Monday, June 30, 2008

James Dobson Doesn't Speak for Me

Yes? No? What do you think?

From Monday Morning Insight:

In an ironic move, President Bush's 'pastor' Kirbyjon Caldwell has started a pro-Obama website. According to JamesDobsonDoesntSpeakforMe.com, "Dr. James Dobson recently attacked Barack Obama for a 2006 speech that Obama gave on his Christian faith. Does he speak for you?"

To read more, check out Monday Morning Insight's article here.

Or check out Caldwell's site:

http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/

Friday, June 27, 2008

Viva La Vida


I finally picked up Coldplay's latest tonight (yes, I know I'm slow) . . . Anybody else giving this a listen? What cha think?

Ever Have One of These Days?

Ever have a day where you just really wish you'd been the guy to come up with this question?

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Missional Church

"Mission always sets our Agenda and Incarnation must always describe our Way."

~ Alan Hirsch

HT to Scott Hodge for his post where I originally found the quote.

Monday, June 23, 2008

St. Augustine and Passing Ourselves By

"People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering."

~ St. Augustine

Friday, June 20, 2008

Cardboard Testimonies

Okay - so yesterday I posted about God Moments and telling our stories. Then late yesterday afternoon, I received an email with this video. I'm not sure what the context of this teaching was, but this video shows real people sharing real stories of how God is alive and working in their lives. May you be encouraged as you see lives that have been transformed by the power of God in Christ!



AMEN.

All They Need is Love

So, do you think the world NEEDS us to live out the love of God in Christ?

Check this USA Today story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-20-pregnancy-pact_N.htm?csp=34

I hope that this sentence from the story sinks in with you - it's hit me hard this morning:

He said the girls are generally "girls who lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their life."

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Altars, Faithful Reminders, and Your Story

A book I’ve been spending time with is Enjoy the Silence. It is a book that encourages the reader to think through how a biblical text can speak into our lives and shape our prayers. Recently, the reading was on 1 Samuel 7:5-13. In that passage, verse 12 says “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”

That is a significant verse, because in the Old Testament, the Israelites sometimes placed a large stone or built a monument to mark where God had done a great work. Those monuments helped them remember that God is faithful. Often, the monuments were given names, as Samuel did in verse 12, where Ebenezer literally means “stone of help.”

Now, in Enjoy the Silence, after reading the 1 Samuel passage, the book asked me this question: “Think of the moments when God has done great works in your life.”

*pause*

I have to admit that I struggled to think of anything in response. And if I had to bet, I betcha you maybe struggled a little too, when you read the same question.

Okay – for the record, I have thought much more about that question since I first read it on June 5. And yes, I can think of some things now. But I think I can remember some of those moments when God worked in my life because I’ve rolled these questions around a bit . . .

I wonder if most of us are no longer stunned or awed by God anymore, to the point that we miss how He is working in our lives?

I wonder if we feel like the things that could be considered “great works” just don’t happen in our lives, because we have a misperception of “great” and a skewed sense of our own self-value?

I wonder if most of us are even aware of those daily God Moments, where He speaks to us through circumstances, natural wonders, and other people?

I wonder if we hesitate to share our stories – the full, rich, honest stories of our life – because we don’t even really know them ourselves?

So – maybe you’ve heard me say before that the story of my life is unfolding daily, and because of Christ, it will end differently than if I didn’t know Him. And here’s the deal - your life – your story – is unfolding daily as well. A deep hope of mine is that, because the circles of our lives spin together for a moment or two, whether through this blog, over a cup of coffee, during our kids’ ball game, or ___________ (you fill in the blank) - that your story will end differently because you know me. That would be a great work of God in my life.

Peace Out.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Rob Bell


Rob Bell from difted on Vimeo.

People Building People

My good friends Greg, Erin, Ashley and Mike are in Juarez, Mexico this week serving Jesus among the poor there. They are on a trip organized by People Building People. As you pray this week, consider going before Jesus on their behalf. Violence in Mexico has been high this year, and I know my friends are aware of that, yet felt compelled to answer the call of Christ on their lives.


Thank you.

Peace.

8 Count

Oh yes, I tamed the beast. Giddy up.


Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Bring Back Summer Sanity

If you are a teenage student-athlete, or the parent of one, I am pretty sure that this article will strike a chord with you. Give this a read; I'm posting it because I am convinced it's time for parents to stand up and be parents - we need to draw some lines for our kids' sake.

http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2008/06/14/sports.nw-416341.tms

Monday, June 16, 2008

Maybe the Best Father's Day Yet!

I've been a dad for 14 years now, and this year's Father's Day may have been my best Father's Day ever!

We began the day with awesome homemade cards, some thoughtful gifts, and scrambled eggs with cheese and ham (a treat for a guy on Lipitor!).



Then, we hit the road to Cincinnati and the Great American Ball Park to see the Reds play the Boston Red Sox. I can still remember as a 10 year old kid watching the 1975 series, and how Carlton Fisk "willed" his home run to stay fair. I think that series was one of the top 3 or 4 of all time. And this was the first time the Red Sox have been back to Cincy since then. Sadly, the Reds of 2008 aren't quite the Reds of 1975, and they got shelled 9-0. But the sun was shining, people were laughing, and it was a great day to watch the best sport going.


On the way home, at exit 186 on I-71/75 just over the Kentucky border, sat that most enchanting of restaurants - nay not enchanting, but addictive. Yes, I am speaking of Chipotle. Jacob and I have decided that a great road trip would be to hit all the Chipotle's on a tour of Mexican goodness. We started with this one!

As we pulled back into our drive at the end of an awesome day, we were greeted with this sunset, which served as a fitting exclamation point to my best Father's Day ever.

I am blessed. Truly.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Literally. This movie is absolutely awful. The name says it all. Seriously, it's bad. There was nothing redeeming about it. NOTHING.

ADDENDUM: Just to clarify, as some of you have emailed me and asked, yes, I am saying this movie is terrible. When I say "don't mess with the Zohan" I am saying don't spend your money or your time on this trash. In fact, I can declare that this is the last Sandler movie that I will see - it's that bad.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Chipotle

Imagine Kevin Bacon in Animal House screaming "Remain calm - ALL IS WELL!" That's how I feel today. See, few places in life give me as much simple joy as Chipotle. The Chipotle where I like to experience the magic is on Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington. After the recent flooding, my little slice of grilled mexican heaven was in a bad way - check this out:


But, I just spoke with the delightful "Amy" from the IU Chipotle, and she assured me that all IS well, and they're ready to serve me a Fajita Burrito on Chipotle Friday. All is right with the world. Right on.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Laminin

PEPFAR and the ONE Campaign

PEPFAR, America's main vehicle for helping end the suffering caused by global AIDS is in trouble. The two most powerful senators, Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, need to hear from us that we appreciate their past support and need their leadership now on this critical bill.

I just took action with the ONE Campaign and you can too, here:http://www.one.org/pepfarleaders/?rc=pltaf

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Wrapping Up "Wild Men, Wild Alaska"

I finished McElveen's book this week, and I wanted to throw some of his final words at you - if these words challenge you, share a comment!

  • Our culture as a whole, in my opinion, doesn't prepare young men to even want to seek their essence as a man, or to test themselves with real adventure.
  • Deep inside every person, in spite of upbringing, is a yearning to live on the edge, to experience the thrill of real adventure, and to find out who they are in the process. I think, in this culture of ambitions, we forget to pursue who we were made to be, something deeper than a nameplate on a desk or a college degree from a prestigious school. I believe that every person that allows their mettle to be tested in the wilderness learns secrets within that may not be revealed any other way.
  • Meaningful adventures bring deep reflection to our lives. On an adventure in a place like Alaska, you suddenly find yourself asking many questions: Why am I here? Why did I survive? What is driving me? Why do I collect wealth? Am I the person I should be? Am I right with my family, my friends, my coworkers? Am I right with God?

This book is a quick read, and well worth the time. A thought that's been in my head as I've read Wild Men, Wild Alaska is that as a dad, some good advice for me would be to spend time doing things with my children, instead of watching my children do things. Life is short - if you haven't realized how fast yours is flying by, please wake up! Enjoy it. Share it. Make it an adventure.

Here's to living well!

Monday, June 09, 2008

WWJHUD?

“The question should not be ‘WWJD- What would Jesus do?’ but ‘What would Jesus have us do?’ The onus is not on Jesus but on us, for Jesus did not come to ask semi-divine human beings to do impossible things. He came to ask human beings to live up to their full humanity. He wants us to live in the full implications of our human gifts, and that is far more demanding….We are meant to live as bravely and fully in our world and time as Jesus lived in his.”

From Peter Gomes in The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus

(HT to Troy Guthrie)

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Wild Men, Wild Alaska


A friend loaned me a book that I'm now reading, called Wild Men, Wild Alaska, by Rocky McElveen. In its pages, you'll find stories of adventure and conquest, with thoughts on what those adventures and conquests can teach us about life in Christ. It's not been a super-deep read, but it has been fun (and it makes you want to go North, to Alaska!).

In the middle of a chapter, Rocky threw out a couple of paragraphs that really got my 43 year old attention:

"People don't realize how little they really matter to the regular pace of life. Leaving civilization is like removing your finger from a five-gallon pail of water. The little ripples close in behind you, the bucket of water becomes smooth and still, and in a matter of moments you can't tell your finger was ever there.

Things fall off you in the wilderness, pace slows down, and stress disappears. There are no packed freeways, drive-by shootings, negative news stories, horns blasting, road rage, endless lights, pavement everywhere, or paper, paper, paper! Even the smells of society are absent: gas, oil, perfume, garbage, soap, smoking brakes. There is a realization of how unimportant and silly some aspects of life can be."

What do you think about Rocky's comments?

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Transformation

What do you think of these thoughts on transformation?

"Helping people through relationships and study to become more of whom they've been created to be."