I Spy Something Wrong

I rarely get into the political fray, but my jaw was on the floor as I watched this video.



There's more about the story from Newsweek. Apparently, the document that Ashcroft wouldn't sign was concerning the approval of the NSA's wiretapping program (spying on Americans without a warrant).

I'm sure stuff like this goes on all the time in Washington, but it scares me nonetheless. How do leaders expect my generation to stave off cynicism when they do stuff like this?

Leave it to Jon Stewart to capture the gravity of the situation.

HDL

HDL is good cholesterol, and apparently I don't have enough. I don't have high overall, or high LDL, but I'm about 5 points shy of being in the healthy range for the good stuff.

After looking online, I need to eat more fish, specifically tuna, trout, mackeral, and salmon. I'm not a fish person (I like catfish, and the occasional tuna fish sandwich). Not a big fan of salmon. I know there's some good cooks out there with good recipes for this stuff, so I'm asking you to send away! Just post it in the comments or at least shoot me a link.

A little more research reveals that I should eat more nuts and even peanut butter. No complaints there. Also, most websites said that a glass of red wine every day would be good too. Can't say I like the taste of red wine, so if there's a good "starter" wine out there for me to try, I'm all ears. Just nothing too expensive. The sweeter the better too.

Oh yeah, they also say exercise helps, and the way that Brandon and I have been working out lately should be more than enough to get me there. Although, I am proud to say that I can bend my arms a day after the workout, so there's already improvement.

Chililabombwe Progress

I had the opportunity to present some of my thoughts about serving Chililabombwe, Zambia today. Everyone seemed very excited about the commitment. My next step is to talk with the city council and school board, perhaps the Lions Club as well. I really think this is heading in the right direction. I'll keep everyone up to date on the progress.

Rainy Day Musings

Yesterday we spent the day at Chris and Gina's, eating, hanging out, refereeing the kids. It was fun, one of the better Memorial Day weekends I've had in a while. A year ago we were looking for homes here in Hutto. Crazy how fast things go.

Last night we watched Million Dollar Baby. I had seen it before, but I was reminded how great of a film it was. I love the arc of Clint Eastwood's character, how he finds redemption in an unexpected place. If you haven't seen it, pick it up.

Just hanging out today. I worked out again this morning, so tomorrow I'll be sore and uncomfortable. I'll probably play some more Halo 3 and just enjoy the time off.

Halo 3 Beta

I bought Crackdown tonight (fun game in its own right), and it came with an invitation to join the Halo 3 Multiplayer beta. I played a couple of round of team slayer, and, while I generally suck, it's still fun to play.

Most of the weapons were the same, although I noticed some different grenades, but because I was on the receiving side of them, I'm not really sure what they do. Valhalla, similar to Blood Gulch, is my favorite map so far. Each base has a man cannon that blasts you across the map to join the fray easier.

Visually, it's definitely next-gen. It's one of those "so beautiful you don't notice" kinda feels, like you're watching cinematics instead of playing a video game.

Halo 3 releases at the end of the year. I never owned an Xbox, so my exposure to the Halo franchise was limited to mooching off of friends. I'm not very good, but it's a very engaging game that I can envision taking away loads of my time.

Good Enough

I think the struggle between knowing we're not good enough for God and knowing that he died for us anyway (Romans 5:6-8) can be hard to reconcile. We talked last night how this struggle can actually push us away from God, afraid that he'll see who we really are and be disgusted. While we search for unconditional love, it's an uncomfortable love too. We're used to earning it, winning it, wooing it, so Christ's passionate love for us can freak us out a little.

Amy Lee sums up a lot of these feelings in "Good Enough".

Stories a Guy Could Love

Tonight at Soul Cravings we talked about love and intimacy (you know, guy stuff). We didn't get to do the ice breaker, but I thought I would get some of your ideas.

What is your favorite movie love story? The only requirement: It has to be a movie that a guy would watch. Comment away!

Anyway, we had some good discussion, especially for the topic. I think at the end of the day, if we can determine that our relationship with God influences our relationships with others, then we discover the power to really love people. Even people we don't know, even people we don't like.

It's hard for me to think of a romantic movie that a guy would watch. I suppose Punch Drunk Love would count. Maybe Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Freeze This Day

I was telling Erika and Kylie tonight how I wouldn't mind if I had to live this day over and over again. I worked out for the first time in months. I hung out with some great friends. I watched Spider-Man 2 with Kylie again today, she knows the names of all the major characters. I enjoyed another great dinner with Erika, we watched American Idol together. I got to catch up with an old friend over email.

There are moments in time when I have a deep sense of fulfillment, of "right". Things are moving along great with the church, people are loving people, really showing genuine concern and care. Each new connection takes me to this deeper place, this stronger sense of love and belonging that I never really knew existed.

It's like when a fast grounder is hit your way, and instinct and training take over and you effortlessly scoop it up and fire it to first without even thinking. It's hard to explain, but I like it.

You Look Bad Ass

My favorite line from the Heroes finale! What did you think about the ending? I can't wait for next season. I hope we get to meet the guy that Molly is afraid of. For those of you that have never read a comic book, no one ever REALLY dies. There's always a way back, so don't count anyone out (although I was a little concerned for Parkman).

The final fight could've been bigger, but I'm not sure I can even classify this as the final fight. Seems like there's a lot of openings for next season.

On Being Heroic

First, some confessions:

Tonight is the Heroes season finale. It has eclipsed Lost on my list of favorite shows, and is coming close to bumping Battlestar Galactica off the top spot.

I currently have four Spider-Man toys littering the top of my desk, and I'm on the look for a few more (I want a symbiote Spider-Man).

If you look at the photo on my profile, you can tell I'm a geek (which is different than a nerd, but I believe only geeks understand the distinction).

OK, now that that's out of the way....

When I was 10 years old I became a fan of superheroes. Dinosaurs were so second grade, and I was moving up in the world. I would buy dozens of comic books each month and spend hours reading them. The story of the Hero - especially the underdog, the man backed in the corner and forced to act - has always captured my imagination. In my deepest longings, I want to be heroic.

The everyman (Peter Parker, John McClane, Atticus Finch, Rocky Balboa) that finds the drive to do what is right, to become the hero, that emerges from insignificant to powerful, that's the guy I want to become. The story of this becoming inspires me. They do what is right, what is needed, regardless of the cost. To them, there is no other option. They get back up. They continue.

I want my life to be like that. I want my existence to matter. I think this is where I find myself in relationship to God. I know that my real significance is found in him. When I found myself in church for the first time, I discovered this deep sense of being a part of something beyond just me. Not only did I belong, but I mattered.

Some of my friends have said that, for someone who is detailed-oriented, I sure am willing to take risks. The more I consider it, I think that I step out on faith because of this drive to be heroic. If God says go, what more information do I need? And where, really, is there a hero without conflict?

What Do You Crave?

We're reading through Soul Cravings at Resonate Community. In a way, I was a little surprised at how almost everyone indicated that their most powerful craving at this point in their life is intimacy. We're drawn to have others in our lives, people that love us and that we can love. And isn't this really how most people connect with God? I know when I was starting my journey with him it was because I found a church that cared about me (even though I didn't feel like I fit in).

What's scary (the book goes into this detail) is that people will disappoint us. Those we love, those that love us, at some point will let us down. So how can a church continue to grow and thrive when there's this kind of heartbreak?

Personally, I think that it's all about our connection to God rather than those connections with others. My mentor always said that our vertical relationship always impacts our horizontal ones. So when we are seeking after God, I think a lot of the stuff that can usually trip us up actually helps us to appreciate one another.

I think our craving for community, a place, a tribe is really a craving for God in our life. I like how, after reading this book, I can really examine WHY I crave, not just what I crave. So, what do you crave? And, more importantly, why?

Resonate Community Site Redesign

I spent this morning working on a site redesign for Resonate Community. It looks great in Firefox, but for some reason IE makes it look like crap. I'm getting runtime errors, screwy layouts, everything. I'm not sure what I did wrong. So, if you use Firefox, take a look and let me know what you think. If you use Internet Explorer, step into the 21st century and download Firefox (you're welcome).

Oh yeah, for all of my tech friends, if there's any tips you got on what I did wrong, I'm all ears.

Chilled Out

After waiting all day for the repairman to show, we find out it's something he can't fix. You see, our electrician (we've already had some faulty wiring in the living room) apparently didn't read the numbers printed on the side of the AC unit. It was to use a minimum of a 34.5 amp breaker (best if it used a 60), but instead was wired to a 30 amp breaker. That means, when it gets hot, it trips. Nothing you can do about it.

I started calling at 7:30 and told them someone better come out immediately. They sent the guy on call, and he came out and fixed it. I think I'm going to make Gehan Homes pay for an independent inspection before our warranty is up. I just know something else is wrong, and I don't want to wait around for it to break to have them fix it.

But, I've chilled out and can sleep in comfort tonight.

Homemade Wet & Wild

We inflated Kylie's pool this afternoon, and she's been playing in it all day. Erika got the idea to add her slide to the mix. It's like dropping three and half feet onto cement! But in water! Either way, Kylie's laughed as hard as she ever has playing in it. Plus, it was a great way to stay cool (the A/C is getting fixed tomorrow).

No Air Conditioning Make Kyle Something Something

Go crazy?

Don't mind if I do! I got home from work today to discover that the A/C is broken. It's hot.

(By the way, if you don't know what I'm referring to, you need to stop reading blogs and watch a little more Simpsons).

Values: Soul

Soul - Love is why we are here.

So, you can have the first three elements of music (harmony, melody, and rhythm), but still have a pretty lousy song. Soul, or passion, is really what makes the best music come alive and have real meaning for us. For us, love is the same way. Sure, we could have a church full of people who like to be around each other, but if love isn't present in everything we do, we're just wasting our time.

Our love for each other and those who are still in their search for God should overflow in everything we do. If we are known for anything as a church, I want to be known for our love. Really cool music, great preaching, fun activities, all of that is secondary to the fact that we should be out in our community making a difference.

Values: Rhythm

Rhythm - Sacrifice is the heartbeat of God.

You know how really loud music (especially with a lot of bass) seems to make your heart beat? It's like your body finds the rhythm of the music and can't help but follow. Part of what we want to do at Resonate Community is help people find the rhythm of God's heartbeat. And I think that God's heart beats of sacrifice, of selflessness, of giving yourself away for others. Countless times in Scripture we can find Jesus doing just that.

Some people teach that faith and comfort go hand in hand. I don't think so. Every time I've stepped out on faith, it's been hard, frustrating, and scary. But it's worth it every time. I continue to learn what it means to sacrifice. You get out of life what you put into it, and I want people who connect with us to know that we value God so much that we are willing to give whatever it takes for him.

Soul Cravings Begins

Tonight is the first session of a study on a book called Soul Cravings. It's a great exploration into some of the universal desires we have as humans, and how those desires help lead us into a relationship with God. I found it to be very meaningful for me, and I'm hoping others find the same.

We were able to find a cool little pizza place in town that will host us, and I'm hoping that the book will raise some good conversations about the nature of God and who we are.

Why Can't Faith Be Faith?

I just watched a clip from tonight's Nightline where Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort (both Christians) attempt to argue with atheists about the existence of God. They do so because they claim to have irrefutable, scientific proof of his existence, that doesn't have to be explained with faith or Scripture.

From what I've seen, they have no such evidence, a fact pointed out repeatedly during the segment. My question is, "Why can't faith be faith?" Why do we feel the need to prove everything? I'm not advocating just being spoon-fed with no reason or attempt at personal understanding. I'm an intellectual person, I'm aware of logical falacies and debate procedure. But I think the moment we try to strip the mystical part of our relationship with God away, we lose something.

Our relationship with God goes beyond a set of propositional truths. There is a metaphysical portion to what we believe, how we live, how we love, and I'm just not comfortable trying to quantify that. Am I crazy? Am I being irrational? I'd love to hear some feedback on this.

Maturity

I think a lot of people misunderstand what Christian maturity is. They think that it's all about knowing the Bible, quoting Scripture, acting moral, etc. And yes, while all of that can be part of maturity, I'm not really satisfied with this definition. I have seen a lot of people who fit into this mold that wouldn't know God's voice if he appeared in a burning bush.

Erwin McManus defines maturity as the time between understanding and movement. I love that! I normally say that it's the ability to see God's perspective on things, to take a moment and back out and away from the circumstance and view it from God's eyes.

What's great about this approach is that you don't have to be a follower of Christ for years and years in order to have maturity. You just have to have faith. I think that a lot of people are afraid to begin chasing God because we Christians indicate to them that they won't be very good at it. Maybe a different understanding of what it really means to follow Christ will help others see that it's really worth the effort.

Chililabombwe

So, on Monday I spent some very brief time exploring the possiblity of Hutto adopting a sister city. I thought it would be cool if we could find a place in Africa with a large hippo population (Hutto's mascot is the hippo). After talking to some people in the Rotary club, they encouraged me to find an International Rotary Club nearby to help with some funding and support.

So, I'm looking for a community in Africa with a large hippo population, near a Rotary club, that has a desire to become a sister city. After less than 10 minutes searching, I found the city of Chililabombwe, Zambia.

With about 80% of its almost 90,000 residents below the poverty line (by Zambia's figures, not U.S.), there is a tremendous need. They only have six schools, and the AIDS epidemic has hit them hard. Strangely enough, nearby is a National Monument, called the Hippo Pool.

Today, I was invited to the Rotary Club meeting to hear some of the District Rotarians discuss their recent trip to Africa. It seemed like a providencial convergence between all these concepts, so I think I'm going to pursue it further. Please pray about this, it seems (from where I stand now) that God is doing something interesting.

Values: Harmony

Harmony - Community emerges from our cause.

As we sing our songs, there are other voices singing too. This chorus produces the rich, textured vocals that change the world. When we are all on the same page, focused on the cause of Christ, true community is created. The passion that exists when we experience lives changed by the power of God knits us together as one. The community that exists isn't a fabricated, manufactured, plastic reality, but genuine love and grace among each other. This can only happen when we engage in a movement that goes beyond our preferences and personalities.

Air Conditioner

Tonight, Kylie and Adrianna played while Chris and I watched Heroes. As we were getting ready to leave, we found the girls locked in the bathroom. Adrianna was giving Kylie "air conditioner" (that's 3 year old for "hair conditioner"). So, Kylie's getting a little rinse before she goes to bed.

It's great having friends that are understanding, and smile just as much as I do when the girls make a little mischief.

True Community

One of the more interesting discussions at Origins this year was on the nature of community (here defined as relationships in the church). Erwin said, "True community isn't about perfect relationships, it's about learning forgiveness and compassion." When he said it, Erika and I looked at each other instantly.

A lot of times we expect the church to be 100% unified in everything, and any disagreements are seen as unhealthy. However, I think that when you get a group of people with different backgrounds, values, desires, personalities, etc., you have the potential for conflict. What sets us apart in this world is our ability to overcome these fears and frustrations with compassion, forgiveness, and understanding.

I'm going to disappoint people. I will let them down, hurt them, not live up to the expectations they have or to the calling of God. It's inevitable. But I'm thankful I'm part of a community of people that are willing to look beyond my gaps.

Recovering

I didn't think I was very tired after getting being gone all week, but today I've been dragging. I plan on posting some thoughts from the conference starting tomorrow, with my thoughts about how they shape the context we are in. There's a couple of directions I'm feeling pulled, so it will be interesting to see how writing can help crystallize some of these.

I had a great time, but it's good to be back!

Glocalization Thoughts

I'll be posting more about Origins and what I've come away with, but now I'm just thinking out loud about a potential opportunity. One of the speakers talked about glocalization, how he's transformed his church to invest in the human story not only in their local communities, but in communities around the world, communities closed to the Christian faith. He encouraged churches to begin thinking big about how they can connect with cities, countries, even regions of this world and bring them hope through serving them in love.

So, I was thinking, "That's cool, but how can a church plant, less than a year old, with only a dozen or so people actually make something like this happen?" But I began to imagine not just a church adopting a city, but cities adopting cities. Why leave our community out of the blessing of serving those in need?

What if Hutto adopted a city, became a sister city to a village in Africa suffering from poverty and AIDS, or a town in Thailand burdened by human trafficking, or a city in India where the outcasts have no hope to become more than where they are? Is it possible that we could lead our community to look to the other end of the world and become a positive influence? What if our teachers in Hutto catalyzed a movement of education in the remote parts of the world where children have no hope? Or the moms in Hutto traveled to Africa to build orphanages for children who lost their parents to AIDS?

I think it could potentially impact our community. I'm not sure if this is something we should do (or even capable of doing), but I would be interested in pursuing it to see if others in our community would like to change the world.

Celebrity Sighting!

Erika and I rode an elevator with Kim Coles today. She played "Dr. Mary" in Frasier for a couple of episodes. She was very polite, but I didn't go crazy, just said hello. Erika didn't know who she was, so I had to tell her once we exited. She asked why I didn't tell her, but I thought it would be weird to lean over to her and say, "Hey, that's Kim Coles" only to have her say, "WHO?"

Met Erwin McManus

I don't have a lot of time to write, but I did get to meet Erwin and have him sign my book, Soul Cravings. There's a lot more to tell, including some interesting developments that I will hopefully be blogging about a lot more. But for now, the conference is great. By the way, I'll be updating what all of the values statements mean. I just thought the visual expressions were creative and wanted to share them.

Fire

Fire. Relevance to the culture is not optional

Television Evangelist

Mosaic has all different types of musicians. This is one of their rappers, performing the song "Television Evangelist."

Earth

Earth. Creativity is the natural result of spirituality.

Wind

Wind. Mission is why the church exists.