Driscoll is hilarious!

Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle has entered the blogosphere and its hilarious!

Check out his comments to Brian McLaren here. I'd be interested in thougths on the homosexuality issue from my amigos!

Ruth and Boaz: 2

Here is another installment of the Ruth and Boaz thoughts I've been having. Mostly questions that this story has raised for me. I'm loving the dialogue that is coming out of this story from some of you. Let's keep it going. If you're new to the story check it out in the Bible. It's a short book from the tanakh (Old Testament), entitled Ruth.

Question:
- I find myself wondering how much of Boaz's compassion and ultimately his risk for Ruth comes from his own family. His own mother was Rahab (for more on her story check out Joshua 2 and 6).

- Do I remember my own story and what I've been "saved" from? What about my family's (using family loosely here) story?

- It's interesting that throughout Scriptures when God's people seem to go astray from his will and way it is tied closely to the loss of one generation telling the next generation the stories of God's faithfulness, holiness and love. A friend of mine contends that no one within the "established church" could be a true follower of Christ trying to live in his ways and bring his light. I wonder if it's even possible to keep the story alive and real and close to our hearts when we are part of an established system/organization? I also wonder if we've lost the story altogether - or at least the true meaining of the story, not a corrupted one?

- To drive that further - does my community/family ever really tell the story? Do we bother to "connect the dots" of the story throughout Scripture and history?

E2

Well, here she is... the new van! We are very excited to have it! For now the name remains Elizabeth 2. I'm calling it E2 and am trying hard to change it to something that reflects its true color: red. (as we are fond of saying, "they didn't leave any of the red out") However I am in the extreme minority and ultimately I can call it what I want and the kids just look at me like, "Oh, you poor old man. Isn't it nice that he's still trying to change the name of the van when we all really know the true name. I hope he comes around or his memory gets better."

One of my favorites...

Just weeding out some of my favorites folder and re-stumbled upon a great site www.howstuffworks.com. If you haven't checked it out you should. There is tons of fun to be had for info geeks like me. Want to know how a machine gun works, how about a two-stroke engine, or maybe the cell phone in your hand? It's all there.

I think this is one of the things about us emerging types. We have this constant quest and thirst for knowledge. NPR is a favorite among many. I wonder though how often we miss the humility of the quest of wisdom in search of knowledge and mastery. I know that the quest to master is a modern thought and passion, but I often think that the questions that drive us to true wisdom are easily corrupted by laziness and pride. At least I've found that to be a trap for me. Perhaps that's just my modern heritage bubbling up as it does from time to time.

Ruth and Boaz- pt. 1

I'm sure I've written bits and pieces on this before, but I'm going to start some more specific thoughts on this story that has grabbed my by the lapels and pulled me close over the last 4-5 months. I'd love for people to offer questions, doubts, struggles, fears and "Brian that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard"'s. It would be great for conversational purposes if you wanted to read the book of Ruth found in the Bible.

Observation #1: Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi and go with Naomi back to here people. She even goes on to say, "Your people will be my people and your God will be my God."

Questions: What in Naomi's people made Ruth WANT to say, "your people will be my people" (Ruth was a different nationality)? What was in their story that made her want to be a part of it? What about Naomi's God made Ruth WANT to say, "your God my God"?

What in my life and my people would make people want to be a part of us?

What have I and do I reveal about my God that would make people want to know him? Claim him?

I believe that most of people's questions of spirituality and faith are questions of trust. "Can I trust him? Can I trust what he's saying? That he has my best interest at heart and not his own?" Am I trustworthy enough for anyone to want to follow me, listen to me, trust me?

Name that Van!

Now's your chance for a little input into what we name our new van. I'll add a pic tomorrow of the fine new wheels. A few notes on it... it's a Volkswagen Eurovan... it's Tornado Red (yes just as red as it sounds... although not too sure about the redness of tornados). I think our kids are leaning towards "Elizabeth 2" (Elizabeth of course being the name of our old van). Other suggestions have been: fireball; General Grievous; coo-coo-cooky-pants; pinnoccio; and some others that I don't know how to spell.

Pathetic!!!

How pathetic have I become? How middle aged? How middle America? Well let me tell you my friend. Today I'm excited about buying new luggage. That's right, I'm actually excited to purchase things that hold my clothes while I travel amongst strangers in a small cylinded that is rocket propelled into the sky for periods of time before gravity wins and we all return to earth and then go our merry ways.

How do people not love me?

Friends...

After being home and seeing some friends and not seeing others, it just made me realize how much I miss some of my friends. Not trying to be overly mopey or throw any pity parties, just trying to be real and transparent. I miss my friends a lot. Feeling a bit lonely. Not trying to guilt anyone into commenting or calling either, just being real here. But if you're feeling guilty... just kidding.

In all seriousness, I'm glad that the people are in our lives are in our lives. You all make us the best of who we are. Happy New Year!

Now I know why...

I'm in San Diego right now. Never been to San Diego before. It's January and it's 75 and sunny. It's beautiful here. For those of you who may be reading this from some location other than San Diego... well, I'm sorry you are not here, but I'm not sorry that I'm not there.

Enough bragging. I'll post more later about my long break [parent's house - no internet:-(]. A few quick highlights and lowlights:
Highlights:
1. Kids at Christmas. Enough said.
2. San Diego.
3. Seeing family.
4. Rest.

Lowlights:
1. Not seeing or speaking to my good friend and fellow Jedi Knight - David Rebello while he was in the states. So sorry I missed you Dave. Twice. Totally my bad.
2. Much travel.
3. Leaving San Diego (which I haven't actually done yet, but imagine will have to at some time).
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Hope all of you are starting the new year in other excellent and noteworthy ways!