spectacular. the second temptation nouwen warns the christian leader against is to be spectacular. webster's defines spectacular as "of or being a spectacle" - with a spectacle being (a) something exhibited to view as unusual, notable, or entertaining; especially an eye-catching or dramatic public display, or (b) an object of curiosity or contempt. so the temptation the leader faces is to be at the front, to be on display, to be entertaining, to be fireworks, to grab public attention. our world and culture show us day in and day out that the spectacular is cool. rarely, do we find heroes, news stories, tv shows, movies or novels about the regular. in order to be great something must be spectacular, or so the world tells us.
maybe that's why i enjoyed seinfeld and rabbit proof fence, hotel rwanda and the last just man - they are regular. the stories may be spectacular, but the movies are not - ok well this doesn't really apply to seinfeld, but does anything...? the story of the gospel is much the same. jesus did spectacular things, but the man himself was not spectacular. he was a carpenter. he did not use spotlights or wear gaudy clothes or create incredible presentations. he simply lived a spectacular life in a completely unspectacular way - at least by our cultural standards.
i can honestly say i have dreamt many times of being spectacular whether in sports or in my marriage or in my church. i want attention. i desire the spotlight. i want to be entertaining. it's my flesh nature.
my spiritual nature wants something far different. as nouwen says, Jesus asks something much more radical. he asks us to feed his sheep. he doesn't ask us to build crystal palaces or to produce huge concerts or to create any kind of earthly spectacle. he asks us to care for his flock. last i checked shepherds are not considered too spectacular.
that's what is so cool. in carrying the cross, in setting the example of love, in being humble, we produce something much more spectacular than ourselves. we produce the fruit of Christ and nothing could be more spectacular.
nouwen writes, "...laying down your life means making your own faith and doubt, hope and despair, joy and sadness, courage and fear available to others as ways of getting in touch with the Lord of Life." it's simple. in love and humility we allow a more loving and more humble servant of God to do greater work than we could ever do. rather than being spectacular we allow a spectacular story to be told. now, if i could only do it.
this isn't to say we don't need passionate preachers, dedicated servants and great teachers, because we do. the bible clearly exhorts us to use our gifts and talents to build the kingdom. let's just not let our spectacular ideas get in the way of much greater, more powerful notion of forgiveness, grace, humility and love - all of which take root only in Christ.
2.23.2006
relevance. spectacular. power.
two days ago, i posted a somewhat random blog about labels and culture and context and relevance - yesterday i read a book by henri nouwen called in the name of jesus - last night i was convicted as i have not been in quite some time - today i blog about the irony of my blog in life in the midst of culture and context and relevance.
in his book, nouwen suggests that the christian leader faces three significant temptations... 1. to be relevant 2. to be spectacular 3. to be powerful. i couldn't agree with him more, though if you asked me two days ago, i would have said that relevance is of utmost importance today. maybe i was wrong or maybe it's just an adjustment in my head which i need. if you would have asked me two years ago, i wouuld have said a good speaker must be spectacular, engaging, lively, vivid. i'm not sure i believe that anymore. if you would have asked me 10 years ago if a leader needed to be powerful, i would have said definitely. and yet, today, i realize how amazing and wonderful it is to be weak.
so i suppose, i'll take my next three posts and reflect on these things. relevance. spectacular. power.
relevance. i heard something great a couple weeks ago concerning value. the man speaking said that something can only have real value, if the thing it is being compared against is unchangable. that is to say, we place high value on many things which simply don't deserve to be so (cars, collectibles, computers, jewelry, etc...) the same could be said for relevance. as a christian leader, you are only relevant if what you measure your relevance against is the Gospel, an unchangeable, unmovable value. it will never be different than what it is today. it's value never changes and nor does it's relevance. the Gospel and only the gospel.
nouwen says, "leaders will be those who claim irrelavance in the contemporary world and enter into deep solidarity with the anguish underlying all the glitter of success and bring the light of Jesus there." he is saying that behind all of the prosperity and material possession of today's culture (especially in the west) is a hidden pain, a soul crunching hurt we don't see. he continues, "there is a moral and spiritual poverty behind the facade of wealth, success, popularity and power... the cry is - does anybody love me? is there anybody who cares..?"
the person who cares is the one who never changes. we must reflect the one in whose reflection we were made. relevance to culture - relevance to continent - relevance to fashion - these are all important in the context of relating to people, but they are not the relation itself. we must strive to meet people's needs with the undying truth, the immovable object, the foundation of life. HE will always be relevant. our job MUST be to know HIM and reflect HIM.
spectacular. in the on deck circle.
power. in the hole.
in his book, nouwen suggests that the christian leader faces three significant temptations... 1. to be relevant 2. to be spectacular 3. to be powerful. i couldn't agree with him more, though if you asked me two days ago, i would have said that relevance is of utmost importance today. maybe i was wrong or maybe it's just an adjustment in my head which i need. if you would have asked me two years ago, i wouuld have said a good speaker must be spectacular, engaging, lively, vivid. i'm not sure i believe that anymore. if you would have asked me 10 years ago if a leader needed to be powerful, i would have said definitely. and yet, today, i realize how amazing and wonderful it is to be weak.so i suppose, i'll take my next three posts and reflect on these things. relevance. spectacular. power.
relevance. i heard something great a couple weeks ago concerning value. the man speaking said that something can only have real value, if the thing it is being compared against is unchangable. that is to say, we place high value on many things which simply don't deserve to be so (cars, collectibles, computers, jewelry, etc...) the same could be said for relevance. as a christian leader, you are only relevant if what you measure your relevance against is the Gospel, an unchangeable, unmovable value. it will never be different than what it is today. it's value never changes and nor does it's relevance. the Gospel and only the gospel.
nouwen says, "leaders will be those who claim irrelavance in the contemporary world and enter into deep solidarity with the anguish underlying all the glitter of success and bring the light of Jesus there." he is saying that behind all of the prosperity and material possession of today's culture (especially in the west) is a hidden pain, a soul crunching hurt we don't see. he continues, "there is a moral and spiritual poverty behind the facade of wealth, success, popularity and power... the cry is - does anybody love me? is there anybody who cares..?"
the person who cares is the one who never changes. we must reflect the one in whose reflection we were made. relevance to culture - relevance to continent - relevance to fashion - these are all important in the context of relating to people, but they are not the relation itself. we must strive to meet people's needs with the undying truth, the immovable object, the foundation of life. HE will always be relevant. our job MUST be to know HIM and reflect HIM.
spectacular. in the on deck circle.
power. in the hole.
2.21.2006
dirty whitie (tightie) trash
i can't say i like the term 'dirty white trash'. i don't. for those of you who don't know the term, it's a slang used to describe people who are generally white, who are generally poor, who might generally live in trailer parks and who are generally seen on talk shows like jerry springer.
i can't say I like the term. I don't like labels like this, they degrade and marginalize a group of people for nothing other than the way they live - in other words for their culture and their context. it's weird though. why do some people actually identify themselves as white trash. they build websites. they proclaim it on live television. they flaunt it. i don't know why.
this picture. now this is over the line. dirty whitie tightie trash. i was walking down broadway in denver and came across this action. talk about a label. i started laughing at the darkness, the shadows, the fly doing what flies do on dirty underwear lying in the middle of a sidewalk.
seriously though, respect for each other means labels have no real place for us. labels may define a culture or a context for making explanation more simple, but have no place for the degradation of human life. cultures are labeled all the time. asian, american, european, african. south american. inuit. yet when these labels begin to define the people themselves, we lose the essence of the culture. to say "all people born in the united states are arrogant" is a label based on a culture that simply isn't true. to say "all people born into the middle eastern culture are terrorists" simply isn't true. these labels are used more as an excuse to oppress people than to lift them up. that's not to say descriptions of culture and context are wrong.
in fact, culture and context are probably the two of the most important labels outside of the Gospel itself. i can understand that in the midst of culture or context one may project labels without even knowing it. (e.g. you are conservative, you are liberal, etc...) it seems to me though, labels should only be used for making truth statements. you either are or you aren't. you are white or you an american or you are five foot ten. you are a follower of christ or you aren't. even the label 'christian' has been distorted and confused over time.
anyway - the point, though very random, which all started from seeing some underwear on the street - is that context and culture are of vital importance no doubt, but it MUST be preceeded by the Gospel itself. culture, context, relevance - they are nothing unless first the Kingdom. labels that degrade, harm and oppress serve no one. i hope you agree.
i can't say I like the term. I don't like labels like this, they degrade and marginalize a group of people for nothing other than the way they live - in other words for their culture and their context. it's weird though. why do some people actually identify themselves as white trash. they build websites. they proclaim it on live television. they flaunt it. i don't know why. this picture. now this is over the line. dirty whitie tightie trash. i was walking down broadway in denver and came across this action. talk about a label. i started laughing at the darkness, the shadows, the fly doing what flies do on dirty underwear lying in the middle of a sidewalk.
seriously though, respect for each other means labels have no real place for us. labels may define a culture or a context for making explanation more simple, but have no place for the degradation of human life. cultures are labeled all the time. asian, american, european, african. south american. inuit. yet when these labels begin to define the people themselves, we lose the essence of the culture. to say "all people born in the united states are arrogant" is a label based on a culture that simply isn't true. to say "all people born into the middle eastern culture are terrorists" simply isn't true. these labels are used more as an excuse to oppress people than to lift them up. that's not to say descriptions of culture and context are wrong.
in fact, culture and context are probably the two of the most important labels outside of the Gospel itself. i can understand that in the midst of culture or context one may project labels without even knowing it. (e.g. you are conservative, you are liberal, etc...) it seems to me though, labels should only be used for making truth statements. you either are or you aren't. you are white or you an american or you are five foot ten. you are a follower of christ or you aren't. even the label 'christian' has been distorted and confused over time.
anyway - the point, though very random, which all started from seeing some underwear on the street - is that context and culture are of vital importance no doubt, but it MUST be preceeded by the Gospel itself. culture, context, relevance - they are nothing unless first the Kingdom. labels that degrade, harm and oppress serve no one. i hope you agree.
2.20.2006
rabbit proof fence
turning over a slightly new leaf, i'm trying to watch more documentaries and foreign films, rather than sticking to hollywood propaganda. don't get me wrong, i like some of that hollywood propaganda, but it's just not... well, not...real. so we watched rabbit proof fence the other night, which we've been meaning to watch for quite some time now. what a great movie. it is highly recommended.
Set in rural australia it is the story of molly craig, daisy kadibill and gracie fields, three little girls who escape from a "skills school" for half castes and enter into a 1200 mile journey across the australian outback, avoiding trackers, persevering deadly heat and withstanding hunger. they did this walk to escape. 1200 miles. (during the credits, you find out that molly actually did this walk twice as she was sent back to the prison camp later in life)
i doubt any person could sit through this movie without the stir of emotion running deep through one's veins. without any big name actors/actresses and with kids who play their roles with amazing poise and character, this movie draws all the attention to the story. it's not an in your face political message (ala fahrenheit 9/11), rather a beautiful, well done film that speaks for itself. nice.
for me, the movie draws attention to yet another atrocity, another point in history of which i'm ashamed, partly because of my race, and partly at being human. the half caste system in australia was designed to literally breed out the indigenous australian race. thus when, a child was born to a white man and an aborigine woman or vice versa, they were termed half caste. research showed that if the half caste "bred" with white man for three more generations, then the aborigine was basically gone. the system was set in place to breed a whole race out of existence. yikes.
columbus. cortés. pizarro. puritan. hitler. stalin. white south africa. neville. mugabe. the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on... but why. at what point did one man start thinking of another man as inferior, as second class, as inhuman - based on social class, race, economic situation, color of skin...? i suppose it goes way back. maybe it was adam.
one part i despise is the way we learn about it in schools, in history classes, in text books and on t.v. we are told of great explorers and wonderful sailors, of military leaders and one-of-a-kind presidents. i don't think i heard the term genocide even one time during my education experience. not once.
in his book, a people's history of the united states, howard zinn explains it this way: "The treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims (the Arawaks) -- the quiet acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress -- is only one aspect of a certain approach to history, in which the past is told from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders."
i wonder if this is how australians learn about the settling of australia...? what a shame.
Set in rural australia it is the story of molly craig, daisy kadibill and gracie fields, three little girls who escape from a "skills school" for half castes and enter into a 1200 mile journey across the australian outback, avoiding trackers, persevering deadly heat and withstanding hunger. they did this walk to escape. 1200 miles. (during the credits, you find out that molly actually did this walk twice as she was sent back to the prison camp later in life)i doubt any person could sit through this movie without the stir of emotion running deep through one's veins. without any big name actors/actresses and with kids who play their roles with amazing poise and character, this movie draws all the attention to the story. it's not an in your face political message (ala fahrenheit 9/11), rather a beautiful, well done film that speaks for itself. nice.
for me, the movie draws attention to yet another atrocity, another point in history of which i'm ashamed, partly because of my race, and partly at being human. the half caste system in australia was designed to literally breed out the indigenous australian race. thus when, a child was born to a white man and an aborigine woman or vice versa, they were termed half caste. research showed that if the half caste "bred" with white man for three more generations, then the aborigine was basically gone. the system was set in place to breed a whole race out of existence. yikes.
columbus. cortés. pizarro. puritan. hitler. stalin. white south africa. neville. mugabe. the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on... but why. at what point did one man start thinking of another man as inferior, as second class, as inhuman - based on social class, race, economic situation, color of skin...? i suppose it goes way back. maybe it was adam.
one part i despise is the way we learn about it in schools, in history classes, in text books and on t.v. we are told of great explorers and wonderful sailors, of military leaders and one-of-a-kind presidents. i don't think i heard the term genocide even one time during my education experience. not once.
in his book, a people's history of the united states, howard zinn explains it this way: "The treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims (the Arawaks) -- the quiet acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress -- is only one aspect of a certain approach to history, in which the past is told from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders."
i wonder if this is how australians learn about the settling of australia...? what a shame.
2.17.2006
shapes and no colors
this is the last in the series from downtown denver (i will have more on the flickr account by the end of th weekend.) the focus for now is on shapes and patterns and color, though the colors are bit hard to see in black and white. still colors in black and white are forms of gray which is kind of cool too...
two buildings side by side with squares and lines and diagonals and rectangles and shade and sun... i like all the contrast in this shot. it's everywhere from lines to squiggles and dark to light.
the porches, vents, lights and shadow detail make for interesting texture on this apartment building near the capital. it's not too special but a good play with light.
two buildings side by side with squares and lines and diagonals and rectangles and shade and sun... i like all the contrast in this shot. it's everywhere from lines to squiggles and dark to light.
the porches, vents, lights and shadow detail make for interesting texture on this apartment building near the capital. it's not too special but a good play with light.
2.16.2006
more from denver
here is another set of pictures from my day in denver the other day... these aren't necessarily my favorites, but i like the thoughts they invoke...
just a building drifting into the sky. i guess it's the contrast i like best, it's what draws me to this one - the the perspective in all angles.
i still can't belive how perfect this was - or almost perfect i should say. here i am in panera bread eating lunch, looking at this sign that says something about getting kissed on the cheek and when i look outside, there is a man giving a woman a kiss on the cheek. too bad for the beam going through it, but oh well.
two statues about 50 feet high each dancing near the performing arts center.
perspective. it's what this photo is all about. and trickery. it doesn't look straight by any means but if you pay close attention, the white edge of the building is perfectly vertical. it just doensn't look like it. perspective is cool.
not a particularly great photo, but i like how the older man is crossing the street, the sign on the post is indicating "walk" and the little boy across the street is also taking a stroll. it's funny how things fit together sometimes.
P.S. i intend to have my FliCKR account updated in the next few days, so check it out for more photos - but it's not ready yet.
just a building drifting into the sky. i guess it's the contrast i like best, it's what draws me to this one - the the perspective in all angles.
i still can't belive how perfect this was - or almost perfect i should say. here i am in panera bread eating lunch, looking at this sign that says something about getting kissed on the cheek and when i look outside, there is a man giving a woman a kiss on the cheek. too bad for the beam going through it, but oh well.
two statues about 50 feet high each dancing near the performing arts center.
perspective. it's what this photo is all about. and trickery. it doesn't look straight by any means but if you pay close attention, the white edge of the building is perfectly vertical. it just doensn't look like it. perspective is cool.
not a particularly great photo, but i like how the older man is crossing the street, the sign on the post is indicating "walk" and the little boy across the street is also taking a stroll. it's funny how things fit together sometimes.
P.S. i intend to have my FliCKR account updated in the next few days, so check it out for more photos - but it's not ready yet.
2.15.2006
an exit to loneliness
i took this picture while in downtown Denver yesterday. i like this picture a lot because it says a lot about life. it's the way life feels sometimes - like we are only allowed an exit, but never an entry. we are on the outside looking in. We are struggling to find identity, existence, meaning. ultimately. we are lonely. reading shawn's blog yesterday and came across his version of lonely - it fits the picture well.
Lonely. I’ve felt a lot of that this past year and a half. I’ve felt a lot of that my whole life, really...I have a hard time receiving love from others. It doesn’t seem to matter if it is from God, from my friends, from my family. I don’t quite know why this is. I know I’ve had a hard time at it my entire life – my mother loves to tell a story about the time, when I was only six or so, I asked her how she could love me. I just didn’t get it. I guess I must still not really get it.
The funny thing is I know people really do love me. And not just a few people, either. I know my whole family loves me, and I know how rare and incredible a thing that is. I know dozens of people who love me; they prove it time and time again... I know I have felt what it is to be loved, to be loved completely, without reservation even while being known completely. I have known deep and enduring friendships, many of them, which I would not have thought possible several years ago. I have known and felt incredible intimacy.
But it never sticks...I don’t get it. I don’t know why I have to remind myself I am loved; why I have to make myself feel it again and again. I know it – I never doubt it for a second. But I can’t hold on to the feeling, and soon I feel alone again, as though I had been forgotten. I feel abandoned. It’s ridiculous, but knowing that hasn’t stopped it yet. It feels like I’m trying to hold water in my hands, but I can’t keep my fingers closed. It all keeps leaking out.
lonely.
Lonely. I’ve felt a lot of that this past year and a half. I’ve felt a lot of that my whole life, really...I have a hard time receiving love from others. It doesn’t seem to matter if it is from God, from my friends, from my family. I don’t quite know why this is. I know I’ve had a hard time at it my entire life – my mother loves to tell a story about the time, when I was only six or so, I asked her how she could love me. I just didn’t get it. I guess I must still not really get it.
The funny thing is I know people really do love me. And not just a few people, either. I know my whole family loves me, and I know how rare and incredible a thing that is. I know dozens of people who love me; they prove it time and time again... I know I have felt what it is to be loved, to be loved completely, without reservation even while being known completely. I have known deep and enduring friendships, many of them, which I would not have thought possible several years ago. I have known and felt incredible intimacy.
But it never sticks...I don’t get it. I don’t know why I have to remind myself I am loved; why I have to make myself feel it again and again. I know it – I never doubt it for a second. But I can’t hold on to the feeling, and soon I feel alone again, as though I had been forgotten. I feel abandoned. It’s ridiculous, but knowing that hasn’t stopped it yet. It feels like I’m trying to hold water in my hands, but I can’t keep my fingers closed. It all keeps leaking out.
lonely.
2.14.2006
heart day
it's another valentine's day here in the states. what does it mean...? according to an article in the rocky mountain news, it means men will spend an average of $120 on the woman and and it means women will spend an average of $68 on the man. ok. that's favortism at it's finest. really.
who made valentine's day anyway...? hallmark...? flower growers...? chocolate makers...? restaurants...? who...? i bet it wasn't a man, or at least wasn't a man who was thinking of the rest of his gender.
to be honest, i'm not a big fan. i mean, i love my wife. don't get me wrong. it's just that i don't like holidays telling me to love her or else i get in trouble. if i don't buy the right lingerie or the right chocolate or forget the flowers or a myriad of others mishaps, i'm hosed. it's not right.
i guess i just feel guilted into having to do something, rather than the beauty of doing something because i want to, or even desire to. i brought her flowers two weeks ago because i wanted to. i was reading in II Cor 2:14-17 about the fragrance of knowing our God and thought of jayla. she is a wonderful fragrance to me. admittedly though, i also thought, "hey, valentine's day is coming soon... if i buy her flowers now, i will hedge against forgetting to do something later. good idea. buy flowers." really.
i understand the need to feel special, which is engrained into the man's psyche. so for a woman, it must be embedded all the more. the valuable expression of love strikes me as something for every day, not just a day in which i can get into so much trouble. why does going out to dinner mean more on this day...? why do flowers mean more on this day...? there is a value attached to it i'm afraid i can't understand.
maybe it's cause i'm a man.
who made valentine's day anyway...? hallmark...? flower growers...? chocolate makers...? restaurants...? who...? i bet it wasn't a man, or at least wasn't a man who was thinking of the rest of his gender.
to be honest, i'm not a big fan. i mean, i love my wife. don't get me wrong. it's just that i don't like holidays telling me to love her or else i get in trouble. if i don't buy the right lingerie or the right chocolate or forget the flowers or a myriad of others mishaps, i'm hosed. it's not right.
i guess i just feel guilted into having to do something, rather than the beauty of doing something because i want to, or even desire to. i brought her flowers two weeks ago because i wanted to. i was reading in II Cor 2:14-17 about the fragrance of knowing our God and thought of jayla. she is a wonderful fragrance to me. admittedly though, i also thought, "hey, valentine's day is coming soon... if i buy her flowers now, i will hedge against forgetting to do something later. good idea. buy flowers." really.i understand the need to feel special, which is engrained into the man's psyche. so for a woman, it must be embedded all the more. the valuable expression of love strikes me as something for every day, not just a day in which i can get into so much trouble. why does going out to dinner mean more on this day...? why do flowers mean more on this day...? there is a value attached to it i'm afraid i can't understand.
maybe it's cause i'm a man.
2.13.2006
kids and cats
Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from the past week or so...
my son, asher, with a friend from Amsterdam, called Trish and Co.
a beautiful little cat from the Newmans, a great family who were once connected to the Zolder in Amsterdam - and oh yeah, still are.
my friend Nick (also once-upon-a-time from Amsterdam) with his son Owen, teaching him how to point a gun at me!
my son, asher, with a friend from Amsterdam, called Trish and Co.
a beautiful little cat from the Newmans, a great family who were once connected to the Zolder in Amsterdam - and oh yeah, still are.
my friend Nick (also once-upon-a-time from Amsterdam) with his son Owen, teaching him how to point a gun at me!
an editorial interpolation
Reading USA Today today and found this editorial called "What happened to America's Jesus?" or something like that anyway. Check it out. At the least, the author asks some good questions. The religion part is a little strange, but, well, yeah, just read the article.
2.12.2006
7 tenths of a second...
much like eric, i find the olympic games thrilling and compelling. i have always enjoyed sports, but there is something even more special about the olympics. there is something almost surreal. the athletes inspire me - see Dan Jansen. they make me laugh - see Shawn White aka. the Flying Tomato. they make me cry - see Derek Redmond. they make me run - see Michael Johnson. they make me act - see Jesse Owens. they make me hold my chest - see Muhammad Ali. they make me jump for joy - see http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/5056883/detail.html. they make me sob - see Kerri Strug. and these are just some of them. from all over the world, i love the stories of the athletes.
there are amazing stories in every olympics, and special olympics . i love the games.
the beauty of the games is marked by the people who make them what they are - the athletes. i was astounded yesterday while watching the men's downhill, the speed and misery at which these guys are travelling. the t.v. is disceiving. because of the panning cameras you can't tell how fast they are actually going - flying. 70 mph. that's fast in a car much less on skis. the real beauty to me though, is that the top 5 finishers were separated by just over one second of time. they ski down almost 3000 vertical feet, down 2.5 miles in less than two minutes and are one second apart. crazy.
there are amazing stories in every olympics, and special olympics . i love the games.
the beauty of the games is marked by the people who make them what they are - the athletes. i was astounded yesterday while watching the men's downhill, the speed and misery at which these guys are travelling. the t.v. is disceiving. because of the panning cameras you can't tell how fast they are actually going - flying. 70 mph. that's fast in a car much less on skis. the real beauty to me though, is that the top 5 finishers were separated by just over one second of time. they ski down almost 3000 vertical feet, down 2.5 miles in less than two minutes and are one second apart. crazy.
2.10.2006
it's all there
as 2006 began i started jotting down my goals for the year - read 25 books, love jayla (my wife) in new and exciting ways, visit at least two countries i've never been before, spend deliberate quality time every day with asher (my son), go on at least two backpacking trips of three days or more, lose 13 pounds, cut back on sweets, become actively involved in a social action movement, visit amsterdam, rewrite my mission statement - this last one, this one is important to me. My mission statement is the second great guiding force in my life. first, Jesus. second, the mission statement.
of course, much of my mission statement, in fact, all of my mission statement is based on biblical foundation and each line is backed by verses and passages from the holy word. this is nothing new.
i sat there looking at my mission statement, reviewing it, pondering over it, deliberating over the pluses and minuses of each line item in my statement. my mission document contains such things as to serve God every day, to grow in the knowledge of Christ, to love and honor my wife, to teach my children in the ways of Christ, to never lie cheat or steal, to give thanks for all that i experience, to be content in where i am, etc...
i like it.
then i read colossians. right there in colossians 1, verses 10 through 20, i found a nother mission statement, one preached by the apostle paul. though general and not tuned exactly to the specifics of my own, how i can i not take it for my own. it is real. it is beautiful. it is clear.
Colossians 1:10-20
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
well, that about sums it up. perfect.
of course, much of my mission statement, in fact, all of my mission statement is based on biblical foundation and each line is backed by verses and passages from the holy word. this is nothing new.
i sat there looking at my mission statement, reviewing it, pondering over it, deliberating over the pluses and minuses of each line item in my statement. my mission document contains such things as to serve God every day, to grow in the knowledge of Christ, to love and honor my wife, to teach my children in the ways of Christ, to never lie cheat or steal, to give thanks for all that i experience, to be content in where i am, etc...
i like it.
then i read colossians. right there in colossians 1, verses 10 through 20, i found a nother mission statement, one preached by the apostle paul. though general and not tuned exactly to the specifics of my own, how i can i not take it for my own. it is real. it is beautiful. it is clear.
Colossians 1:10-20
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
well, that about sums it up. perfect.
2.09.2006
ski time with droopy
I recently spent time with some great friends from Amsterdam and my brother in the mountains of Colorado doing some skiing. What a great time. We enjoyed some fresh snow and some beautiful blue skies. And, of course, I took some pictures... here are few of my favorites of my brother - Drew P., a pastor, who incidentally is a phenomenal skier - a cool combo. Enjoy...
2.05.2006
speaking of social action...
I was doing a little research on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as it is both Black History Month and I just posted on Social Action. I came across his "I have been to the Mountaintop Speech" and thought I would post a portion of it here. This was a man of action.
"Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation. And I want to thank God, once more, for allowing me to be here with you.
You know, several years ago, I was in New York City autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up. The only question I heard from her was, "Are you Martin Luther King?"
And I was looking down writing, and I said yes. And the next minute I felt something beating on my chest. Before I knew it I had been stabbed by this demented woman. I was rushed to Harlem Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. And that blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, you drown in your own blood—that's the end of you.
It came out in the New York Times the next morning, that if I had sneezed, I would have died. Well, about four days later, they allowed me, after the operation, after my chest had been opened, and the blade had been taken out, to move around in the wheel chair in the hospital. They allowed me to read some of the mail that came in, and from all over the states, and the world, kind letters came in. I read a few, but one of them I will never forget. I had received one from the President and the Vice-President. I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the Governor of New York, but I've forgotten what the letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl, a young girl who was a student at the White Plains High School. And I looked at that letter, and I'll never forget it. It said simply, "Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I am a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune, and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."
And I want to say tonight, I want to say that I am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream. And taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation, and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, been in Memphis to see the community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze.
And they were telling me, now it doesn't matter now. It really doesn't matter what happens now. I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us, the pilot said over the public address system, "We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane. And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong with the plane, we had to check out everything carefully. And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night."
And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?
Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
"Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation. And I want to thank God, once more, for allowing me to be here with you.
You know, several years ago, I was in New York City autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up. The only question I heard from her was, "Are you Martin Luther King?"
And I was looking down writing, and I said yes. And the next minute I felt something beating on my chest. Before I knew it I had been stabbed by this demented woman. I was rushed to Harlem Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. And that blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, you drown in your own blood—that's the end of you.
It came out in the New York Times the next morning, that if I had sneezed, I would have died. Well, about four days later, they allowed me, after the operation, after my chest had been opened, and the blade had been taken out, to move around in the wheel chair in the hospital. They allowed me to read some of the mail that came in, and from all over the states, and the world, kind letters came in. I read a few, but one of them I will never forget. I had received one from the President and the Vice-President. I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the Governor of New York, but I've forgotten what the letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl, a young girl who was a student at the White Plains High School. And I looked at that letter, and I'll never forget it. It said simply, "Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I am a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune, and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."
And I want to say tonight, I want to say that I am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream. And taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation, and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, been in Memphis to see the community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze.
And they were telling me, now it doesn't matter now. It really doesn't matter what happens now. I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us, the pilot said over the public address system, "We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane. And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong with the plane, we had to check out everything carefully. And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night."
And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?
Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
action and welfare, socially...?
I read a copy of an essay about Social Justice from Todd a couple months ago and was reflecting upon it recently. Here is the gist of the essay...
"Social welfare" refers to the actions of individual Christians or a group of Christians by which they do good for others. "Social action" refers to actions intended to change social structures, most often played out politically. We must assume that social welfare is a good thing, at least to the 'normal' person with any set of values and morals, Christian or not. Doing good for the direct physical effect of others is noble and there are few who can argue otherwise. But, social action, on the other hand, is and has been disputed over the years by Christians and non-Christians alike. That is, does the Christian have a right to move socially on the basis of Christian belief..?
I believe the answer is a resounding yes.
We must be careful here in because the "Christian" message is often corrupted and abused by culture, society, fear and sometimes even the religious majority. That is, I define the Christian belief as one of absolute adherance to the teachings and commands of Jesus Christ. It is NOT a politically justified call to wealth as some might have you believe. It is NOT a right to condemn men, cultures, races or countries based on a false security of one's own country, culture, society or race being greater than anothers as others might have you believe. It is NOT a necessarily conservative nor liberal stronghold on a given subject as some might teach. It is NOT a political objective in order to gain power and/or position in order to quash the minority. Christian belief is NOT an excuse to oppress, hate, abuse or neglect anyone less fortunate, less intellectual, less wealthy, or less powerful.
It IS a truth about love. When boiled down to the very core, Jesus Christ lived because of love. He was born to a virgin, lived a blameless and righteous life, preached a message of love and forgiveness, was sent to the cross, died for the sins of many, and rose again to conquer death - all because of love. He was and is the essence of love.
The Christian belief is also one of love, because if we truly follow Jesus, than we have absolutely no choice other than to love. None. Any political, social or economic policy which steps on the sanctity of love, which oppresses others or which fails to uphold the truth of love must be questioned. Action should result when love is compromised.
This is why I'm thankful for JR who has helped start the Solis Foundation. This is why I'm thankful for Sander who sees the need to uphold God's truth. This is why I'm thankful for Bono (though some may think of some controversy surrounding "COEXIST"), because he understands that the world and it's people are ours to LOVE. This is why I'm thankful for the Zolder, because they see that church isn't meant to be about religion, but because it's meant to build community and take care of people as Jesus commanded. This is why I'm thankful for my wife, whose heart aches everytime she sees a child without a mother, a baby without food or a mother without resources to provide either.
What will I do...? Social Action is necessary.
"Social welfare" refers to the actions of individual Christians or a group of Christians by which they do good for others. "Social action" refers to actions intended to change social structures, most often played out politically. We must assume that social welfare is a good thing, at least to the 'normal' person with any set of values and morals, Christian or not. Doing good for the direct physical effect of others is noble and there are few who can argue otherwise. But, social action, on the other hand, is and has been disputed over the years by Christians and non-Christians alike. That is, does the Christian have a right to move socially on the basis of Christian belief..?
I believe the answer is a resounding yes.
We must be careful here in because the "Christian" message is often corrupted and abused by culture, society, fear and sometimes even the religious majority. That is, I define the Christian belief as one of absolute adherance to the teachings and commands of Jesus Christ. It is NOT a politically justified call to wealth as some might have you believe. It is NOT a right to condemn men, cultures, races or countries based on a false security of one's own country, culture, society or race being greater than anothers as others might have you believe. It is NOT a necessarily conservative nor liberal stronghold on a given subject as some might teach. It is NOT a political objective in order to gain power and/or position in order to quash the minority. Christian belief is NOT an excuse to oppress, hate, abuse or neglect anyone less fortunate, less intellectual, less wealthy, or less powerful.
It IS a truth about love. When boiled down to the very core, Jesus Christ lived because of love. He was born to a virgin, lived a blameless and righteous life, preached a message of love and forgiveness, was sent to the cross, died for the sins of many, and rose again to conquer death - all because of love. He was and is the essence of love.
The Christian belief is also one of love, because if we truly follow Jesus, than we have absolutely no choice other than to love. None. Any political, social or economic policy which steps on the sanctity of love, which oppresses others or which fails to uphold the truth of love must be questioned. Action should result when love is compromised.
This is why I'm thankful for JR who has helped start the Solis Foundation. This is why I'm thankful for Sander who sees the need to uphold God's truth. This is why I'm thankful for Bono (though some may think of some controversy surrounding "COEXIST"), because he understands that the world and it's people are ours to LOVE. This is why I'm thankful for the Zolder, because they see that church isn't meant to be about religion, but because it's meant to build community and take care of people as Jesus commanded. This is why I'm thankful for my wife, whose heart aches everytime she sees a child without a mother, a baby without food or a mother without resources to provide either.
What will I do...? Social Action is necessary.
2.02.2006
a break in the program
As a little break in the "photographic niche theory" I posted last week, I wanted to show you these wild shots of animal eyes. Before I discovered my niche, I have always been intrigued by the eye. The eyes tell you a lot about a man, and also, in this case, animals... they are simply awesome. See if you can figure out which picture is of which animal - some are a bit easier than others! Answers at the bottom...
1. Zebra 2. Leopard 3. Lion 4. Hippo 5. Buffalo
1. Zebra 2. Leopard 3. Lion 4. Hippo 5. Buffalo
2.01.2006
the iron horse
In keeping with my resolution to read more, I just finished the book Iron Horse - Lou Gehrig in his time, by Ray Robinson. As the title might suggest, it is a biography of Lou Gehrig, one of the best baseball players of all time.
I always liked Lou Gehrig. Now I like him more. Growing up a huge fan of Cal Ripken, the "other Iron Man" of baseball and Oriole great, I was also, by the transitive property of record breaking, a Lou Gehrig fan. On Sept. 6, 1995, Ripken would break one of the greatest records in all of sports - consecutive games played in baseball, 2130 - once held by Lou Gehrig. I will never forget when Ripken broke the record. Get this - Ripken received a 22 minute standing ovation after breaking the record - 22 minutes. It was one of the greatest moments I can remember in my life. You might think it shallow, but there is something special about sport that has always been close to my soul.
When Ripken broke the consecutive games record, the emotion and fanfare that accompanied were special not only because of the record, but because of who the record belonged to. Gehrig was special. In a time of athletes holding out over millions of dollars via free agency, baseball fixed in the middle of drug scandals and steroid policies, players plastering humiliating comments on the front pages of newspapers (see T.O.), and other offenses, Gehrig (and Ripken) were consummate team players. Dedicated. Humble. Amazing.
Gehrig wore pinstripes his whole career. He had Yankee blood running through his veins. But many never understood, nor did I, until reading this book, just how great a player and man Gehrig was. He batted in the shadow of other Yankee greats like Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio and retired when Mickey Mantle was coming up through the system. A .340 lifetime hitter, he was sandwiched in between other great Yankees who were always in the spot light. It didn't matter.
One story I loved in the book was about the famous "Called Shot" by the Babe. What most people didn't know was that Gehrig hit a longer and greater homer on the next at bat. No one remembers this World Series moment. It was how Gehrigs career went. Still, he produced like few others in baseball ever have.
At the sake of retelling the whole book, the whole reason I write this post now is because of his farewell speech, one of the greatest moments in history - not just baseball history. Really. To appreciate this bold comment, you have to appreciate the times. The USA had just come out of the depression and was entering into a another great war against a certain dictator named Hitler. Baseball was America's game. Newspapers at the time, often carried stories of baseball on the front page to encourage people, to generate some pride during tough economic times. Gehrig was paid an annual salary of $27,000.
When Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS (now known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) he was practically at the prime of his career. He had everything going for him and he was a beloved star of the public - a baseball player. The disease slowly killed him, eventually ending his consecutive games streak at 2130 games. As a final farewell to Gehrig, the Yankees played tribute to him by bestowing gifts and playing a game as a memorial to him. He was not dead, but he was no longer able to play. Overcome by emotion, he walked to the microphone that night and delivered one of the greatest speeches ever:
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I’m lucky.
"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that’s something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that’s the finest I know.
"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
Maybe you don't or can't appreciate the magnitude of this speech, but as a baseball lover, a sports lover - it brings me to tears. Pick up the book, see for yourself.
I always liked Lou Gehrig. Now I like him more. Growing up a huge fan of Cal Ripken, the "other Iron Man" of baseball and Oriole great, I was also, by the transitive property of record breaking, a Lou Gehrig fan. On Sept. 6, 1995, Ripken would break one of the greatest records in all of sports - consecutive games played in baseball, 2130 - once held by Lou Gehrig. I will never forget when Ripken broke the record. Get this - Ripken received a 22 minute standing ovation after breaking the record - 22 minutes. It was one of the greatest moments I can remember in my life. You might think it shallow, but there is something special about sport that has always been close to my soul.
When Ripken broke the consecutive games record, the emotion and fanfare that accompanied were special not only because of the record, but because of who the record belonged to. Gehrig was special. In a time of athletes holding out over millions of dollars via free agency, baseball fixed in the middle of drug scandals and steroid policies, players plastering humiliating comments on the front pages of newspapers (see T.O.), and other offenses, Gehrig (and Ripken) were consummate team players. Dedicated. Humble. Amazing.
Gehrig wore pinstripes his whole career. He had Yankee blood running through his veins. But many never understood, nor did I, until reading this book, just how great a player and man Gehrig was. He batted in the shadow of other Yankee greats like Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio and retired when Mickey Mantle was coming up through the system. A .340 lifetime hitter, he was sandwiched in between other great Yankees who were always in the spot light. It didn't matter.
One story I loved in the book was about the famous "Called Shot" by the Babe. What most people didn't know was that Gehrig hit a longer and greater homer on the next at bat. No one remembers this World Series moment. It was how Gehrigs career went. Still, he produced like few others in baseball ever have.
At the sake of retelling the whole book, the whole reason I write this post now is because of his farewell speech, one of the greatest moments in history - not just baseball history. Really. To appreciate this bold comment, you have to appreciate the times. The USA had just come out of the depression and was entering into a another great war against a certain dictator named Hitler. Baseball was America's game. Newspapers at the time, often carried stories of baseball on the front page to encourage people, to generate some pride during tough economic times. Gehrig was paid an annual salary of $27,000.
When Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS (now known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) he was practically at the prime of his career. He had everything going for him and he was a beloved star of the public - a baseball player. The disease slowly killed him, eventually ending his consecutive games streak at 2130 games. As a final farewell to Gehrig, the Yankees played tribute to him by bestowing gifts and playing a game as a memorial to him. He was not dead, but he was no longer able to play. Overcome by emotion, he walked to the microphone that night and delivered one of the greatest speeches ever:
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I’m lucky.
"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that’s something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that’s the finest I know.
"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
Maybe you don't or can't appreciate the magnitude of this speech, but as a baseball lover, a sports lover - it brings me to tears. Pick up the book, see for yourself.
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