If you’ve had trouble accepting God’s love, forgiveness, grace, redemption, or God himself, this might be a good read for you. Nouwen is incredibly humble and honest and his examination of himself through the lens of the painting and parable. In such a short time (139 pages) I found it was worth every moment I spent on it.
This is the second digital short that David Skidmore and I have made for the North Boulevard Youth Group. The first was Chocolate Covered Raisins. If you have not seen either of these, watch Raisins first.
There are some obvious inside jokes in this, but I think it’s still funny. File size is a bit hefty because of length (17+ minutes) but give it time. Enjoy.
Got back Saturday afternoon from the men’s retreat. Rob and I were blessed to be asked to speak to begin with. But we were more blessed to speak to the men about things God has done and is doing with us, pray with and over them, and give them challenges from this point forward. More importantly, though, I’ve already been told stories of restoration, renewed hope, and men hearing from God who had never heard from Him before. It’s beautiful, really. Let this be a lesson to all of you: I’m no counsellor. I’m not officially trained in ministry. I’m the James 5:17 guy. Just believe (really believe) that God can do great things through you and you’ll eventually see them happen. I say eventually because we’re conditioned not to look for God. So it takes time to really start to see what he’s like. I just wonder how much I still miss just knowing some of the amazing things he’s done.
I could use your prayers, though. My sleep was rough last night and I could really use some rest. I woke from the most vivid and horrifying dream I’ve experienced in a while. It really scared me, but I knew who it came from (Galatians 5). So I spent some time in very weak prayer (man it’s hard to pray against stuff when it’s 1am…and 3am). Sleep was on and off the rest of the night, but the nightmares went away. I was more than thankful for that.
We’re doing a second retreat for men (this is not affiliated with either Rob’s congregation or mine). It will be January 15-16 at Horton Haven. Cost will be determined soon. If you want a spot (there are only 22 remaining) email me. More information will be coming soon.
I went to Morant Bay, Jamaica, back in March of this year to film a documentary-type video to raise support for mission work by our church in that area. I’ve also given the video to Tusculum Church of Christ. The youth group there has been working in Morant Bay for over a decade, I believe. There’s also Dave and Lindsay who recently started One Love Outreach. There is so much potential in Jamaica for regional and world change. It’s also the most influential nation in the Caribbean as far as the spiritual direction of the day (according to one missions book we referenced before our trip, anyway). Keith and I spent only 3 days there (2 if you count hours) but Michael Dehaney and friends welcomed us like we’d been there all along.
The video is below if you are interested. There is funding that is needed, I think, to complete a new church building in the mountains near Soho (which is what this video focuses on). Also needed are workers who simply want to establish relationships with the Jamaican people, serve physically, or simply battle in prayer for the work there. There is much to fight for.
I’m planning my two sessions (2.5 really) for the men’s retreat this weekend. Rob Touchstone is handling the other two. I love teaming up with good friend on teaching, especially stuff like this. Men talking with men about the Man.
I haven’t really chosen my topics for the Saturday morning session. God chose them for me. By that I mean that everywhere I turned I kept running into Romans 5-8 or something directly related to it. So I’ve been working that way, mainly concentrating on the topic of holiness.
I’ve spent several hours today researching and writing. I don’t say that to brag - “whoopideedoo, Brian researched all day.” I say it because I miss this stuff. I miss sitting down at my computer and note pad with books stacked around me, plowing through scripture and conference audio and books by the saints. I used to do this often in the form of long (and boring to someone other than me) history papers. I would go sit in the library at Lipscomb and pile stuff around me, gathering all the resources I could get my hands on. And this was in the days of limited or no internet. Now I’ve got THAT world at my fingertips - Biblegateway, Wikipedia, historical societies online - I’ve had a good day.
I also had a good discussion with Brennan this afternoon (teenager here at church). He comes in my office occasionally, knowing (I’m thankful to say) that my door is always open, even when it is shut. We watched one of Ray Vanderlaan’s Faith Lesson videos, specifically the one titled “The Very Words of God.” Even he was amazed. We also discussed the prodigal son since he is doing the devotional at the retirement home tonight. I mentioned to him that I am about to finish Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son and if he wanted a rockin’ awesome devo talk he should read it. Given that it was only a couple of hours before the actual devo, he settled for reading the pages and paragraphs I had marked. It turned into a good discussion and us even briefly examining the print of Rembrant’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. If you want a good study of God and art, this is it. Get Nouwen’s book.
All THAT to say that nearly a full day after we made it back from vacation, I still feel rested and restored. And the restoration part was what I was after the most. I can rest in front of the television, but it never brings restoration. I have a renewed focus in life these past few years (God), and I want it to be honed, to be more established and critical, as if I could not live a day without it if it were missing. I used to hear people say that by age 30 people stop learning, either by design or that they simply become apathetic or overwhelmed with life. I’m approaching 33 - the age that Jesus died, came back to life, and ascended - and I’m happy to say that I have more, not less, of an ambition for the John 10:10 life than ever before. Let’s keep rockin’.
I’ve had a good week. I’ve been in Florida. We’ve sat on the beach and by the pool for hours. I’ve read, planned a bit for a retreat next week, let my boys bury me in the sand, slept, and mostly did a lot of nothing. A while back I reat Mark Buchanan’s The Rest of God, a book I still highly recommend (and I don’t recommend a lot of books because I have a lot of people say I “must read” so-and-so book, which causes me to get overwhelmed and probably not read it). On the way down to Florida I listened to John Eldredge’s podcast, specifically two episodes on rest and vacation. They were both a blessing and really set my vacation on track. It’s been a very slow and good week.
Election night came and went. At 7pm (central) I told Kristi it would be over by 9 or 10pm. Seems I was right, along with a lot of others. I mostly watched Comedy Central’s coverage because, frankly, I can’t take listening to Democrat and Republican “strategists” and commentators throw in their little jabs to each other, speaking the same stuff that has always been spewed during these and much less influential events. I hear Republicans talk about how this election isn’t a mandate. Can’t we (American’s, that is) just agree that a LOT of people like Obama and don’t like Bush? I’ve already heard racist jokes from old white men here in Florida regarding Obama changing the Rose Garden to a watermelon patch. (He couldn’t hear my reply to his hatefulness). Democrats (on tv, anyway) seem to almost be blowing raspberries while simultaneously sticking their thumbs in their ears and wiggling their fingers. And I’ve received more emails about God being in control that I received in either of the last 2 elections combined. It’s like with an Obama win we’re saying, “God is in control. *sigh*” and with a Bush win we said, “I told you! God is in control!!!!!!!! Woohoooooo!!!!”
I’m pretty sure God had this thing tightened down a while ago, not just when McCain conceded.
Sorry for the disdain. I just think we all, including myself, have a real lack of perspective. I’ve had a LOT of back and forth with myself and God over all this. It’s not about voting (and don’t ask who I voted for because you will only be mad. No, I didn’t vote for Obama, but you’ll still be mad). I just finished McLaren’s Everything Must Change and while I apparently don’t come to quite the same conclusions as he does (since he was an avid Obama supporter) I can’t help but agree with him because, well, he’s right. Everything MUST change if we are to become what Jesus intended when he established his Kingdom. (Step out of the political mindset when reading this, even though I mention the election). I will stop short in saying that this election didn’t matter. I’ll stop far short. This election was vital. But regardless of the winner, frankly, our mission (as Christians, that is) is the same. I will respond to social injustice, poverty, hate and all their counterparts the same way (but not enough), and will challenge whatever administration - local, state or federal - the same way Jesus did. Or, at least, I’ll try. We’re operating from a broken system, a broken world. I listen to political parties (and families and churches for that matter) argue about this and that and I wonder what good it does. Look at the battles we fight. And look at the battles that remain unfought.
Not trying to stir up a bunch of stuff here, nor am I trying to piss anyone off. Just been through a little shake-up in the last year or two and I’m wondering out loud how I accurately I do what Jesus wants with the talents and resources I’ve been given. Something tells me I’m way off course, but he’s proud I’ve not abandoned ship.
We got this ad in the mail. Surely we’re not the only ones who find this funny. Apparently it’s a Scottish plumbing service.
Just a quick update on our movie production. You may have noticed (assuming you pay attention to this to begin with) that we’ve slowed down after our first two very short movies, Go and Nothing Like Jesus.
We’re actually working on a short film. We get together to start the script next week. Production will be done by us and a handful of volunteers. The actors will likely be auditioned, as well. We’re planning to release on DVD, put out an actual trailer and website - the works.
I’m withholding the actual content because this is on the web and I don’t want the idea stolen :). If you see me in person, just ask. I’ll tell you. Production will begin in the winter, I think, because the picture in our minds in a winter scene. There’s your only hint, but it will get you nowhere. I’ll have more as soon as I can.
Not that Woman’s Day is the premier authority on…well, anything, but when Kristi was reading it she saw an article that made her laugh…at me. The small box in at the bottom says “Do You Have ADHD?” Here are the symptoms.
- have difficulty finishing a job - i’m ok on this one
- have trouble concentrating - check
- are distracted easily - check
- have a hard time following instructions - check
- get confused when more than one person is talking - check (especially if they’re children)
- get upset and irritated easily - check, but only if it’s about stupid stuff
- are constantly late - sort of check
- have poor self-esteem - if people would quit concentrating on the “self” part things would be ok. ps 62:1-2 & ps 16. i’m fine here if nowhere else.
- are fidgety and impatient - holy cow check
- have difficulty making decisions - no check
- lose things frequently - check check check check check
- are disorganized - check
- take on more tasks than you can handle - i don’t want to admit it check
Of course, this is the same magazine that said that parents should take a break and drop their kids off at their ballgames instead of staying to watch because they’d never really know the parents were or weren’t there anyway. I guess I’m against THAT because aside from being dumb it flies in the face of what I grew up with. My mom always took us to our ball games if not both parents, and I can remember on more than one occasion my dad walking up, having just left work, still wearing his slacks, dress shirt and tie. Just to watch our games because we might play half of them. I’m glad my parents didn’t take a break.
Ok, I’ve been absent from blogging for a while. Here’s the summary of what’s been happening.
I have been keeping up with my Bible reading. Haven’t posted, but I have been reading.
I had two dentist appointments to fix 8 teeth. It’s not as bad as it sounds. I have one more appointment. You’re thinking, “Doesn’t he own a toothbrush?” Let’s just say that it was from neglect many years ago. I floss every day now. Do you? That’s what I thought.
I went to Colorado and climbed a mountain.
Then I rode a horse named Toy. Don’t ask. One guy had Shadow. I had Toy.
Then I crawled through the trees and jumped off a 40 foot platform. I thought it was at least 300 feet, but apparently not. Seems distance is measured differently when you are the one jumping off the 300 foot 40 foot platform.
I then got new glasses. I’m not sure where the old ones went. I’m sure Elijah has a stash somewhere that includes my glasses, Noah’s glasses, and about $86 in cash and prizes.
Elijah turned three. It’s killing me. Noah turns seven in a few months. That’s killing me even more.
Next week we’re going to Georgia to see Mom and Dad.
We’ve also been keeping my niece, Raina. Between her, Noah and Elijah, there have been interesting conversations. For example:
Kristi: Let’s go to Little Caesars tonight.
Noah: Yeah! Little Caesars!
Raina: I had a Caesar (seizure) once. I had to ride in the alience (ambulance).
Noah (frustrated): Raina. It must have been a dream. There’s no such thing as aliens. dreaming.
And so it goes.