean water. (Take a moment and think about that number. That’s 10x the number of 9/11. Every day).

I still struggle to find affordable clothes and shoes that didn’t enslave someone in the making process.

I still struggle with a call to write stories and sing songs and dream dreams and pay the mortgage.

But I am finally learning.

In the struggle, I follow in the footsteps of those who don’t have all the answers yet live in a radical trust that love never fails.

In the struggle, the temporary plastic trinkets of stuff are revealed as the fluff of life and the true treasures are found in relationships with friends who are willing to faithfully walk with me.

In the struggle, I am starting to find joy, for I know that this faith of mine desperately needs to be strengthened, not overly dependent on what these myopic eyes see.

In the struggle, I find hope. For the struggle sends me to new places, to meet new people, to hear new stories, and to learn that there are others on this journey too.

I recently read Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) and loved it. Huxley imagines and writes some 600 years into the future, yet it looks remarkably like today. In this utopian world, people don’t struggle, for they have anything that they want whenever they want it. Towards the end of the book, the Savage, John, shouts out in protest to the consumptive comforts:

“I don’t want comfort, I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.”

It is in the struggle we find the fullness of life.

Christian Activities Center

2009-09-14T15:23:00.002-05:00

In ten days, I'm going with some friends to the Christian Activities Center in East St Louis, IL. I've been about 10 times or so over the last five years. It is one of my favorite places on the planet. On my first trip to the CAC, I tore my ACL and was blessed to have reconstructive surgery for my 30th birthday. On ensuing trips, I have won 3-point contests, been reintroduced to four-square, lost center checkers, and made many friends.

So, in ten days, I get to go back for one of their annual fundraisers. A simple dinner and a simple ask for donations. This year, I decided to host a table, and invite 8 friends to come and see this incredible place.

And then I found this. Today, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote an incredible article about the CAC. Take a minute to read it; you won't be disappointed.

In a day and time when all the media seems to do is complain and seek control, here is a picture of a table in the wilderness, a light in the darkness, a hope for the future.

My Bucket List...Kinda...

2009-09-11T09:57:00.002-05:00

I recently turned 35, so I challenged myself to write a list of 35 things that I’d like to do in the next year. I didn’t realize how big that number is. The list of 35 never happened. However, here’s what I do have.

Play catch with Frank White.

Complete another century ride.

Complete another CD project.

Read and re-read some classic pieces of literature: Of Mice and Men, 1984, To Kill a Mockingbird, and others.

Go 24 hours without talking.

Purchase a new pair of TOMS Shoes.

Play golf on a consistent basis—including all of my favorite Springfield courses: Payne Stewart Memorial, Rivercut, Deer Lake, and maybe Highland Springs.

Start working on a new manuscript.

Organize a fundraiser for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.

Have lunch with Mr. Nichols.

Eat at Chick-fil-A.

Go camping with my family.

Meet an independently wealthy, passionate, generous benefactor who will gladly sponsor some of my projects.

Meet Byron in person.

Attend the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh in February.

Spend some time with friends at the CAC in East St. Louis, IL.

Go to a Royals’ game, sitting immediately behind the Royals’ dugout.

Brainstorm solutions to worldwide poverty and modern-day slavery.

Smile more.

So, what’s on your bucket list?

Hopefully, when I turn 36, I will have no recollection of this list whatsoever, and will not feel obligated to chase the windmills of yesteryear.

Dear Miley...

2009-09-02T15:22:00.006-05:00

Dear Miley,

I love music. Music brings healing and hope in difficult and trying times. Music helps us express ourselves as well as learn who we really are. I cannot (and do not want to) imagine living in a world without music.

Like you, I too make a living with music, as a musician and songwriter at a church. Getting together with friends to play, sing, and make good music is a rush and quite fulfilling. Even more amazing is playing in front of an audience, and having the audience sing with you lyrics you wrote!

I have two daughters who both love to sing and dance, who have each developed quite an eclectic taste in music. Both of my girls like your music (and Hannah’s too, go figure). When we learned that you were coming to the Kansas City area on your next tour, they were ecstatic. We looked into purchasing tickets.

That was a big mistake.

I don’t blame you at all. In fact, I doubt that you have any idea how much the tickets are for your concerts, or even where all the money goes. I imagine that the majority of the moolah goes to promoters and labels and venues and sponsors and lights and electronics and other musicians and that you and your family actually receive a fairly small percentage. Yet, for my family of four to attend your concert, it would cost us around $300 for seats that are located behind the stage. There would be no hope of actually saying “Hi,” having a discussion, or sharing stories with you.

$300.

That’s almost 10% of what I make in a month.

Allow me just a minute, please, to put that amount of money in perspective.

Did you know that $100 can purchase 1,000 pounds of food for a local food pantry?

Did you know that $200 can pay the education costs for 6 children in Africa?

Did you know $250 could purchase a water buffalo which would provide protein-rich milk, strength to till soil, manure to enrich the land, and hope for a family in Filipino villages?

And instead of upgrading our seats to see the concert from the front, we could spend $450 and provide a child a future filled with hope, food, clean water, medical care, educational opportunities, life-skills training, and caring relationships with adults who will nurture and love the child as their own.

I recently read this article online about the importance of music, originally written by Karl Paulnack. The following is his conclusion:

You’re not here to become an entertainer, and you don’t have to sell yourself. The truth is you don’t have anything to sell; being a musician isn’t about dispensing a product, like selling used cars. I’m not an entertainer; I’m a lot closer to a paramedic, a firefighter, a rescue worker. You’re here to become a sort of therapist for the human soul, a spiritual version of a chiropractor, physical therapist, someone who works with our insides to see if they get things to line up, to see if we can come into harmony with ourselves and be healthy and happy and well.

Frankly, ladies and gentlemen, I expect you not only to master music, I expect you to save the planet. If there is a future wave of wellness on this planet, of harmony,
of peace, of an end to war, of mutual understanding, of equality, of fairness, I don’t expect it will come from a government, a military force or a corporation. I no longer even expect it to come from the religions of the world, which together seem to have brought us as much war as they have peace. If there is a future of peace for humankind, if there is to be an understanding of how these invisible, internal things should fit together, I expect it will come from the artists, because that’s what we do.

Music is a gift.

It is a gift to the person who practices the instrument hours on end, sings like the angels, and writes lyrics exposing the depths of the soul. Music is a gift to those who hear and are healed, who allow the melodies to bring hope in darkness, who find their voice through another. Music is a gift to the person singing, playing, and writing, in ways that words are too inadequate to express.

And because music is a gift that originated somewhere in the heavenlies, I think it should be for all people. To share music and make friends is a delight. As the gap between the poor and rich continues to increase exponentially, I simply cannot justify spending $300 to come and hear you in person.

Miley, I hope you have a blast in Kansas City--it truly is a great place. Try some Gates BBQ. Take a stroll through the Plaza. And sing your heart out.

As for me and my family, we just might break out the guitar and make some music of our own.

Dreamer

2009-08-27T09:23:00.003-05:00

I have dreams.

Not the kind of dreams where I’m playing catch or taking batting practice with the Royals. Not the kind of dreams where I’m riding my own brand new bicycle. Not the kind of dreams where I’m a best-selling and sought after author. But dreams that change me.

Most mornings, I remember my dreams from the previous night. The vast majority of my dreams are simple concoctions and combinations of what I read before bed, what I watched before bed, and whatever song I last sang.

But some aren’t.

A couple of months ago, on the annual church leadership retreat, I took a nap. I love naps. I think they should be mandatory. One hour for lunch. One hour for nap. During this particular nap, I had two dreams. The first dream was about a friend who was also on the retreat. I simply dreamed that she would catch a fish. The retreat was at a cabin on the lake, and in the eight years I’ve attended, I have only caught one fish. The same afternoon I caught my fish, Megan (my friend) caught a fish easily twice as big. In the dream, Megan caught a very big fish. When I awoke, I told Megan that I was done fishing for the retreat, because she was the one who was going to catch a big fish.

Late that night, I was leading worship on the dock, and Megan was fishing. At the conclusion of the third song, she caught a huge fish! It was quite exciting. We captured the moment on her cell phone.

But I think that dream and series of events occurred to get me to pay attention to the second dream.

The second dream was a vision of a family-style restaurant, fair trade store, safe place for youth, food pantry, and clothes closet. I wrote down everything I could remember from the dream and now I’m just waiting. I think that it will be a reality, some time in the not-so-distant future. So I sit with this dream and wonder, What the heck am I supposed to do now?

I recently had another dream. It was of a friend from college. She was in Africa, adopting a little girl. The little girl was in a simple yet beautiful dress, and had a smile that could light up a room. When I woke up, I felt I needed to email my friend and let her know about the dream. So I did. And she simply responded, “Not cool, Ethan.”

Huh.

She later replied, “Oh, I’m glad you told me—it just messes with me something fierce!”

I’m in the process of redesigning my business card. I’m thinking about putting “Dreamer” on there as part of my calling.

I just hope I don’t get sent to Egypt.

Coming Home

2009-08-19T15:26:00.006-05:00

I've been chasing around (or is it being chased by?) an idea for a new music project, which has spurred a recent slew of new songs. Here's another new lyric about home.

Coming Home

Living wanderlustfully
Chasing whim and breeze
Looking for a place that’s free
Of fear and expectation

I'm passing me and waving ‘hi’
I never want to say ‘good-bye’
I'm haunted by the question ‘why’
Still seeking affirmation

Worn down from the struggle
Lost another bout

Tired of trying to juggle
Reckless faith and nagging doubt

Coming home where the memories
Are dancing on the walls
Coming home where laughter’s chasing
Footsteps down the hall
Coming home where healing love will
Kiss me when I fall
Oh, I’m coming home

Even safe in my own bed
I get lost in my heart and head
Can’t believe how far I’ve fled
From hope and my salvation

Worn down from the struggle
Lost another bout
Tired of trying to juggle
Reckless faith and nagging doubt

Coming home where the memories
Are dancing on the walls
Coming home where laughter’s chasing
Footsteps down the hall
Coming home where healing love will
Kiss me when I fall
Oh, I’m coming
Oh, I’m coming
Oh, I’m coming home

Can We Love?

2009-08-14T10:20:00.002-05:00

Can we love each other enough?
Can we love each other enough?
Can we love though edges are broken, rough
Can we love each other enough?

Can we love beyond the walls?
Can we love beyond the walls?
Can we love wherever the Spirit calls
Can we love beyond the walls?

Can we love the Selfless life?
Can we love the Selfless life?
Can we love and follow in joy and strife
Can we love the Selfless life?

Can you love me as I am?
Can you love me as I am?
Can you love when others cuss and damn
Can you love me as I am?

Can we love each other enough?
Can we love each other enough?
Can we love when journeys are trying, tough
Can we love each other enough?

Back to School

2009-08-07T12:44:00.002-05:00

It's August, which means two things:

1. My birthday.
2. School starts.

Ah, the beginning of a new school year. New crayons with sharp points. New pencils with full erasers. New pens with no teeth marks. New notebooks with clean paper. New clothes with no holes. New shoes to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

I’ve always loved the beginning of the school year. It’s like starting fresh in the middle of the year, which is basically awesome. I’ve loved reconnecting with friends and hearing summer stories. I loved learning new things and practicing for soccer.

I’ve also always hated the beginning of the school year. The start of the school year means summer is officially over, and cold days are coming. The start of the school year means that baseball season is drawing to a close, and that there are limited days left on the golf course. The start of the school year means rhythm and routine, and a certain loss of spontaneity and freedom and je ne sais quoi.

But at least I got to go to school. And Kaylea will get to go to school.

Blood: Water Mission is an organization that I think does an incredible job of helping transform lives, with love, hope, and water. This year, we can help friends around the world celebrate the joys of going back to school. We’re hosting a back-to-school party, complete with sand volleyball and pizza. Kids are bringing $5 each, and any extra we receive is going to BWM, because school is for everyone.

http://www.bloodwatermission.com/backtoschool/

Healing Wings

2009-08-02T19:58:00.001-05:00

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4.2)

In light of the current health-care controversy, I’ve been reading some of the healing stories of Jesus. I remembered reading the historical, Hebraic interpretation of the “healing in its wings” passage a few years ago, and found it again in multiple places. It’s a great story for people who are more concerned about money than the millions who are suffering in pain. The following is a compilation from multiple resources:

One of the best known healings that Jesus performed occurred when a woman who had suffered for more than twelve years humbly came up from behind and touched the hem of his garment (Matthew 9; Luke 8). The woman most likely touched the tassels on Jesus’ prayer shawl. In Hebrew, these tassels, which are attached to the corners of the prayer shawl, are called tzitzit. As the prayer shawl was placed over the head, it formed its own tent. “Wings” of the garment were formed when the arms were held out. For this reason, the corners of the prayer shawl are often called "wings." During the first century there were several traditions associated with the tzitzit concerning Messiah. One was that these knotted fringes possessed healing powers (Malachi).

Without a doubt, the woman knew the traditions, and believed that if she could touch the fringes, the wings, she would be healed. That this was the opinion of many other people is revealed by the crowd who sought his healing powers, "that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole."

In light of all of this, I wrote a song:

Wounded Healer

Worn out from my weeping
No strength to carry on
Worried hearts not sleeping
Darkness before the dawn

Screaming for salvation
Silent, whisper cry
Weary desperation
Broken-hearted plight

The healing of the nations
The hope for all mankind
The humble revelation
Savior redefined

Heal me, O Wounded Healer
Save me, Risen King
In this restless loneliness
Bring healing in your wings
Bring healing in your wings
Heal me

The Best Defense is Love

2009-07-24T16:28:00.001-05:00

I used to think that I had to be prepared to defend my faith. Accordingly, I read all of the Christian apologetics books I could get my hands on: Evidence that Demands a Verdict I and II and Updated Editions; Know Why You Believe; and Irrefutable Arguments That Will Convince Every Pagan That Jesus Is Lord (or something like that). I was well versed in C. S. Lewis’ famous “tri-lemma” about Jesus being a “liar, lunatic, or Lord.” I read widely across many disciplines, and felt that I could articulate an intelligent faith-based worldview with anyone.

I was also quite arrogant and cocky, and worshipped a very small God.

Then I saw love in action. Love is the foundation upon which the world rests, and the greatest power in the universe. Love doesn’t set out to prove itself or belittle an “opponent” with the truth. Love walks alongside anyone and simply listens. It is hard to argue against love.

Alicia Britt Chole has written a new book called Finding an Unseen God. It is a memoir, detailing her journey from atheism to the transforming presence of Love. Her story is a wonderful reminder that God isn’t looking for people to defend his name or prove his existence.

God is looking for people who will transform the world with love.

To live in God's Great Story is to live in a radical love for all people.

The Perfect Translation

2009-07-17T13:44:00.002-05:00

I just returned from youth camp in Durango, Colorado where we worshipped with Todd Agnew and heard the Scriptures preached by Ben Stuart. It was a wonderful week, and a great camp. Kudos, Student Life.

On the way to camp, which was about 1000 miles, I saw a church that marketed itself as a KJV-Bible-Believing Church, and I started thinking. During the course of the week, a couple of people asked me which translation I use, poking fun at my duct-tape binding. I was carrying the Message by Eugene Peterson, a translation I've come to appreciate deeply over the past couple of years.

I've been asked multiple times in recent months which translation of the Scriptures is the best. It's a valid question, people are seeking to hear from God. However, it's not the right question to be asking.

Did you know that there are 6909 languages spoken in the world today?

Did you know that there are 2393 languages (representing 200,000,000 people) that have yet to have the Scriptures translated?

Each week at Joel Osteen's church in Houston they recite a creed regarding the Bible. Holding their Scriptures tightly, they recite the creed together. As I was flipping through the stations, I heard the recitation of the creed, and started laughing as I saw a couple of different people lifting up their iPhones.

I took three semesters of Greek and two semesters of Hebrew in seminary. I can still recite to you the alphabet of both languages (most of the time). There are some words that I still remember the nuances of their definitions. I have multiple texts sitting on my bookshelf that aid in biblical scholarship and translation, specifically dealing with all the exceptions to the rules of Greek and Hebrew.

At youth camp, there was a youth minister with a tattoo on his forearm in Hebrew. I looked and looked at it, and just couldn't remember how to read it anymore. So I asked him what it said, and he remembered the English translation, but it had been so long, he no longer remembered how to pronounce the actual Hebrew. We laughed together.

Jesus is a translation, revelation, and invitation of the Father.

Most likely, Jesus spoke Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, and possibly some slang languages.

Jesus did not speak KJV English.

Jesus did not speak the Message English either.

And Jesus did not speak in red letters.

Jesus, the Word who spoke all things into creation, is a translation of the Father's love, revealed in a particular culture, extending an invitation to anyone who will listen.

So, here's my answer to which translation of the Scriptures is the best:

1. Which translation speaks to your heart, not just your mind?

2. Which translation engages your mind, not just your heart?

3. Which translation helps you love God more?

4. Which translation helps you love your neighbor more?

And the most important question of all:

5. Which translation will you not just read, but live?

Here's my answer as a song I wrote not too long ago:

My heart trembles

My soul is satisfied

By Your very Word

Word of all creation

Boundless beauty, breath of life

Heaven's own translation

Sings of peace, amidst the strife

Word of my salvation

Lead me to Truth, guide my ways

Heaven's revelation

Love undying, full of grace

Word to all the nations

All who hunger, all who ache

Heaven's invitation

Hear the call to celebrate

My heart trembles

My soul is satisfied

By Your very Word

God Bless...

2009-07-03T09:56:00.003-05:00

A friend pointed out this new Bible to me a couple of weeks ago, and I've been holding on to it mentally for this weekend. Here's the publisher's description of this Bible:

THE ONE BIBLE THAT SHOWS HOW ‘A LIGHT FROM ABOVE’ SHAPED OUR NATION. Never has a version of the Bible targeted the spiritual needs of those who love our country more than The American Patriot’s Bible. This extremely unique Bible shows how the history of the United States connects the people and events of the Bible to our lives in a modern world. The story of the United States is wonderfully woven into the teachings of the Bible and includes a beautiful full-color family record section, memorable images from our nation’s history and hundreds of enlightening articles which complement the New King James Version Bible text.

America is a blessed nation, but America is not the Kingdom of God. America is home to me and my family and millions of others, but America is not the home that I long for in my dreams. I think Tony Campolo best said it:

I love America.

I believe it to be the best Babylon on the face of the earth.

But it is still Babylon.

So...

God bless China.

God bless Iraq.

God bless Iran.

God bless Afghanistan.

God bless Mexico.

God bless Canada.

God bless Uzbekistan.

God bless Brazil.

God bless Cuba.

God bless Kenya.

God bless Sudan.

God bless Swaziland.

God bless Nepal.

God bless Honduras.

God bless Jamaica.

God bless India.

God bless Pakistan.

God bless Uganda.

God bless Australia.

God bless New Zealand.

God bless France.

God bless Ireland.

God bless Russia.

God bless Germany.

May we learn to fervently pray for, hope for, and work towards justice, peace, and love for all people.

18 Miles of Questions...???

2009-06-29T22:07:00.002-05:00

“Who is that singing the National Anthem?”

This was Kaylea’s first question as we prepared to ride the Tour de Corn. The Tour de Corn is a charity bike ride starting in East Prairie, Missouri and touring some of the less traveled rural highways of southeast Missouri. The highlight of the rest stops is the fresh sweet corn, which hits the spot. This year around 750 cyclists rode, with all donations supporting the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center and the East Prairie Nutrition Center.

We rode to the starting line from my uncle’s house, which gave us a pre-ride total of about 1.5 miles before the 15 mile "real" ride. And the questions began, faster than I could pedal.

“How many ears of corn are on each stalk?”
“How tall do stalks grow?”
“Why are the stalks laying down?”

"How do you pick corn?"

“How far have we gone?”
“How far to the rest stop?”
“Will there be soda at the rest stop?”
“What’s that smell?”
“What’s that noise?”
“Can I have some water?”
“What’s the highest number you’ve seen?”
“What’s the lowest number you’ve seen?”
“What time is it?”

I answered as many questions as I could. When I could not answer the questions, I deferred to Uncle Mike. Even though my ears were tired, I was glad that she was asking the questions.

Here in the US, we tend to shut down curious minds by ignoring questions, or answering too abruptly. The Jewish heritage, however, has a completely different mindset when it comes to questions. When their children start asking questions, they encourage the questions and challenge the children to ask even harder ones. Celebrating curiosity and inquisitiveness, the Jewish heritage supports the intellectual exploration of ideas, concepts, dreams, and imaginings.

There is a strong melancholic side to my personality. In those quiet and down times, questions flood my soul. Sometimes I am thoughtful enough to address those questions to God. Many times, those questions simply ruminate, sometimes surfacing in lyrics. And as much as I want God to answer some of my questions, there is a slight concern that He might ask me some of his own…

“How are you helping to feed the hungry?”
“How are you living in the fullness of My Story, and not just using Me to make yourself important?”
“What are you doing for widows and orphans?”“Are you resting in My love, or still trying to impress Me?”
“How are you doing justice?”
“Are you loving your neighbor? How about your enemy?”
“Do you love Me more than…?”

Last Saturday, Kaylea and I rode 18 miles together. When we got home today, she told me that the bike ride was one of her favorite parts of vacation.

Bring on the questions.

Sharing Bread

2009-06-18T17:16:00.004-05:00

Here in the United States, we are surrounded by food. If you don't believe me, just watch the movie "Over the Hedge." Many children are struggling with obesity, often receiving attention in the news or on Oprah. However, we rarely hear the other side of the story for majority-world countries.

Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger (which comes to about 15 million children).

For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years.

One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5.

One out of every eight children under the age of twelve in the U.S. goes to bed hungry every night.

To satisfy the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only US $13 billion--what the people of the United States and the European Union spend on perfume each year.

On average, we spend 4 hours a day thinking about, preparing, consuming, and cleaning up after our meals. "Give us this day our daily bread..."

A lot of Jesus' ministry revolved around food--the feedings of multitudes of people, parties, beach-side cookouts, and a simple way to remember him. In Jesus' day, you ate with your friends, which is why he got in trouble with the religious people for sharing bread with some of his new friends.

In USAmerican churches, the celebration of communion is often a reflective time of introspection and confession. There are times when we need to be reminded of our humanness and shortcomings.

However, the celebration of communion is also a preview of the feast at the table of the King. There should be times of breaking bread where we celebrate the inbreaking of a different way of looking at the world. Everyone is invited to the party. And no one will go hungry.

Sharing Bread

Gather round this lake of wine

And drink until your heart's content

Dive into the living water

For sharing bread makes us friends

Let your feet rest under the table

Let the kingdom feast begin

Swapping stories, always laughing

For sharing bread makes us friends

On this pilgrim journey travel

Home is just around the bend

Living lightly, one foot raised

Sharing bread will make us friends

Heeding gentle Spirit whisper

Loitering with Love's intent

Catching trade winds in these sails

Sharing bread makes new friends

For all peoples are invited

For all peoples arms extend

Love's the Story where it started

Sharing bread makes us friends

So Beautiful #2

2009-06-08T11:54:00.001-05:00

I am not a lawn nazi. I do not spend hours in my lawn seeding, feeding, or de-weeding. It does not matter to me if my lawn is covered with clover or wish flowers or leaves. This spring, thanks to the crazy rains and mild weather, my lawn has been growing like…well…

On average, I’ve been mowing my lawn two times each week just to try and keep it somewhat under control. Any less and I’d run the risk of losing a kid or a dog in the “beauty” of nature.

A couple of weeks ago, while I was mowing, one of my neighbors asked me if I could help him maintain his lawn. His work schedule is crazy during the summer, and he honestly doesn’t have time to mow for a couple of weeks. The first time I mowed his lawn, my mower finally died. I knew it was coming. It’s been having troubles since the beginning of the year. I couldn’t get in touch with him, so I went to another neighbor’s house and asked if I could borrow his lawn mower. And the mowing saga started.

All in all, in the past few weeks, I’ve used four different lawnmowers, mowing two lawns twice a week. My allergies have reached new highs. My farmer’s tan is back in full swing. And I’ve made four new friends and still haven’t had to invest in a new mower.

And that’s what the second part of Len Sweet’s So Beautiful is about. Living in relationship with God and others. Here are a couple of quotes that are, well, beautiful.

“What I believe is absolutely unimportant. The only thing that matters is whom I belong to.”

“Well-being has everything to do with the quality of relationships.”

“Love is what makes life a success.”

“The point of Christianity is not a point but a person.”

We follow Jesus together. We don’t live by propositions or proofs, but in the messy dynamics of relationships. We have been sent to live this missional life wherever we go making new friends along the way.

I was talking with one of my friends recently, and he said he could go weeks without ever meeting someone new. It honestly broke my heart.

It is imperative that we constantly be looking for new friends on the journey, for the voice of God and the hands of Christ are most often revealed through others.

So Beautiful #1

2009-06-01T21:22:00.002-05:00

For the last eight years, my church has been on a missional journey. Many friends have accompanied us on this journey--Guder and Willimon and Hauerwas and Walsh and Keesmaat and anything recommended by Byron at Hearts and Minds Bookstore (www.heartsandmindsbooks.com). Bell and Claiborne and Young and Manning have sparked our imaginations and even inspired us to write a few of our own books to help us follow Jesus and find friends.

Len Sweet's latest book, So Beautiful, wonderfully describes the necessary future of the church. I cannot wait for others in my church to read this as well, as Sweet wonderfully articulates the heart, vision, and passion of God’s design for the church. Moving away from thinking of “successful” church as quantifiable (attendance, budgets, cash), Sweet contends that the church--that God's Kingdom--grows as we learn to live missionally, relationally, and incarnationally.

Because of the depth and scope of this text, I'll take a couple of blogs to work through it. The 35 page introduction quickly catches the attention, before Sweet introduces the first movement--the missional life.

“If you are reading these words, you are likely the last generation to be familiar with the Christian story and for whom churches have cultural significance.”

“God has had it with cawki (church as we know it).”

“Your church exists to love the world and to commission you for a mission of expanding beauty, truth, and goodness upon the earth.”

We discover who we are in Christ as we go and follow him, making new friends. We have been sent with a mission for the sake of the world, which is completely different from thinking that we need to separate or shelter ourselves from the world. The missional lifestyle “loiters with love’s intent,” living in the fullness of the moment, confident that the Way leads home.

A local grocery store has a neighborhood café, with free wi-fi service. I spent the morning reading the first movement of So Beautiful, meeting new friends Debbie and Winston, and trying not to eavesdrop on too many conversations. I helped remember an artist’s name, solve the answer to a crossword clue, and share a few laughs. This is what happens as we grow into our missional calling, we lean into the Father’s “Go” and trust that we’ll be told what we must do on a need to know basis.

The missional life is a life characterized by Mother Teresa’s words, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”

The first step is to go. Going is faith in action. Going develops calluses on our beautiful feet, making it easier to take that first step the next time.

The Gift of Friends

2009-05-27T09:16:00.002-05:00

Tim is a friend. We've led worship, been to youth camp and youth retreats, played softball, ridden bikes, and worked on a CD together. Whenever I come up with some crazy new idea, Tim is the first one that I call to help design a logo or image to help capture the essence of the project. Finally, Tim has his own website, where you too can meet him and allow his photographer's eye to add beauty to your life.

www.timfleenorphoto.com

Nash is a friend. For a little while, Nash was shy. He regularly didn't attend youth events, and only came to the quiet service with his family. Then Nash got involved in four-square. Now, everyone knows that Nash is left-handed, likes to wear slippers (now TOMS), and has a dictionary-esque vocabulary. Nash has been a wonderful co-author, writing and editing and processing Jesus is for Losers. Nash, too, finally has his own blog, where you can read his random musings that will make you read slowly and think about this great gift of life. First post is coming soon.

http://wanderingponderer.wordpress.com

I wish Lars was a friend. Last night, Jamie and I watched Lars and the Real Girl. We talked through the whole movie. It is a wonderful story of the healing power of a community of friends who show patience, love, and acceptance, and the transformation that comes as a result. Make sure you watch it with a friend.

Finally, I made a new friend today. My stupid car (I do not have a smart car) is back in the shop, and there wasn't a mechanic free to give me a ride to work. Normally, I just walk. But today it was raining, and I melt in the rain. So I jogged over to Starbucks and made a friend. I actually introduced myself as a pastor (something I never do--I showed her my card as proof) and told her my sob story. I then offered to purchase her coffee for a ride to my church. She laughed, and graciously gave me a ride, telling me all about her Irish family.

Friends are those people that we most often take for granted. Friends are those people that we most often overlook, forgetting our "pleases" and our "thank yous." Friends are one of God's greatest gifts.

So take 5 minutes today, and call a friend. Or better yet, buy a card (with an actual envelope and an actual stamp) and write a note to someone who's made a difference in your life.

Do Something

2009-05-22T14:36:00.002-05:00

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
--Edward Burke

I saw the movie Taken last night. Taken is the story of a father and a daughter and the multi-billion dollar (and growing) industry of human trafficking. I sat on the edge of my seat throughout most of the film, actually cheering on the violence as acts of justice. But I believe the picture Taken presents of the sex-trafficking industry has been sugar-coated. I believe the reality is much more brutal and horrific, and that the ignorance and/or apathy displayed by many of today’s decision-makers is appalling.

The average age of a victim is 11.

It is estimated that 2 children are sold every minute.

The UN estimates that the total “market-value” of trafficked persons is $28,000,000,000.

Human trafficking is the second most lucrative crime in the world.

It is imperative that we know the realities of sex-trafficking, and know how we can get involved.

http://www.love146.org/

http://www.eitcoalition.org/

http://www.humantrafficking.org/

http://www.ijm.org/

Do something.

Behind the Numbers

2009-05-15T17:32:00.002-05:00

“Education is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.”
—John Dewey

I went to a local high school graduation ceremony last night, and it reminded me of my own high school experiences and graduation.

Halfway through my eighth grade year, my parents moved across town. I didn’t see our new house until moving day (I guess that was my way of rebelling). Daily, they drove me to school at Jarrett Junior High, so I could finish the school year with friends I had known since second grade. I was delaying the inevitable as long as possible—acknowledging the reality of attending a “new” school.

When it came time for freshman orientation, I was scared to death. My mom went with me and I was grateful for her presence. Most of the familiar faces I saw were familiar only because they were on the “other” teams of sports I had played. Besides being a little on the small side (I barely weighed 100 pounds), I was the only bald 15 year-old, and more than a little anxious at how others would receive me. Then I saw Randy. I had known Randy through other extracurricular activities, and he invited me to be his locker partner, helping ease the transition into the new school. This started things off on the right foot. The remainder of my freshman year was a veritable cornucopia of new experiences.

Learning and exploring new ideas.
Meeting friends—new and old.
Going to dances, games, and other social events.
Playing all the sports I love.

My sophomore year was equally exciting and fun. I could honestly say that I enjoyed school. But after my sophomore year, my competitive side took over. I realized that I was in a position to be the valedictorian of my class. I was in position to be #1. Heather was in the same position I was.

Heather was a bright-full-of-questions teenage girl who had more than a slightly competitive spirit. I met her on the first day of school my freshman year, as we had four classes together—English, History, Geometry, and Biology. I thought that was odd, as my counselor advised against me taking so many advanced classes. But there were numerous students taking multiple honors classes, enjoying the struggle of balancing academics and maintaining a social life as well.

Starting my junior year, every class became less and less about learning and more about getting an “A” so that my GPA would be higher. What did I “need to know” to get an A on the tests? What would happen if I got a B? The educational aspect was replaced by a great desire simply to be numero uno. School was reduced to a mathematical competition of test scores and GPA’s. I celebrated personal successes and secretly hoped for her not to do as well as me.

In the end, I lost, and in more ways than one. Having completely burned out on school and developed a full-blown case of senioritis, I finally got a “B” in Calculus my senior year (the world did not come to an end, much to my surprise). Heather went on to graduate as valedictorian, delivering a beautiful speech at graduation. And I missed the chance to be real friends with one of the brightest minds at my school.

There is so much more to school than the numbers, yet the numbers are all we hear about in the media. The “so much more” is the names, the real people that cannot be replaced by quantification of any kind.

Randy and Heather are just two of the incredible people I got to meet at school. But there were so many more that I just barely got to know. What could have been four incredible years of making friends, I turned into a silly competition, jockeying for what I perceived to be necessary for future “success.”

Yesterday, I had lunch with Brad. Brad and I also went to high school together. We played on the same baseball team; when I pitched, Brad caught. So we visited about our girls and the Royals and faith and life. We laughed and shared a good time together. I am grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with friends like Brad, reminiscing about the past and sharing life together in the present.

As I listened to the speeches and awards last night, I said a prayer for those students. I prayed that they might know the greatest part of high school has nothing to do with the numbers and everything to do with the people who walked the halls of education with them every day.

Behind the number is a face, a story, a unique-one-of-a-kind creation—a person to be loved.

So to graduates of any grade, school, or college, I extend my congratulations and this hope:

May we not live so much for the numbers of life, but enjoy the people who share our journeys with us.

Congratulations, graduates.

Going for a Walk

2009-05-10T22:54:00.001-05:00

There’s a quiet little retreat center in the middle of nowhere, about two hours away from my house. It’s called Mystic Trace, run by a good friend, and I’m hoping to get back down there in the near future for some more quiet time away from everything.

I went to Mystic Trace the first time a couple of years ago, and had a wonderful experience. Ice storms decimated the trees of southwestern Missouri only a few weeks prior; there were limbs, branches, trees, small forests destroyed. It was truly an awesome and surreal sight. I decided to go for a walk in the woods, where many more than two roads diverged.

I’m a fast walker. I honestly have trouble walking slowly. I can take on any mall-walker with no fear. As I started walking, I started with my usual mall-walk pace. Almost instantly, the question crossed my mind, “Why am I walking so fast?” For the next hour or so, I purposefully strolled, sauntered, meandered, and ambled through the woods. The simple act of slowing seemed to breathe new life within me. It was as if the actual experience of walking slowly refreshed me not only physically, but in my deep places too. I made it a point to try and not walk so fast all the time.

It is amazing the speed with which I forget things.

At the Hillcrest Walk for the Homeless last year, I got caught up in a conversation with a couple of friends, and completed the three-mile walk rather quickly. I don’t recall now what we were talking about, but I distinctly remember looking back for my family, not seeing them, and thinking, “This is not good.” About fifteen minutes after I finished, my wife and a gaggle of children converged upon the lawn of the Hillcrest House. “Why were you walking so fast? Didn’t you see we weren’t with you?” she asked.

I had no good answer. I still feel bad for getting so caught up in the discussion that I missed the chance to enjoy the slow stroll and play on the walk with the kids.

Sometimes we get in such a hurry doing good things that we miss the beauty of the moment. In this world of hyper-everything, where we believe we’re developing patience by when we’re asked to wait at McDonald’s, we have forgotten the splendor of slow.

This week, I’m going to practice being slow. If I ride my bike, I will ride slow. If I play catch, I’ll throw slow. If I drive, I’ll drive slow. If I read, I’ll read slow.

And when Saturday comes, I'll walk slow.

What's in a Number?

2009-05-08T09:12:00.001-05:00

Kaylea was more than visibly upset a couple of weeks ago, which isn’t saying much—she is my drama queen, after all. But it was morning, and she is definitely not a morning person. Almost every morning, she complains about toenails that hurt and bizarre headaches, and that she’s worried about this, that, and the other at school. She also concerns herself with ridiculous and highly improbable future contingencies, “But what if…but what if…but what if?”

But this was something different—math. She has always been good with numbers in general, and was worried about a math test that day. The test was on the basic geometric shapes—circles and spheres, pyramids and cones, squares and cubes. They had been learning the shapes for a few days, and completed some practice sheets. She started digging through her backpack, pulled out her folder, and found the practice sheet that validated her present fears. There were thirty problems on the page. She missed two.

28/30 correct.

93% right.

I was relatively successful in suppressing my laughter, encouraged her, and helped her understand the 2 that she missed. Then I remembered being in fourth grade, crying because I received a “B” for my handwriting grade. I remembered wanting to get all the questions “right.”

Junior high and high school reinforced my obsessive-compulsive drive for good grades and perfect papers. I loved papers with “A” or “-0” written on them, and especially loved the ones where the teacher took the time to write “well done” or put a happy face. My small world and my fragile ego was centered on numerical affirmation. But, what really is in a number?

The good news is that a decade and a half later, I know better, right?

I mean, if only six youth show up for an event, then I am thrilled at the opportunity to share life with them and celebrating the moment, right?

If I’m only able to raise $30 to help build a clean water well in Africa or in the local walk for the homeless, then I’m thrilled to be helping others, right?

If I get invited to sing at a concert, and I’m related to a majority of the people in attendance, then we’ll all have fun singing together, right?

If I go on a bike ride, it doesn’t matter how far or how fast I ride, but how much fun I had on the ride, right?

Huh.

As USAmericans, we are obsessed with numbers. Numbers represent faster, newer, bigger, better, more. Numbers represent success, achievement, accomplishment, triumph. Numbers shape our egos and identities, forming us as competitive and production-oriented people.

But the kingdom that Jesus brings is not concerned with numbers.

The kingdom is all about relationships. It is impossible to quantify a relationship.

Jesus lived and taught that Love is the greatest power in the universe, and Love will transform the world. You can’t place a number on love. “Well, today I loved about a 5, but I’m hoping for a 7 tomorrow.” Makes just about as much sense as me stepping foot into a barber shop.

Part of our obsession with numbers is the misconception that in order to be great, we must do big things. But Mother Theresa said it best.

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

I hate that as a second grader, Kaylea is already concerned about grades and numbers. I hate that numbers dominate discussions about weather and sports and church.

Numbers will never capture the beauty of a deer running alongside me as I ride my bike.

Numbers will never describe the thrilling sensation of a home run, a double play, or a well-timed strike out.

Numbers cannot do justice to my daughters’ smiles or eyes.

And numbers cannot describe the mystery or power of love.

Jesus Comes in Chaos

2009-05-05T22:36:00.002-05:00

It is the month of May. May is that crazy month full of baccalaureates and parties and dinners and religious ceremonies and this culture’s penultimate rite of passage, high school graduation. May is a flurry of activity that quickly breezes through the end of spring and ends with a weekend grilling at the lake. May is the month of chaos.

We are people who love to be in control and we have hundreds of devices to help us get organized, manage our time and maintain that very fallacy—that we are in control. We try and control our future, planning for retirement and all conceivable contingencies. We try and control our kids and other people’s kids. We try to control our teeth color, our hair color, and the number of wrinkles on our face. We even try and control God. We develop nifty bumper sticker theologisms defining God and letting Him know that we completely understand Him.

But trying to control God is like trying to tell a 4-year old not to blow the “pretty white wishing flowers” on the front lawn.

God’s self-disclosure (I Am Who I Am, I Will Be Who I Will Be) and incarnation defy all of our attempts to contain God within human boundaries and limitations. Thankfully, there’s chaos. It is often in those moments of sheer chaos that we catch a brief glimpse of the greatness and glory of God.

In the primordial chaos, the Spirit hovered and God created all that is good.

In the chaos of the wedding, Jesus made the best wine.

In the chaos of the empire, Jesus brought the Kingdom.

In the chaos of the storm, Jesus whispers, “Peace, be still.”

In the chaos of cross, Jesus was resurrected.

So, bring on the parties and the services and the dinners and the graduations. Bring on Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. Bring on the fury of spring storms and winds.

Because Jesus comes in chaos.

3000

2009-04-30T14:06:00.004-05:00

Three thousand people died on September 11, 2001. We know their names and their stories. We remember their sacrifice by building a memorial. We honor their lives with times of silence and prayer every anniversary. Their deaths have transformed the culture of USAmericans.

Three thousand people die EVERY DAY in Africa because they don’t have clean water. We don’t know their names or faces. We don’t know their stories. We don’t remember them through any special ceremony or build any memorials in their honor. And, it seems, no one cares.

This is the greatest humanitarian crises in the world.

The average cost of a clean water well in Africa is around $3000.

It is hard for me to picture what the number 3000 tangibly looks like. In my head, I know that it is approximately the size of two of the local high schools combined. But simply saying 3000 people, I can't imagine that.

What if we organized an event to attract 3000 people that we might get a visual idea of just how many people this affects on a daily basis?

What if we organized a benefit concert to try and get 3000 people in attendance? The recommended donations would be $1 and 1 canned good. Then, we could take a picture of the 3000 gathered so we could see with our hearts. We could give the $3000 to help Blood:Water Mission build a clean water well. We could donate the 3000 canned goods to a local food pantry to feed the hungry.

In a world that continues to grow smaller, it still amazes me how many people still think about life as being here, and "those people over there need to take care of themselves."

But as Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

www.bloodwatermission.org

Walkin'

2009-04-23T09:04:00.006-05:00

There's just something about the walk.

I wrote a chorus about 5 years ago that remains one of my favorite to this day.

To walk in the light of Your presence
To run and feel Your pleasure
To be taken away in a whirlwind a-blaze
May I learn to walk in this faith.

In a couple of weeks will be the Hillcrest Walk for the Homeless. This has been an annual event for my family for 5 years now. The first year, we just walked. The second year, we raised $150 as a family and walked. The third year, Kaylea raised $550 through an art show, and we walked. The fourth year, we split the youth up into two teams, and Nash's Heroes caught everyone by surprise as Nash had graduation money donated to Hillcrest...and we walked.

So, here's this years surprise.

Kaylea wants to lead her own walk team. It's called "Creative Kids" and she's inviting friends from school and church to come walk with her.

What a joy to spread the word about this imaginative girl making a difference in her corner of the world.

So, if you'd like to donate to Kaylea's team, follow the link:

http://www.hillcresttransitionalhousing.org/ViewParticipantInfo.aspx

There's just something about the walk.

As Is

2009-04-09T14:14:00.001-05:00

One of these days, I’m going to need a really good touch-up artist. Because, one of these days, my picture is going to be in a bicycling magazine and I’ve got really ugly legs. My right leg has scars from baseball and softball and soccer and an ACL surgery. My left leg has scars from baseball and softball. Both legs have bizarre tan lines from shorts and socks and sandals. There is absolutely no way that the magazine will show my legs “as-is.”

We live in a culture of outsiders. I am convinced, especially in teenage circles, that most people feel as if they exist on the fringes of life. We have created an idealistic image of what (not who) people are supposed to be. This image is impossible for anyone to actually achieve. But this image is perpetuated from generation to generation and it leaves the vast majority of us feeling as if we’re observing life from the sidelines, missing something “more.”

We hide our skeletons, fearing that no one can love us or accept the broken parts of our lives.

We envy those who have more money or better looks. Or who are taller. Or who are older. Or who are younger. Or who are more famous. Or…

We “shop” churches looking for a place to belong “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.”

We haven’t spent the time necessary to search our own souls, to know ourselves, and so we end up being pulled and tossed and distracted by every latest trend and fasion under the sun…

* * * * * * * * * *

We are loved by God “as-is.”

We are called to accept people and love them “as-is.”

I’ve been talking with some friends about the implications of those two words. Some people say that those two words mean that we willingly accept every sin people commit. Some people say that those two words mean that we lose our distinctiveness as followers of Jesus. Some people say that those two words are the slippery slope into relativism, universalism, and the liberal agenda of tolerance.

As-is.

A couple of years ago, I was a small group leader at a youth retreat for a friend in another town. We were supposed to have five or six small group Bible studies that revolved around a central theme. On the first night, I showed the Dr. Seuss video The Sneetches. Sneetches are a bird-ish Seussian creation who live on a beach (because it rhymes). Half the population of the Sneetches have a green star on their bellies, the other half have a plain belly. The story is the tale of discrimination and learning to accept one another.

After watching the video, we read one simple verse, tucked back towards the end of Romans.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (15.7).

I am convinced that if we as the church could live by this verse, the cultural implications would be vast.

Just how does Jesus accept me?

Jesus accepts me and calls to me in the middle of my struggles, in the middle of my doubt, even when as my back is turned to him.

There’s no condition placed on being accepted by Jesus. No warranty where he can trade me in on another model. Much like a car purchased from the impound lot, Jesus paid for me when I was the least amount of good to him. And I am definitely a “fixer-upper.” I come with a lot of wear and tear and parts that need replacing (more than just knees). But Jesus knows what I can become. With his loving touch, I am slowly transformed into a completely new creation. My life, then, becomes a witness to his transforming power.

So, just as Jesus accepts us, we are to accept others. If I correctly understand Jesus’ message, my job is to love all people. As I love, God transforms. I am not the one to judge people based on dings and paint jobs. These often reflect stories and wounds that have cumulated over a lifetime, more than I can possibly know from a cursory glance. I am not the one to point fingers, cast blame, or critique sins. Oddly enough, most of the time I only notice sins in others because they are the very same things with which I struggle (someone else’s speck is my plank).

Can I trust Jesus to work on them and in them the same way he works in me? He’s not into the business of a quick-fix patch to cover over the problem, but a deep and thorough healing. On rare occasions, this healing actually happens here on earth. More often than not, though, the healing comes as we cross the temporal bounds into the presence of the Great I Am. He will finish the work he started in me. He will finish the work he started in you.

I might be wrong, but I think that in general, people know their sins. We don’t have to be told what we’re doing is wrong. Yet there is a certain part of the evangelical population that likes to tell others what they’re doing is wrong. Maybe it’s a power trip. Maybe it’s to build themselves up (much like playground bullies). Maybe it’s from an honest intention of trying to hold one another accountable to the straight and narrow. But it is the uncommon person who responds with grace and thanks when confronted with the reality of his or her personal sins.

As-is.

We extend grace and hope when we learn to accept people as-is. Acceptance removes performance traps, where we think we must succeed, pretending to be something or someone other. Acceptance is leaning into the freedom of the Spirit, allowing the light of his presence to shine through us.

So no matter what your struggle is, I want to extend the hand of friendship, because Jesus calls me a friend. And one of the biggest reasons he calls me a friend is so that you can know that he calls you a friend too.

A Response to Fred Phelps

2009-03-27T07:47:00.006-06:00

Tonight, Lee's Summit North will be picketed by Fred Phelps' "church," protesting their production of "The Laramie Project," a play about the 1998 killing of Matthew Shepard.

The youth ministers of Lee's Summit have joined together to form this response to Mr. Phelps and his message of judgment, condemnation, and hate.

Dear Friends, Family, and Mr. Phelps,

We believe in teenagers. Teens are amazing creations of God, full of energy, wit, questions, laughter, love, and hope.

Today’s suburban teenager is under a tremendous amount of pressure and stress. Waking up before the sun rises to physically prepare for 8+ hours of school (they’ll mentally wake up a few hours later), they face the pressures of peers, parents, teachers, administrative staff, coaches, and culture. From games to grades and GPA’s, today’s teenager has 12 hours less free time per week than the previous generation. After school, they’ll quickly consume a few thousand calories and send a few thousand texts in between lessons, practices, a couple of hours of homework, and bedtime.

What teenagers need most at this critical age is the presence of encouraging adults. Teenagers often report feeling abandoned by the adults in their lives—parents too busy with work, classes too big to be noticed by teachers. More meals are eaten on the go than around the family dinner table answering silly questions from Mom and Dad. It is imperative that teens have many loving adults who will listen, coming alongside them in their struggles, stresses, and successes.

The youth ministries of Lee’s Summit emphasize that each person is wonderfully created, incredibly unique, inimitable, matchless, and irreplaceable. In the words of Paul, “We will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original” (Galatians 5.25).

The youth ministries of Lee’s Summit follow Jesus as we make friends with all teens. Jesus became fully human, that we might see and know and understand the Life and Love of the Father. We, then, are called to walk alongside youth—in their sorrows and suffering, in their joys and triumphs, and in the ordinariness of everyday life—truly sharing life together.

The youth ministries of Lee’s Summit know that the relationship is the ministry. Not the programs or the project, but the person. We are learning to love one another and to serve one another. As we do this, we are learning to welcome Christ into our presence.

The youth ministries of Lee’s Summit exist that teenagers may know the incredible, life-transforming Love of God, and allow this Love to redefine their lives, living in God’s Story instead of a story that revolves around them.

It is the calling of each generation to pass along wisdom (and wit) to the next generation. It has been said that it takes ten positive comments to counteract the effects of every one negative comment. Convinced that the most powerful force in the universe is Love, the youth ministers of Lee’s Summit are trying to teach today’s teenager to live in radical love, hope, and a grace beyond imagination. And the question for each generation is: Can we learn to love each other enough?

God is especially fond of teenagers. David was but a teen when he killed Goliath. Many of Jesus’ first followers are thought to be teenagers. And, most importantly, Jesus himself came into this world through a teenager who dared to whisper a risky “Yes!” to God’s call.

Sincerely,

The Youth Ministers of Lee’s Summit

Ethan Bryan—Cornerstone Church

Eddie Garlich—Deerbrook Covenant Church

Pam Hustad—ClearPoint Church

Curtis Privett—ClearPoint Church

Joe Gabbard—Christ Triumphant Church

Jamie Roach—Lakeland Community Church

Jason Lahey—Lakeland Community Church

Hattie Cummings—Young Life of Lee’s Summit

Justin Roach—New Beginnings Church

Jeff Arnold—First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit

Andrew Collins--Raintree Community Church

Rebecca Grocott—Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church

Brian Swanson—Woods Chapel United Methodist Church

Phil Rayson—Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Ryan Schreckenghaust—Lee’s Summit Community Church

Leslie Snyder—Kansas City Parent Network

Courage

2009-03-20T08:34:00.002-06:00

Courage is living in such a way so that you don't have to say, "I wish I woulda."

For example...

I wish I woulda tried out for the baseball team my senior year in high school.
I wish I woulda made the pot with the potter at Silver Dollar City.
I wish I woulda asked more questions at school.

Last night, I was at a parenting conference, hosted by YouthFront, featuring Jim Burns. There was a resource fair, with booths and tables and free stuff that I could peruse before the sessions and during the breaks. At one of the tables, I found a book (imagine that!) called The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory, by Torkel Klingberg. I thumbed through it and immediately recognized the value of this resource. I joked with the table hostess that if her book happened to disappear, I promised to return it within a couple of weeks, with a couple of pencil scribbles and some highlighted areas.

The conference met in YouthFront's auditorium. Jim spoke on a platform in front of an enormous stage, decorated to look like a living room. I sat down at my table near the front of the platform and began looking through the flyers and programs and what-not. Jamie, a family minister from Lee's Summit, sat down next to me, and we started talking. She, too, had seen the book and also wanted it.

She then issued "the dare."

"I'll buy that book for you if you'll sit in the living room set during the second half of the presentation."

A free book in exchange for temporary embarrassment.

I grabbed my bottled water, papers, and pen and sat in the recliner closest to where Jim would be speaking. It was really hot under the stage lights, and I saturated my favorite hat with sweat. At one point, Jim turned around, looked at me, and asked me if I was comfortable. I simply told him that I really like to read and that I'd get a free book if I stayed up here during his presentation. So I did.

After he was done speaking, Jim turned around and shook my hand and said, "That was really funny. I'm really glad you did that. I hope you enjoy the book."

I have lived too much of my life afraid. Afraid of what others will say or think about me. Afraid of what will happen if I fail. Afraid of being in front of a crowd of people.

Courage is that je ne sais quoi that enables a person to walk through difficult or trying times, even if he or she is afraid.

To en-courage is to inspire, to strengthen, to stand alongside of someone in difficult times.

To dis-courage takes the hope, the confidence, the spirit out of a person.

I want to live in such a way to encourage others to live so they won't have to say, "I wish I woulda."

Follow the Link...

2009-02-27T18:25:00.001-06:00

Follow the link to this week's post, on Mike King's blog.

http://king.typepad.com/mike_king/2009/02/ethan-bryan-guest-blogger.html

Thoughts on Risk

2009-02-25T13:56:00.000-06:00

The greatest risk is not to take risks at all.

Small Things

2009-02-16T20:59:00.002-06:00

All I did was send an email.

A little more than two weeks ago, I reconnected with a former youth down in Springfield. He was traveling to Columbia with some friends to watch the Baylor and Mizzou basketball game. They had been planning the trip for months. The initial plan was to stay the first night in Springfield, drive to the game on Saturday and return to Springfield on Saturday night, then return to Waco on Sunday.

Curtis was in my youth group while I was in seminary at Truett (Baylor). He was full of life, loved sports (the Royals almost always beat the Rangers while I was in Texas), and had a heart of gold. On that Saturday, a mutual friend called saying that Curtis had been admitted to the hospital in Springfield. He had appendicitis and would have his appendix removed within a couple of hours.

Jamie and I visited and we agreed that I should drive down to Springfield to be with Curtis, especially since there wasn't any way his mom or brother could join him.

I made it to Springfield in time for the tip-off. We watched the game from Curtis's recovery room. Unfortunately (for Curtis), Baylor fell apart in the second half and lost the game.

We had a good visit, catching up, and made tentative plans to try and take in a Royals and Rangers game this summer.

When I got home, though, I kept thinking there was more that I could do. I emailed my professor-now-Dean of Truett, Dr. David Garland. I simply told him the story and asked for his help.

Fast forward two weeks.

On Valentine's night, the girls were spending the night with friends, and Jamie and I were watching P.S. I Love You, when I received a phone call with a Texas area code and a Baylor prefix. I answered the phone and quickly met Scott Drew, the Baylor basketball head coach.

He asked me for the details about Curtis's story, and then asked if I had a number where he could reach Curtis. I gladly gave him the phone number.

Ten minutes later, I received a call from Curtis.

"I know you had something to do with this, and I just wanted to say thank you so much."

All I did was send an email.

It took me five minutes, at the most, yet it meant the world to Curtis.

Just imagine what a place this world could be if we all took five minutes to do something small, with great love, for someone else.

Take a Flying Leap

2009-02-11T16:52:00.002-06:00

We live in a culture that is addicted to playing it safe.

Four years ago, I severely tore my ACL, meniscus, and cartilage in my right knee in a pick-up basketball game in East St. Louis. Six weeks later, I had surgery—anesthesia sleep is so good! One year later, I was in the best shape of my life, thanks to therapy and rehab.

Since my surgery, I have not slowed down.

Every now and then, I’ll tell my parents what I’m doing or about to do and Dad’ll caution, “Be careful. You’ve already blown out one knee.”

I understand completely what he’s saying. But sometimes we overemphasize being careful or safe and we forget to that life was meant to be lived. I read the following quote many years ago, and can only hope that it applies to my life.

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!"

I would much prefer it be said of me and my life that I was willing to take creative and bold risks to glorify God and grow His Kingdom, not that I settled down played it safe and sound, out of harm’s way.

The Kingdom grows in leaps and bounds when love and risk go hand in hand.

How Old Are You?

2009-02-01T13:21:00.002-06:00

Is it possible that we are older than God? I was watching Kaylea and Sophie this week, and started compiling a mental list of what it means to be child-like, to be young. Here’s what I have so far…

Full of energy, questions, and ideas.

Love adventure, stories, and all music.

Often think about the future, dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

Love to play and meet new friends.

Love to learn new things.

Sensitive to others, aware of others’ needs.

Honest, open, reflective, insightful.

Laughter accompanies them.

Optimistic and giving.

Resilient, forgiving, and accepting of weakness and mistakes.

I started thinking that those of us who exist inside of time just might be older than our God who exists outside of time. As we age, we tend to harden our beliefs and actions, often becoming set in our routines and structures, in our friends and judgments, and we often say, “I remember when…”

G.K. Chesterton said, “Is it possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes the daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never gotten tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

God’s Story is not an Old Story, but one that continues to be written today—new life, new adventures, new hope, new joy.

Christ invites us to a new covenant, obliterating the first one. In Christ, I am a new creation. Christ gives new life, and invites us in looking forward to a new heaven and new earth. He is making all things new (young?), and is doing new things daily. As a response, we constantly come before Him with new songs.

Maybe that’s why Jesus says that to play in His Kingdom, we must become like children.

New Song...

2009-01-30T09:06:00.005-06:00

Come and Follow Me

Come and see who you were born to be
Come and live in freedom’s jubilee
Come and know the Love that sings and
Brings new life

Come and leave your worries and your fears
Come and Joy will cover all your tears
Come and dance in awesome wonder
Hope in strife

Open up your heart and let go
Surrender self and lose control

Come and follow me
Come and follow me
Take my cross and leave your security
Come and follow me

Dare to dream of kingdom come a new
Dare to dream of justice that is true
Dare to dream of mercy’s humble
Invitation

Open up your heart and let go
Surrender self and lose control

Come and follow me
Come and follow me
Take my cross and leave your security

Take my life and leave your vain-conceit

Take my love for all the world to see
Come and follow me

Word

2009-01-22T21:04:00.002-06:00

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to sing. I remember being in choirs and singing solos in elementary school and at church. In the car, I would sing along to whatever was on the radio station, or just make up songs as I drove. I never had any dreams of singing professionally or making it on Broadway. I knew I wasn't the world's best singer, I just simply loved to sing.

My senior year of high school, I tried out for the concert choir and madrigal at Kickapoo. The madrigal was known for being the school's best singers. Miraculously, I made it. My confidence grew as the year progressed. By Christmas time, I was singing in a quartet, and thoroughly enjoying myself. On one occasion, however, I had a bad night. I was trying to sing through a sore throat and a sinus infection, which, in itself, wasn't smart. I knew my performance wasn't perfect, but I thought it was passing. Afterwords, my teacher approached me and said, "Ethan, you sounded horrible." She found someone to take my place for the performance the next day. Looking back, it was definitely the right decision. However, those words have stuck with me now for the last 16 years. Whenever I sing in front of people, I am constantly fearful of someone saying, "Ethan, you sounded horrible."

We don't fully appreciate the power of words.

It is by the power of the spoken (and sung) Word that God created all things.
It is by the power of the spoken Word that Jesus resisted temptation.
It is by the power of the spoken Word that people's lives are transformed forever.

Too often, we use words to defend ourselves and protect ourselves, to explain our position. More often than not, these words are subtly (or not so subtly) addressing a listener and proclaiming the speaker's superiority or worth at the expense of the other.

What would happen if we trained and conditioned ourselves to only say that which was beneficial for everyone listening?

What would happen if we would speak only those words which encouraged all people?

What would happen if we truly realized that words give life, or take it from us?

How much bloodshed and heartbreak, how much needless violence and pain, how much hurt and misery has been caused because of words spoken with twisted, demeaning motives?

Maybe that proverb from the world of Disney is just what we need to live by--

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

20 Questions...

2009-01-19T15:04:00.002-06:00

On the way to Tucson from San Diego with Damascus Road Church, we played the game 20 Questions. There were some ridiculous words...

Quasimodo
Uvula
Siamese Twins
The 20 Questions Game
The Future

The game kept our minds active as we were traveling into the wee hours of the night. In the middle of the game, I got distracted and started thinking of questions I'd really like to ask God.

Why is church so hard?
Why does money seem to be a factor in everything?
Why are we so attracted to labels?
Why do we always want to be in control?
Why are we so easily distracted?
Why are we so quick to label "us" vs. "them"?

Sometimes, I lay awake at night and my mind just longs for answers. Maybe, one day, I'll know the answers.

For now, I'm trying to lean into the one that not only knows the answers, but also knows and understands me too.

San Diego

2009-01-08T14:12:00.001-06:00

Late last summer, I got a call from some friends, inviting me to lead worship and teach some at a conference for college students in San Diego. In January.

January in Lee’s Summit is cold and windy and grey and yucky. It is all the parts of winter that I don’t really like. Actually, there’s not much to winter that I do like. So, when the invitation to go to sunny San Diego in January came, I was thrilled.

Now the truth. We’re in the mountains of California, 45 minutes east of San Diego. It’s cold and windy here. Easily as cold as it currently is in Lee’s Summit. The heater in the room in which I sleep has a timer, and will only stay on for 6 hours, making it difficult to get out of bed in the morning.

Leading worship has been terrific. The students certainly worship through song, but also with their lives. There are electives to attend and breakout sessions. They ask hard questions and listen with discerning hearts and ears.

Yesterday was a wonderful experience. The students were encouraged to explore various disciplines/practices in order to put themselves in a position to hear from God. We went to Cabrillo National Monument in order to listen.

Cabrillo was gorgeous. Surrounded by a vast ocean and the roar of the waves, I was mesmerized by the beauty. We aren’t afforded this kind of view in Missouri! While at Cabrillo, I met a couple of Buddhist monks, and enjoyed visiting with them. I took their picture, and they requested a picture with me. Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy. But it was still cool.

After Cabrillo, we went to the tide pools, dancing and exploring the diversity of marine life, before heading to the beach.

At the beach, a couple of students swam in the ocean. Not me. I saw a group of surfers and walked over to watch and say ‘hi’. They were from Latvia. They are professional snowboarders on vacation, working their way down the western coastline before returning to Latvia.

After the beach, we headed to dinner, where I ate with Elohim Salazar, a campus missionary and church planter in Guadalajara. I learned so much about the similarities and differences between the cultures, and started thinking of ways that a church in Lee’s Summit could help and partner with him and his ministry.

He invited me to come and see his ministry and home. There is a group headed to Mexico for a couple of days in early May to learn how he is engaging the city of 6.5 million people. I told him I’d have to brush up on my Spanish!

So, if you’ve got $1500 to send me to Mexico for a couple of days, please let me know.

I wonder who I’ll meet today.

My Pastor

2008-12-29T17:21:00.002-06:00

Chuck Arney has been the one and only pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church for the past 19 years. It is my honor and delight to serve with him. On good days, I think that I can preach. But I never think I can pastor.

Chuck pastors with passion, grace, and sacrifice. I do not know how many times Chuck has stood by my side--supporting and encouraging me, helping me learn what it means to live and love as staff at a small church.

When Jamie, Kaylea, and I moved to Lee's Summit from Texas, we had great difficulty selling our house in Waco. Chuck opened up the doors of his house, and we lived with him and his family for over three months! He spent more than one night helping care for and pacify a colicky baby.

Funerals and weddings, hospital visits, prophetic preaching, extensive writing for Miracle Word and Miracle Word Revolution, dinners with church family, Chuck consistently models dying to self, losing to follow, and great love through small things.

But yesterday was truly amazing. Chuck preached the singular most daring, risky, brave, challenging, and passionate sermon I have ever seen.

He stood at the front and simply said, "Does anyone have any questions?" Prior to addressing those gathered, he distributed a flyer with difficult questions ranging from doctrinal issues to Bible translations to The Shack and Irresistible Revolution to emergent and missional church.

And he answered every one. He said that Cornerstone is not a church defined by labels--Baptist, Emergent, Liberal, Moderate, Conservative--for labels are an attempt to control and comfort. He said that Cornerstone is a church defined by the extravagant and expansive love of God. Jesus Christ, sent by the Father, now sends us into the world to be a church for others, where we willingly engage culture and new friends with the hope, peace, and love found only through the resurrected Christ.

I am certain that some persons were offended. I am certain that he was misunderstood. I can only hope that the love and passion with which he preached communicated deeply to those gathered, leading us to be continually transformed by the Word together.

The year of Miracle Word is almost over.

The Revolution is coming.

May God continue to surprise us as he invites us to lose everything in order live his life in his kingdom today!

Revisiting Christmas

2008-12-21T17:09:00.001-06:00

I confess; there are parts of the Christmas story that have always bothered me. Trying to bring the stories of Matthew and Luke together have been difficult at best. Recently, I started reading the works of scholar Kenneth E. Bailey. Bailey is a professor, lecturer, and author who lived for 40 years in the Middle East (Egypt, Lebanon, Jerusalem, and Cyprus). Bailey’s time in the Middle East allowed him insight into the cultural customs of the world of Jesus’ that are unavailable to those of us living a couple millennia later in the West.

Bailey’s latest work, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, is absolutely incredible. In it, he revisits the birth stories of Jesus, and some of the questions and confusion surrounding those narratives begin fall away.

In Luke 2, we read that there was no room for the family “in the inn.” The word translated “inn” in Greek is kataluma. This is not the common word for an inn as we know it. Thankfully, Luke uses this word again in his gospel, in chapter 22, verse 11. Here, Jesus tells his followers to ask a man, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”

There was no room for the family in the guest room, because of the census. So, Jesus was placed in the manger.

“Manger.”

A couple of thousand years ago, in towns like Bethlehem, one-room homes had a raised floors. Some still do today.

(You can see a good diagram here, as well as read parts of the first chapter of the book here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0830825681/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link).

“The main floor is where the family cooks, eats, lives, and sleeps. The end of the room next to the door, was generally down a couple of steps. In this part of the room, the family would bring in their animals at night, taking them out each morning and tying them up in the courtyard.” (Not directly quoted, but pretty darn close.)

The ledge that separates the two spaces was used as a stall for hay or other food for the animals of the family. This was called the “manger”.

And this, most likely, is where Jesus was laid.

According to Bailey’s life research and the customs of the Middle East, most likely, Jesus was not born in a stable, a barn, or a shed. Jesus was born in a small, humble Jewish dwelling, wrapped up in cloths (like they still do today), and placed in a manger, beside everyone else in the small family room.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

The Gods Aren't Angry

2008-12-10T12:07:00.002-06:00

Rob Bell has a relatively new DVD out called "The Gods Aren't Angry." At the end of the presentation, he tells a personal story of a time when a friend pulled him aside and said, "You don't have to live like this." The story resonated deep within me, so I decided to basically write a song from the story. Here's the lyrics.

No angry gods we must appease
With empty words or heartless deeds
No sacrifice we need to please
To live in boundless beauty

No ritual, religion game
No closets filled with secret shame
No pointing fingers, casting blame
Or worship filled with duty

You don’t have to live like this
You don’t have to live like this
You don’t have to live like this

No status quo for kingdom come
The invitation to become
Alive and free from soul’s gone numb
Alive in boundless beauty

You don’t have to live like this
You don’t have to live like this
You don’t have to live like this

Freedom calls and freedom cries
Freedom beyond alibis
Freedom dancing in new life

You don’t have to live like this
You don’t have to live like this
You don’t have to live like this

CandyLand

2008-12-08T15:58:00.001-06:00

I've been playing Candy Land consistently for about 5 years now. In recent months, Sophie and I have taken to playing Candy Land at the local coffee shop, Doozen's. Candy Land is becoming a transformational experience for me.

In the last 5 years, I have only won 1 game.

Today, though, I felt an alignment of the stars, the mo-jo/force/Spidey-sense was with me. Today, I would be victorious.

I ordered a mocha, with whipped cream. Sophie pulled the game off the shelf, and we set it up together. As we played, I helped figure out crossword clues for the owners.

One by one, we drew the cards and moved the pieces around the colorfully decorated board. Sophie got a quick lead, and never looked back.

I lost. Again. Sophie celebrated by doing the winner's dance. The quartet of old ladies drinking tea watched, pointed, and commented on her curls.

Candy Land is good for me. It continually reminds me that who I am is not determined by my achievements, no matter how small or big they are.

One day, I will win again.

Or maybe not.

I hear that Jesus is for Losers.

Neighbors

2008-12-03T16:19:00.002-06:00

I saw Jesus at Wendy’s this week. There was a crowd gathered around as he was telling stories. Man, can he tell stories! Did you hear the one about the fish? A junior from Lee’s Summit North (in the National Honor Society) asked him a question: “How do I earn life forever?”

Jesus didn’t give a direct answer, but responded with his own question: “Are you familiar with the Old Testament? What's written in the books of Moses?”

The student quickly replied, “Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and love my neighbor as myself.”

Jesus smiled and patted him on the back, “Very good! That’s truly living in the good kingdom of God!”

The student, though, felt awkward, and asked a question that silenced the crowd: “But who is my neighbor?” He wanted to prove himself worthy of the goodness of heaven in front of everyone, because he had done many good things. He was a smart student, and wanted to show off his smarts to Jesus, playing a word game with him. Honestly, the student just wanted Jesus to keep patting him on the back.

Jesus refused to play the game, and told a story instead.

There was a freshman from Lee’s Summit North walking home from school one afternoon. On the way home, a group of seniors beat him up, took all his money and identification, stripped him naked, and left him lying on the grass behind Wal-Mart—in plain sight of everyone.

A youth minister from Cornerstone Church was riding by on his bicycle, and saw the kid lying on the ground. At first he thought he was sleeping, then thought it might just be some kind of practical joke. He decided to play it safe and crossed by on the other side of the street. He makes a mental note to tell his kids to stay away from Wal-Mart.

A few minutes later, the worship leader from Cornerstone Church strolls by the kid lying down. He was strumming his guitar and singing at the top of his lungs, working on a new song he’d written called “Twinkle, Twinkle, Jesus Star”. When he actually saw the beaten up kid, he got scared and started running. He, too, made a mental note to tell his children to stay away from Wal-Mart.

Quite a while later, as the sun was setting, a drunk, homeless woman passed by. She saw the kid, and tears formed in her eyes. She got on her knees and wrapped the kid up in a blanket, tearing some t-shirts to use as bandages on his wounds. Mustering all of her strength and sanity, she lifted the kid into her shopping cart and pushed him all the way to the hospital, where she told the whole story to the doctors and nurses in the emergency room, who didn’t believe a word she said. The woman then stayed with the kid until he woke up, and called his parents when he regained consciousness.

Then Jesus looked at the crowd and asked the question, “Tell me, who was the neighbor to the kid that got beaten up?”

A little girl with blond curly hair and a frosty in her hand answered, “The lady that loved him.”

Jesus changed the question. He answers the question of “who” my neighbor is by telling everyone “what” a neighbor does.

A neighbor has compassion (which, literally means, “with suffering”).

A neighbor takes time to be with you.

A neighbor comforts.

A neighbor helps.

A neighbor loves.

Jesus then told everyone at Wendy’s, “Go and be neighbors to all people.”

Don’t worry about “who” your neighbor is.

Go be a neighbor.

My Weekend in St. Louis

2008-11-17T15:37:00.001-06:00

I spent the weekend in St. Louis (Fairview Heights) with my friend Jared (Jordan, Jerry, Jake, David) leading worship for the youth of Winstanley Baptist Church. Compared to what the youth did, my part in the weekend seemed quite irrelevant and unimportant.

On Saturday, the youth changed the world through various projects around the city. A couple of groups painted fingernails at the nursing home. One lady asked if I was getting my nails painted, so I had my pinky painted blue.

A couple of other groups did yard work for some of the members of the church—raking, bagging leaves, trimming hedges. One of the youth accidentally cut through the extension cord, sending sparks everywhere! It was quite a show.

The other groups helped the Problem Properties Unit of St. Louis. One cleaned up a front yard, tearing down trees, installing gutter-guards, cutting down honeysuckle, filling up a large dumpster in the process. When they were finished, you could see a house where one couldn’t be seen from the street before. The other two groups helped clean and sort and throw away things in houses where the owners struggled with hoarding.

Jared and I led worship services on Friday and Saturday nights, and played in the Sunday morning service as well. Each night, we traveled to the houses where the youth stayed, visiting, laughing, taking pictures, eating tacos and chili dogs and cookies and being dared to drink some green plant gunk.

When Sunday afternoon came, it was time to head home. Numerous adults approached me and thanked me so much for my part of the weekend. Mel, the phenomenal construction genius who helped replace the siding on my house, said that he was grateful for all we’d done. This man opened his house to half a dozen youth, fed them, led them in a construction project, said I could borrow his Miata, and then told me that he was so thankful I could be there.

All I did was play guitar and sing.

God’s economy is so different than mine. Somehow, in God’s economy, an average guitarist and singer can change the world too. What an amazing God!

"The Book"--Jesus is for Losers

2008-11-13T20:24:00.003-06:00

I don’t know why I wrote this book. One day, I’m talking to Nash, watching him play World of Warcraft, eating beef jerky and the next day we’re outlining a book about losing our lives to follow Jesus.

My entire life has been one competition after another. I wanted to be the best athlete, and played multiple sports--baseball, soccer, golf, basketball, ping-pong, four-square, kickball, ultimate frisbee, and demolition ball. I wanted to get the best grades--so I learned how to succeed at the school game. I wanted to have the most friends. I wanted to be famous for being a winner, to have others look up to me. My senior year in high school, along with three classmates, I was actually elected to the “Kickapoo Hall of Fame.”

Then Jesus…

He started really messing with me as a freshman in college. A restless gnawing in the gut. An insatiable thirst to know, to understand, to see more. Finally, in the second semester of college, I “went forward” at the commitment time of the worship service and told my pastor that I felt I was being called to ministry, but really didn’t know what that meant. As was custom at the time, I was escorted down the aisle and shook hands with everyone as they left the service. One elderly lady commented to me, “I’ve been praying this for you for so long, I’m so glad to see you’re listening!”

A couple of years later, Jesus sent me and my wife to Texas, when the rest of our family lived in Missouri. We struggled with 100 degree weather and 10 hour trips to see family and meeting new friends and finding a place there. We survived Texas and seminary. My last semester in seminary, I told Jamie (my wonderful wife), “If I could serve a church in the Kansas City area as a youth minister and worship leader, I’d stay for life.” And we’ve been at Cornerstone ever since.

Then Jesus got serious. He opened my eyes to the terrible injustices in the world. He broke my heart as I live in comfort and children die daily of hunger. And he whispered,

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

In the past, if anyone challenged me, I’d do everything I could to overcome that challenge and win. Now, I’m being challenged to lose my life. What was once a horrible word in my vocabulary has turned beautiful—to become a loser.

The desire to win, to succeed, to avoid looking foolish has a grip on me and many years of positive reinforcement from every social situation has tightened the squeeze. So, I struggle. And in this struggle, I’m just beginning to learn that a life lost in Jesus is, well, hard…frustrating… exasperating…costs me everything.

So, I’m looking for friends who are willing to lose with me, and we can cross the finish line together.

I Vetoed—Uh, I Mean, Voted

2008-11-04T14:44:00.001-06:00

Everyone’s asking. Here’s my answer.

I will vote for the first person that treats the other candidate as a real person.

I will vote for the first person that says, “The other candidate would do a good job, too, and I’m grateful to live in a country where we can honestly and openly disagree and not have to worry about losing our lives.”

I will vote for the first person that says, “I don’t have all the answers, but I’m a quick learner.”

I will vote for the first person who says that in order to take care of “us”, we need to be taking care of others. If we actually practiced loving our neighbor, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about protecting what’s in our backyard.

I will vote for the first person who understands that to be entrusted with power is a dangerous and scary thing, not something to be pursued at any cost.

I’m not certain how two people who spent $640 million and $370 million respectively can relate to me, who is struggling to get by month to month under the weight of debt. I’m not certain how two people who have spent so much effort and energy building an image, convincing people why they should win, can relate to someone who’s trying to lose his life. And I’m just not certain that two people who are convinced that the proper use of power is the correct answer to today’s problems can relate to someone who knows that Love is greatest power in the universe.

And that’s all I have to say about politics.

Small Things—Great Love.

Small Things, Great Love

2008-10-30T13:34:00.001-06:00

I have tried to save the planet
Broken people everywhere
I have tried to speak and sing of things
But my words just fill the air
I have tried to live beyond my sight
Full of dreams, imaginings
I have tried to give it all away
But it’s harder than it seems

So no matter what I do
What I say or where I go
I’m chasing after vanity
Unless I show

Small things, great love
Or don’t even go at all
Small things, great love
Tearing down dividing walls
The only way to make a change
Growing smaller day by day
Small things, great love

I have fed the famished, hungry
But never learned a name
I have shared the streets with homeless men
And had to look away
Taking boxes down to Goodwill
I have danced with charity
But I’m called to love creation
Not just boast of my good deeds

So lead me down this narrow way
Of pearls and seed and fools
Lost in wonder, found in grace
I’m safe to choose

Small things, great love
Or don’t even go at all

Small things, great love
Tearing down dividing walls
The only way to make a change
Growing smaller day by day
Small things, great love

$30,000

2008-10-27T08:38:00.005-06:00

Kaylea is in the second grade. Her school is about 3 miles away. I've thought about riding bikes to school with her, but:

The timing isn't easy (we'd have to leave pretty early).
There isn't a shoulder on the main road (highway) on which to ride a bike.
Which means we'd have to ride about 5 miles to go the safe route.

Jamie is home (safely) from Ngerenya, Kenya, Africa--right on the Indian Ocean. There, she saw and even got to teach through a translator at a wonderful Child Development Center that educates children 3-6 years old. The closest primary school is 3 miles away, for kids 7 and older. There is another primary school, but it is already full and not accepting any children. The kids have to provide their own transportation (which means they walk). The Child Development Center has been up and running for almost 2 years now, and they are dreaming new dreams.

They want to build their own primary school. They know and appreciate the value of a good education, and they know that education is the hope for the future.

For $10,000 they can build an additional classroom. And that's got me thinking.

Here are some of my ideas:

I've got a few (hundred) CD's left. If anyone buys a CD (or more than one), the profits will go to the Child Development Center. Or, I could give friends a box of CD's and let them sell them.
There's a part of me that wants to make a new CD, with all of the songs focusing on N'gerenya and the hope of new creation there. I'd write another small devotional book to accompany it, with stories from the people that went on the trip. However, this means that I'd need about $2,000 for the project, and then how in the world could we get the word out and would people actually buy it?
Small fundraising concerts, where I come and sing and take up a love offering going to the people of N'gerenya.

For $30,000, the people of N'gerenya could build classrooms so their 1st through 3rd graders wouldn't have to walk and would be guaranteed a good education.

These kids want to go to school. They love school. They love to learn. Families willingly make sacrifices to pay for their kids to go. It is a travesty that kids are being turned away from schools, unable to learn.

We can make a difference for tomorrow's leaders today.

What do you think?

Too Much Space

2008-10-24T17:35:00.002-05:00

Too Much Space

Failing to follow the path beaten-down
Setting the trail a-blaze
Walking on waters while storms abound
Dancing in the middle of the maze

Daring to dream of a-coming new day
Crossing over the lines
Casting aside all comfortable ways
Worries left behind

If you’re not living on the edge
You’re taking up too much space
If you’re not getting into trouble
You are playing it too safe
If you are living in tomorrow
You’re not dying today
If you’re not living on the edge
You’re taking up too much space

Setting the sail where the wind freely blows
Tossing convention away
Sharing a journey of Love on the go
Singing as we play

If you’re not living on the edge
You’re taking up too much space
If you’re not getting into trouble
You are playing it too safe
If you are living in tomorrow
You’re not dying today
If you’re not living on the edge
You’re taking up too much space

Holding on tight to the reigns of this life
Safe and sound and out of harm’s way
Judging who’s wrong, judging who’s right
Playing with power just to get your way

Risk-y Business

2008-10-21T21:27:00.004-05:00

This post has nothing to do with Tom Cruise lip-synching in a dress shirt and sunglasses.

I'm working on a new song, and have only got a couple of lines so far.

If you aren't living on the edge
You're taking up too much space
If you aren't breaking some rules
You are playing it too safe

Too often, we encourage each other to "Take care" or to "Be careful". We purposely avoid risky behaviors and risky people. And this has translated to carefully choosing our way in following The Way.

Those who have succeeded the most have also failed a considerable portion of the time. Scientists and experimenters label failure as a lesson learned. Musicians who have written "great" songs have written twice as many "bad" songs. All successful writers have been rejected and failed on numerous occasions.

We are not called to live safe and comfortable, apathetic lives. We are called to live with passion, risk, and great love.

There is nothing that you do that is risk-free.

There is nothing that you can eat that is risk-free.
(I had hot dogs at school with Kaylea today. BIG risk).

There is nobody that you know who is risk-free.

In order for the church to be the church, it must be about the business of risk.

Try walking on the water with Jesus.
Hang out with some drunks and gluttons.
Spend a night with the homeless.
Give away stuff for free.

In order to risk, we cannot take ourselves too seriously and must take loving all people very seriously.

God is a God of risk. A universe of love requires a large amount of risk.

Love cannot be coerced or forced.

God took a risk, entering creation, showing what it truly means to love God and neighbor.

So, go, on The Way, on The Journey, and take risk.

Jesus is for Losers

2008-10-07T21:33:00.002-05:00

I'm working on a book right now called Jesus is for Losers. The book takes a look at the competitively-obsessed culture in which we live, and then imagines and dreams and asks questions about how we could live if we took seriously Jesus' call to lose our lives for the sake of the kingdom.

Chapter 7 is about our obsession with money and how we try and win life through wealth (made plain by the recent events on Wall Street). I think that if we are really going to follow Jesus, we need to quit worrying about money, learn to live with a little less, and be willing to give it away. I have this idea about how we could be better stewards with our money, but it requires a willingness to work for the common good of all people, and a commitment to covenant together with others seeking to live another way.

Here's the idea of radical financial redistribution.

I would like to start a non-profit agency (the Losers' Club) that helps people pay off their debts, then frees them to give. If someone wanted to join the Losers' Club, their debts (except for mortgage) would be paid off. A couple of friends would assist the family in figuring out how much each month they spent paying on debt (credit, cars, loans, etc.), and pay it off in total. The family would then commit to paying 30% of what they were paying in monthly debt expenses back to the Losers' Club to help others pay off debt. Another 30% would be encouraged to be saved and help with the stuff that comes up on a month-to-month basis. Another 30% would be given to an organization that directly works in a third world country. The final 10% should be given to the local church or an organization in the city working with the poor, hungry, needy.

The families who willingly participate would commit to paying towards someone else's freedom for at least 3 years. Maybe longer. What if they loved the idea and gave for the rest of their lives?

Here's the hard part.

In my mind, the Losers' Club needs about $1 million seed money, spending $750,000 in the first couple of months paying off multiple families debt, so they can immediately start giving back and giving away. There would come a point when the seed money could actually be repaid (ideally), when there are enough families giving on a regular basis to pay off 1-2 families per month.

In my heart, I believe that those who follow Jesus really want to give more, but often find themselves trapped by past decisions. If we can free them from those debts, encouraging simpler living and accountability, I believe that we could really help the needy, poor, and broken around the world.

So, does anybody know a millionaire with a big heart?

Examine Your Sole...

2008-09-30T09:47:00.004-05:00

I have a pair of tennis shoes from No Sweat Apparel that I really like--sweatshop-free, fair-trade--and they resemble a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor's (I always wanted a pair of those shoes, and then I saw I, Robot and remembered how much I wanted a pair...). By all appearances, these are a good pair of shoes. Stylish, cool, comfortable. I wear them all the time.

If, however, you should look at the bottom of my shoes, you will see that I've completely worn through the soles. If I walk through puddles or even dew-y grass, my socks get soaked immediately. I really should just get a new pair, but these feel soooooo good.

In suburbia, we are addicted to looks. We want cars and houses and people and kids that look good. On the house with peeling paint and an overgrown lawn, on the kid with tattoos and piercings, on the beat-up car with rust, we often look with disdain. And we judge.

"Christians" are the worst at this. We are the quickest to judge others by external appearances.

"Accept one another, just as Jesus accepted you," Paul writes. Holes and all, I'm accepted.

Elvis came to church on Sunday. Right after the greeting time, as I'm singing, in he walks, finding a seat in the chairs in the back. Following worship, I went to say "hi" and strike up a conversation. I introduced myself and extended my hand. "Elvis," he said, "people call me Elvis." I smiled and replied, "I thought you look familiar!" Try as I might, I couldn't get another name from him. His life is that of impersonating another.

Jesus invited all people to live his life. He never promised it would be easy, but he promised it would be good.

We all have holes in our souls; too often these are the holes that other people quickly see, take advantage of, and walk all over.

Our soles should tread lightly, for all souls are holy ground.

PS--I'll try and get a picture of my shoes for your viewing pleasure.

The Ordinary Radicals

2008-09-24T08:43:00.004-05:00

Last night, I went with a small group from church to see a screening of Jamie Moffett's The Ordinary Radicals. In June and July of 2008, Jamie traveled with Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw and friends on an 11,000 mile journey of the United States (and Toronto). He filmed everything he saw, compiling some 5 terrabytes (wow!) of footage. With the help of 10 friends, Jamie edited the movie into 3 hours and 45 minutes. The real work started. After a couple more weeks of serious work, the movie is now a solid 99 minutes.

The movie was fantastic. Interviewing dozens of people whose imaginations are engaged in bringing heaven to earth, The Ordinary Radicals shows that there are people who are passionate about living out the words of Jesus, not just using/manipulating his words to defend a lifestyle of comfort and convenience. For too long, the media has (accurately) painted a very narrow picture of Christianity--obsessed with abortion, homosexuality, and other social taboos--drinking, smoking, tattoos. The Ordinary Radicals accurately shows that following Jesus means loving and living with the poor, feeding the hungry, and dreaming of ways of subverting the empire through small acts of amazing love.

The Ordinary Radicals comes out on DVD in a couple of weeks, and it will be one for my backpack. I'll carry it with me to show students (and others) that we're not following Jesus alone, but there's a whole community of ordinary people who are dreaming of bringing heaven to earth.

Here's the link to order or find out when it's coming near you:

www.theordinaryradicals.com

Jesus for President

2008-09-15T16:23:00.006-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I started wearing a button that says, "Jesus for President." My good friend Tim Fleenor designed it; it looks like this:

Last week, John McCain and Sarah Palin were at a rally 5 miles from my house. On a whim, I decided to drop by. While I was there, I overheard the following statements:

"John McCain will save America."

"McCain is my only hope for America." (Star Wars, anyone?)

Vendors strolled freely selling buttons and t-shirts, hats and bumper stickers, and anything else you can think of, all proclaiming "McCain & Palin '08".

I was in the "overflow" area, a large grassy lawn on the south side of the building. Trees lined the back of the lot. There were kids in the trees, and then I saw a man walk by and say, "I'd just like to see him once." He climbed the tree to be with the kids.

There is a group out there rallying "Jesus for President." By this, they mean that they want America to be "saved." If people would just get "saved," then terrorists wouldn't attack and the AIDS epidemic would go away and the economy would turn around and we would live safe and comfortable lives. They have t-shirts that read "JesUSAves." They really want Jesus to sit at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

There is another group out there campaigning for Jesus as President. They have toured the country and are reimagining what life as a follower of Jesus looks like. They are convinced that Jesus came for all people, and is not interested in sitting in the White House. They believe Jesus really meant it when he said, "Love your enemy." They believe Jesus really meant it when he said, "Sell your possessions." They believe Jesus really meant it when he said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and live my life."

Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw published a book called Jesus for President. It is an incredible read, and talks about the subversive, countercultural, alternative way of life that Jesus brought to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear.

So, I'm wearing my button until election day. I might even continue wearing it after that, I haven't decided. There is significance in the stars and stripes, but it's not what you think. This button is not proclaiming Jesus to come make my life comfortable and protect my preferred way of living.

It is by his stripes, we are healed.

And I am supposed to shine like stars in the heavens.

I ran into a lady at the McCain rally who was all decked out in McCain paraphernalia, holding signs and all that. She looked at my button, looked me in the eyes and said, "Really?"

I looked back at her, smiled, and said, "Yeah."

2 bucks

2008-06-10T09:46:00.001-05:00

Almost 50% of the world lives on $2 a day or less.

Nash's Heroes

2008-05-21T15:07:00.006-05:00

Last Saturday, the girls and I participated in the 10th annual Hillcrest Walk for the Homeless. We were on one of the youth teams--the youth group split up into two teams, one captained by Nash High, and the other by his sister Katrina--called Nash's Heroes.

Nash is a graduating senior. Instead of an elaborate graduation party involving foods and gifts, Nash invited friends and family to join him on the walk, donating their graduation money to Hillcrest's work of transitioning homeless families to self-sufficiency. Everyone was surprised at the pre-walk festivities, when Nash was recognized as the top fundraiser, and his team as the top fundraising team. The picture above shows Cotton Sivils, director of Hillcrest, presenting Nash-- in a "heroes" cape--with his award.

That evening, was Lee's Summit North's graduation, also in Independence. Nash figured the 3 miles walk was more than enough and gave his cap and gown to another graduate in need. He did take a picture in front of the building where graduation was held.

When I graduated high school, I loved the monetary gifts. It was one of the first times I'd had a "surplus" of spending money and enjoyed spending it all on stuff that has long since been forgotten or given away.

Nash dared to live out the dream of another world, where we all have enough and are called to help each other, and for this reason, Nash is one of my heroes.

Taking a Risk

2008-05-09T10:45:00.005-05:00

Last week, I watched the movie Martian Child. Martian Child is the story of a widower who adopted a young boy who had lived 7 years in the foster care system. At one point, the widower (John Cusack) says, “I’m not talking about bringing another child into the world; I’m talking about loving one that’s already here.”

Now, when it comes to thinking about family relationships, I easily get lost. I have trouble remembering who’s related to whom, and for someone whose grandpa is the youngest of 13 siblings (and a twin), that’s not good. So, good luck reading the following story.

In January, I had the opportunity to lead worship and speak at a youth retreat in the mountains of Virginia. The best thing about singing and music is the people you get to meet. At Massanutten Ski Resort, I met Jeff and Emerson. Over Dr Pepper, fruit snacks, and pretzels, Jeff shared Emerson’s story.

Jeff and his wife, Robin, already had three biological children when God prompted them to start thinking about adopting. There were lots of questions. How could they afford to raise another child? How could they put another child through college? Slowly, God continued to work in their hearts, leading them to walk by faith.

They talked to their boys about the idea of adoption, helping them understand the concept and to get their honest feedback. They explained that there are situations in which a Mom and Dad can’t care for a child, and that this child needs a home and a family and love. They shared the story of their cousin/niece, Shaquanah, an African-American girl adopted by Robin’s sister.

At this point, the boys balked, “She’s adopted?!?” They were color-blind to Shaquanah’s darker hue.

Now, the whole family has started adopting. Jeff and Robin have adopted two children from Guatemala, Emerson (who is a riot and loves Sponge Bob) and Mira. Robin’s parents have adopted domestically two African-American girls from the foster care system. Robin’s sister has adopted two boys (with Down’s Syndrome) from Hong Kong, one girl from Liberia, and Shaquanah.

When the whole family gets together, the hues are a veritable rainbow.

Adoption stories also in the Scriptures. Moses was adopted by Pharoah’s daughter. Samuel was adopted by Eli. Jesus was adopted by Joseph. The Scriptures say that God chose to adopt us too, through Jesus.

Maybe those of us who follow Jesus need to start seriously considering what adoption means, and loving more kids that are already here.

Pictured above:
Standing from Left to Right- Blair, Ivan, Caeden, Fred, Shaquanah, Parsen, Toren, Emerson Front Row Sitting from L to R- Albertine, Zoe holding Mira, Caroline

No Sweat

2008-04-29T11:01:00.002-05:00

If you've read this blog or listened to the CD, you know that I believe "another world is whispering still". No Sweat Apparel is one of the sponsors of 5N2, and has a creative, fair-trade, solution that promotes peace and echoes the dreams and words of Jesus.

No Sweat Apparel’s organic cotton T-shirts are produced at a sweatshop-free Palestinian owned factory on Virgin Mary Street in Bethlehem. Here’s a link to an al Jazeera segment about the project.

http://www.youtube.com/nosweatapparel

The Jewish, Israeli and US mainstream press has been just as positive. Apparently No Sweat has found an elusive piece of common ground-more good jobs for Palestinians in Palestine will help the situation. While economic development is no substitute for a diplomatic settlement, no settlement can survive without a sustainable Palestinian economy. So, while waiting for a diplomatic resolution, No Sweat created a mechanism for ordinary citizens of good faith to build good will on the ground and support the peace to come. The concept behind the t-shirts is simple. When faced with an apparently irresolvable conflict, if there is any one thing all parties agree on-do that one thing and see what happens.

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a single garment of destiny.”

Dr. Martin Luther King

Watch the video, it's cool.

Hearing Voices...

2008-04-17T22:30:00.003-05:00

About a year ago, I heard the Voice. It wasn't the first time I've heard the Voice. When you want a weird story or two, ask me about the pregnant girl at Blockbuster, the dinner at On the Border, Heinz 57 sauce in Waco, or a few dozen other instances of hearing the Voice. This time the Voice said, "Make a CD."

There are many famous people who've claimed to hear voices. Joan of Arc and St. Francis and Noah, Timothy McVeigh and David Koresh and that weird looking Heaven's Gate dude...Applewhite.

I told Jamie what I was thinking, and her wise advice was to think on it and wait a while. I waited about six months. I was still hearing the Voice. So I got to work. I knew it wasn't supposed to be just any CD to make me rich and famous. I really don't want to be famous (I'd get a big head), and I'm not sure that I'd handle my money all that wisely (I'd probably just give it away). At first, I thought I was supposed to just give the CD's away. Then I discovered how much it would cost to record, mix, master, and produce the CD.

Late one night, before bed, I heard the Voice again. This time, it was very specific as to the purpose of the CD--to raise awareness of various organizations that are doing great works of justice around the world with love. Any profit made from the CD is supposed to support these organizations.

I quickly grabbed my music and looked over the songs I'd chosen for the CD. It was easy to partner them with the following organizations:

No Sweat Apparel
Not For Sale
Clapham Sect: Phase II
Christian Activity Center--East St. Louis
To Write Love on Her Arms
Hillcrest Transitional Housing
International Justice Mission
Blood: Water Mission

I sent a foolish email to a friend and asked if he'd like to help sponsor the CD, knowing full well that he's never heard me sing or any of my music. He took time to think about it, and said, "Yes."

Thirteen months after the first Voice, the project's finished. When I came home today, 1000 CD's were sitting at my doorstep. They are $10 + S/H. You can order them here:

http://www.5n2music.net/

I don't know what the Voice is going to say next. I'm hoping it's something like, "Well done..."

Just Like Everybody Else...

2008-04-09T15:15:00.002-05:00

According to some recent interviews, articles, and polls:

Christians now have a higher divorce rate than non-Christians.
Christians consume as much alcohol, tobacco, and cuss as much as non-Christians.
Christians attend rated-R movies at the same rate as non-Christians.
Christians commit adultery, lie, steal, cheat the same rate as non-Christians.
Christians look at pornography as much as everyone else.
Christians are more judgmental and less accepting of others than non-Christians.

For too long, Christians have pronounced Jesus with our lips and denied him so loudly with our lives. You can’t tell if someone is a Christian just by looking. So, here’s my question:

How can we be set apart, how can we be following Jesus, if we look just like everyone else?

From the beginning of Genesis, we are supposed to be set apart. God chose us, called us, and blessed us that we may bless the rest of the world. Following Jesus is supposed to be a contrast culture, not a country club. What marks us as different must be more than something external or superficial; it must be a peculiar way of living.

Peter writes, (1 Peter 2.9ff):

"But you are the ones chosen by God, set apart to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul."

The processing of these jumbled thoughts has resulted in these lyrics. Enjoy.

Trying to buy what's not for sale
With the currency of our lives
Making a mess chasing after our tails
Can't seem to get it right

Branding beauty, possessions steal
The freedom of our souls
Counterfeit, seductive appeal
Wanting to be in control

Interrupt the status quo
Live in kingdom come
Mustard seed conspiracy
The answer is love

Suburban dreams of lust and greed
Imprison and isolate
Indulging ego, ignoring need
There's only room for hate

Interrupt the status quo
Live in kingdom come
Mustard seed conspiracy
The answer is love

How can we be set apart
If everybody's looking the same
How can we claim to have a new heart
When we're really just playing a game

Interrupt the status quo
Live in kingdom come
Mustard seed conspiracy
The answer is love

Life is More--2

2008-03-25T09:37:00.004-06:00

Last week, I travelled with the youth to Ellington, MO and Logan Valley Christian Retreat Center. We went to get away and to play and to listen to who God was calling us to be. The theme for the retreat was "Life is More", and we spent time listening to music and to the words of Jesus as he reminds us that "life is more than all we see".

We were supposed to spend two days on a ropes course, challenging ourselves and encouraging one another, working together to accomplish ridiculously difficult tasks.

Instead, it rained. For three days, it rained. Take a look.

That is supposed to be the baseball and ultimate frisbee and disc golf field. It's under about 3-4 FEET of water. In a final ironic twist, the power went out on the second evening, leaving us in the dark for about 16 hours. We truly got to experience that "life is more than all we see."

However, it turned out to be a wonderful week. We played four square and Calvinball and cards and Monopoly. Some of the more daring youths went down the 300 foot waterslide in the freezing rain. And we got to have free time. On multiple occasions I overheard youth say, "I can't remember the last time I had so much free time."

The website is up. CD's are for sale. New songs of a revolution of love.

http://www.5n2music.net/

Life is More

2008-03-13T08:35:00.003-06:00

Seek first God's Story and His Justice, and everything else will be taken care of.

Last night, the youth shared what they've been working on at a dinner at church. For the last two months, we have read and thought about joining God's Story as agents of Justice in the world. They adopted four organizations to research and made their presentations last night. The goal was to inform people of the organization and demonstrate how easy it is to get involved. The youth used YouTube and PowerPoint, music and money, handcuffs and trivia, giveaways and laughter to spread their message. Here is a brief summary:

1. Christian Activity Center, East St. Louis, IL--

$100 will supply 1 child with afterschool homework tutoring, a light dinner, technology training, health education, lifeskills training, and a place to play for one month.

2. Blood: Water Mission--

$1 will provide 1 African clean water for 1 year.

$3,000 will build a new clean water well.

3. To Write Love on Her Arms--

18 million people in the United States suffer from depression. Depression in teenages leads to self-injury and suicide. Being a consistent, loving presence is a powerful force for those suffering depression.

4. Clapham Sect: Phase 2--

Every 8 seconds, a child is sold into sex trafficking. Every year, more than 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States as slaves. Raising awareness of modern-day slavery is the first and largest difference we can make. A second step is to adopt an abolition organization and donate $10/month. Though small, a simple, consistent gift helps keep abolitionists able to focus on work on the front lines.

Life is more than what we see. This is the theme of the new CD and the upcoming Spring Break youth retreat. The t-shirts came in last night, and I quickly took a picture of Kaylea in hers. She and Sophie share the limited edition children's pink shirts. If you look closely, you can see the missing tooth, too.

5N2

2008-03-10T12:31:00.001-06:00

With the new CD coming out in just a few weeks (Yeah!), some friends have been asking me why I call the band “5N2”, so I’ll share the story and the song that goes with it.

One of my favorite stories in Scripture is the feeding of the 5000, when Jesus multiplies the lunch of a little boy—5 loaves and 2 fish (5n2). You can check out the whole story in John 6.1-15, Luke 9.10-17, or Matthew 14.13-21. Here’s how I read the story:

A little boy, who doesn’t have much, willingly and gratefully offers what he does have to Jesus, and trusts Jesus with the rest of the details. The boy doesn’t have any idea what Jesus is going to do with his lunch; he probably isn’t concerned (or even aware, most likely) about everyone else’s needs for food. In my mind, the boy has been following Jesus for the day; listening, watching, learning, playing, he now has an opportunity to give something to Jesus, and he does it.

There are thousands of better guitarists and singers and songwriters than me. I will never be on the radio (unless I call in to the post-game discussion on the Royals network) or traveling all across the country selling out stadiums for concerts. No one’s going to be interrupting my dinner asking for an autograph, or be stopping me to take a picture with me. No one’s going to be coming to Cornerstone simply because I help lead worship there.

However, I do know that I feel God’s pleasure when I sing and play with the band. I know that as I read the Scriptures (and the books that Byron sends me) that something is stirred deep inside, and writing songs helps me to process what I’m thinking and who I’m becoming. So, I willingly and gratefully offer to Jesus the simple gift I have. I have no idea what Jesus is going to do with it, and I don’t think that’s something I should be concerned about.

Here’s the song that helps me think about who I am as a songwriter, and how I picture 5n2.

Big in Small
You are the big in my small
You are the silence when I call
You are the strength when I fall
And it’s all that I can do to follow You

What can I give to you
The King of all creation
What can I sing to you
The Perfect Melody
What can I dream to do
To follow in Your passion
What can I dare pursue
To bring You glory

All that I can give to you
Has fallen through your fingers
All that I can sing to you
You’ve heard it all before
All that I can dream to do
Never moves the mountains
All that I will dare pursue
Is just past my front door

Wither and disappear
I will fade away
You are forever strong
Your Word will never change

Giving a ....

2008-03-07T08:49:00.003-06:00

My sophomore year in college, I had the opportunity to hear Tony Campolo speak, and then got to meet him afterwards. He started the night by saying, "In the time that I speak to you tonight, hundreds of children will die from starvation and you don't give a damn. The truth is, many of you are more concerned by the fact that I said 'damn' than about dying children."

Sometimes, those of us in the church get so wrapped up in meaningless things--appearances, traditions, routines, politics--that we forget we're called to go to the ends of the earth, sharing a message of radical love and acceptance.

As we get close to Easter (which is really early this year!), we ask the question, "Who is Jesus?"

Jesus is incarnate--God with skin, who knows our fears, hurts, pain, and walks with us still.
Jesus is crucified--God of love, who bears the brokenness of all creation.
Jesus is resurrected--God of power and hope, who says that death is not the final word.

Those of us who claim to follow Jesus, must remember that we've been invited to follow in his steps.

Walking with people through their pain (not judging them).
Willing to die to our self-centered wants, selfish desires.
Living out of God's power and hope for all creation.

Imagine Peace

2008-02-29T13:31:00.005-06:00

Anyone who reads this blog probably already knows that I'm a radical pacifist.

Did you know that the US spends $450,000,000,000 on defense and the military annually?

Did you know that the current US arsenal is equivalent to 150,000 Hiroshima bombs?

Did you know that an average of 17 veterans commit suicide daily because they can't cope with their actions in war?

What's more crazy: someone who has fought and killed and is able to function in "normal" society, or someone who has fought and killed and is unable to function in "normal" society?

The response the Amish took last year when their children were killed at school points to the power of peace. When Jesus was being arrested to be tried and killed, Peter drew a sword to fight off the soldiers, and Jesus had him put it away.

I don't think there is such a thing as redemptive violence. Violence begets violence, period.

I was reading the Scriptures this week, and came across a bizarre story. Joshua was planning the conquest of Jericho, he looks up and there is a man with a sword in his hands. Joshua asks, "Are you for us or our enemies?"

The man replies, "Neither, I am for God."

I read this story right before bed, and woke up singing a new lyric in my dreams. Within a couple of hours, this song was written. Can we possibly imagine how Peace could respond in the face and presence of evil?

If war was an apple
We would take a bite
If war was a car or truck
We'd take it for a drive

If war was a masterpiece
It would never cease to shock
If war was an economy
The bullets would be stock

Love your enemy
Turn the other cheek
Beat the tanks, break the sword
Is there any hope any more?

If war was a husband
He's cheating on his bride
If war was a government
He's never on my side

If war was my neighbor
We'd never get along
If war was a melody
She'd be a siren song

Love your enemy
Turn the other cheek
Beat the tanks, break the sword
Is there any hope any more?

If war was religion
Preachin' gospel on the streets
Everyone would listen
To the promises it can't keep

If war was a murderer
A lying, stealing thief
Judging hearts of humankind
I'd be commander in chief

Love your enemy
Turn the other cheek
Beat the tanks, break the sword
Is there any hope any more?
Where's the Prince of Peace?

The Simple Life

2008-02-21T12:13:00.003-06:00

Note: this post has nothing to do with Paris or Nicole.

I recently watched a movie that detailed the lifestyle of the Amish, and there's a part of me that would really like to live like that. To wear simple clothes, to work hard with my hands, to live in a close community of people who truly love and serve one another--it's a tempting alternative to the ridiculous self-serving, individualistic, materialistic and consuming rat race that occupies most of my waking time. But, to me, it's not an expression of a lifestyle of following Jesus, of living out of faith.

The life of Jesus showed the desire that God has to be fully with his creation, joining us in the darkness of our personal and corporate hells. God became human to be with and for us, sharing life's broken moments together. I'm certain this happens in the Amish community. However, the Amish community has retreated from the "evils and horrors of this world."

Those who follow Jesus should not retreat from the world, but go out with radical love and hope, making and serving new friends. There is no ulterior motive of "winning souls", but building authentic relationships, for God is found in the relationship. Just as God exists in relationship, we hear His voice and follow Him together in relationship with others. We should follow in the steps of our Savior, who drank with the drunks and ate with the gluttons and hugged the lepers and AIDS victims. We have caught a glimpse of grace and mercy, of Life and Love.

This is not something we keep to ourselves.

Studio Time!

2008-02-09T19:27:00.000-06:00

We've been in the studio, working on the new Life is More CD, which will be out in April. Spending time in the studio really is a lot of fun, but also a ton of work. So, here's some pics so you can see what it's like. Gene's on the drums, Mike's on the bass, Casey's on the strings, Kaylea contributes on a song, and finally, you can see me strumming the Taylor (with Kaylea listening in in the background). The next two Fridays, we'll be working on vocals, and then Keith will work his magic!

Career Day

2008-02-01T12:15:00.000-06:00

I got to speak at “Career Day” at one of the local high schools today. It turned out to be quite the providential time.

My career was advertised as “clergy”, and described as “the taking care of spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people who attend a church”. The description was painfully boring.

There were four, 30 minute sessions, where I had the opportunity to share with students. The first and third sessions, only 1 student appeared. But the second and fourth sessions were fantastic, incredible.

Just as I was getting ready to start the second session to a room of 6, a handful of young, black men sat on the back row. The teacher (who was supposed to help with crowd-control) was worried that they were there to cause a scene, to make fun of the "clergy".

First, I handed out food and free things, like bookmarks and pens and ice scrapers. That loosened everyone up. I told them a little about me and my family and my bike team. Then, I asked them for definitions and impressions of who clergy are and what they do. I then told them that I can only speak for myself, but here’s what I do:

"Jesus has invited all people to join in the Great Story of God. When we join in God’s Story, we lose our lives in light of a greater purpose—one full of hope, joy, laughter, love, and life itself.

This year, a new president will be elected, and, unlike in other countries, daily life in the United States will not dramatically change. Let me substitute the word “clergy” for “one who follows Jesus". As a follower of Jesus, I have been called to live my life as if Jesus were in my shoes.

As a follower of Jesus, I am a songwriter, writing and singing and telling stories that point to God’s Great Story—one of simplicity not consumption, one of purity not hedonism, one of peace not violence.

As a follower of Jesus, I am a worship leader, inviting people to sing praises to God, taking our eyes off of ourselves, our failures, successes, circumstance and onto the One who alone is worthy of our worship and devotion.

As a follower of Jesus, I am a youth minister, because I believe that teenagers are daring and risky enough to dream big dreams that will change the world. I believe that teens are strong enough to hold on to hope and press on, persevering through difficult situations.

My calling as a follower of Jesus has been shaped by Jesus’ inaugural address:

“God’s Spirit is on me, he’s chosen me to preach the Story of God’s good news to the poor, he’s sent me out to proclaim freedom for prisoners and restoring sight to the blind, he’s sent me to set the abused and enslaved free and declare, ‘This is God’s year to act!”

Today is February 1. In 1865, President Lincoln signed the 13th amendment, abolishing slavery in the United States. There are more slaves today than there were in the 400 years of the African slave trade.”

From then on, a fantastic discussion took place about how we join God’s Story and live like Jesus when we help free slaves. We talked about how our consumerist tendencies actually promote oppression. We talked about how our desires for revenge and destruction do not bring peace.

At the end, I said, “Today is National Freedom Day. God has set us free from our past, so we can go help others who are slaves today.”

And I now have 5 new friends. It was a great time. I can't wait for next year.

Patriots 35, Giants 21.

Offering

2008-01-25T13:04:00.000-06:00

More than the words I sing
To a simple melody
More than the gifts I bring
Or the very thoughts I think

Every breath I breathe
Is a gift of your mercy
Forming, filling me
For life with you

Every hour, every day
Only your power sustains
Seeking my praise
Drawing me to you

Every friend in need
Is a heart where grace precedes
Regardless race or creed
To love like you

Learning to seek your face
Trust and hope in grace
To lose in this rat race
And follow you

Ordinary, commonplace
To serve behind the scenes
Ridiculous and out of place
I am the offering

More than the words I sing
To a simple melody
More than the gifts I bring
Or the very thoughts I think

To worship, abandon,
To find life in you
Die to myself
O, I’m just a fool
I am the offering

New Kicks

2008-01-17T22:55:00.000-06:00

I love a new pair of shoes. I remember being in junior high and my dad bought me a pair of running shoes for track, and I actually believed I could run faster in my new shoes. (I did. I ran my best mile ever--5 minutes and 52 seconds. I can only match that time now on my bike).

I got a new pair of shoes this week, for free. No Sweat Apparel was looking for bands to sponsor who would promote sweatshop-free clothing and footwear at local concerts. I sent in an application, and now the band has No Sweat t-shirts and shoes. You can see what they look like at www.nosweatapparel.com. They are the low-cut black ones. They're quite comfy too. I'm hoping to use them for my bike riding this summer, and for the MS 150 in the fall.

Another pair of shoes that I love are my TOMS. If I didn't have trouble keeping my toes warm, I'd be wearing those all the time. They are absolutely the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn, even if they do look like a ballet slipper. And they make a great conversation piece. I love to wear them when I'm singing because they feel so good.

So, this week, I read a story that was quite familiar, about Moses and the burning bush. God called to Moses from the bush and said, "Take off your shoes, because you're standing on holy ground."

Kaylea and Sophie will kick off their shoes just as soon as they step inside a door. I've got a better chance of growing hair than I do of keeping shoes on them. But I'm not one that quickly kicks off my shoes.

I used to work at a nice country club. Every now and then, at the end of the day, I'd take off my shoes and socks and walk through the zoysia fairways. They felt incredible.

There is a certain humility and freedom that comes in taking off your shoes. And maybe a reminder that it's okay to get your feet dirty and play too.

Just a Fool

2008-01-11T09:11:00.000-06:00

Sally is your average teenager. She's short and sweet, and loves to laugh, and likes to read, and has a lot of friends, and likes to network online, and enjoys a good movie, and is a good babysitter.

And she is an abolitionist.

Last year, Sally saw the movie Amazing Grace, and it changed her world. She visited the movie's website, which led to further research (yeah, she's in debate, too) and connected with something deep inside her. She learned of the 27,000,000 people living in slavery today. She learned of the 1,000,000 new children sold into sex-slavery yearly. She learned of the horrors of brothels and sweatshops and sugar and cocoa and coffee fields. And she decided that it was wrong to sit back and do nothing.

At the age of 15, when most teenage girls are concerned with clothes and boyfriends and sending the maximum allotment of text messages, Sally, too, is concerned with clothes--Where did they come from? Who made them? Are they paid fair wages for their work? Her research led her to a dead-end; there were no avenues for teenagers who were further interested in pursuing making this world a better place.

Sally started her own organization.

Clapham Sect: Phase II (CSP2), named after William Wilberforce's original Clapham Sect in England, exists to equip young people with the tools necessary to fight modern day slavery in their own communities and around the world. Sally has spoken to and with teens in numerous settings, helping them to see the incredible difference that they can make. She has organized concerts and fundraising campaigns and awareness campaigns.

In a world where teens seem to only get negative press, Sally is a good story.

In a world that is driven by consumption and greed, Sally offers a voice of hope and reason.

In a world that teaches us to ignore the poor, oppressed, the people on the side of the road, Sally is just a fool.

And if being a fool means doing small things with great love, and trusting God with the details, then Sally's all for it.

Go check out CSP2:
www.csp2justiceseekers.com

So You Had a Bad Day...

2008-01-08T09:23:00.001-06:00

I spent the weekend with a friend of mine.

The last couple of years have been a journey to hell and back for him. Four years ago, he moved his family to a new city to work with youth and pursue God's call. Long story made short, the people there took advantage of his generous and trusting heart, sabotaged his ministry, and sent him and his family packing. His faith was shattered. He could no longer turn to the church for comfort or counsel, and rarely engaged the Scriptures.

For reasons unknown to me, about this time, I sent him an email with the lyrics of some of my songs attached. And, honestly, I hadn't thought about it since, until he said something yesterday.

He had flown me out to sing and speak to his youth at their winter retreat. We worshiped together and engaged God's Story together and dreamed about changing the world. It was a great weekend. Then, yesterday, he was driving me back through the mountains of Virginia to the airport at Richmond and said,

"I never told you this, but I kept the lyrics you sent me on my nightstand. Every now and then, they'd get knocked off and I'd read them as I picked them up. Those lyrics became my prayers when I couldn't open the Bible."

I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as he talked. I had no idea. Most of the songs had been written from times of personal struggle and pain, and were honest cries to God.

Hear my cry, O God
Listen to my prayer
From the ends of the earth
I call to you

My heart grows faint within me
My spirit yearns for you
In a dry and weary land

Lead me to the Rock
The Rock that's higher than I
Save me from myself
For Your love's better than life.

Perspective

2008-01-04T08:06:00.000-06:00

I was on a plane yesterday. I flew over the Great Lakes, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and finally over some mountains. It was a wonderful lesson in perspective.

Even though the world is growing smaller every day, I can do a great job of isolating myself from the world--focusing on my problems, my dreams, my small corner in this world. And when this happens, I've lost perspective.

Looking out the window of the plane(s), many thoughts rushed into my mind.

I am but one of 6 billion plus people on this planet.

There are people who are concerned about getting their daily bread and water, and could care less about car trouble, technological trials, or many of the petty issues that I perceive as urgent.

And as humility (finally) started to creep in, the thoughts kept coming.

Daily I have the chance to choose a different way to live. A way to live where forgiveness and peace and compassion bring hope and life. A way to live where slow and small and old and less are treasured. A way to live that realizes my daily dependence on others worldwide, and, ultimately on God for my next breath.

I've been leaning into a verse in recent days. Jesus said:

"Seek first God's Story and His Justice, and everything else will take care of itself."

The view out that window was a wonderful reminder of the greatness of God's Story, a story that needs to be shouted from the mountains.

What Would Jesus Buy?

2007-12-20T21:14:00.000-06:00

There is a hilarious documentary at independent movie theaters out this Christmas called, "What Would Jesus Buy?". It stars Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping. He preaches in Times Square, in the Mall of America, and gets arrested at DisneyLand. You can check out the trailer here.

http://wwjbmovie.com/

Last summer, I read a book talking about the incredible power and hope of dreams. It stated that something is wrong in this world; too many of us have the same dream of the continual pursuit of bigger, better, faster, more. As we obtain more and more, we grow in concern for the safety and protection of our possessions, and before long, our possessions control us.

The author challenged us to allow God to shape and form our dreams, dreams of justice and hope, of freedom for all, of enjoying the good creation and the joy of relationships.

So, what would Jesus buy for Christmas? He'd buy a computer for a friend whose computer was trapped in digital purgatory. He'd buy an amp for a dreaming musician, so he "could sing his songs off of any old stage." He'd buy a t-shirt from a junior high student that reads, "Live simply so others can simply live." He'd donate monthly to an anti-slavery organization, on behalf of someone else. He'd buy original artwork to support a struggling artist. And, he'd buy all of his books from Byron at Hearts and Minds Bookstore.

This week, I took the girls to the mall with a friend to see Santa. I cannot remember the last time I went to the mall. The line was a couple of hours long, so we played at the pet store and the play place and shared a pretzel and played at the pet store (again) instead. My goal going into Christmas was to spend nothing at the mall. I spent $7.80.

I wrote a song that will be featured on the new CD called Holding Strong. Here are the closing lyrics:

I am dreaming of the day
When freedom's giving all away
Children dancing, music plays
Justice breaks oppression's chains
Justice breaks oppression's chains

We can live another way
Holding strong to hope.

Oh yeah, Jesus would probably buy the DVD when it comes out too.

Love Came Down

2007-12-14T10:26:00.001-06:00

Last night, Sophie had her Christmas program at preschool. Her class sang, Away in a Manger. She did a marvelous job, both singing the words and performing the actions. My favorite verse is the second verse, as she sings, "The cattle are blowing the baby awake."

A couple of years ago, I wrote a Christmas song. I invited a talented bass-playing friend from Springfield to come play on its debut. He made the song come alive. I wish I could sing it for you now; nevertheless, enjoy the lyrics.

God With Us flesh, a frail, fragile breath
Sleeping among manger's sound
Heavenly armies sing praise to their king
Love came down

Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God
Your kingdom and reign are renown
Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace
Love came down

Love came down
Whispered words of comfort
Love came down
Strengthened feeble faith
Love came down
Inhabited creation
Full of life and joy
Love came down

In seasons of darkness, confusion, and pain
When stresses and pressures abound
When hearts think of others for selfish gain
Oh, Love come down

Love come down
Speak peace to this violence
Love come down
Full of truth and grace
Love come down
Inhabit this creation
Bring new life and joy
Love come down

May you sing throughout the holiday season of a risky, daring Love.

Miracle Word--2

2007-12-06T21:55:00.001-06:00

I'm much more intentional about what I wear these days. Learning about sweatshops and slavery around the world, and how millions of people are abused to make the clothes I wear, I almost always ask "Who made it?" when I'm buying clothing.

So, today, I was wearing my MiracleWord.net shirt, when a lady asked me, "What's the Miracle Word?" I answered, "It's the incredible Story that God invites us to join." We talked a few minutes more about the Scriptures and how a lot of people have a lot of opinions about it, but don't really know what it says.

Making the error of extreme generalization, American Christianity revolves around a phrase that is not biblical.

"God helps those who help themselves."

Ben Franklin said this. Not Jesus. Not any prophet.

For too long, Americans have read the Scriptures and made them say what they wanted. And, if so read, you too can be rich, self-serving, racist, and own slaves.

But what if the Scriptures are an invitation?

What if we are being invited into a world that truly believes peace and love are a better response than war and revenge?
What if we are being invited into a world that believes taking care of the person in the ditch is the most important thing we can do at that time?
What if we are being invited into a world where we are all members of the same family?

The challenge and struggle of MiracleWord.net is this, if we really read God's Story, we will be changed. Because in God's Story, how we treat others--regardless of whether or not we see them--is how we treat Him.

And for that reason, I'll be a little more picky and better-informed about the clothes on my back.

(And a great place to look is www.nosweatapparel.com)

Jesus for President

2007-11-30T09:42:00.000-06:00

Politics and religion in the same post, I wonder how many people I can offend.

Shane Claiborne is a friend of mine. We've never really met, but have exchanged emails for more than a year. He wrote Irresistible Revolution, one of my very favorite books of all time. I think I've purchased at least a dozen copies and given them all away. I'm now "borrowing" copies that I've given to friends to give to other friends so they can read it too.

Next summer, Shane will be going on a tour engaging people in discussion of his latest book, Jesus for President. What got me interested, initially, was the call for local musicians to come and play at intermission. I've written a couple of folk-rock pieces about Jesus' political practices (see lyrics below).

Brian McLaren (Everything Must Change) does a wonderful job of explaining how Jesus offers another alternative to the prevailing political practices in his day by extending an invitation to live in God's Kingdom. Kingdom language falls on dear ears today, but, for those of us who are storytellers, it might sound like this:

Seek first God's Story and His justice, and everything else will be taken care of.

Would Jesus make a good president? Enjoy the lyrics.

Politics of Jesus

He didn’t toe the party line
No red or blue or left or right
No “Vote for Jesus” button or sign
Just one thing: His kingdom or mine
He didn’t toe the party line

He wasn’t casting any spin
Truth is freedom and love will win
Sin’s more than doing, it’s born within
No drawing lines to box him in
He wasn’t casting any spin

No mud-slinging, no taking sides
Though he kissed some babies, blessed their lives
Promises made weren’t quaint sound bytes
He brought his kingdom with his life
He brought his kingdom with his life
He brought his kingdom with his life
He brought his kingdom with his life

His reign’s not of this place
Not built by hands in sacred space
Inclusive regardless gender or race
Membership’s free, unlimited grace
His reign’s not of this place

Not a campaign aide, not a campaign tool
Give God what’s God’s, give Caesar his due
Gave his live away for the least of you
He brought his kingdom to us fools
He brought his kingdom to us fools
He brought his kingdom to us fools
He brought his kingdom to us fools

Miracle Word--1

2007-11-27T15:44:00.000-06:00

"Fidelity to the Word takes us on the path of downward mobility."
--Henri Nouwen

According to the latest statistics, at least 1/3 of the world is "Christian." For those who are supposed to be salt and light, in an age of radical independence and self-reliance, it is difficult at best to define or determine who or what is "Christian".

Some define "Christians" by behavior--don't smoke, don't cuss, don't drink, don't chew and don't hang out with people that do. Some define "Christians" by doctrine/philosophy--Pre-Post-Neo-Freewill-Calvinistic-Four Square-Evangelical-Baptist-oholic."

"Christian" was originally a derogatory term. People who were "little Christs", lived in community, were radically dependent on God and each other, loved for all, and served the poor.

I'm tired of being labeled a "Christian" and dismissed as an ultra-conservative, right wing, fundamentalist, without a brain or a heart. I want to live like Jesus.

Feeding the hungry.
Giving the thirsty a drink.
Helping homeless find shelter.
Clothing the naked.
Caring for the sick.
Visiting those in prison.

I want to live what the Word says. If I live like this, there is a good chance no one will notice. It won't be in the media, it won't be in books, it won't be on the internet. But, maybe, in the small-ness of daily faithfulness, the world WILL change. Maybe the God who uses a shepherd to defeat a giant, who feeds thousands with a sack lunch, who calls fools to follow, maybe God will grow His upside-down kingdom of peace, hope, joy, and love through small acts of justice.

Jesus said, "Seek first God's Story and His justice, and everything else will be taken care of."

Reading the Word is difficult. Living the Word is dangerous.

Starting in January of 2008, my church is engaging the dangerous, subversive, countercultural Word of God, seeking to live God's Story. It's called Miracle Word.

More to come. If you're interested, check out:
www.miracleword.net.

Christmas

2007-11-21T10:35:00.000-06:00

What do I want for Christmas?

I would love my friends and family to read some of the books I've been reading, and then go get a cup of coffee or some gelato or play golf or send a whole bunch of emails to talk about what these books are really saying.

It's tough choosing which books, but here's 5 that would make for really good discussion. If you're really interested in getting the books, please visit Byron at www.heartsandmindsbooks.com in Pennsylvania. He's a great guy, with a heart for changing the world.

1. "Not for Sale" by, David Batstone
2. "Serve God, Save the Planet" by, Matthew Sleeth
3. "Chasing Francis" by, Ian Cron
4. "The Signature of Jesus" by, Brennan Manning
5. "Everything Must Change" by, Brian McLaren

Happy reading.

Teenagers, Part 2

2007-11-13T17:34:00.000-06:00

Christmastime is rapidly approaching. On November 1, I had to make a quick trip to the grocery store, and waltzed into a winter wonderland, full of Christmas trees (Holiday trees?) and lights and snowflakes...I almost passed out. Kaylea's been making her Christmas list for about 6 months now (darn February birthday), and I've even put a couple of wishes on a list (Marshall AS50D acoustic amp)...

Then I hear this story.

There was a teenager who approached his parents and asked for cash for Christmas. This was not unheard of. In the very next breath, this teen asked if he could have the cash early. This was pushing the limit. The parents inquired about the details of the request.

The teen replied, "I can't decide if I want to spend the money on Christmas gifts for inner city kids, on building a clean water well in Africa, or split it and do both."

The parents were humbled, silenced, and proud.

There are thousands of teenagers who would think that this is stupid, pure foolishness.

But maybe this is what Christmas could look like.

Maybe this is what Christmas should look like.

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

--Matthew 6.25-33 (The Message)

Teenagers

2007-11-12T10:12:00.001-06:00

I spent the weekend with about 50 teens in Fairview Heights, IL. I got to sing with them, eat with them, see them serve others, laugh and play with them, and learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Teens are incredible and inspiring. They are future-focused. They aren’t consumed with thinking about yesterday, but spend their time in the now and dreaming about tomorrow. Living fully in the now, they appreciate their friendships and aren’t afraid to be goofy and have fun. And when it comes to tomorrow, they sincerely believe they can make a significant difference. They honestly think they can change the world.

The world was changed this weekend. One act of kindness and senseless beauty at a time, the world was changed. Leaves were raked, alleys de-trashed, buses washed, mulch spread, and activities centers cleaned. The city of East St. Louis was changed. There was no media attention, no newspapers, no personal benefit or recognition to be received from these acts of service. And yet, the teens worked diligently, with joy and laughter.

At some point, it seems, most adults start thinking less optimistically about the future, and begin longing for days gone by. Our thoughts of tomorrow focus on retirement, security, and comfort. In the process, we forget that life is lived now, learning from yesterday to make a better tomorrow. We get crotchety and cranky and selfish, forgetting our responsibility to think of the generations after us.

Haley is another teen making a difference. To make a long story short, she wanted to make a t-shirt to change the world. And she did. She created a black and white shirt that reads, “Live simply so others can simply live.” The proceeds from the sale of the shirt are sending Jenifer, a girl in Guatemala, to school, and taking care of her physical needs—food, clothing, shelter.

Jamie, Kaylea, Sophie, and I all have the shirt. It sells for $10. If you want one, let me know. They are doing another print in a couple of weeks.

I love spending time with teens. Even though they feel caught in the middle—not a child, not quite an adult—they aren’t afraid to make a real difference now, and dream of ways that tomorrow, just maybe, a piece of heaven might come to earth.

Senseless Beauty

2007-11-02T08:30:00.000-06:00

Sophie and I took a walk to see Dancing Man. Dancing Man is a yellow plastic creation that sits on top of a fan outside the new 24-hour fitness center and cell phone store near our house. Dancing Man is a gimmick to draw attention, and it works. Sophie wanted to go touch Dancing Man, so we went for a walk.

It was early evening and the sun was setting. After touching Dancing Man, we looked to the west to see a gorgeous sunset. We pointed out the different colors and smiled and laughed and stared. The clouds were covered with purples and oranges and pinks and deep blues. And Sophie commented, "God painted the sky with love."

We're at a turning point in history. The last 50 years, we have lived in wealth and affluence and influence as no other empire before. However, we have maxed out our resources. We've reached Peak Oil, and the life of suburban sprawl will necessarily change. Globalization will not be the answer, and multi-national corporations will not be able to afford to operate. There will be a return to urban living, to simple, sustainable, walking, community-based, know your neighbor living.

During these 50 years, we have tried to control God. We have tried to explain God. We have tried to market and own God. If God can be manipulated, explained, or manufactured, he's not much of a God, is he?

I think, that, until we see how radically dependent we are on God for all things, we will continue to miss out on the best things. We will continue to try and explain, control, or find a way to make a profit. And we will miss Life before our very eyes.

Like a sky painted with Love.

27,000,000

2007-10-26T09:50:00.000-05:00

This month is Small Business month. My dad owned his own business growing up, and I reaped the benefits of that for years. Though we never made the big bucks, his schedule was more flexible, he was at my baseball games, he was around. It was awesome.

As Americans, we hold fast to the ideology that bigger is better. I don't agree. There are 27,000,000 small businesses in the United States. Besides the joy of buying local and keeping the money in the community and making new friends, small businesses are a great impetus for world-wide change. Instead of "selling out" to the globalization and McDonaldization of everything, small businesses offer hope and a reminder that there is more to life that what we see.

In the world, there are 27,000,000 slaves. That is more than all the slaves combined over the 400-year trans-Atlantic slave trade. These slaves are held in unimaginable conditions and undergo unthinkable hardships. Their living conditions are not worthy to be called homes. This is a crisis that can not be ignored.
More often than not, we in the West encourage slavery through our consumerism. Each dollar we spend is a vote, an approval of the system as it is.

It's a funny thing, though. When I bring up these two numbers, adults resonate with the small businesses and celebrate them. They are proud of the businesses and a frequent response to the slaves is, "What do you want me to do about it?" However, when I bring up these numbers with students, their first response is along the lines of, "What can I do about it?"

Because of corrupt governments and systems, it costs an average of $750 to legally free a slave and convict the owner. Two marvelous organizations that are working to end the international slave crises are:

International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org)
Not For Sale (www.notforsalecampaign.org)

You know, if each small business donated (tax write-off) $1,000 to either of these organizations...

Why should we care? Because they are human, and the moment we stop caring about others like we care about ourselves, we become less than human.

If you don't believe me about slaves and all that, watch this video:

Behind The Swoosh

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I, too, Have a Dream

2007-10-18T19:12:00.001-05:00

Warning: the following piece was written by a songwriter. It contains blatant idealism, naïve optimism, and graphic hope for the entire world.

The Nobel Peace Prize was initially funded by the sale of weapons. What if, instead of maintaining modern weaponry, we engaged in creative acts of peace-making?

“The United States spends $100 million dollars per day maintaining nuclear warheads.”

“More than 40% of the budget of the United States is spent on military expenditures.”

Here in the West, the wealthier we become, the more we spend on weapons to “guarantee” our freedom and security. When I initially learned how much we splurge on military expenditures, I wanted to withhold my taxes. I don't want my tax dollars, which I would otherwise gladly pay, going to something so destructive. In my heart of hearts, I really want to live nonviolently.

But I, too, have a dream. I believe that there is another world that is whispering among the cacophony of consumerism and self-centered security. I believe that when we learn to love our neighbors (enemies?) like we love ourselves, there just may be freedom for all. I believe that those who have been given much have a great responsibility towards those with less.

I have done nothing to earn the vast amount of blessings in my life. I had no choice in the biological irrelevancies with which we judge and evaluate the masses (color of skin, height, weight, appearance, etc.). I did not actively choose my gifts and talents, I merely discovered them along the journey.

For one day, I would like to ask my government to stop, cease, desist. For one day, please spend no money on weapons of mass destruction and give me a chance to change the world. My dream is simple, and I believe it would bring longer and more effective life-change than 24 hours of cleaning and routine maintenance.

The dream:
Give 100 organizations $1,000,000 along with a note encouraging them to continue their work in spreading life, hope, and peace.

I have my list of organizations. I don’t personally benefit from any of them. Though I’d love to give my church a million bucks, I left it off the list. Some organizations provide water for the thirsty. Some organizations provide hope for the hopeless. And one is a bookstore in the middle of nowhere that’s changing the world through the books it sells.

However, I would short-change one organization $3,000 (the equivalent of a couple of seconds of military expenses). Half the money would be used for the recording of a CD, and the other half would be used to create a website where the songs could be shared, downloaded, and distributed for free. After all, every revolution needs its music.

Be the change, that you wish to see.
Be the change, that this world needs.

Work referenced:
Goudzwaard, Bob and Mark Vander Vennen and David Van Heemst. Hope in Troubled Times: A New Vision for Confronting Global Crises. Baker Publishing: Grand Rapids, MI. 2007.

The Passionate Pursuit of Failure

2007-10-12T14:31:00.001-05:00

The vast majority of my life consisted in the relentless and reckless pursuit of success. The first time I remember getting a grade other than an "A" was in 4th grade, in the "handwriting" portion. I was crushed when I had to hand over the report card to my Mom, dreading her disappointment. She was full of love and support, and I was beating myself up.

Junior high was a continual, stressful obsession with "A's", as was most of high school. Then came Calculus. It won.

Every day, I see kids crushed by the weight of success. Overloading portfolios with extracurricular activities--sports, music, social networks, etc.--to get into the best colleges. These kids are wearing their exhaustion on their faces, in their attitudes, deep in their souls. We have encouraged an impossible pursuit of success, in hopes of achieving every dream under the sun.

So, maybe the good news of the kingdom of God would be the passionate pursuit of failure. What could look like a failure from our perspective might just be the inbreaking of God's kingdom. If God's kingdom is countercultural and subversive, maybe we should encourage failure.

At heart, I am a songwriter. I sing in my sleep, I hear melodies as I ride my bike, I read books and am inspired to write. And no one "knows" my songs. Technically, I think, to be a songwriter, people must know your songs. There is something about the writing of a song that seeks an audience that hears. Songs are meant to open our eyes to see an alternative view, to encourage discussion, to dream of another world that is whispering in our midst. Songs sing us through the struggles and chaos of reality. And, hopefully, songs change us.

So, I'm going to continue to seek failure as a songwriter. I don't have the desires to travel worldwide and play on stages before the masses. I prefer to sing and play for a group of about 40 people who still think that they can change the world. Something happens in a live performance, there is a dynamic give and take between the audience and the performer, and both end up changed and encouraged.

I have a hope of making a couple of CD's in the near future. If I do make them, I'm not going to sell them, but give them away and encourage people to burn copies and give them away too.

Here's the lyrics of a couple of my latest works. Let me know when you want to hear them live, and we can talk through them together.

"Be the change
That you wish to see
Be the change
That this world needs"

"Life is more than all you see
I am more than what you see"

Daddy's Heart

2007-10-08T14:09:00.000-05:00

In all the arguments over theology and worship and styles and translations and denominations, I think we forget that God is our Heavenly Father, and delights in all of his children even more than I delight in mine.

If we could dare to remember that we are all God's children...

Good Morning, Kansas City!

2007-10-05T13:13:00.000-05:00

Kaylea became a superstar today.

On Tuesday, a local camera crew and news station filmed Kaylea's first grade class saying, "Good morning, Kansas City!" The teacher emailed Jamie on Monday to ask if Kaylea could be the representative that says, "From Ms. Guynn's first grade class at Summit Pointe Elementary."

At first, Kaylea was nervous and uncertain. But she quickly agreed. In her mind, all of Kansas City would be watching her say it. Here are some of the things she told me after the filming:

"They put a speaker on me so I could talk louder."
"They only brought one camera, I thought there would be more."
"We had to practice it a lot, like five times."

If you're interested in seeing/hearing Kaylea, it'll be online for the next 2 weeks. Scroll down to "Good Morning, Kansas City" and choose "Summit Pointe Elementary--10/5".

www.nbcactionnews.com/mediacenter/local.aspx

It's really short and sweet and simple. And I'm so proud of her. Makes me wonder what simple things I do that make God proud, and what things I do to try and impress him that He'd just roll his eyes at...

(In case you can't find her, she's in the pink sweater on the front row!)

Bethany's Buddy

2007-09-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

From left to right in this picture:
Grant Pierson, Colten Shields, Kaylea Bryan, Sophie Bryan, Bethany Bullard.

Bethany is a dear friend. Last weekend, about 5,000 friends in the Greater Kansas City Metro gathered together at Arrowhead Stadium to celebrate "First Downs for Down's Syndrome," also known as the Buddy Walk. Over $300,000 was raised, as there was music, food, tents, games, artists, clowns, cheerleaders, Ronald McDonald, and a few Kansas City Chiefs. We ate together, and walked a mile around both stadiums on a gorgeous day.

I wish everyone had a friend like Bethany. She loves my singing and how I play the guitar, especially when it's a Sandi Patty song. She'd rather hold my hand and give me a hug and sit next to me than hear me teach. She wants to go to London and ride a double-decker bus, and I am one of the privileged that gets a top-deck seat with her.

Kaylea and Bethany have also connected. Kaylea learned that Bethany dislikes fireworks as much as she does. Ah, the joy of a kindred spirit. Someone at the grocery store saw Kaylea wearing her Buddy Walk t-shirt, and asked her about it. She commented, "Buddy Walk is a way that we help our friends who talk a little different than we do."

I think we need Buddy Walks for Iraqis, Africans, Germans, Russians, Mexicans...

"Emmanuel's Gift"

2007-09-19T22:12:00.000-05:00

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was born in Ghana disabled. Ten percent of the population in Ghana is disabled, and the common fate for the disabled is to live on the streets, begging money off of passers-by.

Emmanuel didn't want to beg. At 13, he dropped out of school and earned $2/day as a shoe-shiner. He sent in an application to the Challenged Athletes Foundation requesting a bicycle so he could ride the 600 km across Ghana, and challenge stereotypes.

This man, whose house doesn't have electricity or running water, is changing the perceptions of disabled people in an entire country.

The video, at Blockbuster in the Special Interest section, is a wonderful way to dream and imagine a new world. It's amazing to see how stories in Ghana influence those in America, and vice versa.

I love to daydream. And my favorite thing to dream about is what the world could be. I think that dreaming like this is an active part of living in the kingdom while on earth.

Emmanuel is definitely a dreamer, too.

Friends

2007-09-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

I received 2 random phone calls this week.

Call #1--A friend from the Building Bridges project was going to be in town, helping with the Tour of Missouri. We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel (biscuits and gravy!) and I got an education in professional cycling.

Call #2--A friend from college successfully tracked me down and said that she was going to be in town, and wanted to take me and my family to dinner. Free food! Woo-hoo! So, over philly cheesesteaks and gelato from Honkerbean's, we caught up over the last 10 years, sharing stories of graduate school, knee surgeries, children, and church.

It is amazing what happens when you share a meal with a friend.

I think Jesus realized the power of a good meal. And maybe the reason that Jesus chose wine and bread for us to remember him by is that they were present at every meal.

Something mystical happens when friends gather around food.

MS-150

2007-09-11T10:49:00.001-05:00

It was a brisk start to the day, and took a good 5-6 miles to warm-up. It was a gorgeous day for riding, especially with friends.

After about 40 miles, I was really feeling good and enjoying the ride. Dave said "smile", so I did.

I completed my first century ride, 100+ miles at an average of 15 miles an hour, plus stops. We rode into a 10 mph headwind, on hills and not-so-perfect roads, and it was a blast.

I can't wait to do it again next year and am hoping to get friends to join me.

# 1747

2007-09-06T12:59:00.000-05:00

Have you ever felt trapped? My friend Ray feels that way a lot. Ray is an incredibly bright guy with a wonderful sense of humor and a big heart for helping others. Ray also has MS. His mind is still as sharp as ever, but he is trapped inside a body that won't cooperate.

Did you know, every hour, 1 person is diagnosed with MS in the United States?

So, a couple of other friends from church formed a team, "Tour de Ray," and are riding this week in the MS 150. Over two days, they'll be riding more than 160 miles by bike through Missouri. There were 10 people on the team, until now.

I'm number 11 on the team, and rider number 1747. Because of the nature of my work, I won't be able to complete the Sunday ride, so I'm compensating by riding the century loop on Saturday.

Frank's a cousin of mine, and he was diagnosed with MS in his 20's. He's spent the majority of his life in a nursing home because his body wouldn't cooperate.

Did you know, it costs an average of $500 for MS therapists to make house calls instead of treatments at nursing homes?

I bought a bike at the beginning of the summer, when my car died. It's an old road bike. In it's glory days, it was a racing bike on the West coast, if my internet research is correct. It's not made of aluminum or titanium or an alloy-composite, but steel, and is about twice the weight of most of my friends. But it's a good, solid bike.

Hopefully, on Monday or Tuesday or by next Friday when I can feel my legs and butt again (and barring tornadoes, multiple flats, or just getting lost), I'll post a picture of me on the Green Hunter coming across the finish line after my first century ride.

And I'll say a prayer for Ray and Frank and the thousands of others who feel trapped.

The Sneetches

2007-08-31T08:20:00.000-05:00

"These Sneetches have stars upon thars, while those have none upon thars."

It's a line from a Dr. Seuss book, appropriately titled, "The Sneetches". I first saw the video as a junior in high school, and have since seen it numerous times, passing along Seussical wisdom to younger generations.

The first time I saw it, I sat in front of Vibor Ceric, an exchance student from Croatia. He returned home to a war-ravaged country and I haven't heard from him since. He walked to school wearing the weirdest combination of clothes, and laughing, and no one knew what to make of him because of his accent.

Thanks to Mrs. Reece, an amazingly gifted teacher, who showed us the video near the beginning of the semester, and we got the message loud and clear. Vibor became a quick friend, and we started the class on numerous occasions singing a duet of James Brown's "I Feel Good" (I had the lyrics, Vibor had the "da na na na na na na").

Why are we so quick to point out superficial differences, instead of our incredible similarities? If we could just remember that we are all human, all created in God's good image, many conflicts could potentially be avoided.

There's a line of clothing that interests me, from which I'd like to purchase a few t-shirts and a pair of tennis shoes. It's called "No Sweat" (www.nosweatapparel.com), and is 100% union-made, sweatshop free clothing. They've got shirts that say "Human" and "Musicians Against Sweatshops...Pick Better Clothes" and lots of cool stuff. If you're in the mood to spend money on me, send me a gift certificate to No Sweat Apparel. Thanks.

All that to say this, there is an arrogance that is contagious, as if we did something to be born American or white or male or middle-class.

So, at my first inaugural speech, I will read the Sneetches, and then challenge all people to live by its profound wisdom.

Back To School

2007-08-24T07:13:00.001-05:00

I am now the proud daddy of a first grader.

School started on Wednesday, and we successfully figured out bus schedules and pick-up locations and our lunch number and the friends we'll play with at recess and made new friends...

There is something exciting about starting a new school year. Besides all the social reasons--Kaylea's favorites (friends, lunch, recess, art, music, and PE)--there are numerous opportunities to learn and you get a clean slate.

Sometimes I want to modify a workout routine, or a dietary habit, or change something about the way I live, and I want to make my changes at a memorable juncture--like the beginning of a month, or my birthday, or the beginning of a new year. And I overlook the incredible gift and opportunity of each day.

In "Dead Poet's Society", Robin Williams infuses passion and hope in his students with the phrase "Carpe Diem"--Seize the Day. Seize today. Live today.

In the Bible, God says that his incredible love and compassion and mercies are created new every morning. Just like starting over.

Kaylea's excited about school and all the things she'll learn and playing with her friends, and especially the monkey bars. She's already got new callouses forming.

I'm hoping to break in a few new callouses following today too.

Calvin is Awesome!

2007-08-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

Calvin is my hero. His imagination is unparalleled. He has an eclectic appreciation of things old and new. He has a profound sense of justice. And he is never afraid to set out on an adventure.

Growing up, I read Calvin and Hobbes every day. I bought the books and memorized them. Calvin introduced me to spontaneous combustion, transmogrification, and Calvin-ball. My friends started calling me "Spiff", in tribute to Calvin's alter ego.

There is a lot that can be gleaned from the wisdom of Bill Watterson and the world of Calvin and Hobbes.

1. Play your hardest every day.
2. Don't eat your vegetables.
3. Never miss a good chance to daydream.
4. Public opinion is overrated.
5. Always appreciate a good friend.

I can only hope that I have passed on some of my Calvin genes to Kaylea and Sophie.

Sandwich Man

2007-08-10T07:20:00.001-05:00

I got to fulfill a lifelong dream this week.

I wore a sandwich board.

On Wednesday, I was part of an awareness campaign with some friends on with Neighbors 4 Neighbors Heartland on behalf of Hillcrest Transitional Housing. For about an hour, I stood in a center median at a busy intersection in downtown KC wearing a sign that said, "The average age of the homeless? 7."

According to the bank sign on the corner, the temperature was 100 degrees, and there was a hot southwest wind that almost blew Bryan League (a 7th grader) away like a kite.

It was a wonderful time, regardless of the temperature. Drivers would look and we could read their lips as they read our signs. Some smiled and nodded, some waved.

While we were just standing around, there were 3 other groups passing out sandwiches and bottles of water to the homeless. Kaylea was part of this group. She helped to feed the homeless, which was like a big game of hide and seek.

The best part of the evening, according to Kaylea, was the ride home in a jeep with the top down.

Rebel?

2007-08-03T10:19:00.000-05:00

For the majority of my life, I would tell you that I've never been considered a rebel. Growing up, I wanted to make my parents happy, I wanted to make other people happy...I was a people-pleaser. Which means that I listened to my teachers and obeyed my parents. Except for the baseball through the church window incident and a couple of car accidents my senior year in high school (ice-driving and four-wheeling), I was pretty content knowing that I was living up to the expectations of others.

"Then Jesus messed up my life," to borrow a quote from Shane Claiborne.

When I got serious about following Jesus, I was worried about my relationship with my Dad. I got married, and then got evicted from an apartment. I went to school, and can still feel the pain of the millions of Americans struggling with debt. Because of Jesus, I've moved to Texas and survived the second hottest summer in recorded history, "100 days of 100 degrees." Because of Jesus, I've moved to Kansas City and joined a church that is passionate about reaching the broken and hurting and marginalized and those who have been offended by the church. Because of Jesus, I think I'm now a rebel.

"A mother and a child, walking 12-15 miles every day to go get dirty water to put into their bodies with a broken immune system that will eventually kill them, this is the right thing to rebel against."
--Derek Webb

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
--Mother Teresa

This spring, the church graced me with a sabbatical. During that time, I read about 12 books and wrote about 10 songs. The books came from Hearts and Minds Bookstore, in Dallastown, Pennsylvania. Byron, the owner, has provided me with wonderful resources that have stirred the passion, the prophet, the rebel within.

Jesus was a rebel, too. Just look at how the religious leaders treated him, as he walked and healed on the Sabbath, as he forgave sins, as he preached a new yoke, a new way to live.

It is one thing to be a rebel without a cause, wreaking havoc and mayhem and living for yourself. It is completely different to be a rebel with love, seeking justice, hope, and a better world for all people.

Of Ice Water and Tents

2007-07-30T22:22:00.000-05:00

"We are raising awareness of the water crises in Africa."

We said this phrase thousands of times over 11 hours at HyVee, a local grocery store while handing out flyers with information regarding the crises, also offering cups of ice cold water.

Our simple goal was to raise enough money to build a clean water well in Africa in cooperation with Blood: Water Mission. We staffed three water cooler tables, and then camped in the parking lot over night. Between those working, camping, and providing food, more than 40 people were involved in the project.

There were some interesting responses to our invitation...

"I don't drink water ever!"
"I'm more concerned about the water problem in Las Vegas."
"They can take care of themselves."

Our three standard responses:

"Every 15 seconds, a child dies from lack of access to clean water."
"Every flush of the toilet uses about the same amount of water as the average African uses on a daily basis."
"Where you live should not determine whether or not you live."

However, at the end of the day and through the generosity of new friends, dollar by dollar, we raised $1800. We now have enough to sponsor a well in Africa.

We are already dreaming of doing it again next year.