Everything Is Spiritual

The Forest Hills Fine Arts Center is a very switched on place. From the art on exhibit in the lobby, to the auditorium that was big enough to seat over a thousand, yet intimate enough to make you think you were in a living room, to the wooden stage. It was all good. It was a bit of a shock to discover that Mitchell is on the same time as Grand Rapids – once we realized this, we had time to use the bathroom and grab a seat. But, just like she said, Charity from NOOMA had saved us a spot and we were good to go.

I need to be careful here not to over-analyze Rob’s teaching, or put words to something that was meant to be experienced. I almost get the feeling that this was like when Neo had visited the Oracle, and Morpheus told him, “What the Oracle said was for you, and for you alone.” I don’t want to kill a moment by hanging words on it, so I’ll just say a couple of things.

One, I think that Mark and Guy had, in some measure, their respective journeys with Jesus confirmed. Even on the drive up, they were sharing conversations that directly mirrored some of the stuff Rob talked about, which was pretty cool. I was honored to share this time with them, and I suspect that is was time well spent for all.

Two, while the whole 1 ½ hour teaching was incredible (just as it was in July!), the thing that has jumped out at me this time was Rob saying, “You will find what you are looking for.” Do I have a tendency towards negativity because that’s what I’m looking for? In being critical, do I miss the positive, good things that God is doing? Much to chew on there!

Lastly, I am a fusion of the physical and the spiritual, and that creation gives God much joy!



Much later that night, I took a turn at the wheel while the others tried to sleep. Bono was singing to me, saying, “Take my mouth, a mouth so quick to criticize; take my mouth, and make it kiss.” I will find what I am looking for – this haunted me on the drive home from GR, and put a quiet exclamation point on what God showed me on our Road Trip.

Peace Out.

Breaking Bread

We made it to Michigan City, IN and rolled to a stop at Countryside Christian Church, where our bud Kevin Galloway is the Lead Pastor. Kevin gave us a quick tour of the church, and then offered to buy our lunch. And you know I said yes, right?





We sat at Culver’s and had great sandwiches, but more than that, we got to hear some stories of how God is moving in his people’s lives at Countryside. Flat out, people are meeting Jesus through CCC. I am excited for Kevin as I see his passion for Jesus lighting up his face (it could have been smeared cheese curd, but I don’t think so), and I’m trusting that passion for the Kingdom knows no bounds or limits, whether it’s Michigan City, Grand Rapids, or Mitchell. Come Lord Jesus!

I left Michigan City that afternoon as thankful as ever that I have a friend to share life in Christ with named Kevin.



More to come . . .

View from the Road

Zipping down an interstate at 75 mph, with nothing to do but sit and talk, can be a good thing. You learn stuff about people. Everyone has stories. Some are really interesting, like when someone shares about their past hobby of hunting with falcons. Some are wacky, like an in-depth discussion on preferred urinals (for the record, someone in the van likes the shorter, low riding urinal, as he ‘pees with great force.’). We talked of towns we’ve visited. People we know. On and on we talked, and sure enough, the miles melted away.

Here is the view from the back seat of the Road Trip Express. Have Starbucks, will travel.

Our guide for the trip was the silky smooth voice of the Garmen Lady. She won’t do you wrong, and is clearly the exception to Ulysses Everett McGill’s comment to “never trust a female.”

More to come . . .

Scooby Snacks

Three grown men can only be expected to go just so far before needing to stop for a scooby snack. And for a road trip of our importance -- Grand Rapids to see Rob Bell -- just any old scooby won't cut it. At Exit 130 on I-65 North, in the form of a combination Starbucks and gas station, we found relief. We had decided that we wouldn't be "clock watchers" and would try to just roll with whatever came our way. So, a multigrain bagel and a grande Christmas Blend in hand led to a few moments hanging at Starbucks, where we decided that the Starbucks smell would be a cool cologne. Deep conversation, I'm tellin' ya! :)

With a full tank of gas and a fresh cup of coffee, we loaded into the van to head North, at a high rate of speed, since our next pit stop was to be with Kevin Galloway for lunch. And we'd already proven that our tolerance for hunger pain was low.

It was proving to be as good a day as we'd hoped. Cool.

More to come . . .

May This Find a Home in Your Heart

From "O Holy Night" . . .

"Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth."

May you understand in a life-changing way that you have value. Value beyond what this world can measure or what it whispers in your ear. And the source of that value springs from a God who came near. Immanuel, God with us. AMEN.

Resolutions

Solomon's Prayer, and a Prayer for Us Too

"May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors."

~ Solomon, in 1 Kings 8:57-58 (Message)

Person of the Year: You!

Congratulations!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/16/time.you.tm/index.html

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Mark Hardman – Cindy Zajac, Bedford, has cancer. Lord, hear our prayers.

Jeanna Hill – All of my family members. Lord, hear our prayers.

Samantha Johnson – My family in general. Lord, hear our prayers.

Angie Williams – Please continue to pray for my sister and her family. Lord, hear our prayers.

Theresa Banks –Sylvia Jewell. Lord, hear our prayers.

John Ferrell – My family and friends. Lord, hear our prayers.

Georgia Slaughter – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

Bob Thayer – Daughters Barbara and Charlotte. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ignition

Why a Roadtrip to Grand Rapids in December? Good question. It started with this email:

Friends of NOOMA,

Some of you know that this past summer, Rob Bell traveled around the country for his Everything Is Spiritual Tour. I wanted to give you an update about the filming of it and how you can help us with the project. Although we filmed it this past July, we are filming it again to get the best possible material for an upcoming DVD. There is going to be one more night of Everything Is Spiritual here in Grand Rapids:

Friday, December 15th
Forest Hills Fine Art Center
600 Forest Hill Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

2 shows: 7 & 9:30 pm - Admission is free.

This is a FREE event and we want to have as many people as possible come. We are asking you to help us spread the word about this event so that we can have a full house and great film. If you missed it over the summer and were looking for a second chance, here it is. If you’ve already seen it, please come again and bring friends. If you live a little ways away and want to make the trip we would love to see you. If you are in another part of the country/world but know people here in Michigan, please encourage them to come.

Back to me now. So I'm thinking, "Hmmm. Rob Bell is teaching. Free show. Bring friends. Cool. I'm in."

So Mark Hardman, Guy Mundy and I turned the key on the Road Trip Express (um, kind of an unofficial name for the Mundy's van), and North we went.

More to come . . .

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

George Miner – Mike is responding well to the chemotherapy; keep him in prayer. Praise God! Lord, hear our prayers.

Jeanna Hill – both of my children have been sick & missed a week of school, the adults are fighting it off. There is a lot of hardship in the families surrounding the death of Pauline’s father. Lord, hear our prayers.

John McBride – my family at this time – loss of my father. Lord, hear our prayers.

Dawn Lee – Derek Smedley in Afghanistan during the holidays. Also his parents & my mom. Lord, hear our prayers.

Theresa Banks – Sylvia Jewell. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ken Delaney – my daughters’ salvation. Lord, hear our prayers.

Blaize Edwards – my uncle Dan Terrell. He is going through hard times. And my mom. Lord, hear our prayers.

John Ferrell – for my family and friends. Lord, hear our prayers.

Rita Hinkel – Mark Lindsey. Lord, hear our prayers.

Brooke Roll – Josh Roll to come to church. Lord, hear our prayers.

Georgia Slaughter – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

For Fans of "24" - Happy Holidays!

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2804648/channel/viralvideo

Roadtrip

It's GO time; stay tuned for thoughts from the road . . .

Living Water: UPDATE

Hey, how cool is this?

We kept the collection 'open' on the Rwandan well offering through last weekend, and a check is now in the mail to fermiproject for $6,008.92. That's enough for 2 complete wells, meaning 1,500 people will now have fresh, clean, healthy, safe water because of God's people at Tulip Street Christian Church!

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul

Psalm 131 - A Song of Ascents. Of David.

131:1 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

too great and too marvelous for me.

2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Connie Belmont – Prayer of Praise! Rick Slade, Jr, my nephew, is home safely from Iraq. Lord, hear our prayers.

Susie Hamilton – Connie Matthews has cancer. Lord, hear our prayers.

Roger Swayer – Family of Jonelle Archibald. Lord, hear our prayers.

Jeanna Hill – Our family needs prayers over many things. Lord, hear our prayers.

Theresa Banks – All my family. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ken Delaney – My daughters' salvation. Lord, hear our prayers.

Sally Miller – Regina Briscoe recovering from infection. Lord, hear our prayers.

Brooke Roll – I want my husband Joshua Roll to come to church. Lord, hear our prayers.

Georgia Slaughter – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

What happens when an ignoramus reads the Good Book?

David Plotz is a writer for Slate.com. He is also, as he describes himself, "a proud Jew, but never a terribly observant one." In an interesting turn of events, Plotz has undertaken a project entitled "Blogging the Bible."

Relevantmagazine.com has this to say about Plotz's project: "The writer, who describes himself as a proud but non-observant Jew, is reading through the Bible, chapter by chapter, and blogging about his reactions. He described the project as a look at what happens when "an ignoramus reads the Good Book." Though irreverent in places, it's an interesting look at an outsider's interpretation of the Bible ..."

As Tulip Street continues to ask how we as a people of God can more effectively engage the world with The Message of Jesus Christ, it would seem that this would be an interesting and fruitful exercise, to work through some of Plotz's posts. We might just discover that by listening to another's words, we'll have a better picture of how to share the unchanging story of Jesus in ways that will ring true with those outside of our church walls.

Rob Bell Video Interview

Abbasfriend recently pointed me to a video interview with Rob Bell that is available on the web.

If you’re interested, you can see it here.

Chips Ahoy!

From the Viriginia-Pilot Newspaper:

A cargo container that apparently fell from a ship washed up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Thursday and spilled thousands of bags of Doritos brand tortilla chips on the beach. People collected the chips, which were apparently still fresh due to their airtight packaging. It was unknown which ship had lost the cargo or to what port it was bound.

Inflection Point

I'm a big fan of Jim Collins and his book Good to Great. As well done as that book is, Collins realized that its principles don't correlate directly to the social sector. So, he published a monograph (which is a fancy way of saying "booklet"), entitled: Good to Great and the Social Sectors -- Why Business Thinking Is Not the Answer. If you are involved in church leadership, I highly recommend that you read both of these books, as an understanding of the principles from the book help cement the ideas that the booklet, er, I mean "monograph" suggest.

But none of that is exactly why I'm writing this post. Today, Tulip Street Christian Church begins a 3 day consultation with a church health/growth organization. It is my deep belief that these next 3 days will be for our church an "inflection point" as Collins describes in his book and this graph demonstrates:

As I enter into these days, I am walking in to them on my knees, as it is my hope, my desire and my prayer that as a people of God we go from Good to Great. May it be so.

Will we look back at this time and see that the inflection point was positive or negative? Time will tell.

Come Lord Jesus; Your people need You!

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Eddie Arnold – My 14 yr old grandson who is in a juvenile facility in Logansport, IN. He needs lots of prayers to get his life on the right track. Please pray for him & his family. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ronda Taflinger - Jared (co-worker hurt in an accident) had surgery & has a long recovery. He can’t start therapy until February. Lord, hear our prayers.

George Miner - A dear family friend – diagnosed with throat cancer – 20% chance of survival. He is a Christian man who works for me – Praise God! Lord, hear our prayers.

Susie Hamilton – Connie Mathews (cancer). Lord, hear our prayers.

Georgia Slaughter – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

Angie Williams – My sister and her kids in Missouri. They are in a terrible situation. Please pray for deliverance and divine protection. Lord, hear our prayers.

Blaize Edwards – My Mom goes to get her lung x-ray on Dec. 5th. Lord, hear our prayers.

John Ferrel – My mother-in-law, Kathy Bush. Lord, hear our prayers.

Alleen Recker – Ernest Pridemore. Lord, hear our prayers.

Tears

"Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go to next."

~ Frederick Buechner

Living Water

80% of the illnesses and deaths that plague most areas of Africa are related to unclean water. 8 out of 10. Bono, of the band U2, would call this “stupid poverty.” Reading that statistic can make us go, “Hmmm” after which we simply move on to thinking about what’s on ESPN later. But sometimes, in the right place, hearing about 8 out of 10 people being ill or even dying because of unclean water can sink in and take root. I heard this statistic because of a ministry called fermiproject, and for me, and my church, it did sink in.

Fermiproject was given national attention during the 2005 Catalyst Conference. There, an African woman shared the truth of the water situation in Rwanda, and then a solution was proposed. For $3000, a fresh-water well could be drilled and put into operation, and that well could provide clean, safe water for 750 people. A challenge was issued to those attending that conference, and they responded with a collection of $138,000.

This year, I was able to attend Catalyst, and fermiproject provided an update on their ongoing efforts to end the water crisis in Africa. They provided everyone with a DVD, asked us to share it with our churches, and continue to help. During an 8 hour drive from Atlanta to Mitchell, our group decided that not only could Tulip Street help, but we must.

On November 26, God’s people at Tulip Street Church heard the cries of God’s people in Africa. Jesus talked of simply giving a cup of water in His name. And so we did. $5338.47 was raised to provide clean water to do what water has always been divinely intended to do: Give life.

I want to say “Thank you!” to my church. Thank you for responding to this chance to help. Thank you for seeking to become fully engaged in the difference that Jesus is making in the world. And I also want to say this: We’re just getting started. May the Kingdom come.

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Samantha Johnson – our family in general. Lord, hear our prayers.

Tonda Fletcher – my family. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ronda Taflinger – Jared, a cashier at Paoli Wal-Mart, is a high schooler hurt in an accident. His leg was crushed; he was flown by helicopter to Louisville. Lord, hear our prayers.

Nina McBride – Bailey having surgery Monday (11/20). Lord, hear our prayers.

Kelly Tyree – Roy and Kim McFarland; Dason Neff’s surgery. Lord, hear our prayers.

Luke Kimmel – wedding in one month; mission class ends in a few weeks; School semester closure; Stewardship of life (time, etc.); Life vision – missions discernment. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kim Fults - Her grandmother, Marie Chisham, is ill. Lord, hear our prayers.

Adrienne Phelps - Her grandmother, Irene Stackhouse, is ill and at Floyd Memorial Hospital. Lord, hear our prayers.

Brian Fults – Roy McFarland is the Orleans, IN Chief of Police. Lord, hear our prayers.

Saving Daylight

Just a quick rant. Really just a couple of thoughts as I sat this afternoon/evening in early darkness.

When is it that we are impressed with the idea to save something? Usually, it's when there is little of something, right? Kind of the whole precious moments deal. A kid won't really start saving money or bubble gum till it's almost gone. Why should time/daylight be any different?

Well, due to a state law that was put into effect this year, the part of Indiana that I call home now sets it clocks to reflect "Daylight Savings Time." And that, dear readers, is a huge misnomer. My wife and I had to put towels over my kids' windows last spring, since they have a bed time of 8:30 - 9:00 -ish, and it was day light until 9:30 or 10 (as the summer went on). Crazy. So now, winter is approaching, and it is getting dark by 5 or 5:30. Pitch black by 6. And that will only get worse as December 21 approaches.

So I guess my question is this -- why hasn't someone introduced a law that SWITCHES daylight savings time to keep the day longer in the winter, and not the summer? Imagine what that would do for the winter blues? I promise I wouldn't care to drive to work in the dark, if I was sure to be driving home in daylight. It just seems to me like we've got the whole deal flip-flopped.

I realize this is a pretty insignificant post in the grand scheme of things, but hey, I just had a thought or two, and thought I'd share.

On Mission

“Mission is putting love where love is not.”

~ St. John of the Cross

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Janie Hill - I will be having skin cancer surgery on Wednesday 11-15-06. Please pray. Lord, hear our prayers.

Theresa Banks – Keep my grandchildren in prayer. My granddaughter was married yesterday. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kathy Bolton – Don McNeely tests Tues. Lord, hear our prayers.

Pat Brajnikoff – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ashlee Bush – My mom. She has some problems and addictions. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ken Delaney – For our church, that the Holy Spirit will ignite revival in our people. Please, Do It Jesus. Lord, hear our prayers.

John Ferrell – my family and friends. Lord, hear our prayers.

Susie Hamilton – unsaved family members. Lord, hear our prayers.

Cheri Joslin – Jill Morse & Alix Richey – death of Jill’s mom. Lord, hear our prayers.

Georgia Slaughter – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

Angie Williams – We are within days of finishing a 6 yr long journey. A new wonderful journey is about to begin. Pray that our faith in God’s word will hold steady & strong. Thank you, Angie and James. Lord, hear our prayers.

Bob Zile – wife in Chicago 11/12 – 11/17. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kim Chastain – Mike Wyatt and Millie Swayer. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kim Fults - Her grandmother, Marie Chisham, is ill. Lord, hear our prayers.

Adrienne Phelps - Her grandmother, Irene Stackhouse, is ill and at Floyd Memorial Hospital. Lord, hear our prayers.

Roy McFarland - Roy is the Orleans, IN Chief of Police. Lord, hear our prayers.

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .


Meredith Thacker – Her husband Jason’s ankle to heal. Lord, hear our prayers.


Theresa Banks – Pray for Sylvia Jewell. Lord, hear our prayers.


Susie Hamilton – Her friend Connie Matthews has breast and bone cancer. Lord, hear our prayers.


Jeanna Hopkins - Deaf ministry. Lord, hear our prayers.


Luke Kimmel – speaking engagement @ Salem United Methodist next Sunday (11/12). Lord, hear our prayers.

Samantha Johnson – Her mother passed away Saturday, 11/4, and the funeral is Wednesday, 11/8. Lord, hear our prayers.


Mark Hardman – Pray for Mary Lou Harris; she is undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. Lord, hear our prayers.


Jeanna Hill - Pray for the physical and spiritual well-being of my family. Lord, hear our prayers.

What do you think happens to your soul when you die?

Check out the responses (over 26,000 so far!) to this question, all posted on Yahoo!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20061020091115AA9a518&fr=hp

In case you ever kind of forget about the whole "go and make disciples" commission that Jesus gives those of us that claim His name, this might stoke your fire a bit. We are on mission!

The Way I See It #178

"The measure of genuine civilization, it has been said, is the quality of life for a nation's poorest and least privileged people. By that measure, we are barbarians. Our current level of inequality cannot be justified or sustained."

-- Robert W. McChesney

* Read from a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte cup while sitting in O'Hare Airport, Chicago, IL. Yes, I got it with whipped cream. And it was great!

To Be Someone Else's Best

This article really captures a lot of what I am feeling Jesus pulling me towards these days -- what do you think?

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7221

Uninvited Guest!

Welcome to a Collins Family Cookout!

You never know who is going to show up for dinner . . . or possibly become dinner! We had a couple of families over for a wiener roast last Saturday – it got pretty funny when our neighbors, whose kids raise show calves for 4H, must have left a gate open. An 800 lb calf came trotting over to our place, and hung out by the fire with us. He was just like an 800 lb dog. Rachelle (farm girl) and our friend Brian (who ended up with cow slobber all over his hand . . . sweet!) walked him home, and then he ran by them and came straight back! I thought about putting him on a spit over the fire, but decided that wasn’t the right expression of “love your neighbor.” They finally realized the calf was out and came for it, but not before we snapped some pics.

Vocation

I've been wrestling a lot these days with the whole idea of "vocation." My church asked me to fill out a "SHAPE" evaluation, and one of the questions in it is something like this: "If you could do anything in the world without failing at it, what would it be?" I'm 41 years old, and that question has me stumped. Big time.

I work at a job that, in all honesty, I'm good at -- I perform well and in return I'm paid for that effort. But I'm not passionate about my work. I don't lie awake at night thinking of how I can do it better. When I'm on vacation, I for sure don't think, "Gee, I wonder what's going on in the lab?" To be truthful, if someone said, you can never test concrete again, I'd be like, "Okay. Cool." I've heard the comment that goes like this, when speaking of your career: "Find something to do that you would do for free, and make that your career." There are variations on that idea, but the bottom line is that, for me, concrete is not something that I can't wait to get up in the morning and do, and in no way would do it "just for the heck of it."

So, I came across this definition of "vocation" in one of my all-time favorite books, Wishful Thinking by Frederick Buechner. Here's to finding our cross-roads.

It comes from the Latin vocare, to call, and means the work a man is called to by God.

There are all different kinds of voices calling you to all different kinds of work, and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God rather than of Society, say, or the Superego, or Self-Interest.

By and large a good rule for finding out is this. The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. If you really get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing TV deodorant commercials, the chances are you've missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time you're bored and depressed by it, the chances are you have not only bypassed (a) but probably aren't helping your patients much either.

Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

Hesed at Our Tables

Throughout the history of Jewish culture, the table where the families came together for meals were considered “holy”, so much so that some ancient teachings considered the table an altar to God. In the days of David, and even still today, it is common practice that at the table during the Friday night meal before Sabbath, Words of Torah are recited and Songs of Praise are sung.

In the Old Testament, we are invited into a story where we can see how King David’s table was used to show hesed to Miphibosheth, who by custom should have been killed instead of shown the grace and compassion of God by enjoying a meal at the King’s table.

Each time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we join in experiencing for ourselves one of the greatest examples of hesed the world has ever known, when we joined Jesus at the communion table to share in that meal.

But I also want to share with you a way that you and I can become ones who extend hesed – the grace and compassion of God – to those around us.

Back on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, we had no big family cookout plans or anything, so we called up our friends Mark and Steph Hardman and their boys, who are used to our last second, spur of the moment invitations. Before long, Angela Roach and her kids were throwing in with us, and we gathered at our house for a cookout. It was nothing super fancy – in fact, we laughed about just throwing some food together, and God would make sure it was enough.

But on a typical Sunday evening, something divine unfolded. There was nothing “spiritual” planned, but in the unforced rhythm of that moment, we all became relaxed. We laughed a lot. We breathed a little slower. We had some great old tunes singing to us in the background. We watched our kids play. We ate. And we ate some more. AND IT WAS GOOD. IT WAS ALL GOOD.

Now, I’d been reading through Deuteronomy this spring. On May 31, my reading for the day was Deuteronomy 14, and I came to this passage:

22-26 Make an offering of ten percent, a tithe, of all the produce which grows in your fields year after year. Bring this into the Presence of God, your God, at the place he designates for worship and there eat the tithe from your grain, wine, and oil and the firstborn from your herds and flocks. In this way you will learn to live in deep reverence before God, your God, as long as you live . . . You and your family can then feast in the Presence of God, your God, and have a good time.

I was stunned! Learning to live in deep reverence before God should be the goal of each of us, and sounds an awful lot like worship to me. But in the simple sharing of a meal, we all experienced hesed. I can tell you, this single meal has changed me, and I don’t think I’m alone.

Mark Hardman sent me an email the week after our Sunday night gathering, in which he says: “First... what a wonderful day Sunday was. Good friends, kids having fun, GREAT food, lots of laughter... surely God was smiling and laughing along with us... The passage from Deuteronomy was right on target. God never ceases to amaze me when we let Him show up and then the party ensues. (He is always there beside us... just sometimes we fail to realize that) As always thank you for the hospitality.”

Each of you can invite folks to your table and share a meal. In doing so, you’re sharing your life, you’re sharing hesed, and in all of that, you’re sharing Jesus. As we all hopefully set out in the days, weeks and months ahead to rediscover what it means to be a people of God who want to actively join Jesus in changing our world, it is my heartfelt conviction that something as simple as a meal could be a great place to start.

And That's a Wrap!

Well, that’s the run-down on our week at Florida. I began just about every morning with my journal and coffee, so you have read the fruit of those moments of solitude in the sun. It took me awhile to get around to getting everything posted (it’s amazing how time FLIES BY – we got back from vacation on June 11, and it’s now mid-August – 2 months have zoomed by!). But I did. Finally.

I’ll close again with a pitch to check out Ned and Myrtle’s place at Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. Sandy Shores is well worth the trip down, and Ned and Myrtle are great folks to share a week with.

It’s been fun for me to relive the trip, and I hope you’ve gotten a glimpse of the Kingdom. It is all around for us to see, if only we will open our eyes!

Peace!

Broken Shells

I found a few shells on one of our last mornings on the beach. The best I could tell, I was the second person on the beach that day. I was looking for this certain type of conical shell that I really like, but it’s hard to find one in perfect shape. Michaela and I had looked all week with no luck. So on this quiet early morning, I found myself thinking about perfection.

We sure seem to seek – and expect it – from lots of people and even places. Our week of vacation was a good week. Perfect? Nope. But I’m learning to see life more through Michaela’s eyes – she sees the broken shells and just gushes over them – she wonders how much they’d bring on eBay since they’re “soooooo pretty!”

I have two beautiful, wonderful children and a loving wife that keeps us all together. We’ve had a quiet, gorgeous week on the beach. We’ve laughed. We’ve played. I’ve growled less and relaxed more. So, ya, we’ve spent money, spilt fingernail polish and left books unfinished. But we sure are ‘closer to fine’ that we were 7 days ago. And that’s perfect for me. Thanks be to God, who taught me through some broken shells that He loves the imperfect perfectly. AMEN.

Beach Dynamics

Next to Sandy Shores was a larger rental unit that was comprised of maybe 6 different units. So, there was a group of people living basically under one roof that really didn’t know each other too well. They not only shared a huge house, but they shared the same beach area as well. And we got to watch the interaction all week. What was interesting is that early in the week, there were little clusters of people spread out across the beach. No one wanted to be too close, and it showed. But simply in sharing space – in living together – they slowly began to morph into this big mass of laughing, sun-loving people. Nowhere was this more evident than at night. Their unit had a couple of gazebos along with a grill. As the week wore on, folks began to pile into one gazebo instead of staying in distinct groups. A shrubbery border was all that separated us from them, and at the risk of sounding like an eavesdropper, it was fascinating to hear the conversations deepen as the week went on. Names began to be associated with faces and pictures I’m sure were being passed around, as stories of families were told. Superficial questions such as the standard “So what do you do?” were replaced with joys and heartaches of days past. It was not lost on me that these conversations were also being held around a table – there is something sacred about sharing a meal with other people.

As the week drew to a close, it was both sad and awesome to see those who were strangers just 7 days before now embrace warmly and then go their separate ways. I have to believe that friendships were made that week that will survive distance. And I’m sharing their week with you now, because they showed me what it means to be community. Here’s to life together.

Out with the Old

Wednesday night of our week in Florida, we went down to John’s Pass for a little shopping and some seafood. I’ve always loved the history of that area, with the drawbridge, the ancient creaky wharf, and the fishing fleet that docked there. Our last visit there was in 2003. Now, 3 years later, someone has redesigned the area, and it’s all about bright Mediterranean-colored stucco and neon lights. The fishing boats are sharing space with wave runners and parasails. The wharf that always gave you a glimpse of the past is hidden now behind bikini stores. A very cool Buffett-esque shop that is ran by a couple of old hippies has had to relocate from the wharf down to all the glitz on the road, because tourists with their money usually won’t venture too far from the neon. (From their website: "Unfortunately, the Boardwalk shop was permanently closed on September 6, 2005 and is scheduled for demolition, along with the other shops at Hubbard's Marina as part of the redevelopment of the Hubbard's Marina property.")

The night found one question on my mind: “What has our money done to this area?”

Fingernail Polish

On June 6, 2006, Rachelle and I woke up feeling pretty tense – not the goal of your vacation at the beach! Late on June 5, Jacob accidentally knocked a bottle of red fingernail polish to the floor, where it broke and covered a ceramic tile and filled the grout around the tile. By the morning of June 6, the tile has been cleaned, but the grout is stained. Amazingly, we managed to not go-off on Jacob, who just felt terrible. As we were frantically cleaning, I kept thinking about the history of this cottage and was praying hard that Ned didn’t freak! After we cleaned the best we could, I pulled Jacob onto my lap and talked with him. I wanted him to understand that I realized this was an accident. He felt that he had ruined our week, because even though we didn’t yell at him, the stress level was pegged as we cleaned. So above all else, I wanted to clearly communicate to him that “There’s nothing you can do to make me love you less.”

In talking about all of this with the kids, it gave me a chance to teach them a couple of things about life, and about how we are to live life in Jesus. First, accidents happen. And secondly, when they do happen, we can make two responses, which in this case, is to either (a) hide the grout stain – it would have been really easy to roll the TV cart over the spill then make a break for Indiana, or (b) be honest with Ned and accountable for our actions. Life is full of these situations, and in them, we can’t control other people’s responses, but we can control ours. So we finished our talk by praying simply, “Jesus, be near to Jacob – let him not be scarred by this. Bless our honesty and give us clean hands and clean hearts.”

So after breakfast on June 6, I went to tell Ned about the accident. Before we entered the cottage, I offered to pay for any damage and repairs. So I showed him the spill, and he said, “I thought by the way you were talking this would be something serious – this is not a big deal, and we can fix it.”

In 20 seconds, grace restored the peace and rest of vacation. And Jesus answered a simple prayer. AMEN.

Sunsets and Chimay

Dr. Mike Staab moved to Naples, FL from Cincinnati, OH. The way that the Reds have played the last couple of years, who could have blamed him, right? But when he came south, Dr. Mike brought with him a magical elixir; a blend of nature’s goodness that, according to its makers, gladdens the heart of man. Of course, I’m speaking of none other than Chimay. After a little research, I learned that Chimay is brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium, as a way to fund their charitable works. It’s a great story, and you can learn more about it here.

Back to the beach: As a part of life in community at Summit Church, Mike Staab is in a small group in Naples with my close friend Paul Barlow. So Mike passed on to Paul the wonder of Chimay. And when the Barlow’s met us at Sandy Shores, it was only fitting that we popped the cork (ya, that’s right – corked beer!) on a bottle of red lager and enjoyed the magic of a Gulf Coast sunset with a blend of Chimay and great conversation. We were reminded in that moment that friendships can survive distance, and that the Kingdom is bigger than either of our experiences on their own. As day gave way to night, both of our families were able to say, "This was a good day."


So, thank you, Dr. Mike for helping us discover Chimay and gladdening our hearts. And we pray blessings over those Trappist monks – may their charitable works be funded for years to come!

Planet

During our week in Florida, we spent an afternoon with the Paul Barlow family cruising the Gulf on The Royal Conquest. For a lot of reasons this was a great experience – we all had a ball! But chief among them was a chance to meet this guy, who was proof that “it takes all kinds.”



Rachelle never got a chance to ask if his wife’s name was Hollywood.

Heaven Will Be Like This

Robin is a 3rd grade teacher from Orlando, who was sharing the beach at Indian Rocks with us over our vacation. Because Rachelle has never met a stranger, she and Robin began a conversation that covered a lot of topics, during which we found out that Robin was a Christian.

Robin is also a Crabby Bill’s junkie; she mentioned to me that blue crabs were on special, and asked if I liked them. I had only tried them once, and found them to be a lot of work for little return. Robin quickly offered to teach me the secrets of unlocking the goodness of the blue crab, so we all made a date to share lunch at Crabby Bill’s.

During the 2 hour seafood bonanza that ensued over lunch the next day, we found Robin to be a funny, intelligent, compassionate, Christ-lover, who also knew how to efficiently attack a pile of crabs. Our stories were shared, Robin listened to Michaela explain all about her kittens, she talked with Jacob at length about the Left Behind series, and we found a friend. It was a wonderful experience. When Robin left, we exchanged hugs and email addresses, shared a couple of pictures, and wished her well as she headed home to Orlando.

As we walked away from the restaurant, Michaela got a little choked up and said, “Why do I feel like I’ve known her for a long time?” About all I could say was that we had just gotten to see a picture of what heaven will be like. Someone that we had never met almost immediately felt like a dear friend whom we knew well, all because we shared a love for Jesus. I suspect that in heaven there will be a feeling of oneness, of shared-ness, of knowing and being known that all will flow out of our life in Jesus.

So here’s to blue crab loving friends who paint a picture of the Kingdom with their lives.

Relentless Passion

Heading south on I-75, somewhere around Ocala I think, there was a very cool billboard.

It read something like this, though I didn't catch all the details:

Florida Guy Looking for Georgia Girl
I bought a ticket for you for the game on Oct. ? at gate ? – PLEASE call me at this number!

As we rolled through the remaining miles to Sandy Shores, a couple of questions kept running through my head. First, do I expect and count on God to always pursue me? And secondly, to what extent (personal expense, inconvenience, embarrassment, etc.) would I go to let Jesus know that I long for him?

Here’s to hoping a Georgia girl calls a Florida guy.

The Power of Two

I admit this freely – I am not overly romantic, especially as I ease into middle-age. Because of this, I feel that I neglect Rachelle from time to time, as she doesn’t see expressions of the love that I think (hope?) that she senses.

So, as we were driving through Chattanooga, TN on our way to Florida, I was overcome with emotion as I listened to the Indigo Girls sing of the “Power of Two” and I realized in that moment that I am married to a wonderful woman. Does she make me mad enough to pinch her head off every now and then? You bet, just as I’m sure I push her buttons too. But in Rachelle, I’ve been blessed with a compassionate companion, who takes equally good care of me, our children, our home, and all that those things entail. Along the way, she continues to be, in the words of Ricky Bobby, “my red hot smokin’ wife.”

So, when – not if – I fail to express myself to her romantically, may my friend and lover Rachelle always know that I am blessed to share life with her.

So we’re okay, we’re fine.
Baby I’m here to stop your crying and
Chase all the ghosts from your head.
I’m stronger than the monster beneath your bed and
Smarter than the tricks played on your heart.
We’ll look at them together then we’ll take them apart.
Adding up the total of a love that’s true,
Multiply life by the power of two.

Welcome to Sandy Shores!

If you've ever been to Florida, you know it's hard to imagine the scene in this picture -- no neon, putt-putt or wave runners. But in 1946 the family of Ned Hall purchased the beach house in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida that was to become Sandy Shores. Today, Ned and his wife Myrtle are offering their home for guests to enjoy an elusive taste of Old Florida. And it is here that we enjoyed a needed, God-saturated vacation.

In the days ahead, I want to try and bring to life for you some of the ways that the Kingdom was made known to me in those days, and in doing so, I hope that you will come to see that Jesus is actively pursuing you in your own life, in ways that are visible to those with eyes focused to see him.

And along the way, if you find yourself thinking that something about our trip sounds like something you’d enjoy, drop Ned and Myrtle an email – they’re great folks and would love to have you visit!

From Henri Nouwen

Jesus' Self-Portrait

Jesus says: "Blessed are the poor, the gentle, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for uprightness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness" (Matthew 5:3-10). These words offer us a self-portrait of Jesus. Jesus is the Blessed One. And the face of the Blessed One shows poverty, gentleness, grief, hunger, and thirst for uprightness, mercy, purity of heart, a desire to make peace, and the signs of persecution.

The whole message of the Gospel is this: Become like Jesus. We have his self-portrait. When we keep that in front of our eyes, we will soon learn what it means to follow Jesus and become like him.

Reflections at 37

A very good friend of mine just turned 37, and he took a moment to look at where he's been and what he's learned. He shared that with me, and I found his observations good enough to in turn share with you all (with his permission, of course). So, for better or for worse, here are his "Reflections at 37."

OK. So, now that I’m pushing 40 here, I decided it was time to reflect on what I’ve learned over the course of my life. Ain’t much really. Just a few simple things, nothing complicated. No psycho-analysis bullshit. Just a few lessons I’ve gleaned:

* There are only 3 great rock-n-roll bands: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. In that order. All the others, and there were\are some good ones, fall somewhere after those

* There is only one, number one truly greatest of all time rock-n-roll song: Imagine – by John Lennon. That’s “by John Lennon” as in written by John Lennon, arranged by John Lennon, played by John Lennon and sang by John Lennon.

*Every rock-n-roll band, or performer, is imitating (in part or in whole) one of the following groups\individuals:
The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
The Rolling Stones
The Beach Boys
Bob Dylan
U2
Or, a host of early bluesmen

…..except for hip-hop or rap, which, doesn’t count anywho

* Every (recent) Country group of performer is imitating (in part or in whole) one of the following groups:
Any 80’s era bubblegum pop singer

* You can count on one hand the number of truly great friends you have. The rest, just want your time, your money or to rip the last album you bought.

* Nothing is ever as bad as it seems, and nothing is ever as good as it seems

* Most everything you pay to have someone do, you can do yourself. Look at ‘em…if they can learn how to do it, so can you.

* Money is not important. A job or career is not important. It’s necessary, but not important. I’ve known many people that were less fortunate that were still able to love, live and be happy.

* Everything you have is expendable. Everything, period. The only thing you have that’s worth fighting to keep and to hang on to is your family and those truly great friends mentioned above.

* NASCAR makes absolutely no damn sense

* …………I tried, and NASCAR still makes no damn sense

* Sacrificing for your kids pays off. Including sacrificing career and money. They will thank you for it in the end.

* Don’t Google “How to decorate a Christmas Tree” when your wife is not home.

* We live in a truly great country, and neither the radical right nor the radical left is responsible for that.

* There is no amount of money that will compensate for happiness

* The hippies were right.

* Sun beats snow, every time.

* Your legacy is….your children.

* Egotistical people who take themselves too seriously suck.


Took 37 years for that list.

Life in These Days

In reading an article on relevantmagazine.com that mentioned an experimental journal that passed from person to person, an idea started coming together. On Sunday, that idea was launched.

When I was asked recently about a vision for my church, I responded by saying that I really feel we -- each person who calls Tulip Street 'home' -- need to answer the question, "What does the gospel mean to me?" In answering that question, we can each then bring our piece of the bigger picture into focus. The vision of Tulip Street lies in bringing the Kingdom of Jesus to bear on the lives of those in our community now. How we go about doing that will involve us living out our definitions of the gospel message. From each of these pieces, a mosaic will be formed that will be both beautiful and unique to our church.

How the idea from the article kicks in to this deal is this -- I gave a friend of mine a simple journal with a short word of instruction. He is free to let it all hang out -- joys/rants/scripture/pictures/drawings/quotes/lyrics -- anything goes. When he is finished with his entry, he is to pass it on to any other church member that he is led to. From this traveling journal, I hope to get a sense of what life in these days is like for those I do church with. Ultimately, these journal entries can shape our upcoming messages, and beyond that, help us define our role as individuals and as a body in the Kingdom.

When the last page of the journal is filled, I left a short note to return the journal to me. From there, I hope to post the entries on a blog for our church -- and you all if you're interested -- to share. I'll keep you posted!

Tired Sadness

If by sheer chance you’re still checking this blog for a post, you know it’s been awhile – a looooooong while – since I’ve shared anything.

This absence of writing can mean several things, some of which are:

* I’m really busy. I mean, who isn’t? Right? The things that are consuming my time aren’t “bad” things, yet they all compete for the same 24 hours in each day.
* I have spent much time wrestling with God about life and what I am learning about mine in relationship to Him. I think earlier in my walk with Jesus, I thought there would be this place, this level, where we nail down Jesus and figure this gig out. After 15 years of following, I can safely say that I’ve found no such plane, and I doubt that one exists this side of heaven. Ahhh, the naiveté of youth.
* There are in my life certain things that I allow to take my time that have basically zero redemptive value. Namely, XBOX. There. I said it. Some say that’s the first step to recognizing you have a problem. I suspect my wife would agree. :)

I’ve recently finished Shane Claiborne’s book The Irresistible Revolution. Wow! So very much of his words rang true, yet I still find myself paralyzed. It’s almost as if I was reading/hearing a foreign language that I maybe knew as a baby. It all sounded right and beautiful, but even though I can almost touch the definitions Claiborne gives to his words, I struggle mightily to give meaning to them in my life.

I’m very much living in a state of sadness these days. While admittedly, some of this is generated by a general sense of ineffectiveness in several areas of my life (you fill in the blank!), the greatest disappointment in my life is how little impact I am making in the Kingdom. I mean, let’s be honest – how am I making anyone’s life – other than my own or my family’s (and that is debatable) – any different or better? Really?

I have to honestly say that following Jesus hasn’t:

* Made me spend my money any differently. By this, I am thinking beyond the traditional tithe. How about Fair Trade? How about natural resource management? How about buying clothes that were made in sweat shops? Do I care at all about these things, or am I just more concerned in making my buck stretch farther? I deeply suspect that the American Dream has taken deep root in my life and economic value system, and that would be a mighty monster to slay.
* Pushed me to identify with any of the marginalized of my community. There is a difference between sending money to Feed the Children and taking food to share with a family in Mitchell that have faces and names and empty bellies. Why do I so often choose to bask in the warm feeling of “helping” that tossing money at a problem sometimes yields, instead of becoming involved in someone’s life? How can my closet be full while other’s are empty, and all I can say is that “I don’t have anything to wear!” How can I feel good about my kids getting good grades when other kids in town don’t have parents who are willing or able to help them with homework, and they are sinking into the bottom levels of the system?

On and on and on. Given the pace of my life, when do I be about my Father’s business? When I look at what occupies my days, my first thought is “conforming” and sadly not “transforming.” The things I’m “doing” aren’t bad things! God calls us to work. I can be a good role model to the junior high kids on the track team. My church needs people to step up and share the Message of Jesus in meaningful, relevant ways. So how do I go from “doing” to “being?” And at what point does “being” transform into Kingdom action?

As Jimmy Buffett says so well, I continue to be one “looking for answers to questions that bother me so.” I can’t help thinking that this tired, sad soul of mine isn’t what Jesus had in mind when He came bringing “more and better life than I ever dreamed of.” As these days wear on, about the only prayer that I can voice is this:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Amen.