love is not against the law

  I chose a path that not many pursue.  Often times we are faced with opportunities to diverge from the basic routine of our day but less often, I suspect, is this inclination pursued.. if even recognized.  It has been said that restriction leads to discovery... and I would suspect that entering into unknown territory leads to restriction.  The greatest structure is ultimately the one that is designed not to merely restrict, but the one that is designed to produce the greatest amount of harmony and freedom.  As the theory of music can release a potential of complimentary tones and rhythms.... there must also exist a structure that best guides and releases the spirit and will of man.

Restriction leads to discovery.

The right structure produces immense and harmonious freedom.

I follow Jesus.

I submit my life to Him and receive the salvation He has brought through the New Covenant of reconciliation through His blood and sacrifice.  Through Him I walk in harmony with the Father, God, and attempt to bring restoration and a message of Good News to others.

We are all found in the ashes... but from there we have an opportunity for beauty to be found.

To Follow Christ is to accept His atonement, to receive the inheritance that He reconciled to us, to accept a new Spirit of Sonship at harmony with God the Father and Creator... and to abide in Him.

I chose a path that not many pursue.  We are faced with opportunities to diverge from the basic routine of our day... but this inclination is rarely recognized and less often pursued.

girls don't poop... ladies fart

Often times we prefer to believe that which makes our lives more convenient.  Or we would rather not know about the nitty-gritty aspects that are all a part of our human story.

This is an awesome advertisement... but it does remind me of that.

I think too often... especially in the christian sub-culture, we have learned that "girls don't poop" but in other forms.  We can ask someone how they are doing.. and although they are in the midst of a mental breakdown, a relationship problem, a crisis of faith, anger at God, or whatever... the response is normally...

 "fine"

Why do we do that?

Are we afraid of being vulnerable? Do we assume the person asking doesn't really want to know?  Are we worried of coming across as imperfect... or ungrateful?

Probably all those things, and more, at different times.... and sometimes it is wise to save your heart for those you can trust with it.

I challenge that polished porcelain throne of aromatically pleasing lies with this.... Girls do poop.  Missionaries have meltdowns, pastors struggle with lust, your grandma wants to flip off Jesus,  whatever...

As Christ followers, we are all in process of learning what it means to be sons and daughters of the King of Kings and walking out life as a co-heir of Christ... this doesn't mean we just wallow in our own filth.. but as we learn how to live authentic lives, this whole faith thing makes a lot more sense.

ladies fart.

dirty teeth and headaches

  

  At my last dental appointment I was told that there is some slight staining of my teeth, and was immediately asked if I drink coffee regularly...

Guilty.  I didn't even need to think abut it... It did cause me to realize that maybe I am drinking a bit too much coffee, too often.  I think this is a very common addiction... or habit... or ritual... or flat out chemical dependency for some people.

I did a speech on the dangers of coffee during a class in college, it was heavily based off a book called "Caffeine Blues"  and I am sure it was remarkable.

Anyhow... I regularly fall victim to this toxic delicious nectar and rely on coffee too much... and then accidentally forget to drink coffee at some point and have a serious headache and a less than angelic attitude. It is always at this point I actually realize that I should probably change my habit.

Typically I do, and it lasts a little while until the cycle repeats itself.

There are tons of other parts of life that can become stained but disregarded until they cause distress.  Sometimes that can be a wake up call, other times we just brush more and keep sipping away.

hmmmm.

rope burns, generosity, and grumpy pants

It has been said that "writers are fighters", "readers are leaders", and "those who don't quote will never be quoted."


This is certainly a very passionately communicated message on an incredibly sensitive topic for many people... and this is by no means intended to come across as ungrateful to those many amazing people who have a giving heart and are excited about generously investing in supported workers (and acting on that excitement) I just think there are some valid points in this excerpt from Michael Oh.

I think there are likely to be several primary yet different reactions to hearing something like this... depending on your condition prior to hearing these words... these are just a few possibilities...

Offense:

Conviction:

Affirmation: 

To briefly explain this....

Offense: If you are feeling attacked by these words there is a good chance that they are pointing out a different set of values than what has become commonplace in your life.  If this is the case your values have likely been challenged by his passion and left a case of the Grumpies in your pants. i.e. "grumpy pants" which can be terminal.

Conviction:  Some similarities to the above with a completely different response... after recognizing an unmet need and hearing a challenge for action... something changes. a heart of repentance is birthed and tangible, physical, actual actions follow suit... Next time you hear a similar message you will likely feel something different... something like....

Affirmation:  To those already "holding the rope" this is your rally call and a burden on your heart and on behalf of myself and others "in the cave" I whole heartedly thank you!  And for those of us who are dangling by threads being asked to "buy our own rope"as we see spools of it in the hands of others... we are encouraged by this message yet afraid of saying that because we may appear ungrateful, but we know that there are amazing people out there reminding others that we are still in the cave in need of rope.


So.... you can either "get in the cave" or "hold the rope" for someone willing to... or live life with  grumpy spilling out of your pants.

zymology theology - the yeast of heaven

I started brewing beer over a year ago.

This started because of a combination of interests I have.  I really enjoy great beer, I really enjoy cooking, and I also like having outlets for creativity... did I mention that I like great beer?

Shortly after I began brewing my first batch of delicious ale... my "Brawler IPA" (a west coast style IPA, dry-hopped for that extra kick) I began to think through the process of transforming the various ingredients, water, malt, grain, yeast, & hops in such a way that the end result is radically (and chemically) different than the beginning.

It is in the diversity of the ingredients that the end result is better than the beginning.

What is very interesting (to me, at least) is that I intentionally introduce an ingredient that will not happily coexist with another... when I pitch yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) into the brew, I am wanting for the yeast to physically attack and consume the sugars found in the malt, and as they consume sugar they also convert it into ethanol and carbon dioxide.  By controlling sanitation, temperature, lighting, and movement...  I try to create the perfect environment for yeast to thrive.

The yeast does several things by converting sugars.  It balances the flavor by transforming sweetness of sugar and working with the hops to make the brew have a more well-rounded and balanced flavor. It will eventually be what I use to carbonate the beer during the bottling process.  It also is the reason that your beer should be enjoyed responsibly.

I find it interesting that yeast works the way it does.  It truly alters the environment it is placed in.

Christianity is also interesting.

In Matthew 13:33 Jesus describes that His Kingdom.. The Kingdom of Heaven, is like yeast, or leaven, that works its way through a great measure of flour until everything was transformed.

Right before this the, Kingdom of Heaven is described as a mustard seed, which is essentially a weed that overtakes an entire garden... it might as well be described as planting a dandelion in a wide open lush green field, but even more aggressive... but this all deserves an entirely different blog entry.

When I began brewing, part of my desire was to learn more about life... which for me must include learning more about faith, so now as I am able to sit back and enjoy pints of a rusty amber ale, exploding with hops, transformed by yeast,  I am in some small way, also able to enjoy a taste of the Kingdom of Heaven at work... and it tastes great.

cheers.

more on beer

beer.

Can be such an amazing thing when it is crafted with quality ingredients from caring and experienced brewmasters and connoisseurs.  The flavors and sensations created by this amazing beverage are extremely difficult to successfully replicate in other areas of cuisine.  It is a drink to be deeply appreciative of and respected, and the process of creating this classy libation has been developed and refined over centuries of innovation to become a true art form that speaks in chorus to the senses.

At least, it was that...

...until prohibition put a sudden stop to what was an incredibly diverse and regionally defined network of small artisan brewers.  After prohibition was overturned and beer was again legalized, it became heavily monitored by federal regulations.  Initially this seemed a great idea, but a part of this regulation forced breweries to sell their product through a distributer, and that is still how beer gets from brewery to retailer to consumer.  Unfortunately this was seen as a money making opportunity which is why 95% of beer sold through distributers is a product of Anheuser Busch (budweiser) , Coors, and Miller.... leaving us flooded by beer sporting the artistic equivalent of an ape farting colored chalk into a napkin, and an extreme reduction in quality.

Advertising proved to strong in this case, and it has made a lasting impact on a decline in appreciation of beer and the responsibility that partners a healthy respect of a quality product.

Recently, however, there has been a overall decline in beer sales in the USA. Interestingly though, this has only impacted the big tyrants (Miller and Coors have since merged together in an attempt to combat Budweiser.. and Bud has been bought by Belgian company InBev) And in contrast to the decline there has been an increase of smaller artisan breweries... "microbreweries" such as dogfish head, New Belgium, Boston Brewing Co (Sam Adams), and several others... in addition to this is an increase of home-brewing by beer loving individuals longing for a return to quality products.  There has also been a rise in pubs that cater to interesting and quality beers... Muddy Pig and Happy Gnome of St. Paul are just two of my favorite examples.


I have frequently voiced my opinion about what i would call "good beer".

We are in a good place to return to a time of appreciation and artistry regarding this amazing craft... I urge you to begin doing some research.. fork out a few extra bucks for the quality beers, and help bring beer back to the respected and artistic foundations from which it has so tragically fallen.  Cheers.

stinky cheese, ice cream, and big cities

I don't think it is unusual for us to think back on situations, locations, and experiences form our past and produce a kind of glorified alternative to reality in our mind.  This is usually met with some kind of disappointment when the idealistic reproduction comes face to face with the real thing...

example: Nelsons ice cream in Stillwater.  A place that amazes you when you are a kid, or when you go there for your very first time and see the outrageous amount of amazing ice cream they dish out for you and the wide variety of flavors you are permitted to select from.  After going there my first time I was mentally hooked and the reality grew to a legend in my mind... it is still a place that exists, and they still serve up the same outlandish scoops of quality ice cream.. but now there is a part of me that ponders why a human would ever want to eat as much ice cream as they give you.. and how someone manages to do that without coating the entirety of their body with milky sugar goo... I would probably get their most moderate size if I were to return there.. just because it makes more sense to me...

and then there are the times when the reality perfectly matches what you remember.

example: Sap Sago cheese.  What? you have never heard of it... not unusual.. all you need to know is that somehow in my childhood it became a common treat for my family to enjoy. The stuff stinks like skunk dander and has a mild green tint to it... it is a hard aged cheese that you eat it by finely shaving or grating it and placing a spoon full of it on a buttered cracker, or whatever else you want to be amazing.. often people will say that it makes their tongue or lips itch.. because it does.  I had not had this treat in over a decade and was just treated to some again recently.  It perfectly met my expectations of it in every way... many things have changed since then in my life but Sap Sago has remained consistent and amazing.

finally, we have those things that are even better than we remember...

example: About a year ago, my wife and I moved out of the city and live about 45 minutes away in the countryside... I often will think back to how great living in the city was, we are closer to friends, family, good beer and music, coffee shops, culture not involving wrangler jeans... and the list seems to continually grow.  Because a trip back to the city means an hour and a half of driving, we tend to limit ourselves for special occasions.  Recently, we had a reason to return, and it was glorious.. but somehow all the wonderful things I had in my mind about the city didn't meet the reality of it.  It was somehow even better than I remembered...

I don't know why the mind glorifies, maintains, or diminishes our memories.. but the trip to the city was a bittersweet surprise.

seasons

One of the many beautiful aspects of living in Minnesota is that I get to experience an extremely clear difference in everything when the seasons change.  Each is distinct and we have just slipped into my personal favorite..

Autumn.

The crispness in the air, the way darker beer pipe tobacco seem to pique my attention, the changing of the trees from mundane greens to vibrant expressions of oranges and reds.. it is all quite lovely.  I guess I am wired in a similar fashion... a little variety tends to keep me feeling fresh and energized.  I also think that we have different "seasons" in our lives, and that as those seasons change they invite us to change with them.

I also think that how we react to a change of "seasons" is more important than the specificity of the "season" we are in...

So, if you have some dark beer, I invite you to raise your glass to being one who thrives in the midst of change and pursues growth in hardship rathe than retreat.  I think this Autumn will be a good one, either way it is the only Autumn I have this year, so I'm gonna give it all I got.

grease brain fire

Active minds are tough to turn off.

I'd imagine that in extreme cases it is like trying to put out a grease triggered oven fire. It is interesting to me how complicated the mind is and how intricately weaved together it must be. Equally as interesting is how such a complicated masterpiece can be so easily entertained and satisfied. Granted, this is possibly declining due to the barrage of sensory stimulation that is sweeping into society, but maybe it is not declining... maybe it is getting worse.

It is funny how the active and creative minds of few can produce gadgets and trends that will subdue the masses into zom-like lethargy.

So, I raise my glass to those minds still active. And bid you continue to stimulate that potential for greatness as you strive to learn, grow, create, and understand. And to the rest of you... you probably will never read this entry unless someone tweetbooks it to your facepod.

(ps- picture was first to pop into google image search when typing in "grease brain fire" apparently it is some kid named "Nate", he might read this blog, but probably not... idiot)

tanned leather and tire treads

It is interesting to me how I can often times take something for granted for such an extended period of time and it is not until a sudden change jars my perception that I am able to remember why I was once truly appreciative of said thing.

On a hot and humid Minnesota day, I miss my sandals.

These good ol' reliable friends have traveled with me for years through continents and time in terrain ranging from red Kenyan earth to Argentinian cobblestone. Just a couple of days earlier did they take one step closer to retirement. They might still be salvaged, but optimism will wane over time. The curious part of my recent loss is that it is on a day when they would be most highly valued that their memory is most haunting. This is, of course, a normal reaction and something that we all deal with..... and it happens with something as minimal as footwear as well as something as indescribable as the longing to be with a loved one that has passed.

Our days bring us surprises and our memories will be awakened by experiences yet to be encountered.

We are a complicated and beautiful design.

peaches and dead kitties....

As the crimson scales haunt a vacant wine glass after the opulent nectar has vanished into memory, so have my many excuses for failing to upkeep this posting source run dry.

Excuses are interesting little peaches.

Parasitic in their very nature, an excuse will cling onto the very heart of an idea and suck from it all life and potential in a very subtle and obvious manner.

Obvious, because we can rarely deceive ourselves with excuses... we know we are making them and allowing them to run our actions, albeit in small incremental portions.

Subtle, because they become the water in our fish bowl... our movement, or lack there of, is determined by all these little aquatic peaches being absorbed into our psyche.

let's taste the bittersweet familiarity of some of these peaches

"this is the last time"

"if only... then...."

"someday"

"I would... but..."

"Could've"

There are many other samples as well, but some of the culprits listed above are certainly a small portion of the dilemma.

The dilemma:  Excuses curb creativity and movement.  Progress loses to fear, the proverbial kitten of hope is drowned in the proverbial and peachy waters of complacency. You lose, I lose, we lose.

Solution: Stop drowning kittens in peach juice...

 although, why not start tomorrow.. after all it's been a long day.

the lovers, the dreamers, and you

People read this stuff...

It has been funny, but on several occasions I will run into somebody or receive a random comment about this blog from a person that I have not seen or heard from in a long time.  And when this happens I almost always feel the same sensation.. It is a combination of intrigue, surprise, humility, and some element of value.

Kind of like...

"yeah I baked that cake and put it out for everyone to taste, but I didn't even know you were coming to the party..."

It could be argued that truly great writers would continue writing even if there was nobody to read their work.. although I would argue that the value of a writers work comes not by the mere combination of ink to paper but when these symbols take meaning and are processed by the outside observers, the readers.

I wouldn't consider myself to be a great writer, just somebody with a few thoughts that might be worth sharing about my perspectives and ponderings.  Also, I would probably keep on writing even if nobody was reading this stuff, but the fact that I know people do read it encourages me to continue writing, and to be more intentional about keeping my writings fresh and hopefully interesting, if not bizarre enough to at least draw a smile out from the reader.

Of what value is your expression if there is nobody to interpret it?  How great is it to bake the best cookies in the world but to dare not share them with anyone else for fear they will be criticized, or to write a song that will never be heard?


Could it be that when we produce out of selflessness, in whatever our gifting, we actually contribute more to the greater community by allowing ourselves to be vulnerable?  loaded question, but I think so.

I don't thing that this blog is any great creation, but I have found it to be a healthy place for me to process my thoughts and present them to a community that might also be challenged in some form and hopefully responds with thoughts and opinions of their own.

I'll bet that some of you have talents far greater than any of mine and you have held them close to yourself for fear of criticism, rejection, or something else,  and that they are being suffocated by these hesitations.

They need to breathe.  The longer they have been without breath the more those talents will need to be developed. but they are there... and they are waiting.

recycled culture: the sin of skinny jeans

I am not sure how this happened. but it did.

At some point it seems that instead of continuing to create and develop a unique and original culture we just decided to take the things that "worked" in the past and reuse them in a modern day setting.... while I approve of some of this cultural carry-over, there is an extensive list of things that have become zombified only to attach itself to the youth of the day like some kind of flesh eating virus.

Some things withstand the test of time....

- classical music
- classic rock
- most fashion from the 1960's
- good food and drink
- motorcycles
- three piece suits
-  etc, etc, etc

and the list continues..

Then there is Recycled Culture which includes things were at some point dead and then raised from what should have been their eternal slumber...

- skinny jeans
- most fashion from the 1980's and early 90's

and more importantly, there is a sub-category of recycled culture that includes:

- movie re-makes
- books made into movies
- the 3-5 part movie series
- cover songs
- chain restaurants & coffee shops

basically anything that has become an acceptable substitute for originality and innovation, not in and of themselves bad.. until they begin defining the culture they are in.

This is the main difference between things that have persisted and things that have been recycled.  The things that have persisted stand on their own as great pieces of our culture.  They need no modification in order to remain beautiful and innovative... the Mona Lisa does not need a boob job.

Recycled culture declares Mona Lisa not relevant enough and instead of creating a new piece of art to represent the times, she is instead photoshopped and airbrushed until deemed appropriate.  Or else she is declared good as is, and cheap copies of her are made and circulated to the masses taking away from her uniqueness and beauty... but at such an affordable price!

boy bands were created, Starbucks and Caribous arrived on ever corner, the karate kid is now instructed by Jackie Chan, skinny jeans are worshiped by kids born in 1997, and we already know how the story ends long before the credits are rolling....

Why is this important?  We are becoming a culture.. a generation...  that is being defined by cheap remakes of original beauty.  We are limiting our potential by remaining entrenched in a recycled culture, and if this remains satisfactory it will likely become a cycle that is even more difficult to break free from in the future.  We embrace familiarity through cheap imitation and call it something new and in doing so convince ourselves that we are moving and creating when, really, we are feeding our laziness and comfort.  Why get up and move when we can pay to have the world move around us?

... or at least appear as though it is.

spring cleaning: shaking off the dust

I have not been writing for a little while.  I wanted to give an opportunity to some of my friends who had some thoughts to share and it has been a refreshing time for me in one regard... So, thank you to all of you who participated as guest bloggers, I deeply enjoyed your entries.

I have also seen that in an absence of writing i feel a little stale... It is almost as if my thoughts have been blocked up and it might take a little bit of time for the wheels to start turning again.  I should have kept writing, at least keeping a back-log of entries or maybe writing things using those primitive hand tools that mark paper that seem increasingly rare to stumble across.  Will kids in twenty years even know how to create basic characters using a pen and paper?

just a thought.

here is another...

I want to believe that there are things that each of us have that when we continue to pour time and energy into, they will somehow fill us with a greater sense of joy, accomplishment, satisfaction, fulfillment in life.  Maybe these things are linked to deep desires that we find inside of ourselves.. maybe it is a piece of who you are that is so essential to your being, that once you stumble across it, or pull it out of you, or have someone else stumble across it and pull it out of you... you will continue to crawl back to it, even when exhausted and empty, and surprise yourself with how valuable it is to you... not just because you "like it".. but because your health and balance.. your stability is dependent upon it.

I think the specific manifestations of these core desires are not as important as what is at the center of it.. like a spectrum of color breaking uniquely from a single source of light, we will find different representations of those deep longings inside of us.  Why are we compelled to move forward?  Why do we continue to create art and music?  Why do we still find our breath leave us as we witness the sunset over the ocean, or flowers breaking through the dirt, or a heart piercing string ensemble, or as we look deeply into our lovers eyes?

I feel like my wheels are spinning but I don't feel like I can control where they lead me... or maybe I just don't want to.  I feel a need to move, to live, to create, to experience, to share in my discoveries and to challenge others to do the same.

Could it be that we are compelled to pursue these longings because after we have come to the end of the road a hundred times over we will continue to come to the same conclusions but that they give us life?  Will the pursuit of our hearts really bring us to one final answer to our longings?

it might.  but my experience has been that once you arrive at the ends of these various roads you reach the source of true life, love, joy, and inspiration... more roads... and they send you even deeper into the desires of your heart.


I find it sad that we are willing to give up what brings us to life for what we feel we need in order to survive... don't allow your violin to cover with a shroud of dust or for your callouses to go soft... continue to rediscover who you were created to be and run after that until your heart explodes.

raindrops and metal: ride the spring showers

Before writing this, I had just got done driving a motorcycle through the rain.

This is something that you typically try to avoid doing, especially if you aren't wearing any rain gear...

As I walked outside and saw the ground covered in water and the small collected pools rippling as rain drops met them I briefly reconsidered driving the motorcycle and just waiting an hour or so until the rain went away...After all, I am sure that the rest of the day will be covered with beautiful rays of sunshine and the air filled with birds singing.

I had never really ridden through the rain though.. I mean, I've had a few drops come down on me.. but nothing like what I was about to experience.

What pushed me more than anything was looking off in the distance and seeing some blue sky breaking through the storm in the direction I was about to travel... I had this picture in my head of driving through a short amount of harsh weather and into the bright and warm paradise awaiting me.

So I rode....

The raindrops turned to razors trying to tear the flesh from my face as I picked up speed... Visibility decreased as the fine mist from the road was picked up by less than cautious drivers... I could feel the collected raindrops filling up my boots as the drops collected together and marched to the rhythm of gravity's tune.... and I rode.

The clouds did not part... the rain did not cease... the sun did not break through.. but still off in the distance remained the blue sky and it's promise of serenity.

I eventually found myself at my destination... rain still falling and blue sky a vague memory.

I did feel pretty BA after arriving.. although I also felt drenched....

Looking back, the ride was worth it in spite of the lack of a blue sky arrival.. or maybe because of it...

You see, often times we have a vision, dream, hope, or blue sky that is off in the distance.. and often times we say that going through the trouble, sacrifice, hard work, or rain is worth it IF it means we end up obtaining this goal... although, often times we fail.

cartoons for adults: guest blog five

I wasn’t allowed to watch “The Simpsons” growing up. Not being “allowed” to watch the cartoon was a bit redundant being that my small hometown in southern Minnesota didn’t have FOX as a broadcast network and we never had cable. It wasn’t that my parents were very conservative and objected to the social and religious content of the show; my mother (a single parent) objected to Bart being a brat. In her mind bratty kids are among the greatest scourges on the face of the earth, on par with the Black Plague and tapeworm.

I never saw the ban on Homer and Marge’s family as any great loss. Sure, there were socially awkward moments as friends shared inside jokes referencing the show and I didn’t get it, but when compared to the rest of the gauntlet that is adolescents, it was minor.

Now, from time to time I do enjoy The Simpsons and their genre of cartoons for adults, I’ve even caught a few episodes of South Park in syndication (still no cable). I recently found myself following the dust-up around their 200^th episode in which they depicted Mohammed, in a bear suit.

My supervisor at the parcel delivery service where I work part-time is Muslim. We have conversations pretty frequently but rarely about anything of substance or consequence, until I asked him how he felt about this particular South Park episode. He was offended by it, which surprised me. His fondness for porn and the timeless conversation starter, “who would you rather…” lead me to believe he wasn’t particularly devote to any religious practice. (By the way, I’ve discovered a number of fun and creative methods for escaping these conversations if you’re interested.)

While he wasn’t particularly concerned with the specific religious prohibition on depicting Mohammed, he was offended by satire directed at religious beliefs from those outside the religion. I disagreed. I contended that the satire offered by those outside our communities of faith have the potential to give us perspective on the ways we have wrongly communicated or misrepresented our faith.

It was easily the most substantive and meaningful conversation I’ve had with this co-worker and has provided a framework for us to have subsequent conversations about the convictions, expectations, and historical contexts of our respective faiths.

Thank you South Park for starting conversations.

(written by Isaiah Allen)

throwing logs: guest blog four

I once heard a story about Elvis Presley. When he was young he was a part of a church. He wanted to sing gospel music, and he wanted to do it in new and creative ways. He wanted to bring a new style to worship music. But the church said no. The church said we don’t do it that way. The church said it went against tradition.

So Elvis left, and took his music elsewhere.

That breaks my heart. I won’t speculate about his life and what could be different. But it makes me think. Why does the church so often stomp on the new creative ideas people have? For the sake of tradition, what are we missing out on?

We are made in the image of a creator. That means we are supposed to be creative. Yet somehow creativity and new thinking has been frowned upon in the church. We don’t do it that way. That’s different, we don’t want to change. We’re comfortable with the way things are. New things fly in the face of what we believe to be the right way to worship God, the right way to represent God, or the right way to express spirituality. But really, how much are we missing with that kind of thinking?

We think to please God, we have to eradicate all of self. We must get rid of who we are, and that is what God wants. But God created us to be who we are, he placed things within us. We pray “None of me, All of You, God.” But is that really how God wants it?

I think the church, in an attempt at devotion to Christ, has taken away people’s God-given gifts, talents, and desires. Frankly it makes church boring.

Living in Christ should never be boring. We are made to be creative beings, and to use that creativity to meet the needs of the world. Yet because we’ve adopted a wrong line of thinking about what it means to be a Christian, and what God expects of us, we’ve muted our creativity and tied down our ability to bring the goodness and love of God to the world.

Bill Johnson, the author of Dreaming With God writes, “When unbelievers lead the way in inventions and artistic expression, it is because the church has embraced a false kind of spirituality. It is not living in a true Kingdom mentality, which is the renewed mind. The renewed mind understands that the King’s dominion must be realized in all levels of society for an effective witness to take place.”

God has been teaching me a lot over the last few months. One of the big things I’m learning is how much God loves new creative things, and how he wants me to be someone who encourages the people around me. I spent a week in Romania recently, and the big thing I heard God speaking to me that week is that I need to be someone who throws logs not water onto the fires of people’s dreams and ideas.

What if the whole church did that? What if we all encouraged each other’s creative new ideas? What if when Elvis approached his church they put logs on his fire, instead of throwing water and turning him out?

Awesome things happen when people are released into their God-given abilities and dreams. That’s something I want to support in every way I can, cause I want to see the world changed.

(written by Bethany Nagan )

my mom is my hero: guest blog three

I sat in the waiting room remembering the last time she fought this battle...

She was my hero. She battled hard against that cancer, and the whole time held her head up high in a way that allowed her to serve others who were in her view. She conquered cancer! Beat it! Destroyed it! While she killed the beast she was giving hope to others around her and loving others patiently.

My mom is my hero. While I watched her selflessly loving others while she was going through pain and discomfort, I sat around feeling self pity. I wondered...

Why would God do this to my mom?

What did I do to deserve this happening to my mom?

What happens if God takes my mom from me?

etc., etc., etc.

Even though I was a miserable, whiny, selfish jerk, God decided to cure my mom!

We celebrated! Man, did we celebrate! I even promised God that I would never be so selfish again. I promised God that I would show hope and love to others even if I feel I am in some sort of pain or discomfort.

Well, the time has come. On April 8th, 2010 I found out that my mom has an inoperable cancerous tumor. Round 2, similar to the last time except this time it is inoperable.

I sat in the waiting room remembering the last time she found this battle...

The same questions pop into my head, just elevated and less trusting towards God. Is it ok for me to be angry with God? Why the hell do truly evil people get away with rich, enjoyable lives, while my mom (I'm biased, but ask almost anybody who knows her, and they'll agree) who is one of the nicest, selfless people on the planet suffers not once, but twice?

Then I see my mom, her face clearly saddened and filled with questions, but shining with the hope and love of Jesus...

My mom is my hero.

(This blog was written by Dallas Verity )

naked holy men: guest blog two

I’ve been on a search for spirituality in India. You must be thinking, “Oh, that’s so awesome! India is such a spiritual place!”

Let me tell you, it is, but far from the way you are thinking. I think the Orientalist view that many Westerners have of India, of yogis on mountaintops and of the Beatles staying at an ashram isn’t quite what the reality is. Currently in Haridwar, a city on the Ganga not far from where I live, the Maha Kumbh mela is going on. This is a massive once-every-four-years Hindu festival that attracts pilgrims and sight-seers from all over the world. There are mass dips in the river and the Naga sadhus (naked holy men) come out of the woodwork to hang out (so to speak). Foreigners also arrive en masse to catch a glimpse of the bizarre, the mystical, the spiritual. Room rates are quadrupled.

I got to travel around India this past winter, traveling from unfortunate tourist spot to unfortunate tourist spot. One place after another I saw signs catering to another sacred cow of India- the cash cow- the spiritual seeker. Ayurvedic medicine treatments, spiritual tutorship for cash schemes, and yoga classes abounded. I should say I have yet to see an Indian doing yoga after 1.5 years in the country. Almost every foreigner I met and talked to was enthralled by what they saw as Indian spirituality.

As a Christian, I see spirituality differently. To me, spirituality is not found in the bizarre and mystical cosmic forces of the Universe, but in the knowable nature of the infinite God. While many foreigners willfully ignore the trash, the poverty and the suffering to go catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama or do yoga on the beach, I find a spirituality rooted in the hope that there is a New Jerusalem coming; these problems so far beyond my ability to fix are not beyond the abilities of God.

While many come here to find the most secluded shrine, the holiest cave, or the highest mountaintop ashram, I have found spiritual food at the colonial-era, centrally located building owned by the Church of North India. A whopping twenty-five people showed up for Easter Sunday, the preaching involves folksy stories prepared with as much care as if the homily was being given to a thousand, and the hymns are so old, Calvin might have grown up with them.

I find spiritual food in the ordinary interactions with my coworkers and students (I teach at a school in the Himalayas). When we gather around our old, quirky houses to share each others’ altitude-induced baking failures and funny stories from the week, I am spiritually fed. When I have cafeteria-fed students over to my house for pancakes and hashed browns and we share a meal, I am fed. And when a few of us talk shop over an aloo paratha after church, I am fed. You can tell I eat a lot…

Something so typical of Jesus’ sayings and actions in the Bible are that they go against normal earthly patterns of thinking. The Messiah should come from a powerful city like Rome, not some backwater like Bethlehem. If the Messiah is going to come and deliver us, he should go straight to Pilate’s house and kick him out. Instead, Jesus went to the Temple and started turning over tables. Not exactly what they were expecting. In the same way, earthly thinking says that India is full of the mystical, the magical, and the marvelous. People come here all the time to find some connection to something bigger than themselves. Maybe it is here, maybe it isn't. But I’d bet it’s not somewhere they’d expect…

(Greg Miller wrote this post, find out more about this blogger at "many miles to go" )

curing excess: guest blog one

I find myself, after many years, living in a completely western society.

I also find myself running into a familiar foe. I’ve seen him before and I haven’t always been able to deal with him properly nor have I always wanted to. Call him what you will but he’s commonly known as excess. You know, “I’ve got to have two of those”, when one or none is ok. Super size it and the American dream of getting everything we want and more with no responsibility or consequence. A dream, I might add, that we consistently sell to the world and thereby create an illusion of life in this country that causes people to despise their own. Christians are hardly immune either. Don’t get me wrong. It’s ok to have things but there is a line that we too often cross. We stop giving because the “economy” is bad but we really just want to save for ourselves. We become so bloated with stuff in our lives that giving becomes a chore and we reach a point where we don’t care about anything or anyone except getting what we “need” and have a “right” to have. We become the opposite of followers of Christ.

I was reading over the story of the rich ruler that Jesus encounters in the Gospel of Luke. Some translations say rich, some young, some just ruler, but they all point out that he was a man of standing and was surely well to do. I'm sure he had his areas of excess. Not only that, but he was pretty religious as well. He kept the Law. So this guy had it made and to top it off he wanted to add eternal life to his list of accolades. So naturally Jesus is the guy to ask. At least he knows where to look, right?

Jesus responded to this guy by telling him to sell everything he owned and distribute it to the poor and the guy got sad and walked off because it's hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom. Now we could leave it there and say, “I’ve heard the story”, “I’m not rich, I’ve got nothing to sell”, but I think Jesus is looking deeper. Maybe sell everything really means, well, everything. Maybe Jesus wasn’t just talking about stuff, but his very self. The poor in the Greek version of this passage also refers to people who are not only economically poor and physically afflicted but also spiritually destitute. Maybe this guy didn’t get it. Maybe we don’t get it. Our cure for excess is Christ, obviously, but it’s also selling ourselves to Him and giving ourselves to the poor, in every sense of the word. In the Kingdom things happen backwards for us. Giving somehow equals gain. Death is life. Poor is rich. It’s a weird place. The simple truth is this: if we give ourselves to the poor, (you decide what that means for you), we’ll cure our problem with excess and we might just find Jesus there and eternal life as well. As westerners we have become accustomed to having life on demand and are usually unwilling to settle for less. Hence our current economic situation. So when Jesus invites us into the Kingdom our interests begin to clash and that is very uncomfortable. Take time to slow down, read this story for yourself, draw your own conclusion and meditate on how your interests clash with the Kingdom. I recommend www.blueletterbible.org for studying. I've been challenged lately to really look at who Jesus is really and what he asks of us and therefore find myself in light of that. Then pour out into the world.

(the following was submitted by Chris Collins, you can read more of his stuff at his blog)