A tragedy at Burning Man.
30,000 people in that atmosphere and this is bound to happen. It will be interesting to see how it is dealt with by the leaders. My sympathies to all parties involved. CNN.com - Woman dies when run over by 'art car' - Aug. 31, 2003
8.31.2003
8.30.2003
Good News - It DOES rain in Kansas City! After a long drought, we woke up this morning to a soft rain that continues to fall. We enjoyed a lazy pancake breakfast and have all gravitated to the family room with laptops or library books. Little boys are piled everywhere. Grayson is reading to Zion...a version of "One Fish, Two Fish" that I've never heard before.
Monday starts a corporate fast for IHOP - the first monday, tues & wed of each month, the entire staff fasts (to varying degrees - it's not a legalistic thing) that the church would be awakened to the knowledge of how God regards His people - in the manner of a bridegroom who looks to His bride.
Meanwhile, tonight, a man burns in the desert. I had a brief IM chat with Media Mogul Ronjon who was on site @ Burning Man. Thursday was the media parade - he said they sent the national writers out in golf carts only to be enveloped in the total white-out conditions of a playa dust storm. Been there. Done that. Washed the t-shirt.
Monday starts a corporate fast for IHOP - the first monday, tues & wed of each month, the entire staff fasts (to varying degrees - it's not a legalistic thing) that the church would be awakened to the knowledge of how God regards His people - in the manner of a bridegroom who looks to His bride.
Meanwhile, tonight, a man burns in the desert. I had a brief IM chat with Media Mogul Ronjon who was on site @ Burning Man. Thursday was the media parade - he said they sent the national writers out in golf carts only to be enveloped in the total white-out conditions of a playa dust storm. Been there. Done that. Washed the t-shirt.
8.29.2003
We enjoyed an evening of pizza with Rusty & Jen Geverdt and Duane & Jennifer Roberts tonight. Geverdts & Roberts both lived in eastern Europe back in the late 80's/early 90's so they were able to swap stories about moving in different cultures. It was fun to sit back and listen to days of smuggling Bibles in hollowed out old vans and Hungarian Jesus Rock Festivals. It made Kelsey and I feel like we've had a very tame life!
Kelsey's New Staff Entry Program begins next Thursday. She'll be one busy girl for the next 10 weeks as she attends classes, meetings, etc with 85 other intercessory missionaries who are joining the IHOP staff. I will take the program vicariously by picking her brain, studying her notes, crashing meetings and generally making her do all the work while I am meeting people and talking Outreach.
Found out today that I may be doing the Sunday AM at Cobblestone in Oxford, OH on the first weekend in October. Hope so - it would be fun, and I'll already be in Cincinnati for a SE Weekend Intensive. Ironically, I went to Cobblestone with Steve Sjogren when he spoke there several years ago. The pastor was a former Salvation Army guy - we swapped stories we'd read about William Booth, the fiery catalytic leader who founded the movement in England.
Kelsey's New Staff Entry Program begins next Thursday. She'll be one busy girl for the next 10 weeks as she attends classes, meetings, etc with 85 other intercessory missionaries who are joining the IHOP staff. I will take the program vicariously by picking her brain, studying her notes, crashing meetings and generally making her do all the work while I am meeting people and talking Outreach.
Found out today that I may be doing the Sunday AM at Cobblestone in Oxford, OH on the first weekend in October. Hope so - it would be fun, and I'll already be in Cincinnati for a SE Weekend Intensive. Ironically, I went to Cobblestone with Steve Sjogren when he spoke there several years ago. The pastor was a former Salvation Army guy - we swapped stories we'd read about William Booth, the fiery catalytic leader who founded the movement in England.
CNN.com - Authorities to arrest teen in Internet 'Blaster' attack - Aug. 29, 2003 What they don't tell you is that they inadvertently issued 4,245 copies of the arrest warrant.
8.28.2003
Those of you back in the queen city need to consider attending this evening of art in hopes of Saving St Elizabeth's. Killer music and funky art in support of refurbishing this gorgeous old building. I'm all for it, in spite of the fact that the eyeball in the glass dome gives me the royal heebie jeebies. Also, my protestant paradigm bows up at the syntax involved in the saving of a saint, but you get the idea.
thoughts on apostolic audacity
au·dac·i·ty
1. Fearless daring; intrepidity. 2. Bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints, as of those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention. 3. An act or instance of intrepidity or insolent heedlessness.
I've been perusing the book of Acts and once again struck by the brashness of the apostles. These guys not only failed to avoid hot-button issues and forums, they seemed to drawn to them. How many times could they have avoided persecution if they would have just learned the fine art of timing? I'm thinking especially of Stephen, who, even as the stones struck him down, was pouring out the one thing the establishment couldn't stomach - grace.
Read some of Paul's letters and consider the boldness with which he writes to some of the churches. He seems to say in some passages, "Don't make me come back there!". I'm reminded of a conversation with Burning Man founder Larry Harvey back in July, when he said: "Well, good lord, if Paul had the internet, who knows what he might have done...but it might have been harder for the church to assert it’s authority because everybody was talking to everybody." Yes, the Yahoo User Group of Rome, Corinth and Thessolanica might very well have thrown a fit in unison...but Paul had something they didn't: God-given authority.
The Apostolic Audacity is directly linked to the Apostolic Authority...but I think it took both to manifest the miracles of the apostolic age. How were people healed? God told the apostles they could do it, and they had the nerve to believe him.
I'm wondering if God wouldn't be encouraged to move a little more if we were a little more audacious ourselves.
au·dac·i·ty
1. Fearless daring; intrepidity. 2. Bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints, as of those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention. 3. An act or instance of intrepidity or insolent heedlessness.
I've been perusing the book of Acts and once again struck by the brashness of the apostles. These guys not only failed to avoid hot-button issues and forums, they seemed to drawn to them. How many times could they have avoided persecution if they would have just learned the fine art of timing? I'm thinking especially of Stephen, who, even as the stones struck him down, was pouring out the one thing the establishment couldn't stomach - grace.
Read some of Paul's letters and consider the boldness with which he writes to some of the churches. He seems to say in some passages, "Don't make me come back there!". I'm reminded of a conversation with Burning Man founder Larry Harvey back in July, when he said: "Well, good lord, if Paul had the internet, who knows what he might have done...but it might have been harder for the church to assert it’s authority because everybody was talking to everybody." Yes, the Yahoo User Group of Rome, Corinth and Thessolanica might very well have thrown a fit in unison...but Paul had something they didn't: God-given authority.
The Apostolic Audacity is directly linked to the Apostolic Authority...but I think it took both to manifest the miracles of the apostolic age. How were people healed? God told the apostles they could do it, and they had the nerve to believe him.
I'm wondering if God wouldn't be encouraged to move a little more if we were a little more audacious ourselves.
8.27.2003
Felt pretty skunky when I woke up this morning so I did not make it to the prayer room. Haven't taken a day off since we arrived so I guess I had it coming.
I got the Montero inspected and tried to get it licensed but was snagged by the technicality police who insisted that I needed a lein release (it was paid for a year ago). Now that I get home and look @ the Volvo title - it's exactly the same. Ohio titles list previous owners and the Missouri License bureau interpreted that as it not being paid for. I finally got the Volvo brake lights working, so I'll get it inspected at 3 pm and then try and get both of them titled. When she sees the Volvo she'll know that we don't own money on it. :)
Seriously, the Volvo has been a DREAM second car. A good friend gave it to us before we left Ohio. It looks great and cruises wonderfully despite it's 200,000+ miles. The brake lights gave me a little trouble so I took it to a garage where they insisted I needed an entirely new rear light assembly. I didn't go for it (price - $250+ parts and labor) and brought it home to make a few duct tape adjustments. It works now. HA!
I got the Montero inspected and tried to get it licensed but was snagged by the technicality police who insisted that I needed a lein release (it was paid for a year ago). Now that I get home and look @ the Volvo title - it's exactly the same. Ohio titles list previous owners and the Missouri License bureau interpreted that as it not being paid for. I finally got the Volvo brake lights working, so I'll get it inspected at 3 pm and then try and get both of them titled. When she sees the Volvo she'll know that we don't own money on it. :)
Seriously, the Volvo has been a DREAM second car. A good friend gave it to us before we left Ohio. It looks great and cruises wonderfully despite it's 200,000+ miles. The brake lights gave me a little trouble so I took it to a garage where they insisted I needed an entirely new rear light assembly. I didn't go for it (price - $250+ parts and labor) and brought it home to make a few duct tape adjustments. It works now. HA!
8.26.2003
In search of a little support...
Okay, I'm only telling you this to hold my feet to the fire. I have accepted a writing challenge that, frankly, scares the dickens out of me. I have agreed to deliver 50,000 coherent words to a publisher by Feb 15. The number of people who knew this was coming is probably less than ten...not because I'm not excited about it, but more likely because I'm a little intimidated by it. Okay, that was an understatement. I'm freaked out to the Nth degree.
I keep telling myself that, given that I use about 3,000 words if I speak for 30 minutes (that might sound nuts to you if you've never heard me, but it's true), then I'm looking at writing about sixteen or seventeen talks. I can do this.
Of course, now that you know about it, I have to do this. Nothing like a little shame as motivation.
Okay, I'm only telling you this to hold my feet to the fire. I have accepted a writing challenge that, frankly, scares the dickens out of me. I have agreed to deliver 50,000 coherent words to a publisher by Feb 15. The number of people who knew this was coming is probably less than ten...not because I'm not excited about it, but more likely because I'm a little intimidated by it. Okay, that was an understatement. I'm freaked out to the Nth degree.
I keep telling myself that, given that I use about 3,000 words if I speak for 30 minutes (that might sound nuts to you if you've never heard me, but it's true), then I'm looking at writing about sixteen or seventeen talks. I can do this.
Of course, now that you know about it, I have to do this. Nothing like a little shame as motivation.
8.25.2003
If your eschatology is lacking, allow me the opportunity to prove to you the end is near: CNN.com - Espresso tax worth a shot? - Aug. 25, 2003
8.24.2003
How's this for fun?
Go to http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/ and use the simulator to find the view from one planet to the other - your choice! Particularly freaky was viewing Mars from one of her moons and seeing Earth as a blue marble in the distance.
FYI - Mars just rose over our neighbor's house...so if you're looking for it, find Kansas City on a map and look up from there. I think.
Go to http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/ and use the simulator to find the view from one planet to the other - your choice! Particularly freaky was viewing Mars from one of her moons and seeing Earth as a blue marble in the distance.
FYI - Mars just rose over our neighbor's house...so if you're looking for it, find Kansas City on a map and look up from there. I think.
8.23.2003
While I don't want to turn this blog into a product endorsement page, allow me to refer you to the blog written by my son, Jackson: thoughts of a thinking ten year old.
Jackson has come to the belief that he is in dire need of his own Apple iBook. He is a poet and is tired of his little brother deleting his poems off their shared desktop PC. Jackson is enamored with the previous clamshell versions, and searches eBay daily for good deals. His one major predicament is that his entire lifetime fortune is the grand sum of fifteen dollars, mostly in small change.
Ever the entrepreneur, he has a proposal. He is assembling ten of his best poems into a eBook (or if you insist, he'll print you a hardcopy) and selling them to raise some jingle for a used iBook. Read his pleas (see link above) online and see if you can resist stepping up and buying a copy. Mark my words - buy it now while he's still unknown and you'll sell it on eBay later for a big profit.
Jackson has come to the belief that he is in dire need of his own Apple iBook. He is a poet and is tired of his little brother deleting his poems off their shared desktop PC. Jackson is enamored with the previous clamshell versions, and searches eBay daily for good deals. His one major predicament is that his entire lifetime fortune is the grand sum of fifteen dollars, mostly in small change.
Ever the entrepreneur, he has a proposal. He is assembling ten of his best poems into a eBook (or if you insist, he'll print you a hardcopy) and selling them to raise some jingle for a used iBook. Read his pleas (see link above) online and see if you can resist stepping up and buying a copy. Mark my words - buy it now while he's still unknown and you'll sell it on eBay later for a big profit.
Thoughts from the prayer room...
I remember sitting in junior high physical science class when the teacher dropped the bombshell on us that we were all made of atoms. The obvious question to follow was "What are atoms made of?" His answer to that was "nuetrons and protons, spinning wildly, but not many of them....mostly, space." It amazed me that most of what made up the desk I sat in, the pencil I wrote with, the lungs I breathed with, was air and motion. Later, I got to thinking how closely that resembled the definition of sound. Air. Motion. We are more song than solid.
Everyone has a lifesong. Some sing in dischord most of the time. Others sing the blues, reverberating their difficulties louder and louder. Some people have a natural merry melody, but manage to drag the song into something it's not...a 78 rpm destiny played eternally at 33 1/3.
That in mind tonight, as I sit in the prayer room, the song leader leads the refrain "sing unto the Lord a new song." You were designed, at the atomic level, as a part of a symphony. My heart resonates with a song that is uniquely me. To sing our new song is to be rejuvinated our very core - for our hearts to reverberate with the thoughts and intents of God. What will my new song be? It will be the song the conductor calls on me to play. I will be what He wills at the specific moment. I will sound at His calling and rest on His cue.
Outside of His conducting, I have no song.
I remember sitting in junior high physical science class when the teacher dropped the bombshell on us that we were all made of atoms. The obvious question to follow was "What are atoms made of?" His answer to that was "nuetrons and protons, spinning wildly, but not many of them....mostly, space." It amazed me that most of what made up the desk I sat in, the pencil I wrote with, the lungs I breathed with, was air and motion. Later, I got to thinking how closely that resembled the definition of sound. Air. Motion. We are more song than solid.
Everyone has a lifesong. Some sing in dischord most of the time. Others sing the blues, reverberating their difficulties louder and louder. Some people have a natural merry melody, but manage to drag the song into something it's not...a 78 rpm destiny played eternally at 33 1/3.
That in mind tonight, as I sit in the prayer room, the song leader leads the refrain "sing unto the Lord a new song." You were designed, at the atomic level, as a part of a symphony. My heart resonates with a song that is uniquely me. To sing our new song is to be rejuvinated our very core - for our hearts to reverberate with the thoughts and intents of God. What will my new song be? It will be the song the conductor calls on me to play. I will be what He wills at the specific moment. I will sound at His calling and rest on His cue.
Outside of His conducting, I have no song.
8.22.2003
I'm blogging from a weak wireless signal near the window of the coffee shop...busy day trying to get the Volvo's taillights fixed (foiled again...) and meeting with some folks about a writing project. Kels started with the home schooling yesterday...Grayson is so enthusiastic that it's almost rediculous. Jackson will need a little prodding to get out of summer mode.
Had coffee this morning with VCC's famous Rusty Geverdt and his lovely wife, Jen. It is SO good to have them moved out here at the same time.
Had coffee this morning with VCC's famous Rusty Geverdt and his lovely wife, Jen. It is SO good to have them moved out here at the same time.
8.21.2003
Okay, no matter where you stand on this issue, when did "comprimise" become a catchphrase for "give in"? What comprimises has he been offered? CNN.com - Compromise is not part of the equation for Moore - Aug. 21, 2003
You're the icing on the cake...
I've been enjoying the wee hours of the past few mornings by taking one of the Psalms and studying down every scriptural rabbit trail that Biblegateway.com, Crosswalk.com and my Thompson Chain-Reference Bible can offer. It's always amazing to realize what's just below the surface of the text.
This morning I was reading Psalm 8, which starts with the Psalmist writing "O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." In the Hebrew language that the writer was using, majesty (at least in this context) is rydda, and refers primarily to the natural majesty of the earth...the writer is literally saying that he sees the majesty of God in creation itself.
I can't help but think of my friends, gathering this weekend on one of the most majestic places I've ever been, the Black Rock Desert, for Burning Man. The dry lakebed, 12 x 15 miles of vast emptiness, would seem desolate if only viewed on a map, but in person, the dry air, the vibrant sky, and the Black Rock Mountains ringing the playa combine for a breathtaking vista. In that place, it's easy to see the majesty of His Majesty.
The Psalmist goes on to say "when I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him?? In other words: Given the beauty of nature on the face of the earth, why does God bother with man? It's hard to get into the mind of the Diety, but it is easy to imagine the temptation to fiddle with the rainforests or watch a herd of gazelle rather than move on the deceitful hearts of men. Who are we, Father, that you consider us?
The Psalmists' question is answered in the next few verses, where he writes "You...(have) crowned him with glory and honor." That glory and honor, in the Hebrew language, refers to ornamentation. Think of us as some kind of cosmic Christmas bulb on the biggest Christmas tree in the universe. Twinkle, Twinkle, little stars.
Some would think man a blight on the face of the planet, but God thinks differently. We are not the blight - in His eyes, we are extra measure of beauty designed to complete His creation.
It makes perfect sense that in the glorious setting of the Black Rock Desert, the people gathering there are God's decorations. They are the artwork of the Master Artist. May they know Him, and burn brightly in His name.
I've been enjoying the wee hours of the past few mornings by taking one of the Psalms and studying down every scriptural rabbit trail that Biblegateway.com, Crosswalk.com and my Thompson Chain-Reference Bible can offer. It's always amazing to realize what's just below the surface of the text.
This morning I was reading Psalm 8, which starts with the Psalmist writing "O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." In the Hebrew language that the writer was using, majesty (at least in this context) is rydda, and refers primarily to the natural majesty of the earth...the writer is literally saying that he sees the majesty of God in creation itself.
I can't help but think of my friends, gathering this weekend on one of the most majestic places I've ever been, the Black Rock Desert, for Burning Man. The dry lakebed, 12 x 15 miles of vast emptiness, would seem desolate if only viewed on a map, but in person, the dry air, the vibrant sky, and the Black Rock Mountains ringing the playa combine for a breathtaking vista. In that place, it's easy to see the majesty of His Majesty.
The Psalmist goes on to say "when I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him?? In other words: Given the beauty of nature on the face of the earth, why does God bother with man? It's hard to get into the mind of the Diety, but it is easy to imagine the temptation to fiddle with the rainforests or watch a herd of gazelle rather than move on the deceitful hearts of men. Who are we, Father, that you consider us?
The Psalmists' question is answered in the next few verses, where he writes "You...(have) crowned him with glory and honor." That glory and honor, in the Hebrew language, refers to ornamentation. Think of us as some kind of cosmic Christmas bulb on the biggest Christmas tree in the universe. Twinkle, Twinkle, little stars.
Some would think man a blight on the face of the planet, but God thinks differently. We are not the blight - in His eyes, we are extra measure of beauty designed to complete His creation.
It makes perfect sense that in the glorious setting of the Black Rock Desert, the people gathering there are God's decorations. They are the artwork of the Master Artist. May they know Him, and burn brightly in His name.
8.20.2003
Mommy told Billy not to leave that tuna salad sandwhich lying on the deck of the boat. CNN.com - Whale leaps aboard sailing boat - Aug. 20, 2003
The Walmart at the corner of Blue Ridge Blvd and State Line Road is a good place to get your oil changed, however, the same Walmart is not a good place to try and get the tailights of your old Volvo wagon fixed so that you can pass your inspection and get Missouri plates. You have learned all this in a matter of seconds. It took me considerably longer to learn the same lesson.
I remain both your humble scribe and procurer of vital information.
I remain both your humble scribe and procurer of vital information.
8.19.2003
Today is our staff prayer/fasting day. You might think it funny for a 24/7 prayer movement to dictate a staff day for this, but we're like everyone else: done long eneough, anything can become routine.
On Tuesdays, in addition to fasting, the staff gathers from 10 AM - Noon and again 4 PM - 6 PM to corporately pray for the churches of Kansas City and also the people of Israel. From where I'm sitting, I see about 400 singing, dancing, pouring out their hearts as Misty Edwards leads a soulful "Better is One Day". I believe her.
It's coming to my conscienceness that I have joined an army. Not militant in the sense of physically dnagerous, but definetly spiritually potent. If vibrant young hearts turn God's heart, then this space sends it spinning. I turned 36 last week and am on the semi-secret list of Old Turds around here.
Sorry this is so short. Gotta march.
On Tuesdays, in addition to fasting, the staff gathers from 10 AM - Noon and again 4 PM - 6 PM to corporately pray for the churches of Kansas City and also the people of Israel. From where I'm sitting, I see about 400 singing, dancing, pouring out their hearts as Misty Edwards leads a soulful "Better is One Day". I believe her.
It's coming to my conscienceness that I have joined an army. Not militant in the sense of physically dnagerous, but definetly spiritually potent. If vibrant young hearts turn God's heart, then this space sends it spinning. I turned 36 last week and am on the semi-secret list of Old Turds around here.
Sorry this is so short. Gotta march.
8.18.2003
I got a call fromthis guy last weekend. No kidding. He was wondering if we were going to Burning Man. Now that I made it to his site and see how accomplished he is, I wish I would have asked him a pile of questions about publishing! Oh - wait...I think I saved his cell number. :-)
No wonder He caused a ruckus....
I've been speed-reading the Gospels. Well, not necessarily speed reading, but definetly plowing through them more quickly than I normally do. I've read Matthew, Mark & most of Luke in the last few days, and when reading them quickly, I'm sensing something I don't when I 'nibble' at the text as is my norm: Jesus packed an amazing amount of activity in three years of public ministry.
When you think of it, three years ago was not that long ago. It was just a hair short of three years ago that Florida was flipping coins between George Bush II and Al gore. Elian Gonzales being snatched from his family's home and shipped back to Cuba? About three years ago. Both of those events seem like they happened yesterday - point being, three years passes quickly.
Given the narrow sliver on the timeline, Jesus did a phenomenal amount of work...the healings, the miracles, the leadership principles outlined to his followers. If he walked the earth today, he'd be offered an advance by Simon & Schuster and be a sought-after guest on late night talk shows. Until he made us uncomfortable with his piercing words.
"What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops."
"This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miracle, but none will be given except the sign of Johah."
"Martha, Martha...you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better...."
Yes, if He walked the earth today, I think He'd get the same reception....which only points to the universal problem man must deal with - his own inability to process truth without Help.
2000 years ago or this morning, I'm just glad He comes.
I've been speed-reading the Gospels. Well, not necessarily speed reading, but definetly plowing through them more quickly than I normally do. I've read Matthew, Mark & most of Luke in the last few days, and when reading them quickly, I'm sensing something I don't when I 'nibble' at the text as is my norm: Jesus packed an amazing amount of activity in three years of public ministry.
When you think of it, three years ago was not that long ago. It was just a hair short of three years ago that Florida was flipping coins between George Bush II and Al gore. Elian Gonzales being snatched from his family's home and shipped back to Cuba? About three years ago. Both of those events seem like they happened yesterday - point being, three years passes quickly.
Given the narrow sliver on the timeline, Jesus did a phenomenal amount of work...the healings, the miracles, the leadership principles outlined to his followers. If he walked the earth today, he'd be offered an advance by Simon & Schuster and be a sought-after guest on late night talk shows. Until he made us uncomfortable with his piercing words.
"What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops."
"This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miracle, but none will be given except the sign of Johah."
"Martha, Martha...you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better...."
Yes, if He walked the earth today, I think He'd get the same reception....which only points to the universal problem man must deal with - his own inability to process truth without Help.
2000 years ago or this morning, I'm just glad He comes.
8.17.2003
Friend and media mogul RonJon finagled the San Jose Mercury News to print the following article on Burning Man. Check it out for some very interesting descriptions of what's going to be out there this year. Reminds me why, after a few days, all people want to know is where does the fire come out?
Sunday Morning Thoughts
Okay, I've never used my blog to reveal particularly personal thoughts...it's just not my style to do a brain dump online...but this morning, I'm making an exception. I will reveal online what find hard to say out loud, even to myself. I will italicize the revalation to further emphasis the pain with which I say it, and to add a bit of literary drama. Add a drumroll in your heads, please: I may be beginning to like Kansas City.
After living in Cincinnati for so long, just saying that seems extremely disloyal. In her fragile state, Cincinnati cannot take another blow like this. Especially considering the perpetual crisis of identity that Cincinnati lives in. ("We're Porkopolis! We're the home of the Underground Railroad AND race riots! We're North Northern Kentucky!") However, after long love affair with Cincinnati, I believe she'll survive if my eye wanders a bit. Therefore, I give my list of things I like about KC. So far.
1) A Street Grid.
KC is laid out perfectly square, so much so that Blind Willie could navigate this town no problem. All you need to do is realize that, at least in our area, 101st is north of 105th, 105th is south of 107th, 107th is north of 150th, and 150th is within spitting distance of the Rio Grande. Cincinnati's rule of navigation was "do I take 71 or 75?"
2) Professional Sports Fans
What I mean by that is people are really jazzed about the Royals and Chiefs. KCers say "Professional Football" without a goofy grin. The stadiums are decent and (more importantly) paid for, or closer to it. They share a parking lot out in the suburbs where land was cheap. Go figure.
3) The Kansas City Star
I am/was a fan of the Enquirer, but I'm growing to love this newspaper. Great features. No Jim Borgeman, though. Or Peter Bronson.
4) Friendly Neighbors
Cincinnatians are notoriously polite, but sometimes that hinders us. We don't want to go say "howdy" to the guy next door mowing his lawn because it would be an intrusion. Most of our social interaction consisted of muttering "please...." when we didn't hear something, or politely waiting for the other guy at the 4 way stop, allowing traffic to back up. The second day in KC was trash day. I took the trash out and two neighbors burst out of their doors to meet me at the curb. Granted, it might have been morbid curiousity about this earinged bald guy who moved in, but at least I know their names and they know mine. The next day, the neighbor brought a card and potted plant. The day after, another neighbor brought zuchini bread. I love the midwest.
All this to say I really miss Cinci. You cannot get chili on spaghetti in this town. Or Graeters. There are other glaring shortcomings, too...but for now, KC is home. And we'll make the best of it. Pass the BBQ.
Okay, I've never used my blog to reveal particularly personal thoughts...it's just not my style to do a brain dump online...but this morning, I'm making an exception. I will reveal online what find hard to say out loud, even to myself. I will italicize the revalation to further emphasis the pain with which I say it, and to add a bit of literary drama. Add a drumroll in your heads, please: I may be beginning to like Kansas City.
After living in Cincinnati for so long, just saying that seems extremely disloyal. In her fragile state, Cincinnati cannot take another blow like this. Especially considering the perpetual crisis of identity that Cincinnati lives in. ("We're Porkopolis! We're the home of the Underground Railroad AND race riots! We're North Northern Kentucky!") However, after long love affair with Cincinnati, I believe she'll survive if my eye wanders a bit. Therefore, I give my list of things I like about KC. So far.
1) A Street Grid.
KC is laid out perfectly square, so much so that Blind Willie could navigate this town no problem. All you need to do is realize that, at least in our area, 101st is north of 105th, 105th is south of 107th, 107th is north of 150th, and 150th is within spitting distance of the Rio Grande. Cincinnati's rule of navigation was "do I take 71 or 75?"
2) Professional Sports Fans
What I mean by that is people are really jazzed about the Royals and Chiefs. KCers say "Professional Football" without a goofy grin. The stadiums are decent and (more importantly) paid for, or closer to it. They share a parking lot out in the suburbs where land was cheap. Go figure.
3) The Kansas City Star
I am/was a fan of the Enquirer, but I'm growing to love this newspaper. Great features. No Jim Borgeman, though. Or Peter Bronson.
4) Friendly Neighbors
Cincinnatians are notoriously polite, but sometimes that hinders us. We don't want to go say "howdy" to the guy next door mowing his lawn because it would be an intrusion. Most of our social interaction consisted of muttering "please...." when we didn't hear something, or politely waiting for the other guy at the 4 way stop, allowing traffic to back up. The second day in KC was trash day. I took the trash out and two neighbors burst out of their doors to meet me at the curb. Granted, it might have been morbid curiousity about this earinged bald guy who moved in, but at least I know their names and they know mine. The next day, the neighbor brought a card and potted plant. The day after, another neighbor brought zuchini bread. I love the midwest.
All this to say I really miss Cinci. You cannot get chili on spaghetti in this town. Or Graeters. There are other glaring shortcomings, too...but for now, KC is home. And we'll make the best of it. Pass the BBQ.
8.16.2003
8.15.2003
In Defense of a Little Extravagance
We've been at the House of Prayer less than two weeks, but I already have found myself in discussions with people who have a hard time understanding why we'd spend large chunks of time in the prayer room. These questions are not from those of other religious traditions, mind you...but from Christians, many of them active in ministry of some sort.
Most of them are very nice about it, but you can tell by the gentle prodding what they're really thinking: This is a waste! Why don't they get out there and do something?
Having spent the better part of my adult out there doing something every waking moment, it is not as easy as you might think to discipline myself to this amount of prayer. It's work. At and times, it feels very costly...but the purposes of God dictate it in my life.
I was reading in Mark 14 this morning - where the woman broke the alabaster jar of expensive perfume to anoint Jesus' head. The desciples were indignant on two counts - 1) this was expensive stuff, and 2) think of the good that could come of it if she served the poor.
Jesus quickly pointed out that the poor had been poor even before she broke the alabaster box open, and there had been and would continue to be plenty of opportunities to meet there needs (the unspoken message being "why aren't you doing that already?", and that her extravagance was key in preparing his body for burial. Her act was helping to usher in the fullness of God's plan.
God's plan is often proceeded by a group of people willing to make extravagant sacrifices. Those who do the norm (often aka the minimum) are able to maintain the present spiritual climate, but for that climate to change (think spiritual global warming!) will demand a people of extravagant sacrifice. I have purposed in my heart to become one.
We've been at the House of Prayer less than two weeks, but I already have found myself in discussions with people who have a hard time understanding why we'd spend large chunks of time in the prayer room. These questions are not from those of other religious traditions, mind you...but from Christians, many of them active in ministry of some sort.
Most of them are very nice about it, but you can tell by the gentle prodding what they're really thinking: This is a waste! Why don't they get out there and do something?
Having spent the better part of my adult out there doing something every waking moment, it is not as easy as you might think to discipline myself to this amount of prayer. It's work. At and times, it feels very costly...but the purposes of God dictate it in my life.
I was reading in Mark 14 this morning - where the woman broke the alabaster jar of expensive perfume to anoint Jesus' head. The desciples were indignant on two counts - 1) this was expensive stuff, and 2) think of the good that could come of it if she served the poor.
Jesus quickly pointed out that the poor had been poor even before she broke the alabaster box open, and there had been and would continue to be plenty of opportunities to meet there needs (the unspoken message being "why aren't you doing that already?", and that her extravagance was key in preparing his body for burial. Her act was helping to usher in the fullness of God's plan.
God's plan is often proceeded by a group of people willing to make extravagant sacrifices. Those who do the norm (often aka the minimum) are able to maintain the present spiritual climate, but for that climate to change (think spiritual global warming!) will demand a people of extravagant sacrifice. I have purposed in my heart to become one.
8.14.2003
We're still getting our house in order, so after some time in the prayer room I headed home to assemble the trampoline for the boys. That thing's spooky - very few bolts, almost entirely held together by the tension of the springs. A lawsuit waiting to happen.
Afterwords I headed to Olathe (20 minutes west) to help man a book table for Steve Sjogren - he was speaking at a large Nazarene pastors gathering (clarification: the gathering was large...the pastors varied in size). As always, good to see Steve and his traveling buddy, Jeff. Mental note to Steve and others: Nazarenes are traditionally a suit-wearing tribe.
Enroute home Kels and I heard about the massive power outage in NYC. I called my friend Leslie who lives in Manhattan...couldn't reach him, so I called a mutual friend in San Francisco, who told me that Les' wife, Cory, was at JFK. Cory's plane was going nowhere (it was intended for Reno, where she was preparing for Burning Man). Finally caught Les an hour later or so - he said he walked the 40 blocks from work to his apartment and that the streets were teeming with people. A very strange vibe. He was camped out with the few candles they had left (most were shipped to Nevada!). If Cory ever gets home from JFK, perhaps they'll fly out together (he was going in a few days).
I'll be thinking of the eastern seaboard as it gets dark tonight. Sometimes it's good to live in the midwest. We rarely loot during emergencies. Maybe because most of our emergencies are snow-related.
Afterwords I headed to Olathe (20 minutes west) to help man a book table for Steve Sjogren - he was speaking at a large Nazarene pastors gathering (clarification: the gathering was large...the pastors varied in size). As always, good to see Steve and his traveling buddy, Jeff. Mental note to Steve and others: Nazarenes are traditionally a suit-wearing tribe.
Enroute home Kels and I heard about the massive power outage in NYC. I called my friend Leslie who lives in Manhattan...couldn't reach him, so I called a mutual friend in San Francisco, who told me that Les' wife, Cory, was at JFK. Cory's plane was going nowhere (it was intended for Reno, where she was preparing for Burning Man). Finally caught Les an hour later or so - he said he walked the 40 blocks from work to his apartment and that the streets were teeming with people. A very strange vibe. He was camped out with the few candles they had left (most were shipped to Nevada!). If Cory ever gets home from JFK, perhaps they'll fly out together (he was going in a few days).
I'll be thinking of the eastern seaboard as it gets dark tonight. Sometimes it's good to live in the midwest. We rarely loot during emergencies. Maybe because most of our emergencies are snow-related.
Kansas City Royals News
Part of adjusting to a new town is finding out what's important to folks, and one thing that is BIG TIME important here in KC is their baseball team. The scrappy Royals spanked on the Yankees last night 11-zippo.
Part of adjusting to a new town is finding out what's important to folks, and one thing that is BIG TIME important here in KC is their baseball team. The scrappy Royals spanked on the Yankees last night 11-zippo.
8.13.2003
Determination
With all the change in our lives in recent weeks, it's sometimes felt like we've been riding an emotional roller coaster. Even here in the prayer room, it's not difficult to go from "This is the best thing in the world" to "what the heck have I done?" and back inside a fifteen minute window. This morning I hung out in the third Psalm, reading about the role of the Great Encourager in our lives. That little bit was enough to put some grit back in my soul.
I love the Old Testament stories of determiniation....one of my favorites being the passage where the Hebrew captives, threatened with being thrown into a blazing furnace, give Nebuchadnezzer the verbal smackdown:
Daniel 3
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Lord, bring us to a place where we trust in your deliverance, and also trust you to determine the shape that deliverance takes. In that place is determination to walk out Your words.
In an unrelated and considerably less spiritual note - if you're a Mac user and have a clue why the Blogger interface looks so different on my iBook than it does on our desktop pc, can you enlighten me? It gives me zilch for formatting options...I'm just ham-handing the little html I know. Those little cheat buttons on the pc version came in handy! :)
With all the change in our lives in recent weeks, it's sometimes felt like we've been riding an emotional roller coaster. Even here in the prayer room, it's not difficult to go from "This is the best thing in the world" to "what the heck have I done?" and back inside a fifteen minute window. This morning I hung out in the third Psalm, reading about the role of the Great Encourager in our lives. That little bit was enough to put some grit back in my soul.
I love the Old Testament stories of determiniation....one of my favorites being the passage where the Hebrew captives, threatened with being thrown into a blazing furnace, give Nebuchadnezzer the verbal smackdown:
Daniel 3
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Lord, bring us to a place where we trust in your deliverance, and also trust you to determine the shape that deliverance takes. In that place is determination to walk out Your words.
In an unrelated and considerably less spiritual note - if you're a Mac user and have a clue why the Blogger interface looks so different on my iBook than it does on our desktop pc, can you enlighten me? It gives me zilch for formatting options...I'm just ham-handing the little html I know. Those little cheat buttons on the pc version came in handy! :)
8.12.2003
Rallying Points
There seems to be a lot of writing in the church these days about unity, and that's a good thing. The sectarianism that we've lived with for so many years has served to diversify us, but it's also served to disperse us. We see more and more city-wide events focusing on the things we agree on rather than those that we differ on.
We're not the only ones in unity, though. In fact, at times it seems the unity around those who would counter the cause of God is as strong or stronger. We shouldn't be surprised. King David took notice of it thousands of years ago:
Psalm 2:1,2
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
One example of people uniting in their outrage at the things of God might be the public reaction to Mel Gibson's upcoming film, "Passion". ( see http://www.passion-movie.com/english/index.html ). Gibson, a devout Catholic, has produced a film dedicated to an accurate portrayal of the most horrifying story ever lived - the 12 hours preceding the crucifixion of Christ. Word is that the movie is not easy to watch - in addition to it's graphic protrayal, the actors and actresses speak only Latin and Aramaic, and there are no subtitles. Nevertheless, the point is made - at a recent screening in Washington, many were found sobbing in the theatre when the lights came up.
Gibson has been threatened, yelled at, and told he'll never get the film destributed. He remarked recently that "When 'The Last Temptation of Christ' was released, we were told to be open minded....where did all those folks go?" (rough paraphrase - I can't find the exact quote this morning.)
Watch hell on earth break out against this film. And cheer for Gibson like crazy.
There seems to be a lot of writing in the church these days about unity, and that's a good thing. The sectarianism that we've lived with for so many years has served to diversify us, but it's also served to disperse us. We see more and more city-wide events focusing on the things we agree on rather than those that we differ on.
We're not the only ones in unity, though. In fact, at times it seems the unity around those who would counter the cause of God is as strong or stronger. We shouldn't be surprised. King David took notice of it thousands of years ago:
Psalm 2:1,2
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
One example of people uniting in their outrage at the things of God might be the public reaction to Mel Gibson's upcoming film, "Passion". ( see http://www.passion-movie.com/english/index.html ). Gibson, a devout Catholic, has produced a film dedicated to an accurate portrayal of the most horrifying story ever lived - the 12 hours preceding the crucifixion of Christ. Word is that the movie is not easy to watch - in addition to it's graphic protrayal, the actors and actresses speak only Latin and Aramaic, and there are no subtitles. Nevertheless, the point is made - at a recent screening in Washington, many were found sobbing in the theatre when the lights came up.
Gibson has been threatened, yelled at, and told he'll never get the film destributed. He remarked recently that "When 'The Last Temptation of Christ' was released, we were told to be open minded....where did all those folks go?" (rough paraphrase - I can't find the exact quote this morning.)
Watch hell on earth break out against this film. And cheer for Gibson like crazy.
8.11.2003
Well, it was quite a day.
After spending some time in the prayer room, I hauled the boys to the library for another one of those just-moved-to-town rituals: Getting a library card. Getting out of the library with Jackson and Grayson almost dictates a one ton truck (or as we said on the farm, a ton-dually!), because they love books. They came by it honestly. I hauled my share out as well...a book on the world history of Christianity, one on the Celts, one called "The Bell Curve - Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life" and another on the lives of Jesse & Frank James. Any man without an appetite for a western needs to be treated with the utmost suspicion. I also brought home a book called Woman Saints for the woman saint in my life.
I got home and got back to work on the move-in projects, namely, assembly the boys' desks for home school. These desks are the Walmart variety that they manage to coax a veneer finish from even though there are likely no wood products in them - maybe 90/10 glue/wood. While assembling, I listened to the pregame show for the KC Royals. It made me miss Marty and Joe from the Reds, even though I rarely listened to them.
Midway through the desk assembly line, The Cable Guy arrived to connect the high speed internet goodies. The Cable Guy immediately informed me that "The lines are all screwed up." Apparantly that's the technical term - all screwed up. He assured me that he fixed it...but when I went out after he left, I found he had run a line across my yard, just laying on the grass, from the curb to the corner of the house. Hmmm.
Having recently added two iBooks w/Airport cards to the family, I was determined to cable only one desktop in the house. I bought a D-Link wireless router and usb adapter for the desktops. I ran the Roadrunner to my mom's pc and turned it on, only to have the whole think spanked by this nasty attack on Microsoft that is flying around the globe. My prediction - if you're not behind a firewall, this thing will eat your lunch. Tech support told me to download the patch from MS, but the worm kept kicking me off the grid before it finished. Finally I lucked out and got it fixed. Good to keep mom happy and online.
Next were the iBooks - it took ten minutes on mine, and far less on Kelsey (learning curve, dontcha know), then forty five or so on the last remaining desktop pc, even though I had the drivers for the usb gizmo on cd. No mac sermons here, just the facts, ma'am.
And that's my day. So far.
After spending some time in the prayer room, I hauled the boys to the library for another one of those just-moved-to-town rituals: Getting a library card. Getting out of the library with Jackson and Grayson almost dictates a one ton truck (or as we said on the farm, a ton-dually!), because they love books. They came by it honestly. I hauled my share out as well...a book on the world history of Christianity, one on the Celts, one called "The Bell Curve - Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life" and another on the lives of Jesse & Frank James. Any man without an appetite for a western needs to be treated with the utmost suspicion. I also brought home a book called Woman Saints for the woman saint in my life.
I got home and got back to work on the move-in projects, namely, assembly the boys' desks for home school. These desks are the Walmart variety that they manage to coax a veneer finish from even though there are likely no wood products in them - maybe 90/10 glue/wood. While assembling, I listened to the pregame show for the KC Royals. It made me miss Marty and Joe from the Reds, even though I rarely listened to them.
Midway through the desk assembly line, The Cable Guy arrived to connect the high speed internet goodies. The Cable Guy immediately informed me that "The lines are all screwed up." Apparantly that's the technical term - all screwed up. He assured me that he fixed it...but when I went out after he left, I found he had run a line across my yard, just laying on the grass, from the curb to the corner of the house. Hmmm.
Having recently added two iBooks w/Airport cards to the family, I was determined to cable only one desktop in the house. I bought a D-Link wireless router and usb adapter for the desktops. I ran the Roadrunner to my mom's pc and turned it on, only to have the whole think spanked by this nasty attack on Microsoft that is flying around the globe. My prediction - if you're not behind a firewall, this thing will eat your lunch. Tech support told me to download the patch from MS, but the worm kept kicking me off the grid before it finished. Finally I lucked out and got it fixed. Good to keep mom happy and online.
Next were the iBooks - it took ten minutes on mine, and far less on Kelsey (learning curve, dontcha know), then forty five or so on the last remaining desktop pc, even though I had the drivers for the usb gizmo on cd. No mac sermons here, just the facts, ma'am.
And that's my day. So far.
Be careful where you sit....
I've been reading Psalm 1 this morning. It's not a huge chapter - six verses, actually, but wow...talk about some far ranging implications in a few words. It describes the two very distinct directions that a man's life may go, particularly based on a few simple decisions that we make every day.
Ps 1:1
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers....
It's making me think about where I sit, ephumistically speaking. Where are the places I spend extended times, what do I dedicate energy towards, what is going on in the background when I'm doing nothing? The passage indicates that this, coupled with the next verse about delighting in the truths of God, dictates my spiritual health. Verse three says that whatever a man sets to do, he will find success, so long as he's followed these to directives - be careful where you sit, and delight in the law of God.
Sometimes I think Jesus is going to return to find the entire church on the couch, eating Cheetoes and watching reruns. I've gotta start thinking about where I sit. The implications are huge.
I've been reading Psalm 1 this morning. It's not a huge chapter - six verses, actually, but wow...talk about some far ranging implications in a few words. It describes the two very distinct directions that a man's life may go, particularly based on a few simple decisions that we make every day.
Ps 1:1
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers....
It's making me think about where I sit, ephumistically speaking. Where are the places I spend extended times, what do I dedicate energy towards, what is going on in the background when I'm doing nothing? The passage indicates that this, coupled with the next verse about delighting in the truths of God, dictates my spiritual health. Verse three says that whatever a man sets to do, he will find success, so long as he's followed these to directives - be careful where you sit, and delight in the law of God.
Sometimes I think Jesus is going to return to find the entire church on the couch, eating Cheetoes and watching reruns. I've gotta start thinking about where I sit. The implications are huge.
We're beginning our first real week @ IHOP. Until now, I've been ducking in from 5:30 to 6:30 AM and again late at night to spend some time in the prayer room, but other than that, just trying to get the house unpacked.
Last night, Jackson & Grayson were a part of the Children's stuff here...this is undoubtably one of the most difficult aspects of making the move - watching our kids transition. It feels like "Okay, we chose this...they didn't get a vote." Most of my concerns dissipated when, afterwards, they described their night. Three kids (around 12 years old) just got back from a trip to Mexico where they led a camp for hundreds of Mexican children. One of the little boys was getting ready to move to Idaho, and they mentioned that someone might want to help contribute to his plane ticket. Grayson (6) has been carrying a nickel around for a week - it's his prize possessioin....he told me, "I tried to give him my nickel but he told me to keep it." Something about all that told me this was going to be okay.
Last night, Jackson & Grayson were a part of the Children's stuff here...this is undoubtably one of the most difficult aspects of making the move - watching our kids transition. It feels like "Okay, we chose this...they didn't get a vote." Most of my concerns dissipated when, afterwards, they described their night. Three kids (around 12 years old) just got back from a trip to Mexico where they led a camp for hundreds of Mexican children. One of the little boys was getting ready to move to Idaho, and they mentioned that someone might want to help contribute to his plane ticket. Grayson (6) has been carrying a nickel around for a week - it's his prize possessioin....he told me, "I tried to give him my nickel but he told me to keep it." Something about all that told me this was going to be okay.
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