Hey guys, sorry about the delay in updating. I wanted to leave the trip story on a little longer, but then when I planned on updating on Friday, the week caught up to me. Anyway, first thing is first, lets try to have a get-together in August. I have said on facebook that we are good to go for any Friday or Saturday except the 2nd or the 15th. I prefer a Saturday, but if Friday is best for everyone else then that will work. I will have some things to discuss, and we can hopefully make some solid plans at this meeting.
I read "Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places," by Eugene Peterson this past week. It was an excellent book, I would highly recommend it. It gets a bit wordy, and it reads more like a sermon than a book, but I would recommend it nonetheless. It is basically saying that Christ plays in each of us that have trusted and decided to follow him. There are three different ways he looks at how Christ plays, in creation, in history and in community. The first two we can observe but not really participate in. Christ playing in community, however, we can have a direct hand in. Part of our job as a church, I believe, is to help people be a part of a community. That community can help them to become what they were born to be. Peterson states the need like this "Life was at stake- their lives, their souls, their souls in community. People can live correctly and behave rightly and worship politely and still live badly- live anemically, live individualistically self-enclosed lives, live bored and insipid and trivial lives." Hopefully we can help people move beyond trivial lives to lives that matter. Lives that effect the universe, the lives of others. Christ promised we would do greater things than he did, and we can. This is part of my prayer for our church.
I hope you can all join us in August. It should be a good time. Does anyone have anything they need prayer for? I wrote some tentative bylaws/constitution and emailed it to some of you, if you did not get one and would like to look at it, let me know. It is open to change, so don't think that is the only way everything will go. I know it seems a ways off, but we can begin building community here and now, through this blog, through email and facebook. Not ideal, but it is a start. I look forward to eating, drinking and making a difference for the kingdom with all of you. The proverb of the week is Proverbs 18.1 "the one who lives alone is self-indulgent, showing contempt for all who have sound judgment."
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
4 people, one minivan, 2500 miles and two hotels
We just got back about two hours ago from the road trip. Some idiot (probably me) turned our AC off before we left so it is really hot in here. So since I won't be able to sleep, I figured I would give the rest of you a trip recap while it was fresh on my mind.
We headed out from Waco at about 6 am on Friday. We were pretty worn out, but the new Weezer album kept me company while Robin slept on the way to Bethany's house. We got in there at about 8.30 and after a brief stop at the golden arches for some health food, we were on our way. I took the first shift, because I like to get the worst over with mostly. So I drove us from Dallas to the motherland (Oklahoma City to the layman) where we stopped for a bite of lunch. We all discovered soon that the land between Oklahoma City and Denver is both humongous and desolate, I hate Kansas.
We finally got into Denver at around 10 or so and made our way to our hotel. If it could be called that. Tanner and I went into the Homestead Suite lobby and began the process of checking in. The woman was busy yelling at someone and telling them that she herself had just gotten in and didn't know why her room door was hanging open. I tried to not laugh too much, but it was pretty funny. After the whole ordeal, we finally got to our rooms. There we discovered that instead of a queen sized bed in each room, we had just one double sized bed. This wasn't acceptable, so I called the front desk. The informed me that the beds were queen, and to make a long story short, I spent more than an hour holding on the hotwire phone line and we moved on to a motel 6, they left the light on for us.
As we began checking in at the motel 6, by this time it was at least midnight, maybe closer to 1 am, the police showed up. The clerk told us he would be right back and proceeded to help the officers, who had showed up just in time apparently. We never found out what happened, but I like to believe we just missed a huge gang fight. Anyway, we finally got to bed late that night, and ended up in a bad hotel thanks to hotwire and my not double checking everything. Note to all of us, be sure to always double check everything.
The next day I woke up a few hours before everyone else because I am such a poor sleeper, so I took the opportunity to drive around a bit. Let me tell you all, the town is beautiful. Just being able to look at the mountains directly ahead of you as you drive down streets is wonderful. The grass was green on each side and a blue bird perched on my shoulder as I drank my coffee, except the part about the blue bird. Anyway, everyone eventually got up and we set about exploring our future home.
The first thing I noticed was how many people just hang out outside during their Saturday mornings. People were bicycling, running, and walking dogs. The first part of our trip was to just look around downtown. We saw the art museum, looked at all the cool architecture, and ate at a cool Philly Cheesesteak place Tanner suggested. It was delicious.
After lunch we decided to go check out the mountains, we drove around and found a little town called Golden just to the West of Denver. Golden was a quaint little town with wonderful architecture and a Coors plant. So we decided that since we were going to plant a church here, we had to take a tour of the Coors plant. It was pretty fascinating actually. They offered us free beer, but we didn't have much. We were all pretty worn out after this, so we went to dinner and then to a coffee shop and chilled for the evening. Tanner and I watched some crazy movie with the Rock and I played my DS.
The next day we started by going to the Red Rocks amphitheatre. This was the coolest part of the trip to me. Willie Nelson apparently prefers this venue to all others in the world, and I can see why. We stayed there awhile, and ton of crazies were there running the stairs and stuff, pretty hardcore since we were all wiped out from walking up once.... Anyway, we eventually got some lunch and went downtown again. This time we checked out the 16th street mall, which was also huge. So big they have a bus that takes people back and forth. This was only after a parking machine stole Tanner's money, it hated Texans...
We ate at a really cool diner and then headed to Boulder. Boulder was really cool. It is full of young people and life. They were having a Jewish festival in the downtown at the time, so I enjoyed seeing the Hebrew shirts etc. This will be a great place for us to hang out, meet people and stuff like that. Then a man from the "Truthians" gave Tanner a brochure about why Jesus is Satan, and I almost talked to him about it all, but really decided against it. Maybe once I live there I can meet some Truthians... Anyway, we headed to the hotel before dinner again.
We got up at 5.15 this morning and headed out. Now I am worn out, as I am sure anyone who tried to read all of that is. I will post pictures soon. Those of you who came, please add your impressions, etc.
We headed out from Waco at about 6 am on Friday. We were pretty worn out, but the new Weezer album kept me company while Robin slept on the way to Bethany's house. We got in there at about 8.30 and after a brief stop at the golden arches for some health food, we were on our way. I took the first shift, because I like to get the worst over with mostly. So I drove us from Dallas to the motherland (Oklahoma City to the layman) where we stopped for a bite of lunch. We all discovered soon that the land between Oklahoma City and Denver is both humongous and desolate, I hate Kansas.
We finally got into Denver at around 10 or so and made our way to our hotel. If it could be called that. Tanner and I went into the Homestead Suite lobby and began the process of checking in. The woman was busy yelling at someone and telling them that she herself had just gotten in and didn't know why her room door was hanging open. I tried to not laugh too much, but it was pretty funny. After the whole ordeal, we finally got to our rooms. There we discovered that instead of a queen sized bed in each room, we had just one double sized bed. This wasn't acceptable, so I called the front desk. The informed me that the beds were queen, and to make a long story short, I spent more than an hour holding on the hotwire phone line and we moved on to a motel 6, they left the light on for us.
As we began checking in at the motel 6, by this time it was at least midnight, maybe closer to 1 am, the police showed up. The clerk told us he would be right back and proceeded to help the officers, who had showed up just in time apparently. We never found out what happened, but I like to believe we just missed a huge gang fight. Anyway, we finally got to bed late that night, and ended up in a bad hotel thanks to hotwire and my not double checking everything. Note to all of us, be sure to always double check everything.
The next day I woke up a few hours before everyone else because I am such a poor sleeper, so I took the opportunity to drive around a bit. Let me tell you all, the town is beautiful. Just being able to look at the mountains directly ahead of you as you drive down streets is wonderful. The grass was green on each side and a blue bird perched on my shoulder as I drank my coffee, except the part about the blue bird. Anyway, everyone eventually got up and we set about exploring our future home.
The first thing I noticed was how many people just hang out outside during their Saturday mornings. People were bicycling, running, and walking dogs. The first part of our trip was to just look around downtown. We saw the art museum, looked at all the cool architecture, and ate at a cool Philly Cheesesteak place Tanner suggested. It was delicious.
After lunch we decided to go check out the mountains, we drove around and found a little town called Golden just to the West of Denver. Golden was a quaint little town with wonderful architecture and a Coors plant. So we decided that since we were going to plant a church here, we had to take a tour of the Coors plant. It was pretty fascinating actually. They offered us free beer, but we didn't have much. We were all pretty worn out after this, so we went to dinner and then to a coffee shop and chilled for the evening. Tanner and I watched some crazy movie with the Rock and I played my DS.
The next day we started by going to the Red Rocks amphitheatre. This was the coolest part of the trip to me. Willie Nelson apparently prefers this venue to all others in the world, and I can see why. We stayed there awhile, and ton of crazies were there running the stairs and stuff, pretty hardcore since we were all wiped out from walking up once.... Anyway, we eventually got some lunch and went downtown again. This time we checked out the 16th street mall, which was also huge. So big they have a bus that takes people back and forth. This was only after a parking machine stole Tanner's money, it hated Texans...
We ate at a really cool diner and then headed to Boulder. Boulder was really cool. It is full of young people and life. They were having a Jewish festival in the downtown at the time, so I enjoyed seeing the Hebrew shirts etc. This will be a great place for us to hang out, meet people and stuff like that. Then a man from the "Truthians" gave Tanner a brochure about why Jesus is Satan, and I almost talked to him about it all, but really decided against it. Maybe once I live there I can meet some Truthians... Anyway, we headed to the hotel before dinner again.
We got up at 5.15 this morning and headed out. Now I am worn out, as I am sure anyone who tried to read all of that is. I will post pictures soon. Those of you who came, please add your impressions, etc.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Challenge of Jesus
This past week I read a book called "The Challenge of Jesus" by NT Wright. Basically it was all about how we can affirm who Jesus was an is in our post-modern world. Wright does a very good job of being balanced. He affirms that we should and can affirm the historicity of Jesus Christ, but also that we have to contextualize the story as we retell it. It cannot look the same in every culture.
I don't have a ton to say about all that, maybe because I'm pretty worn out right now. But I did want to check in. Bethany, Robin, Tanner and I are going to Denver this coming weekend. I am really pumped about it. I will give you all updates as we get back. I will post sometime this week before we go. Then pretty soon I will email my book reviews and the other stuff I have been working on. Peace upon you all. Pray for great things.
I don't have a ton to say about all that, maybe because I'm pretty worn out right now. But I did want to check in. Bethany, Robin, Tanner and I are going to Denver this coming weekend. I am really pumped about it. I will give you all updates as we get back. I will post sometime this week before we go. Then pretty soon I will email my book reviews and the other stuff I have been working on. Peace upon you all. Pray for great things.
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