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!

Peace and Hope

A couple posts ago I talked a bit about the story within the story of Christmas (political and revolutionary!) and that sparked quite a few comments... so while I may regret this later I wanted to do another post on this to continue the conversation and invite others to join who haven't been reading those comments (see "story within a story").

The way I understand peace and hope in this world is this... sure people are going to screw it up. We are people and selfish after all. I'll even admit that I'm oftentimes the one who screws it up (the sooner we all realize that the world centers around me, the better off we'd all be!). But the fact that people will screw it up, that they will take advantage of peace, that they will at times violently try to supress and contain those who are after peace, should not control me or my hopes that a day will come when shalom, peace can exist. Jesus himself lived this way, hoping and living for peace and love... and yes it got him killed. But the promise beyond that death of a kingdom and a "life to the full" are built on peace and the hope of peace (see the tanakh, that's the Old Testament you Protestants).

I'm not saying that we should run around playing the matyr, but I wonder if we too often sacrifice our hope for our pride, our vision and dreams for control? Is it too much to ask really that we live as people of peace, trusting others and committing to the long-term of relationships? Assuming the best of others instead of dreading for the day when the worst will come? Perhaps I'm naive. Perhaps I'm an ingoramous. (okay not such a stretch) But why not live this way and not allow others to take it away from us?

I have much work to do to make this happen starting at home with my own family and on out into the world in which I live. I'm gonna try though. I'm gonna keep on trying. You've got to hope in something, why not peace? Shalom to you all!

Christmas Music

Those who know me, know that I'm not a huge Christmas music fan. I don't hate it. I just think it has a place.

I used to work at a radio station that played Christmas music ONLY from Thanksgiving through New Year's. This kind of exposure is bad for you. It makes you want to stab yourself in the ears.

My other thing with Christmas music is, why is there so little new Christmas music? Is the best we can do really just those 15 or so songs? Do we really need another version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"? Do we ever need to say "ye" again? And don't get me started about the time I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus...

Well to make my Christmas music naseau complete, we were at a very nice luncheon this week sponsored by Nazarene Publishing House. Many thanks and props to them for a nice dinner, for getting people together and for trying to show they care. After dinner though they "treated" us with their newest and top selling Christmas cantata. Did I mention it was a Southern Gospel musical? Thankfully the wait staff had cleared the forks and knives off the table so I couldn't hurt myself. Urgh! Many people thought it was wonderful. I simply did not find it to be my element or in anyway really redeemable.

It came complete with a choir that looked cultishly locked on their leader - scripted smiles, tears of blessing and handraising abounded. Then the two soloist ladies had on dresses that were... well let me describe. One was so shiny and sequened I found myself being mesmerized and drawn to it like a Mosquito to a bug light. The other looked like a cocktail dress from the 80's complete with shiny teel fabric.

And just when I texted my friend sitting next to me "I feel an altar call coming on", the leader stood up and proclaimed, "this would be the spot where we would normally do an altar call..." he hesitated as though thinking of doing one there and then and then I felt many gazes shift to the underdressed publishing house warehouse workers at the table next to mine. I almost cried. Thankfully he moved on into another kind of speech about understanding us and our problems and our "tiredness".

That was truly a classic nightmare come to life.

The story in the story

We've been talking at church about the "Christmas songs" in Luke. Last week we talked about the angels song to the shepherds. There is this part before the song at the beginning of the passage that reads simply "in the time of Caesar Augustus..."

This is the same Augustus whose quotes include that he was "god in flesh on earth". He also referred to himself as "son of god". He was also referred to as the "turning point of salvation" because he was going to save the world by bringing peace to everyone (except he was going to bring peace by his army and killing anyone in his way). They even coined (literally put it on their coins) the phrase, "Salvation is found in none other than Caesar" and "Caesar is Lord".

In the midst of this time the angels say to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The glory goes to God not Caesar. Peace comes from God, not Caesar. Hmmmm... It's quite a political statement.

This also begs the question - what do we turn to now for peace? hope? Who or what do we hear claiming to be our salvation? Who or what do we turn to for peace?

Bitter-Sweet

A few updates from the silence...
- REALLY tough day yesterday... enough said

- recently decided that I'm Sweet enough and we'll be moving on to another book or something soon. I'd love any suggestions for a focused reading and/or discussion from time to time.

- An incredibly great conversation recently involving Dave, myself and several leaders from our seminary faculty and a few others about the emergent church and how they as a seminary/denomination might be ideally placed in time to be a Boaz to many people who are in the church but can't keep on doing church the same way. It was truly a God thing that brought the convesation together so quickly and truly God was in the conversation. Good people. Perhaps this is all "for such a time as this". I thank God for the chance to be a part of the conversation and for the opportunities he's given me.

You Might Be Emergent If...

This blog post is awesome and you have to check it out. I know nothing of who this is... but awesome none the less.

Sweet Ch. 5 - Big Ears

Big ears huh? I wonder if the amount of wax you have is dependent on the size of your ear? And if so, who or what represents the wax? But I digress already...

There seems to be quite a bit of repition in this book and it seems to be pretty herky-jerky - probably not unlike my blog - but no one pays to see my blog.

GREAT THOUGHTS
1. Is actually point 3 in his list of learning a living - "When I was learned, knowledge was everything. Now that I'm a learner, kindness is everything." This just echoes that relationships and valuing people are the key compenents to life period. People aren't going to share with you or listen to what you have to share if you don't value them or care for them.

2. The components of a hearing aid - decompression chamber, selective hearing, self cleaning, hearing partners and play. I appreciated these and thought that they pretty much tell the story of the book in a much shorter and more concise way.

QUESTIONS I HAVE
1. If change is our only constant in an organic world, then how do we train ourselves and others to be ready and adapatble to change? How do we train ourselves to have effective filters to sift through all the information, sounds, noises, images and stories to find where God is moving and where its just hocus pocus?

2. Does anyone else have the feeling that Shackleton would have just been a complete jerk in any setting other than survival?

3. How do I find my voice in the midst of all the voices? How do I find God's? (and no I don't think those are the same)

4. If leadership is primarily about listenting, then why does it seem that a leader must speak to begin transformation?

5. How come I can't see Matthew Broderick as anything but Ferris Bueller after all these years?

Fish and chips

Grilling Salmon tonight. Going well. Salmon done. Moving from grill to plate, and then... OH! Salmon down! Salmon down!

One piece fell into our box of wood we keep on the back porch for our fireplace. bummer. I reach into the box to get the piece of fish out and - did I mention that the fish just came off the grill? - ouch!! Fish falls into pieces, I begin to Christian cuss, burning my hand, finally getting fish back onto grill. That piece of fish was covered with bark and wood chips. A real fish and chips.

Then Carol sticks her head out the door and says... "I saw that." How do you not love being married?

Sweet Ch. 4 - Surround Sound

Things I liked:
1. A leaders job is to involve people in a mission that will change their life and the world. - That's just good.
2. and to go with it - Everyone has a mission and can make a difference.
3. Mission needs to be related in narrative form. - praise God for those who get this. We need to go somewhere, not just hear three thoughts from you that float in space forever.

Questions I have:
1. Why can we not get away from the business world in our stories and dreams of vision? Are we that similar? Is the church and the Fortune 500 company really going the same places, needing the same leaders?

2. If we were to use metaphors as part of our narrative, and the leader is a gardener cultivating growth and health, letting each plant grow in its time and way, bringing what it was created to bring to the garden, then could we also say that the best leaders are those who let others lead the group to places that they themselves would not have gone and in ways that they themselves would not have gotten there? What if a leader spent more time releasing others than controlling them? If this is the case, then how do I as a leader spend more time painting the picture of what I believe in people and where we could go, instead of logistics and direction?

3. The title of the chapter is surround sound... how do we surround ourselves with people who we can trust, who can trust us and who can survive in community?

4. Does every great leader have to suck at home? I understand that many people who don't have a mission seem to falter, because what makes them great is their mission, but what about just being a person. Why can't that bring us infinite value? Is it too much to ask a leader to be a whole person?

5. Why can't I perfect the breakdancing move "the head spin"?

Europe 2006 looks good

I'll never be able to go... but if you can check this out. "Calling All Nations" is in Berlin in July next year. Andrew Jones posts on it and it looks good. If my name were David Rebello I'd be there!

Darth Pilgrim?

I'm not saying anything conclusively and I don't want to alarm any Star Wars fanatics... but I'm finding a striking resemblence here. I'm not trying to wreck anybody's dreams, so no hate mail please... just a brief observation. You form your own opinions.

What I do know is that the one on the left is for sure my son Jahred who is 6 and did a great job with his line in the kindergarten pow-wow last week! I have the best family.

Sweet ch. 3 - I Hear You

I liked this chapter much better than the last. Not just because I agreed with more, but because it was easier to read as well.

Here's the 3 main things for me:
1. Hiring the right person - let's not pretend that what we hire someone to do they actually end up doing. In fact the same can be said for anything you journey with someone on. You may have some ideas about the road ahead, but it's incredibly arrogant to believe you've forseen all the missteps, dangers and adjustments that need to be made. Finding the right person who can adapt and be a part of the whole group of you and be adaptable to the things that come up has to be far more important.

2. Taking risks - This is huge to me because I'm largely a coward in my own eyes. One of the things that the Lord of the Rings (I know a tad overused story) taught me is that nothing is as bad as it may at first seem. As bad as things seemed like they were going to get, there is always a way through somehow. But you're not going to see it until you get there. The risks we take in doing what is right are enormous. Most of the risks are ones we dont' want to face, like relational conflict. But doing what's right is far more important than feeling good about a falseness for a while. I also believe that we've taught an entire generation or more of people that failure is worse than not trying at all. So many of us operate mostly out of fear and not out of dreams. We make choices based not on what we really believe in and want to see happen, but on what if it doesn't work and I fail and look foolish? How can we teach ourselves and others that being faithful to what we're called to is the greatest success, even if it means falling down?

3. Relationships - this is by far the most important piece in all of this to me. No matter who you are and no matter what you've done, if you don't have relationship with people, then you aren't really going anywhere. This is my mantra for life and ministry. Relationships, relationships, relationships. (All my Bel Air youth workers are groaning somewhere because they heard it so much! Right now as I write this they probably have a little twitch starting up and they don't even know why.)

Jesus modeled this for us in the incarnation. If we are following Jesus, living life in his way, then this has to be the vital piece of the puzzle.