Israel

I found out two nights ago that I might have the oppurtonity to go to the Holy Lands for 10 days next March. It would be with Seminary and it would be my last class there. I think it would only cost me about 1000 dollars, normally 2200, but I'd get a special deal cause of the scholarship program I'm a part of. The only problem is the ten days away from Mandy and Lucy, oh yeah, and Hank. It's someplace I've wanted to go to for years, I hope it works out so I can go.

Do I look like Derek Webb?

If you follow the link in my previous post look at the picture of Derek Webb. Now imagine me minus 60 pounds, with a short hair cut, with a guitar, and singing my guts out. Do you think I look like Derek Webb in that picture?

Derek Webb

This morning I'm driven over to the Naz to use the library and I hear on WNZR that there giving away Derek Webb tickets for tomorrow night at Kenyon. So I go into the library where they have no radio, but I know there giving out four pair over the next 1/2 hour so I decide I'll call radomly to see if I get through. I call once and get through, but they weren't giving them away at the time. Ten minutes later I call back and it's busy, so I know they're giving them away at the moment so I call back again right away and I'm caller ten, I WIN!!! But I found out I called for Wayne Watson instead. But after I told them my crazy story they gave me Derek Webb tickets instead!!! So Mandy and I will be thinking about Trent Charles tomorrow evening while we are listening to the cool, yet convicting, Derek Webb at Gund Commons on the campus of Kenyon College. Now that's a good way to start the morning off.

For all my rowdy friends who are Derek Webb fans who would like to join us go here for more info.

hank 

Paid Clergy?

Next year when I get done with seminary will it be in the best interest of our church, and for me, for me to get a "real" job. The more and more I think about it I wonder why our church, or for that matter many churches, need a full time paid pastor. I sometimes wonder if our church would grow stronger if I did construction forty hours a week and then pastored on the side as a regular member of the church. Some would say I would then be overwhelmed with the work load, but what if I didn't take it on? What if we let the church be the church? Wouldn't the work load be just the same as any other church member? We need a new model of church. We need to see the Body of Christ fully alive and active.

20/5000 Eyesight

This morning two girls from the college, who are apart of our church, prayer walked part of the neighborhood with me. While we were walking one of the girls said something along the lines of “last week’s service was one of the best I was ever apart of. I felt like that was what was church is supposed to be about.”

I was floored after she said that cause I felt last week’s service was pretty average and my sermon was really weak. So I asked what was so good about it and she said, “God.”

I think I need to start opening my eyes so I can see God in our services. I’m so worried about the sermon, the music, the show, and making sure everybody is Ok that I forget to see God, who is there the whole time. Lord, forgive me.

Tray swap

For all my friends who remember switching trays with Treveca our senior year (and yes I'm still a bit bitter), they pulled it off again last night, but this time with Olivet. Olivet's trays our plain so it's not as cool as it was when we walked into the cafeteria and saw the big TNU across the trays.

It feels kind of good knowing that I was a part in a small way with a prank that was so good that it gets repeated. I'll have to not sound too arrogant when I tell our college kids this at church on Sunday.

Hi

Sorry I haven't really blogged in a while. I got frustrated with it for some reason that I can't put my finger on. A couple things of interest for you...
-Saw Mike Pape last weekend. I couldn't believe it when I saw him. Had a good conversation with him and he seems to be doing pretty well for himself. He got married, has a good job, and is building a new house. So for all my college friends who have been wondering what ever happened to Pape, now you know.
-Mandy and I took Hank to Mohican yesterday. Went on a long walk from the covered bridge to the dam and back again. Hank loved it, he couldn't stay out of the water, but luckily we had blankets to put across the back seat for the ride home. I like walks in the woods.
-I don't like two of my seminary classes this quarter. I'm very frustrated in them, yet a friend reminded me I might need to humble myself a bit so maybe I could learn something. With such a big head it is sometimes hard to learn what you need to learn.
-Less than two months tell Lucy is due to join us on the outside. I'm pretty pumped silly about that.
-We got some crazy college kids who are diving into our church. At least two are moving into the neighborhood for their senior year. A couple are graduating and sticking around with us. Others are prayer walking the neighborhood once a week. I was pretty curious about them at first, but I'm begining to see why God has brought us all together.
-I'm in the midst of a sermon series called what does it mean to be the people of God. So we're saved and happy and go to church once a week, but is that it? Are we any different than the rest of the world? If so, how?
-That's all for now. I love you all.

TV evangelist? Yep, that's me! 

I like taking pictures of myself 

I LOVE MY WIFE 

I love warm spring days, especially when I get to spend them with these people. 

The nursery is almost done, I can't wait for Lucy! 

My beautiful pregnant wife 

Narnia

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in theaters December 9th, 2005. I can't wait to take Lucy! She'll have all the books read (or at least read to her) by that time.

Oscar Romero

Oscar Romerso was martyred 25 years ago tomorrow (March 24, 1980). He was the archbishop of El Salvador and lived a truly remarkable life. He rose through the ranks of the Catholic hiearchcy mostly because he was safe and El Salvador was going through some pretty rough times and safe seemed best for the church. But once he was promoted to Archbishop he had, what I would call in a way, a conversion experience. He started sticking up for the poor and oppressed and no longer tried to just keep things calm. One of my favorite lines from the movie "Romero" (which I higly recomend to any and everyone) is when he tells a rich lady he will only baptize her kids with all the rest of the kids, including the poor kids, and she gets ticked off because she realizes he is standing with the poor in solidarity and she says "do you know what that will cost us?" I'm not sure if he knew what it would cost her, but he knew what it would cost him... his life.

Thinking on his life, makes me think about mine. Am I just playing it safe, or would I be willing to risk it all for the sake of the Gospel. I'm always playing it safe. I never want to offend anyone, or challenge anyone. I'm scared of leading our church to really being the people of God. You read about people such as Romero and then your read the Gospels and you see so clearly how you are just living a watered down faith.

I was reading an interview with Ron Sider in Christianity Today about his new book where he rips the church in America. He said he wrote the book with tears in his eyes, but also with hope in his heart. I hope that's how I write this entry today.

Dusty

Dusty preached in Spring Revival today and boy did his message cut to the heart. He talked on Matthew 6:5-6, about how we are suppossed to pray. He said the reason the hypocrites prayed in public was only because they thought that was the only place they could get a reward for their prayer. They lost faith in a God who actually heard their prayers.

I blog as a way to journal. I'm just not disciplined enough to journal in a book that no one reads but God and myself. So I journal where everybody can read it and hopefully think that I am funny, cool, thoughtful, and a wonderful person and that's what motivates me.

I over analize things too much at times, but maybe I need too?

Matthew 16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Gates are defensive tools not offensive ones as Dr. May pointed out in class today. That makes me think...

NO MAS

Just finished my take home final for Greek. That means I'm finished with all my Biblical languages at seminary! This is so odd to say, but I think I'm glad I was required to take them. Hebrew was especially rewarding as I got to see some cool things that are taking place in the Bible that English could never bring out. But I am still glad I'm done with them.

Kingdom stuff

Sorry to post other people's stuff, but I've been reading this guy's blog lately and he talks about the Kingdom in ways and with language I'm not used to. He makes me think a lot, so I thought I would show you what I think about.

And so, I saw a vision. It just happened. Friends, we're at war, and its raging. Here's what I saw: "I was walking at night in a cemetery, I was alone, it was dark, it was cold and the stench of death was all around me. Cement gravestones, cracked tombs with vines growing intertwined all around them, there was no color, everything was in black and white. I was drawn to one particular gravestone in the shape of a cross, it was leaning over like someone had tripped over it. I was standing before it and I looked to the dark night sky and there were what seemed to be spirits of death soaring over me. They were flying in every direction, active in the night. Then I realized that I was no longer standing, but kneeling before this grave. And courage was welling up within me and I screamed into the night a cry of willingness. I looked around a 2nd time and I wasn't alone, in the distance I could many of you kneeling before similar stones crying out to the night. I saw Keck, I saw Bean, I saw Arlen, I saw Joe Long etc. etc. I saw as far as the eye could see saints crying into the darkness and it didn't seem so dark anymore. And then I awoke." We are all interconnected in this war, we need each other, we need to cry louder, we need to keep our swords at our sides, we need to bring the fight to the enemy with zero fear, we need to meet him, we must not back down, we will win this fight, but we must prepare ouselves and bring it everyday. We are never alone, never. Rain down your HOPE oh Lord, rain down your hope. I have come to realize that the enemy has been actively seeking to destroy the work that God has been doing through Ordinary Community Church. Seeking to steal, kill and destroy. Its not that he has infiltrated our camp, its that we moved into the same neighborhood. It is indistinguishable our territory from his. We are at close quarters and the stakes have never been higher for us. Well, I'm here tonight to say in the words of Doc Hollywood, "I'm your huckleberry". (thanks Keck)If you want a piece of my spiritual family than you can come through me. If you want deeper influence, then your going to have to take it from me personally. If you want what is not yours, then your going to fight for it. We walk in the power of the ressurrection and we fear you not. I'm going to sleep well tonight unless Abba wakes me up to pray and then I'll take my orders from Him. Whatever He commands I will do, I know no other way, He holds the words of life. When I awake in the morning, I will be back you slimy bastard. And come death or Kingdom Come in fullness, I will bring the fight to your doorstep. You see, my cries have been heard tonight and its in Him I trust. Remember the scene in Braveheart after Wallace's big speech in full warrior gear at the battle of Stirling. He turns to his inner circle and they say "Where are you going?" Wallace responds: "I'm going to pick a fight." Then they turn to each other and one says "Well . . . atleast we didn't get dressed up for nothing." Those words have never been so true.Friends, bring the fight to your particular context, and don't relent. I'll see you on the field.