I love kids. There is something very therapeutic in watching children. All the distractions, anxieties, and problems of the day fade away, and you are reminded to laugh. Being around children brings me into a state of worship because I feel God's utter delight in the beauty of his little ones. I needed a pick-me-up today. Thank you silly babies.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Reasons I love my job
1. Last night before youth group started, one of the little girls from Awana gave me a drawing she had made. There is no more precious gift in all the world than a drawing by a child. It hangs proudly in my office :) I love the children at my church. They are a precious gift from God.
2. Last night after youth group, I prayed with a young guy who really wants his life to be fully committed to the Lord. It is so exciting witnessing a young person who gets it. Its so encouraging, because it serves as a strong reminder to look at my own priorities--not just what I say my priorities are, but what priorities come out in the way I live.
3. I have amazing youth leaders. I still have so much growing to do! I am so rough around the edges, and in a lot of ways, I'm still pretending that I know what I'm doing. One thing I am very poor at is leading my leaders--defining their role and giving them direction. I need to work on that, but thank God, I have a bunch of go-getters! My leaders have really made this their own, and are bringing their giftedness to their roles in their own unique ways. There is a girls all nighter coming up that I have had no part in planning. Its going to be a great event thanks to the awesome ladies leading.
4. I get to spend time with some of the coolest people I've ever met--real godly, wise leaders that enjoy spilling their wisdom into me--like Pastor Skip, Larry, our Shepherd team, and my Youth Pastor friend,Tim. I also get to minister alongside my peers and watch how God moves as we gain from each others strengths. I'm enjoying growing in friendship with these partners in ministry--Dustin and CJ mean more to me than they know.
5. My youth group. Sometimes, during games, I'll just pause and look out over the youth that God has given us, and smile. These are amazing people, each in a different place with Jesus, but each of us desperately needing him. I love them all, and pray that Christ will continually grow that love ever deeper.
2. Last night after youth group, I prayed with a young guy who really wants his life to be fully committed to the Lord. It is so exciting witnessing a young person who gets it. Its so encouraging, because it serves as a strong reminder to look at my own priorities--not just what I say my priorities are, but what priorities come out in the way I live.
3. I have amazing youth leaders. I still have so much growing to do! I am so rough around the edges, and in a lot of ways, I'm still pretending that I know what I'm doing. One thing I am very poor at is leading my leaders--defining their role and giving them direction. I need to work on that, but thank God, I have a bunch of go-getters! My leaders have really made this their own, and are bringing their giftedness to their roles in their own unique ways. There is a girls all nighter coming up that I have had no part in planning. Its going to be a great event thanks to the awesome ladies leading.
4. I get to spend time with some of the coolest people I've ever met--real godly, wise leaders that enjoy spilling their wisdom into me--like Pastor Skip, Larry, our Shepherd team, and my Youth Pastor friend,Tim. I also get to minister alongside my peers and watch how God moves as we gain from each others strengths. I'm enjoying growing in friendship with these partners in ministry--Dustin and CJ mean more to me than they know.
5. My youth group. Sometimes, during games, I'll just pause and look out over the youth that God has given us, and smile. These are amazing people, each in a different place with Jesus, but each of us desperately needing him. I love them all, and pray that Christ will continually grow that love ever deeper.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
"What's love got to do with it?"--exercising spiritual gifts in loving unity
I don't know yet how to post audio to my blog. So until I find a way, here is the sermon I preached this last week in written form.
If someone had explained to me ahead of time how much work a canoe trip would be, I probably would have never gone on one. Canoe trips are a curious thing. You are sun burnt, tired, sweating, hungry, and thirsty. Your muscles ache, and you are continually surprised by the unique places you discover wood ticks on your body. Paddling across the lake, I would begin to long for the shore so I could be free from paddling, but when you get to shore, you hoist on your packs and portage your canoes to the next lake—the whole time thinking, “I can’t wait until I get back in the canoe so I can be free from carrying all this stuff!” Even with all this—with stepping from the canoe into two feet of mud, falling into the lake with your camera, digging holes when you need to “take care of business”—the strange thing is…you kind of love it!
Canoe trips provide a person an opportunity to discover what they are really made of. They are an opportunity to grow in skill and character.
But the thing I love most is the bond that is formed with other people. You become reliant on one another. You support and encourage each other. Each person has their task—digging the latrine, getting the fire going, boiling water, pitching tents, preparing the food—each person must do their part to make the trip successful.
If you want to grow close to a group of people quickly, a canoe trip is a good way to do it. Having common goals, a task to share—the need to rely on one another; these are the things that bring people together.
Skip has been talking about Spiritual gifts the last few weeks. Here are a few that the bible mentions—apostles, prophets, teachers, those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages (1Corinthians 12:28). We know that at least some—if not all of these gifts are present in this church. How? Because there are Christians in this church, and each believer is given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12 :4-7 says, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” Our spiritual gifts are not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the entire church. They work best when used together. In many ways being the church is a lot like a canoe trip. We face many challenges, and just like a canoe trip, if we desire to journey successfully—bringing glory to God—we need to be a united team.
When believers stop simply going to church, and instead become the Church, we find a bond that is unbelievable! It is a unity like no other—bound in the Spirit, united in serving each other through our spiritual gifts—living to bring glory to Christ!
Why is unity so important? Hours before Jesus was to die, he prayed for us—you and I. John 17:20-21 say, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” We were on Jesus mind right before he was betrayed to death. Our unity is that important to Christ! Through using our gifts to the benefit of the church—we fulfill Christ’s prayer for us. Our unity is purposed so that the world will believe on Christ!
However, our own selfish desires can trump out this kind of unity. “Spiritual gift” unity is others-focused. Our selfish, flesh inclination is to be self-focused. The sad truth is that often the world doesn’t see our unity, but our division. In the Corinthian church, even the Lord’s Supper—something meant to unite all believers in the body and blood of Christ—had become a selfish act! It was celebrated with a feast, and some were scarfing it all down before the others even arrived! They were creating division with no care of it.
But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!—1 Corinthians 11:17
Let’s break this down, shall we? 1st Corinthians 8:1 shows us that love strengthens the church, while 1st Corinthians 12:7 shows this to be the purpose of our spiritual gifts—benefiting the body of Christ. So…practicing our spiritual gifts for each other’s benefit is an act of love! Jesus prayed for our unity so that the world will know God sent Him, and he also said his disciples would be known by their love, so…we are to be known by our love—a love that is practiced through spiritual gifts—spiritual gifts that unite us together!
All this is confirmed as we look at 1 Corinthians 13. Why would a chapter on love be placed smack dab in the middle of two chapters on spiritual gifts? Because the Corinthians needed to be told that love is the key ingredient to spiritual gifts. Without love, there so called “spiritual gifts” were useless—they were self-serving rather than other- serving.
On one of my first canoe trips, one of my best friends—a novice at canoeing was in the canoe with another girl. If you watched closely you could see that she was doing all the work. My friend was simply dipping his paddle in the water, and allowing the current to pull it back. It may have looked like he was paddling, but he wasn’t benefiting anyone!
In the same way, are we content to “look” the part for our own glory, or do we desire to work out our gifts to benefit the body of Christ? Selfishness can mascaraed as the practice of spiritual giftedness, but if spiritual giftedness is not practiced in love, we are not acting from the Holy Spirit’s leading at all.
I never liked puzzles—they don’t make sense to me. Why would you break a picture into pieces with the purpose of putting it back together again?
The secret to enjoying a puzzle is that you have to be patient! The fun isn’t just in seeing the final picture, but in the process of getting there.
The church body is like a puzzle—some pieces you know exactly where they fit—their purpose is clear. Others are still searching for their place in the picture. But each of us has a purpose—we each contribute to making the final picture. If a piece is missing the picture is incomplete!
I find it exciting that right now in our own church, people are stepping in to new roles, excited to put their giftedness to use in benefiting this body of believers. If we are faithful in this, God will grow us into a stronger church. But there will be hiccups along the way. We will fall short at times. Sometimes we will act out of our own selfish flesh rather than the Spirit of God. It is a continual process fitting our puzzle together. Like with any puzzle, as we fit our giftedness together, we need to be patient with one another. Ephesians 4:2 says, “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”
When we click all of our pieces together, our unity makes an astounding image—that of Jesus Christ. Bound together in the body of Christ—what an unshakable unity, what a beautiful gift! What an amazing love.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Best Wedding Blunder
Last weekend I was at a wedding. The bride stood elegantly at the front--full of confidence, excitement and beauty. The groom stood at the front--sweating, clammy, knees bent as to prevent fainting. It was beautiful. I love weddings! They are a time when the sacred collides with the common--two individuals becoming one flesh before God in holy matrimony, and yet has anyone ever been to a wedding where everything went perfect? Nervousness abounds, people faint, unity candles refuse to light, awkward speeches are made, the flower girl picks her nose...
We've been looking through the life of Christ in Youth group. Last week we looked at Jesus visiting a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-12). Like every other wedding in history, things didn't go exactly as planned. Jesus' mother comes to him and says they have ran out of wine. Considering that weddings were week long celebrations in Jesus' time, this is no small blunder. There are several lessons we can take from Jesus' response to this problem. Jesus says,
“Woman, why do you involve me?”...“My hour has not yet come.”(John 2:4)
Interesting response. I admit I don't fully understand it. We don't know exactly what Mary expected Jesus to do, but apparently she believed that Jesus could do something. Yet, Jesus responds, "Its not my time yet." This is a good reminder to us--sometimes we may have good questions, good goals, good desires, but when we bring these things to God we must always remember that His time table is not our own. It might not be time yet.
Mary tells the servants of the wedding to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. This is where the next lesson I see in the story comes. The servants could panic, they could run searching the town for wine to share, they could admit defeat apologizing emphatically. Instead they go to Jesus, listening to and obeying him--even when he suggests something strange! When things get tough where do you run? Do you take it to Jesus first? Do you lean in faith on the arms of Christ?
And then Jesus does something amazing. His time has come! The servants fill six stone jars with water to the brim. Jesus tells them to dip a cup, pull it out, and bring it to the master of ceremonies. What was once water is no longer. It is transformed into wine. That's significant--Jesus doesn't make water into really good water, and he's not offering watered down wine either (Koolaid really wasn't an option back then). He turns water into wine. Jesus is in the transformation business. This is the third lesson I offer. Are we like water made to wine? Have we been transformed? I hope when people encounter me I give off a sweet fragrance and flavor that points out the transforming miracle Christ has worked in my life.
The last lesson is found at the end of the story. verse 11 says,
"What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."
Didn't the disciples already believe in Jesus? In the previous chapter we here them call him "Messiah" and "Son of God". Before they believed because John the Baptist had pointed Jesus to them, or because they had spent time talking with Jesus themselves. Now they had seen what Jesus could do. We may believe on Christ because he was once pointed out to us, or because we have heard his words. The more time we spend with Jesus, however, the greater our belief becomes because we become witness to the worker of miracles.
We've been looking through the life of Christ in Youth group. Last week we looked at Jesus visiting a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-12). Like every other wedding in history, things didn't go exactly as planned. Jesus' mother comes to him and says they have ran out of wine. Considering that weddings were week long celebrations in Jesus' time, this is no small blunder. There are several lessons we can take from Jesus' response to this problem. Jesus says,
“Woman, why do you involve me?”...“My hour has not yet come.”(John 2:4)
Interesting response. I admit I don't fully understand it. We don't know exactly what Mary expected Jesus to do, but apparently she believed that Jesus could do something. Yet, Jesus responds, "Its not my time yet." This is a good reminder to us--sometimes we may have good questions, good goals, good desires, but when we bring these things to God we must always remember that His time table is not our own. It might not be time yet.
Mary tells the servants of the wedding to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. This is where the next lesson I see in the story comes. The servants could panic, they could run searching the town for wine to share, they could admit defeat apologizing emphatically. Instead they go to Jesus, listening to and obeying him--even when he suggests something strange! When things get tough where do you run? Do you take it to Jesus first? Do you lean in faith on the arms of Christ?
And then Jesus does something amazing. His time has come! The servants fill six stone jars with water to the brim. Jesus tells them to dip a cup, pull it out, and bring it to the master of ceremonies. What was once water is no longer. It is transformed into wine. That's significant--Jesus doesn't make water into really good water, and he's not offering watered down wine either (Koolaid really wasn't an option back then). He turns water into wine. Jesus is in the transformation business. This is the third lesson I offer. Are we like water made to wine? Have we been transformed? I hope when people encounter me I give off a sweet fragrance and flavor that points out the transforming miracle Christ has worked in my life.
The last lesson is found at the end of the story. verse 11 says,
"What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."
Didn't the disciples already believe in Jesus? In the previous chapter we here them call him "Messiah" and "Son of God". Before they believed because John the Baptist had pointed Jesus to them, or because they had spent time talking with Jesus themselves. Now they had seen what Jesus could do. We may believe on Christ because he was once pointed out to us, or because we have heard his words. The more time we spend with Jesus, however, the greater our belief becomes because we become witness to the worker of miracles.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
All the single pastors
Two great articles
Sometimes writing a blog post is not necessary because someone else has said exactly what you would like to say. All I can say in response to these two articles is YES!
Well, and I guess this...
I do not feel called to singleness as a life style. I actually hope to be married some day with a house full of children. I do, however, hate the pressure I often feel as a single pastor to "get the ball rolling." Now, to speak fairly, I don't think my married friends realize the pressure they place on me or how painful it can feel to a single person when their singleness is spoken of as something that needs to be corrected. But it is painful. I advise those of you who are married to examine your own hearts and see if you hold prejudice towards singleness. I do believe, and I think I have pretty good company with 1 Corinthians 7, that singleness--like married life--can be a great gift from God. I confess that I miss out on that gift all to often because my focus shifts from how I can be using this time of singleness for the glory of God to how can I fix this singleness problem. That's really unfortunate. I don't think I am the only person that struggles with that mindset. I do think that the church can help cure these wrong ideas.
Sometimes writing a blog post is not necessary because someone else has said exactly what you would like to say. All I can say in response to these two articles is YES!
Well, and I guess this...
I do not feel called to singleness as a life style. I actually hope to be married some day with a house full of children. I do, however, hate the pressure I often feel as a single pastor to "get the ball rolling." Now, to speak fairly, I don't think my married friends realize the pressure they place on me or how painful it can feel to a single person when their singleness is spoken of as something that needs to be corrected. But it is painful. I advise those of you who are married to examine your own hearts and see if you hold prejudice towards singleness. I do believe, and I think I have pretty good company with 1 Corinthians 7, that singleness--like married life--can be a great gift from God. I confess that I miss out on that gift all to often because my focus shifts from how I can be using this time of singleness for the glory of God to how can I fix this singleness problem. That's really unfortunate. I don't think I am the only person that struggles with that mindset. I do think that the church can help cure these wrong ideas.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Sisters
Lyss works with a ministry called Living Hope in NE Minneapolis. She reaches out to young people who have seen things I can only imagine. Poverty, violence, and brokenness are a reality to these kids, but because Lyss has experienced the living hope of Jesus Christ, she and the ministry she is a part of bring hope to what the world would call hopeless and helpless. To get an idea of Alyssa's heart, check out this blog post.
I would invite you to consider how you might partner with the ministry of Living Hope. If you feel stirred to support Lyss or Living Hope financially, through prayer, or in any other way, you can find more info at Lyss's blog.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Behavior is to Belief as Belief is to Behavior?
When we were wild, rambunctious children it may not have been unlikely that at some point we heard our parents say, "I can't believe your behavior!?!?!" As we get older, there are times when we examine our own lives and say the same thing. "I can't believe I did that!" I think that often we default to think that our behavior flows out of what we believe, and this is true; our world view will determine the way we live our lives down to our most basic behaviors. But often our sinful natures will cry out the exact opposite. Not " I can't believe I behaved this way" but "I can't bend my behavior to this belief". What happens when a deep-seated stronghold of a behavior stands in opposition to our world view? Either the behavior has to change or the world view has to.
Behavior can determine ones world view.
I read a really interesting article on Christianity Today' website called Unreasonable Doubt, dealing with those un-admitted reasons why some people become atheists.
Romans 1:19 states clearly that God has made plane to man what can be known about Him. And yet, many are strongly convinced that God is nothing more real then the Easter bunny. How is that?
The answer comes prior in Romans 1:18. It speaks of how we are capable of suppressing truth through wickedness. Literally our behavior snuffs out the truth so that we are incapable of seeing it.
I see this happen in me. I find that the more I've given in to certain sins over time, the more comfortable I become with them...so much so that I begin to wonder why I thought the behavior was so wrong in the first place. I'll shrug it off, or maybe even go as far as to look at it as growing up..."maturing". Maybe this is why so many people have a shift of world view in college. A lot of college-aged "self discovery" is nothing more than embracing moral depravity and not recognizing sin for what it really is.
We may ask ourselves how it was possible for Christians in this country at one time to own slaves. Does the Christian world view promote such behavior towards other human beings? Slaves were useful and slavery was common. Behavior determined belief. People were so numb to the sinful dehumanization of slavery that they didn't believe what they were doing was wrong.
How could Germany have supported the Nazi regime? How did it get to the point that people were cooked in ovens and gassed in showers? Behavior eventually changes belief. Its much easier to treat someone that way when they aren't human.
This is a profound truth that we need to recognize.
I think we all have our little pet sins that we like to nurture and feed, hold in our laps and scratch their bellies. Sure we know that they can be naughty little mutts--barking out against what we say we believe, but they are manageable; they can be hidden and muzzled when needed. Though these pet sins are perceived as small, they are ferocious dragons ready to overpower both us and the world view we claim. If we hold on to these "little" pets to long, pretty soon we become enslaved to them, unaware of how foolish we look walking around on the wrong end of the leash.
Sin can't be managed. Don't walk your pet sin around on a leash; take the leash and make a noose. Sin needs to be killed.
Behavior can determine ones world view.
I read a really interesting article on Christianity Today' website called Unreasonable Doubt, dealing with those un-admitted reasons why some people become atheists.
Romans 1:19 states clearly that God has made plane to man what can be known about Him. And yet, many are strongly convinced that God is nothing more real then the Easter bunny. How is that?
The answer comes prior in Romans 1:18. It speaks of how we are capable of suppressing truth through wickedness. Literally our behavior snuffs out the truth so that we are incapable of seeing it.
I see this happen in me. I find that the more I've given in to certain sins over time, the more comfortable I become with them...so much so that I begin to wonder why I thought the behavior was so wrong in the first place. I'll shrug it off, or maybe even go as far as to look at it as growing up..."maturing". Maybe this is why so many people have a shift of world view in college. A lot of college-aged "self discovery" is nothing more than embracing moral depravity and not recognizing sin for what it really is.
We may ask ourselves how it was possible for Christians in this country at one time to own slaves. Does the Christian world view promote such behavior towards other human beings? Slaves were useful and slavery was common. Behavior determined belief. People were so numb to the sinful dehumanization of slavery that they didn't believe what they were doing was wrong.
How could Germany have supported the Nazi regime? How did it get to the point that people were cooked in ovens and gassed in showers? Behavior eventually changes belief. Its much easier to treat someone that way when they aren't human.
This is a profound truth that we need to recognize.
I think we all have our little pet sins that we like to nurture and feed, hold in our laps and scratch their bellies. Sure we know that they can be naughty little mutts--barking out against what we say we believe, but they are manageable; they can be hidden and muzzled when needed. Though these pet sins are perceived as small, they are ferocious dragons ready to overpower both us and the world view we claim. If we hold on to these "little" pets to long, pretty soon we become enslaved to them, unaware of how foolish we look walking around on the wrong end of the leash.
Sin can't be managed. Don't walk your pet sin around on a leash; take the leash and make a noose. Sin needs to be killed.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Its only cute when babies do it
Have you ever been having a lovely conversation filled with keen insights, good humor, jovial laughter, and then, out of the blue you say, "Hey, I wonder how much of my foot I can fit in my mouth?" Today I put my foot in my mouth. My whole foot. I have a size eleven mouth. There is a reason saying something stupid and hurtful is called "foot in mouth"--it leaves a nasty taste like sweaty gym sock. I felt awful. I've offered my apology, and through grace have been forgiven. Now its not that I haven't munched my toes ever before (anyone who knows me well also knows I'm capable of saying stupid things) but I hope I've learned my lesson from this experience. First, I will not be so quick to mutter idiot under my breath the next time someone else sucks their gym sock. Second, I will be more careful with the reigns of my own tongue--such a wild beast to tame. Lastly, when I do fail (which inevitably I will) I'll be quick to own up to my mistake and make things right by apologizing.
To any infant readers out there, suck your toes now. It's not as cute when you're an adult.
To any infant readers out there, suck your toes now. It's not as cute when you're an adult.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
A tall man in a small shop
I love La Blogotheque's Take Away Shows. What they do is record musicians playing their art in unlikely venues--tour buses, under bridges, up on roof tops, in hall ways, on the street, and in cramped music shops like the one in this video. This creates an incredibly unique and intimate musical experience. Sometimes a house show is just as stirring as a stadium of thousands.
Here is what La Blogotheque had to say about this performance by Kristian Matsson, otherwise known as "The Tallest Man on Earth".
"One catch: after soundcheck the day before, Tallest Man’s guitars were locked inside the NYC music venue, Town Hall, where he’d be playing later that night with Bon Iver. Solution: we’d have to shoot somewhere with a decent supply of guitars that he might borrow. A fan of music of all kinds, Jeff, the awesome, museum-quality proprietor of the legendary Music Inn on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village was happy to oblige. The staff took refuge downstairs, where they ripped through some take-out tacos while the Swedish guy played songs from his debut Shallow Grave. The Tallest Man, who inevitably gets talked about in terms of Dylan apparently had no idea he was playing just three doors down from where Dylan actually lived and just around the corner from where the cover photo of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan was shot."
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Blood Money
I watched the movie Blood Money this evening. I left me swelling with emotion. I am livid with anger, burning with empathy, and desperately saddened. What really hurts in watching this movie is that one of the seventh grade girls from youth group--an innocent, joyful, young girl--came to see this movie and was exposed to the great evils of our country. I am glad she saw it, but it hurts. Because this sin so rampantly penetrates our society, it is necessary for young people to see truth, even gruesome truth. It is best that they know the truth now, so that they will be ready to take a stand for whats right when that time comes. It rips out my heart that twelve year old girls are being extorted to make decisions to end life; facing unfathomable pressures from every angle--family, doctors, friends, counselors, and boy friends to terminate a life; facing these pressures from those who should be walking with them in their vulnerable, fearful place and supporting them in the difficult decision to preserve life. Millions of lives destroyed because of a brilliantly crafted lie fueled by greed for money and the fires of hell itself.
My anger does not lie with the women who have been deceived into taking the life of their child. I deeply hurt for them, and desire to show them the love of the God who can forgive them and bring them the peace they need. My anger is that so many are being deceived into believing such pure evil is good. How can humanity, the image bearers of God, live out such evil? This is our depravity, this is our condition without Christ. My anger is with the deceiver and I want to penetrate his dark lies with the burning light of truth.
To think of the discarded body of a baby, an image bearer of God, in the bowl of a toilet; it ruins me.
If you are a human being you need to watch this movie.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Oh Tom Sawyer, you rascal you...
Here is my latest graffitied thrift shop painting. Why did Tom Sawyer have to white wash the fence in the first place?
Conspiracy Theory: Tom Sawyer is Banksy.
For those of you who don't know Banksy, he is a famous, yet unidentified (until possibly now...we're onto you Sawyer...), street artist. You can visit his website here.
It was fun uniting my favorite artist with the stories of one of my favorite writers as a kind of tribute to both of them (though I'm not so sure either of them would necessarily appreciate the tribute). Also a tribute to Jim Daly. It is his painting I defaced, after all (I've colaborated with many a gifted artist this way...they just don't know it).
Banksy is part of a new documentary called Exit through the gift shop about street art, the commercialization of art, what makes art art, etc. It's brilliant. Like Banksy himself, the movie is enigmatic. Its hard to tell if whats playing out is for real or a beautifully crafted hoax. Personally, I don't care one way or the other.
Hulu is streaming it here for free! I warn that the movie is rated R; there is some course language, and, well...graffiti is illegal.
Banksy is part of a new documentary called Exit through the gift shop about street art, the commercialization of art, what makes art art, etc. It's brilliant. Like Banksy himself, the movie is enigmatic. Its hard to tell if whats playing out is for real or a beautifully crafted hoax. Personally, I don't care one way or the other.
Hulu is streaming it here for free! I warn that the movie is rated R; there is some course language, and, well...graffiti is illegal.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
What I know about women
Many years ago, I decided that I would begin to write down everything I know about women. here is everything I have learned so far.
Yep.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
1 Thessalonians, Love Letters and Youth Ministry
I just read some from 1 Thessalonians, and I was delighted by these verses.
"Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. We wanted very much to come, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again. For you are our pride and joy."--1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
Isn't that beautiful. I almost blush reading it; it sounds so much like a personal love letter between lovers. Just a few tweaks, "My dearest love, Though distance keeps us apart, my heart remains with you. The intensity of my longing to be with you is unbearable! It is you who brings me joy!" I can almost smell the perfume on the parchment!
But its not a love letter between two lovers. It is a letter from Paul to a body of brothers and sisters in Christ. The love and bond that Christians share with one another is the most beautiful example of relationship the world can see. The rest of the world's relationships are centered on causes, interests, societal relations, hobbies, but for the Christian--we are bonded together by the living Spirit of God! And for these particular believers, they were also bonded together in there experiences in suffering for the sake of Christ. No wonder Paul was so joyous. These believers accepted the message Paul preached to them as the very words of God, because through the leading of the Spirit, they were the very words of God! They knew Paul had been persecuted for this message, and they knew they would be persecuted themselves, yet they held firm. What a great joy to Paul to be able to know that he will stand with these believers on the day Christ returns. These men and women who once were lost in sin, now willingly suffer for the sake of Christ. Is there any bond in all humanity like that of the body of Christ that endures hardship together, yet stands firm?
I get this challenge from Paul. First, do I love the youth in Fosston Baptist youth group with that kind of intensity? Second, where do I find my joy? Does my joy come from delivering a good Wednesday night talk? How many laughs I get at a joke? How successful an event was? Or am I experiencing joy because youth who were lost are making Jesus the Lord of their life, and I can know that I will stand next to them on the day of Christ's return.
I know I have sought my joy in petty things. I really want to strive to see young people know the Lord. I don't want to miss out on that kind of joy.
"Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. We wanted very much to come, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again. For you are our pride and joy."--1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
Isn't that beautiful. I almost blush reading it; it sounds so much like a personal love letter between lovers. Just a few tweaks, "My dearest love, Though distance keeps us apart, my heart remains with you. The intensity of my longing to be with you is unbearable! It is you who brings me joy!" I can almost smell the perfume on the parchment!
But its not a love letter between two lovers. It is a letter from Paul to a body of brothers and sisters in Christ. The love and bond that Christians share with one another is the most beautiful example of relationship the world can see. The rest of the world's relationships are centered on causes, interests, societal relations, hobbies, but for the Christian--we are bonded together by the living Spirit of God! And for these particular believers, they were also bonded together in there experiences in suffering for the sake of Christ. No wonder Paul was so joyous. These believers accepted the message Paul preached to them as the very words of God, because through the leading of the Spirit, they were the very words of God! They knew Paul had been persecuted for this message, and they knew they would be persecuted themselves, yet they held firm. What a great joy to Paul to be able to know that he will stand with these believers on the day Christ returns. These men and women who once were lost in sin, now willingly suffer for the sake of Christ. Is there any bond in all humanity like that of the body of Christ that endures hardship together, yet stands firm?
I get this challenge from Paul. First, do I love the youth in Fosston Baptist youth group with that kind of intensity? Second, where do I find my joy? Does my joy come from delivering a good Wednesday night talk? How many laughs I get at a joke? How successful an event was? Or am I experiencing joy because youth who were lost are making Jesus the Lord of their life, and I can know that I will stand next to them on the day of Christ's return.
I know I have sought my joy in petty things. I really want to strive to see young people know the Lord. I don't want to miss out on that kind of joy.
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Well, that's awkward.
One of my favorite websites is AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. What family doesn't have it's own unique set of quirks? The beauty of this site is that it collects all of those goofy, awkward, sometimes cringe-worthy moments that just so happened to be caught on film and puts them all in one place (its like the family reunion of the internet). These tend to be rare jewels; diamonds in the rough...unless you are a member of my family. My family thrives in in capturing the awkward for posterity's sake. I like to think we have at least a bit of self awareness though. Most of our awkwardness is intentional. I think it is birthed out of my dads desire to always take a unique family photo for our Christmas card. Here are a couple from the past. I blogged about them here.
Sometimes, however, awkwardness abounds without intention. These are always the best photos in my opinion. I look at this photo, and even though I know me, I'm scared for this child! I blogged about this photo too. That post is here.
There are many other photos I could share; perhaps sometime I will. For now I'll share just one more. 
Do you have any awkward family memories? Catch any on film?
Sometimes, however, awkwardness abounds without intention. These are always the best photos in my opinion. I look at this photo, and even though I know me, I'm scared for this child! I blogged about this photo too. That post is here.
There are many other photos I could share; perhaps sometime I will. For now I'll share just one more. Today was a monumental step forward in my families awkwardness as one of our family photos was added to AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com! Our basement was struck in the flood of '98 that swept through Roseau. We thought it would be kind of funny to pose in front of our trashed lawn. That explains the garbage. Nothing can explain my sock-sandal combo. The AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com address in the corner of this pic is like a badge of glory. I am so proud!
Do you have any awkward family memories? Catch any on film?Thursday, January 06, 2011
Written in the snow
It is funny the thoughts that come to mind when we miss friends. I knew that one of the great challenges of moving to such a small town by myself would be the challenge of loneliness. This loneliness has dredged up some very random memories; particularly memories from my days at Prov; a small school in Manitoba, Canada--just a few clicks south of the edge of the world.
I was thinking of one of my dearest friends from those days, my bud Dom. I haven't talked to Dom in years, but I love that guy. He was a lot like an older brother. The memory that plays in my head is one night driving back to Prov in the earliest hours of the morning on a brisk winter's night. ...Well, its not so much our drive back, but the moment in the parking lot after returning. I can't even remember where we had been...but it must have been a coffee shop because by the time we got back, nature was calling. So we did what any college aged guy would do in freshly fallen snow in the wee (funny that I chose that word) hours of the night with no one else around. There, in the quiet parking lot we signed our names in the snow with recycled coffee "percolated" through our systems. As I wrote my name, it looked very similar to my handwriting in kindergarten. Some of the letters were almost distinguishable. I just barely finished the e and r of Tyler. When Dom had finished I walked over to see the work he had left behind. Fully expecting a choppy, scribbled "Dom" the yellow letters spelt out "Dominick" in perfect cursive hand writing. No man could pee his name better. It was like he had signed the Declaration of Independence (even though he couldn't...he's Canadian).
Out of all the great moments I shared with Dom--adventures, theological discussions, moments of support and accountability, challenges, laughter, secrets, and prayer--this is the memory that jumps to my mind. Were there other moments that were more significant to our friendship? Most definitely (we weren't that weird) but even those dumb little foolish moments with friends become significant and special. I am thankful that I can look back on them.
Memories of friends are a special gift that have provided comfort in times when I've felt alone. They remind me of God's goodness and provision. God has blessed me with some truly amazing friends. I think when we share friendships in the body of Christ, we feel joy--so thankful that we could be so fortunate as to have such a special friend. I can think of so many moments of pause; looking at my brothers and sisters in Christ and thinking, I can't believe how blessed I am to call these people my friends! We see the Holy Spirit in our friends, and so what attracts us to them--what we love in them--is God shining in and through them. This is why there is such a great bond in the body of Christ.
Just as God brought beautiful people into my life in the past, I see God answering my prayers now for relationship. I am in awe of the beautiful, unexpected ways in which He provides friends. I am excited for all the new stories--both the significant life transformation ones, and the stupid silly moments I'll look back on years from now thinking, "...well there's a random memory. Man, I miss that guy."
I was thinking of one of my dearest friends from those days, my bud Dom. I haven't talked to Dom in years, but I love that guy. He was a lot like an older brother. The memory that plays in my head is one night driving back to Prov in the earliest hours of the morning on a brisk winter's night. ...Well, its not so much our drive back, but the moment in the parking lot after returning. I can't even remember where we had been...but it must have been a coffee shop because by the time we got back, nature was calling. So we did what any college aged guy would do in freshly fallen snow in the wee (funny that I chose that word) hours of the night with no one else around. There, in the quiet parking lot we signed our names in the snow with recycled coffee "percolated" through our systems. As I wrote my name, it looked very similar to my handwriting in kindergarten. Some of the letters were almost distinguishable. I just barely finished the e and r of Tyler. When Dom had finished I walked over to see the work he had left behind. Fully expecting a choppy, scribbled "Dom" the yellow letters spelt out "Dominick" in perfect cursive hand writing. No man could pee his name better. It was like he had signed the Declaration of Independence (even though he couldn't...he's Canadian).
Out of all the great moments I shared with Dom--adventures, theological discussions, moments of support and accountability, challenges, laughter, secrets, and prayer--this is the memory that jumps to my mind. Were there other moments that were more significant to our friendship? Most definitely (we weren't that weird) but even those dumb little foolish moments with friends become significant and special. I am thankful that I can look back on them.
Memories of friends are a special gift that have provided comfort in times when I've felt alone. They remind me of God's goodness and provision. God has blessed me with some truly amazing friends. I think when we share friendships in the body of Christ, we feel joy--so thankful that we could be so fortunate as to have such a special friend. I can think of so many moments of pause; looking at my brothers and sisters in Christ and thinking, I can't believe how blessed I am to call these people my friends! We see the Holy Spirit in our friends, and so what attracts us to them--what we love in them--is God shining in and through them. This is why there is such a great bond in the body of Christ.
Just as God brought beautiful people into my life in the past, I see God answering my prayers now for relationship. I am in awe of the beautiful, unexpected ways in which He provides friends. I am excited for all the new stories--both the significant life transformation ones, and the stupid silly moments I'll look back on years from now thinking, "...well there's a random memory. Man, I miss that guy."
Saturday, December 11, 2010
What people think
I heard some words of wisdom from a grandfatherly friend today.
"When I was 20, I worried what others thought about me. When I was 40, I didn't care what others thought about me. When I was 60...I realized others weren't thinking about me!"
Ha!
Oh to learn to measure our worth as the image bearers of God, so deeply valued that our Creator died for us! So much more valuable than the thoughts (or lack there of) of those around us!
"When I was 20, I worried what others thought about me. When I was 40, I didn't care what others thought about me. When I was 60...I realized others weren't thinking about me!"
Ha!
Oh to learn to measure our worth as the image bearers of God, so deeply valued that our Creator died for us! So much more valuable than the thoughts (or lack there of) of those around us!
Saturday, December 04, 2010
My Struggle, My Freedom
I have a pretty typical testimony for a kid who grew up in the church. At least, that's what I thought.
I prayed "the prayer" when I was 5 or 6. I'm sure that I didn't understand everything I was committing to, but I did know who Jesus was (at least pretty well for a 6 year old), what he did, and that I would much rather be with him for eternity then in Hell.
As I grew older I began to have doubts. Not to the divinity of Christ. Not to the saving power of what he did for us all on the cross, or the proof of his divinity through his Resurrection. No, I simply doubted who I was to Him. In Him. Was I really in Him? I doubted my salvation. Honestly, I've wrestled with these doubts my whole life, But I Knew I made a decision for Christ and I Knew what I believed. So why? Why doubt? I pushed it all away as spiritual attacks or simple insecurity. I kept my doubts as to who I was to Christ pretty secret. I might talk about them, but very rarely did I let people now that the doubt I was describing was my current state of being. How humiliating for a Christian College graduate and youth pastor to wonder if he were truly saved! But when you can't shake something so eternally significant, it sends a person soul searching.
Pastor Skip has been preaching about the Holy Spirit. The ultimate sign of a true believer is the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life, because He is promised to all believers. A couple verses that have really grabbed my attention lately are these:
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.--Romans 8:14
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!--Galatians 6:22-23
These verses are very clear. Those who are Christian's are led by the Spirit. It's not the "good Christians" are led by the Spirit (there are no levels of Christianity--you, me and the Apostle Paul are all on the same plain). Its not we should be led by the Spirit. Its not that we get some advice from the Spirit every now and then. No! The Holy Spirit is not Jiminy Cricket. He is God! He takes the keys, we become the passenger. The Holy Spirit is in the driver seat of our life. He leads the way. That describes the life of a Christian.
When looking at the fruits of the Spirit, it doesn't say it would be nice if a Christian displayed these qualities. It doesn't say certain Christian's produce certain fruit (I'm the banana of Patience and you are the apple of self control). No! It says these are the things the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the believer. They are present and growing in the life of every believer.
I looked at my life and I had to say, I don't know if I see these things as true in my life. I mean really, really true?
If the living, all powerful Creator God was living inside my life, wouldn't I be certain of something like that? I mean, if I can be aware of something as small as the flu bug inside of me, I should be aware of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God! I don't think a God that big can hide! If a God that big was in a tiny package like me, I--and everyone around me--should see him spilling out.
So, things just didn't seem to be adding up. I believe in Jesus Christ, yet I don't know that I see the evidence of the Holy Spirit in me...and I should. Ephesians 1:13 says,
"...And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago."
There is no special incantation, no magical formula, no task to complete that could make me a Christian or fill me with the Holy Spirit. It is only (and completely) belief in Christ. He saves me, I don't.
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10
Haven't I done that? It just doesn't add up. I see so many people who would claim to believe in Jesus--believe they believe in Jesus--and yet there is no fruit to suggest this is true.
You can fake fruit, but eventually everyone will be found out. Grape soda doesn't grow on a vine.
There are two pretty important words in that above verse--Lord and Believe. It is good to grasp what they mean.
This is how I understand these words.
God carries all authority in Heaven and on Earth. All other authority is myth. God simply lends his authority to others, but ultimately all authority is His. This is the authority that he gives to Jesus Christ our Lord.
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. --Ephesians 1:22
To believe Jesus Christ is God incarnate is to believe that he carries ultimate authority. To believe he is the ultimate authority is to submit to His authority.
Believing in Christ means submitting to Christ.
This is what it means to call Jesus Lord.
So many of us desire to have Jesus be our Savior, but He cannot be our Savior if he is not our Lord.
Oh, how I beg you to hear and accept these words!
The Holy Spirit will not lead a life that has not submitted authority over to Jesus. I could "believe" all the right things, but not submitting authority to Christ showed that I didn't really make Jesus my Lord. Which shows I didn't truly believe that He is my authority. I think that is what Matthew 7:21-23 is talking about when Jesus says,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
They thought they belonged to Jesus. They really believed it! But they weren't obedient. They never handed over their false authority to the Ultimate authority. And for that reason, they were sinners believed righteous; lost souls believing they were chasing Heaven, but destined to Hell.
Luke-warm Christianity is a myth, a lie from the pit of Hell. We MUST know our authority, because the consequences are eternal.
I've believed myself a Christian all my life. Was I? Had I truly submitted? I don't know. But this is no guessing game. No more playing around. I'm handing over all authority. I want Jesus to be my Savior and Lord. If he is going to be one, he must be both. I want to be led by the Spirit, producing good fruit. I don't want to doubt any more. I know who I belong to because I believe. I really believe.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.--Galatians 6:24-26
I prayed "the prayer" when I was 5 or 6. I'm sure that I didn't understand everything I was committing to, but I did know who Jesus was (at least pretty well for a 6 year old), what he did, and that I would much rather be with him for eternity then in Hell.
As I grew older I began to have doubts. Not to the divinity of Christ. Not to the saving power of what he did for us all on the cross, or the proof of his divinity through his Resurrection. No, I simply doubted who I was to Him. In Him. Was I really in Him? I doubted my salvation. Honestly, I've wrestled with these doubts my whole life, But I Knew I made a decision for Christ and I Knew what I believed. So why? Why doubt? I pushed it all away as spiritual attacks or simple insecurity. I kept my doubts as to who I was to Christ pretty secret. I might talk about them, but very rarely did I let people now that the doubt I was describing was my current state of being. How humiliating for a Christian College graduate and youth pastor to wonder if he were truly saved! But when you can't shake something so eternally significant, it sends a person soul searching.
Pastor Skip has been preaching about the Holy Spirit. The ultimate sign of a true believer is the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life, because He is promised to all believers. A couple verses that have really grabbed my attention lately are these:
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.--Romans 8:14
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!--Galatians 6:22-23
These verses are very clear. Those who are Christian's are led by the Spirit. It's not the "good Christians" are led by the Spirit (there are no levels of Christianity--you, me and the Apostle Paul are all on the same plain). Its not we should be led by the Spirit. Its not that we get some advice from the Spirit every now and then. No! The Holy Spirit is not Jiminy Cricket. He is God! He takes the keys, we become the passenger. The Holy Spirit is in the driver seat of our life. He leads the way. That describes the life of a Christian.
When looking at the fruits of the Spirit, it doesn't say it would be nice if a Christian displayed these qualities. It doesn't say certain Christian's produce certain fruit (I'm the banana of Patience and you are the apple of self control). No! It says these are the things the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the believer. They are present and growing in the life of every believer.
I looked at my life and I had to say, I don't know if I see these things as true in my life. I mean really, really true?
If the living, all powerful Creator God was living inside my life, wouldn't I be certain of something like that? I mean, if I can be aware of something as small as the flu bug inside of me, I should be aware of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God! I don't think a God that big can hide! If a God that big was in a tiny package like me, I--and everyone around me--should see him spilling out.
So, things just didn't seem to be adding up. I believe in Jesus Christ, yet I don't know that I see the evidence of the Holy Spirit in me...and I should. Ephesians 1:13 says,
"...And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago."
There is no special incantation, no magical formula, no task to complete that could make me a Christian or fill me with the Holy Spirit. It is only (and completely) belief in Christ. He saves me, I don't.
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10
Haven't I done that? It just doesn't add up. I see so many people who would claim to believe in Jesus--believe they believe in Jesus--and yet there is no fruit to suggest this is true.
You can fake fruit, but eventually everyone will be found out. Grape soda doesn't grow on a vine.
There are two pretty important words in that above verse--Lord and Believe. It is good to grasp what they mean.
This is how I understand these words.
God carries all authority in Heaven and on Earth. All other authority is myth. God simply lends his authority to others, but ultimately all authority is His. This is the authority that he gives to Jesus Christ our Lord.
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. --Ephesians 1:22
To believe Jesus Christ is God incarnate is to believe that he carries ultimate authority. To believe he is the ultimate authority is to submit to His authority.
Believing in Christ means submitting to Christ.
This is what it means to call Jesus Lord.
So many of us desire to have Jesus be our Savior, but He cannot be our Savior if he is not our Lord.
Oh, how I beg you to hear and accept these words!
The Holy Spirit will not lead a life that has not submitted authority over to Jesus. I could "believe" all the right things, but not submitting authority to Christ showed that I didn't really make Jesus my Lord. Which shows I didn't truly believe that He is my authority. I think that is what Matthew 7:21-23 is talking about when Jesus says,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
They thought they belonged to Jesus. They really believed it! But they weren't obedient. They never handed over their false authority to the Ultimate authority. And for that reason, they were sinners believed righteous; lost souls believing they were chasing Heaven, but destined to Hell.
Luke-warm Christianity is a myth, a lie from the pit of Hell. We MUST know our authority, because the consequences are eternal.
I've believed myself a Christian all my life. Was I? Had I truly submitted? I don't know. But this is no guessing game. No more playing around. I'm handing over all authority. I want Jesus to be my Savior and Lord. If he is going to be one, he must be both. I want to be led by the Spirit, producing good fruit. I don't want to doubt any more. I know who I belong to because I believe. I really believe.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.--Galatians 6:24-26
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
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