Why I feel like a Zombie

Thanks to great technology (the video baby monitor), we can see what our kids are doing instead of sleeping. Which means that we aren't sleeping either cause we're too busy watching..and laughing. Mercy! But we're happy our daugjther loves to sing and loves to sing to God (Blessed Be Your Name and How Great is our God our two of her regulars)...Just hoping she sings herself to sleep. This girl could pass up every afternoon nap to sing and play in her crib. Pray for my kids to sleep well..and while you're at it, pray their parents sleep well, too!

(If you can't see the video on Facebook, click here).

The Unlikely Disciple

Just finished this book. I couldn't put it down and stayed up until 2am. I am going to pay for this in just four hours when my girls get up, but it was worth it.

A true story of a 19 year old guy who immersed himself within the Christian (college) culture in order to gain a first hand, honest experience of life inside the Christian Evangelical world as one who personally was not a Christian"insider" himself.

Genius.

I laughed out loud reading this 19 year old's witty account of experiencing insider church language ("Praise the Lord," Purity rings, Every Man's Battle), corporate church worship hand waving, and "Cold Turkey Evangelism" on Daytona Beach during Spring Break. I thoroughly enjoyed this story because it took me on a journey (where I could look at myself from the outside), once causing me to spit out my lunch laughing at his experience with the strange ways of Christians and Christian culture. And other times I rolled my eyes frustrated by our (the Church's) hypocrisies, lack of grace, and other un-christ-like ways like homophobia, racism, and self-righteous attitudes.

It's a good sign when a book challenges me to think, wrestle, laugh, cry, disagree, and motivates me to love others with God's compassion. That's the essence of a good story.

Read this book and consider how your life might be perceived by those on the outside of Christian culture. Ultimately, I see it as a possible tool of reconciliation with Christians and culture and a great piece for discussion with your believing friends and non-believing friends alike.
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Listen to an interview with the author, if you can get past the somewhat "amateur" interviewer here.

images of community and prayer from the past 3 days

This past Sunday, 7/19, our church (God's people on a mission) gathered around this great couple, George and Lydia Cover, on their way for a year in Beirut to live and serve. We prayed and sang over them. Beautiful.

Then on Monday, my friend and former Seminary professor, Dr. David Eckman, graciously came to our community (which he does about annually) to teach and share his experience, wisdom, and research. I love his teaching on our identity and how God shapes us and redeems our family of origin (no matter how great or how difficult) so that we see him as our true and intended Father, and the church as our new family. His teaching and books are in the the top ten most influential books in my life. We sat and discussed theology for about 3 hours.

Then, Tuesday during our normal young adult small group time at Red Morton park we had guest speaker. My friend (who pastors in Berkeley), David Nyquist joined our young adults to teach about God's power and authority in US to expand and bring his Kingdom to Redwood City. He shared his experience with "Treasure Hunting." Prayer walking with intentional purpose to hear from God and pray for people specifically. See here for more info.

During our sharing times, one of our own Loved Ones, Bristol, shared her story of stepping out in faith and trusting God to provide for her and her son, (my God-son) Cameron. (He's really our whole community's "God-son." Everyone loves them both so much and embraces them as family)! We all are family! I love it.
Two other LOVED ONES of ours, David and Ben, leaving for mission next week are prayed over as Ben goes to London and David to Africa.

After the prayer walk ("Treasure Hunt) we came back to share stories. A--MAZE--ING. Seriously I was on my knees enjoying the stories, laughing, praising God..filled with energy and excitement. Wow!
Living and Serving Community.

(and that's only Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday).

Vlog 12 July 2009 TRT 4:13

See this month's VLOG here.

I HEART Redwood City

If you are local, don't miss what the city offers. Click here. Meet people, mingle, be a light.

Especially make it to PCC's sponsored, family friendly event on Thursday night July 23rd.



Skate Demos by Skate Church

Music by the Corner Laughers, "Kung Fu Fighting"

Live Kung Fu Demos by California Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

Other fun Kids' stuff.

Summer iMix

How about some music to spice up your summer?

Loving the Poor

Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
This Sunday PCC will talk about what God's word says about the poor. Our Street Church celebrates 8 years of ministry this year. Here's some words from a family who cook meals for our Street Church gatherings:

We wanted to share briefly with you how serving in this ministry has been such a blessing for our whole family. We have watched God open our children's eyes and soften their hearts toward people, especially those in need. They love to help cook when we have the opportunity. It becomes a family effort. We pray over the food as we prepare it. We talk about Jesus' compassion - how He sees through the sickness, the dirt, the anger and despair - how He sees the heart, how He loves. We talk about the dirt in our own lives, our brokenness, our need for grace and compassion from a God who adores us - all of us. It's so much more than cooking to meet a need for that week. So much more than a check box on a list of serving to-do's. We're watching God mold our kids (right along with us), break their hearts for people many would rather forget about, grow compassion in them, help them to see
beyond themselves, and realize the joy of serving. Thank you for this ministry, Tony. Thank you for your vision, your heart, your dedication in leading Street Church for so many years. Thank you for letting us participate in this way. Many times we've prayed that God would help our tiny 1920's Wedgewood oven make it through another dinner (ha!) and just like the loaves and fishes, He provides!



What a testimony to how God can use us. Every Christ follower is called to love the poor. How are you serving?

The week Pop Culture mourned

A friend turned me on to a church that meets in Los Angeles, they call themselves Expression 58. They are very focused on loving and serving God through creativity, art, film, and music so that they might transform culture, specifically Hollywood Culture. (They also live by Isaiah 58, powerful truth for Jesus followers). I instantly admired their vision. Since funerals are being planned and Hollywood, the world, is talking about the deaths of Pop Culture Icons Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, I think Shawn Bolz's (Expression 58's lead pastor) words are completely timely. May the church hear the call to prayer and compassionate action.

Take the time to read his blog here.