Driving in the Right-Hand Lane

Several weeks ago I was in a meeting where we were discussing the January worship series for our church, of which one of the weeks will be focused on slowing down in a hurry up world. We talked about the pace in which we live our lives, always seeming to be in a hurry, especially around the holidays. The focus of our culture seems to be on quantity rather than quality...how much can we do? How many friends do we have on facebook? How many activities are we involved in? How many projects can we juggle at work? People always tell me that life goes by so fast, especially in regards to parenting children, and we often express remorse about that fact. I wonder if there are things we can do in order to change the pace in which we live our lives?

At this meeting, we brainstormed some of the ways we might allow the congregation to engage and experience that concept as well as some strategies people could take home. One idea lifted up was to drive in the right hand lane. A simple, yet powerful concept. One at which I initially scoffed at as I am a left hand lane driver through & through (I unfortunately have several points on my driving record as proof). However, the more I thought about it, the more I thought I’d try it out for the month of December. At first it was difficult, but then my paradigm changed and I began to value the feeling of not being rushed. I was amazed at how much stress I was carrying around just by driving in a hurry. It was quite freeing to tell you the truth. Now, I do occasionally still use the left hand lane, but not very frequently.

The amazing thing is that I have noticed that my right-hand lane mentality has crossed over into other areas of my life...slowing down to take advantage of the moment. I don’t try to hurry through things as much. Of course I still have a ways to go as I work and live in a fast-paced culture, but I can still stay with the flow of traffic while in the right hand lane. Hopefully you might take an opportunity to drive in the right hand lane some this Christmas, if only to just see what it’s like...

I Witnessed A Murder Last Night

Every so often, life seems to find a way to bring things sharply into perspective, to take our attention off of the insignificant and refocus it on what is truly important. Such was the case for me last night when I watched as a man’s life was taken from him.

It was a typical Friday night as a friend and I stopped to get gas on our way to a local outdoor festival. It was just before sunset when we pulled into the gas station, admittedly in a part of town I don’t care to be in after dark. The store was busy, lots of people coming and going. We noticed a man in his twenties, likely under the influence crossing the street and coming over to the gas station. I remember noticing that his pants were so low that they were around his ankles. Literally.

He made his way onto the store property and was immediately met by another man (later discovered as the attendant) and heated words were exchanged. I thought nothing of it as I saw both men walk into the store. I finish what I came for and begin to drive off but had to wait for the car in front of me to exit before I could leave. It is at that point I hear two gunshots and I look to see the attendant with a gun pointed at the other man mentioned above, however, the second man is now lying on the ground having been shot twice in the chest.

All of a sudden I am met with a flood of thoughts- do I get out to help? Do I plow through this car in front of me to get as far away from here as possible? Why is he shooting? Was it a robbery or just cold blood? My friend is strongly suggesting we leave, and quickly at that, so I pull out my phone and dial 911 as the car in front moves and I make my way to the street. My friend gathers the description of the suspect as well as attempts to determine the condition of the victim. I pull away from the gas station and into a nearby parking lot to relay all the information to the dispatcher. We stay in the area until the police arrive on the scene and then there is nothing left for us to do, well, nothing but sit in shock. We find out later that the man was taken to the hospital where he passed away.

That entire night and even all through today I find myself replaying those events over and over in my mind. Evaluating my reaction, scrutinizing my actions, trying to decide if I did everything I could have done. I sit and ponder about this man whose life was snatched from him. I think about how easily a life is taken and about how little our culture seems to regard human life. Then I think about all the little insignificant things I’ve been worried about and they all seem to fall away.

I am left with this question – What does it really mean to value life? And by that I mean what am I wiling to risk in order to protect another’s life? There are some lives I would risk more than others…for example, if my daughter or best friend were threatened, I would risk significantly more than I would for a stranger. But this man, whom I watched die, was likely inebriated or on drugs, has likely caused multiple disturbances at this store before, but did he really deserve to die at the hand of another? It’s hard for me to say that he did. It’s also hard for me to say I did everything I could have to help. And tomorrow I’ll likely end up picking up all those little things I dropped that don’t really matter anyway. Has this really changed me, or is the pull of the insignificant, the mundane, the routine just too strong? I hope not.

Three Simple Words

There are three simple words in the English language that we throw around without care, almost egregiously. It seems as though we feel obligated to say them, to the point they start to become a meaningless cliché. Yet these words are potent, as at their very core they bring the fullness of the human capacity for emotion to the surface. People have sacrificed a great deal for these words throughout history; many have even given their lives for them. The three words to which I am referring are quite simply, Peace On Earth.

Particularly during the holiday season, we are inundated with this notion of peace. But what is it we are really talking about here? Is it merely the cessation of war? I am certain that is part of it, but I have a feeling true peace encompasses so much more and I am beginning to come to the realization that peace, on earth, is much more difficult to achieve than we ever thought possible, yet more readily attainable than any of us ever dreamed.

I have been practicing yoga for almost 8 years now, but have just recently been introduced to the concept of the Satsang. There is more to it than I can discuss now, but the basic concept (and meaning of the word) is Divine Association: intentionally segregating what is divine from what is not and allowing your mind to focus solely on the divine. The belief is that when we associate our mind and body with something, we develop an attachment to it, whatever that may be – good or bad. We see something that appeals to us and so we think it is good. It entices us, it beckons us, and soon it begins to dominate our thoughts. We begin to desire it, to love it and we become attached to it and are then dependent upon it. This process is the same for the things of the world that can bring pain and suffering, such as addictions, as well as the things that bring health and life such as love and joy. The crux is in choosing what to be in association with and recognizing that the longer we submit to a specific association, the stronger it becomes.

When we look at a thin sheet of ice on top of the water, we see it can be easily broken, but over time, that thin sheet of ice thickens and can eventually become a glacier, which is strong enough to carve mountains. If we continue to feed the ice by slowly dripping cold water on it, we will see its size and strength grow. However, if we slowly drip warm water on it, we will see it begin to melt. So it is with the mind…if we constantly associate and dwell on the things of the world, then there will be no room for God, yet if we steadily begin to associate and attach to the things of the Divine, it will slowly take the place of any negative attachments.

Brother Lawrence, a 17th century monk known for the closeness of his relationship with God, depicts a similar concept to the Satsang in his classic text, The Practice of the Presence of God. To summarize, the majority of the text focuses on how he daily associated himself with the things of God. He would simply think about God constantly and when he recognized that he had become distracted, he simply refocused his attention back to God. And the more he practiced this, the easier it became. His heart and mind were bonded to God in such a powerful way, that meditating and being in communion with God became second nature for Brother Lawrence.

The way I see that this relates to peace on earth is found in the teachings of Confucius; “To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.” There is another saying that reiterates this concept, which is attributed to the Dalai Lama; “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”

Regardless of your religious beliefs, I have a feeling that there is something here worth investigating...and that is if we truly desire a world of peace, then the only possible way for it to become a reality is for us to take responsibility for the unrest we each bring into the world and begin to set our hearts right. No longer can we tacitly place the blame on others, be it our neighbor, our employer, our politicians, our religious leaders, or even our fanatical left and right wing extremists. I have to accept responsibility for my contributions to preventing peace in my sphere of influence. And slowly, each day, I attempt to make decisions that bring me closer to the divine in hopes of finding an inner peace that may change the world.

So, the next time you hear those three simple words, take a moment of reflection, and hopefully we can all allow the divine that we have become attached to inside our hearts, see and recognize that same divine in others. It may be at that very moment that we truly know and experience peace here on earth.

The Climb

This past summer, I spent a little time comparing life’s challenges with the sport of mountaineering, specifically in a couple of posts titled When Life Seems Like Mt. Everest. I have been planning to finish that series with a post focusing on how it is typically the journey a person experiences, rather than the destination, that is most important. However, I’m not certain that is completely true. I am at a point now where I see that both the journey, as well as our destination plays a vital role in our ability to successfully handle the challenges we come across in life.

First lets look at the journey we take. If we are not required to put in the due diligence of taking one step at a time, navigating the obstacles, feeling the burning fatigue in our muscles, and even managing the fear of the unknown…then most likely we will not appreciate the summit as much had we, in fact, endured those struggles. The sights, the smells, the details are all drawn out in an intimately vivid way from knowing what it took to be there. The journey gives us perspective, helps us appreciate where we have come, and even helps us gain a respect for those who have also made the same trek. A friend of mine who is an avid mountaineer, eloquently said this about the journey: “Climbing is a spiritual journey. One strives, suffers, hurts and often fails. It is the journey that teaches us what we are meant to know. The rewards are great to those who face the challenge yet realize that success lies in living to climb again. Some new land, some novel route and sometimes with new partners. On Belay!” It all boils down to the fact that the summit experience is not complete without having endured the entire journey.

However, I feel we often reduce the role that the destination plays as practically insignificant, which I feel is unwise. The destination is often the source of our motivation, which has a very direct impact on our performance, our drive, and our desire to get through the difficulties of the journey. My desire to reach the summit gets me through all the crap I have to endure. When my body is screaming at me to stop, when I feel as though I cannot continue and I want to give up and turn around, I refuse to listen because there is something greater than me that is calling out my name. This is the power of the destination, and it really does matter what that destination is.

There seems to be a direct correlation of the importance we assign to our destination to the level of suffering we are willing to endure in order to reach it. It is quite obvious when someone is fully committed, or should I say devoted, to their destination, their summit, their purpose, their mission, whatever you want to call it. The level of focus, the drive, the determination, and the willingness to continue on no matter how difficult, all play a vital role in their ability to reach the summit. Unfortunately, I would say that the converse is also true. The person who is indifferent about their destination will never willingly endure the struggles required to reach the summit. They will be forever limited to mediocrity, as it is often the case that the most spectacular sights are indeed the hardest to reach. Those summits reveal their beauty only to the most dedicated.

So, for me…I realize that everyday I wake up with a choice. A choice to get up, and make the most of what I’ve been given, recognizing that there are going to be days that I just want to sit down on the ground and give up, feeling like there is no way I can continue. But when those days do come, when I feel that my days have all passed and my plans have all been shattered, I reach down deep and am reminded of my ultimate destination and that the desires of my heart are in fact turning night into day, and while in the face of darkness, light is most definitely near.

Picture by Dave Pullin

When Life Seems Like Mt. Everest...(part 2)

Route Planning
Once you have selected your Expedition Team, you must next determine your route up the mountain, which can either lead you toward great success or tragic failure.

Being in the lead position of a rope team on a glacier can be quite stressful. You not only set the pace for the team, but you also have to exercise extremely good judgment with every step, seeing as one of the primary threats in regards to glacier travel is falling into a crevasse (huge cracks in the ice). So in order to minimize risk, there are several things mountaineers make certain they do.

Gather Beta
Many rock climbers take pride in a successful on-sight climb (leading a climb, on your first try, without any hints – beta). However, glacier mountaineering is a little different. You willingly accept any beta you can acquire: possible routes, route condition, accumulated snowfall, avalanche probability, difficulty, weather forecast, etc. If the particular mountain and route you are interested in has already been done, then you want to learn from that experience. Of course you want to thoroughly vet the beta you receive, as it might be outdated, or even incorrect.

Campsite Selection
Determining where you will camp is not so much about where you will place the tent, rather it is more about your ability to accurately discern how far the team will be able to travel in a given day, allowing for a certain margin of error. This, seemingly simple task, is actually one of the more difficult skills to master in all of outdoor travel. Consideration must be made for pack weight (which changes as food is eaten), accessibility to water, climber ability/fatigue, weather, exposure, acclimation, as well as many others. Pushing the team too hard will likely result with exhaustion or even injury. Not challenging the team's ability will result in boredom, frustration, maybe even desertion.

Cutting Steps
Contrary to popular opinion, traveling on ice can be extremely difficult. Imagine walking down your driveway after an ice storm and you get the picture. Due to this, there are times you must cut steps into the ice, which can be a tedious and exhausting process. Using the adz of an ice ax (the flat, wide end), the person in the lead swings the ax and literally cuts each step into the ice. Care must be made that the distance between steps is just right. Cut steps too far apart and it may cause someone to fall. Cut steps too close together, and precious time & energy are wasted. The interesting thing is, that as each team member uses a single step, it becomes well defined, making it easier for the person after to use the step.

You are probably ahead of me in terms of relating this to our everyday, but when you feel like you are in the dregs of life, the motivation to develop a ‘route plan’ is likely not there, but it doesn't have to be anything formal. Talk to others who have been where you are, determine what your first milestone will be. Give yourself something to focus on and allow yourself a little reward when you get there. Finally, pay attention to the steps you are cutting, pausing to remember to look up to ensure you are still on the right path. The steps we cut in our personal lives will most likely include the difficult (and sometimes horrifying) work of introspection and self-awareness. It is labor-intensive, but required, and most definitely worth it. This is the hard part of life, but it is also where we grow and recognize we may actually be stronger than we once thought we were.

Photo by Dave Pullin: NOLS Outdoor Educator Course '99: Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA.

When life seems like Mt. Everest… (pt. 1)

Expedition Team
Many often speculate at a climber’s motivation to summit a 29,029' mountain. I imagine one reason may be that deep inside each climber looms something so massive, so daunting, that they assign a physical challenge with it. And then, when they are able to face the physical challenge and journey to the top, they reason that they may be able to overcome the internal struggle as well.

Just as each mountain is different, so are there all types of internal struggles. They vary in form, be it addiction, self-esteem, abuse, pride, depression, sin, betrayal, [list your struggle here], but we all have them. It is part of human nature. And although I doubt you have the desire to take up mountaineering, I feel there is a great deal we can learn from those who accept a certain amount of risk in their lives in order to climb these spectacular summits.

When you find yourself in the shadow of one of these mammoths (voluntarily or not), one of the first things to do is figure out who you want on your expedition team. Who is going to climb this mountain with you? This is where you take stock of the tools and skills you have, as well as the ones you are missing. Then identify those around you who can fill any voids. On the mountain you will need a team leader, a lead climber, a cook, a medic, and navigator, communications, sherpas, transportation, etc. What are the tools and skills you need to make it through your internal struggle? Will you need a confidant, a therapist, childcare, a children’s therapist, a pastor, a cooked meal, a best friend, a support group, a mowed lawn, an exercise buddy, accountability?

Surrounding yourself with a small group of people who will be walking alongside of you, whom you trust, who will help you in your time of need, who will be there to pick you up when you fall, who will call you out when you are wrong, who will help you laugh when you need it most, who will tell you the truth in love, and who truly care for you is critical. They will never be able to climb the mountain for you, but they will be there with you every step of the way.

Spend some time thinking about what your needs are, then realize it is okay to ask for help. We aren't supposed to do this in isolation. We were created to be in community, so why is it we always feel like we have to go through these personal crises alone? If you don’t have your team assembled, then start making the calls. I know who my expedition team is…do you?

Photo: NOLS Outdoor Educator Course '99: Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA. That's me in the lead of the rope team.

Team Shake n Bake!

Exercise is a great distraction...especially when you are able to add mud as a major component. Tomorrow I am participating in the Dirty Duo Adventure Race, which is advertised as, "a little biking, a little running, and a TON of mud!"


Its a 6 mile course alternating running & mountain biking, followed by a 40 ft pit of mud you have to crawl through on your belly. Should be interesting. Fortunately, I will have the support of my trusted friend, Jason Gant, which together makes us team Shake n Bake!

So if you have nothing better to do tomorrow morning, here's directions to the KC Speedway to cheer us on! Race starts at 9am sharp. And there are supposed to be some great post-race festivities with music, food, and plenty of cold refreshments. Fun times!

Gettin' busy...

There is a movie that I love, maybe you have seen it - The Shawshank Redemption. It is the story of Andy, a man who is falsely convicted of murder and sent to prison where he is punished due to no fault of his own. There he becomes friends with a man named Red, who has been in prison for many years and is seasoned in the ways of incarceration and knows how to work the system.

The interesting thing is at first, Red takes on the role of mentor to Andy, teaching him the ways of the prison, how to survive, who to avoid, how to surrender to the inevitable that this is now the only existence that Andy will ever know. Red not only teaches, but encourages Andy to become institutionalized, to let go of any illusions of hope and to accept the reality that they have no control over their lives anymore.

Yet as their friendship grows, it is Red who then becomes the student, as he begins to see in Andy a strength that will not be beaten down or forfeited, not to the warden, not to the other inmates, nor to the institution itself. But no matter how hard Andy tries to convince Red that hope does, in fact, remain - and that is the one thing the institution can never take away - Red does not seem to understand, which leads us to this scene:



(Spoiler Alert)
Red feared that Andy exercised the one and only thing he could control...and that was how to end his life. That was the only option Red could fathom. Red was not able to see beyond his delusions, beyond the false reality he had built in order to protect himself from being vulnerable in fear of being hurt yet again.

But as it turns out, Andy was able to escape from the prison, from all the things that held him captive, because he had a hope that could not be taken away. And by doing that, by Andy breaking through all of that bondage, he provided the catalyst for Red to experience an awakening. Maybe what Red thought what was true was, in fact, mere deception. Maybe there is something beyond these walls of imprisonment. Maybe, just maybe, there is a thing called hope. Red eventually gets released, and is faced with a choice...to get busy living, or get busy dying.



Now, I ask myself...which one of these men am I? Am I going to be like Red, allowing my circumstances to construct a wall around me so that any ounce of hope or feeling I may have is slowly extinguished with each piece of brick and each spade of mortar? Do I desire to merely survive? Or - am I going to be like Andy, who does not let his circumstances beat him, who continues to feel and live - even at the risk of being hurt again? Now Red does eventually choose to live, but how much did he sacrifice? Am I willing to sacrifice as much as he did, or am I willing to risk again? Am I going to get busy living, or get busy dying (in an emotional, spiritual way...not a physical, literal way)?

There are times that I probably would have chosen the latter, but today....right now....I am confident that there is hope, and that hope is indeed a very good thing. And I am confident that it will never die. I choose to live.

Willow Creek Leadership Summit

This year's Leadership Summit has definitely been great. Fantastic speakers. Well done Willow.
Here's some great notes if interested.

National Worship Leader's Conference

Our church is hosting the National Worship Leader's Conference in 2009 & 2010, so a group of us were able to come to this year's conference (which is in Austin, TX) to check out how they do things and get an idea of what they are expecting.

One of the great things about worship conferences is that when you get a room full of worship leaders & pastors together, the energy and passion is overwhelming. Check out this quick video of everyone singing:




It's humbling being around so many talented artists and musicians. Last night, Mike Collins & I sat in on the production meeting prior to the evening worship. We were surrounded by people like Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster, Kathryn Scott, Don Moen, Chris Tomlin as well as the musicians that play with these artists. And as we gathered in prayer, the primary purpose was for these artists & celebrities to come together as one to serve the 2,000+ worship leaders and pastors by leading them in a time of worship where they did not have to 'work' or be 'on', but be instead be freed to wholly and fully worship God. I wonder how often do we as leaders in the church take time to do this. Take time away from ministering to others and allow ourselves to be ministered to.

I sometimes think that I am an exception. I can do double duty - working while I worship. and although there may be some truth in that, I find myself constantly evaluating, constantly analyzing. Be it the worship gathering, a program, a process, or anything dealing with the church. When do I allow myself to stop critiquing and let myself just be.

"Be still and know I am God" wrote the psalmist. Why is that so difficult to do?

First Impressions

We've all heard that first impressions are important. Within the first 90 seconds of encountering someone (or something) new, we make tons of assumptions about that person/place/organization. Be it the way someone is dressed, the curb appeal of a house, the parking lot of a mall, we all make very specific conclusions about those things. We do judge books by their covers. It is human nature. Presentation is critical.

The question that I want to focus on is, 'What is the first point of contact for most churches?' Where do people get their first impression of a church...of your church?

Many would suggest as they walk in the door and are met by the greeters shaking their hand. Are they smiling? How many perople are here? Is the facility clean? Or how about as they pull into the parking lot? Is the property well maintained? Is it easy to find a parking space? Or what about the receptionists at the front desk? Are they friendly? Do they have a smile in their voice? Do they have the information you need?

I would agree that those are all very important aspects in the hospitality of your church, and although they may be the first encounter many people have with the church, I would argue this is not the primary place people develop their first impressions.

In today's world, the website is the first point of contact, and the place that people will decide whether or not to even visit our churches. People use the web to get first impressions and make critical decisions. Is the design aesthetically pleasing? Is it easy to navigate and is information easy to find? Can I see what a typical experience might be like? Is there even a website at all?

Fortunately, there is a design site that has waded through a ton of church websites and has compiled what they feel to be the 50 Best Church Websites. Take a look and see what they have in common. You may say to yourself that you can't afford to maintain a site like one of those. If that is the case, then do simple & inexpensive well....but don't fall prey to an amateur site reminiscent to a '90s html style. If your having trouble or don't know where to begin....contact one of the churches listed in the link and ask them for advice & help.

And remember, if this is the first impression for most people...how can we not afford for it to be a good one.

If only Moses had Twitter...

...all those plagues could have been avoided! I must admit that although somewhat annoying (is it really necessary for the "is twittering" that is posted on facebook status reports?), twitter can become useful if I find myself documenting Egyptian anti-government protests like this guy was.

Change, Innovate, or Die...

A common theme around our church is how all organizations must eventually change, innovate, or die. The United Methodist Church is currently gathering in their General Conference which convenes every 4 years and representatives from all over the world come.

This is where polity is discussed, legislation is voted upon, and the leaders of the UMC help shape the future of our denomination.

Interestingly, there are significant debates about exactly what aspects need to be changed, and how we go about bringing innovation into our churches.

One such topic is about the current hymnal. Adam has a great post about the discussions, the vote, and what a possible future hymnal might look like. Be sure to check it out and make your voice heard.

I will never forget...

...what happened at 9:02 am on Wednesday, April 19th, 1995.

I was a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, walking to my morning class when I heard what sounded like a sonic boom off in the distance...towards the city. At the time - I thought nothing of it and very few folks had cell phones then, so it wasn't until after class that I started hearing rumors that there had been an explosion in Oklahoma City.

I walked through the doors of the Wesley Foundation (campus ministry) to see a crowd of people standing around the TV. No one was talking. Everyone just stood there in disbelief as we watched the news coverage unveil the unfathomable. A bomb had just been detonated at the Federal building in downtown OKC. I was in shock.

Someone asked me what my blood type was. "O-positive" I replied. "You need to go give blood at the Chi Omega house." They said. "They're calling for anyone with type O blood." So we walked to the sorority house and found over 300 students waiting around for their number to be called so they could give blood. There was a low murmur, but everyone seemed to be in their own world as we each tried to process what was happening.

The news stations called for donations of bottled water, hard hats, work boots, knee pads, etc. The organization Feed The Children was organizing the collections and donations, so many of us from Wesley went to their warehouse that afternoon to help sort, organize, pack, and load boxes into semi-trailers headed to ground zero.

As the rescue efforts continued, more and more bodies were discovered and there quickly became a large need for pastors & chaplains to assist on site. The pastor of the Wesley foundation - Brad - was one of the pastors called to assist. He was put on the 8pm-8am shift. I'm not certain exactly how it happened, but myself & a couple of other students managed to get FBI clearance and were assigned to the ground zero command post (which was located in a parking garage) during the same shift as brad. We (the students) primarily assisted by being gophers for whoever needed anything. If an emergency worker needed something, they'd come to us. We'd then go to the Feed The Children tent which looked like a Wal-Mart by the amount of stuff that had been donated. Bandages, flashlights, duct tape, gloves, blankets, anything anyone needed, we would get it for them....well, anything except answers.

I will never forget the first night I went to ground zero. When I saw with my own eyes what had been all over the news. It was dark. There were armed military personnel everywhere. But the thing I remember the most was the smell. It was a smell that was foreign to me. I don't think I have the words to describe it, but I just knew that it was the smell of death.

There wasn't a lot of noise during the night hours. It seemed eerily quiet. This was when the gravity of what was happening would weigh heaviest. Emergency workers would come into the command center and sit down at a table. You could just see their shoulders slump as if in defeat, constantly being robbed of any type of hope when they thought they might have found a survivor, but then quickly realizing that instead of going to the triage tent, they would have to take the dreaded, more common route, which led to the morgue.

They all showed the signs. FBI, ATF, Police, Fire, EMT. They were all tired and possibly suffering from depression. I can't imagine the pain they felt. You see pictures like the one below and you begin to wonder how any human being could make themselves function amidst such an act of violence.

But something amazing started to happen. Even though we were all in shock and experiencing varied levels of pain and depression, something started to happen that would begin to pull our city, our state, and even our country together. The mail started to arrive. Hundreds and thousands of letters started to arrive, simply addressed: Oklahoma City Emergency Workers. Thats it. No address or zip code. They came by the truck load from people all around the country. The most came from children in elementary schools drawing encouraging notes for the workers. But many others came from random people writing long notes of encouragement to anyone who would read it. Some even contained checks and cash for the rescue effort. There was so much mail that it had to be divided among many different places to be able to sort through it. Some went to the television networks, some went to the hospitals, some went to the local churches, and a lot of it came to the command center.

So during the midnight hours of the days following, we would open mail, sort it, and then we would take the letters from the children and hand them out to the workers. We would walk from security checkpoint to checkpoint, handing out these hand-drawn pictures & letters to tired and weary women & men who at first had a very hardened look & demeanor. But as soon as we gave them some of those letters, we would see the despair start to fade away and would sometimes get a glimmer of the hope that would remain.

It did, you know...remain. There is a survivor that continues to stand up for the fact that even amidst this horrific act of terrorism, this city, this state, and this country came together as one community. We looked past our differences and instead of allowing this act to divide us, it actually ended up uniting us in a very real way. And this survivor stands for the hope that we all have in humanity, that there is good in the world that has not been silenced, that in each of us there is the ability to put others' needs before our own, and that the capacity for love can be found in all of us. The survivor I mention is a tree, an Elm tree, that showed the amazing resilience and strength to endure. This tree will not forget what happened. It will always bear the marks from its' wounds of that day 13 years ago. But still it stands...and so will we.

May we never forget, that on this day we saw our country come together....not necessarily as Americans, but more so as a people who refused to allow hatred to have the last word. Here I saw first-hand how love truly is stronger than death, and this, I will never ever forget.

making new friends

So, two weeks ago I was in a hotel in Orlando with my daughter. We had spent a full day at Disney World and were relaxing by the outdoor pool & hot tub. Now my daughter Aliyah is not a very shy person when it comes to making new friends that are her age. If she sees anyone even close to her age, she automatically refers to them as her friend. "Hey daddy - there's my friend, I need to go play with her!"

So, on this particular day, there were a few other kids her age in the pool and they were playing very well with each other. After they had an hour of playing and swimming, it was time to go up to our room, dry off and go to dinner. So I called to aliyah to say that she had 5 more minutes to finish playing. After the five minutes passed, I told her it was time to go. She offered up the normal excuses to try to delay the inevitable. While I was coaxing her out, I asked if she had fun making new friends. Her response completely floored me. She said, "yes...but I'm not finished making them yet".

After an hour of playing together, she still wasn't finished 'making' new friends. How often are we as adults only willing to go through the minimum of the socially accepted rules of engagement when you meet someone new in a public place, such as a hotel pool. We make a general acknowledgment of the others' presence, possibly make a comment about the weather or some other trivial subject. If we're lucky, we will enter into a dialog lasting little more than just a brief couple of minutes. But rarely anything more.

Rarely do we ever seem to take time to really look at and see the other person. To see that they are someone who is very similar to us, likely feeling overwhelmed by life, work, relationships, and all the other stuff life throws at us. Someone who has hopes and ambitions and even fears. Of course I completely understand that we can't have close personal relationships with everyone we encounter, and we don't want to go around exposing all our crap to every person we meet. I do feel, though, that even with the many acquaintances we have, there should still be a certain amount of authenticity exchanged. Maybe we could spend a little more time talking to and trying to truly see those around us, instead of merely pretending that we are only supposed to smile & nod and go on about our personal business.

So, at that particular moment, what was likely an effort for a little girl to stay in the pool a little longer became yet another way in which the innocence of children bring new perspective to the 'experience and wisdom' of us adults.

Pretending to be asleep

I remember back when I was little, maybe 4 or 5 years old....my family would regularly drive the 45 minutes from Norman to Oklahoma City to see my grandparents. We would have good times talking, eating dinner, listening to my granddad tell stories about when he was young. It was usually late when we left their house to come home and without fail, I would always fall asleep in the backseat of the car. But what I find interesting is that I would always wake up as we got closer to our house. I could tell exactly where we were by the timing between turns, and I knew that if I let my parents know that I was awake, they'd likely make me walk into the house on my own, BUT if I pretended to be asleep, my dad would very gently carry me inside (so not to wake me) and lay me down in my bed and pull the covers over me.

It was a great feeling having someone who loves you pick you up and carry you inside, protecting you from the cold wind..even if it was just a short walk to the door. I used to think I was being all sneaky by pretending to be asleep, but I am beginning to wonder if he knew all along I was awake, but neither he, nor I wanted to reveal the truth as it would take away this seemingly insignificant, yet very powerful ritual.

Now, many years later, I have a daughter that is four years old and there are times, after coming home late, that I find she has fallen asleep in the car. When I open her door to carry her inside, sometimes I can tell she is indeed awake, yet still pretending to be asleep. I continue this ritual of carrying her inside, removing her shoes & coat, and tucking her in bed as I kiss her forehead. And every time, I am reminded of my father who did the same for me.

There are many things we will never know about the ones we love...parents, children, siblings...even our spouses. But I think the more we have the opportunity to walk in their shoes, the more we can understand what they might have been thinking and feeling. I cherish this season with my daughter as I am not only building a strong relationship with my daughter, but it is giving me more insight and understanding about my own father, about some of the hopes and fears he may have felt when I was little.

And at the end of the day, I am thankful for a father who indulged a child who was pretending to be asleep.

Consumption

This past year I have really been thinking a lot about our current level of consumption as a society and as a species. I began by reading Affluenza, a somewhat humorous, yet accurate, observation of the impacts of our affluent lifestyles on culture and the environment. I highly recommend you check it out from your local library.

I look at our world, well - i should say specifically our country - and I see how much marketing and advertising we are exposed to. We are bombarded with people telling us what to do & what to value. And we believe them. At least I do. When the iPhone ads came out - I was hooked. And guess what, when the phone I was currently using broke last October, guess what I did. That's right...I bought an iPhone. Did I really need it - no. Did I allow slick marketing to influence how I determined what was valuable and important to me?

Yep.

The environment is another interesting topic that has a lot to do with consumptions levels. (Here's an interesting 20 min video about consumption. It is a bit biased, but still interesting.) Now really - no matter where you are politically, we must admit that our current levels of consumption are not healthy for the environment. I am not convinced that the human race is directly causing climate change, but when I look at the effects of what we are doing, I get sick to my stomach. But do I still continue to consume at an unprecedented rate? Do I let convenience and low prices influence how I spend my money?

Yep.

I watched some of the presidential debates last night that I had recorded. One of the topics was health care. One of the candidates responded that we do not have a health care crisis, we have a health crisis. Americans consume way more food than we should, and yet we do not exercise or adopt healthy lifestyles. This pattern has been a primary contributor to a tremendous increase in diabetes, heart disease, and a significant number of other ailments. So what do we do? Well - do I turn to the medical professionals for treatment instead of prevention? Am I shocked by how much the treatment costs? Do I look to our government to find a solution for more affordable health care instead of considering my health as my responsibility?

Yep.


Am I proud that this is who I am?
Do I continue to believe that this what it means to be a Christian in today's world?
Will I just sit back and consider it someone else's responsibility?

Not any more.

I have a voice, and so do you.
I am more than a demographic, and so are you.
I am going to be the change that I desire in the world, and hopefully you will too.

Seeing gray in a world of black & white

Our senior pastor, Adam Hamilton, is starting a new sermon series on January 6th titled Seeing Gray...which will look at a variety of issues, particularly in regards to the upcoming election. Here's a video promo...looks to be quite intriguing and informative. And I just want to say that it is great being part of a community that is not afraid to talk about these issues. We may not all come down on the same side of each issue, and that's okay....I'm just glad we're talking about them!

What Not to Wear - Comfortable is Out!

You may have seen the TLC show What Not To Wear. If you have, you are probably aware that the majority of people on the show are wardrobe-challenged. You come to find out that many of the people just do not give their wardrobe that much attention. You also find out that most folks on the show take the 'function over fashion' adage to the extreme by saying that they prefer their clothing to be comfortable.

What the hosts of the show argue is that the way you dress is a reflection of yourself, and how you dress communicates a great deal about you and how you feel about yourself. Many times when people say they want their clothing to be comfortable, what they are really saying is that their current style of dress (being sweats or baggy clothes, or 1980's style) has more to do with their psychological comfort zone and not so much how the actual clothes feel.

The hosts then help each person venture outside of their comfort zone by trying on new clothes and giving them guidelines on how to shop for their particular body-type. Without fail, each person on the show comes away saying that not only do they feel great about how they look, but that their self-confidence has grown tremendously. A transformation has occurred.

I sometimes wonder...do we as the church sometimes find ourselves in the exact same place as some of the people on the show? Do we have a way of doing things that may be outdated, or just doesn't work? A way of functioning that alienates others, or is downright unhealthy?

Do we as the church have a comfort zone that is keeping us from realizing our full potential?

Are we intentional about doing the things Jesus told us to do, such as spending time befriending those outside the faith, or in different cultural or socio-economic standings? Do we allow the fear of change to dictate how our corporate gatherings are shaped, or to allow a program to continue which shouldn't, or a whole host of other things?

Is our desire to be comfortable?

I know for myself, deep down, that I desire comfort. I usually resist change that I do not help initiate. I think it is human nature to desire consistency, pattern, and repetition. But I also wonder if our affluence has contributed to our desire for comfort. We've grown accustomed to being able to satisfy our needs very easily and without much sacrifice, so why should we have to sacrifice in our churches. Why should we have to change?

If we cater our churches only to those who are already a part of them, then we are probably not developing relationships with those outside the church. If we are not developing relationships with those outside of the church, then we become no more than a narcissistic organization trying in vain to relive its glory days.

So I find myself continuously asking myself and those I am in ministry with, are we currently trying to reach others in this particular effort...or are we just trying to keep those of us already here happy and...comfortable?

Flash

Check out this Flash animation by alan becker..absolutely brilliant!
Animation vs the Animator