web resources

I have stumbled across a great online resource for those of you into apologetics (www.leestrobel.com) and those looking to grow their relationship with God and ministry (www.johnortberg.com). While I am usually completely against those who have www.ME.com as their website, who can argue with the vault of free video resources on these sites. I particularly commend all the videos by William Lane Craig (pictured above) on Lee's site. Dr. Craig is a research professor for Talbot Theological Seminary (the graduate school of my alma mater and his work has been so helpful to me in explaining some of the "reasons" I believe.

survivorman

It's time to give a shout out to he new season of Survivorman. If you haven't seen the show, stop everything you are doing and run to your Tivo.

This guy, Les Stroud, isolates himself in the wilderness to survive alone for 7 days (did I mention he has like 50lbs of camera equipment because he shoots the WHOLE thing himself). Whether you like the outdoors, adventure sports, or are into film, this is an amazing show. If you want to be entertained, I think you will enjoy this as well.

Whatever you do, give it a shot!

federalism

This is not something you usually here from a presidential candidate.

middle earth rediscovered

After a hiatus from Tolkien, I was plunged back in by the recent release of The Children of Húrin. While I had never really dived into any works other than The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings, this was a pleasant surprise.

This story is edited by Christopher Tolkien, J.R.R.'s literary executor, from the long poems and notes written by his father. The story is from the First Age (if you are a LOTR geek, you know that Bilbo and the rest are at the end of the Third Age). This is one of three main stories which Tolkien felt shaped the mythology behind The Lord of the Rings. It is a tragic tale, but is well written, and reflects the attention to detail Tolkien gave to the "back stories" of his epics. A worthy read for those that enjoyed The Hobbit and made it through The Lord of the Rings.

Reading this new release has opened the door to the rest of Tolkien's fantasy. Some great stories written for his children (Roverandom and Letters from Father Christmas) which make you envy being in his family. They are beautifully written and made me feel like a kid again.

I hope that some of you may find some joy in revisiting some of Tolkien's lesser known work (you probably will want to stay away from The History of Middle-Earth, unless you are a geek like me).

If not, you should at least enjoy this music video by The Flight of the Conchords:

whatever you wish

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. - John 15:7 (ESV)

What are you asking God for?

I got asked that question soon after reading the verse above. It challenged me to wonder whether my heart and thoughts were truly in line with God. If they are, the desires of my heart are his desires, and am I asking him to begin to fulfill our desires?

Well, there came an opportunity to put it to the test. I had the chance to meet with the President of San Jose City College on Thursday. I knew this Wednesday when I was asked the above question. So I begin to pray about what should I be asking God for. I thought about a friend who shared about his service of the community by being a chaplain for the San jose Police Department. I also thought about another friend who reminded me of the verse that says, something close to, when our good deeds shine before men they will glorify our Father in heaven. With both these thoughts in mind my prayer for the meeting was, "God give me favor in the eyes of the President to serve and care for the students on campus that they might glorify you."

Even though the meeting was not intended to be about a "chaplaincy program" I brought it up when asked if there was anything else we wanted to talk about. Then the door opened, the President had served at another college where they had been multiple tragedies. He shared about how he had no idea what kind of emotional effect these tragedies would have on his students, workers, and the campus. They are prepared to take care of immediate situations, but are not always equipped to handle the emotional aspects, so he was excited that we "obviously" knew how to do that.

Now I have more meetings with the people in Student Affairs to find out how we can foster this kind of care across the campus.

So I ask you, what are you asking God for?

goodbye

To say goodbye is to reap
the harvest of relationship.
To reap some sweet fruit
and even bitter grief.

To say goodbye is to leave
the family that you love.
To leave behind those who
have known you every thought.

To say goodbye is to weep
for the moments lived and lost.
To weep for what once was
and may never be again.

To say goodbye is to hope
the loved ones you leave will fly.
To hope that now they are
in better hands than yours.

To say goodbye is to laugh
for those memories bad and good.
To laugh holding each other
for the moment cannot end.

To say goodbye is to pray
that God’s will is done.
To pray that as each day passes
love is spread.

To say goodbye is to wish
for more of what has past.
To wish that heaven will
be where we meet again.

Goodbye my friends.

god is green

I have been working my way through Mars Hill Bible Church's current teaching series, "God is Green." At the center of the series is a book called Serve God Save The Planet by Matthew Sleeth. His story is a provocative one, while his speaking style is not so engaging. Both Rob Bell and Sleeth use the Scriptures (mostly OT) to reflect God's delight in creation, and His delight in restoring creation (NT), as a foundation for a call to Christians to live more simply. Specifically to work counter to the driving forces of our culture which call us to consumption, exploitation, and entitlement.

What role does God want us to play in caring for, preserving, and restoring the planet?

wonderfully terrible

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. — Isaiah 4o:28 (ESV)

As I meditated on the love of God today (I listen to a devotional podcast called pray-as-you-go that is awesome) I heard this verse being read. We were asked to reflect upon the words that stood out . . . "unsearchable understanding" definitely caught my attention.

What makes God's understanding unsearchable?

First, and most simply that His understanding is quantifiably more than a finite being can grasp.

Second, could it be, that His understanding is so complete that it is terrifying in nature? Could it be that His understanding of just who I am is so in depth that the very truths that I am unwilling to see or believe about myself are "unsearchable" because I would faint at even the thought?

How wonderfully terrible if true . . . and I believe it is.

George McDonald wrote of God, "He is not safe, but He is good."

setting sail

For some time I haven't written. For two reasons. First, practically, my laptop is dying. Second, personally, I have had much going on I was not free to share publicly.

As many now know, I am moving on from South Hills, the church I grew up in and have served on the pastoral staff for the last six years. From the first days of talking with Crossroads Bible Church the words from God were, "It's time to set sail." An unnerving way of letting me know that the last three years of "harbor," in other words safety, support, and nurturing, were over. A new adventure awaited with unknown outcomes, and unseen storms.

While I wrestled with this picture, God would give me no other leading but, "Will you trust me? Will you trust my voice?" He even went as far as to have the missions speaker at Hume Lake (where I took high school students to summer camp) say, "Once God reveals His plan have the faith to follow."

So here I am. In transition. Finishing the work I began at South Hills when I volunteered in the Children's Ministry at 8 years old. I have known students in the high school group since they were 4. It is amazing what God has done.

If this has been a harbor, imagine what will He do when we hit the open sea?

blog rating

It's been awhile. A lot going on, but I thought this was funny, so I would share. You can get your blog rated:



I got this rating because "death" is mentioned twice and "sex" once.

Find out what your blog is rated!

breathe

It is the first sound of the day,
if you listen.
It rises in your chest and
passes through your lips.
It can be swift and light,
or deep and sorrowful.
You cannot start your day
without a breath.

It is the first thing you feel,
when you walk out the door.
It gently moves along your face
and makes the world sway.
It can soften the heat,
or highlight the cold.
You cannot escape the
presence of the wind.

>It is often overlooked
for its effects are subtle too.
It prompts from within,
and beckons life to birth.
It can shape your heart,
or send a chill across your soul.
You cannot live a day
apart from the Spirit's call.

In Him we live and move and breathe.

norman maclean

The problem of self-identity is not just a problem for the young. It is a problem all the time. Perhaps the problem. It should haunt old age, and when it no longer does, it should tell you that you are dead. — Norman Maclean

Found this quote on Kit Reichow's blog. I have been thinking a lot about Norman Maclean lately. I picked up the soundtrack to the movie based off of Maclean's A River Runs Through It. All three are wonderful pieces of art in their own right.

You should certainly take the time to read Maclean's book. It is one of the most beautiful stories of brotherhood, family, fishing, and searching that you will ever read. I appreciate that is an unassuming story that seems written only for a few to read and leaves behind the grand commentaries of books you read in high school and the pomp and convention of a best-seller. The writing is honest, naked, and beautifully descriptive.

Then watch Robert Redford's screen adaptation and you will find there was little work for the screenwriters and cinematographers since Maclean's writing was so straightforward and wonderful.

All three works provoke a reflection in my soul that is, in Maclean's words, haunting. There is a longing for life, love, and peace that is stirred. It is a good feeling that I enjoy revisiting and letting cause me a little unease about the direction or course of my day an life.

I am grateful for such works that do not let me get caught up in the dreariness of the calendar and that call me to stop, feel, think, and pray.