Monday, December 31, 2007

no good samiritan.

what have we done.

hiccups.


no hiccups. but there are some things that just get in the way. vices. they do seem like hiccups. every now and again the annoyance of the things i struggle with are popping up and are really annoying.
complacency. it's driving me mad. especially within the church. how can anyone get so used to religion that it kills them. it reminds me of the frog that will end up dying because the water is just too good to jump out. (well, i've just been corrected. the frog thing is a myth. hmm, it sounded too good to be true.) Sorta like cruise control. it's convenient. it's nice to have. it's easy. but you can't get around everywhere. you've got to stop. you've got to move. it's just too easy. have i become cruise control in my faith? what's my next step.
i thank God for the people he's surrounded me with. i just hope i make the most out of it.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

my goodness.

Rob Bell on teaching

Weekly teaching can be destructive to creativity.

I don't teach something that has not been a part of me for six months to a year. Think about it, if I asked you to talk about your wedding or something else that has changed you, would you really need notes?

What would happen if on Monday morning you sat at your computer and instead of staring at blank screen, you're already looking at ten teachings that could take place and decidiing which one was the most ready to be taught, or most needed to be taught?

The best messages are not purchased off a shelf or a website, but are grown in your own backyard.

As a teacher, you need to live with a text - allow it to ferment in you, take up residence in you - then connections begin to be made.

We have people who can sing notes, but where are the soul singers? The pulpit has been the home of technicians and analysts, but where are the prophets and poets - the wide eyed crazy people? Teaching should be a dangerous and daring art form, not a science.

The Bible is about real people in real places in real times. It's taking place in an on-going historical narrative. What we need to remember is that we are in the same historical flow. Teaching is about connecting real people in real places in real times with us, here, today. We live in the same flow of what God is doing in history.

Your job is the relentless pursuit of who God made you to be... to be about anything else is sin.

Are you teaching because you have to say something, or because you have something to say? People, especially outside of "Christianity" know when you are passionate. That kind of passion makes them say, "Maybe this stuff really did happen."

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Lonely Tree

 
i like trees!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

house by the road.

so this post is meant for Scott to take a look at our house. our very beautiful house that is precious and yellow.
our yellow house and brian.
i'll take you from my room down to the basement. so you can see what to expect.
the left of my room.
looking from the window.
closet.
window and dresser.
bathroom.
stairs.
living room from the stairs. kris.
living room.
living room.
kitchen.
door to the breezeway.
door open to the breezeway.
breezeway. (your room?)
breezeway (your room?)
downstairs to the basement.
basement.
kris' room in the basement.
laundry room in the basement.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

i see tree.



this is beautiful!

nice.

new york was great. i wish i had a camera. don't ever buy heineken for $5 a bottle and get 14 of them. macy's day parade was cool but don't know if i ever want to stand for 4 hours waiting for santa. boston rocked. sleeping in the car is not overrated, stayed in atlantic city for $5. montauk was one cool place. everywhere i went would be worth going to again with someone i love.