Our young adult small groups kicked off last night at Red Morton Park. The weather was perfect for people to mingle around, mangia (eat), and throw the football around. The plan was to gather everyone together and cast a vision for why are small groups are meeting at a park in the community. We have hopes of meeting new people playing soccer, relaxing on blankets, or cheering a softball game and inviting them to join us for dinner and have conversations that show we care about RWC!
We had a great turn out, but I had to leave early!
I got a call that Isella had a 104.3 Temp. ER here we come. One hospital wristlet--that she didn't quite understand. and two hours of waiting for a simple dose of motrin.
No ear infections, everything looks fine. Could just be a virus they say. Thankfully her temp went down to 101 while we were in the ER and we are now home. She was so sleepy.
We go back to check up tomorrow.
Interesting note: It was the same doctor who sent Wendy home from the ER when her appendix burst just later that night. HMMMM.....We pray.
I usually am not one to "slam the man," but dang. $75 for a fill up? Isn't that crazy? Seeing this number on the gas pump really made it real that we are in an economic crisis. Bums me out how many road trips won't happen because of gas prices.
But if we look on the bright side, it could encourage us to be more intentional to pass on gas through more carpooling, walking, and biking and GAS GIFT CARDS become more of a hot commodity around gift-giving times!
What started out a dream years ago has now been going strong three years. Mercy Cafe is a summer long, party --every Sunday afternoon and night. I love it. It's chocked full of music, food, chill time, new people, and activities from frisbee and bocce ball to volley ball. We have Market Fresh Comedy Team returning to do their improv again (7/27) as well as an end of summer dance party planned (what's the end of summer with out a dance party!). The team of people who are bringing to us are a dedicated bunch of young adults led by Jeff and Aftan. There are still numerous ways to get involved and help (email jeffandaftan@gmail.com). Every Sunday enjoy life music and burgers, which are always supplied, and mingle with people from all over Redwood City and all different ages. It's a family style potluck buffet type deal where you bring some food to share or throw some greenbacks in the donation tub! This is a real piece of community and BEING the church. Invite anyone and everyone you know. June 8-August 10th. This is what the writers of Hebrews was taking about when he/she said don't give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. But meet together and encourage each other (Hebrews 10). We can't do this if we don't get out and get involved. I hope PCC and all of RWC will! Check out the link (and pass it on) for upcoming scheduled artists at www.peninsulacovenant.com/mercycafe. Isn't the logo cool? I've heard T-shirts are on the way. I'd wear one
PS. Our interns arrive this weekend, too. 12 of them.
I've been on a little vacation this Memorial Day weekend. Its really been good. Wendy was in a wedding, we hung out with some family and had time to relax. San Diego is really nice!I'd rate it my 2nd favorite U.S. place to vacation under Hawaii. Besides Redwood City this would also be a great place to live. The weather is always amazing,surfing, fun hang outs, good eats, and I've heard about great communities of God that are here.... but there is a "I'm too sexy" vibe in SD thats a little overwhelming.. Lots of skin showing if you know what mean. I guess it's to be expected in a beach town but I don't think I'd like that always in my vision or want to raise a daughter in it. We've got that enough everywhere else and its hard enough without a beach nearby. I wonder if people in Alaska have this issue? I know that we all have an out with any temptation, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13, so for some, maybe that out is not going to the same place (or living there) where a particular temptation exists. Food for thought.
Speaking of food.
San Diego even has a little Italy! Another reason to like it. I'm waiting for a pizza right now as I blog with my phone. I'm looking over all the people and praying for them to know how much God loves them!
Loved learning today from Dan Kimball. That guy speaks my language. He talked about our "church speak." We can't GO TO CHURCH. We ARE THE CHURCH. The church is NOT A PLACE. If we are not specific about this we are inadvertently teaching a wrong theology. Too many people think Church is just on Sunday--because too many Christians act like it is. We must be the church always--God's people called out to live His mission!
He (Kimball) laughed about teaching his kids to say, "On Sunday we go to the Church's building." That's what I want to do. I don't want to argue over semantics, but I think it is really important to take the extra 7 seconds and clarify what we mean, not just for ourselves, but for any one listening to us.
The kids nursery rhyme needs to be changed:
This is a building and this is a steeple, bust open the doors cause the CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE!
I'm convinced more and more that we need music to be a regular part of our life. God uses it for so much--to teach us, bring us peace, and help us communicate our need for him. And often God uses it in my life to communicate his love and plan for me. With a dance beat. hip hop, or acoustic guitar these songs have moved me. Take some time to listen to each song--as they were picked specifically and arranged in the order to tell a story. My soul has been touched and set free through May's mix which includes songs of some of the summer artists who will be leading at PCC on Sunday Night or at Mercy Cafe-including After the Chase, Travis Avila, Jerome Madigan, and Kokua.
I'm kinda procrastinating blogging about deeper things right now--I've been wanting to re-cap about truth and evangelism stuff (listen to messages here) and we just had a great night at the DEEP last night. So much on my mind, so much experiencing God and seeing him at work in people's lives that I want to process but I don't have the time that I want to dedicate to a meaty post quite yet--but I will get to it, plus I've been kinda sick for a bit here and there. I thought it was food poisoning, but maybe it is the flu! My stomach is what Wendy and I call, "Churny!"
So meanwhile, here's a fun pic from our movie theater down town.
On a date with my wife, we played in the lobby with the fun movie promos. How fun is this Hulk statue? I am a HUGE super hero fan and this summer has lots to satisfy my super power hunger! Iron Man, Hulk, and Batman--what in the world? It makes me want to run out and get underoos! This summer has a lot to offer for movies! And Narnia next week should be good, too.
She held up her shiny diamond over the counter with a big smile. “We’re engaged,” I shouted, “That’s awesome,” and turned around to everyone in the café yelling, “Hey everyone, Andrew and Monique got engaged!” Everyone burst out clapping and shouting. I knew they had just got back from France so I asked, “Did you do it at the top of the Eiffel Tower?” They both nodded, smiled and explained the details. I was so excited for them. Andrew then looked at me as asked, “Do you wanna be our pastor?” “Of course I would!” (I’ve never been asked to be someone’s pastor. Beside I already consider myself their pastor “unofficially!”). Anyways, what Andrew actually was asking was if I would officiate their wedding-lead the ceremony/vows, etc. What an honor and a privilege. It really is one of my favorite things to do. I love doing weddings because of the sanctity and specialness of that day in the life of a couple. And to think I just met Monique and Andrew last July. I just love our Redwood City community. Andrew and Monique are the owners of La Tartinecafé in down town Redwood City. The PCC Young Adults (and some high school students) hang out there every Sunday after SUNDAY NIGHT the 5:30pm PCC gathering. (Not to mention Wendy and I on dates nights and other coffee craving adventures. I have a new fave: White Mocha Freeze). Inevitably conversations and relationships with those from PCC are fostered there but also with others who work there or who happen to wander in and I’m seeing some cool natural and intentional friendships and conversations there. Join us there for the next 5 weeks (until Summer Mercy Cafe starts at PCC) and learn love to our community, too!
I'm stoked to see something like this in theatres. Not to be combative, but to dialog.
I had no idea Ben Stein, this actor guy from Ferris Bueller's day off, was a spokesperson for Intelligent Design. I've heard radio broadcasts where scientists, teachers, and other professionals who have experienced negative reactions when bringing up creation. This is just crazy-thinking for me. If we live in such a tolerant society why is there so much intolerance for this conversation. I wonder what the response will be. I've already heard it being called "creation propaganda."
So I've been away this week and it's been a good getaway. I realized I was really busy and needed a serious disconnection from work, facebook, email--and even blogging!
Funny thing is I was in Sin City of all places..That's right.. Las Vegas, Baby!. Now, I wouldn't normally choose Vegas to take my family for a vacation..it's not the 1st location destination on my top ten places to visit. And before I had visited Vegas I probably would have rated it somewhere at the bottom of my top 500. Not just because of the gambling, or cause it's not all that child friendly, but because of the strip and how it can be shady in some places. But, I have to tell you, I liked Vegas (despite the scantly clad women --and men--all over billboards). But really there are some amazingly beautiful hotels and things to see in Sin City In fact, some of the architecture is a complete copy of Italian hot spots and I loved it! And when all was said and done I found myself praying a lot while in Vegas. I couldn't help but feel sad for the men and women (mostly Hispanic) working the streets with "call girl" fliers trying to make a living. My heart broke a lot in Vegas with all the sin and confusion I saw. I was reminded of a Tony Campolo story where he invited prostitutes up to his hotel room to eat dinner and pray or something like that. Wendy and I talked about that how cool that would be (for a minute) but didn't have the $200 to part with. We would just pray out loud as we walked the strip or drove in our car. That was cool.
But the reason we went to Las Vegas was because of Microsoft!
I was actually hired to be a presenter for Microsoft at a huge convention. (Companies often hire actors to be their demo/face people). (Microsoft's trade show was held at a convention called NAB (NATIONAL ASSOC OF BROADCASTERS) for Media & Entertainment companies.
It's huge and a lot of pressure with big wigs walking around. With guest speakers like Tim Robbins (listen to a portion of his speech here)
and the Lost (TV show) producers. I also feel slightly like Benedict Arnold working for Microsoft of all companies-being that I'm typing on a Macbook Pro while I hear my iPod playing in the background, and uh, I make my phone calls on a an iphone, too! But hey, I work on a PC at in my office and also have another PC at home so I can work the computer technology!
I would walk into this huge center much like Moscone where all the new media and technology is being introduced for the next year's TV and Filmmakers! And every fifteen minutes I would give a 15 minute presentation with lights and video blaring behind me. Here's me "acting" like I know what I'm talking about. (I have no idea about "rich media assets" but they're paying to act like I do!) This made me think a lot about how we can just "act" like a Christian. If you know all the right things to stay, sing all the songs, even "do" all the right things to look the part and to fool a lot of people, but you really don't internalize the truth or become changed by it.
That's what I thought about a lot as I did my presentation. No one knew that I wasn't a real Microsoft employee. If I stayed on script while on stage I was fine. I even felt pretty cool at time being associated with the likes of Bill Gates! :) (If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Bill was there, I'd be a millionaire. )But when someone asked me off stage about some website development software I couldn't tell them anything that could help them. There were so many parallels for the Christian life that I realized!
Ummm..Why is the guy in the pink shirt video taping? I hope this doesn't end up on Youtube. Funny enough if you search for NAB show on Youtube you'll find lots of stuff, even a tour of our booth..minus me!
Seriously I have no idea how God opens these types of opportunities for me, but he does. And I realize I don't just do these things to work/make money--and in this case not just to promote Microsoft.
But...God puts us in these places and sends us out to be used by him as a missionary! In my case I was a missionary disguised as an actor--playing a Microsoft presenter! So it was so cool that during the week I had numerous conversations about my real passion. It was so cool to connect with one of these techies and talk about God and actually pull out my Bible from my bag and read together. God is cool like that! While riding the monorail from the hotel (10 minutes) I would usually listen to my iphone/ipod and read the word. One morning a man leaned over to me and said, "Great book you're reading." So of course we got to talk. This broadcaster in New Zealand told me about his walk with God, his church back home, and his challenges in having God-honoring business ethics. So as we walked into the Convention Center we prayed together. It was so awesome. I love opportunities like that! It made me so excited for people working in the marketplace and how HUGE the mission field is to share our faith, care for people and wait for opportunities to pray and encourage people toward Jesus.
It was cool to talk with the people working in the Microsoft booth, too, in the limited time I had between each 15 minute presentation. (Every half hour from 9:30-5:30). Some were from Washington, some from the Bay Area, Canada, Italy, and other places in Europe! BTW I even saw fomer PCC'er Debby Sawczuk who was working with a So-Cal company! Crazy! (She took the pics of me on the stage).
And during the downtime we spent time as a family. Every night eating out, seeing the site, swimming, soaking in the hot tub and enjoying a very nice hotel!
It was great because it's all expenses paid by Microsoft! We couldn't afford to stay in this hotel on our own so we are so thankful to God for opening this opportunity! So while I did my tradeshow, Wendy was hanging at the hotel with trips planned to outlets, children's museums, and libraries.
When I would get off early we had the afternoon to nap and hang out! It was so great! Since we don't crack the slots we would just sit pool side and enjoy! 80-90 degrees all week!
Isella loved splashing up the pool! She's also been very cuddly lately!
I love being a dad!
We are imagining this summer with her at the PCC pool. She's already looking like such a little girl eating and drinking on her own and sitting in big chairs...wow...
One night for dinner we went to the very child friendly Rainforest Cafe--even though we have one in SF, it was fun to do!. Isella was pointing at everything. Good food and fun.
I love my wife and daughter!
And of course if you aren't addicted to gambling, they've got STARBUCKS in Vegas, too. There was two in our hotel, and one was open 24 hours.
Hey all. How cool is this? It's better than a mixed tape--except it costs you money. I just found this cool trick on itunes.
I made an iMix called "Tony's Move Me Mix April 2008" and it has been published in the iTunes Music store. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=277640720
Basically I just "published" some songs that I had in an itunes playlist I had. Now you can go in and see and buy the songs yourself (and we can enjoy the same music and talk about how it relates to our life and is helping us to experience God)!
Seriously, if you are in the need of some new music or want to find some of the new tunes to sing in worship with...click above!
Matt's still alive, but I am paying him tribute. Not since college have I had to say goodbye to a good friend. Ten years ago I was having those deep conversations with my small group pals, roommates, and close college friends wanting those days to last forever. So here I am in a similar place. My good friend (in life and in ministry), Matt Nightingale, has been called away from PCC and Redwood City. (To read his words of God's calling click HERE). I wasn't surprised by this as I was able to walk through the journey/ search for God's will with him over the past year-- that ended with his realization that his time at PCC was complete. It's so cool for him, and for us all at PCC to see him walk out in faith and to challenge us now to seek God's will for our lives and church family. That doesn't mean I am not sad, though. Definitely grieving a little--ya know----1st--Denial, then anger, numb, now sad. He sang and led us in his last worship gathering at PCC Sunday. It's surreal. He's always just been "my friend" who happens to be a really amazing singer--both he and his wife Luanne, are seriously better than American Idol. And now that they are leaving, it's hitting how amazing these voices--and people really are. But they are also just ordinary, (in the good way), and Christ-like, suffering through the joys and pains of their own journey of becoming who God created them to be. I love that.
I verbalized this Sunday night at their (one of many) going away party-but you look at this couple and their four kids and think they are this perfect little, Beautiful, Christian Partridge Family. And when you get to know then you find out they are great works in progress just like the rest of us. I loved that about them. Before I was married, I spent so much time over at their house that they gave me a key. It was awesome. I could drop by anytime to grab a snack or say hi. I mooched many dinners off of them. It was there where I found much healing in my own journey. I realized I had fears that I would be incapable of having a good marriage or being a good husband and father. But by their example I say how truly all of us need to rely on God and live in his grace to make it one day at a time. Spending time at their dining room table prepared me for how crazy and fun marriage and parenting could be. I also gained in Matt a great friend. One who I loved hanging out with and sharing common interests. I joked that when Matt came to PCC in my 2nd year there I finally had someone who was like me in the art/creativity thing. Our staff is dominated by lots of sports fans (Football/basketball) which I am not--so we became close! So here I am reflecting in this blog!
On Sunday, we as a church said goodbye to them.
They received a well deserved standing ovation during our Sunday Night worship gathering. Such a cool experience. Just like someday when we receive our rewards in Heaven and all the saints (the great cloud of witnesses) and angels cheer us on.
We as the church prayed over them and their four kids, and after had a time to thank them verbally and present them with some gifts. The best one?--Matt got an iPhone! Something about PCC and Apple products! I love it.
(They were serenaded with Amazing Grace banjo style).
The parties actually continue. We had a staff going away lunch this week, and then a musical open night party at the Little Fox on Thursday April 10th, 7pm (21 and over) that all are invited to come.
The great thing is that Matt and I will get some one and one time before they move away at the end of the month. Pray for them. The crazy, Spirit-led part of the story is they don't have a place to go, yet. They are stepping out in faith just trusting that God will provide.
Here is his amazing hit, God of all Light (can be found on itunes, too).
The great thing is that just like college, I still have great friendships with some of my pals from ten years ago. I trust that Matt and I will continue on.
Not only can he belt out any tune from Broadway to Chris Tomlin, he dominated on the National Anthem for the 49ers. . This video is worth it just for the commentary of the filmers.
I was so proud of our crew that served tonight. Thankfully we had a large team as we were the only ones (besides two high school students) who showed up to serve. For the past four years usually there are two or three teams of wait staff, this year only us. But 14 people rose to the task. It was fun, good food, and exciting to pray throughout and seek opportunities to love on people! It's cool because the Menlo Kiwanis Club has invited us back every year--this is our 5th--and we see some of the same people working and eating. Some of very own PCC family were there, too! I thank God for providing us this opportunity to raise money.
The words from the book of John about Easter in Chapter 20
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus."Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!"
And she told them that he had said these things to her.On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.
The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Right now I am writing from a hotel in Chicago. I got to see some family and also visited my Alma Mater NPU to promote PCC's Summer Internship. But the main reason we (me and my family) are in Chicago-land culminated this weekend with the wedding of a good friend of ours Aimee, now Mrs. Melgar. It was a beautiful ceremony of worshiping God. I love officiating weddings (a lot more than I like going to them, sometimes).
There is something amazing about facilitating this momentous event the lives of people. I don't just want to sit and "watch" but I want to participate! Especially when I get to celebrate with two people who have patiently and purely waited for God's best for their lives it is powerful! Getting to pray with people, speak from God's word about God's plan for love and relationships--I just love it. Last night was no exception. What an honor! And I always get to have great conversations after, too. Mostly because people have stereotypical expectations about pastors. Why is it so weird that I was dancing the Macarena and doing the Robot on the dance floor? Don't all pastors do that? (Seriously, last night I got to pray with a couple whose grandson Dylan was in some critical care at three months of age. Please pray for him to heal!)
I have loved having my family attached at my side, too. After the ceremony I just had to run to Wendy and tell her how much I love her and that I will forever keep my vows to her! Another nuance in the wedding officiating for me is what God is teaching me and doing in me now that I am a father. Below is a letter I will print out and put in Isella's journal that I am keeping for her!
Dear Isella, You had your first wedding experience. I was officiating the ceremony for two great Christians who God brought together. I got to see two people vow to commit to love each other and rely on God's power to have a marriage that thrives and lasts. I usually get a little choked up when I am doing a ceremony because preparing always reminds me how much I love your mom and how I would do it all over again with her. But now that we have you I have more reasons to get emotional. As I watched the bride's father "give her away" tonight I couldn't help but think some day I will do that for you. Just thinking about it causes me to well up. Not so much that some day I will "lose you" to your future husband (although I do get a little sad thinking about that and that I loved you first song hits me right in the gut), but because of this amazing privilege God has given me to raise you up to be a godly woman--just like your mom--and prepare you for two things--1-to raise you to love God and be a blessing to the world and if God wills a total gift to your future husband and 2-first and foremost (if God wills) to wait and find a worthy man who loves God with his whole heart and will love and honor you! After the ceremony I was holding you and walking through out the wedding hall talking to you about how much I love you and how I vow to give you my best so that you can be who God created you to be. I desperately pray and hope that you see God's good plan for your life and that you make great choices that honor him. Every day I will pray for you and remind you of this so that when that one day comes and I give you away and you are now longer under my care, I can faithfully say to you that I have loved raising you and preparing you for the life God has for you! Dio Ti Benedica figlia mia! Ti amo con tutto corozone mio!
Saturday night Wendy and I had a date night and spent it with a hundred other people. PCC's Plus Ministry hosted a huge Chinese food potluck and a little known dice game now becoming famous called BUNCO. It was a cool intergenerational event. Seriously, four people came up to me saying how nice it was to see "young people" attending the event. They didn't just mean me and Wendy but a group of PCC young adults joined the fun, too. I love that. We might not like the same music, wear the same clothes, or be dealing with similar life issues but we can eat the same food, play the same games and share the same God! Andrew, one of our young adults, said he made ten new connections with people he never would have known by just coming to a worship gathering on Sunday. That's so worth it! And people invited their friends. One favorite moment was seeing this big muscular guy with tattoos on his arms and great facial art (goatee and beard) towering over three little gray haired ladies as he rolled the dice! A man after my own heart! I pray he sensed God's love and acceptance in this simple way. I love our church and the effort to be connected and intergenerational. I hear more and more how important this is from the men and women in their twenties. So thanks to Plus Ministry! Another one of my favorite moments of the night was partnering with Henrie(tta)--I was her partner once and we won, and then she rolled against me and beat me silly. She's good. She had a way of rolling winning combinations multiple times in a row and doing it humbly. While if I would have rolled the same combos I would have been it rubbing in my opponents' faces HMMMM....
CONFESSION: It's funny that I wouldn't call myself "competitive" but I gotta admit I got little edgy and impatient rolling those dice with no success! You know you have issues when you are praying for the dice to roll in your favor. I had to laugh. I'm praying to win the game when I could have been praying for people to have fun, be blessed...or you know, come to Christ. Thank God for his grace and sense of humor.
This past weekend I was at a training for a new physical fitness program that is coming to PCCC! That's a P and 3 C's --Peninsula Covenant Community Center!
BODY TRAINING SYSTEMS Check out the link and watch the video at the bottom right hand corner.
With that--I came away this weekend pumped (and sore) about this new group fitness program coming to PCCC! The trainer leading the weekend was so into BTS that she motivated all of us through her excitement about how BTS can change people's health and change their life---and seriously I came away pumped about real life change not only through group fitness but through God's love! Our trainer at one point said that this group fitness program is so awesome, people are going to be talking about it. She believed in this "product" so much as a way of life that she believed there would be a buzz around Redwood City about people's experience with Body Training Systems. It really convicted me. I thought, how often is the "buzz" about stuff that isn't really satisfying or eternal? The buzz usually is about movies, sports, fashion, money, news, etc....but when we are living in God's kingdom--we have so much to "buzz" about. It really made me think! I hope I buzz. I hope WE buzz.
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8
This Friday night is YOUNG ADULTS' DISCIPLESHIP NIGHT.
Discussion, prayer, Q&A, scripture, and practical application to your life as a Jesus Follower around the issue of WAITING.
MEETING room is in the community center LOUNGE not the lobby, but the lounge located between the Bayview room and Room 301 right next to gym. It was formally used as the summer intern lounge.
Park on the church building side, walk across the brown bridge, go up the stairs toward the gym, take a left down the hall, pass room 301 and enter in the last door on the left.
Una mas Burritos and drinks provided.
LED BY WALT GERBER former lead pastor from Menlo Park. Pres. 6:30 pm start.
When I hear people talk about how fathers should get up at the crack of dawn, before the whole family is awake, to read and pray...I'm tempted to feel guilty. Because I'm not a morning person and never have been. The thought of getting up even one minute before Isella does (usually 6-6:30am) is not very appealing! I never hear people talking about how holy it is to stay up late at night and pray-only that getting up early is what really spiritual people do. (I think I'm going to have to change that paradigm). With that said, when I do get up on the early shift (which believe me seems like never compared to how many times my wife does) of course I am talking with God, reciting scripture over Isella, singing, and trying to bring to find ways to praise God and through the day. Even with out getting up early to study, there are still many ways to pray, be devotional, and align your day with God. It's not always easy to read on the early shift, because Isella happens to really like books---and always want to get her hands, or mouth, on them. She is pulling herself up now which means she's falling backwards a lot, too which means hitting her head or other parts of her body on whatever furniture is behind her. So it's hard to keep your eyes on a book when you fear for your child's life every few minutes. Despite that, I managed to read a few pages from the GREEN BOOK today (with Isella close by continually grabbing for the book. I even read the verses out loud and prayed Philippians 1:9-11 over her. I couldn't resist shooting some pics of her eating the book). I loved this reflection below (in light of my last post from Thursday). If you are following along in the green book we are in the third Sunday of Lent found on page 140.
Probably our journey of forgiveness will be impossible unless we realize we can't do it alone. We are not the source of our healing. Truly the kingdom of God is within us as Jesus told us. But that Kingdom is God's presence, and we need God's help to experience that inner glory. As with any deep healing and release, the empowered mercy of God within and around us is ours to claim. We must face the facts: we are vulnerable (woundable); we have been hurt; we need to name our hurt and our deep needs as clearly and fully as we can. Little can change until we have faced where we actually are. -From Forgiveness; THE PASSIONATE JOURNEY by Flora Slosson Wuellner
May we name our hurts and needs and experience God's love, mercy, and power (wherever it is in a movie theater or a bathroom)! May we experience God's kingdom. May we be a people who eat God's word and live it out! May we be transformed!
Since being married I've seen more chick flicks than I ever thought I would see. And hey--some of them I am actually liking...27 Dresses-Check, Juno-Check, Enchanted-check.
Last night we went out to see another chick flick and in the downtown RWC CENTURY 20 theater lobby they had this cardboard cut out for pictures. With iphone in hand we got a shot. I fell to my knees laughing so hard it was worth the scary results. It was a great release to what happen minutes before....
In all seriousness-- we had just come out of the show from seeing Definitely Maybe (Ryan Reynolds/Abigail Breslin).
I thought I would love it because of the father daughter thing, which I did. Cute.
Acting was really good and believable. But what really got me was the issue of divorce. Although the movie doesn't delve into the pain all that much. It was a typical, Hollywood glamorization that just barely touched the pain and consequences of divorce But that didn't stop God's Spirit from moving in me. (Can God use a movie that doesn't necessary promote him or his values for family/sex in any way?--Well, God did use it) After the flick I went into the the bathroom and just cried. I just sat on a toilet--looking at the ground to see if there were any other feet hanging out beside me--crumbled up toilet paper and just bawled for a good two minutes. It came out of no where, so it seemed, but God was there with me in that moment. I really needed to do it. It was another part of God removing some of Satan's fiery arrows from me. And honestly I wanted to avoid it and cover up my face--even from Wendy. When I came out Wendy looked at me, wondering what took me so long and said, "Uh, are you OK? Did dinner not agree with you?" And I said, "Well, I'm not OK, and it wasn't about dinner." We talked in the car on the way home and I realized there are many layers to this experience (being a child of divorce) for me, and it's good for me to recognize my on-going process of healing and maturing--(and blogging about them is such a good way for me to process and ask for prayer). The movie showed a little bit of the pain a child goes through when parents divorce and last night I was reminded of that pain, and some of the reality that the pain never fully goes away even through adulthood. Although I was only five when divorce first struck my life, I still feel the effects as a 32 year old adult. I love my parents and give them such grace (and all others in my family who have endured divorces, too) for the past. No family is perfect and we all have our dysfunctions to work through and heal. And as I look forward I pray God continues to remind me of his love for me and his power to redeem the past and make right the future! For his glory in my life and now in my marriage and family. God is good and he redeems. Joel 2:25 IT REMINDS me of this song that God inspired in me about 4 years ago!
Since the very beginning, you had a beautiful plan, we have a way of forgetting, forever your purpose will stand
even when we had wandered, you led us back to your ways, you are renewing our spirits, you are redeeming our days LET IT BE FOR YOUR GLORY, LET IT BE FOR YOUR FAME, LET IT BE FOR YOUR KINGDOM AND LET IT BE TODAY
you are close to the broken, you rescue those in need oh Father will you forgive us, we want your Spirit to lead
you revealed yourself, you've shown the way so now we pray in Jesus' name
LET IT BE FOR YOUR GLORY, LET IT BE FOR YOUR FAME, LET IT BE FOR YOUR KINGDOM AND LET IT BE TODAY
I pray our community comes full circle in finding true redemption in all our pain.
Tonight was cool. Once a month (or so) we have what is called a DISCIPLESHIP night: A gathering to discuss relevant issues for the Christ-following young adult. With some good pizza and Starbucks' Frapps on hand we went after tonight's Topic:
DATING/LOVE/MARRIAGE/SEX
It was so cool to partner in ministry with my wife Wendy and share (in our crammed living room) with a bunch of our young adults, all who are trying to figure out God's design and authentically live for him in our community. I love it and I was so proud to see these men and women taking their relationships and purity seriously.
I could have gone all night talking about these issues--and teaching from my own baggage, but we have Isella's internal clock to deal with early in the morning so we obviously had to end.
Here's some of our notes from the night
Overarching concept: God has called us to a life that honors him. If we know God’s love, our actions will reflect who he is in all of life and all of our relationships. God’s design from the beginning has been one man and one woman in an emotionally, sexually, and spiritually intimate relationship (one flesh) called marriage. We as God’s followers must seek to understand God’s design and live it out faithfully as a means of loving him and loving others (Great Commandment) in healthy community. This is known as a standard (Bull’s eye) that we seek after not because we have to, but because we want to, knowing that it honors God but also has benefits for us and those we are in relationship with. We have an absolute truth from God’s word. Although not every explicit detail has been spelled out for us in scripture we can appropriate God’s truth practically in our life and relationships (and help each other, too)! Remember our life is about experiencing (feeling) and choosing love and this puts us in partnership with God. This puts us accountable to have discussions with our friends and dating partners to prevent from creating bonds (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) that were only meant for marriage---and a good, healthy, God-honoring relationship is worth waiting for!
FLAME-Rob Bell Video recap: Three types of love in the Hebrew: Friendship, Commitment (marriage), and Erotic. We need all three for healthy sexuality! See Video below (10 minutes in length)
Verses we referenced tonight: Genesis 3 Song of Solomon Romans 7 1 Corinthians 6 Galatians 6 Ephesians 4 & 5 1 Thessalonians 4
Resources used in our conversation: (All of them and are available on amazon.com for under $15).
What’s the Difference? Manhood and Womanhood defined according to the Bible By John Piper
Relationships by Drs Les and Leslie Parrot
Boy Meets Girl & I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Boundaries in dating by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Love is a Choice (Letting Go of unhealthy relationships) by Hemfelt, Minirith, Meier
Thrill of the Chaste, Finding fulfillment while keeping your clothes on by Dawn Eden
Should I Get Married? By M. Blaine Smith
Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships by Chip Ingram
Broken Image by Leanne Payne
All of these books have aided in our relationship before marriage and continue to be resources we reference for others and continue to go back to for ourselves in different ways! To those who participated tonight, thank you! Wendy and I loved it and we will continue to pray for you. Don't forget to take another (or deeper) look into the packet with all it's articles and worksheets. There are great pages in there for those needed healing of past sexual sin, those wondering about current compatability, and those considering marriage. These are great conversation starters and reasons to pray together as a community! Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (purity!)!
God is Good! God's design for relationships is Good. God loves relationships! God loves sex (in marriage)!!!
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!"
