Cagle Journey

The Start-up Hint

2011-12-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

I am not ready to fully reveal what our website will do. However, I can give you a huge hint. We have launched a logo-less blog to start gaining traction with search engines. The idea is that we will slowly build the website and adjust with the feedback that we get. The "thing" that will distinguish us from our competitors is currently being developed. Meanwhile, we will write good articles to generate interest.

Introducing www.collegeconsensus.com/blog.

On the Death Penalty - to a Christian Audience

2011-11-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

(I had to write this for my Christian Ethics class. It had to be less than 500 words. I concede that my non-Christian friends may think that parts of my reasoning are silly. Just act like you are eating Thanksgiving with me and I am debating with Uncle Ted.)

Since Rick Perry became governor of Texas in December of 2000, 237 individuals have been put to death by the state judicial system.[1] Of the 46 individuals put to death by capital punishment in 2010 in the U.S., 17 were executed in Texas. Currently capital punishment is illegal in 16 states.[2] This is obviously a divisive issue. Should Christians be supportive of the death penalty? Let us begin with scripture.

Biblical support of capital punishment is prevalent in the O.T. In Genesis 9:6 God said, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made Man.” Exodus 21 commands that capital punishment be used for the following offenses: if a person deliberately kills another (21:14), if a person attacks his/her father or mother (21:15), if a person kidnaps another (21:16), if a person curses his/her father or mother (21:17), if a person is fighting an kills a pregnant woman or her child (21:23), and if a person owns an aggressive bull but refuses to pen up the bull and the bull kills a person (21:29).

Christian proponents of the death penalty often quote Genesis 9:6 and the parts of Exodus 21 that make sense. However, they conveniently leave out the verses in Exodus 21 like kidnapping, cursing one’s parents, and allowing an aggressive bull to be put in a situation where the bull kills a person.

The most difficult task of a theologian is determining when a section of scripture is timeless truth and when the section is simply a specific message to a specific group of people at a specific time. Nobody who participates in these arguments sees Exodus 21 as a complete timeless truth, which means there are two camps. There are those who see Exodus 21 as completely written to a specific culture at a specific time and there are those who think that parts of it are timeless truths. All of this begs the question, who treats scripture with more respect?

I would contend that those who argue in favor of the death penalty using Exodus 21 but who do not even mention the ridiculous verses are committing a lackadaisical and dangerous form exegetics. Why is it dangerous? Because they wholeheartedly embrace a principle based on half thought through biblical passages without thinking through the individuals influenced by the principles. The startling reality is, our judicial system does not only put to death guilty people. At times, people are put to death even though there is evidence that they are innocent. [3] Moreover, only 5% of criminologists think that this form of punishment deters people from crime (a non-biblical argument for capital punishment). [4] With such biblical uncertainty combined with the statistical uncertainty, should we not give people the benefit of the doubt and allow them more time to heal, grow, and surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ?

[1] The Dallas Morning News, “ Prediction: Politics Will Be Hank Skinner’s Lifeline,” http://deathpenaltyblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/11/prediction-politics-will-be-ha.html (accessed November 7, 2011).

[2] The Death Penalty Information Center, “Facts About the Death Penalty, ” http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf (accessed November 7, 2011).

[3] “Georgia Executes Troy Davis After His Last Plea Fails,” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44592285/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/georgia-executes-troy-davis-after-his-last-pleas-fail/#.TsJtQ31Ng00 (accessed November 7, 2011).

[4] The Death Penalty Information Center, “ Facts About the Death Penalty, ” http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf (accessed November 7, 2011).

The Startup - Post one

2011-11-11T05:14:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I blogged about business ideas. Here is the blog of the ideas I have that I probably will never do. A few weeks ago a buddy asked me if I'd be interested in working with him on a startup. I said, "Heck ya!" The big difference this time is my friend actually has experience in the field. He has already taken a company like this one and helped it grow it's revenue by over 800 percent. That does not mean we will be successful. But that does mean we have a higher chance of being successful with this venture than I do when I blog but do nothing (did you follow that).

So here I am, working on Articles of Organization and an Operational Agreement for our budding L.L.C. My goal is to finalize these documents in the next two weeks and file them with the Secretary of State by December 1. I finally get to put my undergrad degree to work! If this works I will be the CFO. If it does not work, I will be the friend who looks at numbers and legal documents. Let's be honest, I can't call myself the CFO until we make at least $5.

Things I have learned this week:
1. Sabbaths are still important
2. Startups are tough...especially when you do not quit your real job (and when you are still in school and have a baby at the same time)
3. L.L.C.'s sound sound kind of sketchy
4. I have a lot of good friends who are willing to give me free advice
5. Most of our idea breaks no "intellectual property" laws

Memorable Quotes While Playing Mario Kart

2011-10-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

I just finished playing Mario Kart Double Dash with my three year old. Here are a few memorable interactions.

Q: What is mamma wee-a?
C: Quinn, we've been over this.
Q: No we not.
C: "Mamma mia" is an expression.
Q: NO. WE. NOOOOOOT.

Q: What's that?
C: Quinn, you know what that is. How many times have we played this game? Give me a figure.
Q: Hehe...you give me a figure.

C: Good game Quinn. That was fun.
Q: No we not.

The Pursuit of Happiness

2011-10-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today I met with my spiritual director. If you do not have one stop what you are doing and find one. He said a few things that deeply resonated with me. I will incorporate them into this blog post.

He told me a story:

This guy went to Thomas Merton for spiritual direction. Merton asked, "How are things?" The guys said, "Things are horrible. I can't seem to get anything right." Merton responded, "This will pass. Things will change." A few weeks later the guy returned to visit with Merton. This time his news was much more positive. "Things are going very well," the man reported. "I see the face of God all around me." Merton responded, "This will pass. Things will change."

I thought that story was brilliant. After the laughter settled, the director asked, "Are you pursuing happiness or peace?"

I want us all to think about this. If the feeling of happiness is our only goal we end up making decisions that have no bearing on the long term health and wellness of our spirituality and our interaction with others. Sure, pursuing happiness could lead to good, but it can also lead to bad. The pursuit of happiness is what leads people to start successful businesses and what causes company execs to take unethical shortcuts to pad numbers. The pursuit of happiness gives a young man incentive to pursue a woman, but it can also cause that same man to pursue a mistress. Pursuing happiness is an unsteady way to make decisions. It is like building a mansion on an unsteady foundation. All looks good for a week, but it will come crashing down. However, if we pursue peace then we will consistently make decisions that are best for the long term health and wellbeing of us and those whom we love.

We will always have seasons of discomfort. There will always be pain. If the pain is dysfunctional then yes, perhaps you should make a change. But if you are experiencing pain because your ego is dying, then lean into that pain. That is the path to surrendering to the living God. That is the path to true liberty and justice for all.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Q Moments

2011-09-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

These are some of my favorite moments with my son the past few weeks.

It's not my fault if he wants to play football when he gets older.

"But dad, I don't need a rag." BTW, this had nothing to do with football.

Quinn loves joining me for kids' games.

That night he did not want to leave the field.

This is at our favorite hiking spot - Friedrich Wilderness Park.

Baby Mae

2011-09-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday (9/21) Tammie and I went to the midwife to check her progress. The midwife said Tammie had at least 3 or 4 more days before Mae would be ready. About 12 hours later we were back at the San Antonio Birth Center ready to go to work. While labor kicked in around 2pm, we did not go back until 10:30pm. Since we went the natural route the only thing we could do to sooth the pains was to get into the large tub. Once Tammie got in, there was not getting out. Mae was born at 1:33am on 9/22. All went very well. We got home by 8:30am...just in time to get Quinn to school.

Words cannot describe how excited the Q man is.

He is a great big brother.

Here is a shot from our room at the Birthing Center.

Here is where Mae was born.

Just minutes after entering the world.

By the way, if you are looking for a place to give birth and you live in the San Anotnio area, you have got to look into the San Antonio Birth Center. Tammie's midwife was Alisa Voss. She runs the birth center. The midwives are amazing and the facilities are top notch. Our experience going natural was a billion times better than last time. That's right, a billion times.

Home Brew

2011-09-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I tried to roast my own coffee beans. I failed miserably. Yesterday I tried my hand at brewing beer. I have two kits: one that is labor intensive because it uses raw materials and another that is made from some sketchy concentrate (Mr. Beer). They are both Hefeweizens. I will do a taste test. I will say, the beer that took me 4 hours to prepare was much more fulfilling than the Mr. Beer kit. The taste test will happen in 4 weeks when the beer is finished. Meanwhile, feel free to send me empty beer bottles that do not utilize twist off caps.

a bag of wheat and a gallon jug

heat the water to 170

cook the wheat at 150 for an hour

strain the wheat and pour bowling water over it

bowl the "wort" for an hour, add hops and yeast, and let it sit for a few weeks

Preaching 2 Samuel 23:1-7

2011-09-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

Back in August I was given and opportunity to preach at my church. The text was 2 Samuel 23:1-7. I only get to preach about once a year. There are four pastors that are in line a head of me on the preaching rotation because of my position as a director. This particular service was the 8:30 a.m. traditional service. Later I preached the contemporary service.

Here is a picture of the sanctuary. I preached from the elevated pulpit located on the right side of the photo. I'm not going to lie, every time I get up there I feel a bit like Jonathan Edwards.

An Intruder

2011-07-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

I do not know about women, but every man has played this scenario through a million times in his head. Every new location creates the possibility of at least a dozen new scenarios. I am not talking about hitting a grand-slam in the bottom of the 9th of the World Series or making an unlikely tackle to save the Super Bowl. I am talking about something a bit more serious. What would I do if somebody tried to break into my house?

Tonight I kind of got my chance. For once, my dog proved to be worth something when he started barking around 12:30 a.m. As usual, I ignored the barks and responded like Napolian Dynamite - "Shut up Frodo! Gosh." When I got up to get water I noticed some voices outside of my bedroom window...then I saw flash lights.

IT'S GO TIME!

I did not really think. I ran to the window, banged as loud as I could, and yelled. The men were about six inches from where my wife and I were sleeping. We were separated by single plane glass from the 1920's. They started running towards the backyard. I ran to my son's room who has windows facing the backyard and repeated my banging, yelling combo. Then I noticed something...they were cops...and there were at least 4 of them.

I ran to the backdoor and cracked it open - which I now realize was dumb. The cop yelled, "Shut up guy!" He was talking to me. In that very moment I thought, "Well, we are not going to be any safer than we are in this moment." So I started enjoying the show. Tammie urged me to call the police office to see what was going on. Apparently "four perpetrators were on the loose". They happened to head to my backyard.

I walked around in the darkness and quietness of my house from window to window. At one point I saw a cop run by with a police dog. The dog found a dude under our van. I cheered him on in my head. The cops left my house around 1:15 but returned from time to time during the night. The helicopters stopped flying around 1:45.

In reflecting upon my response I realized that my football instincts are still intact. My first reaction was to run as closely to the quarterback as possible to disrupt the play. And it worked. I guess it is time to fix my porch light that has been busted for a year or two.

UPDATE: I was about to click "PUBLISH POST" when I saw another cop car pull up to my house. I watched the guy search my yard with his flashlight. He noticed me and came to the front door. He apologized for the commotion. He told me they were chasing four taggers. You heard me correctly...TAGGERS! I nearly took out somebody who turned out to be a cop simply because four teenagers thought it would be cool to spray paint somebody's house. If San Antonio police send in the dogs and helicopters for graffiti artists I'd wonder how they respond to dangerous crimes. The dress rehearsal is over so I can put away my knife. I'm going back to bed.

Relinquishing Power

2011-06-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading White Privilege by Paula Rothenberg for my American Church History class. My prof asked us to pick something that stood out to us and write a brief essay on it. This is what I came up with.

On page 123 Peggy McIntosh writes, "[Men] may say that they will work to improve women's status, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can't or won't support the idea of lessening men's." I thought about two books that have been very influential in my understanding of the church: Body Politics and The Dangerous Act of Worship. This quote and these books talk about the power struggle in humanity. We know that in Christ there is no male or female, Greek or Jew, slave or free (Gal. 3:28). The Christian baptism should create a new social reality where power is not used to abuse, manipulate, control or force. In this reality, power is used to empower. And the only way those in power can allow for those who do not have power to be empowered is for those without power to have the ability to empower themselves. This only can come with creating space by having those in power relinquish power. Relinquishing power is the ultimate act of selflessness.

An Original Song

2011-05-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

One night a few weeks ago I started strumming on the guitar right before it was time for my son to go to bed. He walked in the room, sat down, and started reading. It was a sweet evening. This song came out of my time sitting there with my son. I wrote it to be simple enough for a 3 year old to understand yet profound enough for him to keep learning from it as he grows up. I plan to record it officially in a few months. For now, you have to deal with a computer microphone and a video where my lips do not match the words.

Love Your Neighbor (aka Egg Ministry)

2011-05-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

When Hurricane Ike blew through Houston a few years ago my mom lost power for a little over a week. I remember talking to her a few days after her power returned. I asked her if she was happy to have AC and TV again. She said she was, but that she kind of missed the way things were during that week without power. Without AC she was forced to spend time outside with all of the neighbors who also did not have AC. People started sharing food and water because the stores were not fully functioning. As soon as the power came back on people moved on with their busy lives and stopped talking to one another. It's weird that a natural disaster had to happen to show people how their lives were intended to be lived. As soon as the natural disaster cleared people forgot and moved on.

I am always looking for ways to love my neighbors well just for the sake of loving them well. Tragically, I am often too tired from church ministry that I do not have energy to spend building relationships with my neighbors. However, raising chickens has given me an excuse to get out and talk to people. We get about 6 eggs a day from our chickens. If we eat eggs, we only eat about 3 a day. We end up with an extra dozen eggs ever few days. I love the community I am building with a simple gesture of giving away a dozen eggs to somebody I see daily but never talk to. I hope that I realign my priorities so that I can continue to build relationships with the people around me. I encourage you to look for ways you can get out and get to know and love your neighbors. Bake them cookies. Invite them over for dinner. Buy a bunch of chickens and give them eggs. Let's not wait for a natural disaster to occur to give us the motivation to love and to love well.

An Idea for a Worship Gathering

2011-04-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

One of the requirements of my worship class is that I design a worship service that is meaningful for me. This is what I have so far.

1. Share a Meal – There is no more authentic way to get to know another person than to eat with him or her. Furthermore, this part of the service could help welcome those with little to no resources.

2. Interactive Celebration/Testimonies – I want to create space in the service where we celebrate things like birthdays and where people can talk about where they saw God at work during their week.

3. Guided Prayer Time – This would be a time to get centered. We would use this time to pray for one another as well.

4. Scripture Reading/Sermon – I believe God uses others to help proclaim his good news and to explain the Bible. This is an essential part of the service.

5. Song – I imagine this time to be prayerful and reflective. This may be a solo, a choral piece, or an “all sing” number.

6. Prayer of Confession – In order for us to live into the fullness of life we must be aware of our depravity. When we confess, we own up to our junk and we ask to be freed from it.

7. Eucharist – In John Yoder’s book, Body Politics, he writes that the Lord’s Supper was originally a natural part of the early Christians' shared life together. They would conclude regular meals by remembering Jesus through breaking bread and drinking wine. While some might think that this view of the Eucharist diminishes its holiness into something common like a meal, I think it elevates sharing a meal to something holy like worshipping.

8. Prayer of Thanksgiving – This prayer would be a response to the previous element of the service as well as a response to all that God is doing and has done.

9. Dessert Celebration – This element would be a continuation of the Prayer of Thanksgiving.

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

Update: 4/28/11

Some people have emailed me some great feedback. I thought I would include one of my responses to a person who asked me my theological motivation for a couple of the elements.

First I need to let you know that I would not choose this service in all contexts. I have a pastoral motivation. I am called to help people recognize and follow the voice of God. I interpret that to mean that I need to help share the good news in a way that the people can understand it.

I agree with your definition of worship. There are plenty of passages of scripture that support that definition (her definition of worship is giving praise to a holy God). However, I think worship goes beyond that as well. Romans 12:1 seems to imply that true worship is sacrificial living. In Amos 5 God rejects the Israelites' precise worship because they are not living lives of justice and righteousness. These passages (along with ones like Matthew 5:23-24 and more indirect passages like 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 25:39-41) lead me to believe that the purity of our worship of the living God is very much tied to how well we are loving each other.

A more anecdotal response:
Has any of the following happened to you?
- Walked away from a conversation thinking, "Wow, I just experienced God while talking with that person."
- Climbed to the top of a peak and thought, "I am experiencing the fullness of God in this very moment."
If you have, then you at least recognize that worship goes much further beyond songs, organized prayer, and a sermon.

To My Coffee Bean Angel

2011-04-13T07:52:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I just need a reminder. Well, let's just say I often need a reminder. I need encouragement that one day we will overcome this gargantuan mound of student loan debt and rise triumphantly to live life debt free. With debt free living comes more generous living. In an effort to be even more efficient we have recently moved to the "cash envelope system" made famous by Dave Ramsey. We ran out of our grocery cash on day one of the week. We have more than enough food. However, we also ran out of coffee...and I need coffee almost as much as I need oxygen. So I did what comes natural to me...I began to internally whine and wonder if we'd ever make it. In spite of all of the ways God has provided for us the past two years through generous people I was still uneasy about the future.

To give you an idea of how ridiculous my uneasiness is/was, the cheapest thing somebody did for us was pay $300 to get our car fixed...that is the CHEAPEST. One might think that I would actually trust that God will provide by now...

Today when I walked into the office there was a glorious pound of whole coffee beans waiting to greet me at my door. I just needed a subtle reminder that I am being too dramatic and that things are going to be ok. I am seriously blown away by the timeliness of this generous act. So, thanks for the beans whoever you are. God sent you to me today.

On Worship

2011-03-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

(I wrote this for a class blog. We were given the task of reading 100 pages of any book on worship.)

I chose to begin reading The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice by Mark Labberton. Initially, I was simply looking for a book on Kindle because I do not have any of my books on worship with me at home. Most of the books I saw had to do with things we have already covered in class. This book’s title stood out from the others. This book takes Best’s concept unceasing worship to the next level. Not only do we worship constantly but worship causes us to go out and seek to end injustice.

Labberton dives in deep right away. He defines worship as human beings reflecting God’s glory by embodying God’s character in life and seeking righteousness and justice.[1] Notice that he said nothing about Sunday mornings, sermons, or music. He continues by saying that worship does happen on Sunday mornings but that it also includes how we treat others, how we use our money, and how we love the lost and oppressed.[2]

He devotes much time in the introductory chapters attempting to gracefully point out problematic aspects of things that occur when churches gather on Sunday mornings. For example, he boldly points out that sermons that “play to culture” without “critiquing and engaging it” are a part of the problem.[3] Other times he calls out “worship directors” who are egocentric worshipers as well as flashy worship programs that entertain rather than challenge people to be transformed. He believes that true worship is dangerous because it “is meant to produce lives fully attentive to the reality as God sees it, and that’s more than most of us want to deal with.”[4]

This book is confirming some of the things about which I have already been thinking. Worship is not egocentric. Worship transforms us into people who live justly, walk humbly, and love mercy. As I consider church planting in the Bible belt in the distant future, I am seriously considering only having one Sunday a month that includes music. Music has become the focal point in many churches in western evangelical churches. It has started to overshadow Jesus and his call to be people who love him and love others.

[1] Mark Labberton, The Dangerous Act of Worship, (Downers Grove: InerVarsity Press, 2007), Kindle Electronic Edition: Chapter 1, Location 104.

[2] Ibid. Chapter 1, Location 108.

[3] Ibid. Chapter 2, Location 175.

[4] Ibid. Chapter 3, Location 184.

Reflecting on Solitude

2011-01-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

I’m reading The Way of the Heart by Nouwen. In it he talks about a desert father named Anthony who spent a long time in solitude. I tend to not have a high opinion of hermits. Though living in community is tough, the friction makes us into better people when it is handled well. Moreover, as a follower of Jesus I believe I am called to live in the midst of all that comes with humanity (the good, the bad, and the ugly). Anthony was a different kind of hermit. He emerged from his season of solitude and immersed himself in society. His time in solitude enabled him to exist with a heart of peace in the midst of a broken and hurting community. His time in solitude allowed him to live in the brokenness and not be overwhelmed by it.

What does this solitude look like in the midst of community?

The Q Stove

2010-12-20T06:54:00.001-08:00

Well, since I already gave Q the "Q Rider" the Mrs. wanted something for Q to open on our Christmas (we celebrate Christmas early as a family so that we can spend the 24th and the 25th with extended family). I took Q's side table, added some scrap wood, some spray paint, and 9 hooks and made the "Q Stove". A special thanks to Phyllis for providing the food and pots. He's smiling for you!

The Q Rider

2010-12-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

I converted Q's tricycle into a wooden bike. I almost gave up last week because I do not have the proper tools or training to make this thing precise. However, since he is so small, he won't be jumping any ramps anytime soon. So here it is...the Q Rider.

Team Work

2010-10-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

Transcript

Q: Huh? What's that noise?

C: [mumbled "I don't know"]

Q: Is it Dada and Quinn?

C: Dada and Quinn. What's gonna work?

Q: TEAM WORK

C. What's gonna work?

Q: TEAM WORK

Cooking With a Toddler Part 2

2010-10-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

I once watched a documentary about an Amish family. The father said that they did not use electric tools to build things. He said this was not motivated out of a belief that power tools are of the devil. Rather, power tools disrupt community. He said, "Hand powered tools require the involvement of all of my family members. We want to be together." That is the only thing I remember about the documentary. It had a profound impact on how I view laborious tasks. I had never seen a person choose community health over ease.

Fast forward a bit.

A few months ago I started giving the Q food related tasks while I cooked dinner. For example, I gave him a bowl of dry beans and told him to use a spoon to move the beans into another bowl. We started adding other ingredients and then I thought, "Why not just give him real ingredients and have him help me cook." Cooking with toddlers takes a lot longer and it is much messier. But it is some of the sweetest time I have ever spent as a parent. I've started to do all sorts of my chores with him like mowing and carpentry.

While we purchased the reel mower out of a concern for the environment, it has been a great asset to helping us build community as a family. Speaking of the environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a gas powered lawn mower produces as much air pollution as 43 new cars that are driven 12,000 miles. Americans burn 800 million gallons of gas per year by using lawn equipment. It doesn't take much longer to use this little guy and my lawn looks just as good as when I use a gas mower.

Doing carpentry with toddlers takes forever because you can't use power tools. Also, the end product is a bit crooked. However, to me it is even more rewarding than cooking. Me and the Q built a little loft for our new chickens. They no longer fit in it...

I am learning that cheaper, faster, and easier is not necessarily better. In fact, many times it robs life from its fullness (and vegetables from their nutrients).

The Chicken Rancher

2010-10-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

Q Quote of the Day

2010-09-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

We got chickens this past weekend. Here is a picture from this morning right after Q said this:

"Bu-bye chickies...ave fawn."

Smooth Translation: "Bye-bye chickens. Have fun!"

Cooking With a Toddler Part 1

2010-09-18T06:35:00.001-07:00

Part 2 will have more to do with the title. I need to preface it with this post.

I've been reading a good portion of Wendell Berry lately. Berry is a farmer, a poet, an environmentalist, a novelist, and a speaker. Back in 1987 Berry wrote an essay titled Why I am Not Going to Buy a Computer (that's right, I just embed a link to an essay called Why I am Not Going to Buy a Computer). It's a fascinating read and a bit impractical. However, Berry makes some good points about technological innovation.

Here they are:
1. The new tool should be cheaper than the one it replaces.
2. It should be at least as small in scale as the one it replaces.
3. It should do work that is clearly and demonstrably better than the one it replaces.
4. It should use less energy than the one it replaces.
5. If possible, it should use some form of solar energy, such as that of the body.
6. It should be repairable by a person of ordinary intelligence, provided that he or she has the necessary tools.
7. It should be purchasable and repairable as near to home as possible.
8. It should come from a small, privately owned shop or store that will take it back for maintenance and repair.
9. It should not replace or disrupt anything good that already exists, and this includes family and community relationships.

Berry is the first to admit that "like almost everybody else, I am hooked to the energy corporations, which I do not admire." His stance on not buying a computer comes out of his hope "to become less hooked to them." Again, the stance is not necessarily practical (yet) but it is needed.

This is not a politically driven blog. I am not looking for a debate regarding energy or corporations or computers (obviously, I'm typing this on a computer). This blog and its sequel are about point number 9 on Berry's list of requirements for technological innovation. I will end with one question. In an attempt to save time and money, how often do we do things that either circumvent or blatantly disrupt community?

That's all for now. The toddler part will come into play next week.

The Q's Youtube Debut

2010-09-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

The Q has always loved looking at pictures and videos of himself. He is, of course, a human. Recently, he got a hold of the computer while Tammie was in the other room and recorded a few videos of himself. Here are the highlights.

Q Quote of the Day

2010-09-11T15:28:00.001-07:00

In commenting upon the slow process of getting ready for dinner:

"Where'd eat pizza doe?"

Literal Translation: "Where did eat pizza go?"

Smooth Translation: "Where is the pizza mother?"

The Q Man

2010-08-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

These days are filled with lots of laughs, wrestling matches, and games of catch. The Q is a blast. Last week my dad (Papa) and stepmom (Mimi) visited and taught him an Elvis impression. Check it out.

Transcript:

Q: Uh oh.

T: Say, "Thank you very much."

Q: Thank you very much. Mimi, Papa.

T: Say it one more time.

Q: Thank you very much. This one.

Know Your Farmer

2010-06-27T21:14:00.000-07:00

I have been interested in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for some time now. In Portland there were dozens of CSA's from which we could choose. We paid $16 a week and got a HUGE box of organic produce a week. Our money went straight into the farmer's pocket and we got great vegetables at a great price.

Now that we live in Texas the CSA's are few and far between. However, a few months ago I discovered www.greenling.com. This company is based in Austin but delivers to San Antonio. They partner with area farmers, bread makers, dairies, hatcheries, etc. to provide fresh, local, and organic groceries. The prices are higher than standard grocery stores BUT the quality is better and the farmers get paid much better.

Last week I started reading Wendell Berry and realized that it is TIME to start knowing where my food comes from. More will come on Berry and my convictions later. I finally decided to give www.greenling.com a try. We simply go to the website, order whatever we want ($25 minimum), and they deliver the next Thursday. Currently we order a local produce box and a farmstead box (cheese, bread, and other local non-produce available at the time). I'll send pictures when we get our "crops" in. Meanwhile, check out this video from one of the farmers that we support.

Fire Truck Teeny-tiny

2010-06-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

There's a new hit song around our house.

Public Radio Fanatic

2010-05-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

I love public radio. A few months ago I was talking about NPR with a friend from church and he said, "NPR huh...we gotta do something about that." The thing is, I'm not so sure he has ever listened to NPR to have that opinion. However, among conservative talk radio audiences there is a rumor that NPR is communist or at least socialist. In honor of my friends who think I'm nuts for listening to NPR, I've decided to list my favorite shows. If you find information on how to cook a creative stir fry dish to be communist let me know. :)

FAVORITE LIVE SHOWS:

1. A Prairie Home Companion - I'm told that before video killed the radio star families used to crowd around radios every Saturday afternoon to listen to plays, story telling, and live concerts. Prairie Home Companion has been doing just that since 1974 when host Garrison Keillor created the show. Tune in to hear hillarious stories, the best live sound effects guy in the business, and hardly known musicians who should be making millions of dollars but remain in abscurity.

2. Car Talk - Car talk is HILARIOUS. Two brothers named Tom and Ray Magliozzi have been hosting the show since 1977. The premise is this, cooky listeners call and ask random car questions (from what is that clicking noise under the hood to my wife thinks I kill more bugs when I drive than her because I go so fast...what do you think). Tom and Ray humorously interact with the callers and attempt to answer their questions. I love these guys.

FAVORITE PODCASTS:

1. This American Life - This show is easly my favorite weekly broadcast ever. Each week Ira Glass and his research team has a theme like "bridges" or "chickens" and then they tell 3-4 stories on their theme. As the name indicates, they try to tell stories about everyday American life. They do an amazing job giving listeners information in a captivating manner. I've heard all sorts of stories. In one a rancher cloned his beloved bull and in another a guy lived in a 5x14x8 feet hole in a major Chicago bridge. This is where I heard the most balanced report on health care. IT'S GREAT! If you can only listen to one of these LISTEN TO THIS ONE.

2. The Splendid Table - If you like to cook or eat you gotta listen to this broadcast hosted by Lynee Rossetto Kasper. About 2/3rds of the show is her talking with correspondents throughout the world who tell stories about restaurants and meals they have encountered. For the remainder 1/3rd of the broadcast listeners call in and ask her cooking questions. She is brilliant and makes me hungry evertime I listen to her!

The Resurrection Story

2010-04-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Sin has lost it's power, death has lost it's sting. From the grave you've risen victoriously. - from the song "Marvelous Light"

I've been sitting here for about an hour trying to write a bible study for tomorrow night on the significance of the resurrection. At first I thought it was going to be easy. I've been a Christian practically my whole life and have been studying the bible longer than that. But as I began to think about it I could only feel the emotions of the power of the resurrection. I felt thankful, free, peaceful, but speechless. I immediately felt a bit embarrassed...how could I, a wanna be theologian, not be able to articulate the significance of the resurrection.

I turned to my friend Google to ease the pain. One pastor wrote that if the resurrection of Christ had not happened "the gospel would be in vain, our faith would be in vain, and the apostles would have been false witnesses." So, in other words, Jesus had to rise from to dead to validate our belief that he rose from the dead. This is the classic error of "the tail wagging the dog." "Surely we are incapable of having a wrong belief therefor the story has to be true." This explanation completely misses the transformational power of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Other articles I read were more theologically sturdy but failed to grasp the depth, the necessity, and even the relevance of the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Then I came across an article by N.T. Wright. He says, "It is the real world that the tyrants and bullies (including the intellectual tyrants and bullies) try to rule by force, only to discover that in order to do so they have to quash all rumours of resurrection, rumours that would imply that their greatest weapons, death and deconstruction, are not after all omnipotent. But it is the real world, in Jewish thinking, that the real God made, and still grieves over. It is the real world that, in the earliest stories of Jesus’ death and resurrection, was decisively and forever reclaimed by that event, an event which demanded to be understood, not as a bizarre miracle, but as the beginning of a new creation."

Ah ha! We are on to something here. In the resurrection story God is reclaiming the mess that his beautiful creation has become. This does not mean that we will not experience frustrations, cancer, high cholesterol, or divorce. What this does mean is that death does not have the last word.

In commenting on this topic Rob Bell says, "Resurrection announces that God has not given up on the world because this world matters...this world that God is restoring and redeeming and renewing. Greed and violence and abuse they are not right and they cannot last. They belong to death and death does not belong."

Jesus' life, death, and resurrection conquered death. Not only was it a nice metaphor but it literally happened. It is finished. Though I may never grasp the depths of this concept I pray that I live in the reality of the resurrection story. There is hope amidst war, depression, broken relationships, the daily grind, the emptiness of trying to keep up with the Joneses. His name is Jesus.

Things People Told Me (or that I once read)

2010-02-09T19:57:00.000-08:00

[written as the status update of a friend's facebook]

"it's all fun and games till someone starts espousing modalism…"

Beautify the Ship or Set Sail?

2010-02-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder if I'm a part of a movement that is more focused on maintaining the beauty of the ship than setting sail. I wonder where Jesus would be in this process. David Wilcox sums it up pretty well with this song. Be the mercy.

A Confession Part 2

2010-02-01T19:32:00.000-08:00

So, I've worked hard to be home with the family as much as I can. I've lived up to my goal of working close to 40-45 hours a week. Sounds great right? Well, what's the point of being home if I am not mentally present? Every once and I while I wake up and realize that I haven't really spent time with my family even though my body has been in the same room as them. Two weeks ago I decided to stop distracting myself with fun but meaningless vices (like video games) and really try to make the most of those moments. You know what, I've had a blast! Tammie is fun and constantly teaching me how to live life in a more healthy manner. Q man is CRAZY and hilarious. We've played catch, read books, wrestled, drawn, built things, and laughed.

I don't want to miss moments like this

A Confession Part 1

2010-02-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

I have written multiple times on the beauty and the necessity of slowing down and absorbing every moment in life. The truth is, I am not very good at it. I write these essays to remind myself of these important concepts.

There are two traps I fall into:
1) Wishing away the present
2) Working so hard I miss out on the present

I think I first started falling into trap one when I was in high school. I was always excited when school started because I could see my friends. Then I "couldn't wait" until football season was over because I was too tired. Then I "couldn't wait" until Christmas came because I was tired of school. Then I "couldn't wait" until Christmas was over because I missed my friend. The cycle went on and on until I arrived at college after not being able to wait and found myself miserable. At that moment I had two choices. I could either continue to miss out on the present and live in a false reality or I could finally deal with the stuff I was trying to run from. Truthfully, most of the time I find myself being tossed back and forth from both.

Trap two is seductive because it is an evil for which we are applauded. At times I get sucked into this trap because I am a driven person who loves planning and working hard. That is just how I am wired. However, other times, behind my "driven" mask is a person who just wants to prove his worth. The truth is, my insecurity has brought me much success over the years in athletics, academics, music, and ministry. But the ugly side of this driven nature is an inability to enjoy relationships, absorb life, and be thankful.

Here are a few words of wisdom that have helped me work through the above weaknesses:
1. Nobody applauds you for taking care of yourself. But how can you serve for the long haul if you run at that pace?
2. No matter where you run you'll always have your past and your pain. Process through the pain so that you can learn, grow, and be freed.
3. "Abandon your plans of escape and be where you are. Plant gardens, live, and live well. Life is truly a gift." - Kyle Lake
4. "I have come that you would have life - life abundantly." - Jesus

(note: I signed on to write another blog but this one became HUGE. I'll post part 2 in a few days)

Economics is Fun

2010-01-25T20:01:00.000-08:00

Before I get to my post I want to let you know that I won't be writing much for the next few months. I'm in 6 hours at school plus all of my other "stuff." So I don't have any extra time.

Today I was listening to NPR and heard a great rap about economics. It explains the two main different views regarding the mess we are in right now. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk

Things People Told Me (or that I once read) #6

2009-12-30T09:35:00.000-08:00

"Go out and live real good and I promise you'll get beat up really bad. When you're dead you're gonna rot anyway, it won't matter if you have a few scars. It will matter if you never lived."

- Rich Mullins (circa 1997)

Things People Told Me (or that I once read) #5

2009-12-23T22:51:00.000-08:00

In honor of my sister's 33rd birthday (on Dec. 24) I will republish this quote. It was said by my dad when she went off to college.

"Hey- don't be sad if people think you're weird."

Immanuel #2

2009-12-20T10:56:00.001-08:00

I'm reposting my Christmas post from last year. I still can't get past all that I learned.

-------------------------------------------
This Christmas season two significant things occurred:
1) I preached my first Christmas Eve service
2) Our house got robbed

Our house got robbed the Friday before Christmas while I was at lunch with a friend. I had been spending the weeks prior to Christmas reflecting on the word Immanuel. The mournful feeling left by being robbed unlocked a deeper understanding of what Immanuel means (God is with us). Here is an excerpt from my sermon. It follows the reading of the birth narratives found in Matthew and Luke.

Our robbery came after a long line of unfortunate events for us. I'll name a few to give you the context. We just moved from Portland to San Antonio to be closer to family and our condo has not sold. I've been through 4 phones since September, my wife has been in the emergency room twice, and two months ago somebody created a counterfeit copy of our ATM card and emptied out our bank account.

Needless to say, when we found out that our house had been robbed, we felt all of the emotions of the loss and pain that we have been experiencing since we moved from Portland. I guess I experienced the worst side of my humanity - loneliness, brokenness, hopelessness, and insecurity.

Then I had to get ready for this sermon.

And you know what? In my brokenness I began to feel God at work.

1. While my wife and I embraced with tears slowly falling down our cheeks...there in my brokenness, in the midst of my paint, I began to experience IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US.

2. That night when my son had my undivided attention and we played, sang, and read books...there in the midst of my brokenness and pain I began to simultaneously experience JOY IN MY WORLD.

3. And later, as I rocked my son to sleep, there in the darkness and silence of his room my heart continued to hurt as I felt the weight of all that had happened...yet I sensed God picking me up and rocking me. And, in the midst of the pain and brokenness I experienced A GLIMPSE OF SALVATION/DELIVERANCE here on earth.

Interestingly enough, a ton of people donated money so that we could replace nearly all of the things that were stolen. Getting our stuff back was really just a bonus. The ultimate blessing was all that I learned about faith, trust, the power of tears and hugs, and the importance of a loving community.

Things People Told Me (or that I once read) #3 and #4

2009-12-16T21:32:00.000-08:00

"dabbadoobadabbadoobadabbadooba duck."

- Quinn

"Momma, dabbdoobadabadoobababadaba.

Momma, dabbdoobadabadoobababadaba.

Momma, dabbdoobadabadoobababadaba."

- Quinn

On turning 30 and Savoring the Present Part 3

2009-12-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

I have just under 900 Facebook friends. The weirdest part is, I actually do care about the majority of my Facebook friends. I have still images burned in my mind of moments that we shared as well as 15 second video clips. My brain remembers all sorts of random details. I remember hiding uneaten food in a trash can with my friend Rachel so we could get dessert. I remember my friend Cody sneezing a big thing of snot on his mom's amazing cinnamon rolls. I remember thinking my friend Adam was the coolest kid I ever met. I remember my sister Tami telling me that she'd never let anything happen to me. This was all before 5th grade.

I remember Jonathan teaching me about AOL, Tim teaching me about Boys to Men, Rachel teaching me about Gangsta Rap, Mandi teaching me that it's ok to be me, Edgar teaching me how to say "your momma" jokes, and I remember running 50 laps in athletics with Danny because we were late for practice. This was all in middle school.

I could go on about the people who formed my faith, the importance of my parents, the people who snazzied my dance moves, the girl I couldn't get out of my mind, the atheist who taught me it's ok to have faith, the guys that I bled with on the football field, the mentors and friends that took care of me when I was lonely at college, the teacher who taught me how to think, the friends in Portland that taught me a better way to live, etc.

All of this is to say that one of the hardest parts of getting older is not being able to keep up with friends...it's just impossible. I think I will always have a slight longing. I'll never be able to tell everybody thank you or you are important to me.

I am learning that my place in life right now is to go smaller. Sure I'll say, "Happy Birthday" on Facebook from time to time, but my energy must primarily be spent on my wife and my son. This is my role and my joy in life (I like when those things overlap).

Things People Told Me (or that I once read) #2

2009-12-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

"God made you like you for a reason."

- John (circa 2004)

On Parenting

2009-12-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

These days I'm learning a lot about fatherhood. I'll get to that in a bit. A friend of mine named Brian wrote a book called Engaging Your Teen's World: Become a Culturally Savvy Parent . In it he encourages parents to not simply treat bad actions of kids. He says beneath all actions are values. If we simply respond to the action we may stop the negative behavior but we probably won't change the bad value and we may even hurt our relationship. Rather, he says talk about the value. Ask questions. Affirm your child if the value was actually a good value but that they acted poorly. If we do that, they will understand why their actions were bad and will learn to have a healthy value. I've been teaching this lately to parents in my ministry and it really does work.

However, today I needed to listen to my own advice. Quinn has this "thing" where he likes to go into Tammie's drawer and pull out all of her jewelry and play with it or put it on. We have been getting on to him about this for about 6 months. Toddlers don't necessarily have the capacity to learn when you "affirm their values" so I scolded him yet again about getting into the drawer. As he started to cry I looked around and noticed something different...there were no necklaces or bracelets, no rings or hair clips. On the floor were three pens and a sheet a paper. He just wanted to draw (or as he says, "corrlor").

I said, "Wait bud, do you just want to color?" He stopped crying and started to smile. Then I said, "Next time you want to color either tell me or come over here and use these colors. But you still are not supposed to go into this drawer." He then walked over to the table on which I said he could color and happily created art. Again, he wasn't being bad just to be bad. In fact, he wasn't being bad. He just wanted to create art. I love this little guy.

On turning 30 and savoring the present part 2

2009-12-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

A while back I was talking with a friend of mine who is 29 and who has four boys. Needless to say, he has had a very stressful year. We talked about how odd it is that we experience some of the most stressful times (kids, financial woes, growing out of adolescence, learning how to selflessly love another, etc.) when we are not experienced enough to deal with it. Why is that? While I do not know the answer to the question I saw a glimpse of hope the other day. I realized that all of the trials are making me into a more selfless, content, and patient person. There will come a day when my disciplines finally outweigh the responsibility. But for now I take joy in the stretching, the sacrificing, and the molding. There is much freedom to be found in learning to be selfless.

Things People Told Me (or that I once read) #1

2009-12-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

I'm in a reflective mood. I decided that I'm going to occasionally post memorable things that people told me about life, love, ministry, friendship, etc. I may also post something that I've read or heard in the past. The key aspect in these postings is that I will only quote things as I remember them.

"We aren't always going to be able to spend time together so let's make sure we make the most out it today."

- Dad (around 2004)

On Turning 30 and Savoring the Present Part 1

2009-11-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

Today I'm starting a three part series on turning 30...even though I'm only 29.

I just entered my last year as a twenty something. There are aspects of my late twenties that are notably different than my early twenties. My early twenties were plagued by insecurity, marital growing pains, an unquenchable thirst for adventure, and an inexplicable discontentedness with the present. As I move into this new season I must say that I am much more grounded in who I am as a child of God, as a human, as a lover, as a husband, and as a dad. While I still love an adventure now and again I am much more concerned about listening well, being aware of those who surround me, working through conflict, and living well in the moment. In marriage I find my self both excited about each conversation I have with my wife and excited about who we will continue to grow into as we grow old together. Alas, I'm finally able to sit still, "plant gardens," and be where I am.

p.s. Check next Sunday for part 2.

On Missions and Evangelism

2009-11-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

"Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them and the social conditions that cripple them is a spiritually moribund religion awaiting burial." - MLK Jr.

In my limited observation I have noticed that many in the Evangelical church have focused energy on either saving somebody’s soul or giving them food to eat. While spiritual salvation is important and meals are essential, neither aspect works to break the cycle of injustice and poverty. If missions in the United States are going to be effective the church is going to have to deeply identify with hurting people and work towards salvation in heaven and on earth. We are going to need to learn lessons of empowering the poor from organizations like Habitat for Humanity. We are going to have to treat people with more dignity and respect. We are going to have to learn how to listen. Our love must be solely based upon another person being a child of God and not upon what they can do for us or whether or not they will become a Christian.

The Next Christendom ch. 6-10 (by Philip Jenkins)

2009-10-21T07:51:00.001-07:00

DISCLAIMER: The first three paragraphs are NOT statistically backed. These are simply observations. I could be horribly wrong.

In the American south the churches that seem to be thriving are doing one of three things. Some are holding tight to the traditions, institutionalism, and the history of the past. There are several large traditional churches. My theory is that these churches were already sizable towards the end of the 20^th century. As smaller traditional churches died their congregants flocked to these large churches in hopes of finding a worship style that connects them to their childhood experiences.

Some thriving churches are basically repackaging the same theology, doctrine, and ideals in a younger, faster, sexier package. Many of these churches started in the 90’s as “seeker friendly” churches. In my experience, they mainly attracted those who were already Christians and simply bored or discontent with their place of worship. The ethos of these churches seems identical to the traditional churches. Both are conservative theologically (and usually politically). However, the two look VERY different.

Finally, some churches that are thriving are rethinking what it means to be a church. These churches can look both traditional and “emerging.” They are not necessarily busting at the seams numerically. However, if you attend these churches you realize that they are authentic, warm, and deep. Many have put aside the traditional hot topics in pop-Christianity to engage the community in genuine and nonthreatening ways. Though these churches may be smaller than those mentioned above, they seem to be more numerous. I suspect that they are also more sustainable.

According to Jenkins, the growing church of the global South is successful for three reasons: new metaphors, indigenous worship, and social stances that are beyond any one political perspective. In our quest for precise theology and for meaningful acts of worship we have unknowingly confused our system of engaging with God as the only RIGHT way. Thus, our metaphors have become undisputable, timeless truths and our acts of worship have become the only acceptable way to corporately interact with the living God. Unfortunately, they only resonate with our culture.

Jenkins says that the church in the South is rewriting liturgy to better fit the context. In Africa some churches are calling God the “Great Ancestor.” This metaphor resonates with churches in Asia as well (135). Churches are also incorporating indigenous acts of worship such as dance and healings (145). I am sure many in traditional churches in the US would cringe if they ever heard this metaphor spoken in a prayer or song or experienced such a lively worship service.

Unlike pop-Christianity in the US, Churches in the South seem to take social stances that do not fit a particular political perspective. In some areas such as the role of women and homosexuality they are conservative (226). In other areas such as equality of classes and welfare they are liberal (215). Regardless of one’s particular view on these issues the church of the US needs to learn from this approach. We are not called to be Republican or Democratic. We are called to be children of God and followers of Jesus. This is a lifestyle that is bigger than any political party.

The Q Speaks

2009-10-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

On your mark, get set...

What does the cow say?

The Next Christendom ch. 1-5 (by Philip Jenkins)

2009-10-14T23:45:00.001-07:00

This week has proved to be the most challenging. THE NEXT CHRISTENDOM focuses on the cultural shift of Christianity as developing countries continue to embrace the Gospel. It is filled with data, historical analysis, and technical jargon. It also has more words per page than any book I have read in a long time. I had about 20 more quotes I wanted to include and three more points I wanted to make and I still went over about 50 words. Oh well. For the sake of ease, the author refers to the westernized version of Christianity as Christianity of the North and the emerging Christianity as Christianity of the South.

The major shift of which Jenkins writes has to do with the change in socioeconomic status and ethnicity of the average Christian in the world. Jenkins points to the end of Western colonialism as the birth of this shift. It was at that point that the numbers of those following Christ began to exponentially grow, particularly in Africa (64). John Mbiti noted that great Northern cities such as Rome and New York are no longer the centers of the universal church. Rather, new church centers are “Kinshasa, Buenos Aires, Addis Ababa, and Manila” (2).

Jenkins points to a few forces that are leading to this shift. One is the urbanization of the world. Currently, approximately 45 percent of the world’s population is in urban areas. By 2050 this number will presumably jump to 66 percent (107). As individuals move to urban areas they will be exposed to a Christian religion already strong in many of the cities of the Third World. A second aspect that is leading to the shift is the unrest of many parts of the world. Kenneth Woodward says that Africans are now embracing Christianity in the midst of political and economic turmoil just as Europe’s tribes relied on the church after the collapse of the Roman Empire (68).

Finally the shift in the types of individuals embracing Christianity can also be pointed to the decline of Northern believers. Statisticians are projecting that the number of Christians in Northern countries will steadily decline with the exception of the United States (104). Interestingly, Jenkins remarks that many of those attending church in the North are actually immigrants from the Southern hemisphere. He says that about half of London’s population is not white. Furthermore, by the end of the 21st century whites may make up the minority of those living in London (111). Passionate worshipers of non-northern origins are flocking to thriving churches in the North. Thus, it is quite possible that the majority of those worshiping in Northern cities will be comprised of Southern immigrants.

As Christianity continues to shift from what was seen as a religion of wealthy whites to a religion of poor non-whites theological foci will shift. There are issues about which American Christians bicker that have no bearing on the Christianity in the Southern hemisphere. Many in the South desire deliverance HERE, reconciliation HERE, and healing HERE not merely in eternity. The ultimately source of authority is also shifting. While traditional orthodoxy certainly flourishes in the Southern churches (65-66), charismatic churches are exploding in growth (72). Pentecostal movement of the Southern countries relies directly on the authority of spiritual revelations as opposed to just the Bible (73).

As I reflect upon the possible shift in theology as Christianity morphs I remember when Copernicus proposed that the earth was not the center of the universe. At first the church could not quite grasp a world in which they were not the center of the universe. They rejected his teaching as heretical. I think many of us can look at the new face of Christianity and feel the same angst as the church during Copernicus’ day. However, where in our theology is the earth the center of our universe?

Truth is a Person: Reflections on Leonard Sweet's SO BEAUTIFUL

2009-10-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

“the ultimate reality is not substance but relations” (Sweet)

“the more connected the world gets, the more importance of Christianity getting over its propositional impotence. We must resign from the proposition business and retire into the people business” (Sweet)

These quotes remind me of two lessons I have learned about ministry from my father. My father has been a Southern Baptist pastor for 30+ years. When I was in 9^th grade I learned my greatest pastoral lesson. My father and I were attending a conference for Christian men and I began to get bored. By the third day I was falling asleep in the stadium seats. At one point my dad leaned over and whispered, “Let’s get out of here.” We went to the mall next door to the convention center and spent the day together. My dad recognized that I was not at a place where I could fully experience the conference. His patience and his desire to spend time with me was the Gospel that learned during that trip.

The second lesson that I learned from my dad is ultimately a continuation of the first. When I was in 12^th grade he took me to an elderly couple’s house to eat fried chicken with them. Mrs. Brinkley’s fried chicken was famous at my church. At the end of the meal Mr. Brinkley took me out back to show me something. I figured he was going to give me a graduation present. However, he handed me a ladder and asked me to clean his gutters. I chuckled and proceeded to work for him. I will never forget what my dad said as we were pulling out of the Brinkley’s drive way to go home. With tears in his eyes he said, “Coby, this is what so many minister’s miss out on. They get so caught up in power, politics, and doctrine that they miss out on people.”

Jesus grasped this concept like no other human. He patiently waited 30 years to “begin” his ministry. And what exactly did he do during that time? Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” He spent his time growing in his relationship with the Father and in his relationships with others. He understood that relationships provided a context for encountering the Living God. Furthermore, before he “performed” a miracle or even preached a sermon Jesus spend the day with the first two disciples (John 1:39). I do not think the inclusion of this fact was a minor detail.

Relationships are not only a vehicle for healthy ministry. They are ministry. Relationships are not merely a catalyst for truth. Truth is a person (not a proposition). His name is Jesus.

Here we go...final blog on Post-Christendom

2009-10-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

This week our task was to point to ONE theme that stands out that should be remembered by the Church as Christendom fades.

There are many themes of Murray’s book that should be kept in mind as the Christendom passes. In evangelism the church should learn the value of listening and investing in people (228). The church should learn a new vocabulary to help avoid baggage inherited from unhealthy church experiences and to simply be clearly understood by a completely unchurched audience (306). Furthermore, much of the rigid institutionalism needs to be stripped away to reveal an authentic community where individuals are safe to be themselves and to wrestle with their faith. I love the three aspects that Murray says are integral to the church of the future – recovering friendship, eating together, and laughter (274-276). I have covered aspects of all of these themes in my essays or in my responses to other individual’s essays.

One theme that I have yet to cover has to do with the approach the administrative side of the church. This covers tithing, leadership, and membership. First, the church in post-Christendom needs to rethink tithing. Aside from the lack of New Testament and early church support for a moral tax of ten percent there is the reality that the next generations will not feel obligated to attend or to give. Murray states that tithing was introduced into the economy of the Old Testament as a borrowed practice. The idea was reintroduced by Augustine and eventually moved from a recommendation to a tax (273). Murray’s main frustration with tithing is that it “offers false security to those who assume it subverts consumerism and fails to address injustice and inequality” (274).

A second aspect of administration that will need to change is church leadership. While I would not go as far to say that the titles “clergy” and “laity” need to be abolished (262), I would agree with Murray that congregational leadership is key to a church’s survival (263). Clergy has taken too great of a role in the life of the church. Murray points out that the hierarchical structure creates a false notion that laity are less spiritual and that the clergy is on the “front-lines” (261). Furthermore, tithing will inevitably decrease so there will be less money for clergy forcing laity to take more ownership.

There are a few administrative challenges that were inadvertently created by Christendom. Churches have invested so much time and money into building magnificent buildings for their congregants that they are forced to put an unhealthy emphasis on tithing and on the number attending the church.

Another administrative challenge created by Christendom is church consumerism. It sounds like consumerism began back at the height of Christendom when the sermon became the focus of the church (264). While the sermon is the focal point of many churches still today, there has been a push in the past 15-20 years for a church to have the freshest music and the flashiest production. We need to shift from a model of consumerism to a model of journeying through life and faith together. Such a shift will be more substantive and sustainable.

The Unintentional Accomplice

2009-09-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

My current Facebook status reads:

Coby Cagle accidentally became an accomplice to a robbery at a Valero when he unintentionally (yet politely) stepped out of the way so the robbers could easily get by. He then thought to himself, "Wait...did they just steal beer four cases of beer? And did I just help?"

Oops.

Black Eyed Q

2009-09-24T17:21:00.001-07:00

And now to more interesting topics. Q fell on our dresser today and got a black eye. You can barely see it in this video. He's been saying some words lately so I tried to get him to talk for you guys. However, he got a bit distracted...

Updated: Reflections on Post-Christendom 2

2009-09-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

This week my essay is a bit more controversial because I deal with how one acquires/learns/experiences truth. I also talk a bit about how the Christian view of war changed. For the record I am not anti-military defense. Again, be graceful in your judgment. The seminary class room is a safe place to throw out ideas that one is thinking without being immediately judged and put in a category.

Questions:
1) What of the five categories would you fit the Christendom model into and why?
2) What of the five categories would you fit the majority of the church in North America and why?
3) What of the five categories do you think best reflects the life, ministry, and stories of Jesus Christ and why?

Five ways the church sees Christ interacting with culture:
1) Christ against culture - that is Jesus sought to rebel against the world's culture.
2) Christ above culture - Jesus transcends culture and goes above it neither affecting nor living within it.
3) Christ in culture - Jesus lived in culture and was affected by it and...affected it.
4) Christ and culture in paradox - Jesus and the world are constantly in tension
5) Christ transforming culture - Jesus lived in and attempted to change the culture.

------------------------------------------
During the height of Christendom church, state, and culture were intertwined (“Christ in culture” category). Christianity influenced all sectors of society. Murray notes that it inspired artists, sculptors, musicians, poets, architects, and craftsmen. Christendom was the initiator of schools, universities, and hospitals (109). Furthermore, religious leaders like bishops were heavily involved in shaping economic policies and political decisions (110). Influence of this magnitude is not necessarily bad. We are called to make disciples and to bring justice and righteousness into all aspects of our lives.

That being said, the marriage of church and state was unhealthy. It was clear that there was a disconnect between Christendom and the Gospel. Theologians began to promote the theory of a just war. They no longer viewed throwing down arms as wise or admirable (115). This decision flew in the face of the Sermon on the Mount. Theologians concluded that Jesus’ calling to love one’s enemy was only practical in interpersonal relationships (121). It seems as though there was a push for justice and righteousness only if it did not undermine the authority of the state/church (119).

Murray notes that the pagan culture greatly influenced the focus of a church service. In the New Testament a service would include discussion and preaching. However, in Christendom churches began to adopt a model acquired from the “pagan culture” that seemed more concerned about “demonstrating a preacher’s knowledge and skill” than influencing the audience (127).

The church in North America possesses a different type of Christendom i.e. Christ against culture. The intentions sound more Christocentric. There is much emphasis on knowing God, on submitting to scripture, and on making Jesus’ name known by all of the nations of the world. That being said, I would agree with Murray that the church has become an “institution rather than a movement and its energies….[are] directed towards maintenance rather than mission” (129). Missions for most of the nineteenth and twentieth century focused primarily on changing people into an American version of Christianity and thus into Americans. For the most part, Christians inadvertently passed a version of American Christendom to parts of Africa, Latin America, and Asia (187).

To most in the North American church truth is something to be injected into others and to be defended no matter the cost. It is as though we have captured truth in a shoebox and we are defending it with our lives. In the process we may even slay one of the infiltrators. To the best of my understanding, truth in the OT and NT is found in Yahweh and/or the person of Christ. While there are aspects of truth that can be learned, acquired, and taught, truth itself is experienced best by being in a relationship with the living God.

Jesus definitely was a man that lived in the tensions of life. Thus, his life and stories fall into the “Christ and culture paradox” category. There are aspects of his ministry that fly in the face of culture, aspects that are shaped by the cultural norms of the time, aspects that transcend culture, and aspects that seek to shape culture.

Reflections on Post-Christendom 1

2009-09-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am going to start a new theme of posts. I am in a class called, "The Global Mission of the Church." In the class we have to write 500 word essays weekly regarding a certain topic. I'm going to post my essay for all of the world to see. I am inviting you into a private conversation of a seminary class. Thus, there may be some things that sound overly critical. Please read it all with grace. Act like you are hearing a conversation of three siblings talking about their concern for their mom or dad. And know that I only have 500 words so I don't have space to fully explore all of these things.

This week's questions:
1. What is post-Christendom?
2. What are the dangers? What are the potentials?
3. What are the possibilities in my context?
-----------

Briefly stated, Post‐Christendom is a cultural shift in which the story of Jesus is not readily known by a particular society.1 Moreover, in this shift the church and the Christian faith lose their influence and importance in society.2

I appreciate Murray’s attempt at clarifying the definition by pointing out what Post‐Christendom is not. I particularly was encouraged that he did not equate Post‐Christendom with a Post‐Christian world. He is correct that such terminology is problematic and judgmental.3 Furthermore, it is helpful to remember that the Post‐Christendom shift is not occurring in all of the countries of the world. Rather, this shift is a western phenomenon first beginning in Europe and now occurring the United States.

Honestly, I struggled with coming up numerous dangers of the Post‐Christendom shift. This is mainly because the context in which I was born, raised, and have spent the majority of my ministry career. I am steeped in the southern church culture. This culture nearly drove me away from the church and away from my faith in Jesus. Regardless, a possible pitfall of this shift is the potential lack of concern for doctrinal integrity due to pluralism and laziness.

The other dangers I will lump into a category called “grieving the death of culture.” If the following things do come into fruition they will cause mourning for to what “used to be.” These aspects include the passing away of several denominations4, the decline of infant baptisms5, and the atrophy of the church subculture (i.e. Christian music, Christian movies, etc.).

There are clearly more positive possibilities with the passing of Christendom. According to Murray the initial launch Christendom was more of a Roman act than a Christian act. Indeed most Roman emperors used religion to gain order. Constantine was no different. 6 Murray also argues that the lines between Roman culture and Christianity were so blurred that it was not clear for that “others could or should be Christians.”7 In a post‐Christendom world Christianity is not equated with one specific culture. God is seen as the God of the entire world and all cultures are celebrated. This concept will transform the role of a missionary.

Another positive aspect about post‐Christendom is the reframing of the role of the congregant in a church. The hierarchy of Christendom led to laity having a“passive role” in the church.8 In a post‐Christendom context congregants move from being consumers of the church to being participants in its mission.

In my particular context the passing of Christendom will cause many to have an identity crisis. However, as Christendom passes individuals will have the opportunity to realize that they have been lost in a cultural phenomenon rather than being in relationship with the living God. Furthermore, individuals who previously recognized the emptiness of the church culture and rejected God will have an opportunity to be re‐introduced to Jesus of Nazareth. I believe there will be fewer traditional “church goers” in the south but more people transformed by the Gospel.

1 Stuart Murray, PostChristendom,
(Milton Keynes: Paternoser Press, 2004), 1.
2 Ibid. 19.
3 Ibid. 4.
4 Ibid. 6.
5 Ibid. 91.
6 Ibid. 103.
7 Ibid. 55.
8 Ibid. 83.

Awareness

2009-09-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

Barn's burnt down--
now
I can see the moon.

by Masahide

On Class Privilege

2009-08-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

I recently experienced a month where my car was dead. I did not have the money to fix it. I bummed rides from friends and my wife or I rode my bike. During this time I was offered two cars for free by friends who had extras. Meanwhile, I noticed two guys at work who do not have cars. I began to wonder why nobody had offered them a car for free. As I formulated my thoughts I realized that my class awards me certain privileges that many people simply do not have. As much as some (rich) people like to argue that we all have the same chance to succeed in America, the truth is we do not. The two guys at work who need cars live in a poor part of town and work minimum wage jobs. The chances are high that they do not know anybody with extra cars.

I grew up in the middle class so I had middle class dreams and middle class resources. While I knew I could be successful in fields like education and ministry I never dreamt of attending a prestigious college, traveling the world, or being a CEO. I remember a parent of one of my friends making me take the PSAT as a sophomore. The PSAT was completely off my parents' radar. But for many in the middle to upper class teenagers must work hard at studying for tests like the SAT, ACT, and PSAT. I was blessed to have had people who encouraged me to work hard, parents who spent time with me, and a faith community to nurture me.

For most of the past 6 years I have been working among the upper class (though my pay check does not reflect my congregants). A year or two into my first job at a wealthy church I realized that people in the upper class do not take no for an answer. They work hard, they dream big, and they push and push until they achieve their goals. I had never experienced anything like that outside of athletics. I know a person who started a company in college and sold it for $250,000 before he graduated. I know another person who would start construction companies during the summers he was in college and would make $25k-$40k in 10 weeks. I know another guy who bought an enormous amount of AOL stock when it was 5 cents a share back in the day. I could go on and on. Being around these people made me dream bigger and work harder.

Compare that to the experience I have had multiple times working with children in the inner city slums. I remember asking some kids what they wanted to be when they grew up and they said jobs like "work at Sonic." I have met dozens of people in the projects who's parents also grew up in the same government housing cluster. Many times poverty and illiteracy is cyclical. Kids grow up without knowing that they can go to college, get good jobs, and have a stable family environment.

I wrestled a lot with my calling to work in the upper class for most of my 6 years of ministry. Recently I realized that I am called to expose students who have plenty of resources and support to injustice locally and globally. I want them to see that all individuals do not have the same resources and support even though we live in a free country. I want them to understand the psychological effects of growing up with a parent who repeatedly tells you that you are worthless and that you have no chance of success.

The students with whom I work will go on to be successful doctors, politicians, businesspeople, etc. My prayer is that they would remember the stories that they heard from recovering addicts at the Open Door Mission, the faces of the kids they played with at the Neighborhood House, and the scripture that we've studied regarding God's passion to see justice and righteousness lived out in a powerful way. My prayer is that they would prayerfully use their resources and their influence to help even the playing field and give neglected people a chance to succeed.

Side Note: Know that I am not claiming that people who make more money are happier than those who work minimum wage jobs. Statistics actually show that the more a person makes over $100k the unhappier they are. We are all broken. I am simply giving examples of inequality.

Q Food Count

2009-07-28T10:36:00.001-07:00

Breakfast today consisted of 3 eggs, 1 piece of toast, half an orange, and half a waffle. He just kept eating.

My Vision and Mission for Work and Life

2009-06-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished my coursework for the summer. I took a class called "Knowing Self and Knowing God." My final project was to create a vision and mission statement for work and life. The mission statement includes three verbs, something I'm passionate about (reconciliation) and a target audience. The vision statement is a glimpse of my ideal life. The goal of this exercise is to evaluate were I currently am and make adjustments so that I can live into my hopes, dreams, and desires. Here ya go...

My mission is to join Jesus in bringing healing, reclamation, and renewal to relationships so that reconciliation will occur in family systems, in society, and in oneself.

My vision is to soak up every ounce of life. I am simultaneously kneeling at the feet of Jesus, resting in his arms, and pressing my ear to his lips so that I can hear all that he has to say. I make sure my family knows that they are my first priority with my actions and my words. I love them well and laugh with them often. I wake up early to listen to Jesus. I then drink freshly pressed coffee with my wife and simply enjoy her presence. I try to build a wooden boat with my son, fail, and try again. My garden provides most of our vegetables until I forget to water it. I laugh at my ineptness as I try to repair the damage. We spend much of our time outside playing, camping, and hiking. My children learn how to be themselves, how to surrender to Jesus, how to practice sustainable living, and how to serve others out of selflessness (and not insecurity). I read books, reflect, and drink micro-brewed beer with my friends. I cook daily. I am not influenced by other people’s perspective of me at work. Kids regularly stop by my house to eat and share life with us. I go to the hospital to comfort a parent who just lost a child. Families stop by our home to catch of glimpse of an imperfect family that has learned the power and necessity of taking life slowly, hugging regularly, and forgiving often. In our home there is peace, laughter, stability, and authenticity. In our home is the presence of God.

Managing a church

2009-06-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

"In short, the modern world quite literally manages without God. We can do so much so well by ourselves that there is no need for God, even in his church. Thus we modern people can be profoundly secular in the midst of explicitly religious activities. Which explains why so many modern Christian believers are atheists unaware." Os Guinness

On Carpentry, Busyness, and Speaking in Tongues

2009-06-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

I love big bulky heavy tables. They are usually rather expensive. The other day I thought, "How hard could it be to make one?" So...I began. And my saw didn't work. So I borrowed a saw and began again. I'm pleased with the first result considering a) I mostly used cheap white wood because I was afraid I'd mess up b) I couldn't get 45 degree angles c) did I mention I made it like I would have made a stage or a foundation for a shed?

Actually, it's going to look pretty sharp. It's level and extremely sturdy (it has already passed the Q test). The top is made from 1x8 white wood and 2x4 white wood studs. The legs are 4x4 fir. I still need to put wood putty in the holes, sand like crazy (you can see the black ink on the 2x4s), stain it, and lacquer it up. I'll take more pictures and detail my experience later on the blooog. Here are a couple of pictures from my web cam. Next step: Homemade benches. Oh, by the way, thus far I've only spent $55.

In other news, Tammie and I just got back from a trip to Portland (oh, Q was there too). Besides drinking amazing coffee and only 2 pints of the most amazing amber ale ever brewed, I sat in 16 hours of class. I had forgotten how much my soul needs seminary. Among the many things discussed in class we spoke about the importance of developing a healthy sense of self and the importance of being completely in tune with the living God. Here are a couple of notable quotes from my experience:

“I (and most pastors, I believe) become busy for two reasons; both are ignoble.
“I am busy because I am vain. I want to appear important. Significant. What better way than to be busy? The incredible hours, the crowded schedule, and the heavy demands on my time are proof to myself—and to all who will notice—that I am important. …
“I am busy because I am lazy. I indolently let others decide what I will do instead of resolutely deciding myself. I let people who do not understand the work of the pastor write the agenda for my day’s work because I am too slipshod to write it myself.”
Eugene Peterson

To lead others…you have to be freed from them. You have to be freed from their praise and you have to be freed from their criticism. The one place where you are freed from your people is in solitude because you only hear the voice that matters (God’s).
Daniel Brunner

And finally, Mr. Q has started speaking...sort of. My friend John says that he speaks in tongues.

Here is Q shaking his head for the camera. I'm pretty sure Tammie taught him this. I'd never do such a thing.

We moved

2009-05-12T15:50:00.001-07:00

We have a sweet new house in a sweet old neighborhood. Mr. Q was very helpful.

Q Struts His Stuff

2009-05-04T17:22:00.000-07:00

Watch Mr Q try and impress the ladies

Cleveland doesn't have the only QB named Quinn

2009-04-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Quinn and I have been working on his throwing form. I'd say he's ready to go.

p.s. We have a contract on a house here in San Antonio. It's pretty darn cute. Our condo in Portland closes on April 21. Keep praying that the buyers don't bail like the last ones...

Business Ventures

2009-04-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

I'm always dreaming up new business ideas. Some are ok, some sound great but would probably never work, and others I just may try before I die. At the risk of losing all of my potential income I thought I'd share some of my ideas.

Boring Ideas:
Make and sell items you'd find at a farmer's market (kettle corn, goat cheese, and knitted clothes). Purchase a car wash, snow-cone stand, billboard space, or a coffee shop.

Fun ideas that I'll never do:
1. Open a dollar pancake shop - Three types of batter, 4 types of toppings, eggs and meat on request. Pancakes are $1 each, toppings are $.25 per topping per pancake. Meat is $1 per two slices. Eggs are a dollar each.
2. Do-it yourself carpentry shop - Think Kinkos for wood working. Have classes like "make your own table." Charge a nominal fee for storage. Charge by the cut or by the hour for "drop-ins."
3. Bio-fuel/solar powered landscaping company - This actually has three parts. Part one, a business that makes bio fuel. Part two, a business that makes bio-fuel powered and/or solar powered lawn equipment. Part three, a business that uses the products from the other two businesses to run a landscaping business.
4. Corn Maze - Buy a bunch of land outside of Houston and create a HUGE corn maze around Halloween time.
5. Bikes for kids in need (non-profit)- I thought about collecting a bunch of old bikes and having people volunteer to repair them. We'd then give them to kids who can't afford bikes or sell them for cheap. There is an organization that does this in Portland. I won't do this because I don't know anything about bikes...let's be honest.
6. Cheap Computers for low to no income (non-profit)- As information continues to become digitized people unable to access a computer are falling behind. This company would operate kind of like Tom's Shoes. I'd sell a computer at full price and use 100% of the proceeds to make other computers and sell them for an extremely low price. Much like the bike program, I won't ever do this because I don't know anything about computers.

Fun ideas that I may do:
1. Renovate an old house and turn it into a bed and breakfast.
2. Make wooden boats in my garage during my free time and sell them (a friend from Portland already does this).
3. Training program for immigrants (non-profit) - This would be a three year program that lodges immigrants, teaches them classes on American culture, language, and financial management, and trains them in a trade. We would probably run side businesses employing the residents to help fund the training. At the beginning, they would not get paid much but their lodging and food would be free. By the end, they would make a full wage but they would have to pay full price for their food and lodging.
4. Short-term Missions Organization (non-profit)- There are already a ton of these. All of them have particular strengths. However, I don't know of any that do a good job of a) equipping people in need to help themselves b) helping the participants learn the social injustices that can lead to poverty c) helping the participants realize they are there to LEARN from the people in need and NOT simply serve them. I want participants to walk away with a deeper understand of the gospel, a better understanding of social injustice, a higher respect for those in "need" and a more missional approach to EVERY aspect of life.
5. Thrift Store for Food (non-profit)- I keep hearing reports that programs like food banks are a problem in the long run. They tend to make people dependent and unable to provide for themselves. Why not take a bunch of food donations and sell them for cheap? That way, people would still have access to cheap food but they'd also have to work a bit to get it. Sure, we can have programs for people who are unable to provide for themselves (children, disabled). But for those who CAN work we can create a system that doesn't end up hurting them in the long run.

That's all I can think of right now...I swear I had like 10 more.

Recycled homes

2009-03-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

I read a great article on yahoo.com about houses, dorms, and small villages made out of old shipping containers (think freight ship NOT Fedex). If I only knew how to weld...

Here is the article

Faithfulness in the small things

2009-03-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer:
This blog ultimately talks about an area of my life in which I have been convicted since I first began ministry 5 years ago. It sounds a bit harsh but I'm writing to myself.

Sometimes it's easier to pursue lofty humanitarian, environmental, or ministry goals than to be faithful in little things like forgiving a friend, being patient with a growing child, and inviting a loved one "in" after a long day at work. I am troubled by this realization. It's no wonder that the writer of 1 Timothy said "If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church." Pursuing ideals at the expense of one's family is an enticing evil that masks our resistance to discipleship. True discipleship is taking out the garbage, rocking a crying child when you just want to go to bed, and putting down the (phone, remote control, video game, laptop) when a loved one wants to converse.

I may not get there with you...

2009-03-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

I wonder what Martin Luther King Jr. felt when he said, "I've seen the promised land. I might not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight. We as a people will reach the promised land." The video of that speech indicates that he was worn out. He practically collasped upon finishing the speech. King knew the painful reality of waiting on God.

In Hebrews 11, the author says that many people of great faith died having not received the things promised. The author further explains that these individuals looked for a heavenly home. "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God."

What does it mean to wait on God? Jesus waited 30 years to begin his ministry. Abraham was told he was going to have children that would be as numerous as the stars. He was also told that they would be enslaved 400 years. That does not really make sense. Abraham was over 100 when Isaac was born. Moses wandered in the desert 40 years with a careless group of people in order for him to reach the promised land. However, he died on the mountain having never reached the promised land.

My wife and I have still not sold our condo. It's been on the market for 7 months now. Last week I was thinking about how I'd cope with my condo never selling. What if I went on a metaphorical mountain and never reached my promised land?

Sometimes, as much as we pray and as much as we seek to be holy, things just do not work out how we want them to work out. Sometimes, life doesn't make sense. Sometimes, God doesn't make sense.

I like the model Jesus gives us for the time that we are waiting on our promised land. The gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus grew is wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and with men. Thats how Jesus spent his time waiting. What if the means is as important as the end? What if the relationships we cultivate and the lessons that we learn while waiting ultimately prove to be the end?

In the book AT THE WILL OF THE BODY, Arthur Frank writes about his experience during two near death experiences - a heart attack and cancer. While there are many great quotes from the book, my favorite occurs just after Frank's cancer is in remission. He no longer needs chemotherapy, his hair grows back, and he goes back to work. Reassured by his full head of hair, people from work approach him as though he had not been on the brink of death for nearly two years. He writes, "When hair grows back all is forgotten. But when all is forgotten, nothing is learned."

While I do not want to get robbed again nor do I want to lose thousands of dollars in real estate again, I DON'T want to forget the pain that has drawn my wife and I closer, that has caused me to appreciate wrestling with my son more, that has made me realize that I need community, and that has forced me to rest in my Savior's arms.

Bear Crawls

2009-03-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

When I was in football offseason we ALWAYS did an excercise called bear crawl. One time I even broke my toe while doing bear crawls. Anyway, last week while Tammie and Q were in Houston the little guy started getting ready for the fall by doing his own version of bear crawls.

the brown cow says, "booo"

2009-03-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

Last night two things happened:
1. I had a dream that my dad aggressively attacked an old man with dementia as the man was moving toward my high school choir teacher in a zombie like manner. Weird.
2. Quinn said a new word. Tammie was reading a book about animal noises to him. When she said, "The brown cow says" Quinn interjected "booo" right on cue. We had to confirm that it was no accident so we tested him a few times. Every time he came in with some sort of an "ooo" sound just at the right moment. My son thinks cows are ghosts. Weird.

Oh, today Quinn sort of walked.

Let's Rodeo

2009-02-13T12:14:00.000-08:00

Today the family went to the San Antonio Livestock Show (and Rodeo). It was dollar day. Q enjoyed his first visit at the Rodeo. He really liked the animals. We saw some new menu items... Only in Texas

The Q Turns 1

2009-02-07T18:50:00.001-08:00

Quinn turns 1 tomorrow. He learned how to clap in order to celebrate appropriately. You gotta love this guy (get it?).

sit

2009-02-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

Thomas Merton:
"There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence . . . [and that is] activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence."

I am learning the importance of saying no to good things. I am learning how to schedule in life-giving activities. The Sabbath has become the most important part of my week (by the way, I love that God even requires animals and land to have Sabbath's of sorts in the Hebrew Bible...nothing was created to go nonstop). I pray that I can model a balanced life for my son. I pray that I can help the students in my ministry learn that there is more to life than getting into a good school so they can make a lot of money. I hope that I can sit still long enough to feel the breeze, to breathe deeply, to laugh and cry with my loved ones, and to hear the voice of God.

Stuff we make at home

2009-01-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

This past week I've ALMOST blogged 2 other times about stuff that we make at home. I thought about posting about my free fire wood find (a bunch of old wooden pallets with a "free" sign on them). I also ALMOST posted a blog about some wheat biscuits Tammie made from scratch. They were rather amazing. However, tonight I made the best soup I have ever made in my life.

Italian Sausage Potato Soup
This recipe was based off of some soup Tammie likes from the Olive Garden. However, that soup has like 64% of a person's saturated fat for the day (it includes 6 strips of bacon!!!). DISCLAIMER: I don't generally measure when I cook. So, the following is the best that I can come up with.

Ingredients:
2-3 russet potatoes
1 medium onion
4-5 cloves of garlic
turkey sausage (half of a pound?)
2 quarts of chicken broth
spices (I only had basil and dried cilantro)
salt and pepper
1 cup of cut greens (I used spinach)
1/3 cup of milk or cream

Directions:
Brown meat. Add diced onions and garlic. Cook until they are tender. Add potatoes - stir for a minute or two. Add the broth, greens, and the spices. Cook on medium for 20 minutes. Add milk/cream - cook another 10-15 minutes. That's it! (p.s. you can add some red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite vinegar based hot sauce to spice it up)

I Put On

2009-01-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

I spent the morning with my friend Greg G. I met him at my church. He works with our middle school students. He also happens to be one of the hottest local hip hop producers in San Antonio (here is a song he rewrote, recorded, and produced called I Put On
CLICK HERE). Greg and I always have good conversations about what it means to wait on God and about being content in the midst of hard times. He is a great friend.

Anyway, I asked him if I could come over to his house and get a hair cut. I wanted a standard buzz and his mom always braids his hair so I figured he could handle some clippers. He said, "Man, I'll take you to my barber shop. I need to go and get my hair cleaned up anyway." So I went with him and received the most precise hair cut I have ever had.

Let me describe the scene. I walked in and there were a dozen people waiting around to see the 6 or so barbers. There was soul playing on the radio, a George Foreman in the back, and a bottle of hard liquor sitting by the combs. I sat in the back next to a barber that goes by Paper Boy. He was very proud of the fade he was giving the customer in front of me. He also was a big fan of the wraps from the deli next door. I had a great time and will probably return. Though, next time I will request that they not shave a straight line across my forehead.

Little Helper

2008-12-30T18:03:00.001-08:00

Today Q decided to help me wash dishes. In the process, he decided to stand. Also, check out his four teeth. He is rather proud of them if you can't tell by the photo.

Immanuel

2008-12-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season two significant things occurred:

1) I preached my first Christmas Eve service

2) Our house got robbed

Our house got robbed the Friday before Christmas while I was at lunch with a friend. I had been spending the weeks prior to Christmas reflecting on the word Immanuel. The mournful feeling left by being robbed unlocked a deeper understanding of what Immanuel means (God is with us). Here is an excerpt from my sermon. It follows the reading of the birth narratives found in Matthew and Luke.

Our robbery came after a long line of unfortunate events for us. I'll name a few to give you the context. We just moved from Portland to San Antonio to be closer to family and our condo has not sold. I've been through 4 phones since September, my wife has been in the emergency room twice, and two months ago somebody created a counterfeit copy of our ATM card and emptied out our bank account.

Needless to say, when we found out that our house had been robbed, we felt all of the emotions of the loss and pain that we have been experiencing since we moved from Portland. I guess I experienced the worst side of my humanity - loneliness, brokenness, hopelessness, and insecurity.

Then I had to get ready for this sermon.

And you know what? In my brokenness I began to feel God at work.

1. While my wife and I embraced with tears slowly falling down our cheeks...there in my brokenness, in the midst of my paint, I began to experience IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US.

2. That night when my son had my undivided attention and we played, sang, and read books...there in the midst of my brokenness and pain I began to simultaneously experience JOY IN MY WORLD.

3. And later, as I rocked my son to sleep, there in the darkness and silence of his room my heart continued to hurt as I felt the weight of all that had happened...yet I sensed God picking me up and rocking me. And, in the midst of the pain and brokenness I experienced A GLIMPSE OF SALVATION/DELIVERANCE here on earth.

Interestingly enough, a ton of people donated money so that we could replace nearly all of the things that were stolen. Getting our stuff back was really just a bonus. The ultimate blessing was all that I learned about faith, trust, the power of tears and hugs, and the importance of a loving community.

Mr. Q

2008-12-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

Q is a lot of fun. These days he spends his time crawling into tight spaces (and then crying until we free him), pulling sci-fi books off of the shelf (we are house sitting for some avid Star Trek/Star Wars fans), drooling, chewing on leaves, dumping Frodo's dog food all over the floor, and waving at people. He likes to impress strangers with his advances. Here are his most and least favorite things to do.

Most:
1. Waving
2. Saying "babababa"
3. playing tug-o-war with Frodo
4. wrinkling his nose
5. bouncing

Least:
1. having us wash his hands
2. having us wash his face
3. being put down for a nap
4. when I take his Star Wars books away
5. getting stuck in tight places

Dream Home

2008-12-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

I'm sure the two of you who read this will not be surprised to find out that I have odd dreams. When I was in college my dream car was a VW GTI hatchback. Now it is a Honda Fit that runs off of compressed air (it doesn't exist...although there is a car in India that runs this way). When it comes to my dream house, my hopes are equally odd. I have three aspects that shape my dream home 1) functionality 2) sutainability 3) affordability.

I thought I'd list my top 5 house concepts:

5) Houses from Straw:
My sister turned me on to some straw house building websites. Here is one that I just found http://www.houseofstraw.com/. While I love the concept, I am terrified that my house would be overrun by rodents and/or eaten by cows.

4) Log Cabins from Scratch:
I once read a book about how a guy moved to this 100 acre farm in Montana and built a house using resources found on his property. He spent $10,000 on a 1,000 sq ft home. He, his wife, and his father-in-law built it. It also had a cool water system that recycled waste water into water for plants. I can't remember the name of the book...my sister took it from me a year ago and hasn't given it back. My only concern about this type of home is that I wouldn't be able to build it in the city. I'd have to live out in the woods where the building codes are relaxed.

3) Tiny House:
Apparently, there is a Tiny House Movement happening these days. There are individuals living in homes as small at 100 sq ft. I found a company not too far from me that makes these houses using 95% recycled wood and fixtures. They are pretty sweet. Check them out: http://www.tinytexashouses.com. My concerns about this one are a) they are still pretty expensive if you buy them from somebody else b) can I really raise a family in 100 sq ft?

2) Idea Box:
I LOVE this house. It is a prefab, modern, green, affordable home built in Oregon. Check it out http://www.ideabox.us. I have two concerns with this house a) it wouldn't be cost effective to ship a house from Oregon b) it would be tough to get a permit to have a prefab house placed in the city limits.

1) Cheap run-down home:
In reality, I don't have the space or the money to do my other ideas. I simply want a home with character that is in an ok neighborhood. I'm tired of being a slave to my stuff. So why not buy a cheap house in a poorer part of town and live debt free? Here's a house I found for $24,000 in a neighborhood that has an annual pushcart derby. Who doesn't like pushcart derbies?
http://realestate.mysanantonio.com/homes/listing/10901-743313

p.s. Did I mention that I want to build my own Alaskan Skiff boat? More on that later.

I'm not spam

2008-12-05T01:25:00.000-08:00

Right now blogspot thinks I am spam. I have never been accused of such an atrocious act...with the exception of when my sisters claimed that I poked a hole in the bathtub. At any rate, I'm only writing to convince the blogspot gods that I am indeed a real person and that I have feelings...