Stolen From Twitter

This is a great way of thinking about your devotional life in 2010. If it doesn't sound like you, or seems overly rigid (or lax) keep reading. There is the right amount of encouragement towards flexibility and the right amount of suck-it-up-juice implied.

Enjoy.

Jesusland

Many a Ben Fold's song is much to linguistically vulgar for me to post the lyrics here, but his music has always made me think. Ben is a bit of a cynic...okay, I don't know if the man believes in anything. But, I think he makes a good point about the hypocrisy and divides we find in this "Christian" nation. Take a look.


Take a walk
out the gate you go and never stop
past all the stores and wig shops
quarter in a cup for every block
and watch the buildings grow
smaller as you go

Down the tracks
beautiful McMansions on a hill
that overlook a highway
with riverboat casinos and you still
have yet to see a soul

Jesusland
Jesusland

Town to town
broadcast to each house, they drop your name
but no one knows your face
Billboards quoting things you'd never say
you hang your head and pray

for Jesusland
Jesusland

Miles and miles
and the sun goin' down
Pulses glow
from their homes
You're not alone
Lights come on
as you lay your weary head on their lawn

Parking lots
cracked and growing grass you see it all
from offices to farms
crosses flying high above the malls
A longer walk

through Jesusland
Jesusland

-Natalie

Post-Sermon Blog: Wilderness

I spent all afternoon semi-consciously thinking through what I wanted to say about John the Baptist, and the importance of his personal life before God (supposed to be Main Point 2 :) .

John spent significant time in the wilderness as a boy; one pastor said he essentially skipped adolescence through his wilderness time. He was also full of the Spirit - which means his mind and affections were set upon the LORD (this plays out in different ways throughout the Bible). The two go hand in hand, and the result was a courageous man (not boy, or guy).

Because John went to the wilderness, he knew who he was before God. This prepared him to be able to worship his younger cousin - another Jewish man. John's time in the wilderness gave him courage to call the religious leaders of the day "vipers", to call the military people who came to him 'cowards' (read between the lines of "stop extorting people with threats in Luke 3), and to call the local mayor a sinner who should publicly repent (not call a press conference and do everything but repent).

I will leave it up to you to determine how to get to the wilderness yourself - be it metaphor or literal. But, if you're like me it would encourage your heart as a man (or woman), husband (or wife), friend, son (or daughter), employee, and simply as a human being - to know who you are before Christ. I pray that you will enter the Holidays full of the knowledge of who you are in Christ (For John he began with who he was in God, and moved to who he was in Christ!). I pray also that this knowledge will give you the courage to relate to your family, engage the inevitable loneliness of the holidays, and move forward in love to those around you.

Merry Christmas; hope to see you at the Christmas Eve Service.

Yours,
Matt Blazer

Top Ten Reasons you should come to the Riverside Gallery

10. Everything is priced at 60 or under
9. Food/Beverages are free (and good)
8. It makes you more sensitive if part of your date involved your support of a local non-profit Art Gallery
7. It makes you cooler if part of your Friday Night plans involved your support of a local non-profit Gallery (try using this line in conversation, "Yeah, let's go there, but first we should all stop by this non-profit Art Gallery and have a drink..."). How can you possibly lose?
6. The artists are very talented
5. Mary is one of the artists... If you're from Riverside, you love Mary and want to support her :)
4. It is an entertaining show: ceramics, headbands made of wire (or something), small photos and prints of paintings, birds talking to each other...
3. A blog has never really effected any kind of change to your life or schedule. UNTIL NOW!! MWA...
2. Your Friday Night plans are neither that good nor that intact...
1. You need AT LEAST one more Christmas Present for someone

-Yours,
Matt Blazer; Curator

curator |ˈkyoŏrˌātər; kyoŏˈrātər; ˈkyoŏrətər|
noun: a keeper or custodian of a museum or other collection.
Derivatives
curatorial: adjective
curatorship: noun
Origin: late Middle English (denoting an ecclesiastical pastor, also (still a Scots legal term) the guardian of a minor): from Old French curateur or, in later use, directly from Latin curator, from curare (see cure ). The current sense dates from the mid 17th century.

Theology Thursday: Christmas Discussion

Bob: The Christmas holiday is slowly creeping into my soul, but there is one nagging question that I have dismissed as unimportant, but I would still feel good to have an answer. December 25...It is officially Christmas Day, but I'm not sure how to take this day. Is it an actual date or an observed date? It would be great to believe that it is an actual day, but calendars throughout time have changed, and lunar cycles change, so I'm left with a sense that the day doesn't matter as much as the season and the events that are celebrated. I feel like I need more information about this question, so I can put it to bed forever.

Short Video of the History of Christmas

Matt: I think what we run into with Christmas (and many other dates/holidays) are a combination of celebrations - syncretism religiously, genius-marketing culturally. It seems to me that Christian holidays arouse a lot of ire (of course, as a pastor I MIGHT be more sensitive), and I think it is because we forget to highlight the focus. Very few people/scholars will dispute that Jesus of Nazareth existed, but an equal few actually live their lives feeling the weight of his (supposed) resurrection. Meaning: the Bible doesn't really get into Christmas the way we do, but if we are confident of the resurrection (and then, the atonement and so forth) then we celebrate the fact that God got personally involved. Then we are left - as individuals, families, churches - to choose what we celebrate and how; the focus being that God chose to get involved (Ryan A. quote), and then the rest being fun, old traditions.

A Decade of music - Retrospective

As this is kind of, but not technically, the end of the decade I find myself confronted with all kinds of lists. There is no such thing as a perfect list, they are all terribly subjective, and I try to avoid strong opinions of subjective material in these parts. Not today. The following list is the albums from each year of the 00’s that represents that year in music to me the most. I am not pretending to post the best album; I am focusing more on their staying power with me and their effects on me and other culture. The basic test is what is the number 1 record I think of when I think of that year. Since I know next to nothing about mainstream pop this list is almost completely devoid of it. My hope in this is to either peak your interest in something you missed last decade, or remind you of something that you will want to listen to again. Here goes nothing…

2000: Radiohead, Kid A
This is an album of desolation, mourning and, in my opinion, it expanded the boundaries of what pop music can be. This is a concept album, it isn’t for the faint of heart, it is difficult, but it is as close to perfect as recorded music can be. It is my record of the decade.
Honorable mention: Modest Mouse, The Moon and Antarctica.

2001: The Strokes, Is This It
I really wanted to dislike this album. I tried hard to but it is infectious, especially as I am farther removed from the hype. It is tight, lean, and a great pop record.
Honorable mention: Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack

2002: Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head
I personally consider this the last good Coldplay album. I know that will bother some of the readers so I won’t go further into that. All I need to say about this record is that it was featured prominently in my wedding. Songs like Clocks and The Scientist were instant classics. When I think of this record I think of my wife – I think sappy thoughts, Coldplay is a sappy band, 2002 was a sappy year for me.
Honorable mention: There is a lot to choose from here, in the interest of mass appeal I choose Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2003: The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow
One indie-pop gem after another. The only negative is that it lasts less that thirty minutes. This album is irresistible, the lyrics are great and the guitar lines are better.
Honorable mention: The Postal Service, Give Up

2004: The Arcade Fire, Funeral
If not for my irrational Radiohead fandom this would be my record of the decade. Alas, it must take a photo-finish second place in my book. The theme seems to begin with escapism, the desire to flee our Neighborhood in our youth and then the desire to return to it, and its security, when we reach adulthood. This album combines grief, pain, and failure with hope and love. In other words, it is a picture of the Gospel. If you haven’t listened to this yet, and you care about music, do it now.
Honorable mention: TV on the Radio, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

2005: Sufjan Stevens, Illinois
This album features glorious melodies and countermelodies grounded in actual locations and true stories. Stevens writes about people in incredibly insightful ways. Who else could make the mind of a serial killer seem relatable?
Honorable mention: Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary.

2006: Band of Horses, Everything All the Time
2006 was the most difficult year for me on this list. Unless I am missing something, which is highly likely, not much came out this year that has really stuck. It could be that I started law school this year and thus hardly listened to any music. Anyway, this record is a compilation of a bunch of lonely rock songs. It is good, but forgettable – like all of 2006 for me.
Honorable mention: Phoenix, It’s Never Been Like That

2007: Feist, The Reminder
The Reminder is my daughter’s favorite album to dance to. Though it was almost ruined by Ipod commercials, 1-2-3-4 is still great. Beyond that, it is an incredibly deep album. It is a very complicated record anchored by Leslie Feist’s brilliant vocals. In stark contrast to the previous year, this was a great year for music. This one edged out the rest for me due to its family friendliness, but just barely.
Honorable mentions (multiple just for this year): The National, Boxer; Radiohead, In Rainbows; M.I.A., Kala; Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga; Arcade Fire, Neon Bible

2008: Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
It took me a long time to get this one. It is the perfect music to make pancakes to on Saturday morning. It feels right. The harmonies are great, and the influences come from all over the place; Folk, indie rock, jam bands, the beach boys…you name it.
Honorable Mention: Frightened Rabbit, Midnight Organ Fight

2009: Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest
This is one meticulous record. Grizzly Bear is a band devoted to the craft and it shows here in a huge way. It isn’t for everyone, it is labor intensive for the listener, however a little work and patience pays off. This is the number three record of the decade in my opinion. This is a must listen for anyone that takes music seriously. If you don’t, stay away.
Honorable mention: Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I hope this list helps you find, or rediscover something. I would love to read your favorites of the decade in the comments or by e-mail.

- jason

Being Without Tools

The Google Reader can be a fantastic tool aggregating information that you would normally have no time to get around to reading, but it can also bring to the surface some odd information that you wish that you wouldn't have been subjected to. This has happened before, but the latest piece of information was called, "why do you believe in God?" It is a pamphlet created in 2005 by someone named Jason Curry that is associated with the humanist society in New Zealand. See what I mean about the Google reader phenomenon about never looking for things, but always finding them. There is no way that I go looking for this document, but now I have to mentally do something with it. This pamphlet is a slick piece of orgranization and layout, and it walks through a number of "issues" with Christian beliefs. I read through some of it, and I realized that I had no answers to any of these things. It made me want to be a Christian scholar or more grounded in my faith. It scared me to have no answers to these questions. After shifting from a very passive religious upbringing to a more active Christian, it has become clear that I have a lot of work to do, and I have hoping that in this season of giving that I can share my gifts with many of you as you share some of your answers with me.

-Bob Dillon

Don't ignore the ordinary: A poem

Our Work

The place He gives us to inhabit.

The few things He gives us to do in that place.

The persons He invites us to know there.

These our days

until He returns.

It is enough then,

this old work of hands

His and ours

to love here

to learn our song,

like crickets that scratch

and croon,

from nooks unseen,

carrying on with

what they were made for,

the night songs of

unnoticed faces,

with our wings unobserved,

until He walks again

in the cool of the day,

to call our names once more.

And we then,

with our stitched white flags,

will with haste from behind His evergreens

finally unhide ourselves.

Unblushed and eager to walk leisurely on.

(Zack Eswine, 2009)

Living without identity

Two incidents recently have reminded me that though I'm in a huge pool of white, male Christians, there is a lack of identity that goes with these parts of who I am. I often represent as friend, father, husband, and principal long before I think about my whiteness or my Christian identity. There is a sense that our culture in many ways supports these other identities, and only through personal efforts are the others a true part of my identity.

How did I get to this point?

I was watching the movie Taking Chance. It is a great movie, and there is a scene in the movie where Kevin Bacon is looking at a set of dogtags from a fallen soldier, and the dogtags have the name, rank, serial number, and claimed religion of the soldier. This took me by surprise. I didn't realize that our soldiers wore their religious identity around their necks. As I thought about this, I concluded that this information was listed mostly to provide Jewish and Muslim soldiers with their specific religious needs if killed, captured or incapacitated. I was wondering if the term Christian was on the dogtags for any reason. Did it mean anything to the Army that they had a Christian identity?

The second part of this comes of the data that I examine daily in my role as a middle school principal. We spent a lot of time looking at important acheivement data, and we spent a huge amount of this time looking at subgroup and minority achievement. I can say with certainty that in the ten years that I have served as assistant principal, there has maybe been 5 times that we have ever talked about white achievement scores. There is a saying in business and education that if you don't measure it, it doesn't matter. I don't know if I believe this phrase, but it does limit our ability to think about whiteness and what having identifying as white means.

We should all have pride in who we are, not in an arrogant limiting way, but in a way that allows us to be strengthened by our identity. I struggle at times to have pride in being a white, Christian male. I wonder if I am alone in this....

-Dr. Robert Dillon

Waiting and Comfort

Okay, so I'm a bit late on this post (Bum finger. See below); many apologies. "Late's better than never, right?" Alas, you'll be the judge of that...

This past Sunday began the season known as Advent, or more commonly called Christmas time, or in the retail world: "The month that will make-or-break us this year." Advent simply means "a coming to," and Christians ponder and celebrate God's "coming to us" during this time of year. As I wondered about preparing my heart for this season, I've been reflecting on a few things.

1. The above Rembrandt painting has been very helpful. Here, Simeon (of whom we spoke on Sunday), stands in awe as he cradles the Lord's Christ. Simeon had been promised that he would not see death until he gazed at The One Through Whom God Would Make Everything Right. What would all the days have been like up until that day of release at the Temple? Rembrandt captured the old man's face and hands perfectly. Awe and wonder in the eyes and mouth, and feeble hands that would not dare drop this Little One. To know of Simeon means to know of his waiting and the vindicating comfort he found as the Baby wiggled in his now-strained arms. Christmas is for those who have (and still are) waited on the kind guarantees of God. The expectant know it best.

2. I broke my finger on Thanksgiving. And there is nothing I can do about it except wait. I can't make the osteoblasts work faster as they repair what is fractured. I don't like this posture of waiting. It reminds me that I loathe my limits and the "draught of Control" goes down nicely. "Simeon, you trouble me."

3. Lastly, I don't want to be 'that guy' that takes to task the current, cultural 'air' (both secular and ecclesial) surrounding Christmas. But, I do (kindly, humbly, and genuinely) ask, "What makes Christmas so joyful in the first place?" More stuff(ing)? The Arrival of a fire insurance policy? Don't get me wrong: Gifts are good and Jesus saving you from your sins is both necessary and true. But Simeon was waiting for something much bigger: the World, at last, being put to rights (you can listen to the sermon for more). God, finally, rent time and space like wet toilet paper to rescue a Pining Bride and mend what faded in the Garden.

Watts' Joy to the World only 'sings' when Brooks' "hopes and fears of all the years" are known deep down. I'm seeking to know this and look forward to the Second Christmas. If you're waiting like this, you've got something to teach me.

Pop Poetry - Pink

It seems to me that Pink has always made it a point to be honest with her lyrics, and I appreciate that - especially in the world of pop music. In her latest album, Funhouse, Pink deals with many demons and processes emotions from her divorce. The reason I'm featuring two of her songs today is that I think there is something important for us to hear in her lyrics.

In Please Don't Leave Me I hear the fear and vulnerability that comes with my human attempt at unconditional love. I can't understand why the people that I love the most are usually the people that I can be the harshest with. It's scary. It's scary to see the darkest parts of my heart exposed when I let my anger get the best of me. It's scary to think that when the people I love see that darkness, they might want to leave.

God tells me, "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Josh 1:5) It is only when I am walking in the truth of God's unfailing and unchanging love that I can love others well and accept His grace and healing for the darkest places in my heart.

Pink – Please Don’t Leave Me

I don't know if I can yell any louder
How many time I've kicked you outta here?
Or said something insulting?

I can be so mean when I wanna be
I am capable of really anything
I can cut you into pieces
But my heart is broken

Please don't leave me
Please don't leave me
I always say how I don't need you
But it's always gonna come right back to this
Please, don't leave me

How did I become so obnoxious?
What is it with you that makes me act like this?
I've never been this nasty

Can't you tell that this is all just a contest?
The one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest
But baby I don't mean it
I mean it, I promise

Please don't leave me
Oh please don't leave me
I always say how I don't need you
But it's always gonna come right back to this
Please, don't leave me

I forgot to say out loud how beautiful you really are to me
I cannot be without, you're my perfect little punching bag
And I need you, I'm sorry

Please, please don't leave me
Baby please don't leave me
No, don't leave me
Please don't leave me no no no

I always say that I don't need you
But it's always gonna come right back
Please, don't leave me

Baby, please, please don't leave me

Sober brings me face to face with the vices in my life; the things that I run to for comfort, for distraction, for temporary peace. Pink sings about being the girl she doesn't want to be, and trying to figure out how the better side can win. It reminds me of when Paul said, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans 7:15-20)

Pink - Sober

I don't wanna be the girl who laughs the loudest
Or the girl who never wants to be alone
I don't wanna be that call at 4 o'clock in the morning
'Cuz I'm the only one you know in the world that won't be home

The sun is blinding
I stayed up again
I am finding
That's not the way I want my story to end

I'm safe Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain Inside
You're my protection
But how do I feel this good sober?

I don't wanna be the girl who has to fill the silence
To cry it scares me cause it screams the truth
Please don't tell me that we had that conversation
I won't remember, save your breath, 'cuz what's the use?

The night is calling
And it whispers to me softly come and play
I am falling
And If I let myself go I'm the only one to blame

I'm safe Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain Inside
You're like perfection
But how do I feel this good sober?

Coming down, coming down, coming down
Spinning 'round, spinning 'round, spinning 'round
Looking for myself
Sober

When it's good, then it's good, it's so good till it goes bad
Till you're trying to find the you that you once had
I have heard myself cry, never again
Broken down in agony just trying to find a friend

I'm safe Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain Inside
You're like perfection
How do I feel this good sober

So, Pink as poetry. Think it's a stretch?
-Natalie

Pop Poetry V6

I think these lyrics are all I need to post this time. What do they stir in you? Natalie

Laughing With - Regina Spektor

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very
poor

No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God

Happy Meal

My older two children were toddlers at the time. We chose the drive-thru of their favorite place for lunch. The box was colorful. A gift wrapped for each child. It was like Christmas. Inside there was food. But food was not the reason for their excitement. We sat expectant because we knew that toys waited. Time after time in this drive-thru each lunch brought a new toy.

But not this time. Faces shone. Little hands pulled out the food in haste and scattered fries and nuggets on the seat and dangling toward the floor. Toddler eyes called for back-up and entered every corner and nook of that box. But the box was empty. All the gift offered was food.

I looked at the drive-thru lady. She shrugged her shoulders. With a great deal of empathy she said, "We're all out of toys today." Grimace shadowed my countenance. I looked back at these little ones and bravely spoke the words. "I'm sorry guys, there is no toy today."

Tears trickled at first. And then like waters charging a dam, cries burst out and flooded the car. We sat there unhappy with our meal. We had to face the day with no toy.

My IPOD and my saxophone

I found this article by Christianity Today's Andy Crouch to be a subtle and powerful explanation of the way our culture thinks about music.

He says this, "There is a big difference between playing a CD and playing a fugue. One is instantly rewarding, the other takes time and patience. One satisfies, the other requires a sacrifice. One is godlike—Yo-Yo Ma or Radiohead play flawlessly at your command—while the other reminds you just how small a creature you are. One is a purchase, the other is a practice."

To Read More...

Does this apply to you?

Thoughts?

Discuss...

Content

A new Ipod "Classic" has 160gb of storage. That is astounding to me. Apple claims that it can store 40,000 songs. That number is a little dubious as those songs would have to be awfully short to fit and you really only get 148gb of storage, so lets call it 30,000 songs or so. By my calculation, legally purchasing this many songs would run you around $29,700.00. Of course this is a bit of an exaggerated figure as there are sales, there is free content like podcasts, etc. but the point remains that the amount of data most of us can fairly easily afford to store on a portable device is far in excess of the amount of data we can afford to put on that device.

This puts people like myself in an awkward position. I have a gigantic appetite for both new music and old music that I haven't purchased yet. I have a device that can hold more than I can think of in my pocket, and then there is a massive wall of temptation barrelling down on me.

In the first five years of Itunes' existence it sold six billion songs. That sounds like a lot, however Bill Wyman (of NPR and Salon.com noteriety) quickly shows what a small number that is. He tracked some popular torrent sites. In particular he showed that one Beatles Torrent, which contained 300 songs was downloaded 20,000 times in just five days. That means that six million songs were downloaded illegally, from one file, of one band, in five days. That is 1% of the songs that Itunes has sold in five years. Thus, when you extrapolate that out to all the existing music ever produced, it is obvious that illegal downloads dwarf legal, and paid for, ones.

Does the fact that "everyone" is doing it negate the fact that it is wanton copyright infringement and therefore illegal? No. Does it make it a lot easier to justify? You bet. I justify it in my head by saying that I will see the band live, or I will purchase it later, but even if I actually followed through with that, would it make it ok? Stealing is stealing...isn't it?

This is one of the topics I hope to talk about at On Tap, Thursday, 7-9 at Llywelyn's Pub. I hope you will join us and discuss your views on this and other music related topics. Don't worry, we won't take your full names in case someone from the RIAA is present.

- jason

license, legalism and holiness

Three persons stood before God.

The first stood somber and began to recite the Ten Commandments.

The Second laughed, rolled his eyes and offered God a Rated-R DVD and a Budweiser.

At this, the first burst into outrage. “I thank God I’m not like you,” she shouted. She pulled out a rated PG movie and a Diet Coke to give to God. Then, She began to stomp her feet and shout “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!”

Amid the shouting and the stomping, the second lit a cigar. “Hell, I thank God I’m not like you,” he stated. He offered God the Cigar. “Gracious, Gracious, Gracious is the Lord!” he repeated.

As the first and the second jostled with each other for whose gift God would receive, they did not notice that God had left them. Some time ago he had stood up amid the noise, and walked toward the third person, who at some distance was laying sorrowful, faithful, waiting with nose to the ground, hands empty, fearing, longing.

God bent down. He reached and touched. He lifted the third one’s head. Their eyes met. Joy rested there, while the first two barked on in His absence; one with her soda, the other with his shot glass and both of them stomping on.

Parenting Page: Pursuit

This has been a rough year for Caroline, our 3 and a half year old. I was sick from March though August, Julia has started walking :), and now I am working full time. When school was the dominant part of my time I would often sacrifice an A for a B in order to make sure I got good time with my girls. With work it is entirely different, and I am simply gone from the house more (and I cannot do work at night in my basement like i could with school... I did make some A's in Seminary :) ).

So, when I go home today there is a good chance Caroline will say (in a half-yell), "No, Daddy (BURN-E/Fillmore the Bus/Terrence /Eric) go in the dining room..." Or, "Don't Come in". The only thing that has been harder as a parent (for me) is when she didn't want to talk with Rachel after Julia was born.

I have learned to pursue my daughter through this. She will almost always relent to being chased. I have to be careful to chase in such a way that she doesn't get to run directly to Mommy, but I can almost always convince her that chasing is good. Caroline is a sucker for being thrown up in the air. It is rare that she doesn't like it, or being swung around. Julia is a different story, she has her mother's issues with motion. But Julia also runs to me when I get home.

I am not a great pursuer in some relationships, but I do know how to pursue Caroline. When I was sick I would pray for the energy to chase her. Now I have it, and I so easily forget! It means so much to her heart when we do it. There are a lot of analogies there, about God, about parents, and about love. But, the purpose of this post is to simply encourage you to pursue your child this afternoon or evening. You were probably going to anyway. If you do not have children, pursue a good friend - call them, and begin with obvious excitement if you get them on the phone (this is adult chasing maybe?). Have a good Wednesday.

-Matt Blazer

Better than Pop, this is Patty Griffin!

Patty Griffin is by far my absolute favorite singer song writer I have ever come across. She's like a female Bob Dylan that can actually sing. Love her lyrics, love her melodies, love her arrangements...LOVE her!

Today I'm featuring a song off of her first album, Living With Ghosts. This song gripped me the first time I heard it and has never let go. Patty is an incredible story teller in her songs. Here she embodies the child of a "poor man." For me, the song captures hauntingly what it is to be below the poverty level, and in a way it transcends a place, and solely pictures a situation.


"Poor Man's House"

You know you've done enough when every bone is sore
You know you've prayed enough when you don't ask any more
You know you're coming to some kind of understanding
When every dream you've dreamed has passed and you're still standing
Mama says god tends to every little skinny sheep
So count your ribs and say your prayers and get to sleep
Nothing is louder to god's ears than a poor mans sorrow
Daddy is poor today and he will be poor tomorrow

Hey that's the poor man's house
Everybody get a look at the poor man's house
Everywhere they went before must have turned them out
And now they're living in a poor man's house

There's nothing like poverty to get you into heaven
They got a lot of wine and fish up there
And the bread's unleavened
They got a lot of ears that heard a whip go crack
Lots of missing toes and fingers and scars upon their backs
Daddy's been working too much for days and days and doesn't eat
He never says much but I think this time it's got a meaning
It isn't that he isn't strong or kind or clever
Your daddy's poor today And he'll be poor forever

Hey that's the poor man's house
Those kids are living in a poor man's house
They walk to school with the soles of their shoes worn out
And come home in the evening to the poor man's house

What are you chopping that wood for
Why are you growing that corn
Mama's sewing a brand new shirt and
You're wearing the one that's torn
I guess it's for some one else's kid who wasn't born
In a poor man's house

Hey take a look at that house
Everybody we're living in a poor man's house
Seems like everywhere we go they find us out
Find out that we've been living in a poor man's house

I think the reason the songs chills me to the core is the lack of real hope. Part of that is reality, as far as their monetary condition is concerned. But she's right, the sorrow of a poor man is definitely heard by God.

Psalm 31:6
Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Ancient Paths for the Soul

I remember the path I took every morning toward Saint Anthony Elementary. I was a boy who rain or shine, walked to school. Marshall Avenue was my road. Just across from the Methodist Church yard at Bowne Avenue, several small apartments formed a huddle every morning on the right. If a boy had the courage he could turn strategically from the road into that strange bunch. He could walk into a run if need be while passing the mutterings of apartment doors ready to open or rustlings from within waiting to shout. For just beyond the legs of the last apartment stood a row of trees. And if you knew where to look for it, a path waited expectantly ready to say, “This is the way walk in it.” A field, open and secure was the reward for such courage. Just beyond that field the Saint Anthony Playground waited. It was as if each new dawn spoke to me, saying, “Step off of the road, boy. Take the path and you’ll have minutes more to play before school.”

I'm not a boy anymore. By coming to terms with that fact, I am not stating that my hankering for a good path is diminished. Its just that I need paths that possess the capacity to rest my soul amid this restless wrangling of days. I'm trying to figure out how to get from here to there intellectually, emotionally, daily in such a way that my interior life remains whole and strong. Jesus points me to Eden, to the Prodigal and to home. He bids me consider the three paths of solitude, hospitality and wisdom on which to travel and find with Him my way. Meanwhile, a man selling paths whistles at me. "Hey man" he says. "I got the goods you want." "What are you peddling now?" I say. "I got plenty of celebrity" he says. "Immediately a crowd forms to clap for me, a woman calls her eyes to flirt with me. "I know you like applause" he continues "and attention." (A spotlight then shines on me, a band starts to play). Then he adds, "I also got some good productivity and immediate gratification for you too." "You can stay busy, give people constant product and never have to wait for anything. Hell, you won't have any more boredom, no more reflection, only work, buzz and appreciation." Everyone cheers, some reach to shake my hand, others begin to flatter me with how awesome they think I am.

"What will it cost me?" I inquire. The music gets louder. "A restful soul" he shouts. "But no worries man, I've known lots of people go almost their whole lives without a restful soul . . .and they don't seem to mind at all."

Bad Habits and Busyness

Yesterday my best friend called at 10:15 AM to tell me he was unexpectedly coming into town. I was in a meeting and told him I would call him back in 2 minutes. Needless to say I was excited to re-arrange my day so we could hang out. Today I got a call from a friend at about 4:00 PM wondering if I had hung out with Matt (my best friend). 30 hours later, and I had not yet remembered to call him back.

Eugene Peterson says that when he is busy it is for one of two reasons. 1 - He writes, "I am busy because I am vain... I am busy because I am lazy."

Vanity explained this way, "When others notice (me), they acknowledge my significance, and my vanity is fed."

Laziness explained this way, "By lazily abdicating the essential work of deciding (how it is best to spend our time)... other people do it for us... to stave off the disaster of disappointing someone."

Peterson is talking about pastors. But I think it applies to you. I miss my friend; he is recently married and I do now know his wife as well as I wish I did (she was here also). We did not get to have lunch/dinner/cigar/coffee/hugs/conversation because I struggle with vanity and laziness.

Thoughts???

Discuss...

-Matt Blazer

Joshua Tree

Friday evening my wife and I listened to U2's Joshua Tree while preparing dinner. Because I was five years old when this album came out the U2 I am more familiar with is the one that makes spanish words up while selling Ipods. I am mixed on that U2, but the band that made Joshua True, October, and War is astounding (not exactly breaking any new ground here, I know).

I am not generally one to distinguish between Christian and non-Christian music, at least in that vast realm of gray in between "Amazing Grace" and "Me So Horny". But if I were to do so, this album would fall squarely on the Christian side, and I think I would nominate it as the best Christian album ever recorded. If there is a theme to the album I think that it would be longing. The song that drives the theme most clearly is "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which boldly states: "I believe in the Kingdom Come/Then all the colors will bleed into one/But yes, I'm still running/You broke the bonds/You loosed the chains/You carried the cross and my shame/You know I believe it/But I still haven't found what I'm looking for." It is tempting for the more legalistic of us to take offense at that last part. In fact, a common question I read when travelling entirely too deep into message boards is how can Bono really believe that God will redeem the world, that Christ died for the world's sins, and still not have found what he is looking for? I suppose my answer to that question would be that he does it the same way all of us who call ourselves Christians should.

By God's grace I fully believe that he sent his Son to die for me and that one day the world will be redeemed, but in the meantime life can be so incredibly frustrating. I long for the day when my children won't cry, when my sin won't hurt those around me, when other's sin won't hurt me, when there is peace and when I don't have to watch my grandparents slowly die. That is what I am looking for, and I still haven't found it. That is frustrating, despite the fact that I know it will change someday, maybe even more so because of our awareness of the fall.

Next time you have had a long day or week I would recommend you throw this album on. It still sounds modern despite being 22 years old, and it expresses the deep rooted pain of our participation in this broken world in an honest and direct way while also fully acknowledging the miracle of our salvation and redemption.

- jason

What kind of life are we meant to do together?

We are meant to do life together. To accept and pursue this purpose however, we must examine our assumptions.

What kind of togetherness are we meant to have? Localities are not often healed by gangs or clubs or networks of people who use their togetherness in order to loot neighbors and promote locked doors. A togetherness of meanness does not offer the hospitable grace our individual dignity warrants and requires.

A togetherness of misdirected tolerance doesn't suit us either however. It does no good for the child to tolerate her walking out into the street while cars are coming, even if that child really wants to. Even if that child will trantrum-cry if the baby-sitter should find the courage to say with all love and the experience of wisdom, "no." A togetherness of this kind of tolerance, is misguided because it celebrates disrespect to those who must endure it, as if the enduring one's are foolish about what is wise and hospitable, and implies that the tantrum-thrower possesses true wisdom. The wolfish one is allowed to roam free to bite and devour the rest.

A togetherness of meanness and a togetherness of misguided tolerance both have this one thing in common. They use community to demean or destroy persons, including themselves. These groups share geographical space but they know only the kind of togetherness that folly can provide.

Togetherness is meant to create a hospitable place for each individual to safely dismantle their folly and steadily find what is wise and good for their comings and goings. Folly is not meant to rule nor provide the entertainment for our evenings.

Jesus invites us into relationship with others. He leads us to do life together. But for togetherness to last, what kind of life must we do? His footsteps and teachings show us the way.

A Global Thing a Local Way

A Global Thing a Local Way:

Two Poems

First Poem By Wendell Berry

There is a day

when the road neither comes nor goes

and the way is not a way

but a place.

Second Poem by Zack Eswine

Not knowing the names of trees

i walk among them.

The rustle of leaves giving space for wind,

offering place for rest,

making its case for home.

I, resisting,

Stare—

at them,

through them,

beyond them,

restless in my own progress.

Flesh and leaf,

the rootless and the rooted.

Unlike my people,

who have long known the names of trees

I, like a distant cousin

or pitied friend must attend

this family reunion

to which I am strange.

Strange because Eden’s familiarity

was snatched from the open

palms of the firstborn grandchild.

Or was it that my palms were dressed by fists

on the morning of school’s first day?

No matter, I have long outrun tables where

stories lived easy in the bodied rest

of conversation that spilled over into

“goodnight,” or “see you in the morning”—

Tilled over into sunrise hands and bloods

touching actual soils and roots.

Unaccustomed to this lingering

I am wrestled inward, exposed

amid a family of barks long surrendered to remaining.

Like the cool which illumines my breath

In snow-frosted woods

I see before my eyes a deep discontent.

It beckons a man to never be where he is.

I stare at the ground looking for roots.

Blog Theft: Joy in the Journey

This blog entry is stolen from Kim's Blog about her family's endeavors with food:

I have little joy right now. One of the main reasons is because my boys have such little joy. Yesterday was a particularly hard morning. Tyler wouldn't talk to anyone (my dad and step-mom are here) and he was falling apart at everything. Grayson, too, was very fussy and melting at the drop of a hat. I made 5 new recipes yesterday and had a pretty bad stomach ache most of the afternoon.

The ironic thing is I started my morning out in God's Word with motivation to rely on God's strength and desire to "make it a good day." I read a devotional about finding joy in your relationship with God and I was struck by the opportunity I have to commune with him in the midst of this trial and struggle. But, I was impatient and crabby and moody and not pleasant to be around. Not exactly on the road to make it a good day.

But, then the afternoon came. My sweet dad came home with a precious little plaque as a surprise present for me. He could tell I needed something. And, my step-mom spent the rest of the afternoon/evening in the kitchen washing dishes as I dirtied them up. We put on music and danced and talked. Even if we were quiet, it was so wonderful just to have someone in the kitchen with me. I really found joy in the community of my family.

This morning I made the connection. I AM NOT ALONE. As I stand in the kitchen for hours, God is present. And, HE CARES. I often think this much life is so trivial that I can only commune with God on the big things. I read this from Oswald Chambers this morning:

"Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . ." (John 14:13 ). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to God’s direction, and He says to pray."

Pray. Commune with God. That is the end...not the means to the end. I get so focused on when we are going to all feel better, be healed. That is what I want to pray for...and I should pray for that but I can not let the healing be my love. Jesus is my love and it is possible to find joy in journeying with him.

-Kim Janous

House Group

This is originally to be found on Greta's Blog

At our church we have these things called housegroups. They are basically a small group of people that get together about once a week and do various things. Our group has shared our life stories and now we are watching a series about the bible that takes us through the actual places where biblical events take place, amazingly NOT boring and each time I watch one I am astounded at the depth of the bible and how much there is to learn from it. Anyway, tonight after we got home from housegroup which my kids by the way LOVE, I was thinking about how opposite it is from the way that the world tells us we should live.

Let me explain what I mean. I think the world tells us to be self-sufficient, strong, independent and self-made. What we do in housegroup is become vulnerable, ask for prayer and help, share burdens, become intimate, create bonds and become other centered, we also laugh tons. When I get sad or angry I tend to isolate, numb myself with television and books, become quiet. Here is the thing about doing that, it prolongs the pain I am going through and harms my relationships with the people I love and care about. Housegroup is a hard place to hide out in and I love that. I am not saying that housegroup is all peaches and roses, it can be difficult. Fitting together a dozen different personalities not to mention their offspring can be quite tricky, feelings get hurt, communication through email can become quite ridiculous, misunderstandings abound- you get the picture. However I truly believe that God likes it like that. He wants us to learn, work through problems, grow and be challenged to call upon him. Me, alone watching Law and Order does not help me grow. Me in a room full of people does. I like living differently than the world tells me I should and I love raising my children to learn about living with people not just next door to them.

-Greta Coalier

The Child-like Source of Jesus' Neighbor Love

Most of us have been loved with a mixture of the following kinds of categories:

1. Little room to grow. Mistakes are ultimate. Potential should be reached immediately.

2. Performance based acceptance. Do good and you are. Do bad and you are.

3. Left to ourselves to scrounge about with hit and miss regarding what is wise and what is foolish in the world.

4. Invitation to distance and superficiality instead of real intimacy

5. Unjustly punished or never rightly or lovingly corrected

We've experienced love in this way. This means we've been mentored to love in these ways. Our attempts at neighbor love are therefore saturated with these assumptions.

But in the mystery of the Trinity (one God, three persons), the Son experienced a very different kind love categories.

1. Though Jesus was the Messiah, He was given room to grow. He was allowed to be 2 before He was expected to be 12, 12 before He held the expectations of being 30. The Father did not rush the carpenter son. Timing mattered. (Luke 2:52)

2. The Father accepted the Son, spoke to the Son of His love and how pleasing the Son is to Him. Identity is based on intrinsic value and covenant. (Luke 3:21-22)

3. The Father taught the Son to discern the Father's voice. The Son was wisely prepared to recognize tempting voices when they came and to act accordingly. (Luke 4:1-13)

4. The Father heard the Son's heart. The Son poured out his Heart to the Father. (Luke 11:1ff; Hebrews 5:7)

5. The Father forsook the Son. (This is unique to Jesus. He bore what a rebellious child must bear when love finally says, "enough, you can have what you want even if it distances us and harms you). Jesus took what we warranted. His substitution (for those who deserve distance and punishment) and sympathy (for those undeservedly treated).

Perhaps Jesus loves his neighbors so well, because He himself in the fullness of his humanity was so loved.

His ways are not our ways.

Thanks be to God!

The TV "On Tap"

Do you think it is our fault that Jon and Kate broke up? The last person I asked said, "Probably."

In the movie Contact aliens send an encrypted message from the star system Vega that does a few things. 1. It shows us an image of Hitler speaking, 2. It shows us how to build a machine to send someone to communicate with the aliens (Jodie Foster in this case, sorry Tom Skerritt).

The Hitler aspect is simply a reference to the 1936 Olympics and the first television signal strong enough to get into space. It is a little unnerving to think that that is the first "signal" we sent!

Tonight we are going to try and have a conversation about television at "On Tap". Where and when and why and how... What do the shows we watch say about us? It should be a fun discussion, and I hope you're able to join us.

Wait just a second there Professor: What I love about Office Space

I often ask our blog authors to write about what it means to love the things they love and to be a Christian. I think it has been a helpful and difficult question for us. I remember the day I asked Jason, and I was struck by my own lack of answer as we talked about jazz. My wife and I watch Mad Men on Sunday Nights. I can go on and on about the acting, the conversations between Jon Hamm and John Slattery, etc. But, I had no idea what my affections with it have to do with faith in Jesus.

Fast Forward to this evening. I had a long day, and recently I have been piecing together one of my old favorite movies, Office Space, after everyone is in bed. The first time I watched Office Space I thought it was funny, but knew that I immediately wanted to watch it again and pay attention to things like body language and tone. I did; it was twice as funny. Please take three minutes to watch the Bobs and their faces (the corresponding scene with Bill Lumbergh is even funnier, "I'll handle this..."). I hope you laugh.

Tonight it dawned on me. As the hilarious scenes roll by, I realize I love watching because the actors in every scene are acknowledging the sheer absurdity of life. Someone owns it in every scene.

As a Christian I am daily struck by life as it is, life as it can get (bad), and life as I dream of it being/becoming. I feel powerless, but I am not. Some days I wish I were! In my conversations I wish I could be free like Peter Gibbons. But, his freedom is a kind of prison. The reason I know that is because I believe the Bible to be true, Jesus who he says he is, and the explanations of what it means to be human valuable, credible, and satisfying to my deepest being. And, because Peter and Michael forget to put the decimals in the right places.

Office Space is about many things - like most stories it is very much about character transformation. But, it is also an obnoxiously accurate commentary on many things about white middle class America. I don't want to think too much about that - I want to watch Office Space and laugh. But, I am aware that it reminds me of desires I have for myself, anxiety I have about the way the world and relationships work, and the incredible call of the Gospel to go into this world and affect reconciliation and peace. Some days I am like Peter - bumbling through my own character growth, some days like Tom Symkowski - "I had an idea once", and I'm sure some days I am like Michael Bolton, "Why should I change, he's the one who sucks".

Have a good Wednesday.

-Matt Blazer