Barack Obama is not a Muslim

There have been a lot of internet rumors going around the Christian circles about Barack Obama being a Muslim. I am not at this point supporting him as a candidate, I just want us to tell the truth. Read this story from a trusted, prominent, Christian friend...

Read it here

Uhhhh...yes!

OK, real quick...

We've been quite busy hosting and teaching the Discipleship Training School from Youth With A Mission, Pismo Beach. We have had a great week with them though and they ran into our outreach times together. This team was a breath of fresh air.

We taught on justice issues, but more about how justice starts with and ends with real community between us, God and the world around us...both with people and the earth itself. We shared together in the mornings and got to actually apply those things in community outreach in the afternoons. Sweet.

OK, all you need is 20 minutes. This is a great little video shown to me by my friend Dave...it's a very simple explanation of the interconnectedness of the justice issues facing us in our time. Some thought provoking ideas. Let me know what you think.

The Story of Stuff

Another team from Canada arrived tonight...off I go!

You won't regret listening...

Hey, my good friend Aaron gave this to me to listen to the other day and it's a good perspective. It's a talk Donald Miller gave at Mars Hill church about "Story" and how stories relate to life. The book is scheduled for May I heard. Good stuff...

Download it here

Saturday was the first wedding from our YWAM Modesto community. John and Rhiannon, along with family and friends put so much work into the day to make it special. The word special really falls short. Magical is better but still not quite there.

There is so much mundane preparation that goes into a wedding. The busyness can eat up your ability to see what's really going on. Here they are, just kids really. They barely knew each other for two years and most of that time was spent doing separate YWAM training. Not much money and no real natural reason they should have met. But they came together around compassion and community. They bumped into each other while walking toward Jesus.

So after everything is in place, the women have run around checking and double checking and the men have been careful to do what the women say. The crowd gathers, the ladies sparkle, the men are resolved, the music plays and transformation happens. No longer a kid with no money, but a king backed by the men of God at his side and coming into his own. No longer a girl, but a queen, untouched by time like some sort of immortal beauty from Tolkien's world. We cheer at the coronation. They turn to us and bless us. For a day, our lost nobility shines. They are gracious to share kind words with their guests and we toast their union and bask in their grace.

And whether we realize it or not, we cry because we are hungry for the ultimate wedding to come. The king will rise to take his own, the glorious bride without spot or wrinkle will shine in his light, resplendent in traditional dress, tribal markings and henna designs. He will say "I do" with a voice like rushing water and she will respond in a thousand different tongues. We will come together around ultimate compassion and participate in ultimate community. We will be truly known. We will truly rest. And together, we will make a home.

And then we dance.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Wow...I actually took an internet quiz.

This was kinda fun...it's funny, they're right! My religious roots are Weslyan!

What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 82% Emergent/Postmodern 71% Neo orthodox 68% Roman Catholic 57% Fundamentalist 50% Reformed Evangelical 43% Classical Liberal 43% Charismatic/Pentecostal 39% Modern Liberal 25%

Loving your neighbor

We must make every effort to rid ourselves of thoughts, speech and acts that do not allow others to be wonderfully complex, beautiful and in process with their Creator. This is a step on the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.

Excellent article

I was reading my friend Beth's blog today and she linked to a great article about the North American church's unnecessary fascination with "Excellence". Click here to read.

Gratitude is the ground floor

Journaling is a good way to track your spiritual life. I recommend it to every one that is seriously wanting to develop in their own discipleship. It may not be the answer for every one but it sure has helped me. Here are a few of the positives...

-If you find concentration in prayer difficult, the act of writing can focus your thoughts. While quiet contemplation is something to be desired and growing in our lives, writing can be a means to that end. It doesn't have to be flowery, just honest and as private as you want it to be.

-It creates an automatic chronicle of your spiritual life and the ways that God is speaking to and leading you. It is very beneficial for review. It can also be a way to help you remember those things you discern God challenging you to work on.

-Prayerful journaling can help you process your life instead of blindly existing in it. It's a way to help you make sense of what's happening day to day, ask questions about the hard stuff and remember the things that shouldn't just fade away.

In a "new years resolution-y" kind of way, I wanted to be a bit more faithful to journaling. So I began January with a new journal and I have been writing in it a little each day. But I started to feel that pressure already to really write and get a lot out of it. Just in the first few days of the year, my new resolve became more like an assignment that I HAD to do.

Then I remembered some really good advise that I have heard from a few sources (one of them was Oprah but let's not get into it and the other was a course I took called Space for God...awesome!) about keeping a gratitude journal. To intentionally sit down in the evening and list at least five things you are grateful for that are specific to that day.

It's best to not make them general things like checking off a foregone list...wife, kids, place to live, friends, food. But to be as specific as possible. For instance, here's mine from today and obviously, in my own journal, these things are way more specific but you'll get the idea...these are all things I experienced, noticed or thought about today.

"I'm grateful for...

-The way Stella dances in our musical worship times at church. It reminds me of how I long for freedom like that...to not care what others think and just naturally respond to God.

-For a lazy afternoon with family and the game of 'Clue' that Sam won and all the fun we had with Grandma finding out she actually committed the crime in the lounge with the wrench.

-For the way I see community happening right in front of me...friends gathering to pray for one another through difficult times, friends supporting and encouraging a young couple about to be married, friends giving to each other out of their poverty, friends getting together and laughing their heads off.

-For quiet time

-For my hilarious boys, Joshua's quick wit and Sam's silly heart. They're killing me lately."

This has revolutionized my journaling time. I feel silly keeping a diary, just chronicling the events of the day in the order they happened. But to look back on my day through the lens of gratitude helps me see God's hand even in more difficult times.

A good friend once told me that before all the proper theological thinking, before all the stuff we think makes us good Christians, before it all, there is gratitude. It is the way we come to God. It's our first step in moving toward God. If for nothing else, for the gift that we have that we could not have given ourselves, life. When we realize that all we are and all we have is grace, the most fitting response is thankfulness. Gratitude is the ground floor of our relationship to God. It's the way in.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4

Family day pictures...

Monday, Stella had a doctors appointment to check on her repaired palate. All is well. We decided to make a day of it but high tailed it out of the city as soon as we could. We headed for the ocean. On the way, we stopped at the boy's idea of heaven...a KFC/Taco Bell hybrid. Here they are munching on the greasy variety...





Josh really loves KFC.



Next we stopped at the ole "Sea Bowl", the coolest bowling alley I've ever been to and with an ocean view!










And with perfect form...



We heart Sea Bowl!



Then it was off to Pigeon Point Lighthouse to see if we could spot some whales...



We didn't see any but there were some Sea Lions hanging out...



Then we watched the sun set at Bean Hollow beach. At the lighthouse, there was a banner hanging up in the little museum that said something like, "if there's magic left on our planet, it's in the sea" I believe it.

You say you want a resolution...

Did you know that if you read (starting today) four chapters of the Bible a day (not including Psalm 119...you can read that one by itself) you will finish it before next Christmas?

Some suggestions...

*Don't feel like you have to read it in the order it's in but do stick with one book at a time. If you want, read 3 chapters of a book and one Psalm...this will last a little less than half a year. Proverbs would work too but only for a month.

*The best advise I ever heard about which translation to use is from an old preacher in Florida, "The best Bible to read is the Bible you read". Most translations have their strong points and weaknesses but unless you're planning on brushing up your ancient Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew, get one you understand and I would suggest a Bible that is unencumbered by lots of stuff around the margins written by other people telling you how you should think about it. Don't read a study Bible. Study a study Bible. Read a plain 'ol Bible.

*Respond. Ask God to speak to you through His Word and He will. Write down insights He gives you while reading. Write down questions you have about things that don't seem to make sense. Write out prayers of response.

Do you have some Bible reading thoughts? Post a comment...

Thailand Pictures

Hey, hey,

Our website has some new stuff on it. Explore here...YWAM Modesto

And here's a little slide show of our trip to Thailand...have fun!

Thailand

Official YWAM statement

A lone gunman entered a Youth With A Mission training center in the Denver,
Colorado suburb of Arvada early Sunday morning, opening fire and hitting
four members of the staff. All were taken to local hospitals and two later
died of their injuries.

The two wounded remain in serious condition. The gunman has not yet been
apprehended, and police are continuing their search for him.

The deceased have been identified as Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota,
and Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska. Both served as staff members at the
Youth With A Mission Arvada campus. The third victim, Dan Griebenow, 24, has
a bullet in his neck and is listed in critical but stable condition. The
fourth victim Charlie Blanch, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs.

Peter Warren, the Director of Youth with a Mission Denver says they had just
finished a Christmas banquet when the suspect arrived and asked a
22-year-old woman from Minnesota if he could be housed for the evening. When
she told him they could not house him, that's when, Warren says, the suspect
opened fire with an automatic handgun, hitting four people. Police say they
do not know whether the shooting was random or if there was a motive.

Warren says, "The young man - I don't know who he is; I don't think [the
victims] knew him - but he must be going through a lot personally in his own
life to do something like this. Our belief is that only God is the judge and
our place is to forgive and that's a difficult thing to do, but really, I
think it's the right thing to do," said Warren.

There are about 80 people living on the Arvada campus and they have been
transported to the group's mountain campus near Golden, Colorado where they
will stay while the murder investigation is processed at their residence.
Warren says they are trying to deal with this situation as best as they can.

"There's no blueprint for this," said Warren. "You know, we're just going to
be honest, we're going to pray with one another and cry with one another.
These kids were like our kids, you know. It's just such a tragedy, but who
knows what's going on in this young man's life."

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international and interdenominational
Christian movement with operating locations in 171 nations. Launched in 1960
as a means for young people to get involved in short-term missionary
service, it now has over 16 000 staff working in 1180 centers and trains
over 25 000 people each year to be involved in the organization' s primary
goal - to know God and make Him known. YWAM is hugely varied in its
approach, operating such ministries as drop-in centers for street children
in South America; hospice care for AIDs victims in Africa; literacy and job
creation programs throughout Asia; and is well known for its quick response
and long-term commitment to global disasters, such as the 2006 tsunami.

YWAM International Chairman Lynn Green released this statement: "We feel a
deep sense of loss today and we grieve with the families and those who were
very close friends of the victims. Our surviving students and staff are
being well cared for and we have total confidence in those who are
responsible for the training program in Arvada to care for those who have
been subjected to this assault.

"Those who lost their lives had dedicated themselves to serve and we feel
the sorrow of their absence. Yet we take comfort from the assurance of
everlasting life for those who follow Christ in loving service to others.

"It is a great tragedy that our culture seems to produce so many deeply
troubled people who express their frustration in violence. We forgive the
assailant and we rededicate ourselves to serving young people in the hope
that we might bring healing to other needy youth."

Who do I think I am?

I'll never get caught up with telling you the unfolding story of our life. I guess I really can't live with that pressure. You, faithful readers and every-now-and-then peruse-ers do not put that pressure on me. That's not the point of a blog. I've had a hate/hate relationship with the inter net lately. I'm not good at keeping up and then this blog, the podcast, my website, etc looms over me and even checking email starts to feel like work. Well, no one pays me for this blog and it should be a pressure release rather than a pressure um...putter on-er. So with that said...I blog...

Last month, our friends took a collection and gave us a little trip to Disneyland...something for which we have been praying. It was so awesome when I finally got to go to AAA and lay the money down for a full 2 day package. We have never gone away to do something like that as a family. Our vacations are always to go see relatives (which we love and would never want to change) and getting away on our own seemed a bit impossible. But it wasn't because with God, working though a beautiful community of sacrificing friends, yes, it can happen. Even something frivolous andunnecessary. Ok, lesson learned. If it's a good idea to God, he can make it happen if we ask AND leave it to him. That's also part of the deal...being willing for it to not be a good idea and accepting that. But this time, it seemed a good idea. Great! Life, peace, freedom, excitement and experiencing God in new ways as with mouths wide open at something we could have never made happen on our own steam.

Even fuel and food were covered! So there we were, on our first day in the park and we took a break for lunch. Having enough for one food splurge a day, we went to Red Robin, a great burger place with a nice atmosphere and refillable fries. We had our meal and Amie and I were waiting for the boys to come out of the wash room when a homeless man with a distressed look on his face rounds the corner coming toward us.

My thoughts began to race..."Oh boy, here we go. He's going to ask me for money. What's my position on this?" And then you start to go through the pro/com list..."Well, money will make him just go away...what's required of me? This is my vacation. What's he going to use it for? Isn't it wiser to give some kind of food? That's what we always tell mission teams when they come to work with us. I don't have time to get quick food. Better just go with the standard line..."

This man makes his way over to us and cannot really speak. All he can muster is some mumbling and then, "dollar?" And then, without too much thought (just a lot of presuppositions) I give the standard, "I don't have a dollar for you, sir." Respectfully, with a smile. See, the operative word is "FOR YOU. Oh, I have a dollar for me and my family. We're having a good family time together and I don't want topropagate any of your bad habits so I have no money FOR YOU."

Crisis averted, the man shuffled away. And I heard God, through my conscience, clearly speak. "Who do you think you are? Here you are at Disneyland through the sacrifices of others and you don't have a dollar for this man?" I couldn't believe myself! I quickly looked around for the man but he had walked away, nowhere to be seen. Conviction hit me like a ton of bricks. I mean, in a way, the man and I make our income in exactly the same way. I ask people to support us so that we can be free to pursue God's calling on our life. He had no guile, he was not conning me, he simply, very simply, asked for a dollar. Here I am, a "street worker" and I don't have time to fish a dollar from my wallet padded with the beautiful sacrifices of brothers and sisters. I had to repent then and there. God help me.

We did have a great time. On our way home, we stopped for one last hurrah at the Home Town Buffet (I know, I know but it our boys favorite place) in Bakersfield. As we left the perfect, beautiful facades of the whole Disney scene (there are no homeless on main street USA) and descended once again into the central valley we got the sense that the fantasy, however fun, was over. We parked behind Hometown near the dumpster, the cracking cement and dirty smell indicating that something is definitely wrong with our way of life.

In front of the store there was an older woman standing under the awning out of the rain and crying, begging for money. Her story was that she needed $10 for a bus ride to get to her daughter. I've heard it many times before. And in came the pros and cons. And so did my fumbling words, "Uh, well, I don't know if I have ten FOR YOU...", knowing full well what was in my wallet. And then, peace as I opened to my ten, lifted it out and pressed it into her hand as so many have done for me. "God bless you." She cried and thanked me. I went in and had a disgusting buffet with my family, out of the rain.

I am not responsible with what people do with gifts I freely give. Who of us doesn't pamper themselves a little when we have come through a stressful situation. Who doesn't long for the comfort of their bed, a hot coffee, a little extra money or the distraction of a TV show or movie? Or what about our legal, expensive therapy or pills. There is no policy of being human. We are more than a set of standards. We have a beating heart and a will to choose but we lock our hearts away behind false policies of "we only give food" or "they will only use it on drugs".

Yes, there are cons...I've been gotten by the best of them. Yes, there is discernment and sometimes giving is not the best. But we must move out of our ear being pressed close to the Father's heart and when we feel it swell with compassion, we respond.

"Freely you have received, freely give" Matt 10 : 8

Vacation, birthdays and tricks or treats!

Wow, what a busy time! It's been difficult to get into the bloggin' habit since our staff retreat in September. With trips, hosting mission teams here in Modesto and lots of family stuff going on, it's been hard to find time to write. I'll get 'er though.

Here's some pictures and videos to let you know what we've been up too...

First of all, our community here pitched in and gave us a trip to DISNEYLAND! Here's Josh and Sam at Toontown...



And here's Sam drumming along to High School Musical...



And here's a little slide show of all our recent adventures...



So that's that...off I go again! Hope to post soon!

Wake up

Sing to the tune of the traditional Doxology...

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Thy precious time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem,
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.

By influence of the Light divine
Let thy own light to others shine.
Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways
In ardent love, and cheerful praise.

In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noontide clear;
Think how all seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.

All praise to Thee, who safe has kept
And hast refreshed me while I slept
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless light partake.

Heav’n is, dear Lord, where’er Thou art,
O never then from me depart;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.

Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.

I would not wake nor rise again
And Heaven itself I would disdain,
Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed,
And I in hymns to be employed.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

-Thomas Ken

One month

It's been a whole month since I've posted! It seems longer. What have we done?

-I've had gout. Gout! GOUT! And it hurts. I am now a vegetarian but I still can't eat beans, asparagus or cauliflower. And yes, I know about the cherry and strawberry thing. I've done all the research. I still have gout. Grrr.

-We went to Oregon on a retreat with our whole YWAM Modesto family where I...fished with my boys for the first time, hiked around a gorgeous waterfall, went swimming, had deer in our front yard, sat in a hot tub a few times, enjoyed the rythem of no schedule, spent happy days in clean mountain air, unwound, prayed with my friends, read and, well, did life.

-Spent the weekend with Amie's brother and sister-in-law's family in Portland where we video gamed, bowled, Wiied, watched movies and enjoyed a great visit.

-We, with our church, hosted our 6th annual BBQ for the homeless community of our town. We served tri-tip steak, all kinds of fixins, free haircuts and fun music right on our property. About 150 came out and a good time was had by all.

-We hosted our former pastor (Aaron's sending pastor) from Canada, John (you can listen to his awesome sermons here) and good friend Rodney who came to visit and help with preparations for the BBQ. They were a major blessing bringing warm greetings from the congregation there and physical, financial and moral support. It was so good having them here.

So that's that...I've got a few posts in the works so don't give up checking in on me.

C

True D-O-G!

These are kids we get to spend time with every week. They are awesome. This is on our way to the park...

New news!

Hey, hey!

Not a lot of time to post lately as I've been working on the YWAM Modesto Fall Newsletter. It turned out pretty good. Download the PDF here...

Fall Newsletter

Cincinnati Chili

This picture is my actual Cincinnati chili that I made. Right after this photo, I ate it. It was good. Follow this recipe. You're going to love it!

Ingredients...

2-1/2 lbs of ground chuck
1 quart of water
1 can of tomato paste (the little ones)
1-1/2 tbsp of white vinegar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
some garlic powder or a clove of real garlic (chopped fine)
2 tbsp of chili powder
5 bay leaves
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
2 tsp cayenne pepper (leave out if you're not so brave)
1-1/2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa
Salt to taste

In a pot, brown the beef and leave most if not all the juice in there...I drain a little but it's supposed to have it in there. The leaner the beef the less of a problem this will be.

Add the tomato paste and mix it in with the beef then add water till it covers the beef without making it too soupy. Bring it to a boil.

Reduce to simmer and add all the spices. let it simmer for about an hour (if you can wait that long).

Serve it over pasta like spaghetti (I like to use angel hair or "thin spaghetti") and top with cheddar cheese and fresh, chopped, raw white onion and oyster crackers. A nice Tabasco or pepper sauce is good too.

The Cincinnati way is...

Two way - Chili and pasta
Three way-Chili, pasta and cheese
Four way- Chili, pasta, cheese and onions (what we usually make)
Five way- Chili, pasta, cheese, onions and Kidney beans (I get this when at Skyline Chili in Kentucky and Ohio)

Enjoy!