clean and unclean

"What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' " MARK 7: 20-23

Reflecting upon this passage, it seems fake, it seems impossible, as if humans couldn't possibly be this evil, alarmingly shallow, or frighteningly terrible. But when I evaluate it in truth, my own heart is revealed. I am this evil. I am this brutal. I am this terrible. I am the essence of this passage.

In any given day and at least week, I am all of these things. I am a cheater, a liar, a greedy fool, a lover of money, an adulterer, an arrogant snob, a thief, a deceitful scoundrel, a gross slanderer - a man full of pride and envy. I am all of these things and more. I am at any given time, the epitome of the fall.

We are warned of the yeast of the Pharisees. Yeast spreads through dough, the whole dough. In today's language we might have been warned of cancer or weeds. Cancer spreads through the body with disregard for health. Weeds spread and choke out anything in their path. They kill. The same is true for those who oppose the Truth. I often wonder how evil can spread so quickly, so ruthlessly, while good can take so long to take hold...? It seems backwards and silly. It starts with the man in the mirror. It appears the symptom of a fallen world where sin runs wild and evil flaunts around untamed and uncontrolled, while good is confined to a jail with walls made of greed, envy, jealousy, lust, sex, murder, arrogance and immorality.

Ultimately, I have come to realize that evil can be overcome but with one thing, Love. I don't mean the kind of love that we whisper in secret corners of past crushes, or about the kind of love we bestow upon our pets, or the love we profess for decadence like ice cream or cookies, or the love we proclaim for amusement park rides, or the love we attach to cherished possessions.

Rather, I mean the love someone would show by redeeming us for all of our debt with one single, incredible act. I'm talking about the kind of love someone would die for in order to free many from the grasp of demons. I'm talking about the kind of love someone would show by carrying the sins of the world upon their back only to be betrayed and put to death, as to pay the ransom for people like me.

This love manifests itself only when we sacrifice of ourselves for something, or should I say, SOMEONE, bigger than ourselves. So long as we look to the 'self' first, evil will have it's way. There is nothing greater in life than laying down our own for the sake of another - it is the very essence of love. I hope I will learn to lay down my life every day.

White Socks

I'm not sure why people choose to wear white socks with dress clothes or with sandals or with suits. It's such an eyesore, a terrible fashion. Why...? I'm wondering if God is trying to teach me something through my disdain for the white socks. Maybe, it's the very same way God looks at me and the sin in my life - he's wondering why I'm that guy with a suit on matched with white socks and loafers. He's probably wondering, "How in the world could I give Bret this beautiful new garment, washed in the blood of the Lamb, woven with precious linens of grace, hope and love; and he goes and puts on white socks - that's messed up!" It's gotta be a lesson. Why am I wearing white socks ...?

It appears that even Paul wore white socks at times, acknowledging that rebirth does not preclude us from the evil desires of flesh.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

ROMANS 7:14-25

It sucks to live like this. I do what I don't want to do all time. I hate looking in my drawers every morning and seeing white socks overflowing. Even when you know that white socks look terrible with sandals, you put them on anyway.

Thank goodness for grace. Thank goodness our weakness is made strong in the One who provides grace. Otherwise, I would look like a dork most every day - oh yeah, I still do.

WAKEUP!!!!

Another interesting link to follow about movements to change Wal-Mart... when I see the "wake up" part, I can't help but to think of a song by one of my favorite bands of years gone by, Rage Against the Machine. The song obviously isn't about Wal-Mart, but it about lies, oppression and holding the poor man down.

WAKE UP
Come on!
Uggh!

Come on, although ya try to discredit
Ya still never read it
The needle, I'll thread it
Radically poetic
Standin' with the fury that they had in '66
And like E-Double I'm mad
Still knee-deep in the system's shit
Hoover, he was a body remover
I'll give ya a dose
But it can never come close
To the rage built up inside of me
Fist in the air, in the land of hypocrisy

Movements come and movements go
Leaders speak, movements cease
When their heads are flown
'Cause all these punks
Got bullets in their heads
Departments of police, the judges, the feds
Networks at work, keepin' people calm
You know they went after King
When he spoke out on Vietnam
He turned the power to the have-nots
And then came the shot

Yeah!
Yeah, back in this...
Wit' poetry, my mind I flex
Flip like Wilson, vocals never lackin' dat finesse
Whadda I got to, whadda I got to do to wake ya up
To shake ya up, to break the structure up
'Cause blood still flows in the gutter
I'm like takin' photos
Mad boy kicks open the shutter
Set the groove
Then stick and move like I was Cassius
Rep the stutter step
Then bomb a left upon the fascists
Yea, the several federal men
Who pulled schemes on the dream
And put it to an end
Ya better beware
Of retribution with mind war
20/20 visions and murals with metaphors
Networks at work, keepin' people calm
Ya know they murdered X
And tried to blame it on Islam
He turned the power to the have-nots
And then came the shot

Uggh!
What was the price on his head?
What was the price on his head!


I think I heard a shot
I think I heard a shot
I think I heard a shot
I think I heard a shot
I think I heard a shot
I think I heard, I think I heard a shot

'He may be a real contender for this position should he
abandon his supposed obediance to white liberal doctrine
of non-violence...and embrace black nationalism'
'Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to
pinpoint potential trouble-makers... and neutralize them.
Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to
pinpoint potential trouble-makers... and neutralize them
and neutralize them, and neutralize them, and neutralize them'

Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

How long? Not long, cause what you reap is what you sow

a beautiful song...

Lately I've been humming Amazing Grace a lot. It's a soothing song, very soothing. Somehow, the song has resonated deeply and intensely with me over the course of the past few weeks as I learn of God's amazing grace for me.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

fifty

I can't help but to miss fifty people at a place called fifty in a country that is about 4050 miles away. Fifty means community. Fifty means friendship. Fifty means faith and love and Jesus and gratitude and goodness and strength and serving and hope. There are fifty words in the post.

long road, small steps

It was 7:00am and I was sitting on the beach in Cancun with my beautiful wife discussing Amsterdam and community and God. They were the same for us just three months ago. We miss our life in Amsterdam. We were drinking coffee. I noticed it from about 15 feet away, a small creature struggling slowly up the sand. Maybe I was imagining something. A few minutes passed and again the creature caught my eye - a hermit crab, creeping up the sand, away from the ocean on a journey to... well, I'm not quite sure. I was tempted to turn him around and send him back to the ocean from where he came. Surely he would be happy there. But, then again, who was I to say where he was going?

Either way, his journey was a long one. He had to crawl through dangerous land to go where he was going. There were predators along the way, mountains of sand, and even hideous cigarette butts to contend with. Where was he going...? I wanted to turn him around.

Sometimes I feel like people want to turn me around. They think they know where I'm going. Does it ever feel that way to you...? I have been on the journey with God for about five years now and there have been many challenges and obstacles along the way, my own sand mountains, my own cigarette butts, my own predators. Sometimes it doesn't feel like I know where I'm going and that the only thing safe seems to go back home, to where I came from, to where things are nice and clean and normal.

Jesus wants something different (matthew 7:13-14). And though, the world may want to pick us up and turn us around, Jesus wants us to keep going (luke 9:62). He wants us to leave our world where it lays and follow him (Mark 1:16-20). I can't help but to realize how much I fight the message of the Gospel, how much I desire to turn around at times, how much I struggle just to obey. There is Jesus though, around every corner, on top of every hill, along every valley - he is there - waiting, wanting, hoping, loving.

I pray that my brothers and sisters in Amsterdam fight to keep going.

Robertson Strikes Again!

Please contact www.cbn.com and call for Pat Robertson's resignation. After this, he has crossed the line yet again. Has he not experienced grace and forgiveness and the love of God for himself...? Let me know what you think after reading this article.

Robertson Warns of God's Wrath

Therapeutic suicidal newsgroup...?

I found this artical about Internet assisted suicide on CNN and couldn't help but to think of the sadness God must feel about suicide. This particular case is itself alarming because so many young people feel the need to engage in suicide talk, suicide planning and suicide exits.

I confess. I've thought of committing suicide before. I've thought about ending my life. It lasted for a few months, though I don't think I was ever totally serious. I couldn't stop thinking about the people in my life who would miss me, who wouldn't understand. Ultimately, it came down to a struggle I couldn't bear to bring upon others. It felt selfish. I didn't know God at the time. He was nothing more than a church building with pews and an alter, but certainly not personal and definitely not loving.

For many, there is an inner battle I'm sure I will never comprehend, a pressure I will never feel and perhaps a lifelong misunderstanding I will never know. There is a spiritual darkness driving the belief that death is greater than life. At some point the depths of the soul give in to a powerful and bold demon who loves nothing more than to separate something, anything from God.

How does God feel...?

Some, perhaps even Suzanne Gonzales, might have wondered aloud how God can "feel" anything at all. Sometimes I wonder too. He is up there and we are down here. He is something of a figment of the imagination, a made up deity to make us feel better about ourselves and our problems. He is... well, who is He...? Sometimes I wonder the same. I'm quite sure all the people on the A.S.H. newsgroup feel something similar. I would guess they have explored the realms of darkness, of Satanic rule. I have. But, there is an answer. You can find it in anything but what is real.

Something crazy hit me the other day. It was inspired by Tozer's Pursuit of God (you can find the whole thing online here) God is not imaginary. Jesus is not fake. There is a reality in this life and it starts and ends with Jesus. As for reality, I will let Tozer explain:

What do I mean by reality? I mean that which has existence apart from any idea any mind may have of it, and which would exist if there were no mind anywhere to entertain a thought of it. That which is real has being in itself. It does not depend upon the observer for its validity.

I am aware that there are those who love to poke fun at the plain man's idea of reality. They are the idealists who spin endless proofs that nothing is real outside of the mind. They are the relativists who like to show that there are no fixed points in the universe from which we can measure anything. They smile down upon us from their lofty intellectual peaks and settle us to their own satisfaction by fastening upon us the reproachful term `absolutist.' The Christian is not put out of countenance by this show of contempt. He can smile right back at them, for he knows that there is only One who is Absolute, that is God. But he knows also that the Absolute One has made this world for man's uses, and, while there is nothing fixed or real in the last meaning of the words (the meaning as applied to God) for every purpose of human life we are permitted to act as if there were. And every man does act thus except the mentally sick. These unfortunates also have trouble with reality, but they are consistent; they insist upon living in accordance with their ideas of things. They are honest, and it is their very honesty that constitutes them a social problem.

The idealists and relativists are not mentally sick. They prove their soundness by living their lives according to the very notions of reality which they in theory repudiate and by counting upon the very fixed points which they prove are not there. They could earn a lot more respect for their notions if they were willing to live by them; but this they are careful not to do. Their ideas are brain-deep, not life- deep. Wherever life touches them they repudiate their theories and live like other men.

Until we engage in this reality, the reality of life itself, we will forever suffer in the hands of imagination. And imagination is inherantly human. Humans will fail us over and over. Humans are our dada, moms, family, friends, bosses and kids. Humans can never, ever provide a way out of suicide. The REAL can.

a simple treat

Red, Green, Blue, Yellow... all the colors are represented. I wonder if Jelly Belly is a metaphor for the diversity of life. People are different, all with a slightly distinct flavor. Sometimes when I'm just riding around or smelling around or feeling around, I look and I see everyone looks the same. But they're not. My eyes are the same. People are different because God made them different. God made us different because he is a creative, interesting person who doesn't like the assembly line and he doesn't like mass production. He likes handcrafted, handpainted, handmade people. He doesn't mind blemishes and he certainly doesn't mind difference.

I remember being struck by the diversity of life in Amsterdam where not only did the people where strange colors with pointy shoes, but where the people's birthday suits were different. So many cultures, so little space. I remember seeing dark skin and light skin living together in a small place. I remember seeing difference.

Here in Colorado homes are built practically on top of one another (you can reach out your bathroom window and touch your neighbor) and homeowners are forced to put up fences between the houses, as if to offer privacy. I'm not sure if it's to keep other people out or to keep us all in. Fences are kind of interesting in that way. I didn't see many fences in Amsterdam and I don't see many fences in Denver and I don't see many fences in the mountains.



Isn't that weird - one doesn't find fences in densely populated places and one doesn't find fences in the most rugged of places. You can't contain a city and you can't contain nature. There is no fence for this. You can't contain God.

What does a jelly belly have to do with a fence...? This. Difference, tolerance, coexistence. I just wonder why they made that "buttered popcorn" flavor - it's terrible.

Excerpt from a letter...

Here is an excerpt from the final letter we sent to all of those people who supported us over the past few years in Amsterdam...

--------------------------

...
It was very difficult for us to leave Amsterdam, a city and culture we grew to love so much. Even more difficult were the emotions associated with saying ‘goodbye’ to our friends. The people we befriended from Zolder50, ultimate Frisbee, and the Cleft (the YWAM ministry Jayla served with in the Red Light District) provided us with a most amazing and loving community, a community deserving of those outlined in the second chapter of the book of Acts. The purpose, involvement and passion we shared with Zolder50 is something we will not easily find again. We sincerely hope that distance will not keep our hearts separated from those whom we deeply admire as friends.

We returned to the States on September 1 with over 600 pounds of luggage, including Leo, our beautiful Chesapeake Bay retriever. You should have seen us trying to navigate the airport! Before leaving we were honored with several special events at which our friends blessed us, prayed over us, celebrated with us and expressed many encouraging thoughts and words. It was a unique time. We have needed it in the weeks that have followed when we have doubted ourselves, doubted our purpose and doubted our path. We spent our first month visiting friends and family, showing Asher off to all those who had yet to meet him and getting used to living in “other people’s space”, which we are still doing after two months. Since being back we have visited Chicago, Washington D.C., St. Augustine, Charlotte, Columbus, Indianapolis, Des Moines, Fort Collins and now Denver. Asher has proved that he is a worthy and stout traveling companion. We have lived here in Colorado since Oct. 4, staying with Jayla’s mom, step dad and brother. Thankfully, Leo has made great friends with his cousin, Doc, a splendid little blue heeler mix.

Bret is looking for jobs and praying for direction. He recently went on a 3-day solo camping retreat to the southern Colorado Mountains further seeking our course and inspiration. After discovering the answers to all the world’s problems, he returned with a renewed spirit and a renewed sense of mission – Jesus. He was clearly reminded of our vision for our marriage – follow Jesus and raise a healthy and strong family. In faith, we will continue living here just north of Denver until we find our path. Then we will commit to looking for our own home and own space.

As for culture shock, it has been difficult to identify thus far. Of course, there are a million little differences between the Netherlands and the States and we find ourselves constantly comparing them – pros and cons, things we miss (riding bikes everywhere and did we mention the cheese?!), things we dislike here (chain restaurants, superstores, big cars), things to adjust to and figure out. Mostly, we miss our life there – our friends, our church, our apartment, the way we would spend our days riding along beautiful canals on creaky bicycles with our friends musing over the days happenings. Life seemed slower there.

We are excited about the mountains, the fantastic sunsets and the weather, as the warm Colorado sunshine is a welcome treat after a mostly cool Dutch summer. Living here during the autumn season is also brilliant. The harvest traditions of everything pumpkin, apple cider, Halloween… these are things we missed while living in Holland. Also the beauty of the leaves turning – it is a glorious metaphor for change and renewal. It seems something has to die in order for new life to begin again. We have been completely blessed by the hospitality of our families, making adjustments to accommodate Asher, Leo and us. Last week Bret picked up our shipment, all 52 boxes, and moved it to Jayla’s sisters garage. Thanks to Tara and Kerry.

We are excited about the possibilities of what lies ahead, trying to remain patient and hoping it doesn’t take too long. If we haven’t seen you yet, we hope to soon! Please know how much we appreciate you and love you. You gave generously on our behalf so we could be part of an awesome church in a little attic in the heart of Amsterdam!

Missing the Experience, Experience the Missing

As it turns out, I miss Amsterdam tremendously. I didn't at first. I liked being back in the States. I liked the open spaces and the green grass and the sunny sky. Now though, I find myself missing Amsterdam more and more.

I was looking at my friend Eric's blog with a picture of the Damrak and reading stories about telling stories and missing the stories of Amsterdam. I miss the Damrak and business of the city. I miss the unique architecture and the diversity of the people. I miss strolling the streets window shopping and cruising along the canals on my cheap bike musing over the days happenings. I miss my friends.

It's strange to be somewhere you love so much and miss somewhere else so much. The mountains and weather and laid back atmosphere and did I mention the sun...? These things are amazing in Colorado. Amsterdam is different. I don't know if it's the vibe or if it's the rain or the cafes or the spirtual climate. It's different and I like different. If only Amsterdam was surrounded by mountains...

More on Wal-Mart...

Preaching justice for Wal-Mart workers
(from www.sojo.net)

Last week we announced the premiere of Robert Greenwald's new film, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices, which will be released during "Higher Expectations Week," Nov. 13 to 19. As part of the effort, Sojourners will be working with a broad range of organizations to educate our communities about the negative effects Wal-Mart has had on rural and urban America.

Recent news that Wal-Mart is introducing new employee health plans shows that grassroots pressure is encouraging changes. However, a recently surfaced memo by Wal-Mart executives discouraging the hiring of "unhealthy" employees raises serious questions about its commitment to its workers. It included this candid admission: "Wal-Mart's critics can easily exploit some aspects of our benefits offering to make their case; in other words, our critics are correct in some of their observations. Specifically, our coverage is expensive for low-income families, and Wal-Mart has a significant percentage of associates and their children on public assistance."

In addition to hosting or attending a screening of the movie, we are encouraging churches around the country to offer a sermon or message on corporate greed, civil responsibility, or civic justice on Nov. 13. The Wal-Mart Watch campaign has developed sample sermons, bulletin inserts, and other materials at www.walmartwatch.com that are available as a valuable resource.

New Pics coming soon to Pic Pop

Check out PICPOP soon for some updated pics...

The Good Ol Days

Amsterdam to Chicago
Chicago to Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. to Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia to St. Augustine
St. Augustine to Charlotte
Charlotte to Highlands, N.C.
Highlands, N.C. to Columbus
Columbus to Indianapolis
Indianapolis to Chicago

It's a good thing that Asher is so easy going, cause if not, I'm afraid we would have been in for the worst three weeks of our lives. Instead, we have enjoyed a wonderful trip around the Eastern USA to see family and friends. I think we passed 54 Wal-Marts and 127 McDonalds on the journey and didn't stop at even one. It's still early in the game of course, but things are going great so far. The vacation has barely even to begin. We'll see in about a month if we feel the same way.

We miss Amsterdam though. The good cheese, the good beer, the good people. We miss most everything in some way or another. Still, the winds of change have blown and we will go where His breath blows.

Who would Jesus assassinate...?

As a follow up to my post about Pat Robertson a few days ago, here is a great article from Jim Wallis at Sojourners...

Who would Jesus assassinate?

"I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don't think any oil shipments will stop. But this man is a terrific danger, and this is in our sphere of influence, so we can't let this happen. We have the Monroe Doctrine, and we have other doctrines that we have announced, and without question, this is a dangerous enemy to our south, controlling a huge pool of oil that could hurt us very badly. We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another 200-billion-dollar war to get rid of one strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."

- Pat Robertson, advocating the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Pat Robertson: An embarrassment to the church
by Jim Wallis

Pat Robertson is an embarrassment to the church and a danger to American politics.

Robertson is known for his completely irresponsible statements - that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were due to American feminists and liberals, that true Christians could vote only for George W. Bush, that the federal judiciary is a greater threat to America than those who flew the planes into the World Trade Center Towers, and the list goes on. Robertson even took credit once for diverting a hurricane. But his latest outburst may take the cake.

On Monday, Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Robertson is worried about Chavez's critiques of American power and behavior in the world, especially because Venezuela is sitting on all that oil. We simply can't have an anti-American political leader who could raise the price of gas. So let's just kill him, the famous television preacher seriously suggested. After all, having some of our "covert operatives" take out the troublesome Venezuelan leader would be cheaper than another $200 billion war, he said.

It's clear Robertson must not have first asked himself "What would Jesus do?" But the teachings of Jesus have never been very popular with Robertson. He gets his religion elsewhere, from the twisted ideologies of an American brand of right-wing fundamentalism that has always been more nationalist than Christian. Apparently, Robertson didn't even remember what the Ten Commandments say, though he has championed their display on the walls of every American courthouse. That irritating one about "Thou shalt not kill" seems to rule out the killing of foreign leaders. But this week, simply putting biblical ethics aside, Robertson virtually issued an American religious fatwah for the murder of a foreign leader - on national television no less. That may be a first.

Yesterday Robertson "apologized." First he denied saying what he had said, but it was on the videotape (it's tough when they record you breaking the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus). Then he said that "taking out" Chavez might not require killing him, and perhaps kidnapping a duly elected leader would do. But Robertson does now say that using the word "assassination" was wrong and that he had been frustrated by Chavez - the old "my frustration made me say that somebody should be killed" argument. But the worst thing about Robertson's apology was that he compared himself to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German church leader and martyr who ultimately joined in a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler.

Robertson's political and theological reasoning is simply unbelievable. Chavez, a democratically elected leader in no less than three internationally certified votes, has been an irritant to the Bush administration, but has yet to commit any holocausts. Nor does his human rights record even approach that of the Latin American dictators who have been responsible for massive violations of human rights and the deaths of tens of thousands of people (think of the military regimes of Chile, Argentina, El Salvador, and Guatemala). Robertson never criticized them, perhaps because many of them were supported by U.S. military aid and training.

This incident reveals that Robertson does not believe in democracy; he believes in theocracy. And he would like governments, including our own, to implement his theological agenda, perhaps legislate Leviticus, and "take out" those who disagree.

Robertson's American fundamentalist ideology gives a lot of good people a bad name. World evangelical leaders have already responded with alarm and disbelief. Robertson's words will taint and smear other evangelical Christians and put some in actual jeopardy, such as Venezuelan evangelicals. Most conservative evangelical Christians are appalled by Robertson's hateful and literally murderous words, and it's time for them to say so. To their credit, the World Evangelical Alliance and the National Association of Evangelicals have already denounced Robertson's words. When will we hear from some of the groups from the "Religious Right," such as the Family Research Council, Southern Baptists, and other leaders like James Dobson, Tony Perkins, and Chuck Colson?

Robertson's words fuel both anti-Christian and anti-American sentiments around the world. It's difficult for an American government that has historically plotted against leaders in Cuba, Chile, the Congo, South Vietnam, and elsewhere to be easily believed when it disavows Robertson's call to assassinate Chavez. But George Bush must do so anyway, in the strongest terms possible.

It's time to name Robertson for what he is: an American fundamentalist whose theocratic views are not much different from the "Muslim extremists" he continually assails. It's time for conservative evangelical Christians in America, who are not like Islamic fundamentalists or Robertson, to distance themselves from his embarrassing and dangerous religion.

And it's time for Christian leaders of all stripes to call on Robertson not just to apologize, but to retire.

I couldn't agree more. Thank you Jim.

saying goodbye...

One week to go and it is finally starting to hit me - I will no longer live in Amsterdam as early as next Thursday. It's a bit scary to be honest. Most everything I know at this point in my life involves in this city. My friends, my job, my church, my community, my life - they are all here. What will I do when I don't have it anymore...? This is the question I'm asking at the moment.

Ridiculous - absolutely ridiculous...

Have you ever felt completely out of control...? I'm not talking about being on a roller coaster or in an airplane, or anything else physical. I'm not even talking about thoughts in my head, my own sin, or any personal struggle that is difficult to change. I'm talking about the actions and words of others. I'm talking about the actions and words of those who are suppose to be the leaders of your faith. Have you ever felt this chaos...?

I don't know what else to do. I have struggled with Christian leadership (so called Christians anyway) in the United States for years now. It slowly goes over the top. The latest comments made by Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition toward President Chavez of Venezuela have incited a shame in me I can barely contain.

I can separate myself from from Mr. Robertson's comments easily on a personal level, but it's nearly impossible to separate myself on an institutional level. I have worked, and in fact fought to separate myself from the institution of Christianity as it is generally represented in the U.S.A. Unfortunately, I call myself Chritian. Pat Robertson calls himself a Christian. This is difficult for me. Of course, maybe Mr. Robertson made a mistake, maybe it was just an off hand comment taken wrong my the liberal media. I don't know.

I'm struggling with this one right now. I suppose the best thing to do is to continue on fighting for light, fighting for love, fighting for Jesus. It's still a struggle when the very people I want to love, the very people I care for, are the same people who tell me that they would rather not be Christians if being a Christian means being like Pat Robertson. Ouch. What do you say..? Fortunately, I understand who it is to follow. I hope others will too - not a man anyway.

Arise, Shine

When I saw this picture my friend Matt just sent to me, I couldn't help but to immediately think of Isaiah 60...


1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.

3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the arm.

5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come.........

14 The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you;
all who despise you will bow down at your feet
and will call you the City of the LORD,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 "Although you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one traveling through,
I will make you the everlasting pride
and the joy of all generations.

16 You will drink the milk of nations
and be nursed at royal breasts.
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,
and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace your governor
and righteousness your ruler.

18 No longer will violence be heard in your land,
nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
and your gates Praise.

19 The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.

20 Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end.

21 Then will all your people be righteous
and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor.

22 The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the LORD;
in its time I will do this swiftly."

Feeling Blue

I've been reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. It has been a wonderful book for me and in many ways I feel like I should just quote the whole book here as the journal of my life. It is a refreshing drink to my soul. Here is one small excerpt...

"More than my questions about the efficacy of social action were my questions about my own motive. Do I want social justice for the oppressed or do I want to be known as a socially active person...? I spend 95% of my time thinking about myself anyway. I don't have to watch the evening news to see that the world is bad, I only have to look at myself. I am not browbeating here; I am only saying that true change, true life-giving, God-honoring change would have to start with the individual. I was the very problem that I had been protesting. I wanted to make a sign that read, "I AM THE PROBLEM!
"That night I rode my motorcycle...I went there to try and get my head around this idea, this idea that the problem in the universe lives within me. I can't think of anything more progressive than to embrace of this fundamental idea."

Oh, how true!

A link to see...

You have to check out this post from Todd about an interesting WAR in Amsterdam.

Faith and Fair Trade

Check this out - the InterFaith Fair Trade Initiative, it looks like a great resource for you can help your organization get involved.

Social Security Concern

Social Security is a covenant for the common good - a central expression of our national values and moral priorities. As a person of faith, I am troubled by Congress' narrow focus on privatization in the Social Security debate.

My faith tells me "to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1:17). The Social Security debate should value all our nation's people and our commitment as a society to provide dignity and opportunity for working people and their families, for the elderly, for those with disabilities, and for children who have suffered the loss of a parent.

Public opposition to privatization plans is rising. As you think about Social Security during the August recess, I ask that you listen and "be open to the needs of the people" (Isaiah 32:3). I ask that you help broaden the discussion now and that when Congress reconvenes you will help keep the promise for all God's people. The following principles will shape my judgments about Social Security proposals and your leadership.

1. Social Security benefits for the vulnerable and less fortunate should not be reduced. Social Security has been one of the most successful anti-poverty programs our country has known, but the needs of the less fortunate are missing from the debate.

2. Social Security retirement benefits should be strengthened and protected from risk. We must "honor thy father and thy mother" by not gambling on their future.

3. Private accounts created by reducing benefits should be opposed. Private accounts "carved out" from the existing benefit structure risk Social Security's basic guarantee and do not address the long-term health of the program.

4. Future generations should not be burdened by deficits and misguided budget decisions. There has been little discussion of how many proposals would affect the deficit; Social Security cannot be addressed in a vacuum, ignoring budget and tax choices that are contrary to the common good.

5. Retirement planning should not be restricted to Social Security. Proposals should supplement, but not replace Social Security; help low- and middle-income families save more; and strengthen and make more accessible employer pension funds.

Please adhere to these principles, reflected in Call to Renewal and Sojourners' July 27 Roll Call ad, and make sure that any Social Security proposals you support honor these commitments.

Will you join...? Go to www.sojo.net

Mystery Bugs and Strange Diseases

I recently decided that I was going to try and cut out all pig from my diet. I wasn't sure why until I read this...

BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- Authorities in southwest China are investigating a mysterious disease that has killed 17 farm workers and left 41 others ill after they handled sick or dead livestock, state media said on Monday.

The government of Sichuan province has dismissed speculation that the deaths were caused by bird flu or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), an assessment affirmed by the World Health Organization.

"From the information we have it doesn't seem to be related to bird flu. We made that distinction based on the symptoms described to us by the government," Bob Dietz, a WHO spokesman in Manila, told Reuters by telephone.

"This (disease) doesn't seem to have a large pneumonia content or a large respiratory problem," Dietz said.

The deaths were probably caused by a bacteria that spreads among pigs, the state-run China Daily quoted Zeng Huajin, a senior official with the Sichuan provincial health department, as saying."

Of course, a few slices of bacon never killed anyone did it...?

The Sign

It comes and goes
like rain
its a dull pain
knows no foe

sickness sets in
a dark grin
its a no win
on his face sin

black as night
a grim sight
in his heart
grows a mark

spreading, what
to do but
ask for help
let out a yelp

ask for faith and love
and a sure hope
grace to cope
a sign from above

Are we allowed to live together...?

i have been discussing the recent U2 concert with some friends and fellow attendees, which has resulted in some intense conversations about bono and U2, but more interestingly about the idea of "coexist" in general. does God call us to coexist with men and women of other religions (as bono stated, we all come from abraham anyway) or does God call us to a different standard...? this is a huge question.

there are some out there calling bono a false prophet, nothing more than a famous musician abusing his power as a star to corrupt the minds of the millions in order to preach a message of peace and love that is unbiblical. i certainly don't know what U2 is actually trying to say, but i believe there is something for us to hear in the message of coexist; namely that all humans have the right to live without being degraded and disrespected. desmond tutu says it poetically:

"Humans are of infinite worth intrisically because they are created in God's image. Apartheid, injustice, oppression, and exploitation are not only wrong; they are positively blasphemous because they treat the children of God, as if they are less than His."

there is no way to believe in coexist, without believing in a personal, relational father who loves beyond human capacity even to understand such concepts as love. the human being can not exist without God and thusly cannot coexist without God. so, is bono preaching something unbiblical...? i suppose we can't know exactly what he is trying to say unless he tells us directly. he certainly is not my God. he is a man with a message.

if we look to those who have created the most amazing positive change in the past couple of centuries, it was those who fought evil with good. sure, some of them were generals who overtook nazi germany, and some were rebels who stood physically in the way of evil's path. yet, the most amazing change has been the result of love; a powerful, incredible, visionary love. some may call it pacifism. but, martin luther king jr, was no pacifist. corrie ten boom was no pacifist. desmond tutu was no pacifist. they were warriors for love. they would accept nothing less than equality for all people, so that everyone could experience the amazing grace that can only come from a god of forgiveness. there is no future without forgiveness and there is no coxist without Jesus.

the set list, amazing - really amazing

Here it is - the set list from A'dam second show. The highlight was... every song. Wow. Pictures and more action to come soon.

Vertigo
Out of Control
Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year’s Day
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running to Standstill
Pride In the Name of Love
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Zoo Station
The Fly
With or Without You

All Because of You
Yahweh
Vertigo

Gone for a Long Time

Hey Y'all - sorry for the absence and delay in posting. The graphics card on my laptop burned up for the second time in three years and Toshiba is too ghetto hooptie to fix it here in Amsterdam. So, I still have yet to get it replaced. I've been out of it. I will try and post something new real soon...

Reaching Out, Taking In

How am I suppose to justify the belief in justice, truth and mercy, with the idea that I too am the culprit of so much injustice, so many lies and so much reckless harm. Romans 1 says...

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

To be honest, those verses really upset me. They make my stomach turn. They make me feel anger and bitterness against those who turn from the truth and follow the ways of wickedness in the world. I jump upon the pedestal of self righteousness and pretend that I am perfect, unphased by the temptation to live an easy life, a life filled with pleasure and virtue. I stand on the very same stage as those I harbor ill feelings towards. Then I read on...

" You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil..."

It is the beautiful thing about Scripture. It humbles you, teaches you, instructs you. Above all else, in fact, it commands you to love. Love. Love. Love. There is no argument, there is no explanation, there is no reason other than love. When we fail to love, we fail to live.

I can stand on my pedestal of self absorbtion, or I can step down in humility and look up to the one who showed us the way. He reaches out. He invites. He calls. He accepts. He loves. There is no other way.

The Scream

You gotta check this out. What is our world coming to...? Really...? It's called "the SCREAM" and is a weapon used by the Israeli army to get crowds to disperse. This is some messed up stuff.

I can't help but to think of the Nazi's and all the terrible torture they put people through in order to understand the limits of the human body. It's insame quite literally.

I don't know, maybe I'm going too far here. It just pains me so much to see the evil and unrest in the world. This isn't for or against Israel, it's a state of the world at large. Sad.

right or left, up or down...?

" Abe Lincoln had it right. Our task shouold not be to invoke religion and the name of God by claiming God's blessing and endorsement for all our national policies and practices - saying, in effect, that God is on our side. Rather, Lincoln said, we should pray and worry earnestly whether we are on God's side.

Those are the two ways that religion has been brought into public life in American history. The first way - God on our side - leads inevitably to triumphalism, self-righteousness and bad theology, and, often, dangerous foreign policy. The second way - asking if we are on God's side - leads to much healthier things, namely, penitence and even repentance, humility, reflection, and even accountablility. We need much more of all these, because these are often missing values of politics.

Of course, Martin Luther King Jr. did it best. With his Bible in one hand and the Consitution in the other, King persuaded, not just pronounced. He reminded us all of God's purpose for justice, for peace, and for the "beloved community" where those always left out and behind get a front row seat."

Jim Wallis, God's Politics
: Why the Right gets it wrong and the Left doesn't get it

a biblical disease and a radical man

As Todd and I approached the former leper colony, we mused about the biblical significance of leprosy and the amazing effect that disease itself had on civilization two thousand years ago. It wasn't until we were actually on the island, that we learned how real and prevalent this devastating disease still is. We thought the leper colony was from biblical times and yet the leper colony was the last to inhabit Spinalonga. Again, I was humbled by my lack of world understanding especially when it comes to the plight and struggle of the Third World.

Leprosy is very real in 2005, with an estimated 400,000 cases infecting people today, mostly in India, Nepal and the surrounding region. (You can check out LEPRA or America Leprosy Mission for more details on leprosy and other devasting diseases) The picture posted above is of a bad case. If detected early and given the right treatement, leprosy can be controlled.

It's when I look at pictures like these that I realize what a radical revolutionary Jesus really was. In biblical times (and obviously in modern times as well) infected people where cast out from society to live as pariahs until death. You can't blame society. They were simply doing what Darwin would have called survival of the fittest - removing the weak from within. The mentally retarded, deformed, diseased, infected, abnormal people were and in many cases still are nothing.

It is these people with whom Jesus built his ministry. He touched the untouchable, loved the unlovable, sought after the unseekable, and healed the unhealable. He did things others never dreamed of. He made friends with outcasts and created family with the unwanted. He was a radical instrument of love. It is absolutely no wonder the powers that be wanted him dead. He stood for everything they stood against. This is the man I want to follow.

Now, will I...?

an old journey with an old friend to an old place

It started with a simple journey on a sea kayak to an island just off the coast of Crete, itself being a very large island. We departed from a small beach near the town of Plaka (in Elounda Bay) and were to Spinalonga in only about 15 minutes. Once there we were confronted by large walls, obviously the work of human hands rather than nature. The walls were clearly meant to keep people out or keep people in, whichever way you want to look at it. I think it was for both, depending on the period of history.

The Venetians finished a powerful fortress there in 1579 as a way to protect trade routes through the Eastern Mediterranean. It succeeded. Even when the Ottoman Empire defeated Crete, they did not conquer Spinalonga for years afterward. During that time, the fortress island was used as a santuary for Christians in defiance of the Muslim rule. It is believed that the ecumenical church on the island is the first ever built of its kind. More recently, the island was used as a leper colony. From 1903 until about 1957, lepers were sent here to live out there dying days seperated from the rest of civilisation.

They walked what is known as "the street of pain" day in and day out suffering though a terrible disease, the cure of which was only found in 1947. It is this suffering and this disease that brings me to the story I've thought about for days now.

The upcoming posts will detail this story.

Simple Moments

Did you ever just sit back in a lawn chair, kick back in a hammock, lay down in the grass, put your feet up on the table near the garden and close your eyes for a moment - take a deep breath - exhale - and then open your eyes to find things are different than when you left them...? It happens most easily when you're sitting somewhere quiet, with few distractions, sun shining brightly on your face and your head tilted back about 45 degrees, so your eyelids can sort of droop like half drawn curtains over your eyeballs. It's a moment in time when nothing else matters but the moment itself.

Nothing can steal the moment because it's all yours and yours alone. No one else can steal it from you because no one else can see it, no one else can feel it, no one else can sense it. It is yours. You can be completely selfish with it, consumed with it, controlled by it.

It's yours.

It's a thought. It's a dream. It's a crazy idea. Sometimes it's just the realization of how little control we have over the natural world, how little we actually know about the life that is all around us. We are small, insignificant. We live it. We breath it. We touch it and smell it and seek it out. We desire to know it. We desire to have answers. We desire to know the secrets that were never meant to be known. They drive us mad.

In the moment though, nothing else matters.

In the moment, those questions, those answers don't matter. You can simply sit back in quiet relaxation and not care. You can appreciate what is right before you in the now - in water, in nature, in air, in life. It's the simple beauty of a flower blooming atop a fragile stem, help up only by water really, which the flower harvested from the earth. It is the bumblebee dancing from flower to flower gathering as it may, content to bless other flowers with it's dust. It's the tree in the background whose roots are buried deep within the confines of the ground, ever seeking new territories and new nutrients, which by the way are only there because flowers died last year and gave of themselves back to the earth from which they came.

It's an appreciation for life that in the moment simply doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how each of these things works. It doesn't matter if we know how the flower made it's colors, or how the roots grow through rock and shale and concrete. It doesn't matter that we have no idea how a bumblebee can fly at all. What matters is the moment. And that moment is all about the creation. The moment of creation is when we let go of questions and we attach ourselves to the answers.

It's simple, beautiful and true.

make poverty gone...

Check it out yo - this is the real deal. People coming together, led by U2 and the celebrity community. This is no joke.

www.one.org

www.makepovertyhistory.org

Never Seen It Before

There is a first time for everything. Let's take this morning for example. It appeared to be a normal morning, well normal is relative these days I suppose. A six week old baby is anything but normal. Still though, let's pretend that everything is mostly normal.

I wake up and roll over towards my wife in order to snuggle her, wrapping my arm around her and enveloping her in a stank of bad breath that could kill most living organisms. Normal. My ears are alerted to the steady beat of Leo's tail (pictured above) batting against anything and everything within a 4 foot diameter. It's a vicious tail. Being the good dog owner that I am, I exit our bedroom and step into the friendly confines of Leo's temporary prison. You see, Leo had his second knee surgery a couple of weeks ago, so we have to confine him in this way, else there will be a third surgery before you can say "bankrupt". Normal.

So, now I'm in the pen, stroking Leo's head and telling him in the sweetest of scratchy, morning voices what a good boy he is. Of course, this doesn't mean anything to him. He just wants two things right now - food and a place to go urinate. Normal. I oblige and carefully lead him to the kitchen, where we find his empty bowl next to the door leading out to our garden. I reach down into his dog food bag and scoop out his normal allotment for breakfast. Normal. Now, excuse me while a digress for a moment...

...you see, Leo is known the world over for his ability to consume food. He is equivalent to the greatest industrial vacuum even known - he sucks down anything within nose reach. I don't know how to even explain his ability to consume food. He rarely chews food, after all, that would be a huge waste of time. You know those "indestructible" toys they make for dogs...? They have never tested them on Leo. The guy likes to eat and chew and destroy, so when it comes to eating breakfast, there is little time to waste.

...Back to the story. Remember, the food is in the bowl. The vacuum in the form of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever is hovering over the bowl. Normal. Now, here is the part that leads me to this entry. He puts his face into the bowl and then stops, turns, looks me straight in the eye as if to say "what is the world is this...?" I encourage him to try it and he obliges. He crunches a few times and this time quits completely, walking back to his pen in disgust. Abnormal. I've never seen this before.

I can only attribute it to the fact that he simply doesn't get the attention he used to get - that he is depressed. He misses the absolute devotion of two dog lovers without a six week old baby to get in the way. Poor dog. I hope he decides to eat.

Who is Johnny...?

I'm not sure how it started, but I've been fascinated with Johnny for years now. I think some friends used to use the term "Johnny" for people who annoyed them at the time. I have the perfect example.

My wife and I were on our honeymoon in beautiful Kauai, minding our own business, taking full advantage of the many outdoor activities to do on such an island. Snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, running, hiking and eating outside on perfectly sunny days take a lot of energy away from you. You want to take a nap. We lay down on the first day of our trip sometime in the afternoon for what is destined to be a much needed and refreshing nap, when out of nowhere comes this terrible sound. I know you have heard it before. It's a two-cycle engine. If you have heard a moped, or a waverunner, or a snowmobile or a scooter in Amsterdam, or a lawn mower - these are the glorious sounds of a two cycle engine. Anyway - just as we about to sleep, this horrible noise screams by our window. Ok, no big deal, it woke me up. I flutter off into a dreamy state, when next thing I know, I'm awoken by this crazy racket again. And again, and again, and again. This guy is riding this very annoying dirt bike, up and down a path right outside the hotel. It's his right I say to myself and just get up from bed. All hope is not lost, as we're still in Kauai - what could be better?

It's now the same time the next day and we are once again lying down to take a nap, exhausted from our morning ritual of Hawaiian coffee, some snorkeling and nice lunch on a beach somewhere. It's a rough life. I'm just about to fall asleep, when, you guessed it, here comes the dirt bike again. I can think of no other thing to say, besides "Oh no! Here comes dirt bike JOHNNY!"

The ULTIMATE description

So, I've been playing Ultimate Frisbee lately... for those of you who know what it is, this description may help you... and for those who don't - Check it out:

Clearly you do not understand the glory of frisbee-throwing and why the hero loves it so. I will take the liberty of explaining it to you:

Hero does this thing because it offers him an opportunity to leap through the air at an object that is moving just barely slower than a trotting Kenyan. The frisbee flies through the air and all on the field scream and yell at it, and one –only one- can be the hero. To Quote Conner McLeod; “There can be only one…”. This affords the catcher a moment of extreme happiness, euphoria, and glee because they have CAUGHT the frisbee. Not to mention being the center of attention of 'extremely happy people'. To a lesser degree the person who threw the frisbee will also experience some degree of happiness and glee. Often the thrower and the catcher will acknowledge each other’s prowess of tossing and receiving by either executing a ‘high-five’ or ‘hug’ accompanied by ‘back-slapping’ depending on the how important it was to catch the frisbee at that particular moment.

During my very brief experience watching the game I was able to glean some understanding of the glory of frisbee-tossing between smoking weed, drinking beer and long naps: levels of glee can be boosted by executing a particularly daring catching manoeuvre. Usually this involves waiting patiently until the frisbee is near you and also low to the ground and initiating a ‘dive’. If you catch the frisbee while sliding on the ground on your chest you are deemed a hero. Similarly if you slide on your side, back, face, or ass; all of these are considered ‘dives’. If you don’t catch the frisbee you have still slid on the ground and you are ‘somewhat of a hero’
affording ‘somewhat of glee’. Another way to optimize your frisbee-tossing glee is execute a ‘high leap’. Again you wait until the frisbee is high in the air and ‘leap high’ to catch it. This does not raise glee as much as the ‘dive’ and by the same token not catching the frisbee during a ‘high leap’
does not look as cool as missing the low frisbee.

Now.

Frisbee is a NON CONTACT game. Any, pushing, shoving, slapping, mauling, kissing, hugging, holding, kicking, checking, grasping and sodomy is performed AFTER the game when all players on BOTH teams recount the amazing ‘dives’ and ‘high leaps’ they executed during the course of the ten minute game.

Another aspect of the game is hollering. Like curling -in which players scream like castrati hyenas at a rock moving slowly along the ice- the players of frisbee-tossing holler at each other and at the frisbee. This hollering does little to affect the languid movements of the frisbee, however it can be used as a fierce weapon to confuse your opponent and tell your team-mates what position it has in the air. By hollering either “High leap!” or “Dive!” you can cause your peers to execute either one of these manoeuvres regardless of where the frisbee is. Hollering is also used when the frisbee is caught, missed, thrown, slapped, or bounced of the head of a player. It is also done when a point is scored; that being when a person ‘high leaps’ or ‘dives’ in the endzone (inre: football, rugby or any other real sport).

Now. I have just recalled that frisbee-tossing is in fact officially called ‘Ultimate’ which to me is like calling curling ‘Awesome’, lawn darts ‘Wicked’ or ptong ‘Excellent’. I assume this is a way of legitimizing what is essentially frisbee-tossing with ‘dives’, ‘high-leaps’, and ‘hollering’.

What are shutters for anyway if they are never used...? Decoration I suppose - and these are some cool shutters. 

Sorry, I've been out of it for awhile now, but I've had a few other things on my mind lately, including these two feet. Asher Ryan was born on the 31st of March at 11:22am here in Amsterdam. He is awesome. 

Some sun in Amsterdam never hurt anyone. It's nice to be riding along and you see your shadow unincumbered by the grayness of clouds gone by - clouds that cut the sun off from reaching this city - clouds that turn beautiful canals into pits of death. I'm amazed at the wonderful life that sun brings to this city. Cafe's are busy with people enjoying a beer, couples staring intently into each other's sparkling eyes or simply the lonely stranger, coffee in hand, eyes closed, loving every second of sun that hits her face. It's a wonderful site and one which I hope we see lots more of in Amsterdam soon. 

I've often wondered what it must be like for Leo to meet the ducks face to face, so I decided to check it out for myself. When I later looked at this picture, I found myself scared and at the time, thinking I should run. 

making an entrance

I was out walking the other day with my dog, Leo, and I came across this hole in a tree. Standing there wondering what such a hole might be used for, I noticed these beautiful green parakeets (or something of the nature) flying around in the trees, singing to the sun. It's kind of funny seeing these tropical birds at all when you are walking in Amsterdam. Nonetheless, I kept walking unsure what to think.

I circled around again though and sure enough, this little green bird emerges from the hole. Imagine that. In Amsterdam. Nature. It made me happy.

don't quite understand...

Walking through the streets of Amsterdam, I'm amazed at the number of signs, posters, and flyers around. I guess the part that amazes me most is that I have no idea what most of them are advertising - are they even advertisements at all...? I walked past this shop the other day and was so perplexed. What is the point...?

So, it made me start thinking about the point in general. We are bombarded with sensory overload, but what's the point...? What is the reason for such things...? Do we need it...? Have I ever bought anything because I saw it on a poster...? I was thinking - do the staples of life ever get advertised...? I mean, I've never seen an advertisement for flour, or tap water, or sugar. I suppose there were some famous commercials for milk a few years ago - the milk moustache, but for the most part, our true needs are never advertised. Newer cars, newer gadgets, newer things - these are the advertisements that clutter our vision, infect our ears and bombard our brains.

It makes me long for the mountains where the peace and tranquility of simplicity surrounds and where creation sings in it's glory. I long for the trees, which carry no advertisement other than beauty. I long for the smells and fragrances of life that are found only in the pines. I long to hear birds uninterrupted by the cacophony of autos and buses. I long for a rock outcropping where my view is nature, obscured by neither skyscrapers nor concrete.

What is the point anyway...

One of the best I've seen...

I saw "Million Dollar Baby" last night. There is no doubt in mind why this movie won so many Oscar's. It was brilliant. It has everything - great directing, great acting, great story. It's truly one to be seen. Check out this review from Roger Ebert.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041214/REVIEWS/41201004/1023

An Epidemic unlike any other....

The Aids epidemic is one that many of us in Western Europe and the United States cannot understand. It Western Culture we attribute it to drug use, sexual promiscuity and homosexuality - which may not be fair assumptions in the first place - but in Africa and now India and China, the AIDS problem is turning into the single greatest epidemic ever to face humanity. This is an issue we simply cannot ignore.

Check out this article to learn more...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4317019.stm

God in America...from the beginning

An interesting article on God and the founding forefathers...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/weekinreview/27kirk.html?

Chuck and Jim - an open letter

Jim Wallis and Chuck Colson have been in the news a lately talking about their differences in the way they see the defining moral issues of our time. Check out the article at www.sojo.net from Jim Wallis in his "open letter to Chuck" and follow the links to see where this letter is coming from...

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=050224#3

Bush's Energy Plan...it's ghetto hooptie

check out this article on drilling in the ANWR...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/politics/21refuge.html

genocide in darfur

please check out this links about the genocide in darfur - these links are important. click on the link on the right of the first link at the NYTimes under the 'special report' section. please do not be idle. pray. give. act.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/opinion/23kristof.html?ex=1109826000&en=6dcbb8193aaae4e7&ei=5070

www.savedarfur.org

www.darfurgenocide.org

big churches and little people

the oudekerk is one of the oldest churches in amsterdam... it's one of the largest churches in amsterdam... and it's in the heart of the infamous red light district - literally surrounded by lights of red. unfortunately, the oudekerk no longer serves as a place of worship, but rather as a place of art and pictures - a museum. the oudekerk is dirty and run down, with nothing but old tombs, battered columns and chipped paint to fill its vast space. it has fallen victim to an area of darkness and spiritual turmoil that haunts this beautiful city. maybe one day, just maybe, people will fill this huge church having come into it to seek something bigger than any church walls can hold within.

consumerism...

Even walking across the oldest bridge in Amsterdam, the Magere Bruge, I find myself annoyed by the ever present Coke can. At times, it seems like the Coke can is everywhere. You can cannot escape it. You cannot run from it. It is everywhere you look. The red can is engrained in my mind. It distracts me and disturbs me... all I'm trying to do is enjoy one of the most beautiful images in Amsterdam - the Amstel River on a sunny day.

wal-mart:: an enemy of social justice

I can think of no more destructive force in our society today than the Wall Street bohemoth - Wal-Mart. It may be huge and it may have every consumer product known to man packed within it's walls, but it is not good for America and it is not good for the world. I invite you to check it out for yourself at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/

Think about it, question it, act on it.

God's Politics

Jim Wallis, editor of SoJo Magazine, just released a new book called "God's Politics: Why the right gets it wrong and left doesn't get it" - I just purchased it myself and am very excited to dive in. I found this excerpt from the book online (http://www.sojo.net/special/items/050210_GPch1.pdf) and it only served to fuel the desire to know more about how politics and faith do not need to collide and create a vacuum of hope, nor does the faithful Christian have to sit in the back seat while politicians drive us through issues like abortion, the death penalty, hunger, AIDS, and fair trade only to serve the greater needs of power and fame. It is indeed time to take our faith back.

signs on the street

Riding a bike is a great way to get around. It's good for the environment, good for the lungs and good for the soul. Sometimes, the rain and wind don't make it so pleasant, but overall. I like riding a bike.

dogs and well...never seen a cat...

Everytime I see a dog on a bike it makes me smile. Once I saw a woman, who was on her bike, carrying one dog, another was in a basket on the front of the bike (both little guys of course) and then a german shepherd was running along side the bike. It was a good laugh. It sort of tickles me inside and I appreciate every time I see such events unfold before me on the streets of Amsterdam. Good stuff.

normally happy...? 

normal and not normal

what is normal and abnormal. it's all the way someone sees reality i suppose. if you see someone different than yourself, you see abnormal. if you see the same, you see normality. doesn't that make us all abnormal though - god made us all different from each other.

it's the funny thing about fashion. we are always trying to differentiate ourselves from the next person or group of people, but in reality we just want to be accepted, or in other words - we want to be the same. people want to be different and they will shop at the gap, abercrombie and fitch and old navy just so they will look the same. the same is true for people who dress "black" or "punk". a mohawk, some interesting earrings, a black trenchcoat... it's all to look abnormal, until you see that person together with his/her friends and you realize that reality is just looking the same. comfort and security are desires of the heart that are only fulfilled in consistency not in abnormalcy. so, we all look the same, but we never will be.

nazi's doomed to death...?

So, I was watching a CNN Insight program last night on Professor Churchill from the University of Colorado. He is becoming famous for comments he made almost three years ago in an essay shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, when he made a claim that the people who died in the attacks sort of - "deserved to die."

It's controversial no doubt. Why he made comments in this way, I'm not sure, but he makes some interesting points about how Americans often do not understand how the things they do affect the rest of the world (showed more completely on Insight than in this article). However, to make a comment calling the victims "Nazi's" was downright stupid. Check out this article to read more about this issue. Is it a free speech issue...? Why did he make comments that were so obviously directed to create controversy...?

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/02/02/speaker.protest.ap/

U2 poster 

July 15th - U2 in Amsterdam

Tickets sold out in less than an hour and half for three shows here in Amsterdam, but our good friends Sam and Patricia braved the early morning cold and the lines to get us tickets on the field... thanks to them we will finally get to see Bono, etc... check out www.U2.com for more info.

me 

coming soon

This blog is coming to a theater near you...