Painting Elephant

This video is crazy.  I mean, crazy.  Its a little long, but it shows this elephant painting, and he's way better than me.  Painting Elephant.

A Great Easter Letter

Friends,

If you're looking for a good read this new Easter season, consider checking out the most recent monthly newsletter of Father Richard from St. Augustine's House. It is a great reflection on the meaning of Easter for us today. You can find it here.

Two Early Morning Reflections

Kind of thoughtful this morning. More than anything I just sort of sat there in the Lord's presence, like two friends who feel like spending time, but don't feel like saying much.

One thing I was thinking about was a conversation I had recently with someone about worship. I love to sit in the front row on Sundays at our church. You might think its because I'm the pastor, but that has very little to do with it. In fact, I've often thought of sitting elsewhere, especially when guests come that I've invited. Truth is, I get distracted pretty easily. When I sit up front, I'm much less distracted by all kinds of things and I can focus in on the Lord. That's what I want to be doing during worship. I need more of this in my life. If you're like me, you should try it.

I also got to thinking about thankfulness. I've been feeling rather busy and a little overwhelmed recently. That's one reason I was just trying to sit there this morning. And I was reminded of how one way I can fight the urge towards anxiety and being rushed to get the next thing done, is to stop and say "thanks" for what the Lord has done and what he is doing. It helped.

Frozen Lake Huron

These pictures are floating around the internet, filling up people's inboxes, so maybe that means I shouldn't post them here. But when I stopped to actually look at them, they're amazing. These pics of supercooled water from Lake Huron look more like Antarctica (the kind of thing you'd see on BBC's "Planet Earth"). It is a wonderful world we're privileged to enjoy. God looked at what he had made and called it, "very good."

two quotes to live by

so at lunch today, i uttered a pair of pearls of wisdom that my lunch partner thought might be worth sharing:

"i don't know how people eat half of what they eat."

"i never put anything in my mouth that i don't know what it is."

words to live by.

Oprah's Big Give

Oprah has a new TV show. You've probably heard of it. It is called "Oprah's Big Give." In fact, it has enough hype that I'm sure that I don't need to tell you what it is about. She and some contestants give away lots of money to help people in tangible, and "sensational," ways. That's nice. I mean that, I'm pretty sure. It is nice. It is nice to help people and I'm glad Oprah's doing it. Lord knows she has enough money. I'm glad Oprah is giving money. I really am. I'm sure it will help people. But I can't help being reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 6:2: "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly, I tell you, they have had their reward in full." I'm really glad Oprah is being so generous. I'm sure it will bless others. I'm just less sure it will really bless her too.

The Value of Unswerving Resolve

Okay, one more quote from my reading of this article on Winston Churchill.

"We hear a good deal nowadays about the dangers of excessive certitude - a necessary caution, to be sure - but very little about the virtue of unswerving resolve."

Man, is that good! I have this desire to comment, but I'm not even sure I can. Instead, I think I'll just let it sink in. Lord, I want to be a man of unswerving resolve, in my pursuit of you and your kingdom.

The Company One Keeps

There are lots of biblical proverbs that talk about the company one keeps. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." "Bad company corrupts good character." "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

At the home of Winston Churchill, inscribed in the stone walkway of his garden, we find a modern parallel: "It does not do to wander too far from sober men."

Why do soldiers and vets go to war?

Another quote from the "Old World Order" article from Books & Culture:

Robert Boothby, another of the political rebels who put Churchill in power, speaking on Armistice Day in 1934, to a British audience with no taste for war: "Today, tyranny has regained the upper hand in Europe, and the danger of war is as great as in 1914," he said to stony silence. "If we simply drift along, never taking the lead ... then everything that makes life worth living will be swept away, and then indeed we shall have finally broken faith with those who lie in the fields of Flanders."

Why do soldiers and vets go to war? I thought of this as I read that quote. The reviewer points out that most of these political rebels who supported Churchill, and his policy of standing up to Hitler's tyranny, were veterans of WWI, while the politicos who supported appeasement were not. I found that odd. You'd think it would be the other way round. That those who've tasted the horrors of war would want to avoid it at all costs, while those armchair generals who've never known war's pain and privation would be the first to want to go back. But this is often not the case. My personal observations support the facts of history. Why is it that soldiers and vets still are willing to go to war? Some people are prone to think it is because of their warmongering spirits or lust for violence or some such. I think the quote from this speech gets much nearer the mark. Soldiers and vets go to war to honor the sacrifice of their fallen comrades. They sacrifice to honor their sacrifice. The brotherhood of arms is real and esprit do corps, serving with the guy next to you, is the tie that binds.

I really resonate with this. I mean really. I'm something of an agnostic when it comes to war and peace. I really want to be a pacifist, and know that one day we will live in a Kingdom of Peace, but recognize that for now this may not really be possible. It makes me sad. But I deeply respect the courage and camaraderie of those who serve and sacrifice out of respect for others who share a similar calling. In fact, as Jesus followers, and those interested in peace, I think we have much to learn.

How do we create change?

I was reading in my Books & Culture this morning and I found a bunch of quotes from this one particular article that really grabbed my attention. Its a review of Troublesome Young Men: The Rebels Who Brought Churchill To Power in 1940 and Helped To Save Britain. Because it is the most current issue, that article is not available online yet.

One particular quote that grabbed my attention had to do with the nature of political change. I've been thinking quite a bit about politics and the fight for justice. In fact, I mentioned it in passing in my sermon this past Sunday, as one response we can make when faced with the reality of evil and suffering. But how do we really do this? How do we cultivate change and bring about justice? There's a great line from this article. In talking about the cadre of young companions that helped bring Churchill to power, and their contribution to story of democracy, the reviewer offers this quote:

"No government can change men's souls," observed Ronald Cartland, the youngest member of the rebel group. "The souls of men change governments."

I love that! Personal transformation and social change go hand in hand, and the order is not irrelevant.

They Can Never Catch The Wind

an excerpt from Voice of the Martyr's, Director's letter, March 2008:
"For 36 years I have watched them try to catch the wind: His invisible Holy Spirit that works through us and among us around the world. The enemies of the gospel try to catch this wind so they can destroy it. They imprison Christians using chains, boards, iron plates, bars, stone, earth, bamboo, ropes, cement or wire. ...
"Under the cover of our weak, imperfect flesh, the gospel advances. We are a part of God's strategy to spread His indestructible Kingdom where and when it is least expected.
"During his 14 years in prison, Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand was terribly tortured, yet Communist Colonel Sandu Franco was stunned when interrogating his victim. Wurmbrand had once been an atheist like him. Leaving the prison, Colonel Franco returned hom to his wife and declared, 'Something is wrong with me! I am sick. I have never met anyone like this man in my whole life.'
"The colonel was surprised by two forces unknown to him - agape love and godly humility - against which the world has no defense. In tryig to catch the wind, the wind caught him and brought him into eternal life. Colonel Franco became a Christian and also went to prison.
"The wind is not dependent upon time or place to be released. It is not for us to decide. During my imprisonment in Cuba, I was dragged out of the refrigerated cell to sit before Captain Santos. I began to silently pray for him. HE asked me what I was doing. I explained that he was cold - not myself, and the God love could warm him up. He seemed flustered.
"The next time the guards brought me to sit before him, he was wearing sunglasses so I could not see his eyes. ...
"During the months of interrogation, the captain brought in other officers to meet me. It seemed as though they regarded me as a curiosity. Perhaps the wind brushed against them as well. ... We do not have to be distraught if someone rejects our testimony. We are simply vessels of clay. The wind is able to take advantage of any event, any circumstance. The results are always up to God.
"I had dinner last night with a Chinese family whose sister had been released from two-and-a-half years of prison in Hunan province. ...
"This young, Christian woman was able to share the gospel with more than 200 women prisoners as they engaged in intense forced labor, making light bulbs. At night, they were so tightly packed while sleeping on the floor, they all had to turn over at the same time. ...
"During this time, about 100 women accepted Christ. [The woman] baptized them with her rationed cup of cold water. She was so compassionate and gracious and brought such peace to her wing of the prison, she was made a section leader. Some of the prison guards cried when she was released. This was their first time to brush against the wind, the Spirit of Christ.
"Our testimony of the resurrected Christ does not guarantee us a life free from fear. The Pakistanis you will read about this month, and the other believers with whom we work in dozens of nations, all have moments of fear; just as you might when called upon to be His witness. Yet, the Holy Spirit is more powerful than fear, allowing us to demonstrate courage and love even in the presence of our enemies. Someone once said, 'Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that there is something more important than our fear.' ...
"Those who try to catch the wind burn church buildings in Nigeria, but cannot burn what they cannot see. They weld doors shut in China, trying to keep Christians inside. They nail church doors shut in Indonesia, trying to keep Christians outside. They shoot Christians in Colorado in an act of hatred. Enemies of the gospel try to catch the wind using every kind of weapon to attack Christianity - gasoline, welding torches, nails, bullets or even secular news media - but they can never succeed. God opens doors which no one can shut. Let us ride His resurrection wind, graciously lifting up our Savior. Just as He caught us, He will catch some of them!

--- Tom White"

There is lots to love in this letter. Probably my favorite part is the quote about courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but holding to something more important, more powerful, than our fear.

Jim the Wannabe Westside Kitty Ninja

me at a recent youth group night

A New Book!

Anne Rice's newest book, Christ The Lord: The Road To Cana is here. I'm excited.  Her last book on the life of Christ, Out of Egypt was great.  I didn't really even realize that it was coming, and then, suddenly, it was being released.  And now I get to read it.  Yeah.  From vampire author to writing a faithful fictional account of the life of Jesus.  God is good.

Eden the Eatin' Machine

Eden's favorite pastime, without a doubt, is eating. Megan had to attend a staff meeting for her new job early last Tuesday morning, so I was on solo duty for wake up and breakfast. The girls are always hungry - and Esther is thirsty, too - right when they wake up. Megan is the same way, but for Eli and I, we usually are happy to wait an hour or more. So I sit Eden and Esther down in their chairs and gave 'em some food. Esther - done after like 10 minutes. Eden - and I kid you not - ate for at least 45 minutes non-stop, maybe longer. And she probably still ate a snack like 2 hours later. The girl is almost always hungry. Amazing.

The Monday Midday Mountain

Eli, on the other hand, loves to make a midday mountain. In fact, right now he's sitting up on top of it, reading his book on space. On top of our big green couch he's piled up the cushions from three couches, his bed, and the daybed downstairs, along with a couple of blankets and his stuffed animal polar bear (affectionately called, "Poli") to build this mountain. It is very cute, even if a bit messy.

Esther's Boombox

Do you know those refrigerator magnet ABC boxes, the ones where you put the magnetized letter into it and it says what it is? If you have a kid, then you probably know what I'm talking about. And if you've visited a house with kids, then you've probably seen it without realizing it.

Well, one of Esther's favorite things to do is to pull that thing off the fridge, press the button for the Alphabet song, and then put it up to her ear and walk around with a bop in her step. Its her little boombox. Eden has even taken to modeling her, too.

I haven't been able to get a picture of this yet, because every time I go to capture the moment, Esther sees me and then hams it up for the camera. So no dice. But we'll keep trying.