A Year in Review

I got to see Spider-Man 3 at the IMAX in Los Angeles this year. Overall, the film was pretty disappointing. The villains were cool, but Emo Parker was lame. But one bandwagon I'm not ashamed to admit I've jumped on is Heroes. It's one of my favorite TV shows. Some complain that the writing sucks, but I don't think those people ever read a comic book. The dialog is going to be contrived, the plot is going to be convoluted, and everything is going to end "The End?" No one who dies is dead forever.

My t-shirt collection now consists mostly of Superhero shirts. One for every day of the week if needed, much to my wife's chagrin.


Speaking of TV, my new favorite is Chuck. But Battlestar Galactica still reigns supreme, even though the new episodes keep getting delayed. The WGA strike has driven my TV watching to normal levels I suppose.

My favorite movies of the year? There were few that I saw in a theater. I would recommend 300, Hot Fuzz, Zodiac, Ratatouille, and The Mist. Pretty much everything else was forgettable.

Movies I sill want to see: Superbad, 3:10 to Yuma, American Gangster, Gone Baby Gone, Juno.


This summer, I started listening to the Harry Potter books, after my brother recommended them to me. They were good. J.K. Rowling has a tendency to use the phrase "the best _________ ever", but I suppose that's how teenage wizards think. The last four books are the best, with the Order of the Phoenix being my favorite. I even had a chance to taste some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (just Grass and Dirt, no Vomit for me). So, while I'm not going so far as dressing up as Hermione for Halloween, I do like the stories.

I think that video games have replaced film as my media entertainment, and for one reason alone: Xbox Live. I've spent a lot of time this year playing Crackdown, Guitar Hero, Halo, and (most recently) Call of Duty 4. The best games are the ones where I can log on with some friends and shoot stuff. But I think the game of the year is going to go to Guitar Hero, just because of how much fun it can be to pull off the solo of Cult of Personality.

There you have it, my year in review. This, of course, leaves out all of the important stuff in my life, like family and church planting. But what is there to say that hasn't been said? Life is great, I'm loving every minute of it. I'm too lucky to have a family that I love and to be a part of a church that is fun and meaningful (at the same time!). It's been a great year, and I think 2008 will be even better.

Erika's Personality Profile

The Cost of Travel

So far on our trip (we're leaving early in the morning), our suitcase has broken, we got a flat, and my phone had a whirl around the washing machine.

My mom has given us her suitcases, as she never uses them. The flat tire was repaired, thanks to family connections with the tire store here in town. The phone, I'm not sure what we're going to do. In a way, I'm glad that I don't have to answer the phone for a while.

I can't wait to be home though.

Merry Christmas

Santa has just left. I'm going to bed. Merry Christmas!

INTJ Spells NERD

I'm OK with that though.

Let's All Go Save Our King

Last night, Kylie is singing "Joy to the World" while we are delivering Christmas cookies to our friends, and instead of "Let earth receive her King" she says "Let's all go save our king." I'm happy to have a kid that sings it loud, without worrying if she's got it right.

Tonight we begin distributing toys from Orange Santa. We spent over 14 hours on Sunday wrapping. We'll be helping over 200 kids (doubled from last year). Over all, we've raised about $3500 in donations, plus untold amounts of toys and gifts.

The coolest thing is how this has become a community thing. We had over 50 volunteers on Sunday, some staying the entire time. McDonald's partnered with us and we raised almost $900 from them alone.

I think serving others gives us a perspective that we can't get anywhere else. We see the value of people. We become thankful for what we have, instead of resenting what we don't. Plus, we feel connected to the bigger picture, the expansive love of God that reaches out to everyone, because none of us deserve anything.

The Third Law

I've grown to be a fan of Kitchen Nightmares. I've seen a couple of episodes of the American version, and a couple of the BBC episodes, and I like it.

When I first saw Gordon Ramsey on Hell's Kitchen, he came across as a sensationalist, yelling and cursing for ratings. There's more to it than that on Kitchen Nightmares. Oh, sure, there's lots of bleeping and throwing and screaming, but last night on the BBC episode, he explained why.

There was a guy who had put years of his life and hundreds of thousands of dollars into this dying restaurant. So much so, that he was just going through the motions, his heart and soul dried up. Chef Ramsey said that he was calling him a failure to induce a reaction, something that would awaken his fight. At first, the guy just shut down, and locked him out the restaurant. Then, he got pissed, and then focused on what needed to be done.

I think, in times of stress and frustration, it can be the same thing. We can either throw in the towel, or we can fight. And that tension can give us comfort in reminding us that we really do care, that it matters.

So, there's a tension between it being Christmas and it feeling like Christmas. Is it the weather? Is it me? If Christmas seems bland this year, but I'm really trying to make it special, what's the problem? Does trying to live my life thankful for the Child of Christmas make the day itself ordinary?

This Christmas has seemed rushed and busy, but it's because we are pouring our lives out for people with nothing else to give. Newton's Third Law states: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Jesus said something along these lines: "Give, and it will be given unto you." Makes sense.

The Gingerbread House

Christmastime is Here

Well, the weather has finally turned cold, which makes it feel a lot more like Christmastime. Last night we had our church Christmas party. I had some fantastic eggnog and chocolate truffles and spice cake, and kicked a little tail in Call of Duty.

Life's stayed busy. Orange Santa continues to go great. We raised over $400 for our first fundraiser, and there's more next week. Kylie's been singing Christmas songs non-stop, and Erika has Kat dressed up in Christmas clothes.

Kylie and I made gingerbread houses this weekend, which were quickly devoured after we preserved the memory with a few pictures.

I also decided to surprise Erika with a stand mixer, but she found out about it. I can't get her to stop reading my emails. It should be here tomorrow, we'll probably end up using it for Christmas dinner.

All in all, pretty mild around here, just the way I would like it as we get closer to Christmas.

I Smile Now!

... and drool.

Kylie and Kat with Santa

Kylie asked, "Why did Santa's beard and hat fall off when I sat with him? I think that it's because he wiggles a lot!"

Here is when he fixed them.

There and Back Again

I've been gone this week, up in Dallas for some training. I decided not to bring the Xbox, figuring I would get some work done. Didn't happen. I did get to read a little of "No Perfect People Allowed", on loan from a friend. Nice to see someone else out there thinks the same way as I do.

I discovered something about myself. I don't have much value for fun. Even the "fun" stuff I do is usually more strategic in nature. I don't care if people think I'm fun. But, I do like to be known as funny. Subtle difference, but there you go.

Last night, our team did our first Photos with Santa event at Olde Tyme Christmas. We raised over $400 for Orange Santa! Everyone on the team really did a great job, from people helping to watch the kids, up to taking pics and handling the printing. It felt like I didn't have to be there, which is always a good thing.

This morning, I started my first series of vaccines to prep for the trip to Zambia next year. It feels like someone punched both of my arms.

This weekend, I plan on building a gingerbread house with Kylie, and not much else.

Broken Silence

Broken Silence
Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:5-25, 57-79

Preface

In the last verses of the last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament, the final words of God to the people of Israel are recorded. He wouldn't speak again for over 400 years.

Malachi 4:5-6
5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”


Silence

Every conversation begins in silence, if even for a moment. The instant before you pick up the phone, the pause as you ask, "Anyone there?," the waiting for the email to hit your inbox. But relationships that live in silence are, perhaps, the most uncomfortable conversations we have. How do we start? What do we say? How will they respond?

Zechariah was a man that knew silence. He was a priest of God, born in the line of Aaron. From birth, he was destined to serve the Most High. And he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. His name meant, "The Lord remembers." As a priest, he relied on the rest of the people for his livelihood. His home, his robes, even his food was provided by the offerings of the people he served. And, in return, he served God on their behalf. But he had nothing to call his own. Except for his wife, Elizabeth. She, too, was in the lineage of Aaron. And she loved the Lord. While she never officially served in a priestly role at the Temple, she served God and established him at the center of the family. Throughout the countryside, they were known for their devotion to the Lord. Yet, even in their devotion, God remained silent. How they yearned for a child, a son, that would carry on the legacy of faith! He would be called Zechariah, after his father, and grandfather. But, Elizabeth was barren, and God had not heard their cries for hope.

By this time, the people of God were accustomed to his silence. It had been, what, 400 years since he last sent a prophet? He had promised another prophet to come, one as strong as Elijah, perhaps Elijah himself! Over the years, the people had resigned themselves to fulfilling their Temple duties, and not much else. Generations passed, and the hope that God would speak dwindled.

But Zechariah served faithfully in his duties. Even as he watched his friends become parents, and then grandparents. But he never grew bitter against God. Some things just weren't meant to be. And while he never stopped serving God, as he grew older, his prayers for a son became irregular, and then nearly non-existent. I'm too old, he thought. Elizabeth too grew silent over the years. She had noticed the looks of pity from her friends as they shared stories about their grandchildren. And, while no one said it aloud, she knew they wondered what sin she had committed against God that would warrant such disgrace. She would occasionally wonder too, before sweeping such thoughts away.

And so, Zechariah, along with the rest of Judea, found themselves silently performing the duties they had been given. Their hearts turned away from any hope that God would send another Elijah to stir their souls.


Messenger

Years ago, days like today would be filled with anticipation. The division of Abijah, an order of priests which Zechariah was included, was on duty at the Temple. This only happened two times a year, and was the highlight of any priest's service. Every day for a week, the division would cast lots to see who would offer the incense at the altar. Doing so was literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. Offered twice daily, the fragrant aroma lifted to the heavens, a symbol of the continual prayers and conversation between Israel and God. And, while Zechariah was one of the oldest priests in his division, the lot never fell to him. He feared that he may never have the chance to enter into the holy place. Some priests, years younger than he, had already had their time. What an honor it must be to be so close to the seat of Jehovah! Yet, God had not willed such an honor upon Zechariah.

He had to look twice when he saw that the lot had fell to him. He stood shaking, not sure if it was old age or surprise, as he was called forward. He rehearsed what he must do in his head while the congregation gathered to offer up their prayers. "Just get in and get out, no need to delay," he thought. "The longer I'm in there, the higher the likelihood that something will go wrong." He paused for a moment as he entered, to take it all in. And, as he approached the altar, he began to pray, on behalf of the people, and even on behalf of himself. This was the closest he would ever be to God. Just beyond the altar, behind the veil, lied the Holy of Holies, the seat of Jehovah.

Still trembling, he sprinkled the incense upon the altar. It was a marvel to behold. The altar was small, maybe 3 feet tall, but covered in gold. And the incense, fragrant and sweet and warm as it passed his face, seemed to settle his nerves. He muttered, "Amen" as he turned to leave. Then fear gripped him. An intruder! But this was no intruder. Inexplicably, Zechariah knew this was something else. An angel of the Lord? Could it be? Before he could sound alarm, the figure spoke:

13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Did he say Elijah? Turn the hearts? The coming of the Lord? Did the Lord remember after all these years? No one has yearned more for this prayer to be answered, but the timing is all wrong. Even if God is able to deliver us a son, how are we to know how he will grow up? We may never even see these promises fulfilled. Others around us have spent their years enjoying their children and grandchildren. We will never have that opportunity. After years of waiting, I'm going to need a little more proof.

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

As he spoke, he noticed the angel's eyes narrow. He was a sight to behold, unlike anything he had ever imagined.

19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

As he attempted to protest, to claim his belief, he found that the words would not come. And, now, he was alone again. He stumbled out of the Temple, and met the chief priest. "What's taken you so long?" he inquired. "Well, speak up!" But Zechariah was unable to talk. He began pointing, first to the altar, and then upward. The division leader came. "A vision?" he asked. And Zechariah nodded. "What was it like?"

But, after years of longing for the silence to be broken, Zechariah found himself unable to speak.


Hope

At the end of the week, the priests of Abijah packed their things and headed home. No one else who entered the Temple saw a vision. Some wondered how long Zechariah would be committed to the joke. He never went very long without saying something. Surely he would give it up before he saw Elizabeth. But he remained committed to the ruse, saving every scrap of parchment he could in order to carry on a conversation. He himself wouldn't have believed it, save for the evidence that, no matter how he tried, sound eluded him.

Elizabeth knew something had changed the moment she saw him. He appeared taller, or younger, she wasn't certain. And, as he worked out his story in signs and writing, she knew why.

Friends didn't see her for months afterward. "Ashamed of her husband, I'm sure," they said. She couldn't bear the humiliation of his recent lapse from reality. But, as she emerged from her home one day, they were amazed. She was pregnant! Her joy spilled over to anyone she came across:

25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Zechariah's next trip to Jerusalem was much different. Everyone clapped him on the back and gave him their congratulations. "Way to go, old man!" He simply smiled and nodded. They, too, noticed something different. Hope, years lost, had been found.


Birth

In due time, Elizabeth had her son. The countryside rejoiced with her. God had visited them, it was impossible to deny. The family line would continue, the child would be called Zechariah to remind the people that "the Lord remembers." At his circumcision, the priest didn't even bother to ask the name of the child. "Let him be called Zechariah," he exclaimed.

"No," cried Elizabeth. "He is to be called John."

"But, there is no one in your family named John. Are you certain? It is custom, especially in miracles like this, for the child to be named after his father."

Zechariah was making signs again. "It looks like he's run out of parchment," someone said. "Here, you can borrow my tablet." They saw him scribble something quickly on the tablet. As he turned it to face them, the crowd was shocked. He had written:

"His name is John."

Even more amazing, they heard Zechariah speak. "His name is John," he said hoarsely. And he began laughing--loud, unencumbered laughing that rang out praises to God. Laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face, rejoicing in what God had done. Everything he promised, he delivered. Soon, others joined in his laughter and praise. Even over the cries of the newly circumcised child, the laughter rang out.

The crowd dispersed, and, soon, the countryside was buzzing with the news of John's birth. They knew the hand of God was upon him. "What will come of him?" they asked. After years of waiting for God to act, their hope was renewed.


Remember

For the first time in centuries, God's spirit moved in spectacular ways. Zechariah himself, full of God's spirit, knew the word he had waited nine months to speak, the words he should have spoken when he had the chance:

68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior
from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.

Turning to John, he dedicated him, saying:

76 And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”

The Lord does remember his promises. Even in times of silence. In times of waiting. He is faithful to deliver us.

Signal Fire

HT to Bob Hyatt for this one. Don't know how I could've missed it.

Last night I woke up just thinking about stuff. My mind races whenever things get still, so middle-of-the-night thinking equals insomnia. I'm speaking this weekend on one of my favorite Christmas stories that has nothing to do with Jesus' birth. I'll probably post the manuscript when I'm done. I'm taking a narrative approach, which I've never done before, so it could go either way. But I am excited about it.

But most of my thoughts went to church planting, and pastoring in general. I'm in constant evaluation mode, and that makes me miss some of the real value that's being brought in our community. I'm thinking, "How could I have done that better?" or "Is this working?" or "Am I making the most of every opportunity?"

So, I just prayed last night for God to do stuff, because, no matter what I do, I can't make it happen.

Yeah, this post is boring and going nowhere. It's like Alexander Pope said:

"While pensive poets painful vigils keep, / Sleepless themselves to give their readers sleep."

So go take a nap for me.

Orange Santa Giving

As most of the regular readers know, our church is involved with Hutto's Orange Santa program. I created a link at Resonate's home page that will allow individuals to give toward our goal of $6,000 for this year.

If you would like to give, you can use Google Checkout. Fifty dollars would cover the cost of one child, and help make their Christmas bright.

Click here if you would like to donate.

Kylie, Kathryn and Cousins

Getting two preschoolers to look the same way, and two babies not to cry was quite the feat. We did get this one great picture!

Front Page

Kylie was featured on the front page of The Hutto News last week for Orange Santa.

We took tons of pictures to get this just right.

The Mist Review

I went to see "The Mist" last night with my brother. I'm a fan of Stephen King, especially his movies with Frank Darabont at the helm ("The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile"). This is Darabont's first entry into a more traditional King story.

The story begins with a thunderstorm. While the residents of the town survey the damage, they notice a strange mist moving off the mountain. As they head to the local supermarket to pick up supplies, the mist rolls in, along with a local screaming, "There's something in the mist!" What remains of the movie is a story of survival.

I'm not a fan of your typical, gore-laden horror movies. "Saw" and "Hostel" and all of the remakes aren't too appealing to me. The unseen is what is truly scary. And the mist is thick with unseen, but horrible creatures. The special effects aren't too special, and are delivered in small doses that don't pull you out of the film to notice.

But the best part of the movie is the interaction between the survivors. In the midst of fear, prejudice, denial, hostility, and pure crazy bubble to the surface. The role of crazy is played by a fundamentalist gloom-and-doom fear-monger (Texan Marcia Gay Harden, who I would assume has seen her fair share). During the movie, my brother said, "This doesn't portray Christians in a good light." I told him I found it more anti-crazy than anti-Christian. She works up the crowd, slowly convincing them that God's judgment has fallen.

The questions posed during the film aren't sufficiently answered, nor should they be. If it tried, it would seem pat. The same struggles that humanity has wrestled with for generations are asked, but the question really is, "What would you do?"

The ending, which I won't spoil here, was one of the most jarring moments in the film. For a moment, I thought to myself, "Surely they won't go this direction." But they did.

So, like "Shawshank" and "Green Mile", Darabont presents a film that forces you to think. And feel.

In the Way

On Sunday morning, Kylie and I went around town dropping off donation bins for Orange Santa. Yep, we skipped church to do it. While we drove around for a couple of hours, we had the chance to talk about a lot of stuff (the truck we borrowed was without A/C or radio, which made it even better).

One of the concerns raised about our approach to church is, "What about the kids?" There's not really anything geared for them. And I have to say, this has caused me some concern as well. I'd love for Kylie to have what I didn't have growing up.

But, in the same regard, those couple of hours spent helping others was meaningful, and, I hope, memorable. We talked about how we can show people that God loves them when we help them. We talked about how we can give away things and be thankful for what we have, because it comes from God. Little stuff, but foundational.

And, sure, we sang Disney songs and told jokes (she's doing that now), and had fun. It was one of the best Sundays I've had in a while.

Just Thought I'd Say

Just thought I'd say how great my wife is. I came home from lunch to find a house full of kids and moms playing, making crafts and having fun. I love that my kids are being exposed to such a wonderful, family-filled environment. This week has been tough on her. But she doesn't miss a beat. Best yet, she's letting me host a poker night at the house tonight.

She makes life look easy. Her attitude is so genuinely giving and joyful that I find myself just having to stop every once in a while to be grateful for her. I'd fall apart without her.

Reminded

Couldn't get this verse out of my head since last night:

2 Timothy 1:8-12

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Revealed

For those in church leadership, this might mean something to you. And for those who are engaging church planting, this definitely means something for you. The video above is just a teaser to a complete video.

The traditional approach to building faith in people isn't working. It's great at starting faith, but sucks at making true followers. I want both. I want to introduce people to a life-giving faith that impacts their very core. So much so that they learn how to be life-givers themselves.

Tag it however you like: emerging, contemporary, missional, incarnational, liberal, whatever. I think the bottom line is that something's gotta change in the way we approach "church". And I'm talking more than just music or style.

I meet people who genuinely desire a relationship with Christ, but the forms and approaches that we mandate aren't functional. And rather than open the way for them to find access to God, we conclude that they are just godless sinners living in rebellion, and essentially hope they get what's coming. No one really says this out loud, but it's there.

I think there is a more excellent way.

The Indian Princess and the Pea

Going Viral

I've been thinking a lot lately about what multiplication looks like for our church, and how we can really have an impact by being more organic and less that what your typical church looks like. As we approach getting a weekend service off the ground, I'm intrigued with the other side of the coin: a decentralized, organic type of church where people's devotion to Christ isn't a measure of attendance. If fewer and fewer people are being impacted by one hour on Sunday, why keep putting all of our eggs in that basket?

Speaking of viral, it's finally hit our house. If you read any of our church family's blogs, you'll see that everyone has been struggling with illness. Last night, around 1 am, Kylie woke me up just in time for me to take her to the bathroom, where she threw up. And so the story goes for the next five hours.

I slept with her (well, I laid down with her; any time she moved I was ready to go, just knowing that I was about to get barfed on). I stayed home from work today, taking care of her while Erika went and got the needed feel-good remedies, and kept Kat as far away as possible.

I'm speaking this weekend, so I hope I can hold out until all of that is done. Wish me luck.

A Halloween Conversation

Last night as she was going to bed, Kylie was showing me pictures of Halloween stuff that she had. The very last one as a "man-walrus".

"A what?"

"A man-walrus. Look, his teeth stick out like a walrus."

"Oh, that's right sweetie. But sometimes, people call them vampires."

A Little Baker

Tonight we decided to decorate some Halloween cookies, not how Mommy likes them, but how Kylie likes them! She started out decorating her pumpkins the traditional way- orange with green stems...

With the exception of the icing being an inch thick, these look pretty plain, huh?

That's not the Kylie I know! When she realized that she had put on a lot of icing, she came up with the idea of a cookie sandwich, all by herself! Here she is tasting her creation...

They were good, but not quite decorated enough for her. Here is the finished product...

Spooktacular!

Costume Contest Winner!

Thanks, Noni, for spending your time and energy making me this beautiful Pocahontas costume! I won "Best Overall Girl Costume" at the Moms Club Costume Contest today! See my medal?

Texas Chili Recipe #1

Last year, I played around with a chili recipe that turned out pretty good, so this year I decided to step up and measure what I've been doing (along with making a few changes), just to see what I could crank out. I've decided to keep track of the different permutations to see what works best. The liquid is what makes it authentically Texas.

You'll need:

1 pound ground sirloin
6-8 slices of bacon
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, chopped and seeded
1 orange bell pepper (go Hippos!), chopped and seeded
2 Tbs. + 1 tsp. chili powder
1 Tbs. cumin
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
1 lime (just the juice will do)
1 12 oz. Shiner Bock
1 12 oz. Dr Pepper
1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
2 16 oz. can of diced tomato
1 16 oz. can of Ranch Style Beans (and, yes, I know that real chili doesn't have beans, but if you're cheap, it stretches the meal)

1. In a large stew pot, add 2/3 can of beer and 2/3 can of Dr. Pepper and reduce. While that's going, chop bacon and place in large skillet to render all the fat from the bacon.

2. Add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce to stew pot, as well as rendered bacon. Reduce heat to low. Save about 2 Tbs. of bacon fat and cook onions and garlic.

3. Add onions, garlic, jalapeño, and bell pepper to stew pot.

4. Heat skillet to high and sear ground beef on each side. Lower heat to medium and cook through.

5. Add beef, spices, lime juice, and remaining beer and Dr. Pepper. Cook on medium about 5 minutes or so.

6. Add Ranch Style Beans and send it straight to the fridge.

We'll be eating this tomorrow night, and I'll post some thoughts on if it's any good or not. Before it went in, it was a little sweet at first, with a little back-end kick. We'll see what changes in 24 hours.

The Pumpkin Patch

It's Got a Good Beat

Yeah, yeah, it's been a long time since I blogged last. But life has been nice a busy. Erika's got a few new tutoring students, which means I'm pulling solo-dad duty more. It's not that bad actually. Kylie's been a good help, and she's learning how to do a lot of things on her own, which helps.

Kat is talking (well, cooing, but it counts). She loves to watch the fan turn. I can't believe it's been two months now.

Olde Tyme Days was a success. Smoother than last year.

I'm doing a lot of traveling over the next month, starting this weekend with a trip back to Dallas.

I like the rhythm I've found. Good times with friends, family, work. Everything is nice and steady.

Olde Tyme Days Weekend

We had company this weekend to see Kylie perform her dance at Olde Tyme Days- my mom, sister Amanda, nephew Landon and niece Lillie. These are some pictures of our time together!

Kylie and Kathryn Pictures

It was the Computer!

From the Hutto Police Blotter:

An Officer was on a traffic stop and heard loud screaming profanity coming from inside a nearby home. The officer broke off the traffic stop and investigated the possible disturbance. It was determined that a male subject in the home was playing a football video game and loosing to the computer. The individual became angry and started yelling at his TV. The home was checked everything was OK.

It wasn't me. I don't play football games.

11 Years

Eleven years ago yesterday I decided to become a pastor. I've been a church planter for about half of that time. For the most part, I feel as fulfilled as I hoped I would be when I made that decision.

I'm very excited about helping our community with the Orange Santa program, a partnership with the Hutto Police Department. We'll be organizing the community wide toy drive for Christmas. I've done stuff like this on a small scale in years past, and it's been very rewarding. I can imagine what it will be like for over 100 kids.

My calendar is filling up with lots of projects and responsibilities. I've yet to have those panicky, "what have I gotten myself into" feelings yet. Hopefully they stay away.

It was a step of faith 11 years ago to become a pastor. I knew I was giving up a lot of opportunity for more money and prestige. But, the things I really want out of life have come into focus and I'm as happy as I've ever been.

Anticipation

We're looking at starting some preview services in March. We'll do one a month for a couple of months, and then we'll officially launch into a regular worship service. I'm excited and hesitant at the same time. This is one of those "no way back from here" kind of decisions, but I really feel it's the right one. We've been able to do a lot for the community so far, so this is the next step.

So, life is about to get busy (busier?). We're trying to form a band, and get some of the logistic stuff underway. And I'm going to try to speak every chance I get. But we still have to think about meeting space, sound equipment, kids stuff, trailers, storage, volunteers, and how to pay for all of it. At least life is always interesting.

I'm Still Here

I hate blog posts that mention how they've not blogged in a while. And yet, here I am, doing the very thing I hate.

Not much to report on. Family is great, church is great, life is great. Doesn't make for compelling blog posts, but I'm enjoying my life. It seems like God has brought a number of things into focus for me, narrowing and expanding my horizons at the same time.

We're probably going to start meeting pretty soon as a church. On our own. Not too sure when, but I think sooner than later is starting to be the right timing. Still working things out on that end, but I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time.

I'm off to Mt. Pleasant this weekend to visit the family, show off the new baby, and play a little Halo with my brother.

Live Action Halo

I thought this was cool.

Again with the Speaking

I have been asked to speak at the Fellowship of Forest Creek this weekend. A couple of weeks ago it was a possibility, but now it's a reality (found out today!). They are in the middle of a sermon series, so I'll be speaking in line with that. I'm sure I'll figure out how to add a little geek flair to the message though, so don't worry.

The largest crowd I have ever spoken to was about 600 for a family member's funeral a couple of years ago. The Fellowship is close to 2,000 from what I hear. Gotta say, I'm a little nervous. I'll be spending time tonight getting the sermon polished.

No turning back though.

Solitarity

I'm sure you've heard about the "Don't Tase Me, Bro" video that's been making its way around the interwebs lately. But I liked Stephen Colbert's analysis (tongue in cheek, but good analysis). Why didn't anyone stand up?

As I have thought about it, I think John Mayer's song got it right: We're just waiting on the world to change. And I have to say that that's a pretty crappy excuse. "It's not that we don't care, we just know that the fight ain't fair." What?!? Since when has making a stand against wrongdoing been a bad idea?

We find within community the ability to stand. We have others to hold us up, to fight the long fight. Disconnection breeds a callousness that says, "It's not my problem." But connection can often be a very vulnerable, dangerous place. And at the end of the day, there's no place I'd rather be.

Speaking of fighting together, Halo 3 will feature 4-player co-op! Next week, I'll finish the fight.

Kylie's First Blog Post

zxcvbnm

A Little Road Trip

Kylie's been gone this past week visiting Erika's dad in Chicago. We've both missed her, and due to her flying standby, it was looking that we wouldn't get to see her for even longer. Austin City Limits is this weekend, so there were no flights in.

So, she flew to San Antonio, and Erika, Kat, and I made a hasty roadtrip. While we were down there, we decided to go to the Riverwalk and have dinner. It worked out great, because we got to hang out with Kylie without having to worry about coming home, unpacking bags, and all of that mess that happens. We just spent time with her, shared some ice cream and visited the Alamo.

We got in late, slept in late (not Kylie, but that's OK), and are trying to make the most of the weekend.

So Yummy, So Yummy

Try to watch this and not sing it the rest of the day. Kylie is addicted to this like crack. And in a way, I think someone was addicted to crack when they thought this up.

Seven Verses Worth Dying For

My good friend Patrick has tagged me to come up with "Seven Verses Worth Dying For." The guidelines should answer

…what is the minimal set of essential truths central to my understanding of who God is; things so foundational to my thinking that I literally can’t imagine life without them. Or, more bluntly, what are the issues I (in my presumption) think we ought to be spending our time studying.

Here's my list, in no particular order.

Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God."

Isaiah 53:6 - "We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all."

Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Philippians 3:12 - "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

I have to tag others too. So, let's hear from Kale, Amanda, Brent, Chris, and Cindy. Leave a comment here to let me know you've posted, I'm interested in reading yours. And don't forget to tag someone new!

The Warrior's Heart

For decades now, many Christians have seen fit to couch their language in militant terms, using words like battle, war, victory, crusade, etc. Part of this language makes me uncomfortable, because it fails to convey our love for those on the other side of the struggle in this world, those who have yet to find faith in Christ, yet are still loved by him nonetheless.

On the other hand, much of Scripture speaks of the warfare we encounter, the dark forces that we fight. Why this language? I think, rather than placing the focus on the battle or the enemy, we should instead focus on what it means to be a warrior.

I watched 300 this weekend. While the battle scenes are cool, I think what resonates most is the heart of the warrior - the valor, courage, honor that is shown. My favorite movies are where people find themselves heroic (intentional or not). Peter Parker, Rocky Balboa, Neo, Eliot Ness, Maximus, Leonidas, John McClane, the list goes on. Warriors give their lives away for others.

I thought it would be fun to make a collection of good warrior quotes from film. Leave them in the comments. Here's a few to get started:

"Come and take them." - Leonidas, when commanded to lay down their weapons by the Persians

"Let's take the fight to him." - Eliot Ness

"It ain't how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward." - Rocky Balboa

Not Alone

I had breakfast this morning with my supervisor (most church planters have supervisors of some sort). In an alternate reality, I'm sure it was one of those dreaded meetings where you have to answer for your crimes and walk away feeling dejected and broke down. But today was refreshing and encouraging.

I think I've written about him before, but Jerry Burnaman is a guy that I would take a bullet for. We spent some of the time talking about how things are going, but most of it was just telling stories and catching up. He kept asking, "What can we do for you?" The only thing I could think was, "What more is there? You do EVERYTHING!"

It's good to know that I'm not alone out here, trying to make a difference. We have a great team, but there's another group of individuals that are making it possible. And I'm thankful for that.

Living Beyond the Moment

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to speak at Lifepointe Fellowship here in town. It felt good. I had a new way of outlining my thoughts, and, while I usually stand to speak, I was seated this time. I was more relaxed than usual, and I really enjoyed myself.

If you would like to have a listen, you can download the audio here.

In the Studio

Yesterday, we got Kathryn's newborn pictures done at Carol Church Photography. We had a great time, and Kat was very well behaved. Kylie got to take some pictures too, and I think we may have a little model on our hands! She took beautiful pictures, but was highly demanding and stopped on her terms.

Now we just have to decide which ones to get.

It's Not Even Late

It's not late, but I'm exhausted. We've had family in all weekend to see the baby. Plus, we had a block party last night at Hutto Square (fantastic time, and had a great turnout), and I preached this morning.

It's been over a year since I got to speak in a forum like that, and it was just as draining as I remember it. And it's been ages since I've done two services back to back, so I'm spent. But, it was great getting the opportunity. I think I was able to communicate my thoughts clearly, and I really connected with the crowd.

I'll have the audio up as soon as I get it. Other than that, I'm taking it easy this week, enjoying the holiday and getting back in the groove once the family leaves.

Theology of Superheroes

While watching Superman Returns yesterday, Kylie asked, "Does God love Lex Luthor?"

"Of course he does," I said. "He love Lex Luthor, Superman, Lois Lane, Mommy, Daddy, and you. God loves everyone."

I now feel justified in renting Superman Returns for her.

Well Well Well

Today has been a great day. Kathryn slept great, rarely fussing last night, which let me sleep a total of 6-7 hours. Erika got about that much too (I got up early and took Kathryn downstairs with me).

Kylie fell asleep on the couch last night around 6:30, and stayed asleep until about midnight. She was up until 2 am, just playing and dancing. It's a strange sight to see a three year old having that much fun in the middle of the night. A portent of things to come?

We visited with friends, I got a lot of work done (unexpected, but welcomed), and enjoyed the day. All is well.

Welcome Home, Kathryn

We're Home

Erika and Kathryn are napping, Erika's mom has gone to fetch some prescriptions, and Kylie is running around in her new Tinkerbell costume. All is well.

Love Multiplied

There's a strange sensation when your life suddenly deepens, like wading in a lake where the sandbar ends. You find yourself surprised, excited, and taking a deep breath before the plunge. This has happened before. Kylie added so much richness to our lives that we scarcely remember life without her. I wasn't sure how having another child would be, since we've been through the experience before. Would the same intensity be there?

Moreso. Kathryn is a joy. One of those deep joys that have to be experienced, regardless of the struggles. The love for my family has deepened, multiplied, and I imagine that this is just the beginning. I changed her very first diaper last night, helped give her first bath, even napped a little on my not-quite-long-enough couch. As with Kylie, there are brief glimpses of others when the light hits just so - Grandma Raney, Nani, Granny, Mommy. Erika and I marveled last night about the beauty of such a little one.

It's a good thing to know you belong where you are - mind, body, and spirit. We've seen an outpouring of love from our friends, friends we can truly call family. This is blessing.

Kathryn Finley Sears

Kathryn Finley Sears was born August 24, 2007, at 2:42 pm. She weighs 8 lbs. 13 oz. and was 22 inches long!

I'll post more as I get the chance. Mom and baby are doing great.

Getting Nostalgic

I'm working on getting all of my tech stuff ready for tomorrow (video camera, regular camera, iPod, etc.), and started looking through some old videos of Kylie. I made this for her first birthday.



Brings back memories!

Leadership: Movement

The second part of hope is movement. Focus, by itself, doesn't impact the way we live. There must be movement. Following Christ requires movement. Leading others requires movement. Focus shows us where we are going, movement makes it possible to get there.

Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

2 Corinthians 4:7-11
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

Movement is us becoming more like Christ. Some call this sanctification, some call it transformation. Both indicate a change. We show the hope we have in Christ when we move toward him. The closer we are to Christ, the greater our ability, through him, to impact others.

Slog

That's the only word I know to express how it feels around here lately. We're living for Friday. As a result, I'm spending the night waiting until a respectable time to go to bed, and tomorrow will be spent doing the same (not totally, I am looking forward to Bible study).

I normally don't approach days this way, much less a week. I guess I should probably be glad that I can look forward to sleep and know it's coming.

If you don't hear from me this week, don't worry. I'll be back with good news (and pictures).

Shock

On Friday, as I was leaving work, I saw a teenager on a bike get hit by a car going 50 mph. I was maybe 20 yards away. Amazingly, when I got out of my car to try to help, he was standing in the road. In a small town like Hutto, the cops arrive quickly, so after everyone seemed to be OK, I left.

I could barely get the key in the door by the time I got home. I felt like I either wanted to cry or throw up, but did neither.

It's interesting how people react. Standing up after getting hit, slowing down, driving away, getting out, watching from a distance. What happens when stuff comes out of nowhere? What do you do? I'll admit, for a moment I was simply paralyzed, knowing what I should do, but not wanting to.

I think the kid's OK. I told the community officer that we'll do what we can for the families involved. Lift up some prayers.

Leadership: Focus

The next part of leadership I want to examine is hope. In my opinion, this is something that I've not seen as much time devoted to, compared with faith and love. But, nevertheless, it is vital in our development of influence. And the first aspect of hope is focus.

Focus is simply the ability to look toward what God is doing, rather than being mired in the past (whether success or failure).

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Joel 2:27-29
Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.
And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Properly focused, a follower of Christ is able to find perseverance, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of God's desires for this world. We see the future that God controls, rather than a future controlled by the evil forces of this world (even the world within us).

Typically, when I think of focus, I imagine the field of vision shrinking, smaller and smaller. However, I think when we focus on Christ, our field of vision actually grows, we begin to see possibilities that we never could before. Moments of despair give way to the indomitable truth of a relationship with Christ - hope.

The Countdown Begins

OK, it's official. We're to be induced (that's the royal we by the way) next Friday. Nine days!

Simple Isn't Easy

I've been working through Galatians for our Bible studies, and I'm struck at how simple Paul is in his defense of the gospel. And, because of its simplicity, he makes a very simple statement: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." And I think this is one of the most difficult things to live by.

I don't think we like freedom. We don't like choices, and we don't like options. It's too much responsibility. Paul's version of freedom goes beyond our slavery to sin, and into our slavery to the Law as well. The Law was our curse, our Judge, Jury, and Executioner. But when Jesus became accursed, he removed the curse from us.

The Hebrew children experienced freedom from slavery. They hated it too. They cried to Moses, "Did you bring us out in this desert to die? We were better off in Egypt!" No, simple isn't easy.

We want proof of our righteousness. I go to church, I homeschool my kids, I take the Eucharist, I've been confirmed, I've been baptized, I don't watch rated-R movies, I vote Republican. Like Garfield says, "Big, fat, hairy deal." Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with these things. But if you have a mindset that requires these as proof of your relationship with God? I think we have a problem.

Simply put, we are called to follow Christ. But I wonder, how many of us follow out of freedom, and how many out of slavery?

Let's Fall in Love

Tonight, as we were dancing to "Beyond the Sea" (at the end of Finding Nemo), Kylie suggested we fall in love.

"How do we do that?"

"Hold my hand and I'll show you." And she takes me to run through the doors of my office.

I guess after seeing all of the Disney princesses run through the doors after getting married, that's what falling in love means.

Leadership: Humility

In addition to an understanding of God and how he works within us (wisdom), we also need humility. Essentially, humility is a denial of our own abilities and a reliance of God. Wrapped up in humility is trust, acknowledging that God knows us and cares for us. Check out what Scripture says:

Philippians 2:5-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Ephesians 4:1-5
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1 Peter 5:5-7
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

The humility we have in our relationship with God spills over into the lives of people. This mindset not only allows us to trust God, but we can begin to trust other people as well. In my opinion, a good leader is a humble leader, one that acknowledges that their leadership is based in their following of Christ.

My Last Sermon

I'm working on my sermon, which I will be preaching on Sunday, September 2nd at Lifepointe Fellowship. I decided to play around with Blogger to see if I could embed my last sermon I preached (over a year ago) at Genesis Metro.

Let's see if it works.



OK, it's still not working. You can download it here.

Leadership: Wisdom

Continuing the thoughts on leadership...

Under the portion of faith, we find wisdom. Notice I don't say knowledge. There are many people who are "orthodox", meaning they believe correctly, yet they influence no one. A good leader uses that orthodoxy (right knowledge) for orthopraxy (right living). Here's what Scripture says.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 2:1-9
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.

Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

I believe that wisdom is a mindset, an understanding of what the Lord's will is. From that flows a lifestyle of wisdom, both in the choices we make and the influence we have with others. The only way to have true wisdom is knowing God, and being known by God. This "know" isn't a detached, classroom understanding, but an intimate, relational understanding of who Christ is.

Leadership

I thought I would spend the next few days talking about my views on leadership within the church. Leadership, when you boil it down, is about influence. As followers of Christ, we are all called to influence the culture and community around us, so it would follow that we are all called to be leaders.

Now, I'm not necessarily talking about "leaders" in the typical way. Many people will lead and influence people without ever feeling or looking like a "leader". Therefore, I'm not going to explore practices for leadership, but rather the mindset of a leader. What flows out depends on the personality and relationships of the individual.

Let's start with the basics.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Flowing from these, there are other passages of Scripture that describe what a lived-out faith looks like.

2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Romans 12:9-21
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

So, at the core of how we lead our lives is faith, hope, and love. Within each of those is a basic development of both mindset and action, each producing a balanced leader. I think it looks something like this:I'll spend the next several posts explaining my rationale for these and how I think it truly influences our relationship with God and with those we love.

There Goes My Hero

She's even got her rock face on!

Great Minds and All That

This is for Brent.

Science Fiction: An Apologetic

Last night, ABC aired the first in what is destined to become a short-lived anthology series called "Masters of Science Fiction." Basically, each week they'll show a stand-alone show based off of a science-fiction writer's work.

Those who know me know I love this sort of thing, but may have difficulty knowing why. My favorite shows, both past and present, have a strong scifi leaning (Quantum Leap, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: TNG, Lost, Heroes, etc.). Sure, there's the futuristic elements that I like, the special effects and element of wonder, but I don't think that's the primary draw for me.

I believe that science fiction can raise questions about our present values that perhaps we may not see immediately. They can make us think about the world around us in new ways, discovering new understanding. I think Battlestar Galactica (the new one) is a great example. One episode has more real drama than a season's worth of Grey's Anatomy, but I think many people are turned off because it has robots and is set in space instead of a law firm or a hospital.

By seeing how humans react in these settings, we get a glimpse of ourselves as well. And because the setting is so different, it allows us to approach the values objectively. We are forced to listen to the characters' perspectives, their values and morals, before we make a judgment about them.

BSG asks serious questions about the war on terror; ST:TNG, about the nature of belonging and cultures; Quantum Leap, about meaning and significance, X-Men, about acceptance and tolerance. As a follower of Christ, I can't help but think about these things as well. For hundreds of years, there's been a surge in science fiction on the eve of great changes in our society. This trend continues today, as post-modernism is shaping our culture.

So, all these posts about science fiction and quantum theory and other geek things aren't simply the response of a mind fascinated with the future. It comes from a heart that is fascinated with people, how we live and what future we create. As a follower of Christ, it just seems natural.

Kylie's Special Day

Today we decided to make Kylie's Special Day, her one last all-about-her day before Kathryn arrives. We started with a tour of the hospital where Erika will deliver. Kylie got to see a newborn baby and learn about everything that will happen that day.

Then, we went to Build-a-Bear. She picked out a bear comfortable enough to take a nap with, and began stuffing.

The helper asked her name. "Kylie," she said. "How do you spell that?" And before I could answer, Kylie says, "K-Y-L-I-E." I was amazed.

Kylie scrubbed her off, then we selected her dress. They have Disney princess clothes, so it was a matter of selecting which one. After quite a time of indecision, she picked Mulan's dress-up.

After we finished up, we went to eat at Chick-Fil-A, then bought some candy and headed home. She's upstairs playing dress up right now. I just know that Kathryn's going to have a great big sister to help her out.

Geek Cooking

I like to cook. To me, it's not unlike a chemistry set. You've got solutions and mixing and heat. You can experiment by adding stuff you probably shouldn't. With cooking though, you get to eat your concoction.

With this geeky approach to cooking, it's no wonder that I enjoy watching Alton Brown. He hosts Good Eats on the Food Network. The show is one part Mr. Wizard and one part Peewee's Playhouse, with cooking. Most people I know (typically non-geeks) don't like him much.

This week I've been watching his miniseries from last year, Feasting on Asphalt. He rides across the country tasting the smaller "road food" places that dot the landscape. This weekend, he'll be heading up the Mississippi River.

Before you judge my TV habits, just remember that it's summer and nothing is on.

Budget Dining

It's the last day of the month, which means it's budget dining day! Usually this means breakfast for dinner, and tonight was no different.

A staple at our breakfast for dinner table growing up was biscuits with peanut butter and syrup. Now, the best mixture requires crunchy peanut butter, something I rarely eat, so we made do with creamy. I haven't had it in a while, but it certainly brings back memories.

Erika never grew up with this stuff, so I was wondering if anyone else had. I know there's probably some other people out there with some good "poor food" recipes. Let me know your favorites!

Don't Stop

Momentum in all aspects of my life is converging to this point in the not-too-distant future. Over the course of the next month or so, I'll be starting Bible studies (maybe a couple), having a baby (not me, but you get the drift), planning loads of community events, figuring out how to get to Africa, and maybe even help another church get off the ground.

Erika and I were talking about all of this in light of the new baby, and both agreed that life doesn't stop just because you have kids. We have the opportunity to do some great things, world-changing things, and I want Kylie and Kathryn to know that you have to make the most of the opportunities that come along. Sometimes, you only get one shot. I'm thankful to have a family that moves along the rhythm of life together, that finds the resonance of God in this world and chases him.

Saturday is for Singing

Jars of Clay's "Love Song for a Savior" was one of the first "Christian" songs I heard when I got into church. It's a simple song about simple faith, and I think it's very appropriate for what my faith was like when I started my relationship with God.

The church I started out in was your typical East Texas Baptist church in most ways. Hymns, pews, choirs, little old ladies. But I went every Sunday, even if that meant driving myself (underage at the time). I fell in love with the people there, and fell in love with Jesus there. I think in that order. My brother and I were welcomed there, even though we didn't know squat about the Bible or anything else. People loved us, and you could tell they loved us because they loved Christ.

In part, my philosophy about what it means to be a follower of Christ started there. Love God, love people. Simple faith. It's interesting how little it really takes for someone to find God. Belonging. Encouragement. Trust. Simple, but powerful. I can't imagine how different my life would be without it.

Africa Approaches

Things continue to move forward in our Sister City program with Chililabombwe, Zambia. Actually, it looks like I'll be going to Africa around the end of January. In what I can only credit to God's providence, there's a strong chance that I'll get to go for about 25% of the cost I thought. We'll probably take more than 10 people too, rather than 3 or 4. There's even a good chance that one of the local hospitals will donate the vaccinations, since they are not covered by insurance.

I'll have to start some of the shots now, and continue with them for six months. It's kinda scary, thinking about getting weakened third-world diseases injected into your body. But when you hear about how much need exists, and how we as a community have the power to help make a difference, it's hard thinking about things like that.

I had dinner earlier this week with some people who have a passion about the environment, and their background and passion can be used as well. The only thing I lack now is someone willing to write grants for some funding.

In the meantime, we're looking at trying to do something to help with the malaria problem over there. Kylie's been talking about how we're going to fight Malaria, as if she's an evil queen from a fairy tale. Her and the mosquito hoards she uses as her minions. It makes me feel like a superhero, so I just play along.

Quantum History

I don't know why, but I seem to be running across a lot of articles on quantum theory lately. Check out this article from Newsweek, which is probably the easiest to understand of the bunch. Some scientists are coming to the conclusion that "something that happens now is affected by something that happens in the future."

?!?

Right now this is only speculation, and speculation on a subatomic level at that. I'm not interested in the science as much as I am in it's philosophical implications. Is it possible that, instead of allowing our past to shape us into who we are, we should allow our future? Is that what God has been calling us to do all along?

Names of God

From a conversation earlier today.

Kylie: Why did God tell Moses "I AM THAT I AM"? (This is from The Prince of Egypt, which she watches often.)

Me: Well, God has lots of different names, and that is one of them.

Kylie: What else is his names?

Me: Sometimes people called him Yahweh.

Kylie: Yahweh? No way!

That's my girl, making jokes. She's learning from the best.

Becoming Hope

I read this piece from the L.A. Times tonight, and it made me sad. What really struck me was the final paragraph:

Clearly, I saw now that belief in God, no matter how grounded, requires at some point a leap of faith. Either you have the gift of faith or you don't. It's not a choice. It can't be willed into existence. And there's no faking it if you're honest about the state of your soul.

How could someone who started off so strong for God find themselves in that conclusion? Why does faith seem so fragile sometimes?

I think that "faith" isn't really the issue, it's hope. Hope is what is so easily broken. Hope is the thing that cynics lack, that the desperate are desperate for, the very thing we hold out for. It's often our last line of defense against a world that is broken and bruised, often leaving us black and blue in the process.

I'm developing a sermon thought, still in its very early stages at this point, along these lines: supposing Christ's mission in this world centered around hope. As his followers, shouldn't that be ours as well? And if so, what are we doing to create and develop hope in others? I think we normally see hope as some abstract, wait-and-see kind of thing. Yet, the hope that Christ showed never stuttered, never became passive, but moved.

What if we, as followers, became hope? Hope pointing the way to our source of hope, Christ. Promises delivered by the promised deliverer. Seems to me that there would be few reasons to lose it to begin with.

Saturday is for Singing

This is one of Kylie's favorites. I like the debut album by The Fray, also titled "How to Save a Life". "She Is" is a cool song, although it's not been released as a single yet.

Busy day, busy week. Probably will be for a while.

100 Somethings

So, it's my 100th post, and I wanted to do something with a list of 100 (harder to do than I thought). Here's my list of 100 favorite movies of my lifetime (ordered by release date).

1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
2. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1980) - actually, all of the Indiana Jones movies.
3. E.T. (1982)
4. Poltergeist (1982)
5. The Secret of NIMH (1982)
6. Ghostbusters (1984)
7. Gremlins (1984)
8. Back to the Future (1985) - all of these too.
9. The Goonies (1985)
10. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
11. An American Tail (1986)
12. The Untouchables (1987)
13. The Princess Bride (1987)
14. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
15. Big (1988)
16. Die Hard (1988)
17. Beetlejuice (1988)
18. Field of Dreams (1989)
19. Uncle Buck (1989)
20. Home Alone (1990)
21. Flatliners (1990)
22. Goodfellas (1990)
23. Misery (1990)
24. Total Recall (1990)
25. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
26. City Slickers (1991)
27. Dead Again (1991)
28. Hudson Hawk (1991)
29. What About Bob? (1991)
30. A Few Good Men (1992)
31. Army of Darkness (1992)
32. Leap of Faith (1992)
33. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
34. Jurassic Park (1993)
35. The Fugitive (1993)
36. Schindler's List (1993)
37. Tombstone (1993)
38. The Lion King (1994)
39. Forrest Gump (1994)
40. True Lies (1994)
41. Dumb and Dumber (1994)
42. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
43. Goldeneye (1995)
44. Apollo 13 (1995)
45. Braveheart (1995)
46. Les Miserables (1995)
47. Tommy Boy (1995)
48. The Usual Suspects (1995)
49. Independence Day (1996)
50. The Rock (1996)
51. The Frighteners (1996)
52. Men in Black (1997)
53. The Fifth Element (1997)
54. L.A. Confidential (1997)
55. Cop Land (1997)
56. The Edge (1997)
57. Gattaca (1997)
58. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
59. The Big Lebowski (1998)
60. The Prince of Egypt (1998)
61. The Truman Show (1998)
62. The Matrix (1999)
63. Cast Away (2000)
64. Memento (2000)
65. Unbreakable (2000)
66. The Lord of the Rings (2001)
67. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
68. Training Day (2001)
69. Donnie Darko (2001)
70. Spider-Man (2002)
71. Signs (2002)
72. Minority Report (2002)
73. 28 Days Later (2002)
74. About a Boy (2002)
75. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
76. X-Men 2 (2003)
77. Big Fish (2003)
78. Elf (2003)
79. Old School (2003)
80. School of Rock (2003)
81. The Incredibles (2004)
82. Crash (2004)
83. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
84. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
85. Layer Cake (2004)
86. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
87. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
88. Primer (2004)
89. Saved! (2004)
90. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
91. Batman Begins (2005)
92. Cinderella Man (2005)
93. Munich (2005)
94. Casino Royale (2006)
95. United 93 (2006)
96. The Departed (2006)
97. The Prestige (2006)
98. Borat (2006)
99. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
100. Children of Men (2006)