Held Up High

With the Angels We Sing!

2011-12-25T10:46:00.000-05:00

Hark! The herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King;Peace on earth, and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled!”Joyful, all ye nations rise,Join the triumph of the skies;With th’angelic host proclaim,“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”RefrainHark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King!”Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;Christ the everlasting Lord;Late in time, behold Him come,Offspring of a virgin’s womb.Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;Hail th’incarnate Deity,Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,Jesus our Emmanuel.RefrainHail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!Hail the Sun of Righteousness!Light and life to all He brings,Ris’n with healing in His wings.Mild He lays His glory by,Born that man no more may die.Born to raise the sons of earth,Born to give them second birth.RefrainCome, Desire of nations, come,Fix in us Thy humble home;Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,Bruise in us the serpent’s head.Now display Thy saving power,Ruined nature now restore;Now in mystic union joinThine to ours, and ours to Thine.RefrainAdam’s likeness, Lord, efface,Stamp Thine image in its place:Second Adam from above,Reinstate us in Thy love.Let us Thee, though lost, regain,Thee, the Life, the inner man:O, to all Thyself impart,Formed in each believing heart.

The F Word We Can Do Something About

2011-10-04T19:46:00.002-04:00

Never Forgotten. Forever Grateful.

2011-09-11T20:13:00.001-04:00

The Demise of Guys

2011-08-11T22:08:00.003-04:00

Interesting TED talk by Psychologist Philip Zimbardo. The presentation is only a little over 4 minutes long (one of the short TED talks I've ever heard). In it, he asks, "Why are boys struggling?" He shares some stats (lower graduation rates, greater worries about intimacy and relationships) and suggests a few reasons -- and he asks for your help! Watch his talk, then take his short 10-question survey: http://on.ted.com/PZSurvey

I have been working with teenagers for well over 16+ years. I have seen this almost every day working adolescent boys. So much here in this short presentation. Not a lot of new revelation, but the data is great to reflect on then ask, "What can we do to change the tide of the demised guy?"

Confessions of a Christian Homeseller/buyer

2011-08-06T21:33:00.004-04:00

We have been trying to sell our home for about 2.5 months. It's a really tough market and going to get tougher as we can see by the economic news of recent days. So needless to say when we got the first offer to buy our house, we moved heaven and earth to get the deal done honorably, fairly, and reasonably without losing the proverbial shirts off our back. We got the deal done in about 3 hours with our realtor on vacation in northern MI (thx, John, you rocked it!)

Then we turned around and started the mad rush to find home very quickly given we were closing in 30 days and needed to get the kids registered in a new school district and school in less time than that. Long story short: we found our house on the first day and put a reasonable and negotiable offer on that day. That was a week ago. Time seem to come to screeching halt or at least move in slow motion as negotiated with the realtor of a 89 woman whose kids live in KY and CA.

So here's the confession. Because we like the house so much and have to move rather quickly to get the other pieces into place, I have been praying like a man on fire! Talk about your prayer without ceasing. The problem is...I've prayed more for this house deal in the last week than I have in the last year for friends of mine who are far away from Jesus. I've prayed more in this week that God would work a miracle to sell that house to us than I have for those being rocked by famine and unjust food distribution systems. It seems like I have prayed more in this week for that house to move into our possession in a timely fashion than I have for my own children's hearts to be soft to Jesus. Ugh. Those hurt.

I'm sorry, Jesus. Please forgive me.

This has consumed me. And I have to ask myself honestly why? Materialism? Security? Selfishness? Care for my family? Whacked priorities? Lack of faith? Need? Desire? Both? Etc etc etc.

Can you relate? Have you gone/are you going through similar circumstances? What were/are you consumed by and how did/does that differ from other things you should be consumed by? How do you respond? How does God respond?

I believe through it all God is not up there pointing the finger at me going, "Shame on you, Seth. Shame. On. You!" No, I believe he is down here nudging me/prompting me/leading me saying, "This house selling/buying is important. I know it is. But don't let it blind you to what is more important to me: loving Me by following Jesus and loving others. Let what consumes me consume you. I'll take care of you. Remember I have your best interesting at heart."

Shock Waves of Marital Selfishness

2011-08-02T16:30:00.007-04:00

Life is good...yes. But life is also hard...especially relationships. And no relationship can be harder than the one between a husband and wife in the context of marriage.

How can I say that? Because my 16 years of marriage (this month) to my amazing wife, Kelly, tells me that much. Hard painful realities about me, she, we, and everything in between that scream we are selfish, prideful, and hurtful people (me more so than Kelly) who are in desperate need of saving, healing, and loving. Our marriage takes tons of work (more work than I'm sure I give it).

And what's crazy is that my marriage is a cake walk compared to other marriages I have seen up-close or from afar. I have counseled, married, re-counseled dozens upon dozens of couples who have struggled with trust, abuse, power, anger, violence and affairs in the context of married life. It's brutal what many endure/have endured in the name of "love".

Marriage is hard. Plain and simple

So when I saw that Jennifer Lopez broke her silence about why she and Marc Anthony decided to divorce, I was curious as to what she had to say. An affair? Domestic violence? Financial deceit? Nope...none of those...it was this:

"'It’s not that I didn’t love myself before. Sometimes we don’t realize that we are compromising ourselves. To understand that a person is not good for you, or that that person is not treating you in the right way, or that he is not doing the right thing for himself—if I stay, then I am not doing the right thing for me. I love myself enough to walk away from that now,' she says."

There is so much in this statement I don't know about, but if I take it at face value, it reeks of selfishness. And that kind of selfishness is already running rampant in so many marriages. But when a star of J. Lo's prominence states it "for the record", the shock waves can have a huge impact on marriages calling it quits simply because "I love myself enough to walk away."

Marriage is easy to enter into. Marriage is hard to live out. Divorce is easy to enter into. Marriage fallout is hard to live out. I would suggest entering into either having done all the hard work of seeing if marriage/spouse is right for you and then divorce if you've done everything to save it, seek understanding about yourself and serve the other.

History of Rap 2

2011-07-20T21:52:00.002-04:00

Rappin and rockin and bringin da funk again! Justin and Jimmy and The Roots flip another killer performance of the history of rap through the last few decades. Awesome! Once again it's why I love the interwebs and think Al Gore is super neato for inventing it.

Here is MTV's article walking us through the set list:

"Over the next five minutes, he and Fallon ripped through two dozen classics, opening with Kurtis Blow's legendary "The Breaks," before segueing into another early rap totem, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message," complete with both men busting out their best robot dance moves.

It's easy to sound great when you've got the Roots backing you up, and the band was more than up to the task, hitting the right bass-heavy tone for N.W.A.'s "Express Yourself," as Fallon and Timberlake traded off on a verse, then nimbly pivoting into a peek at Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise." Curiously, it was Fallon who did most of the heavy vocal lifting, taking on the chorus to Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock's "It Takes Two" as Timberlake jived behind him and added the song's indelible yelps.

From there they busted through a variety of hip-pop standards: Salt n' Pepa's pelvic-thrusting "Push It," a tiny taste of Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby," Black Sheep's "The Choice Is Yours," Cypress Hills' "Insane in the Brain" and a hip-swiveling throwdown of DJ Kool's party anthem, "Let Me Clear My Throat." The pair had clearly rehearsed the bit to a T, because neither stumbled even for a moment during the routine. Whether it was their thuggish ruggish take on DMX's thudding "Up in Here," Timberlake's swishing falsetto break on Nelly's "Hot in Herre" (which lead to an awkward moment where both men seemed to question their sexuality for a brief second), or their intertwined duet on 50 Cent's "In da Club," the music just flowed seamlessly.

Timberlake gave the crowd a bit of sugar during Outkast's "Hey Ya," shaking his booty while Fallon sang the verse, before both men took on the falsetto chorus. They then teased Lil Wayne's "A Milli" and got their Auto-Tune on for DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win."

While Fallon needs a bit of work, clearly nobody has to school Timberlake in the finer art of Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How to Dougie," though the former boy-band star did have to ease his co-star back a bit when Jimmy got a tad too into character and in the cameraman's face during a menacing trip through Rick Ross' "Blowing Money Fast."

"Jimmy, Jimmy, stop ... why do you always do that?" a concerned Timberlake said as he pulled his pal back.

The whole shebang ended with the boys trading lines on Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" and then rolling out into the studio and getting the audience to help them sing the chorus. "Clap your hands, everybody, if you got what it takes, cuz I'm Justin, I'm Jimmy and we want you to know that these are the breaks," they chanted as they brought it all home."

If you missed the first one, click here.

Why and How to Save Great Teachers

2011-06-27T17:55:00.004-04:00

Living in Ohio and working in education make for a tumultuous time of employment. Our governor has proposed a radical state bill (SB 5) that has come under serious fire. It's filled with some radical ideas as to how to save money and reform education (among other things) in the state in order to bring about change and save money in an economy that is wrecked.

He has a done a horrible job communicating the values/ideas behind the bill. I think he thought he was going to ride the coat tails of New Jersey and Wisconsin who have passed some radical legislation as it pertains to education and unions. Along the way he's said some stupid things that have infuriated people and have blocked them hearing some of the honest, necessary change that parts of this bill really propose (and that we need).

In light of the bill and other budget cuts, school districts across the country are forced to lay off amazing teachers in the name of an asinine rule: Last In. First Out. After watching Waiting for "Superman" last night and visiting its website and StudentsFirst.org, I truly believe that this practice must go now!

Here is a video that does an amazing job of communicating values and vision behind one component that could help save great teachers and put students first in our mission to help them achieve academic success.

Are You An Open-For-Feedback Parent?

2011-06-11T23:30:00.003-04:00

So today we had a great time celebrating Sarah's birthday with 11 of her friends. Great time. Great girls. Great memories.

Tonight as Kelly and I were looking back on the day, we couldn't help but talk about how unique and different each of Sarah's friends were. Extroverts and introverts. Funny and serious. Critical thinkers and expressive thinkers. Tomboys and girly girls. So fascinating to watch them all laugh, play and interact with each other.

As we were talking about each girl, Kelly says to me, "What do you think people say about our kids?" To which I said, "I have no idea, but I would love some real, honest feedback on what others see when we aren't around."

I think this would be so helpful to have these insights from others who maybe see things we don't about our kids weaknesses and/or strengths. Why you may ask. Because we don't have it all figured out. We need help like everyone else.

I would also love to give some honest parenting feedback to some friends, family and strangers, but most of us get too defensive. "How dare you talk about my kids that way." "Who are you talk talk bad about my kid or my parenting?" "You have no idea what you are talking about...I work hard at being the best parent I can be!" Those are just a few of the things we might say in defense.

One thing I try and do is ask as honestly and transparently as I can when I pick my kids up from somewhere being with someone is how were they? Did they behave, play nicely, use manors, treat others with respect? In other words...I'd love some feedback if you have any that you think might help me parent/raise/mold/shape my kid.

So let me ask...why is it so hard to receive good, honest, and, yes, sometimes hard feedback about our kids? What keeps us from being open to parenting feedback? What keeps us from developing the kind of community or friendships where we can give this kind of feedback? I know I want to and need to keep growing in this area.

I really believe we can and would become better parents raising healthier kids if we made ourselves available to becoming open-for-feedback parents.

American Pie + Grand Rapids = Awesome

2011-06-11T00:21:00.001-04:00

In the immortal words of Liz Lemon...I want to go to there.

Brilliant.

How Dogs Sleep

2011-05-25T22:13:00.004-04:00

I don't know about your dog, but our dog, Foster, sleeps like this more often than not.

Words that come to mind are...how? ouch! What the?!

How does your dog sleep?

Why I'm a Comment Voyeur

2011-05-16T20:21:00.005-04:00

Is it a sign of getting older or more lazy? Maybe it's my love of people watching. But I almost enjoy reading the comments on an online article more than I enjoy reading the article itself. I find myself skimming the post or article so fast that I barely get the gist of it just so I can get to the comments faster.

I think the bottom line reason for this is: the comments tell me a lot more about people in general than the article ever will. The comments tell me hopes and fears. Ideologies and theologies. Purposes and passions. Loves and hate. What makes people tick and think. What makes them zig and what makes them zag.

Take this interesting short blurb of an article on Stephen Hawking's take on the afterlife. It's short, sweet, and to the point as to what he think of previously published views of God and science and current views of the afterlife and what will win. All interesting stuff.

But look at the comments...all 19,343 by the time I wrote this post. They are fascinating! They tell us so much about people and their views of religion, the religious, God, His people, and their experiences with all of the above and then some.

If you have a hard knowing and/or understanding where people are at in regards to spiritual things (whatever the article is about i.e. politics, culture, parenting, education etc), skim the article and READ the comments. If you have a hard time thinking about how people think about God, Jesus followers, the church, etc (as well as America, Republicans, Democrats, Lady Gaga, teachers etc) then graze the article and devour the comments. They are a treasure chest full of insight as to how people think, feel, and believe. And if we know that stuff, we might - with God's help - just be able to better love, engage and serve those that are far away from Him (or whatever is we might believe).

Young Adult Book Review

2011-04-15T22:55:00.007-04:00

One of the great thing about my job when I was a youth pastor and now as a guidance counselor is that I get to be a cultural exegete. I get to dig into the culture (probably sub-culture) of teenagers and see what it says, figure out how it impacts teenagers, and use it as a means to tell a story whether it be about motivation, reconciliation, character, courage, forgiveness, empathy, bullying, boundaries, hope, dreams, meaning, purpose, friendship, community, etc. I use music, movies, books, fashion, language, places/spaces, etc to help understand the world of teenagers for me, them, youth workers, teachers, and parents.

So with my new position, I've been very intentional about asking good exegetical questions about the students world in my building. What are you watching, listening to, and reading? Where are you going/where are you hanging out? Who are you going with? What are you doing? All of these questions and more.

One of the worlds that I've always talked about tapping into is the literature of teenagers...specifically the books that they are reading. Two books I have read over the past year have been The Hunger Games Trilogy and Unwind. Both books are Dystopian books (think opposite of utopian).

Even though I'm late to the game, here's my attempt a review:

The Hunger Games Trilogy:

Great series! Loved this book about post-war America that is divided into 13 districts and rules by a central government. There is lots of death (grim and gruesome), propaganda, war, violence, a love triangle (nothing sexual), addiction, courage, self-discovery, sacrifice, and lots of twist and turns that affect those coming of age. It is an amazing non-stop ride of action, adventure, and suspense with lots of character development along the way. This is not your momma's young adult book, but well worth it. My wife even loved it!

Unwind:

This is one intense book not only in the plot but also in it's content. This is post-Second Civil War which is fought under the umbrella of the abortion issue. This book deals with the cultural, familial, relational, political, and spiritual dynamics that affect the meaning and sanctity of life. This book and it's issues are not for the faint of heart. Bring your thinking cap as you wrestle with the themes that are laid out in the story of three kids on the run from perceived meaning to real value. You will dig this book, it's themes, and how they make you take stuff of things that matter in life.

(bu to my good friend/mentor, great thinker, book devourer, and adolescent guru, Marko, and his many book reviews for inspiring me in this area)

Shot Rings Out in the Memphis Sky

2011-04-04T21:31:00.002-04:00

As America watches college men play for a basketball national title, may we take a moment to remember a man who lived and died for so much more. May you and I remember the humble and passionate Martin Luther King Jr. who gave his life for something greater than himself: his God, his country and his people.

Takers Not Makers

2011-04-02T19:32:00.004-04:00

It's a sad stat and state we find ourselves in as Americans: we take more than we make. An editorial article in the Wall Street Journal by Stephen Moore outlines this fundamental shift in values. Now I know he is talking about some seemingly archaic industries, but trend is alarming none the less and raises the question...where are we going as a nation?

Here is a taste of the article:

"More Americans work for the government than work in construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities combined. We have moved decisively from a nation of makers to a nation of takers. Nearly half of the $2.2 trillion cost of state and local governments is the $1 trillion-a-year tab for pay and benefits of state and local employees. Is it any wonder that so many states and cities cannot pay their bills?"

Read the rest of the article here.

But you know what else I find interesting...this is true in the Church. Our American culture, ecclesiastical consumerism, and church values have led to this. We'd rather sit in our pews, chairs, or theater style seating and take in a message and music without having to give sacrificially out of time, money, and/or talents. We leave it to the pastors, ministers, and priests to do the works of ministry where all of us should be making, creating, and creating ministry opportunities. Francis Chan in his book, Crazy Love, talk about the characteristics of takers in the Church or as he puts in, Lukewarm Christians (Chapter 4).

(bu to David S via Facebook status update)

Love Story Meets Viva la Vida

2011-03-29T22:56:00.004-04:00

I dig Coldplay. My 8 year old daughter, Sarah, digs Taylor Swift. So when a friend tweeted the link to a video "Love Story Meets Viva la Vida", well, I just had to listen.

It brought a smile to my face...

...and a tear to my eye.

His story/his version of the song (in this link here) and it's inspiration is tender and sweet and about the connect to music and the heart between him and his little girl.

This video version of the song is for my Sarah. I love you, baby!

Check out his music of "Pachelbel's Canon in D Meets U2." Very cool...now I want a do-over for the song that Kelly's walks down the aisle to at our wedding...

(bu to Kiel K)

Dysfunctional Ramblings

2011-03-20T22:52:00.003-04:00

I'm not quite ready to move. Thought I was, but...

I was thinking over this thread and am going to wonder "out loud" with you all. We are all in this place together like it or not. We have a part to play, a script to speak.

I wonder if we've become unsafe to each other. Time and distance can dull our hearts to trust and empathize with each other. I've known that to be true in my journey, but it's become more real for me with us, too.

I wonder if we've become judgmental in how we view each other: how we follow Jesus, how we parent our kids, how we handle our marriages. Judgment puts me in a position where I draw lines that communicate I'm better than you, I'm right and you're wrong, and somehow my shit don't stink.

I wonder if we have some unconfessed sin in our life towards each other that keeps us from living authentically. This one is working on me, I must confess. Still trying to unearth what God wants to reveal to me here.

I wonder if we have some unshared hurt, pain, wound, pivotal piece of our story that no one else knows about (save our spouse) that keeps us from drawing close to each other. And even if we've shared those issues with someone else do we feel like we've truly been heard.

I wonder if resentment, bitterness, jealousy, etc. blocks our paths of truly being connected to each other.

I wonder if we don't like what the other has become. Have we placed some internal or external expectation on one another as to what we should have become? And in those expectations have we fallen short of what we thought you should be or do?

I wonder if we will ever have the courage and humility to listen to each other, share with each other, comfort each other, apologize to each other, speak truth in love to each other (outside of Facebook).

And, lastly, I wonder with you (reluctantly) this...where is Jesus in all of this? Is he leading you, me, us? Or is he here, but standing back waiting for us to acknowledge his presence with us in this mire? Are we praying for each other? I'll be honest...I haven't been until now. We might even have to start praying for each other as...dare I say...enemies? If that's the only command that will get us to pray for us...I say yes. I wonder what some outsiders who know us and love us would say if we brought them in to look, listen, and share with us their insights?

No need to respond. This is just me writing some thoughts down for myself, but also for you and since this pertains to us and our future, I share it with you as well. Just thought I'd share it with you.

Now I might be ready to move on. Maybe...

On the Rise?

2011-02-08T21:13:00.002-05:00

This was one of my favorite commercials from the Super Bowl...

But...

30 Days Homeless

2011-01-30T18:14:00.003-05:00

Since I haven't been blogging consistently for 1.5+ years, I miss opportunities to highlight some really cool things that cross my path, make me think, challenge my living, etc. I really should have highlighted this earlier in the month, but just wasn't thinking that way. Shame on me. Better late than never?

Anywho, the church we attend has been highlighting this month a pastors pledge and passion to bring awareness to the plight of the homeless here in Dayton. Ryan Riddell is bringing light to a very dark place and giving names to those men and women who live on the streets of the city I live in. He is doing this by living homeless himself for 30 days in the month of January. Some really powerful stuff as he brings the homeless statistics to life by interacting with the very people these numbers represent.

You can follow Ryan and his buddy's journey at www.30dayshomeless.tv by watching video journals, interviews, and sketch work art. It's pretty radical and powerful stuff. I'm not sure what to do with it yet. We are tapped in regards to where/how much we give. Is there a time element that God wants me to give away? Is there a relational component that he's asking me to invest in? Is there a prayer piece that he's calling me to partake in? Something else?

I wonder what is going on in your city to bring to light a very dark, depressing, and desperate world. Is your church doing something? Is your small group reaching out? Are you engaging the issue spiritually and practically and financially?

I know for me this is an issue/these are a people that sometimes I'd like to wish did not exist. It's a scary place to enter into with the violence, drug use, and mental health issues. Plus sometimes it doesn't fit my "pull yourself up by your boot straps or self-reliant" cultural/political ideologies.

It wrecks me. Jesus wrecks me.

What Keeps You Working Where You Work?

2011-01-24T21:55:00.003-05:00

This is one of my favorite articles in the year. It's about the best companies to work for in America as rated by employees. I've been reading this article for about 4-5 years now.

But this year an employee quote really got me. Got me thinking. Got me wondering. Got me looking (not for another job or employer). Got me listening. Here's the quote:

"People stay at SAS in large part because they are happy, but to dig a little deeper, I would argue that people don't leave SAS because they feel regarded — seen, attended to and cared for. I have stayed for that reason, and love what I do for that reason."

People don't leave...they feel regarded. Seen. Attended to. Cared for.

Wow...that is deep...vocationally, emotionally, communally, and spiritually deep. It speaks of value both for the individual and to the team. It speaks of value that who I am and what I do matter to the company, to the culture, and to the coin (or bottom line).

You can hate what you do even though you love what you do because you are not valued. It doesn't mean you don't become a slacker and not work hard or do the right thing. Even though your boss (bosses) is an ass, egotistical, aloof, etc. can play a HUGE part in what you feel about what you do that doesn't mean you pass that on to your staff, students, clients, and/or team.

But it's a reality that how we value people matters...and not just with words, but with some jack/perks/schwag/etc that is creative, thoughtful, and intentional. This article is filled with all sorts of value-added perks that make people feel regarded and, thus, love doing what they love doing, simply like doing or maybe even hate doing.

Makes me what want to lead, serve, and be apart of creating a culture of seeing, attending, and caring for those that work for me and with me. Makes me wonder what I'm doing to make that happen right now in the school in which I work. Makes me what to take account of my work/ministry culture by asking and listening to the heart of those in the trenches with me.

What Living Life Together Should Look Like

2011-01-17T20:11:00.004-05:00

Love this story. Brings tears to my eyes. Did you see it? If not go here and check out the full length article from Time via Yahoo!. A Southwest Airline pilot teaches us so much and modeled for us what Martin Luther King Jr. meant when he said, "It's always the right time to do the right thing."

Here is part of the story that I just just grabs me by the collar and says, "This is what living in community is supposed to look like! This is what friendship is supposed to look like! This is what leadership is supposed to look like!"

"According to Nancy, he struggled to hold back tears as he pleaded with TSA and Southwest Airlines staff to fast-track him through the lines that were moving like molasses. Even though missing his flight could mean missing a final chance to see his grandson, no one seemed to care.

Too much was at stake to simply roll over and cry. When he finally cleared security - several minutes after his flight's planned departure - he grabbed his computer bag, shoes and belt, and ran to his terminal wearing only his socks. The pilot and the gate agent were waiting for him.

"Are you Mark? We held the plane for you and we're so sorry about the loss of your grandson," the pilot reportedly said. "They can't go anywhere without me and I wasn't going anywhere without you. Now relax. We'll get you there. And again, I'm so sorry."

For the Rev. Martin Luther King...SING!

2011-01-17T14:03:00.001-05:00

The Original Music Video

Advent and To Know You to Know Me

2010-12-24T14:43:00.006-05:00

Christer. Is that you...attend church only on Christmas and Easter? If so, I get it. The Church typically hasn't been a real safe place for people asking spiritual questions, seeking spiritual direction, and looking for the source of true spirituality. I would hope that's changing, but still doesn't make it easy to find?

So have you found a place in which to experience it? Have you found somebody/ies with whom to experience it? If not, go to the church on the corner of your neighborhood, find a place that has multiple services and attend one, ask a friend that you know goes to church if you can tag along, ask a friend that you know who might want to tag along....but go. Because I believe the truth of the story, the message of the narrative, the centerpiece of this historical event is something you should see, hear, experience, get to know...for God so loved the world that He gave His son to you, to me, to the world to know, to love, and to follow to the way peace, hope, love and life.

Here are two videos to spur some thought and maybe move you to place of seeing, hearing, and experiencing the meaning of Advent: To know You because You know me.

Christmas Mystery from DanStevers.com on Vimeo.

Advent. from Spirit Juice Studios on Vimeo.

Advent and the Wait and the Watching

2010-12-21T00:27:00.002-05:00

Christmas. It's a season of watchfulness. Watching for sales and deals. People watching at the mall. Watching which checkout line will go fastest. Present watching to see how many and what size will end up under the tree.

It's also a time of watching family watching...who is coming over for Christmas dinner? Personal watching...how will I handle the stress of the holiday season again? Spiritual watching...is there something more than the go-go-go and get-get-get of Christmas?

Lastly, it's a time of advent watching. Angels and shepherds? Wise men and stars? A baby and a barn? What is God showing us? What is he point to? What is He asking me to look for and at? What will change? How will I act on what I see?

May this advent liturgy video again invite us to go a little deeper as to the part God is inviting me to watch in the nativity narrative.

Advent and the Awaiting the Christ Child

2010-12-19T17:28:00.004-05:00

What are you waiting for this Christmas season? Santa? Family? Presents? Hope? Peace? Meaning? Wonder? Beauty? Healing? Relief?

What about a child...the Child? May this little video, it's message, music, and images draw you to place of reflection where you see and sense what Christmas is all about.

Digital Story of the Nativity

2010-12-16T15:51:00.004-05:00

Super creative telling of the nativity story through a visual medium. The use of online tools and apps is outstanding.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

The Cost of a College Education

2010-12-16T12:29:00.001-05:00

Some interesting stats and figures on the rising cost of a college education.

Mint.com Personal Finances

Ummm...Yeah

2010-12-10T22:27:00.002-05:00

This is going be good...really good.

Amazing New Band - Mumford & Sons

2010-12-03T22:46:00.006-05:00

This newly discovered band out of the indie folk scene in England, Mumford & Sons, has real potential to be one of the coolest bands I've heard in a long, long, long time. Different style. Quality musicians. Amazing lyrics. That = trifecta. Here is the video and lyrics for their song, The Cave. Stellar.

Lyrics:

It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand

So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

Facebook Killed Our Christmas Tradition

2010-11-14T17:58:00.004-05:00

And I'm totally OK with it.

For 15 years Kelly and I have faithfully put out an annual Christmas card/letter for family and friends across the country. It was for full of the usual suspects: highlights in our marriage, highlights of kids lives, travels we took, scripture that captivates our imagination for the Advent season, etc. As the years went on the letters got shorter. First they were front and back (how does a young married couple fill front and back of a letter...seriously!). Then they we had kids and went to front side only letters (seriously...if you write more than one side you are either full of yourself and/or you have way too much time on your hands. Plus, I just have that kind of time any more to read your 9 point font anthology. Sorry). Then over the last 3-4 years we've gone to a pithy/snarky quarter sheet note sent with cheap (albeit nice) clearance card and family pic.

Which leads me to now.

Unless you live in a cave or your name is Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, money is tight for your average family. So last year we passed on the Christmas card/letter/pic to save some jack. Now if I'm honest a little part of me was sad because the Christmas card is tradition. And I love traditional stuff around the holiday season. But we had to be honest, the money we were shelling out for approximately 100 cards - $0.44/stamp, $1-2/box of clearance cards x5, $0.07/8/family pic, plus paper, toner/ink, time - and, well, I was never good at math, but that's a little chunk of change. So last year we passed to save some denero.

Enter Facebook.

Kelly and I have been on Facebook for a long time (I started back in 2004...I think). And you see, over the years more and more of our family and friends have joined that wacky little online social network. As more and more of them joined, the better were able to re-connect, stay in-touch, and get updates in both word and picture.

As Kelly and I talked about "to Christmas card or not" this year, I simply said, "We don't need to. Facebook killed our Christmas card and I'm totally OK with it." We don't need that annual update any more because we get weekly, daily, and hourly updates from many of our friends and family. We see your kids, your art, and your vacations. We read your likes, dislikes, and randomness. We hear your joy, pain, happiness, sadness, frustration and love. We even know what you need for your farm, mob, and top 5 lists.

So if you're bummed you won't be getting a Christmas card/letter/pic from us...sorry. If that means we won't get from you then (I know how the game is played), it's all good. We'll all save a little moolah. Save a few trees. We can all thank or blame Facebook then.

And I'm totally OK with that.

Pigskin Weekends

2010-10-24T14:47:00.003-04:00

Huskers got a big win yesterday over OK State. Oklahoma got beat by my dad's alma mater, Mizzou. Notre Dame got crushed by Navy. And the NFL and fantasy football today

There is nothing like a little football on the weekend in the fall!

Go-Be-Do Weekends

2010-10-03T22:40:00.005-04:00

One of the knocks against the Church is that we are notoriously bad at making a tangible difference in the communities where we live and worship. We do a lot of preaching, teaching, counseling, weddings, funerals, music, potlucks, etc for the insider (those that go to church). We even send people around the world to share the good news that that the God of the universe loves them so much that he sent His only Son to show them the way of life and love. However, what we don't do is a lot of important things that show and share that love with those people that Jesus says are our actual neighbors in the communities we live.

And so it's cool to know of churches who say that the value of showing God's love to our neighbor is so important that we are willing to close our doors for the weekend and go be the go be the Church by doing the work of Jesus by loving and serving our neighbor. Literally the church is closed on Saturday/Sunday and projects are set up with community organizations (old folks homes, special needs soccer leagues, soup kitchens, food pantries, home projects for the poor, etc) and people sign up and go. The play "bedside Baptist" in the morning and then go do in the afternoon.

It's really cool.

So Kelly, Sarah, Parker and I went to Oak Grove Park in Centerville and served with about 50+ other volunteers from Living Hope (the church we go to), UD student and other caring people from the community. What did we do? We played soccer with autistic and MRDD kids from the south Dayton area. They play in the TOPSoccer league that has age appropriate teams for kids with ages ranging from 4 years old to adults. We had a blast partnering one on one with Kyle and Reuben. It was fun watching Sarah and Parker love these two little boys by encouraging them on to kick the ball and run fast. Parker even helped me look for geese with Reuben because Reuben so badly wanted them to fly over our heads.

It was really cool.

So big ups to Living Hope Community Church for their "Don't go to church, Be the church" weekend. And big ups to Grace Community Church for their Weekend of Service coming up the first weekend in November. If you are pastor, church leader, or lay person who is reading this and thinking that this is really cool and maybe your church would think this is really cool, too. I wouldn't hesitate to email, call, or drop by these churches to get a blueprint for this kind of weekend.

It really makes me think of what else I could be doing to be the hands and feet of Jesus sharing his life and love in tangible ways in my community with my neighbor. I wonder what more I could be doing in my culdesac for and with my actual neighbors. I have so much more to learn (and put into practice) about loving/serving my neighbor.

So cool to go, be, and do church.

A History of Rap

2010-09-30T23:24:00.006-04:00

Don't care what you think of rap/hip-hop (I'm a casual/trendy fan at best), but this is classic. It's what makes the internets great...thanks, Al Gore.

Here's the track list:

Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight"
Run-DMC, "Peter Piper"
Beastie Boys, "Paul Revere"
A Tribe Called Quest, "Award Tour"
Digital Underground, "The Humpty Dance"
Snoop Dogg feat. Dr. Dre, "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang"
Tupac Shakur, "California Love"
The Notorious B.I.G., "Juicy"
The Roots, "The Seed"
Eminem, "My Name Is"
Missy Elliott, "Work It"
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)"
T.I. feat. Rihanna, "Live Your Life"
Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx, "Gold Digger"
Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind"

Calling Out or Creating Division

2010-09-29T22:21:00.005-04:00

I've recently started a conversation that I sensed God calling me to have with a local pastor here in Dayton who is a godly man, devoted husband/father, diligent leader, and all-around good guy. He's a pastor who loves his congregation and been with them through good and bad times. He is gracious and humble, but not willing to back down from challenging his church to deeper waters. Which leads me to the nudge I got from God...

...Twice in two months I heard him call out other churches/pastors in the area in front of his congregation for being something other than what he thought those local churches and it's leaders should be doing to advance the Gospel in south Dayton. They came across as something other that what a pastor should be doing. It seemed to me that he was talking negatively about other churches So I followed a nudge that I sense was from God to talk to him about these two incidences.

We had a healthy conversation about my thoughts, concerns and cautions about calling out other churches in the area and their dysfunction especially in front of the congregation. He was thoughtful and open to what I had to say and the dialog continues to take place. Really good stuff.

Here's my question: Is it healthy for the pastor of a church to call out local churches and pastors (in front of his own congregation and specifically, but generally) when those churches don't meet up to his understanding of our Gospel mandate and fulfillment of the Great Commission? Is he right in calling out their dysfunction in front of the congregation? What is the difference between that and others calling out religiosity of the day that seems to steal away from the passion and purpose of Jesus' life and calling to his followers? Does this create division or bring health and unity to the Body?

I'm curious and open to your insight. Your perspective would be appreciated. Thanks!

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2010-09-27T23:12:00.001-04:00

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Totally Crazy Cool Idea...

2010-09-26T19:38:00.005-04:00

...are you with me?!

I guess I should tell the idea. Below you will find the email I sent to my family sharing my crazy, cool idea and thought I'd share it with you!

"Fam (and now friends and possibly strangers),

I was jacking around online late last night after the Colts game. I was thinking about this coming Xmas, gifts, money, same old same old stuff blah blah blah. Then because of my ADD...squirrel!...I started bumping around Kiva.org, a micro-financing organization that puts regular people's money with poor business women/men, organizations, and students from mostly 3rd world and underdeveloped countries looking for financing for their fledgling business or college education. It's really an amazing organization. I started thinking how God might use our little family to help finance some of these amazing people looking for help.

Then, again, because of my ADD...ooo, shiny object!...I started thinking about Tom's Shoes. That's the company that gives one pair of shoes away free to the poor for every pair of shoes sold. Such a cool, visionary idea. So I was thinking and talking to God and then, BAM, I got THE idea...Project 141 (read like one for one...like the idea behind Tom's Shoes). [name of the cause is still a work in progress, but 141 will be at the core of it].

Cut to the chase...

The idea is this: for every dollar we spend at Christmas on anyone (kids, family, friends, etc) Kelly, Sarah, Parker and I will put a dollar in our Kiva account to finance someone's dream to provide a more secure life for them, their family, and their community.

The question is this: will you join this slice of the Rings fam in this crazy cool idea? Think about it. Pray about it. Talk about it as a fam. Maybe it's not 1 for 1, but another percentage or fixed amount. But still, please consider it.

The grace is this: there are absolutely NO expectations. No matter how cool I think it would be as an entire family to finance 1, 2, 3 or more entrepreneurs in some developing country, if it's not for you, it's not for you. I totally get that. I just felt like God was saying, "Just make the ask." I know budgets are tight. Each family has their own family traditions and expectations for Xmas. I know that. But the ask was part of the idea. And it's all good...I really mean that (except for Marcie and Don - ministry is where the benjamins are at - make it rain! haha!). You all do so much for the Kingdom...it's crazy. So cool. But I still had to ask and invite.

The challenge is this: if you decide to come on board the crazy, cool, ADD ride of Project 141 (or some working variant of that name), you have to talk with two other families whether they be spiritual, blood, small group, neighbor, business/work, youth ministry, etc about accepting the challenge and doing something like this in their family or within your small group or ministry. We are going to share the idea with our small group (4 other families right there).

Hopefully this makes sense. If it doesn't just ask. I know it's a totally random email to get in the middle of September, but as Jesus and Bono say, "He moves in mysterious ways!"

Grace and peace,

Seth"

So that is what I wrote to my family and, in essence, to you. If you are crazy enough to join, leave a comment (or if you are reading this on Facebook, leave me a message or post something on my wall or send me an email) on how I can get you the link to our team on Kiva (right now it will be Team 141 until we figure out the name things...if you have ideas, I'd love to hear 'em!).

Video Beauty

2010-08-15T23:07:00.003-04:00

Beauty and poetry come in many forms. Video is not one that usually heads that list. This short piece might begin to change that.

(bu to Curtis H. via Twitter)

Every Life Has A Story

2010-07-06T19:20:00.002-04:00

I don't care who you are, what you do, where you work, how you pay the bills, what your passions are, or how you are looking to make a difference, leave a legacy or have an impact...this video speaks to the heart of the matter: people matter. Their stories matter. Their lives matter.

So whether you are in sales, customer service, accounting, youth ministry, education, counseling, medicine, social justice, or politics, when you look across the proverbial table do you a number, stat, data, client, bottom line, AYP, or your job OR do you see a heart, mind, body, soul, and story that was created uniquely by Love?

May this recalibrate our vision of who we are, what we do, and who we encounter, know, and serve.

(bu to Dave via Twitter)

The Difference 6 Months Can Make

2010-04-25T10:33:00.005-04:00

I'm nearly at the end of my first unofficial official sabbatical. I wasn't given paid leave by my educational institution. I wasn't told it's time to rest and refresh my heart, mind, and soul by the Church. Nope. I simply knew it was time to take a step back from the "official", organized church experience and garner a new perspective from the heart of God.

It all started back at the end of July. I was finishing up my second masters degree at the University of Dayton and was recently hired by a high school on the west side of Cincinnati to be a school counselor. I was also the part-time interim youth pastor at a local church here in south Dayton. Lots going on. I needed some time away to gather my thoughts, seek some direction, and process what God was up to in my life.

So with the blessing of my wife, I flew to San Diego to spend some time with a couple of great friends and mentors and their families to sort through through my soul (Thanks, Ed/Linda and Marko/Jeannie!).

After some conversations and much prayer about taking a sabbatical from church, I took the unconventional step of faith into this new place. And it's been good, very good, for me.

Here are a few of quick learnings and healings:

1. God has been so good to me. Specifically for me in this season that has practically translated into this deep sense that He is being very patient with me and very gracious. Who walks away from "the bride of Christ" and feels like the Groom is saying, "Go for it. It's all good. In fact, I'll be right there with you loving my time with you."?

2. The Church is a wonderful people and place. I'm excited about re-entering the stream of community that is so vital to me (and the rest of us for that matter) as we live life on the mountain tops, valley bottoms, and every terrain in between. I'm excited about using my life, experiences, gifts, and faith to love and lead people to Jesus.

3. I find myself spiritually healthier as I experience the family of God that gathers in formal and informal settings. What does that mean? I find myself less cynical, critical, and even bitter at times as I walk with the broken people of God and the organism charged with going into all the earth to join with the active work of God in redeeming a lost and broken world. Because I feel I have been judged harshly in my work for God, I was turning around judging the work of the Church more harshly, too. I sense that God has been healing that area in subtle and profound ways...grace. And I was in turn giving that grace back to the people and place that hurt me...grace. Grace received. Grace given away.

There is so much more and I am slowly understanding it. Patiently. Graciously. Courageously.

My family (Kelly/kids, immediate family/parents/bros/sis) has been great...thanks! Some key friends here in Dayton and around the country have been good for me, too, asking questions, pushing my thinking, and praying for the whole of me. Thanks!

I know more stuff will rise to the surface of my life in the next six months and beyond - healthy and unhealthy. And because of this intentional sabbatical, I am better prepared to receive that stuff (whatever that "stuff" is), work with it alongside Jesus, and be transformed.

FIFA World Cup Commercials

2010-04-23T20:10:00.002-04:00

I loved playing soccer growing up. Played for almost 10 years. But as I got older, I grew a little cold to the game I played for so long. Often I took the stance of my favorite radio sports personality, Jim Rome, who says "soccer is a only a reason to riot".

With that being said, my heart has been thawing as I watch the 75th NFL Draft on ESPN. They have been running these brilliant adds marketing the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. They have used voice over work from Bono and the music of his band, U2, in the commercials. They are awesome.

Makes me wanna watch soccer again. Here a couple of my favorites for you viewing pleasure:

Post Easter Humpday Reminder

2010-04-07T16:08:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder to live in light of this game changing truth and event. Just because Easter is "over", doesn't mean we forget it and stop living in light of it.

Hosanna!

(bu to Marko)

What If...

2010-04-06T10:36:00.002-04:00

You know they say...you can take the man out of youth ministry, but you can't take the youth ministry out of the man. It's really true. I've been out of youth ministry for almost 6 months, but yet find myself thinking about nearly everyday. Not sure why. Regret? Guilt? Meditation? Future planning? Who knows.

One of the things I was thinking about the other day while I was walking the dog (real dog not yo-yo) was events/programming. Worship services vs outreach events and environments of faith vs environments of show.

If we are going to help our students live real, authentic, intentional lives in the real world, I think we need to help them live by faith. Times/places in their lives where they trust God with who they are, what He cares about, and how that intersects to impact people with the gospel.

Faith that pushes them to live in community with deeply caring and committed people who will walk with us in those scary places and during those scary times.

Faith that invites us to know ourselves better: how God has made us to point people to Jesus and what experiences God has allowed to go through in order to share the story of God in our lives (and other's lives).

Faith that causes us to lean into God and love him and others by what we do: inviting others to understand God and his gospel more clearly, share with others our story and God story and how they can experience amazing grace, caring for others by meeting their physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs even when we don't think we have the skills, experience, or knowledge how to.

How do we help our students live in faith filled ways? What environments are best suited for helping our students trust God in his kingdom theater? How do we hinder our students/kids from living lives of faith?

Let's commit to helping our kids understand their gifts, wiring, and passions. Let's help our kids use their gifts, wiring, and passions to advance the kingdom in their world. Let's help our students engage their friends, culture, and world in relational ways that tell others about life and love of Jesus. Let's create environments - small/big and/or showy/simple - that helps students join in and see God show up.

John Mayer's "Free Falling"

2010-04-02T11:20:00.004-04:00

Tom Petty's "Free Falling" is an all-time favorite of mine. But this John Mayer version is better than the original IMHO. I know Mayer can be one of those love/hate or hot/cold kind of artists, but I think you have to admit this pretty amazing. This cover is right up there with other great covers like Alien Ant Farm and their take on "Smooth Criminal".

(bu to Graham)

Blow Us Away

2010-04-02T11:07:00.002-04:00

Think the world could be better, greater, kinder, or more beautiful. How about more creative, more teachable, or more inspiring? Listen to this young lady and ask yourself, "Maybe being childish is part of the answer and solutions."

I love the line at the back end of the presentation that basically calls adults, mentors, teachers, youth workers, and youth pastors to "create environments where kids can grow up and blow us away." Love that idea!

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

Tron Legacy

2010-03-10T20:55:00.001-05:00

The first Tron was great. The second Tron looks epic!

Bad Day? Watch This!

2010-03-02T16:36:00.008-05:00

This will most assuredly put a smile on your face no matter the kind of day you had.

The song is "This Too Shall Pass".

These guys are sick! I wish I had an a fraction of the creativity they do...some of the most original videos on this planet. This one is no exception! Watch the video below first and then go here to see an alternate version of the song. I love that they do a lot of their videos in one take with one camera.

And if you have nothing better to do (and haven't seen it already), here is the video that started it all for OK Go...the best!

(bu to Curtis H. via Twitter)

The Downside of Talent

2010-02-14T09:56:00.004-05:00

Talent. We all have one or some. We love it when we get to use them. We enjoy the praise that comes when others notice ours. We get frustrated when we don't get to use them.

We wish we had others. We admire those who have different ones than ours. We enjoy watching others use their.

At the end of the day, you and I will be held accountable for how we use them whether we believe that will be by our boss and/or our Maker in heaven. That will come at a review or a termination or a pay raise. Or at that face-to-face meeting we have have with God upon entering his eternal presence in heaven when we says, "Well done, good and faithful servant," or "You wicked and lazy servant!" (Matthew 25:14-30)

I started reflecting on this truth when I recently read an article about Michael Vick's reflection on his time playing football in Atlanta. He looks back with regret on his time in there because he was "complacent, lazy and settled for mediocrity." He relied on his legs - his talents - to get him by and it cost him, that organization and the fans.

Then this morning I read this article about Apolo Ohno and his run at being the most decorated winter Olympic athlete ever. It states how early in his career, Ohno, won on pure talent and sheer speed that at times won him victories, but at other times cost him gold medals. The article goes on to say what got him to the medal stand last night was not just his talent, but his willingness to prepare.

God is using both of these to convict, grow and guide me. I think for most of my vocational life, I have been relying on talent and living off the hype as a can't miss success with students.

Now don't get me wrong, I have worked hard and long hours. But that is very different than preparing in the little (but big) ways to get the "biggest return" on my talent especially when I was pursuing my dream of serving as a youth pastor. You see the downside of talent is I/we end up relying on it at the expense of not preparing well, listening to others, and, ultimately, not walking by faith in the area of work.

I don't know if I'll be back in full-time vocational ministry ever again, but through lots of personal reflection, I acknowledge like Vick, I have dropped the ball with my talent. But I hope live and lead out the second half of my career with the will to prepare and humility to seek God and trust him whether it be in education, ministry, or somewhere else so as to squeeze the most I can out of what He has graciously given me.

So the question I have for you: how have you been affected by the downside of talent? Where have you cut you or other short because you relied solely on talent and not the other "little" things to maximize what God has given you?

Valentine's Day Chance

2010-02-10T12:11:00.003-05:00

For all my friends out there looking for love, wondering if Mr. or Ms. Right is out there, and not looking forward to another Valentine's Day, I give you hope...in a funny sort of way.

Worth, Value, and the Problem of Words

2010-02-09T12:24:00.002-05:00

One of the cool things I get to do in my job is meet with students and their families to talk about life after high school. We gather together around the round table in my office for me to listen to their hopes and dreams, ask questions about who they are and what they are passionate about, and offer some insight and support to the process of figuring out this huge time of transition.

A tool we we use to help juniors figure out where they are at in relation to college readiness is a standardized test called the PSAT. It helps student and parents gauge what areas they doing well in, what areas need work, and how improve in those areas both in the classroom and on the test. In the midst of these conversations, I notice students and many times "feel" students equating worth and value to the scores on this (and other) test, as well as, grades, GPA, and class rank.

On a couple of occasions, I have had to halt the meeting for a redefining of personal worth and refocusing of why they are valuable. You see students (especially high achieving girls, I've noticed) start tearing up when they see their test score that might not meet their expectations, not high enough for college they are looking at, and be where their other friends are scoring. When I stop and ask what they are feeling, the answers of each student can be summed up in one phrase: "I'm not good enough."

Their value is so tied up in the personal, family, and institutional expectations that are project on them that they begin to define their own value and worth based on this educational data. It's so sad. Thus, the "timeout" to redefine self-worth/personal value.

I've struggled not with having these conversations (they are priceless and powerful), but with using the words worth and value to define how a person "measures up". So I've reworking the word "significance" into my vocabulary during these important meetings.

I think significance is ab better word But should I throw out the baby with the bath water and not use worth and value? The reason I ask, is because worth and value have the connotations of being linked with money, goods, services, and stuff. All the things that humanity uses to determine their place in this world (thanks, Michael W. Smith). If we are going to get people and especially students to think of themselves differently, I wonder if a change in vocabulary is in order.

Just some thoughts. What do you think?

Recognizing My Idols

2010-02-09T10:55:00.003-05:00

I'm realizing more and more that I'm an idolizing person. I love me my idols. Now I don't say that with pride, but more with a sense of "Dang it...I don't want these..I don't want this to be me."

What's ironic is that we live in an country that glamorizes, even promotes having idols. Heck, we have a hugely popular reality show called, American Idol, don't we? It's hard for us, for me, to not have idols. And the rub is that God calls us to have no persons, things, stuff, gadgets, gizmos, money, etc. that supplants Him as the priority, that which satisfies our soul.

And so over the last few days, God's been working on me in a couple of areas. I haven't quite finished processing these issues in these areas, but here are some thoughts:

Emotional Arena: I've settled for being OK. I've worked towards health (personal retreat to SD, CA, organized church sabbatical, commitment to walk with God through times of quiet, serving my co-workers, praying for my neighbors, etc), but for some reason I still feel like it's OK to sometimes (maybe even lots of times) settle for personal frustration and disappointment with my life and with others. That's an idol I need to deal with.

Family Arena: This one hurts, but it flows from the personal arena. In light of some of my disappointment/frustration with myself (for whatever reason), I have not been very engaging with my family relationally, emotionally, and spiritually. I've made the choice to be pseudo-engaged by working on our finances claiming (defending/justifying to myself) that it is THE priority for our family in this current season. It's not good. I've got to enter the room of Grace and allow God to love and heal. I've got to acknowledge to myself, Kelly, Sarah, and Parker that I've fallen short by not giving them the best, healthiest me that they deserve.

Stuff Arena: Computer, financial managing (watch dogging), Facebook, music and others. I've got to set some boundaries that give me the space to engage God, my family, and my heart in meaningful ways. My friend, Charlie, recently talked about that with Facebook.

These are some of my idols that God is saying needs reorganizing, reprioritizing, and possibly even eliminating. I'm stoked I'm not going to be doing this solo. Jesus is there saying, "Together. You and me, son. Never alone. Me, you, and my all sufficient grace." My family will be helping me, too.

So...In light of that, I had better jump off the computer, stop blogging, quit idolizing myself and the gadgets that help me process/communicate and get my family outside for some serious play time, memory making, and laughfest on this awesome snow day!

Thanks, Jesus, for reminding me of my weak tendency to pursue and prioritize things that are not You. You grace is a healing balm that gives me hope and courage to reset and move past my idols. You and your grace are enough! Amen.

Championship Sunday - Head vs Heart

2010-01-24T12:46:00.004-05:00

It's a good day to be a football fan, particularly a NFL football fan. Colts vs Jets. Saints vs Vikings. All sorts of great match-ups, story lines, and players/coaches are taking place today. I can't wait to watch.

The first game of the day is the one my heart is most into. Having lived in Indy for 4 years, I will be rooting for the Colts. They do have the better team overall and should win. But the J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets! are confident, hot and on a roll. That worries me a bit. However, Colts have the most cerebral quarterback of his generation (along with made physical skills to back it up): Peyton Manning. He's already seen this defense once playing at it's best...huge advantage for Peyton. So at the end of the day, I'm going with my head based on his football head...the Colts. I'll miss you Rex Ryan and your awesome press conferences.

Second game of the day is much tougher to pick. I could go into all sorts of reasons for picking the Vikes or the Saints. But I am not going to bore you. So I am picking with my heart on this one. I'm hoping for the Saints. That team wants this. That city needs this. I think it would be awesome if they got to the Super Bowl. Nothing against Favre and the men in purple, but this is the feel good story that I want to see and hear about for the next two weeks. So Saints it is. Maybe you can make another run at it next year Brett. Or maybe not. Or maybe. Or...

Colts vs Saints in the Superbowl. Head vs Heart. Here's to some great games!

Preying on the Poor

2010-01-21T16:54:00.002-05:00

I believe in a free market society. I believe that capitalism works. But this makes me wish I hadn't voted to support "advance check" businesses in my city and community.

budget planner – Mint.com

Santa vs the Current Fiscal Policies

2010-01-19T17:31:00.002-05:00

So close it's not even funny albeit a little scary.

I Have A Dream

2010-01-18T10:17:00.002-05:00

I've probably watched this 50 times in my life for one reason or another. It never grows old. Never gets tired. Never ceases to inspire me. It never stops capturing my imagination about social justice and racial reconciliation.

I'm in the Game. Are you?

2010-01-14T20:01:00.004-05:00

I made a difference in the world and so can you!

I made a donation to World Vision to help someone overcome poverty and to help the relief effort in Haiti. It was easy to find the right donation opportunity with over 100 ways to give. It only takes a few minutes to make a difference in our world, specifically Haiti. I encourage you to go experience it for yourself today!

Simply click on the link below to see what you can do to help a child or family in need.

www.worldvision.org

This hits home for our family because we sponsor a child in the Dominican Republic, the other country that shares the same island as Haiti. The ripple effects are huge there, as well. But as we have been praying for the people of Haiti, as well as, the worker helping in the relief efforts, we knew we had to get in the game.

So as I have been praying, I knew I couldn't go, but I knew we could give. Trust me when I say the budget in the Rings house is tight. Every penny matters in this season of life. But we just had to get in the game in a tangible way. I am so glad we did. It matters for what it models to my kids to be apart of the poor and hurting. It matters to the Kingdom of God as we participate in God's plan of mercy and compassion. It matters to the people of Haiti where every dollar saves a life, provides food, and helps in the recovery/rebuilding effort.

So what will you do this in this time of devastation? Stay on bench or get in the game?

What Are the Outcomes

2010-01-10T10:45:00.003-05:00

This gave me a chuckle this morning, as well as giving me some things to ponder...

Movie Trailers Rock

2009-12-29T20:37:00.002-05:00

I'm just going to admit it: I LOVE movie trailers. I like 'em almost as much as I like the movies themselves. I hate missing movie previews in the theater. In fact, if I feel like I am going to miss previews, I try and find another movie time later in the day or another day all together so I don't miss previews. Kelly can attest to it...I'll probably be late for my own funeral, but I will NEVER be late for previews at a movie!

With that being said, when I saw this Yahoo! link to the most viewed movie trailers of 2009, I had to see it. But this movie trailer was the best and I TOTALLY missed it this year. How?! How did I miss the trailer AND the movie? Crazy. Needless to say, I am putting it at the top of my Netflix queue. Enjoy!

O Holy Night

2009-12-24T22:19:00.003-05:00

Is there a more anticipated night in all the earth than the one on Christmas Eve? If there is, I can't imagine it. Kids wondering if Christmas morning will ever come. Parents wondering if there is enough time in the night to put together and wrap those last minute gifts. I pray that on this most holy and silent of nights that you and I would not forget Jesus gave up heaven for a barn and a life of poverty to show us a new way of loving, a new way of living...a trill of hope!

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Do They See What I See

2009-12-20T11:53:00.002-05:00

I dig that Christmas carol that goes "Do you hear what I hear?" Cool tune which ironically I have not heard much this Christmas season. But the one time I did hear it, I got me to think about the other senses we use: see what I see, smell what I smell (could be gross), touch what I touch (could be awkward), and taste what I taste (could be yummy).

But I began to reflect on see what I see and a connection to my kids. I began to think about what my kids see in me and how that molds and shapes their views of Jesus. Good or bad. And to be honest, I've been a little shaken by that. What a daunting responsibility.

As I have been thinking of that during this past week, I've both critical of myself (that I fall way short and will never be the "model" my kids need me to be) and challenged to embrace my inadequacy with Jesus at work within me and point them to Him.

But like the New Testament writer and apostle, Paul, I do want my kids to "follow me as I follow Christ". So I began to make a list of the things that I perceive my kids seeing in my that they might think to be true of Jesus. Then I made a list of things that I desire my kids to see in me that honest pursuits of being like Jesus.

My perceptions list: discouraged, temperamental, sad, loving, "on my own time", disengaged, critical, frustrated (even angry), and maybe somewhat loving/nuturing. That's a pretty rough list and to be honest I've been struggling the past few weeks with some depressive feelings. Maybe it's not that rough, but that is my perception at the moment. But even in good times, I don't get it right all the time and there are somethings that I do because of habit, wiring, or learned that healthy spiritually, emotionally, and, thus, parentally.

My wish list: honest, humble, brave, dependent, gentle, just, servant, diligent, gracious, engaging, and loving. That's a pretty huge list where the bar is set high and sometimes, maybe most times, I feel as though uber unattainable. But God has been reminding me that even in the dark, depressive times it's not about me trying harder, working harder. Instead, it's about trusting Him more, choosing the way/life of Jesus more, living in grace more, asking for courage more, choosing joy more, and ultimately pointing to Jesus more.

So what do Sarah, Parker, and even Kelly for that matter see in me? A deformed Jesus? A sad Jesus? A passive Jesus? Or do they see an authentic, redemptive Jesus who makes old things new, desolate places full of life, scared ones braves, and jacked up people beautiful?

Just some thoughts I need to put down where I write the truth that I am working on stuff in my life with Jesus because he's working in/on me.

How about you? What is your perception (good or bad) about what your kids or others for that matter see in you that they project to be true about Jesus? I pray for God's grace as you trust and follow him so that 1) you see Jesus for who he really is and 2) you might be able to help other see and experience an authentic life pursuant of Jesus and then hopefully an accurate (or as accurate as we can model) reality of who Jesus is.

U2 360 Tour Highlights - Unknown Caller

2009-11-10T23:01:00.001-05:00

I would pay to go see U2 again simply based on this songs live performance. My video doesn't do it justice, but it was awesome!

A New Addition to Our Family

2009-11-06T20:20:00.009-05:00

After 14 years of wanting and waiting we have finally taken the plunge into puppydom. Ever since I graduated and got a full-time school counseling gig and we got Kelly home, we have been in serious talks about getting a dog. We knew what we wanted and after weeks of just looking and waiting, we finally found the right breeder, with the right dog, at the right price, and in the right location.

So on November 1st we packed up the kids for a surprise road trip to "search for an early Christmas treasure. We meet the breeder (who amazingly cared for 11 puppies from the litter), her two kids, her mom, and two of the puppies on the IN/IL border to discover our new puppy.

Long story short...kids were stoked when the puppy exchange took place. In fact so excited that Sarah was speechless with almost a sad look because she couldn't believe this was really happening. We hung out for about an hour and got to know each other (both puppy and people) before we packed the car back up and headed home for Dayton with our new puppy...Foster (named after the Australian lager).

Foster is a very good puppy. A bit shy and timid, but that is to be expected in the environment without his brothers/sisters and with new owners. We are working on positive reinforcement to boost his confidence as we play, walk, and train. Kelly and the kids are walking him to school each and everyday and everyone loves it! He does great with new people and new dogs (he has 3 new dog friends in our cul-de-sac...they play and play and play). He loves to play in the huge pile of leave I have in the front yard.

He is doing well on potty training with just a few accidents in the first couple of days. The last couple of days I believe we are accident free. He is even going all night without getting up (we are stoked about that!). Plus he loves his kennel.

We took him to the vet who said he was healthy and had no worms so that's great. Everyone who comes in contact with him adore and who are we to disagree! They love his markings, coloring and overall look. We are grateful for such such a cool pooch!

11/21 addendum: I would be the worst son-in-law ever if I forgot to mention my favorite mom-in-law. She was a big part in tipping the scales for Kelly in favor of getting a dog when she told her how easy it would be to train and care for a dog in the fall/early winter. Thanks, Mom!

Here are a few pics from our first day together as a fam:

A Taste of Oak Hills

2009-11-03T09:42:00.002-05:00

Wow! It's been a loooong time between posts! Crazy how in some ways I really miss blogging regularly and in other ways I don't.

I need to finish my posts from the U2 concert as well as share about the new addition to the Rings family. But for now, I'll share a little news video done on the school where I work, lead, and serve. Enjoy!

The Saturday Morning Experience

2009-10-17T17:13:00.002-04:00

I remember these days so well as a kid. I am now experiencing them as a parent. Life comes full circle in some funny ways...Saturday morning cartoons is one of them.

Little Soldier Girl

2009-10-07T18:33:00.005-04:00

One of the more heart wrenching photo's I've seen in a long time. Here is a taste of the article which can be read in full here:

A family photo that shows a little girl beside her father and his fellow soldiers in uniform as they prepare to go to war has resonated well beyond the tight knit Bennethum clan.

Four-year-old Paige Bennethum really, really didn't want her daddy to go to Iraq.

So much so, that when Army Reservist Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum lined up in formation at his deployment this July, she couldn't let go.

No one had the heart to pull her away.

May you and I not simply pray for the soldiers, but also their families - wives, husbands, sons, daughters, parents - who have to live with the agony not knowing whether they will see their "daddy" ever again.

I can hardly imagine what that must be like.

U2 360 Tour Highlights - Until the End of the World

2009-10-07T18:29:00.001-04:00

Another great song. Not my favorite of the night, but still awesome!

Oprah's Flash Mob

2009-10-07T18:25:00.002-04:00

Used to be a huge Oprah fan, but have lost touch with her since she became overly political and preachy. But big ups to her staff and the Black Eyed Peas who surprised her with the HUGE flash mob on Michigan Avenue.

Does this mean flash mobs are now mainstream? You be the judge. But regardless, I still love these things.

U2 360 Tour Highlights - The Unforgettable Fire

2009-10-01T21:14:00.002-04:00

A great albeit unexpected song - The Unforgettable Fire - was on the show docket in Chicago. I was stoked!

U2 360 Tour Highlights - Vertigo

2009-09-28T22:05:00.002-04:00

Uno. Dos. Tres. Catorce! Vertigo was one of the funnest songs of the show.

U2 360 Tour Highlights - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight

2009-09-27T09:39:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite songs from the cd, No Line on the Horizon, and one of the best performances from the night of the concert...

Prayer for the Weak

2009-09-27T09:37:00.001-04:00

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

U2 360 Tour Highlights - Sunday Bloody Sunday

2009-09-24T23:00:00.002-04:00

Maybe U2's opus: Sunday Bloody Sunday from War and Live Under a Blood Red Sky. Simply one of the all-time great anthem's for any and all generations.

U2 360 Tour Highlights - Walk On

2009-09-23T20:36:00.001-04:00

One of my favorites from All That You Can't Leave Behind...

THE Most AMAZING Basketball Shot EVER!

2009-09-22T19:39:00.002-04:00

This is insane! This clip is from the third level of the stadium:

This clip is from the field level:

Read the story here from the Ball Don't Lie blog.

U2 360 Tour Highlights - One

2009-09-21T19:56:00.002-04:00

From Achtung Baby, I give you "One".

U2 360 Tour Highlights

2009-09-20T14:39:00.002-04:00

Last week on this day, I was walking Michigan Ave. in Chicago with my wife, Kelly, sister, Marcie, and sis-in-law, Toni getting psyched up for the concert that was going to take place in a few hours: U2. I got this great idea while waiting in line for concert t-shirts: why don't I video 30 secondish clips of each song that U2 plays!

Well, it was a great idea until I realized about half way through the show that I didn't have enough memory! AAAHHH. So I had to do some editing/deleting on the fly. And so what I was left with was some of my favorite snippets of the best concert I have ever seen live.

I'll be posting one clip a day until I have no more clips left to post. They are any where between 15-60 seconds long. It'll give you a glimps into my experience, the show, and where we sat in relation to the stage (the video makes it seem like we were further away than we really were. We had great seats!).

To start if off, I'll post three of the shorter clips from concert day/night:

Opening Act on Michigan Ave

Opening act was really Snow Patrol. Didn't see much of them, but they sound good.

Amazing Grace

Irish Boy

Prayer for the Weak

2009-09-20T14:36:00.002-04:00

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Musical Mecca

2009-09-12T10:30:00.004-04:00

This weekend is big deal for me. It's a long time coming.

U2.

Since I started listening to them in elementary school on mix tape made for me by my brother, Blane, with War and U2 Live Under a Blood Red Sky, I've always wanted to see these guys live. Had a chance in Denver, but had no money due to being a poor seminary student. Then I had a chance to see them in Pittsburgh, but the asinine powers-that-be at the church I pastored at wouldn't let me have the time/evening off.

But through it all I kept telling we are going to see them if it's the last thing we do, before they become a crap band (at which time I know U2 will pull their own musical plug). And so, long story short: We are going to see U2 this weekend in Chicago on their opening nights of the USA leg of the 360 Tour. Kelly, sister, sis-in-law are going, too.

I am stoked beyond belief. It will be a Beautiful Day!

I just saw this on a buddies blog...here are my top eleven favorite U2 songs:

1. Bad - The Unforgettable Fire
2. New Years Day - War
3. Running to Stand Still - The Joshua Tree
4. 40 - War
5. All Because of You - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
6. I Will Follow - Boy
7. Elevation - All That You Can't Leave Behind
8. Walk On - All That You Can't Leave Behind
9. One - Achtung Baby
10. Pride (In The Name of Love) - The Unforgettable Fire
11. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Joshua Tree

11b-z: Gloria, I Fall Down, October, Vertigo, Out of Control, Sweetest Thing, Grace, Mysterious Ways, Trying to Throw Your Arms Around The World, Vertigo, Where the Streets Have No Name, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Hawkmoon 269, When Love Comes To Town, Surrender, Desire, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own...

How about you? Got 1 or 10 favorite U2 songs or albums?

Michael Jackson Remix

2009-09-12T10:27:00.003-04:00

This is a pretty cool remix/video edit of a one man acapella vocal band performing some Jacko stuff.

Michael Jackson remix @ Yahoo! Video

Long Time No Post

2009-09-12T10:22:00.002-04:00

Wow! It has been a long time between posts. New job, another part-time job, and two hour commute puts on a damper on some things I really enjoy...blogging being one of them. With that being said I've had to put some things on the back burner and Held Up High falls into that list.

So here we go with some quick hits about stuff I'm doing and enjoying. I'll post some picks later this week or next of my growing family, thoughts on my trip to California, and reflections on my new job as a school counselor.

Grace and peace to you and yours!

Prayer of the Weak

2009-08-23T16:18:00.000-04:00

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I'd Rather Have Jesus

2009-08-18T22:01:00.008-04:00

I'm going to admit something here that I have never shared with anyone else other than my wife. Ready? Here it is:

I'm a closet Gaither music fan.

There I said it. It's out there. If it's on PBS, TBS, Mtv, VH1 or wherever, I'm usually watching it or flipping back to it if I'm also watching something else. Whew...I feel so much better now! Can we can move on.

So tonight I am relaxin' on the couch when I flip by this Gaither promo advertising one of their dvd/cd collections when the song "I'd Rather Have Jesus" is being highlighted by the vocals of the Crabb Family singers. You can click here on the link to see the performance.

Well, I was completely surprised by the Holy Spirit in this moment to the point of tears. These lyrics by Rhea F. Miller and music by George Beverly Shea overwhelmed me and resounded in my soul. Here are the words:

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

I so want these lyrics to be true of my living, breathing, and loving. I want my bank account to reflect these heart cries and realities. I want those around me - near and far from Jesus - to see these words in me. I want my values and behaviors to find soil in truths like this.

So for the next few days or so, this poem/song is going to be the springboard for prayer in the mornings as I drive to work. From there, may my life and, if necessary, words invite others to move deeper with Jesus and/or wonder what it means to "rather have my Jesus" than anything.

Youth MiniSTARS Music Video

2009-08-16T15:12:00.003-04:00

All I can say is awesome! Kanye (kinda, but not really) meets youth pastor in this parody music video. When I watched this video for the first time, I'm 99.9% postive that whoever filmed this lives in, around, or in close proximity to West Chester, OH. Why do I know this? Because they filmed a scene from the video at The Cone (love that place!) which is right by where my sis, bro-in-law, and nephews live.

I see that Student Life produced the video. Any of my Cincy area peeps recognize any of the playaz in da vid?

Anywho...enjoy!

(bu to Tim)

Prayer of the Weak

2009-08-16T14:30:00.002-04:00

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sign of the Apocalypse

2009-08-15T21:56:00.005-04:00

Potbellies unite! Just when I started losing mine, the "beer gut" became hip. I was ahead of my time and didn't even know it. This clearly is a sign of Jesus coming back or at the minimum, Jenny Craig.

Here's a taste (pun intended) of the NY Times article:

“I sort of think the six-pack abs obsession got so prissy it stopped being masculine,” is how Aaron Hicklin, the editor of Out, explains the emergence of the Ralph Kramden. What once seemed young and hot, for gay and straight men alike, now seems passé. Like manscaping, spray-on tans and other metrosexual affectations, having a belly one can bounce quarters off suggests that you may have too much time on your hands.

“It’s not cool to be seen spending so much time fussing around about your body,” Mr. Hicklin said.

And so guys can happily and guiltlessly go to seed.

And here is a reaction from a woman's website:

If the New York Times says “it’s hip to be round,” it must be true. According to the paper of record, it is officially cool for dudes to “rock a potbelly.” I’ve always been a secret fan of a well-rounded pot, and I’ve seen several of these burgeoning guts this summer with my own eyes, jiggling in all of their glory around the hip streets of Brooklyn, New York. I mean, who am I to judge? I’m rocking my own little “hot pot.” The day potbellies become trendy for the ladies is the day that pigs fly. But, seriously, why are our dudes getting porky? The hilarious theories after the jump.

Shirts are cut too small. Good point, but we know you’re buying a medium instead of a large to show off that pot!
Men need to have that extra layer to metaphorically “protect” themselves from all the women in the work place. Not buying this one.
In ironic opposition to the hotness of Obama. It’s true. It’s hard to live up to his superhero status. So, if McCain were elected, would our dudes be slimming down?
The recession. Stress increases stomach fat. Comfort foods. All very possible.
It’s too “metro” to be in shape. Kind of agree. I’m not really looking for a guy who spends more time at the gym than me.

How are you doing at rocking that apocalyptic potbelly?

Sadly True Sometimes

2009-08-13T21:06:00.003-04:00

Sometimes this is uncomfortably true.

Prayer of the Weak

2009-08-09T00:54:00.002-04:00

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Kings of Leon

2009-08-09T00:42:00.004-04:00

Seems like I am always looking for new music, artists, and bands to keep me music library somewhat fresh and up to date given the fact that I am 37 years old. That's much easier said than done. But while I was in San Diego last week (more to come in another post), I finally heard someone talking about this band, Kings of Leon. I'd seen they were pretty popular on the music charts these days, but just hadn't talk with anyone listening to them.

I bit the bullet and downloaded the album, Only by the Night. Wow! Great album. Now I'll be the first to admit that I haven't disected all the lyrics, but music and vocals are right on. Just about every song on the album is outstanding. I've probably listened to it 3x a day, everyday since I've returned home from the west coast.

If you are in the hunt for some new tunes and dig an rock/alternative sound, check these guys out. If you are looking for the re-incarnation of Russ Taff (even though he's not dead) in a cool, hip new band (actually have about 4 albums), then Kings of Leon and it's lead singer are for you.

Prayer of the Weak

2009-08-02T00:45:00.000-04:00

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blogging at 30,000ft

2009-07-29T21:09:00.004-04:00

I'm taking a new step in my internets journey and blogging experience. I'm writing this post at 30,000ft above the face of the earth. I know! Crazy!. Airtran was handing out free trail passes to experience gogo inflight internet. And I've got to say it's pretty cool.

Now what makes it so cool is it's free, but normally it's between $9.95 - $12.95. They have all sorts of expensive price plans ranging from one flight access, 24 hr access, and 30 day access. All of it is too right for my bank account. I wonder how long it will be before it's free (why do I think everything on the internet should be free?).

So there you have it. I can officially cross this off my bucket list.

Prayer of the Weak

2009-07-26T22:04:00.000-04:00

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Wedding Entrance of a Lifetime!

2009-07-24T17:11:00.003-04:00

I love traditional wedding entrances. Kelly and the wedding party came down to Pacbell's Canon in D. Beautiful, elegant, and amazing. I cried like a baby.

But I have to tell you, I love this wedding entrance. Love. It. In fact there is a part of me that is way jealous we didn't do something like this. This is full of love, celebration, exuberance, joy, and community as this man and this women and their friends and family join together to express in dance what is going on in their hearts!

I watched this video with a huge smile in my face and tears in my eyes at the joy expressed and the beauty danced. Simply awesome!

100 Things Our Kids May Never Know About

2009-07-23T15:41:00.003-04:00

Saw this great list over on Wired. Nothing sad about it...just a riot to think of some of high tech gadgetry/technology that I have lived through in my short lifetime. Crazy.

Here are a few of my favorites:

High-speed dubbing.
8-track cartridges.
Vinyl records. Even today’s DJs are going laptop or CD.
Betamax tapes.
Laserdisc: the LP of DVD.
Scanning the radio dial and hearing static between stations. (Digital tuners + HD radio bork this concept.)
Blowing the dust out of a NES cartridge in the hopes that it’ll load this time.
Turning a PlayStation on its end to try and get a game to load.
Joysticks.
Booting your computer off of a floppy disk.
Recording a song in a studio.
Finding out information from an encyclopedia.
Using a road atlas to get from A to B.
Doing bank business only when the bank is open.
Shopping only during the day, Monday to Saturday.
Phone books and Yellow Pages.
“Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.” But they’ve already seen episode III, so it’s no big surprise.
Having to manually unlock a car door.
Spending your entire allowance at the arcade in the mall.
Relying on the 5-minute sport segment on the nightly news for baseball highlights.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as to how much parenting, youth ministry, education, and our kids have changed over the years. We wonder how we are going to keep up with the changes. How will I keep up with the times? What will the world like in the next 2-3 years (not 10-15 like we used to say)?

But at the heart of even this funny/techy look at how the world of our kids is changing, one fact will always remain the same: they long to be known and loved by real life people (parents, family, friends, and healthy, caring adults in their lives). And you know what? We can do that.

Marriage...Eventually

2009-07-22T02:20:00.002-04:00

Very interesting findings on Millennial's take on the institution of marriage over on Ypulse. I don't necessarily hear this stuff a lot, but it's definitely the vibe I get from late teens and twentysomethings most of the time.

Here's a teaser:

- Among the unmarried young adults, despite all their romantic relationships, most say they aren't in a hurry to wed. Fifty-seven percent say they don't want to be married "now" and 17 percent are "neutral" on the subject. Only 26 percent say they are ready to take the leap.

- Almost everyone plans on getting married. Only 5 percent of unmarried young adults say it's "unimportant" to marry someday, while 50 percent say it's "very important." About 70 percent say they expect to marry by their early 30s.

- Cohabiting with a romantic partner, however, is a distinct possibility. When asked whether they agree with the statement, "It is all right for an unmarried couple to live together even if they are not interested in considering marriage," 57 percent of young adults say yes. Nineteen percent are neutral; 24 percent say no.

Prayer of the Weak

2009-07-19T01:05:00.001-04:00

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Neon Maze

2009-07-19T00:46:00.004-04:00

Neon Maze is one of the more addicting maze games online. I'm up to level 15. It's a bit mind numbing, but a decent time waster if you've got it to kill.

You simply guide your "Star Trek Enterpisey" ship through the neon maze on his way to freedom. The levels get progressively longer/more complex the higher you go.

It was fun to play while the kids were having some rest time.

Live Baby Young

2009-07-17T17:28:00.002-04:00

What do you get when you combine babies, old school rap, roller skates, and maybe just a little CGI? A slick little commercial promoting Evian bottled water.

Evian Live Young - Baby Roller
by yom_

Real Beauty

2009-07-16T16:01:00.005-04:00

Sarah and I were sitting on the couch last night watching the end of the first couple of SYTYCD finish when the commercials began to roll. When you are sitting with your 7 year old little girl you have to be careful what is thrown on the screen for advertisement sake. It can get a bit dicey.

The first commercial was a plug for Maybeline eye mascara. After the commercial was done, I took this teachable moment to ask a serious and important question.

Me: Sarah, why do you think girls pay a lot of money on makeup and stuff to make themselves seem even more pretty than they already are?

Sarah: I don't know, Daddy. People have so much beauty on their own.

Quick grab the tape recorder! Dang it...none to be found.

She is so right. We have so much beauty on our own. God has been so good to the crown jewel of his creation. I hope she remembers and lives this out in a few years when teenage perceptions and reality begin to take hold.

Though our soul is marred by sin, we still have so much beauty bestowed on us by our Creator. He is constantly at work reminding us, showing us, leading us, and restoring us to the original beauty that we displayed in the garden before the fall. And this restoration project is not primarily physical, but mainly relational and spiritual in nature. It's not about externals, but it's about the heart.

I pray God's grace will keep that nugget of truth that Sarah spoke last night close to her heart. May this daddy foster a sense of strength and security in his daughter that comes from unconditional love and a knowledge of understanding who her daddy/Daddy is and how much I/He loves her.

Prayer of the Weak

2009-07-12T11:21:00.000-04:00

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Reflections on Michael's Memorial Service

2009-07-08T23:45:00.003-04:00

OJ had the trial of the century. Prince Charles and Diana had the wedding of the century. So I guess it goes without say that this was the funeral of the century.

The international outpouring of love, admiration, sadness, and shock was incredible. To see people's connection to a man they cared about but really didn't know because they connected with his image, music, and humanitarian causes, as well as, fascinated about the surgeries and idiosyncrasies for which we felt confusion and pity.

As I sat there with my brother-in-law, Don, I wondered about what I was watching on TV and what an estimated 20,000 people were witnessing live at the Staples Center (not a church, sanctuary or cathedral, but an athletic arena home to the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings). Part memorial service, part tribute concert, and part entertainment extravaganza.

Now let me say this: all things considered, this was very tastefully done. Fairly simple given the person being memorialized and the scope/size of the event. It was thoughtful, honoring, and touching. All things a good memorial service has as elements.

But the whole time I was watching I kept wondering, "How will my Christian community react/slam this service?" How is it not holy enough? How is it not God honoring enough? How is it not sacred enough? And I began to answer to myself, "Yeah. How is that?"

But then I realized how could this service be all those things when those that put it together (most likely) know nothing of the One who gives meaning, beauty, and hope to times and places like that. Save for the pastor Smith that gave the invocation and possibly Rev. Al Sharpton, I didn't seem as though any of the other people had any relationship with Jesus. Spiritual people, yes, but in love with the God of the Universe and the Savior of the world? Probably not.

It was that line of thinking that got me thinking that this is why I love being connected to the spiritual community of the Church through a common bond of Christ. It's the Church and followers of Jesus that help those faraway from Him to make sense of times like these. Because only in a relationship with God does death remotely make sense (and even then it is still a brutal and harsh reality/finality). And only He brings funeral services into clearer focus of what death AND life are all about...Himself: Father, Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

It saddened me that this service didn't point to hope. It didn't give meaning to our existence. It simply idolized a mortal man with a great talent. It communicated to me an emptiness in the biggest compliment paid on that day to a dead man: He was the greatest entertainer ever. Not the best father. Not the most compassionate human being. Not the dearest loving son or brother. So empty. So sad.

This service is a reminder to me and to all followers of Jesus that people need Him. We need Him for eternity yes, but we need Him to help foster in us a deep sense of his love, hope, and peace as we walk in and live our lives by faith in the one who conquered the grave and death so that all the world might live, fully live and share that sacred state with Him and the whole world.

I wonder how you will remember Michael Jackson's memorial service. What does God reveal about Himself even in that place that didn't honor him? How will you be moved to help others see that there is ultimate hope and meaning even when those we love die all around us?

The Overreacting Parent

2009-07-07T21:21:00.002-04:00

As a parent, I can totally relate. I remember as a kid thinking (and wanting to say) the exact same thing.

It is so easy for me to overreact especially when "things" or "my stuff" gets jacked with by the kids. It's one of those things/issues that I need to continually die to self on while teaching grace to those in my world, particularly my kids, who feel guilty and maybe shameful.