I just finished listening to Tiger Wood's "apology" address. He said all the right things, not read very well but I came away incredibly sad - for him. Not because of what he did or his fall from grace or his effect on this nation & this world, but because he can't beat it.
Simply because he can't beat it.
He said that he was raised Buddhist, which honestly I had forgotten, and it in this spirituality that he needed to reconnect - to himself. But where did these desires come from? Where did they originate? From within himself.
Tiger has been & will continue to attempt some behavioral modification, & he may be successful in his efforts, but it will not change who he is, & I don't say that to condemn him. He may be able to change but his soul will stay empty, the same way mine was, & all of ours were until we accept our need for a Savior.
This behavioral modification is what we Christians try as well, what we depend on many times, whether we realize it or not, to draw us into the favor of Christ. Because I have believed, all of my sins are forgiven, not by anything I have done.
Behavioral modification doesn't bring me to Christ, it is a result of drawing closer to Him and understanding in different ways at different times what His ways are. It takes love & trust in Him that as Creator His way is the best way. What that means is His Laws are meant for my joy and my satisfaction in Him, & He is most Glorified when I am most satisfied in Him.
He is most Glorified when I am most satisfied in Him.
When was the last time I meditated on His Law all night long - or I loved Him so much that His Law was sweeter than honey?
Usually that honey is diluted by coffee & creamer now-a-days.
Psalm 119:97,103
97 Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
(I hope & pray the Spirit moves in Tiger's life & so many others like him)
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
I love my wife
She is amazing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She is fun
She is freaking hot - - - - - - - - - - - -She likes to just hang out
She is great with Lincoln - - - - - - - - -She is a phenomenal cook
She is Godly
She is incredibly sexy - - - - - - - - - - She is great @ getting it all clean
She can wail on the rock band drums - - - -She loves her family
She is the most beautiful thing that has been placed on this earth
She is funny - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She is creative
She is learning to sew - - - - - - - - - - She can scrapbook with the best
She is the best friend someone could have
She is my standard of beauty - - - - - - - She is pure of heart
She is a very smooth skier - - - - - - - - She is terribly loving
She is my love - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She is my lover
- - - - - - - - - - She is mine - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -I love my wife!- - - - - - - - -
She is freaking hot - - - - - - - - - - - -She likes to just hang out
She is great with Lincoln - - - - - - - - -She is a phenomenal cook
She is Godly
She is incredibly sexy - - - - - - - - - - She is great @ getting it all clean
She can wail on the rock band drums - - - -She loves her family
She is the most beautiful thing that has been placed on this earth
She is funny - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She is creative
She is learning to sew - - - - - - - - - - She can scrapbook with the best
She is the best friend someone could have
She is my standard of beauty - - - - - - - She is pure of heart
She is a very smooth skier - - - - - - - - She is terribly loving
She is my love - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She is my lover
- - - - - - - - - - She is mine - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -I love my wife!- - - - - - - - -
Monday, February 1, 2010
Interview w/ Pastor Brad House
I was blessed and fortunate enough to have a conversation this past Thursday afternoon with Pastor Brad House from Mars Hill Church - Seattle. He is the Lead Community Pastor up there and was gracious enough to give me 30 minutes, which was gone before it started in my opinion. Here are some of the highlights of that interview.
There were two things that intrigued me the most, the two things that resonated throughout every question I asked: The system is about pastoral care for every leader and every leader is essentially considered a pastor. It is easy to see how the Acts 29 Church Planting Network has effected the philosophy at Mars Hill, and I love it!
I asked Pastor Brad about identifying leaders to which his response was, "see them in action." He explained that they use apprenticeship and testing before they release leaders to have groups in their neighborhoods, a great leadership principle that I learn more & more almost everyday.
We talked about inspiring & encouraging those he works with to which he responded with Vision. Keep the vision in front of leaders as to why Community is so important, and with that give them ownership with their group or the leaders they work with. Cast Vision at a big level and let it trickle down, mingled with everything that you do then give leaders freedom to work it out where they are how they believe would be best for their group. Another leadership principle.
I could go on & on about this, the little details that plague my mind but I'm sure the 3 people that have read to this far are no where near as interested as I am. Hopefully you just want it to work, & that is what I want, for Community to be effective and life changing, drawing us closer together and closer to Christ.
Thing is, this is what I am passionate about (as if that is not incredibly obvious), I could talk about it all day and to have had the brief opportunity to talk with someone like Pastor Brad is a tremendous treat that needed to come out somehow - and these are my "Rambling Thoughts" so, there you go!
There were two things that intrigued me the most, the two things that resonated throughout every question I asked: The system is about pastoral care for every leader and every leader is essentially considered a pastor. It is easy to see how the Acts 29 Church Planting Network has effected the philosophy at Mars Hill, and I love it!
I asked Pastor Brad about identifying leaders to which his response was, "see them in action." He explained that they use apprenticeship and testing before they release leaders to have groups in their neighborhoods, a great leadership principle that I learn more & more almost everyday.
We talked about inspiring & encouraging those he works with to which he responded with Vision. Keep the vision in front of leaders as to why Community is so important, and with that give them ownership with their group or the leaders they work with. Cast Vision at a big level and let it trickle down, mingled with everything that you do then give leaders freedom to work it out where they are how they believe would be best for their group. Another leadership principle.
I could go on & on about this, the little details that plague my mind but I'm sure the 3 people that have read to this far are no where near as interested as I am. Hopefully you just want it to work, & that is what I want, for Community to be effective and life changing, drawing us closer together and closer to Christ.
Thing is, this is what I am passionate about (as if that is not incredibly obvious), I could talk about it all day and to have had the brief opportunity to talk with someone like Pastor Brad is a tremendous treat that needed to come out somehow - and these are my "Rambling Thoughts" so, there you go!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Why Community?
It should come as no shock to anyone who has spent any time in conversation with me that I have a strong passion & drive for community. (Not the show, though oddly enough it may be my favorite right now.)
I found myself, as I often do, attempting to understand why this seems to make sense, why the presence of others is optimal in drawing closer to Christ. Of course there are the obvious, the church in Acts, Gal 6, Hebrews, & so many other spot texts. But most of these are examples, I want a reason, I want the truth (I know, I probably can't handle it.)
I heard a message on the Trinity & the relationship between the Three in One. This led to Creation which in turn makes me wonder why. Why create? God wasn't lonely or bored - He's not like me! God wasn't tired of the nothing, or the whatever that surrounded Him. He didn't run out of things to talk about with the Son & the Spirit.
He didn't want, He didn't need. He is not like us in this way.
The Son glorifies the Spirit & the Father, the Spirit glorifies the 2 & the Father glorifies the 2, the perfect relationship. It is from this outpouring of glorification, love & community that Creation was spawned! Put simply, the Trinity had an overflow of love & community that oozed into the conception of the universe & mankind.
Though He is not like us, we are like Him, in His image. We long for this sense of true relation, real openness that will complete the angst in us that screams for others & ultimately for God, even if we don't realize what it is.
The bottom line, the truth behind our need for community lies in the Trinity & in Creation & the implications of this are endless.
I John 4:19 - "We love Him because He first loved us."
This has never rung more true.
I found myself, as I often do, attempting to understand why this seems to make sense, why the presence of others is optimal in drawing closer to Christ. Of course there are the obvious, the church in Acts, Gal 6, Hebrews, & so many other spot texts. But most of these are examples, I want a reason, I want the truth (I know, I probably can't handle it.)
I heard a message on the Trinity & the relationship between the Three in One. This led to Creation which in turn makes me wonder why. Why create? God wasn't lonely or bored - He's not like me! God wasn't tired of the nothing, or the whatever that surrounded Him. He didn't run out of things to talk about with the Son & the Spirit.
He didn't want, He didn't need. He is not like us in this way.
The Son glorifies the Spirit & the Father, the Spirit glorifies the 2 & the Father glorifies the 2, the perfect relationship. It is from this outpouring of glorification, love & community that Creation was spawned! Put simply, the Trinity had an overflow of love & community that oozed into the conception of the universe & mankind.
Though He is not like us, we are like Him, in His image. We long for this sense of true relation, real openness that will complete the angst in us that screams for others & ultimately for God, even if we don't realize what it is.
The bottom line, the truth behind our need for community lies in the Trinity & in Creation & the implications of this are endless.
I John 4:19 - "We love Him because He first loved us."
This has never rung more true.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Poop face, raccoon style!
No, unfortunately that is not just a catchy title line.
Last night I was on my way to bed around 10 after having the police over for an oatmeal cream pie & a water. Lincoln had been in "bed" for about an hour & a 1/2, though we laid him back down several times. Apparently on the last one he mentioned, "Shoowee." Checked, clean, night night!
45 minutes later as I walk up the stairs I got a whiff of something. Linc's door was open & my immediate thought was that of his trash can.
As I walked closer to his door the smell of rancid chocolate overtook me. My enlightened eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, the glider is moving, the trash can sits erect & unmoved.
I step over his gate, because I'm a man, that's what I do. Why go through a door when I can go over it! One step in and a squish, ohhh. In my frozen state, eyes still unaquainted with the blackness, I turn and yell, "Get the bath ready we are coming down."
I flip the light to see wide eyes instantly go squinty - there is a stark naked raccoon in my son's glider half covered in a blue blankey painted some hideous color of brown. He looks up at me through the lone ranger style mask of feces and says, "daddy."
One minute later we are in the shower, Linc with his sad, cold sleepy face as I start to clean him. He cries a little, then laughs a little, but mostly sits blankly as if to say, "I was asleep father, why didst thou wake me from my slumber?"
It was not an easy removal as apparently malleable lumps of steaming dung dry quickly and crunchy. Wash, wipe, soak, repeat while he sits, shakes and says, "cold." "I know baby, I know."
Finally clean & in zipped and buttoned footy pj's, his mother having already handled the new paint job in his room, it was time for bed again. As I lay him down, "night night Linc, I love you." He looks at me with a slight grin behind his blue paci, "squeeze?!?"
"No buddy, I think you already squeezed it all."
Last night I was on my way to bed around 10 after having the police over for an oatmeal cream pie & a water. Lincoln had been in "bed" for about an hour & a 1/2, though we laid him back down several times. Apparently on the last one he mentioned, "Shoowee." Checked, clean, night night!
45 minutes later as I walk up the stairs I got a whiff of something. Linc's door was open & my immediate thought was that of his trash can.
As I walked closer to his door the smell of rancid chocolate overtook me. My enlightened eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, the glider is moving, the trash can sits erect & unmoved.
I step over his gate, because I'm a man, that's what I do. Why go through a door when I can go over it! One step in and a squish, ohhh. In my frozen state, eyes still unaquainted with the blackness, I turn and yell, "Get the bath ready we are coming down."
I flip the light to see wide eyes instantly go squinty - there is a stark naked raccoon in my son's glider half covered in a blue blankey painted some hideous color of brown. He looks up at me through the lone ranger style mask of feces and says, "daddy."
One minute later we are in the shower, Linc with his sad, cold sleepy face as I start to clean him. He cries a little, then laughs a little, but mostly sits blankly as if to say, "I was asleep father, why didst thou wake me from my slumber?"
It was not an easy removal as apparently malleable lumps of steaming dung dry quickly and crunchy. Wash, wipe, soak, repeat while he sits, shakes and says, "cold." "I know baby, I know."
Finally clean & in zipped and buttoned footy pj's, his mother having already handled the new paint job in his room, it was time for bed again. As I lay him down, "night night Linc, I love you." He looks at me with a slight grin behind his blue paci, "squeeze?!?"
"No buddy, I think you already squeezed it all."
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
"Discipleship is a nightmare"
About a year ago I heard a statement that I have been mulling over ever since. My instant reaction was, YES!" but lately I've been rethinking this and I wonder if I was off a bit, which wouldn't be terribly unusual!
"Discipleship is a nightmare isn't it. Can we just be honest about that? We want it to be like a superhighway but it is more like a dusty road through the desert with coyotes on each side."
We end up putting people together in different ways and calling it discipleship. I think my question when it comes to this is simply why are we trying to make this happen?
I know that sounds odd but why do we pour time, effort, and funds into programs we want to enable discipleship between people? It is a lost art I think, a needed aspect that rages against out instant, do-it-yourself culture. Discipleship is slow, and it has to start slow, and it has to spread through culture, the culture of the church and of its people.
I am learning that discipleship can look different than just the Disciples, and this is brilliant. Short times with specific goals of working through a book, or specific passages, or anything in order to help someone see Christ more and draw closer to Him. This is a bit of a different topic, but thanks for the insight there Steve P!
Short, long, whatever to make discipleship happen it has to be ingrained in the culture, it has to start with people discipling and being discipled (the second is more difficult often times). If we can enable others to do this we can burn it into the culture of this world. It just starts slow and spreads slow, that's how you change culture and personally I'm all right with that.
What you have learned and experienced is like everything else in this life: It's not about you and it's not just for you.
The only way to conclude this though, and it goes on forever in my mind, is to steal Nike's slogan: Just Do It!
"Discipleship is a nightmare isn't it. Can we just be honest about that? We want it to be like a superhighway but it is more like a dusty road through the desert with coyotes on each side."
We end up putting people together in different ways and calling it discipleship. I think my question when it comes to this is simply why are we trying to make this happen?
I know that sounds odd but why do we pour time, effort, and funds into programs we want to enable discipleship between people? It is a lost art I think, a needed aspect that rages against out instant, do-it-yourself culture. Discipleship is slow, and it has to start slow, and it has to spread through culture, the culture of the church and of its people.
I am learning that discipleship can look different than just the Disciples, and this is brilliant. Short times with specific goals of working through a book, or specific passages, or anything in order to help someone see Christ more and draw closer to Him. This is a bit of a different topic, but thanks for the insight there Steve P!
Short, long, whatever to make discipleship happen it has to be ingrained in the culture, it has to start with people discipling and being discipled (the second is more difficult often times). If we can enable others to do this we can burn it into the culture of this world. It just starts slow and spreads slow, that's how you change culture and personally I'm all right with that.
What you have learned and experienced is like everything else in this life: It's not about you and it's not just for you.
The only way to conclude this though, and it goes on forever in my mind, is to steal Nike's slogan: Just Do It!
Monday, October 26, 2009
803 - R4TL
We are two days past the Run For Their Lives and though I didn't run I am still physically and emotionally exhausted. 803. That was the number that registered. Far beyond original goals, almost double wildest dreams for a first year race put on by a community with so many causes to support.
803.
I was able to speak to the 5k aid station before the runners arrived and was privileged to tell them that every runner they saw, that they handed fluids and cheered on to finish represented a night of freedom for a girl in Thailand and hopefully a lifetime of freedom.
How quickly this became a movement rather than just a race.
The kids 1k was beautiful! Almost 50 red faced, breathing hard, and smiling as they crossed the finish line on the Heritage High School track to a huge cheering crowd and my boy - 12 Gage - taking it all in as he rounded the last turn to cheers and clapping. He smiles, he looks around, he joins in clapping for himself (he didn't know!) and then he finishes, completing one more race than his daddy!
So Many Thanks
The volunteers were amazing! To be able to handle the crowds at check-in, sponsors, start and finish, aid stations, parking - everywhere. Without you this would have been a disaster, you freed Thailand girls today.
Freedom 4/24 - without you this was just a foot race, not the movement it has become, not to mention the turnout is because of the cause, not the race.
The Sponsors - It was because of you that every runner represented freedom for a night and hopefully freedom for a lifetime.
The City of Lynchburg - Your officers were great, your V-Dot crew was amazing, and your support by allowing the race to happen was crucial.
The runners - I stand amazed at the discipline and dedication that you have to free girls in Thailand. I loved watching you run knowing why, and being there to support and cheer you on.
The R4TL Team - I have loved getting to know you and seeing your determination and passion. You have all done an amazing job, thanks for letting me be a part.
What's to Come
There are thoughts for this, but know is not the time. Now is the time to celebrate the accomplishments and the freedom for one night and hopefully for a lifetime for so many girls all because of a movement that BEGAN in Lynchburg, VA through a small church and some small people following a BIG God!
803.
I was able to speak to the 5k aid station before the runners arrived and was privileged to tell them that every runner they saw, that they handed fluids and cheered on to finish represented a night of freedom for a girl in Thailand and hopefully a lifetime of freedom.
How quickly this became a movement rather than just a race.
The kids 1k was beautiful! Almost 50 red faced, breathing hard, and smiling as they crossed the finish line on the Heritage High School track to a huge cheering crowd and my boy - 12 Gage - taking it all in as he rounded the last turn to cheers and clapping. He smiles, he looks around, he joins in clapping for himself (he didn't know!) and then he finishes, completing one more race than his daddy!
So Many Thanks
The volunteers were amazing! To be able to handle the crowds at check-in, sponsors, start and finish, aid stations, parking - everywhere. Without you this would have been a disaster, you freed Thailand girls today.
Freedom 4/24 - without you this was just a foot race, not the movement it has become, not to mention the turnout is because of the cause, not the race.
The Sponsors - It was because of you that every runner represented freedom for a night and hopefully freedom for a lifetime.
The City of Lynchburg - Your officers were great, your V-Dot crew was amazing, and your support by allowing the race to happen was crucial.
The runners - I stand amazed at the discipline and dedication that you have to free girls in Thailand. I loved watching you run knowing why, and being there to support and cheer you on.
The R4TL Team - I have loved getting to know you and seeing your determination and passion. You have all done an amazing job, thanks for letting me be a part.
What's to Come
There are thoughts for this, but know is not the time. Now is the time to celebrate the accomplishments and the freedom for one night and hopefully for a lifetime for so many girls all because of a movement that BEGAN in Lynchburg, VA through a small church and some small people following a BIG God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
