We Are the Church

Thanks to Joshua Longbrake for sharing his idea for this project with me.

Maybe We've Not Quite Finished the Fight

This trailer was just released from Bungie . . . what do you think - is the Master Chief back for more? You gotta figure that the potential revenue from continuing the Halo series would be hard to resist. What do you think this clip is all about?

Green the Bailout

Thomas Friedman, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, wrote a great piece on the $700 billion financial bailout, and it's implication on the future of our country. I think you'll find it a thought-provoking read.

To read his essay, click here.

This Weekend at Tulip Street

Things are a little different at Tulip Street this weekend, as our town wraps up this year's Persimmon Festival. On Saturday night, you can meet us at the church at 10 pm; we'll load up on cold water, cold Mountain Dew, hot coffee, and a wagon load of Little Debbies and take all of that to the Carnival workers as they tear down the rides. Those folks bring a lot of laughter to the kids of our community, and they work all night long Saturday to be ready to roll out Sunday morning to the next town. How cool is it to simply say "thank you" with something to drink and a snack to keep their energy up? Kinda like a cool cup of water offered in Jesus' name . . .

And then Sunday morning at 9 am, we will all - as a church - walk the parade route and clean up the trash left behind after the week-long Festival. This is a simple, tangible way to love our community. We'll wrap up the morning with communion and worship at the downtown City Park. Come join us, as we seek to Make an Impact on our Community!

Letterman's Rant on John McCain

So, what do you think about Dave's rant?

Lessons from the Rock: Never Double Unclip!

At Torrent Falls, a certified guide gave our group instructions on putting on our climbing harnesses, then led us through a safety presentation that was capped off with this cardinal rule which we all had to repeat: "I will not double unclip!"

This was huge! Your real life and death safety while on the rock came from being clipped-in to the via ferrata cable. At no time on the climb were we to unhook both of our harness lines. When we would come to an anchor bolt (which both ended and began a cable section), one harness line was switched to the new section of cable, and then - and only then - were you to unclip, move, and re-clip your second harness line. It was drilled into us to never double un-clip!

In the TSCC parking lot, after the drive home, Guy shared how for us as Christians that maybe our spiritual "double clips" were prayer and God's Word. When he said that, I thought of Jesus' words in John 15. The odds of danger on the rock went through the roof if you allowed yourself to have no support or connection to that which anchored you. Similarly, if I turn from Christ I risk becoming a dead branch, no longer supported by the life-giving connection to my Source. How many times do I face day to day living without that awareness that Jesus is the vine that gives me life? May I believe - deeply and truly believe - Jesus, when he declares that "Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Lessons from the Rock: Trust Your Equipment

Before hitting the main rock face, we all had to demonstrate that we had listened to the training provided by the Outfitter by navigating a small section of practice rock. Before we were allowed to continue the climb, we had to test our harness and rest strap to be sure that they worked properly. Later, on the advanced section of the rock, Jacob and Guy came to a point on the climb where their arms began to feel like rubber, so they clipped in with their rest strap and leaned back to rest. This all sounds well and good until you remember that they are over a hundred feet in the air, hanging by a rest strap (which we were assured had a 3000 lb load capacity). For me, on the floor of the canyon, it was really difficult to watch my son hanging like that. What I didn't know is that while they were resting, Jacob was a little wigged out as well, and Guy reminded him of this truth: They had properly outfitted, good quality gear that was securing them to the rock. After hearing Guy's encouragement, Jacob was able to relax, trust his equipment, and rest.

In times of stress, loneliness, panic, and unforeseen emergencies - in those times when life hits us hard and fast - do I trust my equipment? I can pray to God at any time, from any place. Do I trust that God will hear? I can turn to the truth and wisdom of Scripture for guidance and comfort. Do I trust the meaning and relevance of those words to my life? I can allow another brother to help shoulder my load when the burden becomes too heavy. Do I believe that there is a person in my life who would care enough about me to "be there?"

There comes a point where belief is confirmed by action. I think that Jacob believed that the strap would hold him, but he wasn't sure of that until he clipped in and leaned back. May I learn from his example, as I grow to trust more fully when I pray, meet God in His Word, and live in community.

The Pickens Plan

Regardless of who wins our Presidential election in November, I would think that this cat, T. Boone Pickens, should be put into the loop regarding our country's energy plan. Yes, what he is proposing is a short-term fix - he says that - but it buys us time to get our nations' best minds engaged in solving our energy problems in a way that doesn't destroy the very Earth that we call home.

Give this a look:

I Want to Change the World

Lessons from the Rock: Rhythm

Clip in. Reach. Step up. Slide your clips. Repeat.

I was amazed at how the rhythm of the climb - clip in, reach, step, slide your clips - gave me comfort. There really wasn't much time to be scared - except, of course, at those points of really difficult transisiton where over-analysis kicked in! Focusing on the task at hand kept me from worrying about how high I was off the ground. What typically would have had me in a scared panic went almost un-noticed.

On the van ride home, I thought about the rhythm of life in Jesus. I'm not talking about the "since it's Sunday it must be my day to go to church" kind of stuff. I'm talking about the spiritual disciplines, especially prayer, reading Scripture and solitude. When I practice those things regularly in my life, there is a very real sense of my worries melting away. That's not to say that issues in my life just cease to exist - they're still there. But when I am connecting to Jesus by meeting Him in the thin silence, I am more aware that He is sovereign over my life, and the trappings of this world seem to quiet down a bit.

Ultimately - and I'm not there yet, though this is my desire - I want to simply be about prayer as simply as breathing in and breathing out. Without conscious effort, I want to be about the things of Jesus. May this rhythm become the music of my life.

Isaiah 30:15

Hmmm, what are you telling me Jesus?

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it."

Lessons from the Rock: Don't Over-Analyze

Many times when we act, our act requires faith. Don't over-analyze; understand that at some point, the only remaining option is action. Avoid "paralysis by analysis."

Sometimes, our acts of faith bring rewards that we can't see. When I swung off the rock face and found the hidden rung with my foot, I was rewarded with my favorite part of the climb. If I hadn't acted, I would have missed out.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." I knew that there was a foot hold on the rock face for me to use. But it was "not seen." Maybe the next time I sense God tugging me down a path of action, I won't ask to know every detail or to see the whole picture before I move. Maybe I can trust with a deeper sense of conviction and greater measure of faith, because God used the ledge of a rock and a piece of rebar to strengthen my faith in His truth.

I Am Only One

Lessons from the Rock: Introduction

Typically, heights make my (as Borat would say) "anoose" tingle. I'm not comfortable there and just don't like the whole deal of being up high. And yet, last Saturday morning, I found myself being the first person from TSCC on the rock at Torrent Falls. That was significant to me, for the rest of the day. Being first, I had no one to coach me or share what they'd learned to help me out when I would come face to face with a particularly challenging spot on the rock. So it was just me.

Usually, I analyze. A lot. But there were places - one in particular - that broke me of that a bit. There was a transition point where we went from walking on a ledge, to swinging down off the ledge onto rebar rungs. Except that the rock was not vertical; the ledge extended beyond the vertical face of the rock, which ran back under the ledge a bit. So I couldn't see the rung that my foot was to (had to!) hit. I tried three or four ways to make the transition, and kinda panicked a little. Thoughts of "Now what do I do?" all the way to "I can't hold everyone up!" to "I'm scared, pretty freaked out, and may crap my pants right here."

Finally, I simply had the thought to just step out and go for it. I don't know if I subconsciously remembered that I was double-clipped to the cable, or what, but I remember thinking "take a step of faith." So, I grabbed a solid hand-hold, swung off the rock, found the foot-hold and was treated to my favorite section of the climb.

I learned a lot last Saturday from a rock. A learned about analysis, rhythm, trust, safety, connection, being hurt, bravery, fear and courage. Over the next few days, I hope to be able to share those lessons with you - most, but not all, stem from the step of faith that I shared this morning.

Until then . . . Peace.

Reminders of God

I enjoyed my morning coffee while sitting on the porch of my home this morning. A much needed rain was falling, and the rain reminded me of how gentle, peaceful and nourishing that God is.

So how 'bout you? Are there ways that you are reminded of God's character by what you see in your everyday life?

Fear Not

I wanted to throw out a couple of sites that might be worth a look to you . . .

The Patagonia Tin Shed: http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=33106

Treehugger: http://treehugger.com/

I think that God is up to something both basic and challenging as He stirs the hearts of His people in these days. There seems to be a renewal towards a call to adventure, and my eyes are opening to the idea that through adventure, God is teaching us that fear is replaced with courage. And I think that courage must be surrendered to Him in service. We can make a Kingdom impact as we rediscover and reconnect to what it means to live fully - may it be so in my life, and yours as we serve the God who proclaimed "Fear not."

Peace.

Via Ferrata Climbing

This past Saturday, at 6:30 am, 14 men from TSCC rolled out of Mitchell and headed for Campton, KY and the Torrent Falls Climbing Adventure, where we experienced Via Ferrata Climbing.

Here are some pics from the trip - there will be more soon. Plus, I'm going to be sharing some of how this trip impacted me and my buddy Guy. This was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had ~ yes, we're going again!

Impact Your World

The DNA of Tulip Street Christian Church is this: "Our reason for existence is to Impact and Make a Difference in the lives of people for the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, in and outside the family of TSCC."

Sometimes, the best ways to Impact someone's life may be right before our everyday eyes. Maybe this video will inspire each of us to look around, and be open to how we might Make a Difference.


Benched from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

Large Hadron Rap

As a Physics major from DePauw University, you gotta know I think this rap is phat (with a "ph" - you know, like the kids say) . . . Dig it!

Massive Canada Arctic Ice Shelf Breaks Away

In August, an ice shelf the size of Manhattan broke off the Canadian Arctic ice cap. To read the article, click here.

We must - MUST - open our eyes to the fact that there is a climate crisis, and that it is our moral imperative to make hard but necessary changes for the future of our children.

Mystery

I've been really moved by Charlie Hall's song "Mystery" off of his just-released CD The Bright Sadness.


Mystery

Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held out drink
Jesus the Mystery

Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again

Celebrate his death and rising
Lift your eyes, proclaim his coming
Celebrate his death and rising
Lift you eyes, lift your eyes

Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity

And here is a very simple video of Charlie performing Mystery . . .