TankYou

2006-08-03T03:18:00.000-07:00

I hate to inform all of my loyal readers of this blog, but for the time being I am going to be at another blog. The blog is Atypical Spirituality. It is me and a couple of friends. You should all stop by and join in on the conversation and leave a comment about being our friend so that we know who our readers are and send the love back their way and become readers of their blogs in turn. Thank You everyone for making the change, I love you.

2006-07-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Politics drive me crazy. Here in Oklahoma we just had our primaries for Governor, Lt. Governor, etc. and I had to watch negative ad after negative ad after negative ad, on and on and on. I lose my mind having to watch all of this negative crap, I don't want a politician to tell me how bad their opponent is, I want to know how good you are as a person and what you want to do to make all of our lives better. I refuse to vote for a person who only puts out negative ads. Something has to be done about these ads.

2006-07-20T02:36:00.000-07:00

I went in to work last night feeling like it was going to be another long boring night, but about an hour into my shift a lady walks in with an animal in a blue pouch around her neck which I just assumed was a small dog that she was carrying around with her. When she came up to the counter I looked at it and then I looked at it again and it didn't look like any dog I had ever seen before, in fact it looked like a small kangaroo. I asked the lady and it was a baby Austrailian Red Kangaroo and then she let me hold it. That's right I got to hold a baby kangaroo last night and it was everything you could image it to be, so surreal. I have decided that kangaroos are awesome, more awesome than before.

2006-07-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to go see Rob Bell in Oklahoma City on his 'Everything is Spiritual' Tour. I really enjoyed what he had to say, although if you listen to the sermons from his church's website here, then you have already heard about 90% of the information. If you want to know more about the tour just google it.

What I thought was interesting was that they were serving beer at the venue, so I thought I would get one. I felt like the only person in the place who enjoys a beer. I had people watching me from every direction with every gulp of the delicious beer.

I'm not exactly sure what exactly I am trying to say. I guess I think Rob is good and I think Beer is good. I also think God is good. What do you think?

2006-07-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

God does not love me more. This is something that I often need to be reminded of. I have this tendency to look down on people because of the way they dress, the way they live, their political affliliation, etc. I am loved the same as my neighbor no matter how much I disagree with them, or how our education differs, or how we choose to live our lives. We are all in this together searching for the same love from both God and Humanity. We all want and deserve to be treated better.

May we as a church begin to treat people with more respect and dignity than before. May we begin to let people know that they deserve to be treated better. May we affirm people with the same affirmation that God has given us. May we spread the message that God loves us, God loves humanity.

2006-06-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

REPOST ALERT: This is a repost from last December, but it is one of my favorites. I found it today and it helped me see where I have grown in the last six months. My marriage is just now becoming easier and we are learning how to be 'one'. Anyways here is the post:

Warning: I'm a young, handsome, newlywed. Some of this may not apply to you (if you are single), and some of you are probably years ahead of me, so be forwarned if this bores that socks off of your feet or beanies of your head.

I have been married for going on four months now, which just now strikes me as being 1/3 of the way to a year, that is so crazy. Anyways, it is hard, and when I say hard, I MEAN HARDER THAN HARD. I will stop you now, I'm probably not going where you think I'm going, then again if you are married, you might know all to well where I am going.

I have been an only child, the older brother of a half-sister, and the step-brother of four (one of those doesn't really count though). I've kind of been through the gammit of family situations growing up and boy did that suck, but I was the only child toward the end of my tenure with the parent(s), this isn't a good place to be. Let me explain (at least somewhat), have you ever known families that have the younger or youngest child who gets more 'things' and possibly 'attention' because their parents now have only one child to focus their resources and attention towards, well this 'kind-of' was me, the only difference being that I was usually the oldest and was thrust into the situation of being the sole benefactor of resources (not so much attention, but we won't get into that here). This totally messed me up, I became, and still am to a degree, pretty selfish.

Here is my problem:

Pretty Selfish + Marriage = Disaster

The funny thing about it is that you really can't enter 'pretty selfish' into any positive equation and come out with a good result, maybe meager, but that is about as far as it can go. Again, I'll give you some examples:

Pretty Selfish + Church = A "Christian"**

** A "Christian" here means someone who puts on a pretty image for people to see, but in reality they aren't being healed from the inside out, they don't care about the poor, or anyone outside of their current sphere of influence. They are in it for what they can get out of it: safety, 'fire-insurance', answers. They are commited as long as they feel that they are being benefited from the Church, which really isn't commitment at all.

So, as many of you would agree if you were in my situation, I don't want my marraige to be a disaster. This means that I need to remove a part of the above equation. Let us now look at what removing these would look like.

First we will take out Marriage.

Disaster - Marriage = Divorce

Not at all where I want this to go, but I know this is what happens everyday, which is a hard reality to face. The problem here is that I lose twice. I lose the love of my life, and I lose because I am still 'pretty selfish', which will only lead to more problems, not less, even if I do get a divorce.

Next lets try taking out Pretty Selfish and see what happens.

Disaster - Pretty Selfish = Death

Wait, that doesn't sound too nice either, there has to be something wrong. I have this disaster (which is made up of me being selfish and my marriage) and I take out my selfishness, I should end up with a happy marriage, or something like it.

The thing is this, to remove this selfish part of me, I have to die. I have to let go of myself and begin to embrace my wife, God, and this new me that in reality isn't new at all, it is the original design of me, the me who is hiding behind all the junk. The equation that leads to death isn't done if it ends in death. If you take my death (the end of this selfish me) and you add it to my marriage you will get ... well, I don't know for sure to tell you the truth, I am in the middle of the dying part right now. I don't know where this death is leading, I only have to follow it one day at a time.

But, maybe we shouldn't call it death. Maybe we should call it life.

2006-06-30T00:14:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have watched my wife's video blogs a few posts ago, or for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I thought you would be interested in knowing that my wife has set up a video blog here. She is actually very good at what she does, especially since she just started a couple of weeks ago. She has already inspired another man to do some of his own video blogging here. Check it out and leave some wonderful comments.

2006-06-29T04:07:00.000-07:00

For the past few years I have been obsessed with a band called Guster. It all started my freshman year of college when my roommate told me how great they are. I downloaded (sorry Guster) a copy of Lost and Gone Forever and was immediately hooked. I have always had this love for a band that would use bongos and other hand drums as their percussion, and no band has ever come close to using them as well as Guster. Within the next year I bought their two previous albums to LaGF, Parachute and Goldfly. Each album was different from the others, but each of them won me over and didn't leave my CD player for months. A few months after my purchase they released a new album, Keep It Together., which I didn't like at all. They had left behind the hand drums on a few of the songs and added a drum kit instead, how could they do that to me? I put the CD in my case and forgot about it for a month or so and then gave it another try. I don't know what happened, but I feel in love with the CD. It may be my favorite Guster album to date. On my first few listens I missed the complexity of the new Guster. The songs were more mature than the Guster I had fallen in love with, both musically and lyrically. Fast forward to this month and Guster has released their fifth studio album, Ganging Up on the Sun. I loved this album right away. Since they recorded KIT they added a new member to the band (He is the one wearing the silly hat. No, not that tall silly hat, the short silly hat.) He has obviously helped Guster become more mature in more ways than one on their new album.

I highly, highly, highly recommend Guster to everyone, they have become my favorite band. I would recommend that you start with Lost and Gone Forever and work your way both backwards and forwards in their discography, but maybe I only think that because it is how I got started. They are a band that loves their fans which is obvious by the different journals that they update regularly on their website, and now they have five episodes of a documentary of the making of their newest album called Joe's Place up on the site. Do yourself a favor and pick up some Guster.

Four More Years...

2006-06-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

We'll it will be four more years before I get to see USA try to make a run in the World Cup again and I only got to see their last game where they lost to Ghana. Hopefully I will have cable and be able to watch World Cup 2010 on my own television. See you in four years USA.

Bible Warning Label

2006-06-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

(click on image to read the label)

I saw this label posted on Dan Kimball's blog here. I am not posting this saying that I think this is correct, only interesting. The idea that so many people are comfortable reading some of the content of the Bible, but not comfortable when they run into the same or less descriptive writing in other literature. And to top it all off Christians will let their children read the Bible which is full of violence, sexuality, etc, but many people my age were not allowed to watch the Smurfs or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (or TMNT on the streets).

My Wife's Video Podcast

2006-06-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

My wife has been playing with our new camera and then editing the video while at work and what has resulted so far are two videos about our marriage that strangly don't have much of me in them. Check them out and go to her myspace.

Marriage : Round 1 : The First Year

Marriage : Round 2 : The Night Shift

I'm stickin' with this blog...

2006-06-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

Well, for more than one reason, I won't list them but there are a few, I am going to remain at this blog site instead of my blog I created with iWeb (refer to last post). I just need my html. I've thought about using a wordpress site, but am too lazy to mess with the code to get it just like I want it. So, here I am back where I started, but with a new header.

Tank

Trying a New Blog

2006-06-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

Go check out my new blog I made with iWeb. I am trying to decide whether I like it or not. Go here and let me know what you think...leave a comment...you know. There are no post of significance except for my last post here, but I hope to post soon.

Thanks
Tank

Two Friends Getting Married

2006-06-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Today in about three hours two of my friends will be getting married (Preston and Ashley are their names for those of you taking notes). I have known Preston since my junior year of high school when he started (and I was pretty much there from the beginning) One-on-One, I guess you would call it a small group, but it grew to about 40-50 people during its peak. It was at One-on-One that I met Ashley (she didn't go to high school with us). I didn't ever know Ashley that well, she hung out with a group of girls from my school when she came to O-on-O and didn't really get to know her until the last couple of years. Preston on the other hand I have known well on and off since my junior year, we spent many hours together in high school mainly due to O-on-O, then I went off to college away from Tulsa for a year, then I came back to go to Oral Roberts University where Preston attended. We have had many of the same classes together being as we were the same year and in the same school. About 8 months ago he invited me to help him start a new community at his church called Saturday Night and needless to say, but I'm saying it, I said yes. We have become even better friends through the experiences that we have had at Saturday Night and I wouldn't change the experiences we have had for the world. I enjoy having them both (you both if you are reading this) in my life.

This portion is actually written to them.

Preston and Ashley, May your life be filled with hope. From personal experience I know that marriage is so much more and so much different than I could have imagined, in other words it has been really hard for me. But, under all of my pain there has been a dormant hope that has carried me through. I love my wife, just like I know you both love each other, and sometimes all that we have is love, and please don't read happiness. Although I have had these struggles in my first year of marriage I would not trade them because I now love my wife more. It is a hard thing for me to grasp, but somehow when we struggle we either give up or we become better for it. I don't know if I was ready to get married when I did, but if I wasn't I am glad that I was too naive to realize that I wasn't ready. Sometimes we are never going to have all the answers and we just have to do it and hope and pray, struggle and grow. I pray that when you go through the hard times you remember to hope and don't forget that if it doesn't break you, it will only make you stronger. May your love for each other be deep and long and wide. And may you live your life to the full.

McLaren :: The Secret Message of Jesus (maybe?)

2006-06-03T06:51:00.000-07:00

Because of my new crazy work schedule and other events in my life I have not been able to do much reading or thinking or writing lately and it is driving me crazy. I have been wanting to read this book for awhile now and have a copy (actually two), so I think I am going to read it and post my thoughts chapter by chapter or maybe section by section depending on how much time life affords me to blog and think and read. So everyone can look forward (maybe) to something with some substance to read coming soon...

Pat Robertson = Strongest Man Alive or Pat the Legpress Master or Pat, Pat, Where you at?

2006-05-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you have seen this yet, but it sure is priceless.

HERE

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips

2006-05-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

Wayne was asked to give the commencement speech at his high school in Oklahoma City. These are the videos that resulted. You simply must watch these because they will change your very being, or maybe just inspire you, or make you laugh.

and...

New Life

2006-05-26T04:10:00.000-07:00

Changing from a church job where I was not required to be at a certain place at a certain time (except for Sundays, Retreats, Camps, Mission Trips, and Staff Meetings) to a job where I have 46 hours of my week where I must be at a certain place at a certain time has been and still is a rough transition. It is Friday morning, but for my schedule this is my Sunday night. I am going to go to sleep in a couple of hours and when I wake up I will eat and then be off to work for the next five nights straight. I guess I traded the emotional and mental stress for physical stress (and don't forget a much larger paycheck which creates much less mental and emotional stress). I wonder if I will ever have a job that I can truly love...maybe I can work for Quiktrip long enough to move up to a mystery shopper, I think I would really like that job.

Reflections on Training at QuikTrip

2006-05-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

I have now completed two days of my two weeks of training at QuikTrip. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, it is the best Gas Station/Convienience Store in the United States and I've been to alot of convienience stores. The website is here.

My first day was crazy. They expect us to do a certain amount of work in a certain amount of time all the while waiting on every customer which is on the brink of impossible, at least it seemed like it my first day. I had to sweep the entire parking lot and then powerwash most of it, I had to do a rediculous amount of reading, learn the complex cash register, begin to memorize some of the priced items in the store, wait on customers (of which I made a few mad), etc. etc. etc. After my first day I thought I wasn't cut out for this job. I came home and fell asleep immediately.

My second day was easier for me than the first. I again powerwashed the parking lot, waited on customers, memorized more prices, learned more of the cash register, and then I cleaned the hot dog rollers, did a shift walk (which means I made sure the store was stocked and clean for my upcoming shift, did a cash audit (which means I counted money, lottery tickets, etc.), did store upkeeps (dusting, facing the merch, sweeping, mopping) every 30 minutes, did another shift walk and cash audit for more practice or 'reps' as my trainer calls them, and of course did some more reading. After today I feel better about my job, but my feet hurt like crazy after today. I have to stand up for nine hours straight without sitting down one time and it hurts like no ones business because I am not used to it yet.

Besides my training, I got to see a couple verbally fighting in the parking lot and a couple trying to steal some smokes. Then on my second day I got to see some guys from Pepsi get into a big verbal fight and had a woman come in at 2:01 A.M. (which 2 am is the cut off time in Oklahoma to sell alcohol) and beg and bribe the other guy getting trained very loudly in the store for about 10 minutes. Those were the awesome experiences that keep you going.

I am now going to sleep to get a nap in before I have to be back at work tonight at 11. The good thing about it is that today is my Friday because I get the next two days off.

Tank

Homosexuals and Iraq, what more can you ask for in a conversation?

2006-05-19T00:31:00.000-07:00

It seems like we all think we know more than we really know (including myself). Every once and awhile I find myself in a conversation about politics, Iraq, abortion, or homosexuality and the conversation, although long, seems to go no where. I have all of these ideas and opinions that I hold on to, but in reality somewhere deep inside I know that I could be wrong, in fact the odds are that I am at least partially wrong. I can't think of many things in my life that I can be sure of 100%, much less my ideas about the war and homosexuality. I could fight and fight for my opinions and get all the world behind me, but maybe what I should really be fighting for first is the idea that we can't make truth from our opinions, preferences, or ideas, therefore we have to be careful in how we go about enforcing and promoting these things.

Laguna Beach

2006-05-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

So, I am in no way one to go crazy over people who are on TV, but I did have a strang occurance happen to me today. And I guess this would be the time to admit that I did watch the first season of Laguna Beach on MTV back in the good ole days when I had cable. Last week we welcomed a 'Social Justice Director' to our group of leaders at Saturday Night whose name is Angie Schuller. I was told that her grandfather is the Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral. If you watched that season of Laguna Beach they did have a girl that was also a grandchild of Robert Schuller, so immediately I wondered if they were sisters or cousins or what. Well every Wednesday we have a meeting of the leaders and this was Angie's first meeting and who did she bring along but the very girl who was on Laguna Beach, Christina Schuller. That's right I had lunch with Christina Schuller today, but we were sitting far away from each other so it was meaningless conversation and I didn't say anything about the show.

Tank

Jon Stewart on Larry King Live

2006-05-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, this is old (a couple of months or so), but I am just now seeing it and I figured there must be a few out there who are just like me. So here are links to a couple videos of his interview. His comments in the first video about both parties I could not agree more with.

Video #1
Video #2

Tank

I Have a New Job

2006-05-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

I will be working here as an assistant manager making somewhere between 35,000 to 40,000 a year. How sweet it is...or how sweet it hopefully is.

Tank

I'm Done

2006-05-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well, As of midnight I am officially unemployed. I am no longer a Youth Pastor and I no longer work for a church. I have to tell you it feels nice to know that when next Sunday rolls around I will be in my bed asleep instead of boring myself to death with church services and Sunday school. But if you are worried that I will no longer go to church, be not afraid, I will still be going to church on Saturday nights at Saturday Night (clever name, I know). So don't worry about me going to church, but do worry about what I'm going to do because I don't have a job lined up. I have applied at a few places and right now have not heard back from any of them. I am also going to job fair tomorrow which means I need to go buy a nice shirt to wear because I accidentally left my chapstick in my pocket when I washed my clothes last and it stained two shirts, including my one nice button up shirt. I'm sure you all have stopped reading by now, but I need to fluff this post up so I am typing this filler sentence.

Tank

I'm Back...

2006-05-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't had the time to make a post lately. I've finished with all my finals this week which is so relieving, but I start school again on Monday, which sucks. Today I went to the hooding ceremony for Undergrad Theology here at Oral Roberts and it was weird thinking that I should be graduating this year and I should be getting hooded, but then again I would never trade my one crazy year at The University of Oklahoma.

Speaking of that one year at Oklahoma, the reason I went was because all of my best friends were going. One of those best friends tried (and by tried, I do not mean unsuccessful, I mean he was stopped) to commit suicide. Keep him and his family in your prayers if you would.

Kyle's Film

2006-04-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

From Tony Jones, National Coordinator, Emergent-U.S.

So many of us continue to miss Kyle Lake. All the time people talk about "tragic" deaths, but his death truly was tragic. And Julie and I grieve to think of Jen and the kids. But Kyle also left a beautiful legacy of life, and a film to that end is just wrapping up -- it's a tribute to Kyle's life and his faith, and I strongly recommend it. And, all of the proceeds will help fund his children's college funds. Here is some more information from the people who are putting this together...

There is no doubt that Kyle Lake, former pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco, TX, lived life to the fullest. Both his inner and outer beauty will be remembered by all of us. "Kyle's Film" is a project that we are doing to honor the life and ministry of our friend. Kyle's last sermon was surprisingly very cinematic in its nature. Not only did it detail appreciating beauty in the ordinary things, but engaged a sense of inspiration and an eerie comfort in the wording. With this project, we are not elevating Kyle to a level of worship and admiration, but rather we are celebrating the beauty of God that was seen through Kyle's life.

This spring, we began production on "Kyle's Film", an interpretive, impressionistic, and cinematic short film based on Kyle's last sermon. We filmed everything in 35mm (which is the Hollywood standard for productions and used the same film stock as many recent films- Capote, Crash, etc.) and transferred everything to high definition. Right now we're working on post production and working with some of guys from the David Crowder Band for an original score. For the second half of the film, we are focusing more on Kyle's life through video and pictures of him and his family etc. We should have everything finished up towards May, and the running length should be around 10 minutes for both parts.

We are in the process of also setting up a way for people to pre-order the completed DVD when it is done in May. Congress Clothing will be handling the ordering process through their website, and all the proceeds will be donated to the Kyle Lake Memorial Fund, which will go towards his children's college tuition. You can find all of the information about the film on our website, www.kylesfilm.com, which has a trailer, links to our production blog, and the pre-order page. We hope this film will show Kyle's message of loving God, embracing beauty, and living life to the fullest to as many people as possible.

www.kylesfilm.com

Marcus Borg in Tulsa

2006-04-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

This Friday and Saturday, Marcus Borg will be lecturing at Trinity Episcopal in Tulsa. If you don't know who he is click here or just google him. He will be speaking at 7:30 Friday night and 9am, 11am, and 1.30pm on Saturday. It is free to the public.

Nick and Josh Podcast

2006-04-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

I saw a review of this podcast on Andrew Jones blog the other day and decided to give it a listen. I figured if I did a review maybe one person will do the same. There is a link to the podcast on your right.

Nick and Josh Podcast

Nick and Josh, two men who remind me of myself. Young, smart, funny, witty, get good interviews, and read good books, well that is if you think they are young, smart, funny, witty, get good interviews, and read good books. Often called the 'Beavis and Butthead meet Wayne and Garth' of the Emergent movement.* They read books and rate them on a scale of 1-10 McLarens, have a culture section called the 'Tall Skinny', and you've heard it here first**, they will possibly be putting in 'radio announcer' sounds to move from section to section. Honestly, they are two guys who seem to connect in some way with many of the ideas that are coming out of Emergent and want to struggle through these ideas to help them in their friendship with Christ. They get good interviews and ask the questions of the everyman. You should check these guys out.

*ok, they were only called this once, and now twice.
**unless you've listened to the podcast

Their blogs can be found here:
Josh Brown
Nick Fiedler

Man, that was one lousy attempt at a review. I need to sharpen my skills.

Emergent Arrogance

2006-04-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

I always feel like I'm right. I don't like feeling this way, but it always seems to happen right under my nose and I don't notice it until afterwards. So it is natural that when I look at Emergent and find myself thinking many of the same thoughts and ideas, I feel like Emergent is 'the way' and that everyone else is wrong. Although I do feel like Emergent is closer to what I find in the scriptures, world, and the church, there are many other Christians out there who truly care about people. I always talk about how we should all love each other (Christians) and all those outside of the church, but I am guiltly of not loving those in parts of the church that I'm not part of. Even if people hate homosexuals, catholics, jews, etc. I should still love them. I am just as guilty of using 'us vs. them' language as anyone else. We are all in this together and trying to faithfully do what the scriptures say, even if we read them differently.

Invisible Children

2006-04-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I got a copy of this movie in the mail from a friend. It is a story that needs to be heard about a group of children who need our help. For more information go here.

There are screenings this week and next here in Tulsa. Here are a few of the locations:

April 19th: Garnett Church of Christ @ 7pm
April 20th: Victory Christian Center @ 9am
April 20th: University of Tulsa @ 7pm
April 21st: Oral Roberts University @ 7pm
April 22nd: Asbury Methodists @ 7pm
April 22nd: Believers Church @ 6pm
April 22nd: Circle Cinema @ 2pm

Then on April 29th there will be a 'night commute' in 130 cities including Tulsa. They haven't decided on a place in to have it in Tulsa, but there are 91 people signed up so far and I'm sure many more will sign up this week after they see the movie. For more info go here.

Rob Bell Tour

2006-04-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

Looks like Rob Bell is going to do a nation wide speaking tour called "Everything is Spiritual" this summer starting on June 30th in Chicago. As far as I know there isn't any way yet to know when or where besides Chicago, IL and Ponoma, CA. I think the updates will be here.

Mucho Calor

2006-04-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

It is too hot.

Let the Countdown Begin

2006-04-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

Three Weeks

2006-04-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

I only have three weeks of school and youth ministry left, but I have already checked out. I am completely worn out mentally and physically. I need to take a nap as I write this. At Saturday Night Preston talked about that period between Friday and Sunday where there seems to be no hope and no light. I feel like I am in that place and I have been for awhile. I know there is hope and I know there is a ressurection, but I don't understand it right now, I can't seem to grasp the realities of the ressurection because it still hasn't happened yet.

One thing I did this weekend that I enjoyed was going to a Chris McLeod and Edison Glass concert. I've known Chris for awhile now being as we work together at Saturday Night, but I hadn't listened to or seen Edison Glass before. Edison Glass put on an amazing concert. You could tell they loved the music as they played it, and I really enjoy that. They came to Saturday Night and then we all went and hung out that night. They are a great group of guys and all of you should check out their CD and go see them play in Bartlesville and/or Claremore this week.

I have two weeks of class left to finish all of my makeup work and then finals the week after that. It is going to be a long three weeks ahead of me.

Dognooz

2006-04-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

This has to be one of the craziest things I've ever seen. This guy "Maddog" does these rants where he plays the drums and flashes images on a green screen behind him. He even rhymes and sings some of his rants.

Go Here: Dognooz

You will not be disappointed.

tank

Private vs. Public

2006-04-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Today I was part of an interesting discussion about the differences between the students who attend a public school verses those who attend a private school (you could probably include homeschooling as private as well.)

* Who drinks more?
* Who does more drugs?
* Who has a better grasp on life?
* Who is more prepared for a job in the 'real world'?
* Sex?

What do you think? What are some differences between the two groups? Are there differences at all?

Countdown : Five Sundays Left

2006-04-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

Its an interesting feeling on Sunday nights to look around the room and know that the relationship I have had with these youth for the last year and a half will never be the same. It faintly reminds me of the feeling I had when my Youth Pastor would leave, which happened twice during high school. When I am faced with these kinds of situations I often have out-of-body experiences where I feel like I am watching a movie of myself that is vaguely interesting. I don't know why I do it, probably to escape from the pain.

I have the craziest inner monologue. Do you have one too? For example, today as I was walking to class I noticed how everything is beginning to turn green again and how that corresponds to my life right now. I feel like my life is coming out of a season of death and being born again. There are still days where it gets cold and everything looks the same as it has for awhile now, but then we have days like today where the temperature is just right and it feels like life is everywhere.

I then proceeded to think through this analogy. I (maybe we?) have these times of deadness and then slowly but surely life begins to sprout and its exciting and refreshing and new. Then time continues and its not new any more. In fact, it gets quite hot and muggy, but of course there is still life and it is much better than the death of winter. Finally fall comes. You don't even notice that everything around is dying because the trees are so beautiful. I really enjoy fall, but it will eventually turn into winter.

Please Stop: Battle Guy for a Generation

2006-03-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

As most of you have probably seen or read about, Ron Luce gathered together 25,000 evangelical teenagers in San Francisco last weekend. They are in a 'war' with culture. He wants these youth to use 'God's Instruction Book' (read 'The Bible') to guide themselves and others away from this destructive pop culture that we live in. He says we should make a 'Christian' MySpace. (which already exist here) Blah, Blah, Blah...on and on and on.

The truth is this kind of thing just breaks my heart. There are multiple victims here, I can name at least three: the youth involved, the people in San Francisco, and people like me (the 'other' Christians).

First off the Youth are not really being presented with reality by Ron or their Youth Pastors. Of course pornography, sex, etc. are harmful, but instead of telling the youth why it is harmful, why people do it, how to understand it better, or how to deal with it...They are only told it is bad, bad, bad like the devil and the people who make it and watch it are bad, bad, bad like the devil. They are taught that these people are not real people with real problems and real feelings. A lot of these youth will someday have jobs where they have to work side by side with 'these people' and they need to know how to love them, not push them away.

Second the people in San Francisco are not treated with respect and love. As one woman put it "I moved here to get away from people like you." When this kind of event is done, it hurts many people and severly pushes them away from the church. Some of the people have been through so many things that these youth can't even imagine or begin to understand, the very thing that can bring them hope, is deeply hurting them.

Lastly people like me are painted with a broad stroke of hatred. I, as a Christian, get a bad name because of these big events. I look like a jerk because of my affiliation.

(There is an interesting conversation happening on Zach Lind's blog here)

The Wheat and The Tares

2006-03-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

A long time ago there was this story told:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

This story talks about these weeds that have somehow infiltrated either the world or the church (some scholars believe each of these). The weeds that were planted when they were young looked exactly like the wheat. This is why the man or master did not want his servants to go take out the weeds because it would be almost impossible to tell the difference between the two, not because there might be one or two 'good' seeds taken out, but because it was nearly impossible to tell the difference.

The story also talks about a time when it is okay to harvest. When the wheat and the weeds mature you can tell them apart, as they grow they begin to look very different. This is why the man said to wait until harvest, because then it is impossible to pull out the wheat instead of the weeds.

To me, this is one of those stories that continually happens. I know people in and out of the church who are good, good people who are after God's heart whether they realize it or not. And on the flip side I know people in and out of the church who are selfish and are only after the desires of their own heart. The majority of people I know fall somewhere inbetween though. They are still searching and struggling between these two places. They are far too young for me to determine whether they are wheat or not. I still don't know what I am either.

Donald Miller

2006-03-24T14:07:00.000-08:00

I've come across a couple of articles by Donald Miller recently, so I thought I would point them out to you in case you haven't seen them yet.

The first articles is a response to James Frey's book "A Million Little Pieces" which was made famous by Oprah and her rage. He then discusses our current western literary categories (non-fiction,fiction). The article was written for the Burnside Writers Collective and the article can be found here.

The second article is titled 'Searching for the Gospel of Jesus' which pretty much explains the content. The content parallels with much of the information found in his book 'Searching for God Knows What'. The article was written for Outreach Magazine and can be found here.

(thanks to Zach Lind and liquidthinking)

NOOOO!!!!

2006-03-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

Now that the Zags are out...my bracket is busted. I just pray that Texas gets beat.

New Directions

2006-03-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

I am sorry for the lack of post lately. My wife and I, as you can tell from this article, have decided to resign from our current positions at Yale Avenue Christian Church. It has been a very emotional and stressful rollercoaster that has left me completely dead. The reason that I am leaving is because the job has taken its toll on my marraige, spiritual life, and pretty much every area of my life. I have been dying for months now and I finally came to my breaking point.

Now that I have quit I can already feel life coming back to me, but I'm sure I will be healing for a long time to come.

I greatly appreaciate all that Yale Avenue has done for me and taught me. And I am glad that we are having a peaceful split.

Tank

Two Weeks Back

2006-03-08T18:08:00.000-08:00

What would a 33y/o Youth Pastor find out about students if he went back to high school for two weeks? If you are interested check out this blog. He has completed one week so far and starting with his second week of school he will begin to write some conclusions from what he has observed.

Tank

thanks to Marko

National Pastors Convention :: The E-Trip

2006-02-27T18:34:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of theologians and Doug who I found to be very interesting at the convention so i thought I would point you towards some of their resources and blogs.

Scot McKnight
I first heard of him only weeks ago when I recieved a copy of the 'Religion & Ethics' coverage of the Emergent movement DVD. He was labeled as someone who has been keeping up with the movement, but not part of the movement because of his reservations, so when I found out he would be speaking as a presenter at the Emergent Critical Concerns Course (or E-Trip :: E for Emergent and trip for the triple Cs) I thought he would be a critic of the movement who they invited to dialogue with. I actually almost didn't go to his portion of the E-trip because I was tired, but I went and I was very pleased. He gave a twenty minute talk on theology which wasn't critical at all. It actually complimented the rest of the talks nicely I thought. He wrote a few articles on his blog, my favorite being this one which states:

[...All this group of folks care about is theology...The topic at each juncture and between junctures and in passing was theology, Bible, and praxis. That’s it...] And [...They’re really into the intersection of theology, culture, and praxis — and it was stimulating to be part of...]

If you haven't already, you should check his blog out and his two books: The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others and Embracing Grace: A Gospel for All of Us which he said he wanted to title "What's so Embracing about Grace?". I haven't read these yet obviously, but I was with someone who was reading Embracing Grace and said he was enjoying it. You can find his presentation and responses on Doug Pagitt's podcast (there will be a link later) or in a few weeks on the Emergent Village site.

LeRon Shults
I have heard of LeRon Shults a few times here and there in Emergent circles, but hadn't really heard much from him. He was also a presenter at the E-Trip and was the most scholarly of presentations with words that I need a dictionary to understand. I need to listen to his presentation again to grasp it better. You should also check out his presentation on Doug's podcast and check out a few of his books The Faces of Forgiveness: Searching for Wholeness and Salvation, Reforming the Doctrine of God, and Reforming Theological Anthropology: After the Philosophical Turn to Relationality.

Doug Pagitt
I was the most familiar with Doug (out of these three) going into the E-Trip because I have read one of his books, heard him speak/teach a few times, and been reading his blog. He still surprised me though, everytime I encounter his thought I feel like he moves more and more towards something. I understand his thoughts more each time I hear him and I think he understands his thoughts more each time I see him or as he put it "Did I think all of this when I started? No. Did I feel all of this when I started? Yes." During the conference he recorded almost everything he did, and when I say almost everything I don't just mean seminars. You can find many of his recordings on his podcast which is found here. (You need to click the 'PagittCast' link at the top of the page to get to it.) You should also check out his books: Church Re-Imagined : The Spiritual Formation of People in Communities of Faith, Preaching Re-Imagined, and BodyPrayer : The Posture of Intimacy with God.

Gaslamp Quarter

2006-02-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

Last night I had dinner at the well known Hard Rock Cafe in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. It was a great place to do some shopping, eat, or just hangout. Exactly what Tulsa is missing. Anyone want to make an investment with me? I have about 20 bucks I can throw in. I'm not as concerned with making money on this investment, I just want to have something to do in Tulsa. Of course if we built it, the teenagers would come, and then no one in their 20s would want to go to it. Oh, Tulsa, how I love and hate thee.

Tulsa also needs to get a better public tranportation system...like a transit.

Modern conversing with Emerging

2006-02-25T11:07:00.000-08:00

I am constantly amazed at the difference between the Modern mind and the Post-Modern mind. I often hear that Post-Moderns don't think differently, but instead only believe differently. The problem is I have heard people from the 'Emergent' crowd explain their ideas and Moderns completely miss what they were saying and instead interpreting their ideas as heresy or at least close to heresy. Of course it does happen the other way around, but I would argue less because many of the Post-Modern thinkers of today have grown up conversing with the modern world. It will be interesting to see where this divide in thinking will go.

So-Cal is not Lo-Cal

2006-02-24T16:41:00.000-08:00

Here I am at the B-e-a-utiful Town and Country Resort, of course I am actually at the Best Western next door, but none-the-less, I am here in sunny San Diego attending the National Pastors Convention. I have had a blast so far sitting around and relaxing, going to a few seminars and sessions.

A Few Highlights so Far:

Emergent Critical Concern
Doug Pagitt's Scooter
Ken Medema Singing about Wine and Beer
Don Miller's Seminar on the Gospel
Rest
The Gaslamp Quarter and the transit ride

I really don't have anything exciting to say.

Tank

Please Stop :: Lost Music

2006-02-17T14:17:00.000-08:00

You kind of need to read my last post, to know why I have an opinion about this on this post.

Who puts together the episodes for Lost because he needs to be kicked. I hate those scenes at the end where Hugo puts on his headphones and the music takes over the scene and we see everything is good in the world (the island). STOP. You are wasting precious minutes where you could be killing people or revealing new 'others' or anything really. You could pretty much do anything and it would be more interesting than music playing and people being happy go lucky, eating fruit, and snuggling. It just needs to stop.

Please kill people, reveal secrets, or anything really.

I'm Lost...

2006-02-17T13:59:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not...I have fallen into the trap known as Lost. So, I will answer some questions that most of you Lost people will probably ask...because most of you are obsessed beyond it still being healthy.

1. John Locke is evil.
2. Why is Walt wet in the visions when he didn't go into the water, it sure makes it seem like it was made by someones imagination who thought that he had fallen off of the raft without knowing the truth.
3. Echo is the best character on the show, I just wish I knew more about him.
4. None of them will be rescued, nor will anyone of them survive beyond the fifth season...except Locke...because he is evil.

Thanks
Tank

My Blog it is A-Changin'

2006-02-15T09:49:00.001-08:00

If you have been to my blog before you can see that it is a little different, although still mostly the same. If you look to your right, which is also my right, you will see that I have added some books I'm reading, music I'm listening to, and if my ranting goes as planned, I should have a few, so I put links to those on the right, which right now is a measly one.

Thanks
Tank

Please Stop :: Christ Steals Culture

2006-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

I think I have finally decided to start ranting on my blog, since I like to do it so much in my daily life.

My first topic of discussion has to do with the idea that taking a well known icon/graphic/slogan/song and twisting it to have a Christian theme. I don't know who started this, or how long ago, I just know it needs to stop.

In case you don't know what I'm talking about...

Case and Point: Sprite turned into Spirit, isn't it just the cutest thing you have ever seen. What the hell is wrong with you people? ITS NOT COOL, NO ONE LIKES IT BUT YOU...and your grandma.

I have been working at a church and been going to district retreats and it seems like we can't just have a retreat. It has to be a "Fantastic Four" Retreat (of course the Fantastic Four are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) or we have a "Christian Eye for the World's Cry" Retreat, or a Windows (yes, the software) Retreat (we have different editions for different age groups and part of the theme is to XPlore...did you catch the 'XP' like Windows XP...). I don't know how anyone in their right mind would think "Hey, I've got it, lets have a retreat with a theme based off of software. I'm sure the senior high kids will think it's cool and of course this is going to help them grow closer to God."

The problem is: YOU PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS STUFF UP ARE CAUSING KIDS TO NOT LISTEN TO ANYTHING YOU SAY BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE IDIOTS WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THESE KIDS LIKE OR WHAT THESE KIDS ARE LIKE.

Please be original, authentic, and pay attention.

Bono's Sermon at the National Day of Prayer Breakfast

2006-02-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

If you're wondering what I'm doing here, at a prayer breakfast, well, so am I. I'm certainly not here as a man of the cloth, unless that cloth is leather. It's certainly not because I'm a rock star. Which leaves one possible explanation: I'm here because I've got a messianic complex.

Yes, it's true. And for anyone who knows me, it's hardly a revelation.

Well, I'm the first to admit that there's something unnatural...something unseemly...about rock stars mounting the pulpit and preaching at presidents, and then disappearing to their villas in the south of France. Talk about a fish out of water. It was weird enough when Jesse Helms showed up at a U2 concert...but this is really weird, isn't it?

You know, one of the things I love about this country is its separation of church and state. Although I have to say: in inviting me here, both church and state have been separated from something else completely: their mind.

Mr. President, are you sure about this?

It's very humbling and I will try to keep my homily brief. But be warned - I'm Irish.

I'd like to talk about the laws of man, here in this city where those laws are written. And I'd like to talk about higher laws. It would be great to assume that the one serves the other; that the laws of man serve these higher laws...but of course, they don't always. And I presume that, in a sense, is why you're here.

I presume the reason for this gathering is that all of us here - Muslims, Jews, Christians - all are searching our souls for how to better serve our family, our community, our nation, our God.

I know I am. Searching, I mean. And that, I suppose, is what led me here, too.

Yes, it's odd, having a rock star here - but maybe it's odder for me than for you. You see, I avoided religious people most of my life. Maybe it had something to do with having a father who was Protestant and a mother who was Catholic in a country where the line between the two was, quite literally, a battle line. Where the line between church and state was...well, a little blurry, and hard to see.

I remember how my mother would bring us to chapel on Sundays... and my father used to wait outside. One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.

For me, at least, it got in the way. Seeing what religious people, in the name of God, did to my native land...and in this country, seeing God's second-hand car salesmen on the cable TV channels, offering indulgences for cash...in fact, all over the world, seeing the self-righteousness roll down like a mighty stream from certain corners of the religious establishment...

I must confess, I changed the channel. I wanted my MTV.

Even though I was a believer.

Perhaps because I was a believer.

I was cynical...not about God, but about God's politics.

Then, in 1997, a couple of eccentric, septuagenarian British Christians went and ruined my shtick - my reproachfulness. They did it by describing the millennium, the year 2000, as a Jubilee year, as an opportunity to cancel the chronic debts of the world's poorest people. They had the audacity to renew the Lord's call - and were joined by Pope John Paul II, who, from an Irish half-Catholic's point of view, may have had a more direct line to the Almighty.

'Jubilee' - why 'Jubilee'?

What was this year of Jubilee, this year of our Lord's favor?

I'd always read the scriptures, even the obscure stuff. There it was in Leviticus (25:35)...

'If your brother becomes poor,' the scriptures say, 'and cannot maintain himself...you shall maintain him.... You shall not lend him your money at interest, not give him your food for profit.'

It is such an important idea, Jubilee, that Jesus begins his ministry with this. Jesus is a young man, he's met with the rabbis, impressed everyone, people are talking. The elders say, he's a clever guy, this Jesus, but he hasn't done much...yet. He hasn't spoken in public before...

When he does, is first words are from Isaiah: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,' he says, 'because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.' And Jesus proclaims the year of the Lord's favour, the year of Jubilee (Luke 4:18).

What he was really talking about was an era of grace - and we're still in it.

So fast-forward 2,000 years. That same thought, grace, was made incarnate - in a movement of all kinds of people. It wasn't a bless-me club... it wasn't a holy huddle. These religious guys were willing to get out in the streets, get their boots dirty, wave the placards, follow their convictions with actions...making it really hard for people like me to keep their distance. It was amazing. I almost started to like these church people.

But then my cynicism got another helping hand.

It was what Colin Powell, a five-star general, called the greatest W.M.D. of them all: a tiny little virus called AIDS. And the religious community, in large part, missed it. The ones that didn't miss it could only see it as divine retribution for bad behaviour. Even on children...even [though the] fastest growing group of HIV infections were married, faithful women.

Aha, there they go again! I thought to myself judgmentalism is back!

But in truth, I was wrong again. The church was slow but the church got busy on this the leprosy of our age.

Love was on the move.

Mercy was on the move.

God was on the move.

Moving people of all kinds to work with others they had never met, never would have cared to meet...conservative church groups hanging out with spokesmen for the gay community, all singing off the same hymn sheet on AIDS...soccer moms and quarterbacks...hip-hop stars and country stars. This is what happens when God gets on the move: crazy stuff happens!

Popes were seen wearing sunglasses!

Jesse Helms was seen with a ghetto blaster!

Crazy stuff. Evidence of the spirit.

It was breathtaking. Literally. It stopped the world in its tracks.

When churches started demonstrating on debt, governments listened - and acted. When churches starting organising, petitioning, and even - that most unholy of acts today, God forbid, lobbying...on AIDS and global health, governments listened - and acted.

I'm here today in all humility to say: you changed minds; you changed policy; you changed the world.

Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who He is or if He exists, most will agree that if there is a God, He has a special place for the poor. In fact, the poor are where God lives.

Check Judaism. Check Islam. Check pretty much anyone.

I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill. I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff. Maybe, maybe not. But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor.

God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. "If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom with become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places."

It's not a coincidence that in the scriptures, poverty is mentioned more than 2,100 times. It's not an accident. That's a lot of air time, 2,100 mentions. (You know, the only time Christ is judgmental is on the subject of the poor.) 'As you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40). As I say, good news to the poor.

Here's some good news for the president. After 9/11 we were told America would have no time for the world's poor. America would be taken up with its own problems of safety. And it's true these are dangerous times, but America has not drawn the blinds and double-locked the doors.

In fact, you have doubled aid to Africa. You have tripled funding for global health. Mr. President, your emergency plan for AIDS relief and support for the Global Fund - you and Congress - have put 700,000 people onto life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and provided 8 million bed nets to protect children from malaria.

Outstanding human achievements. Counterintuitive. Historic. Be very, very proud.

But here's the bad news. From charity to justice, the good news is yet to come. There is much more to do. There's a gigantic chasm between the scale of the emergency and the scale of the response.

And finally, it's not about charity after all, is it? It's about justice.

Let me repeat that: It's not about charity, it's about justice.

And that's too bad.

Because you're good at charity. Americans, like the Irish, are good at it. We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can't afford it.

But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.

Sixty-five hundred Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity, this is about justice and equality.

Because there's no way we can look at what's happening in Africa and, if we're honest, conclude that deep down, we really accept that Africans are equal to us. Anywhere else in the world, we wouldn't accept it. Look at what happened in South East Asia with the tsunami. 150,000 lives lost to that misnomer of all misnomers, "mother nature." In Africa, 150,000 lives are lost every month. A tsunami every month. And it's a completely avoidable catastrophe.

It's annoying but justice and equality are mates. Aren't they? Justice always wants to hang out with equality. And equality is a real pain.

You know, think of those Jewish sheep-herders going to meet the Pharaoh, mud on their shoes, and the Pharaoh says, "Equal?" A preposterous idea: rich and poor are equal? And they say, "Yeah, 'equal,' that's what it says here in this book. We're all made in the image of God."

And eventually the Pharaoh says, "OK, I can accept that. I can accept the Jews - but not the blacks."

"Not the women. Not the gays. Not the Irish. No way, man."

So on we go with our journey of equality.

On we go in the pursuit of justice.

We hear that call in the ONE Campaign, a growing movement of more than 2 million Americans...Left and Right together... united in the belief that where you live should no longer determine whether you live.

We hear that call even more powerfully today, as we mourn the loss of Coretta Scott King - mother of a movement for equality, one that changed the world but is only just getting started. These issues are as alive as they ever were; they just change shape and cross the seas.

Preventing the poorest of the poor from selling their products while we sing the virtues of the free market...that's a justice issue. Holding children to ransom for the debts of their grandparents...that's a justice issue. Withholding life-saving medicines out of deference to the Office of Patents...that's a justice issue.

And while the law is what we say it is, God is not silent on the subject.

That's why I say there's the law of the land¿. And then there is a higher standard. There's the law of the land, and we can hire experts to write them so they benefit us, so the laws say it's OK to protect our agriculture but it's not OK for African farmers to do the same, to earn a living?

As the laws of man are written, that's what they say.

God will not accept that.

Mine won't, at least. Will yours?

[ pause]

I close this morning on...very...thin...ice.

This is a dangerous idea I've put on the table: my God vs. your God, their God vs. our God...vs. no God. It is very easy, in these times, to see religion as a force for division rather than unity.

And this is a town - Washington - that knows something of division.

But the reason I am here, and the reason I keep coming back to Washington, is because this is a town that is proving it can come together on behalf of what the scriptures call the least of these.

This is not a Republican idea. It is not a Democratic idea. It is not even, with all due respect, an American idea. Nor it is unique to any one faith.

'Do to others as you would have them do to you' (Luke 6:30). Jesus says that.

'Righteousness is this: that one should...give away wealth out of love for him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the emancipation of the captives.' The Koran says that (2.177).

Thus sayeth the Lord: 'Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring fourth, then your Lord will be your rear guard.' The Jewish scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again.

That is a powerful incentive: 'The Lord will watch your back.' Sounds like a good deal to me, right now.

A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord's blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it¿. I have a family, please look after them¿. I have this crazy idea...

And this wise man said: stop.

He said, stop asking God to bless what you're doing.

Get involved in what God is doing - because it's already blessed.

Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing.

And that is what he's calling us to do.

I was amazed when I first got to this country and I learned how much some churchgoers tithe. Up to 10% of the family budget. Well, how does that compare with the federal budget, the budget for the entire American family? How much of that goes to the poorest people in the world? Less than 1%.

Mr. President, Congress, people of faith, people of America:

I want to suggest to you today that you see the flow of effective foreign assistance as tithing.... Which, to be truly meaningful, will mean an additional 1% of the federal budget tithed to the poor.

What is 1%?

1% is not merely a number on a balance sheet.

1% is the girl in Africa who gets to go to school, thanks to you. 1% is the AIDS patient who gets her medicine, thanks to you. 1% is the African entrepreneur who can start a small family business thanks to you. 1% is not redecorating presidential palaces or money flowing down a rat hole. This 1% is digging waterholes to provide clean water.

1% is a new partnership with Africa, not paternalism toward Africa, where increased assistance flows toward improved governance and initiatives with proven track records and away from boondoggles and white elephants of every description.

America gives less than 1% now. We're asking for an extra 1% to change the world. to transform millions of lives - but not just that and I say this to the military men now - to transform the way that they see us.

1% is national security, enlightened economic self-interest, and a better, safer world rolled into one. Sounds to me that in this town of deals and compromises, 1% is the best bargain around.

These goals - clean water for all; school for every child; medicine for the afflicted, an end to extreme and senseless poverty - these are not just any goals; they are the Millennium Development goals, which this country supports. And they are more than that. They are the Beatitudes for a globalised world.

Now, I'm very lucky. I don't have to sit on any budget committees. And I certainly don't have to sit where you do, Mr. President. I don't have to make the tough choices.

But I can tell you this:

To give 1% more is right. It's smart. And it's blessed.

There is a continent - Africa - being consumed by flames.

I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did - or did not to - to put the fire out in Africa.

History, like God, is watching what we do.

Thank you. Thank you, America, and God bless you all.

Being Sensitive

2006-01-30T11:45:00.000-08:00

1 The question keeps coming up regarding meat that has been offered up to an idol: Should you attend meals where such meat is served, or not? We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions - 2 but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. 3 We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all.

4 Some people say, quite rightly, that idols have no actual existence, that there's nothing to them, that there is no God other than our one God, 5 that no matter how many of these so-called gods are named and worshiped they still don't add up to anything but a tall story. 6 They say - again, quite rightly - that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from him, and that he wants us to live for him. Also, they say that there is only one Master - Jesus the Messiah - and that everything is for his sake, including us. Yes. It's true.

7 In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the meat when it was offered up to an idol. It's just like any other meat. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive. We need to be sensitive to the fact that we're not all at the same level of understanding in this. Some of you have spent your entire lives eating "idol meat," and are sure that there's something bad in the meat that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience shaped under those conditions isn't going to change overnight. 8 But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it. 9 But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a Christian still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track. 10 For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused - maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong. 11 Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn't you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him - because, as you say, it doesn't really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! 12 When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn't worth it at the cost of even one of these "weak ones." 13 So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there's any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.

1 Corinthians 8

A little about me...

2006-01-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

I took this personality test today...the link is in my sidebar. And since I have nothing better to do, I decided to share with all.

I am a type 7.

What is a type 7?

The busy, productive type. Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness. At their Best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied.

Who else is a type 7?

John F. Kennedy, Benjamin Franklin, Leonard Bernstein, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Elizabeth Taylor, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Steven Spielberg, Federico Fellini, Richard Feynman, Timothy Leary, Robin Williams, Jim Carey, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Bette Midler, Chuck Berry, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Gianni Versace, Liza Minelli, Joan Collins, Malcolm Forbes, Noel Coward, Sarah Ferguson, Larry King, Joan Rivers, Regis Philbin, Howard Stern, John Belushi, and "Auntie Mame" (Mame).

I'm in good company.

I am also an ENTP.

What is an ENTP?

"Clever" is the word that perhaps describes ENTPs best. The professor who juggles half a dozen ideas for research papers and grant proposals in his mind while giving a highly entertaining lecture on an abstruse subject is a classic example of the type. So is the stand-up comedian whose lampoons are not only funny, but incisively accurate.

ENTPs are usually verbally as well as cerebrally quick, and generally love to argue--both for its own sake, and to show off their often-impressive skills. They tend to have a perverse sense of humor as well, and enjoy playing devil's advocate. They sometimes confuse, even inadvertently hurt, those who don't understand or accept the concept of argument as a sport.

ENTPs are as innovative and ingenious at problem-solving as they are at verbal gymnastics; on occasion, however, they manage to outsmart themselves. This can take the form of getting found out at "sharp practice"--ENTPs have been known to cut corners without regard to the rules if it's expedient -- or simply in the collapse of an over-ambitious juggling act. Both at work and at home, ENTPs are very fond of "toys"--physical or intellectual, the more sophisticated the better. They tend to tire of these quickly, however, and move on to new ones.

ENTPs are basically optimists, but in spite of this (perhaps because of it?), they tend to become extremely petulant about small setbacks and inconveniences. (Major setbacks they tend to regard as challenges, and tackle with determin- ation.) ENTPs have little patience with those they consider wrongheaded or unintelligent, and show little restraint in demonstrating this. However, they do tend to be extremely genial, if not charming, when not being harassed by life in general.

In terms of their relationships with others, ENTPs are capable of bonding very closely and, initially, suddenly, with their loved ones. Some appear to be deceptively offhand with their nearest and dearest; others are so demonstrative that they succeed in shocking co-workers who've only seen their professional side. ENTPs are also good at acquiring friends who are as clever and entertaining as they are. Aside from those two areas, ENTPs tend to be oblivious of the rest of humanity, except as an audience -- good, bad, or potential.

Who else is an ENTP?

Alexander the Great
Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart
Sir Walter Raleigh
Thomas Edison
Lewis Carrol, author (Alice in Wonderland)
Julia Child
Suzanne Pleshette
George Carlin
Valerie Harper
John Candy
John Sununu
Weird Al Yankovick
Marilyn Vos Savant
Alfred Hitchcock
Tom Hanks
David Spade
Céline Dion
Matthew Perry, Chandler ("Friends")
Rodney Dangerfield

That is all.
Tank

Oh Hasselhoff, You've done it again...

2006-01-15T17:49:00.000-08:00

San Diego Here I Come...in a month.

2006-01-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

I just found out this week that I get to go to the National Pastor's Convention in San Diego the last week of February. I have never been to California or anywhere on the west coast. This should be a great oppurtunity to gain some west coast street cred before I move to Seattle and go to Mars Hill Graduate School, which isn't for sure and I don't know for sure when I will do it, but at least I will have that street cred. I am also thinking about getting tickets to the Bob Dylan Musical that is starting this month in San Diego, it is written by the same person who did the Billy Joel musical that has been touring the country in the last year or so. I am also about two miles from the San Diego Zoo and I really want to go check that out, but tickets are $32 or something like that. I have heard that we are also close to some really cool museums which I would like to check out. Oh, and I'll probably go to a few of the emergent tracks while I'm there as well.

Tank

Oklahoma: The Sooner State

2006-01-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

I've always thought Oklahoma was an OK state, until today.

We have a law on the books that states:

Oklahoma will not tolerate anyone taking a bite out of another's hamburger.

Isn't our land grand?

For other Dumb Oklahoma Laws goto:
http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/oklahoma/

Tank

The State of the McNugget

2006-01-07T21:24:00.000-08:00

So I have this dog, we'll call her Grace because that is her name, and she eats pretty much anything you put in front of her. Shoes, anything plastic, CDs, DVDs, etc. So today I was eating Chicken McNuggets from the one and only McDonald's and I was full with a nugget remaining. So I did what any person would do and gave it to my little Grace. The odd thing is that she didn't eat it, SHE PLAYED WITH IT LIKE IT WAS A TOY, you have to understand that she doesn't play with her plastic/nylon toys, she eats them, but a McNugget...No way, she wasn't going to eat that crap.

Moral of the Story: Don't Eat McNuggets! (A dog wont even eat them, why would you?)

My Top 10 CDs of 2005

2006-01-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, so these are mostly just CDs that I have been listening to lately, so maybe it should be called My top 10 CDs of the last couple of months of 2005, but anyways here I go.

Weezer - Make Believe

I like weezer, but I really only listen to them here and there, that is before this CD came out. I love this CD and couldn't stop listening to it for days, nay months. This CD got me to start to listen to their old CDs again, it was like I was becoming a Weezer fan all over again.

The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema

This is good example of a new album, I just got it yesterday, but the reason I got it was because of all of the good reviews. It has been on many Top 10 List and rightfully so, this CD is well worth the money. Listen to the track "The Bleeding Heart Show".

Beck - Guero

There are no words to describe this CD except amazing. A great CD all the way through, of course there are tracks that I skip every once in awhile when I'm not in the mood, but every track is good at some point.

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (Come On Feel The Illinoise)

Probably my favorite CD of the year, I have listened to this CD since it came out, picked it up because of the reviews it was getting and I became hooked on Sufjan. He has had such an amazing year with the release of this CD and I'm sure many fans like myself have started listening to his older CDs. I mean, the man can play more instruments than I have fingers and toes, and just in case you were wondering I still have all my fingers and toes.

Ryan Adams - 29

Ryan Adams is one of the greatest songwriters that I listen to, and with his most recent release, the third this year, he blows me away. The CD has nine songs recounting his life in his 20s. The tracks range from depressing to questioning, which isn't much of a range at all, but they are expressed so well.

Coldplay - X & Y

This is an obvious choice, but it is a really great album from a really great group. I would bore you with some meaningless ramblings here about the album, but lets be honest, most of you have heard it anyway.

Death Cab for Cutie - Plans

I love this album, although it does fall short of their last release Transatlanticism. The CD follows the usual Death Cab formula of tracks that rest between the point of completely rocking out and completely laid back, with a new hint of electronics, probably due to the success of "Give Up" by The Postal Service (A CD that everyman should own and cherish).

Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later

Although this CD probably shouldn't be on my Top 10 list, it is a great CD worth a listen.

Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak

Again, another CD that I read good reviews and decided to listen to, and I wasn't let down. This CD is a great example of the ageold tale of some Oklahoma boys who moved to Nashville and recorded a CD of southern rock. They went from being the worship band for their father/uncle Leon Followill, an evangelist, to rocking, to being on the first leg of the U2 North American Tour.

Ben Lee - Awake Is The New Sleep

Last, but certainly not least is Ben Lee's newest album. This CD has some catchy lyrics and music that will get your body moving, although not very fast.

2006-01-04T23:22:00.000-08:00

I was watching Creflo Dollar, a well known evangelist, on television tonight (don't ask why) and he said that he thinks the only proof that someone is filled with the Holy Spirit is by their love, not by speaking in tongues or prophecy.

I just thought that was interesting to hear and thought I would pass it on.

Tank

2005-12-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

Well the onslaught is finally over. I think I went to something like 7 different Christmas events, which each of them were alright. Then again there were SEVEN and I often felt like I might loose my mind. So, if you were wondering where my blogging was, that is what happened. By the time I got to my computer I was so fried that I just said forget it.

On another note, I have a new car on the way (hopefully tomorrow) and that is pretty sweet. I can't wait to be done driving the boat around town. If you were wondering what I am getting, this is it:

Just Imagine it in black.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

Tank

Dreams do come true...

2005-12-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to see hundreds of bouncy balls all bouncing at the same time. Well, for an ad for a Sony Bravia TV, they did exactly that, except they exceeded my expectations with 250,000 bouncing balls and they bounced them down the streets of San Francisco, which is pretty cool.

Check out the commercial here: Bouncy Balls

2005-12-15T22:59:00.000-08:00

I still haven't found out much about my car. Is it totaled or is it not totaled, that is my question. I was supposed to know by today, but alas, I still don't know.

I have been looking online for what seems like hours looking for a new car. If it is totaled I want to be able to get into a new car as soon as possible so I don't have to worry about this anymore.

My mind has become warped by this week of the wreck and finals. I can't think of anything original, funny, or thought provoking. Instead I will just leave you with these people jumping on bouncy balls and wish you a great week and happy holidays.

New Layout...With(out) Issues

2005-12-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

I really like this blog layout, but there are a few issues for me.

UPDATE

1. NO ISSUES WITH THE LAYOUT

2. Jason Jackson is a jerk...but you really should check out his blog. He has a post a about an interview with Sufjan Stevens.

To get to his blog click the link which is on the right side of my Blog under 'Blogs'

Tank

2005-12-13T22:46:00.001-08:00

Do you ever have one of those weekends?

Well I just got done with one.

This Saturday I was at church at Saturday Night (www.sntlc.com) and we had a great service, which was about the only good thing this weekend, and I left early so I could go home and study all night for my finals which were all on Monday. So, I get home and I begin to study a little bit, but around 12.30 my wife and I make our all to familiar trip to my father's donut shop to get donuts for the church that I work at for Sunday morning. We are going up I-44 and I get off an exit early on 21st street, I don't know why I got off an exit early, it was completely unintentional. In fact I looked at my wife and said, "That's weird, why did I get off an exit early?" Well, anyways, I get to the light at the end of the exit ramp, there is a red light, so I bring my vehicle to a halt, look both ways, no cars. I take my right turn into the first lane and WHAM! What followed was some incoherent yelling and watching another car spark its way across the median of the road about a half a block up the street. That's right you heard it here first, probably, I was in a wreck and it was my fault. Thank God no one was hurt, but his car was surely totaled and my car is under inspection right now, but I am convinced it is totaled as well.

So, needless to say, I didn't get to study Saturday night, which honestly I probably wouldn't have got much done, but the wreck still sucks. As a result of all that nonsense I stayed up all night Sunday night studying for my finals, which was not nearly enough time, which is my fault, partially. I took my finals on Monday exausted and I don't think I did too well.
So let's recap: Wreck, All-Nighter Studying, Finals without much preparation.

This is why I haven't been writing lately, but thankfully I am on a break from school until the second week of January, so I should update more often, hopefully.

Pray for my car situation and DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A GOOD CHEAP CAR I COULD BUY?

2005-12-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

I heard about this artist, more accurately, I saw this artist on Carson Daly's late night show and I thought he was very interesting, and very good. What interest me was that he was in full Jewish garb. Come to find out he was a part of the Hasidic sect of the Jewish Religion. The other interesting thing is that he was singing, you guessed it, reggae. He was singing lyrics about God, Torah, etc. So, I finally got his CD this week and I am blown away, it is really good.

Here is his bio:

Matthew Miller was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania on June 30th 1979, corresponding to the Jewish date of the 5th of Tamuz 5740. Shortly after his birth, the Miller family moved to Berkeley, CA and eventually settled in White Plains, NY. Growing up, Matisyahu's parents sent him to Hebrew School a couple of times a week, but like many kids, he resisted the additional school hours and was frequently threatened with expulsion for disrupting the lessons.

By the age of 14, Matthew Miller slid comfortably into the laid-back lifestyle of a teenage hippie. Having fallen in with the "Dead-Head" crowd, he grew dreadlocks and wore his Birkenstocks all winter long. He played his bongos in the lunchroom and learned how to beat-box in the back of class. By 11th grade, despite his carefree days, Matisyahu couldn't ignore the void in his life. After nearly burning down his chemistry class, he knew his mission must begin immediately. He decided to set off on a camping trip in Colorado. Away from his suburban life in White Plains, Matisyahu had the opportunity to take an introspective look at himself and contemplate his environment. It was there in the awe-inspiring landscape of the Rocky Mountain's, that Matisyahu had an eye-opening realization: there is a G-d... (more)

2005-12-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

Cinemark
Tulsa, OK
Late Thursday/Early Friday
12:04 am Showing
Be There.

2005-12-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'm sick, and what I mean by sick is, I have this desire to use the toilet, CONSTANTLY.

I'll give an example, for purely medical reasons. Tonight I went to church, and as I was singing I had this slight feeling in my nether regions, and when I say slight, I thought it was only in my head. I enter the restroom, taking my time, talking to people on the way, etc. As I placed my posterior on the saddle, there were more explosions than the fourth of July. I have been this way for like three days now and I think it has come to the breaking point, I'm going to take some drugs for this.

What also stinks is that my wife is sicker than a dog, which is such an odd saying.

2005-12-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

Warning: I'm a young, handsome, newlywed. Some of this may not apply to you (if you are single), and some of you are probably years ahead of me, so be forwarned if this bores that socks off of your feet or beanies of your head.

I have been married for going on four months now, which just now strikes me as being 1/3 of the way to a year, that is so crazy. Anyways, it is hard, and when I say hard, I MEAN HARDER THAN HARD. I will stop you now, I'm probably not going where you think I'm going, then again if you are married, you might know all to well where I am going.

I have been an only child, the older brother of a half-sister, and the step-brother of four (one of those doesn't really count though). I've kind of been through the gammit of family situations growing up and boy did that suck, but I was the only child toward the end of my tenure with the parent(s), this isn't a good place to be. Let me explain (at least somewhat), have you ever know families that have the younger or youngest child who gets more 'things' and possibly 'attention' because their parents now have only one child to focus their resources and attention towards, well this 'kind-of' was me, the only difference being that I was usually the oldest and was thrust into the situation of being the sole benefactor of resources (not so much attention, but we won't get into that here). This totally messed me up, I became, and still am to a degree, pretty selfish.

Here is my problem:

Pretty Selfish + Marriage = Disaster

The funny thing about it is that you really can't enter 'pretty selfish' into any positive equation and come out with a good result, maybe meager, but that is about as far as it can go. Again, I'll give you some examples:

Pretty Selfish + Church = A "Christian"**

** A "Christian" here means someone who puts on a pretty image for people to see, but in reality they aren't being healed from the inside out, they don't care about the poor, or anyone outside of their current sphere of influence. They are in it for what they can get out of it: safety, 'fire-insurance', answers. They are commited as long as they feel that they are being benefited from the Church, which really isn't commitment at all.

So, as many of you would agree if you were in my situation, I don't want my marraige to be a disaster. This means that I need to remove a part of the above equation. Let us now look at what removing these would look like.

First we will take out Marriage.

Disaster - Marriage = Divorce

Not at all where I want this to go, but I know this is what happens everyday, which is a hard reality to face. The problem here is that I lose twice. I lose the love of my life, and I lose because I am still 'pretty selfish', which will only lead to more problems, not less, even if I do get a divorce.

Next lets try taking out Pretty Selfish and see what happens.

Disaster - Pretty Selfish = Death

Wait, that doesn't sound too nice either, there has to be something wrong. I have this disaster (which is made up of me being selfish and my marriage) and I take out my selfishness, I should end up with a happy marriage, or something like it.

The thing is this, to remove this selfish part of me, I have to die. I have to let go of myself and begin to embrace my wife, God, and this new me that in reality isn't new at all, it is the original design of me, the me who is hiding behind all the junk. The equation that leads to death isn't done if it ends in death. If you take my death (the end of this selfish me) and you add it to my marriage you will get ... well, I don't know for sure to tell you the truth, I am in the middle of the dying part right now. I don't know where this death is leading, I only have to follow it one day at a time.

But, maybe we shouldn't call it death. Maybe we should call it life.

New Beginnings

2005-12-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

It's a b-e-a-utiful thing. A Big Shout-out to my Wife for my early Christmas Present. I just got a new computer, which would account for my lack of posting, because I have been too busy marveling over the new programming. Well, ok, I really have been kind of busy with school too, I have one week left and then finals week. But, back to the computer. It is heads above any PC that I have ever used. Apple, I, from this day forth, pledge my unwavering loyalty to you, unless of course someone can create something better.

My Redemptive Story (or should I say Song?)

2005-11-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

I just watched ‘Walk the Line’…you know, the Johnny Cash story. I don’t want to ruin it, so I won’t. But there is a huge, huge story of Redemption. The theme of redemption that I want to harp on is the one between June Carter and Johnny. The story reminds me of my own.

I am a newly wed, and all of those out there who are married, know all the problems and joys that come with that. Throughout the movie I resonated with Johnny Cash with his family issues. I watched him, how it affected him, and realized (or should I say remembered) my own issues. I felt pain, I cried. There is this point where Johnny finds his redemption through June, and then a few minutes later June finds her redemption through Johnny. And something just kind of snapped in my head. My wife and I have had our issues, a lot of that coming from our crappy family situations growing up, but we are each others redemption.

I feel free somehow right now, and deeply, deeply in love.

Negative-holic.

2005-11-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

So often I look at my Youth Group and think that I am a failure, I do not know what it is about myself, the crappy childhood, being American and growing up under a negative culture, my exposure to Fundamentalism and rejection of it, or a combination of them all, but it takes work for me to see the positive side of things.

Hi, My name is Tank, and I’m a Negative-holic.

Of course, my negativity does not stop with my Youth Group, it extends to all parts of my life, but since I am at a Youth Workers convention, that’s what I am really focused on right now. I have a group of kids who do not want to talk about God, the reason for that is that they do not know much about God (at least they do not think they do), but the real problem is that they resist trying to learn about God because after all God is boring and does not have anything to do with their lives right? He is just some far away thing, that watches, judges, and waits for fateful moments throughout the day to toy with us and really screw up everything.

Here is the thing that I tend to forget, or perhaps a better way of putting it, I do not even notice. One thing that they do want to talk about is their lives, and not surface stuff, they often want to really talk about their lives. I know a lot about them, and I fail to notice that I do. Of course, the negative side of me says, You can do better, What about so-and-so, she has not been there for two weeks and you do not know why, etc. And the fact is, there is a lot of truth in those statements, but if I focus on those statements, I will soon crumble, and then I really will not be doing a good job because I will be dead.

I want to be fully present with them every time I see them.

When I look into their faces, I find myself in every one of them; I see how our stories intersect. I guess you could say I see God, I see truth. I have the natural desire to find how we are connected, how we already know each other, even if we have never met.

I know that God is present in my Youth Group. I know that he is present in my life. I know that he is present in their lives. Now it’s time for me to realize it, and for them to realize it to.

God guide us.

Being Fully Alive

2005-11-18T20:01:00.000-08:00

This is a journal of a thought from today's Tony Campolo's Seminar.

We spend most of our lives either feeling guilty for our past or having fear about the future, you know death, we worry about dying. The question to ask ourselves is how often do we spend our life living in the moment that we are in, without guilt from the past or fear of the future.

Tony asked a student in the front row of one of his classes how long he had lived, and the guy responded 25 years or so. Tony said, "No, not how long have you been physically on the earth. When I was in 9th grade I went to the top of the Empire State Building. At first I was running around and just being a kid, but then I walked over to the edge and looked out at the city, I just began to soak it all in. If I live a billion years I would remember that moment because it is part of who I am. It was when I was fully alive. So, I ask you again, how long in your life have you been alive, really alive?" The student responded, "One, maybe two minutes."

How can I/we live a life of being fully alive?

Tony went on to talk about an evangelist, who when he was a child told him that when he got to heaven all of his bad thoughts were going to be put up on a big screen in front of everyone and played. He then mentioned that there was a tape with Nixon telling people to commit the crime of Watergate, but when they went to listen to it there was a long silence where the conversation had been...it had been erased. This, he concluded, is what our experience in heaven will be more like, Christ has erased the tape.

The same is true about our future, Christ has taken care of it.

So, again I ask, how can I/we live a life of being fully alive? Everything is taken care of, we can just be, live in the moment.

This is the theme of my convention...how can I be fully alive?

Tony Campolo

2005-11-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

I went to go see Tony's seminar about "Apologetics...and some more title that I forgot." Tony was amazing as always and gave me enough to think about for the rest of the convention. Here are some of his thoughts, but reader beware, I still need to journal about some of this and sort it out myself.

"If truth could be found with reason, then the most intelligent would have the truth and the stupid wouldn't, but this isn't true."

Speaking at a conference, he gave a lecture, and a person afterwards questioned him about his Christianity. He asked, "How can you believe the Bible is truth?" Tony responded that he decided to believe it and since then he has been finding arguments to support it. The man said, "That's what I thought." Tony said, "Why do you not believe that the Bible is truth?" The man said, "There are too many contradictions." Tony said, "Name Ten for me right here." The man couldn't respond, so Tony said, "9…I'll settle for 8..how about 7..6…5..4..3..2………Can you even name one?" He then said to the man, "You see you decided that you weren't going to believe the Bible is truth and since then have been finding arguments to support it."

"In art throughout the centuries you can look at it and learn more about the cultural ideas about Jesus than about Jesus."

Tony came across a homeless man on the street who looked rather crazy and had a nasty looking cup of McDonald's coffee. The man came up to Tony and asked him if he wanted some of his coffee. Tony didn't want the coffee, but he didn't want to turn down the generosity. So, he took a drink of the coffee. He asked the man, "Why would you give me some of your coffee, you don't have much to give?" The man said, "Well, today's coffee was especially good and I think that when God blesses you with something then you should share it." Tony thought that this guy had set him up and said, "You want something from me don't you?" and the man said, "Yes…….I want a hug." Tony went to him and the man wrapped his arms around him, then Tony wrapped his arms around the man. Tony realized that this man wasn't going to let go, people passed by and were looking. Tony felt embarrassed at first, but as time passed he began to feel awe and reverence.

"We are not supposed to be trying to get youth to find something, we are trying to get them to commit to something."

These are just copied from my notes, so if there are typos...don't blame me.

I'll think out some of this and journal about it soon.

Nashville Convention

2005-11-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

I didn't end up going to the CCC because of some mis-communication. So that is why there is a lack of updating so far, because I haven't gone to anything, and my life has been eventfilled lately, but not postable.

I'm Pissed...

2005-11-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

READ THIS...

I feel sick...

NYWC Nashville

2005-11-14T12:14:00.000-08:00

I am off to see the wizard, or uh, Marko, pretty much the same thing. I hear that marko likes to stand behind curtains and pull levers. I am also going to be part of what is being called the 'Soul Shaper' retreat within the convention, which should be nice because I could use some rest, then again, I think all of the people that come feel the exact same way.

Here is my (proposed) schedule for the event:

Thursday, Nov 17th
1-6PM
Becoming the Beloved: Healing Our Identity in God
Mark Yaconelli

6-6.15
ORIENTATION for the Soul Shaper Retreat

7.30-9
Group Spiritual Direction

Friday, Nov 18th
8.30-11.30
Becoming the Beloved: Healing Our Identity in God
Mark Yaconelli

1-3.30
General Session #1 w/Mark Yaconelli

4-5.30
Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenager
Chap Clark

or

Group Spiritual Direction

10.15-11.15
VESPERS Selah Music and Prayer

Saturday, Nov 19th
7.15-7.45
Lauds Morning Prayer

8-9.30
Postmodernism: Good and/or Bad? A Brotherly Conversation
Tony Jones, Duffy Robbins Moderated by Dan Kimball

10-12
General Session #3 w/Doug Pagitt

12.30-12.45
Mid-Day Prayer

2-4.30
Pursuing a Theological Matrix for Youth Ministry: Intersecting Theology with Real-Life Youth Ministry
Steve Argue, Dave Livermore

or

Group Spiritual Direction

10-11
Late Night Theology Discussion w/ Tony Jones

Sunday, Nov 20th
7.15-7.45
Lauds Morning Prayer

8-9.30
I'm really not that drawn to anything, maybe Tony Jones? or Steve Argue? I'll probably just go where some people I know are going.

12.30-12.45
Mid-Day Prayer

2-3.30
Closing Service for Retreat

10.15-11.15
VESPERS Selah Music and Prayer

Monday, Nov 21st
8.15-8.45
Lauds Morning Prayer

9-10.30
Becoming Human: A Spiritual Theology for a New Kind of Youth Worker
Mike King

11-1
General Session #7 w/ Mark Oestreicher

That's about it, of course this is all subject to change, and yes I know I am missing some general sessions.

I hope to blog about most of my experiences.

Tank

p.s. I will be taking frequent 'Cat-Naps' and if you didn't read that with a George Bush accent, then do it now!

Titles, titles, titles...

2005-11-13T19:27:00.000-08:00

I am sick of being called 'Emergent' or...even 'Christian' and being painted with the broad strokes of generalization. I guess if I were to be lumped into categories, I would be placed in both, but it is still a pain in the arse. On the worst days I am ready to leave the church altogether, on my best, which are most I hope, I am ready to change the church or to 'rethink' as we say, of course that is probably just another generalization.

The Messiah's Return and Pain

2005-11-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

Today as I was driving I, for some reason unknown to me, had this idea pop into my head:

If the Messiah were alive today, we would crucify him too.

I was thinking about whether this was true or not, of course I only thought about for about 5 minutes while I was waiting at a stop light, so they aren't too deep.

1. We live in an interesting time where we hear that 'postmodern' people are far more open to spirituality than many of those that have come before us. This kind of throws a kink in the idea of us crucifing him, at least initially in the argument, because you would expect people open to spirituality to cling to Jesus.

2. The argument against my last point is that Jesus wouldn't just be some spiritual guy walking around telling cool stories, his call was to repentence. Of course in Christianity today, especially within evangelical circles, we have all these layers involved in our language. Today, repentence means to turn from one's sin, which is a decent description (although I think that this definition only describes the word in part, it was a turning of everything toward's God, our mind, strength, and heart). I think our biggest mistake is our current definition of sin. It, for some reason, doesn't include not loving, or feeding the poor, or caring about people, or anything socially aware, and I think Jesus would be pissed, to say the least about this within the church...this would definetely get him crucified.

3. Jesus often had something to say to the rich, or at least about the rich. He told the man who asked him how to be good to sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor...the thing is this, as an American who has a car, that means ANYONE WHO HAS A CAR, is automatically put into something like the top 2% of the richest people in the world, even if you were given the car, at least you can get to a place with clean water and a bathroom. I consider having a water toilet and fresh water to put us on the list of 'Rich Christians'. I think Jesus would have volumes to say about how materialistic our country is, and that would be so hard for people to follow. Chalk another Crucifixtion up for Jesus.

That does it, 2-1 Jesus would most likely be crucified. Whoops, I mean of course we wouldn't crucify him because we are so much more advanced in our thinking and the way that we kill people...we are SOOO much better than Rome was, after all, we are a Christian Nation.

PAIN...

Today in my Systematic Theology class we were talking about the question of a Good God and Evil (basically). We talked back on forth on the subject for a few minutes and then our professor stopped us to talk about pain. He read a story about a girl who couldn't feel pain because of a extremely rare condition. When she was at school she had to be watched at all times. When she was about to eat lunch, they had to check to see if it was too hot because she would eat anything, even something that was boiling hot, and wouldn't even know it was burning her insides. When she was a baby and was teething she would chew her fingers until they were bloody and missing chunks of skin because she had no idea. When she was a toddler she went outside and placed her hand on a hot engine (or something like that) and she came back into the house looking at her hand that was covered in blisters and all red and burnt. Her mother said at the end of the article that her only wish in life was that her daughter could feel pain.

This kind of gave me a kick in the stomach. It is amazing to think that maybe pain is a good thing because if we didn't have pain we would get hurt, or hurt ourselves, and would eventually kill ourselves. I am still wrestling with all of this and I haven't got to think this through at all, I just remember it and it has been in my head all day..you would think I would have thought about it, but I haven't for some reason. Any thoughts of your own?