When is it ok to unfriend people on myspace and facebook?
I get way too many status updates about people I barely know.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
RIP Joker
Actor Heath Ledger was found dead today, possibly due to a drug overdose. Ledger was slotted to play the Joker in The Dark Knight.
It remains to be seen how this will affect final cuts of TDK. The early trailers hinted towards a mindblowing performance on Ledger's part.
I hope it's a good legacy.
It remains to be seen how this will affect final cuts of TDK. The early trailers hinted towards a mindblowing performance on Ledger's part.
I hope it's a good legacy.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Not a Morning Person?
The cat is out of the bag...........
Journey Fellowship is beginning a new Sunday Night Worship Gathering on February 10. This is a time for people who are skeptical about church to come, have coffee, and join in a conversation about God.
Sleep in...Put your jeans on...come as you are
Journey Fellowship is beginning a new Sunday Night Worship Gathering on February 10. This is a time for people who are skeptical about church to come, have coffee, and join in a conversation about God.
Sleep in...Put your jeans on...come as you are
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Why Batman is Better than Superman
Superman, has always been the flagship superhero for America. The alien baby rescued from Krypton, was raised with small town values and gifted with unimaginable powers. He uses his powers to rescue cats from trees, catch crashing airplanes and stop alien invasions. He is motivated only by a deep conviction that he should do good for his fellow man. He has a deep humility that is always willing to use his abilities for the good of others. And despite his extraterrestrial heritage, Superman seems more human, more American, than we are.
Based on his background alone, one might think that Bruce Wayne would seem to be more of an alien than Clark Kent. He’s a trust fund baby who has never had to work a day in his life. He spends his time running in circles that the average person only encounters glimpses of in the paparazzi magazines at grocery stores. But underneath the thousand dollar suits and million dollar sports cars is a truly human story.
When Bruce was a little boy, his parents took him to see a Zorro movie. As they were leaving, walking down a dark alleyway, a stick-up man lost his cool, and shot Bruce’s mom and dad in front of his eyes. Like so many, Bruce’s story starts in tragedy. But it doesn’t end there. He leverages his wealth to allow him to travel the world training in martial arts. He uses his business connections to create electronic tools that give him the research powers of a one man CSI team and the resources of a top secret military platoon. Motivated by a deeply personal desire to see no one else suffer the way he has, Bruce Wayne transforms himself in to the Batman, the world’s greatest detective, the Dark Knight.
Superman is larger than life. It’s not just his abilities; it’s his completely unmotivated selflessness. What makes Superman wake up in the morning? Why does he even care about humans? And it’s not even a fair fight. Unless you’re in the secret club that knows about the dangers of Kryptonite and lead, you don’t stand a chance.
Batman’s story is a human story, and it’s not just because he was born on planet earth. Like so many of us, Batman’s life has been shaped by tragedy. Like so few of us, Batman has overcome his background. Batman stands among the few and the proud, like the members of A.A. or holocaust survivors. The tragedy in their lives has given them a keen awareness of the pain their world, and a deep desire to make a difference.
Superman is the person we know we can never be, and it’s not just because he can fly. Batman is the kind of person we want to be. We want to overcome, to truly put the past. We all want to look at what has happened to us and say “I am better off because of it.” Superman wins fights because no one can compete with him. Batman wins fights because he has spent his own fortune creating an arsenal, because he tirelessly trains his body, because he can think his way out of any situation.
Based on his background alone, one might think that Bruce Wayne would seem to be more of an alien than Clark Kent. He’s a trust fund baby who has never had to work a day in his life. He spends his time running in circles that the average person only encounters glimpses of in the paparazzi magazines at grocery stores. But underneath the thousand dollar suits and million dollar sports cars is a truly human story.
When Bruce was a little boy, his parents took him to see a Zorro movie. As they were leaving, walking down a dark alleyway, a stick-up man lost his cool, and shot Bruce’s mom and dad in front of his eyes. Like so many, Bruce’s story starts in tragedy. But it doesn’t end there. He leverages his wealth to allow him to travel the world training in martial arts. He uses his business connections to create electronic tools that give him the research powers of a one man CSI team and the resources of a top secret military platoon. Motivated by a deeply personal desire to see no one else suffer the way he has, Bruce Wayne transforms himself in to the Batman, the world’s greatest detective, the Dark Knight.
Superman is larger than life. It’s not just his abilities; it’s his completely unmotivated selflessness. What makes Superman wake up in the morning? Why does he even care about humans? And it’s not even a fair fight. Unless you’re in the secret club that knows about the dangers of Kryptonite and lead, you don’t stand a chance.
Batman’s story is a human story, and it’s not just because he was born on planet earth. Like so many of us, Batman’s life has been shaped by tragedy. Like so few of us, Batman has overcome his background. Batman stands among the few and the proud, like the members of A.A. or holocaust survivors. The tragedy in their lives has given them a keen awareness of the pain their world, and a deep desire to make a difference.
Superman is the person we know we can never be, and it’s not just because he can fly. Batman is the kind of person we want to be. We want to overcome, to truly put the past. We all want to look at what has happened to us and say “I am better off because of it.” Superman wins fights because no one can compete with him. Batman wins fights because he has spent his own fortune creating an arsenal, because he tirelessly trains his body, because he can think his way out of any situation.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Things I've Already Done in 2008
Fell asleep playing Catchphrase
Watched a College Football game (fun, but not usually my thing)
Been to a Honky-Tonk dance club (definitely not my thing)
Talked to a complete stranger on the phone for over an hour
Seen my good friends Perry and Amy
Hiked Canyon Lake
Taken a nap
Read for fun
Made "notes to self" on my digital audio recorder
Tried to live without an iPod
Lifted weights
Bought $180 worth of groceries
Eaten at two new restaurants
Cooked Stew for the first time ever, using a crock pot
Got a sexy new haircut
Preached a 7 minute sermon
Tried adding Carmel protein powder to my oatmeal
Watched the movie "Stardust"
Got lost driving
Talked to an old college friend
Helped start a new ititiative at Journey Fellowship (more info soon!)
Started a Daily Bible Reading/Journaling Plan
Bought a hair dryer
Tried to use fabric glue
Had a great time with my Community Group
Was oblivious to a cute girl flirting with me
Used a saw, drill, hammer and (my favorite) Baby Sledgehammer during worship
Blogged
What have you done so far in 2008?
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Deep Gospel, Shallow Culture
John Stott, in his lecture series "The Bible and the Christian Imagination," that when Paul was in Ephesus, he preached for five hours a day, for three years. This comes out to over 3,000 hours of preaching. And Acts tells us that all of Asia heard the Gospel.
It is easy to just give Stott an amen! and argue that what we need is longer sermons and more in depth Bible study. As valuable as this may be, it's hard to imagine how any such conversation could take place in 21st century America.
We're the culture of the soundbite, and 15 minutes of fame. TV has trained us with 30 second commercials and 30 minute sitcoms. Churches respond by priding themselves on the 17 minute sermon and 30 minute worship (http://www.30minuteworship.com/) How is it when politician have to express their views in a few sentences, that we can hold people's attention long enough to unpack the deep truths of the gospel?
There are signs of hope. Emerging generations tend to show up in droves, with pen, paper and Bible in hand, to listen to guys like Rob Bell, Louie Giglio and Mark Driscoll preach for over an hour. Academics theologians like N.T. Wright and John Stott, and even more "pop" writers like Bryan McLaren and Donald Miller are reaching huge audiences. So, it is too soon to give up.
But the question remains, in a culture where people are trained to be shallow, how do you teach the deep truths of Jesus Christ?
Thursday, January 3, 2008
A Goal For 2008
I spent my afternoon hiking around Canyon Lake. I spent more than an hour sitting in silence, eating my lunch and writing in my journal. I wrote out some goals. Of all that I wrote, the most important goal was to have more time just like that, quiet, alone, in nature, in reflection.
A good goal for any year.
A good goal for any year.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
10 lights (low and high) from 2007
I’m pretty excited to be rid of 2007. It’s not that it was a bad year, but it was a very full year. And even though I know that there is no difference between the world of yesterday and the world of today, I’m thankful for the arbitrary cultural delineations that make me feel like I’m starting fresh.
Here are a few of the “lights” I’ll remember from this year for a very long time.
1.The Ice Storm
I had traveled via a 10 hour bus ride from Austin to Abilene for a week long course. A great week of discussing theology and philosophy was followed with a a cold coda. On the last night of the trip, the great ice storm of 2007 swept through, stranding me in Abilene for an extra 6 days. It was both boring and unforgettable.
2.The New Car
In December ’06 I totaled my car. This pushed me over the edge into absolute despair. Then, a couple I had known years before in Colorado gave my parents a call and told me they wanted to help out. I flew up to Colorado, and drove back in a Nissan. It is a blessing I’ll never forget.
3. The Break Up
In February, a pretty girl told me she didn’t want to be a preacher’s wife. I felt we had made a connection, that we had something deep. And maybe we did. But she felt like we were headed in different directions. But the panic and depression that had been my life for six months clouded even my best times with her. So, I said the only thing I knew to say, “I don’t have the energy to fight for this.” What I remember about that night isn’t so much the actual break up, but the aftermath. It was late at night, and I didn’t feel like the friends I had made in Austin could help me through this. I called others who lived around the country. No one answered. So I just spent what seemed like hours wandering around Town Lake, begging God to rescue me from what my life had become.
4. The Move
Easter Sunday in April, I made my first official appearance at Journey Fellowship. It still blows my mind that God has brought me here, to partner with some people who have had an unparalleled worldwide impact. Not only that, but I get to work on a team where they are trying to help me hone my strengths, and I get paid to stuff I like and I’m good at. Unbelievable.
5.The Difference
Austin is a city full of young singles who are entrepreneurs, and artists. I knew that culturally, I would be losing something when I moved to San Antonio. The reality hit me in two separate places. The first was when I spent an evening searching for any coffee shop that just wasn’t Starbucks. I finally found a place downtown, drove thirty minutes, only to find that it was closed at 9. The reality of where I was now living hit me like a ton of bricks. The second was after a few weekend parties with 20 something single Christian types in San Antonio. At first, it seemed like the average unmarried person in my age bracket I met was, an unambitious, had an immature faith and no concept of art. Since then, I’ve made some great friends that love Jesus, but I have yet to shake that first feeling.
6. The Conference
In May, I attended the Q conference. It was amazing to hear people like Kevin Kelley, the founder and editor of WIRED, some of my personal heroes like Donald Miller and Rob Bell, and tons of other people who are make an actual difference in the lives of hurting people in the name of the Kingdom of God. The highlight of this trip, however, was explaining why I’m not a huge fan of the band Switchfoot in front of the lead singer’s father, and be mocked by Rick McKinley (Pastor Rick from Blue Like Jazz) from the stage.
7. The Retreat
I joined the Singles Ministry from my church in Atlanta for a retreat in Florida. It was great to see the people who I had spent one of the best years of my life with. It was also heartwrenching to realize what I had left behind: friendships that had changed my life, mentors who had taken a huge chance on me, the girl that got away. I spent most of the weekend staring into the gulf of Mexico thankful for what I had once had, but torn, wondering what I had thrown away.
8. The Mission Trip
A week in Mexico. A half built wall. A 16 passenger van full of angry kids. Eating fajitas at midnight. One of my biggest failures ever. No one got hurt, physically at least. Sometimes the ability to chalk it all up to a learning experience is no comfort.
9. The Drugs
Finally having a job and health benefits, I sought out psychiatric help with my ADHD. What followed was a time that now feels like an out of body experience. After 8 weeks of my body going through extreme reactions, I gave up on that quest.
1o. The Rhythm
I’m slowly learning how to live my life in a rhythm. I wake up at 5:30. I read my Bible and pray. I go to the office early. I go to meetings. I pray with people. I produce media for Journey. I hang out with the High Schoolers. Each week has its regular outings and meetings. One night is Swing Dancing, one day is therapy. Compared to the few years, I feel like I’ve gotten into a swing of things and that there is peace somewhere down this road.
Here are a few of the “lights” I’ll remember from this year for a very long time.
1.The Ice Storm
I had traveled via a 10 hour bus ride from Austin to Abilene for a week long course. A great week of discussing theology and philosophy was followed with a a cold coda. On the last night of the trip, the great ice storm of 2007 swept through, stranding me in Abilene for an extra 6 days. It was both boring and unforgettable.
2.The New Car
In December ’06 I totaled my car. This pushed me over the edge into absolute despair. Then, a couple I had known years before in Colorado gave my parents a call and told me they wanted to help out. I flew up to Colorado, and drove back in a Nissan. It is a blessing I’ll never forget.
3. The Break Up
In February, a pretty girl told me she didn’t want to be a preacher’s wife. I felt we had made a connection, that we had something deep. And maybe we did. But she felt like we were headed in different directions. But the panic and depression that had been my life for six months clouded even my best times with her. So, I said the only thing I knew to say, “I don’t have the energy to fight for this.” What I remember about that night isn’t so much the actual break up, but the aftermath. It was late at night, and I didn’t feel like the friends I had made in Austin could help me through this. I called others who lived around the country. No one answered. So I just spent what seemed like hours wandering around Town Lake, begging God to rescue me from what my life had become.
4. The Move
Easter Sunday in April, I made my first official appearance at Journey Fellowship. It still blows my mind that God has brought me here, to partner with some people who have had an unparalleled worldwide impact. Not only that, but I get to work on a team where they are trying to help me hone my strengths, and I get paid to stuff I like and I’m good at. Unbelievable.
5.The Difference
Austin is a city full of young singles who are entrepreneurs, and artists. I knew that culturally, I would be losing something when I moved to San Antonio. The reality hit me in two separate places. The first was when I spent an evening searching for any coffee shop that just wasn’t Starbucks. I finally found a place downtown, drove thirty minutes, only to find that it was closed at 9. The reality of where I was now living hit me like a ton of bricks. The second was after a few weekend parties with 20 something single Christian types in San Antonio. At first, it seemed like the average unmarried person in my age bracket I met was, an unambitious, had an immature faith and no concept of art. Since then, I’ve made some great friends that love Jesus, but I have yet to shake that first feeling.
6. The Conference
In May, I attended the Q conference. It was amazing to hear people like Kevin Kelley, the founder and editor of WIRED, some of my personal heroes like Donald Miller and Rob Bell, and tons of other people who are make an actual difference in the lives of hurting people in the name of the Kingdom of God. The highlight of this trip, however, was explaining why I’m not a huge fan of the band Switchfoot in front of the lead singer’s father, and be mocked by Rick McKinley (Pastor Rick from Blue Like Jazz) from the stage.
7. The Retreat
I joined the Singles Ministry from my church in Atlanta for a retreat in Florida. It was great to see the people who I had spent one of the best years of my life with. It was also heartwrenching to realize what I had left behind: friendships that had changed my life, mentors who had taken a huge chance on me, the girl that got away. I spent most of the weekend staring into the gulf of Mexico thankful for what I had once had, but torn, wondering what I had thrown away.
8. The Mission Trip
A week in Mexico. A half built wall. A 16 passenger van full of angry kids. Eating fajitas at midnight. One of my biggest failures ever. No one got hurt, physically at least. Sometimes the ability to chalk it all up to a learning experience is no comfort.
9. The Drugs
Finally having a job and health benefits, I sought out psychiatric help with my ADHD. What followed was a time that now feels like an out of body experience. After 8 weeks of my body going through extreme reactions, I gave up on that quest.
1o. The Rhythm
I’m slowly learning how to live my life in a rhythm. I wake up at 5:30. I read my Bible and pray. I go to the office early. I go to meetings. I pray with people. I produce media for Journey. I hang out with the High Schoolers. Each week has its regular outings and meetings. One night is Swing Dancing, one day is therapy. Compared to the few years, I feel like I’ve gotten into a swing of things and that there is peace somewhere down this road.
Disappointed with Andy (Part 2)
Now, I’m not saying that I necessarily disagree with anything Andy said. But I am disappointed. His ideas struck me as poorly thought out, overtly republican, and reinforcing misconceptions that Americans Christians are seeking a theocracy. Some questions Andy didn’t consider:
What about Rome, or the Magna Carta?
Is America the new Israel, what Jesus meant by “The Kingdom of God?”
What does it mean that a God-fearing president would lead his people to war?
Where is the line between recognizing “the divine law” and claiming “the divine right of kings?”
If America has a divinely-inspired understanding of human rights, does that mean God supports:
Gitmo?
Ignoring Habeus Corpus?
Water-Boarding?
An education system and economic system that oppresses certain classes and races?
Ignoring the Kyoto accord and other global environmental initiatives?
I’m pretty disappointed in Andy Stanley. For a man who has been a champion for making Sunday mornings a place where anyone can walk in and learn God’s truth, I’m shocked in how poorly thought out these comments were. That doesn’t mean I’m done listening to Andy. I still believe he’s got a lot to teach me. But I’ll be a little skeptical from here on out.
What about Rome, or the Magna Carta?
Is America the new Israel, what Jesus meant by “The Kingdom of God?”
What does it mean that a God-fearing president would lead his people to war?
Where is the line between recognizing “the divine law” and claiming “the divine right of kings?”
If America has a divinely-inspired understanding of human rights, does that mean God supports:
Gitmo?
Ignoring Habeus Corpus?
Water-Boarding?
An education system and economic system that oppresses certain classes and races?
Ignoring the Kyoto accord and other global environmental initiatives?
I’m pretty disappointed in Andy Stanley. For a man who has been a champion for making Sunday mornings a place where anyone can walk in and learn God’s truth, I’m shocked in how poorly thought out these comments were. That doesn’t mean I’m done listening to Andy. I still believe he’s got a lot to teach me. But I’ll be a little skeptical from here on out.
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