Heritage Fest

We've had a busy week. We spent the beginning of the week in Detroit with the Pools, and I've been busy the last couple days working on a side-job, swinging a hammer again. Here are some pics from Heritage Fest from last weekend. It was good to run into so many friends. The kids had a great time.

Make way for technology

Heidi and I were on our way to Galena, at the beginning of the year, when I pulled to the side of the rode to take this picture. I think it says much about the kind of society we have become. We make way for technology at whatever cost, because the cost always seems worth it (advertisers don't want us talking like this). Yet, there are consequences to our submission to technological advances. Something is lost in the process; something is cut out. And if we're willing to look close enough, it's probably something that really matters.

I think this picture illustrates what our lives look like when we attempt to coexist and cohabitate with technology. We exchange face-to-face dialogue with cell phones and email. We sacrifice eye contact with people for computer and TV screen gazing. In the process, we loose more and more of our humanness. Life becomes detached and mechanical, soul-less. Maybe things get done more quickly and efficiently, but something is still lost.

Of course, here I am typing this on a computer, totally contradicting myself. Despite the influence of Wendell Berry, and my Amish leanings, I've been sucked into this modern vortex along with everyone else. Many would say that technology is a given that we "just have to deal with," that it's absurd to contemplate life without cars and computers. I'm still driving my car and typing on my computer, but my point is this: I want to at least have my eyes opened to the negative side of technological advance and then, rather than open the flood gates allowing anything and everything in, I want to have some sort of critical filter in place that presses me to ask whether or not it's worth it.

Before adding "X" to our lives we need to ask what the consequence is; if we don't, we'll loose more and more of what it means to be alive.

Josh

I talked to Josh yesterday. He recently had his seventh knee surgery (and he never even played in the NFL)! Everyone is hoping that this surgery will do the trick, especially Josh. Despite having gone through this so many times, Josh's attitude is good and he's trying to be productive. If you think of it, pray for him and drop him a line. I'm sure he'd appreciate it.



Also, if you end up seeing him, bring him a big bag of ice and some new clothes. As this photo demonstrates, he's having some struggles in the wardrobe category. Anything would be an improvement.

*Beware: blog may contain humiliating pictures

Faith and obedience

I've been in a place of ambiguity for a few months now, as many of you know. I've spent more time than I care to describe: thinking, pondering, wondering and waiting. Each time a new idea hits me I explore it; each time someone plants a thought in my mind I let it grow. The whole process of deciding the next step is non-linear (at least it has been for me), it involves rabbit trails and dead ends, with the hope of someday (soon) finding the right trail. It's a balancing act trying to decide what it is I feel called to do ultimately and what I am to do now. One of the good things about this process is facing some of the facts of who I am and who I am not. I'm realizing again and again that God wants to bring to the surface passions and dreams that he has implanted in me, but I'm also seeing that tunneling down in this way is hard work.

I often wish things were simpler in this whole realm of decision making. God speaks and I obey. The problem with that is: God is always wanting to draw out our faith. Obedience in the sense of following orders can be performed without faith, without risk. But true obedience is actually held together and intertwined with faith. God speaks and desires obedience, yes, but an obedience that clings with trust, filled with childlike faith. In this way, I feel as if God may want to turn the tables on us when we are seeking Him for which turn to make, which road to choose in life. While I'm waiting and ready to obey, God is waiting and ready for my faith to appear. It's like the chicken and the egg, which comes first: faith or obedience? I'm not sure, but I know we need both. I want to do what I do because of faith filled obedience, God's will getting inside me, guiding my life.

Ava turns three

Three years ago today, our little Ava was born.
We celebrated her birthday over the weekend with a couple different parties. On Friday she had a "Tea Party" with some friends and excitedly opened presents...

Mom was in party mode all weekend, baking and setting up to make Ava's birthday special. Here's shot of Ava and her mommy:


On Saturday we had some family over to continue the birthday extravaganza. Here's Ava blowing out her candles (with a little bit of help from Lukas):

Happy Birthday Ava!

Jimmy Mac

That's my dad. I called him today to say "Happy Father's Day," to which he replied, "Thanks for being my son." I'm not sure where he came up with that line, but it makes me laugh every time he says it, which is often.

This past week I went to a body shop in Westmont to get an estimate on one of our vehicles. The owner is an 'ol customer of my dad's. I mentioned I was "Jimmy Mac's son" (my dad sold Mac Tools for over thirty years), and the owner, Al, said to me: "I've known your dad since 1972. He ran his business like they did in the old days, with honesty and hard work. He treated people right, even in a business with plenty of scum bags. Not a lot of people like him anymore." I felt proud to be his son when he said that.

He has lived a full life and a rare life. He is a man of generosity, hard work and faith--things I hope will someday be said of me. In his work he swam against the tide of money grabbers and shysters. In Al's words: "Your dad could have made more money if he wasn't such a nice guy." My whole life I remember my dad giving many (maybe most) customers deals, as if they were family. His weakness was his strength.

Thanks for being my dad Jimmy Mac.

How do you build a cathedral?

I ran accross this on TSK blog and liked it. In case you have trouble reading it: "How do you build a cathedral? You plant an oak grove and in a hundred years you have enough wood to build your cathedral...but for a hundred years people are saying that your grove is not really a cathedral...and thats ok."

Father's Day is coming...

Speaking for every dad around the world, this is what we would really appreciate for Father's Day.

If you have no money, get this--he'll still appreciate it.

"A New Kind of Urban Christian"

Here's a great article featured in Christianity Today by Tim Keller.

Keller has been pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan for 16 years. His passion: How can followers of Christ be a counterculture for the common good?

Some highlights:

"As the city goes, so goes the culture. Cultural trends tend to be generated in the city and flow outward to the rest of society."

"Christians are called to be an alternate city within every earthly city, an alternate human culture within every human culture, to show how sex, money, and power can be used in nondestructive ways."

"Christians should be a community radically committed to the good of the city as a whole. We must move out to sacrificially serve the good of the whole human community, especially the poor. Revelation 21-22 makes it clear that the ultimate purpose of redemption is not to escape the material world, but to renew it. God's purpose is not only saving individuals, but also inaugurating a new world based on justice, peace, and love, not power, strife, and selfishness."

"Christians should be a people who integrate their faith with their work. Culture is a set of shared practices, attitudes, values, and beliefs, which are rooted in common understandings of the "big questions"—where life comes from, what life means, who we are, and what is important enough to spend our time doing it in the years allotted to us. No one can live or do their work without some answers to such questions, and every set of answers shapes culture."

"Why are we here ya'll?"

I spoke to Neil today as he was returning to Houston after attending the Vineyard's Regional Conference in New Orleans. It was good to catch up--it's amazing how a few simple words from a friend can encourage one's heart.

He preached his first sermon at Clear Lake Vineyard this past Sunday. Supposedly Nate called him the night before, sick as a dog and had Neil lead worship and preach. No prep; straight from the heart. You can hear his message here. Good stuff.

Robin Rescue

There's a robin nest in our front yard, and late this afternoon this nestling fell out.



The kids were captivated and concerned. Ava asked: "Is the mommy gonna give it Tylenol?"




Moved with compassion and determined to participate in God's mission to redeem all of creation, I felt called to escort this prodigal bird home.




I managed to restore the nestling to its nest--despite being dive bombed by mom and dad. (My brave wife, Heidi, waved a broom in the air in order to minimize my fear of having my eyes pecked at and my face clawed beyond recognition.)




Mission accomplished.

Global Warming?

This is a hilarious video clip: Will Ferrell--Bush on Global Warming.

Jibarito

I had my very first jibarito today and LOVED it. Ray and his son Jacob introduced me to the Puerto Rican style sandwich at a local restaurant after I preached at Urban Vineyard. It was great having the opportunity to share with them. I really loved the church. It was also cool seeing George Hoffman, who snuck in at the beginning of my message.

People buying your junk: Priceless!

We had a garage sale today. It's unbelievable how much junk you can accumulate. Feels good to purge. I love the concept of people coming over to buy your garbage.

Keeping it Green

I'm not an environmentalist or conservationist, which is a problem. I never thought of it as a problem because I've been immersed in a Christian tradition that largely says: "The earth is going to burn, so don't waste your time caring for it. What matters is souls!" Yet if we take the time to read the Scriptures we find a different story: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab 2:14), "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God..." (Rev 21:2), and I could go on. Heaven isn't a distant galaxy that we get to go to (sorry "Left Behind" fans); it is the fullness of God coming to earth. God's plan is to restore, redeem and re-create the earth and all that is in it. Think of it as the Garden of Eden being reestablished through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Now if that's the case, then part of what it means to live as Christ followers is acting as agents and instruments in this kingdom project. It means, in part, tending the earth.

So what do we do? In the words of Wendell Berry we need to "waste less, spend less, use less, want less, need less." Our hearts must change. And we need to assess how much of a grip our industrial economy has on us, finding ways of swimming against the tide. We need to do things as simple as: reduce, reuse and recycle, but with Christian conviction. We need to see ourselves as stewards of an earth that God declared good, rather than "renters" who trash the place because it's a temporary home. I'm not totally sure how to change my life so that it fits this framework, but I'm convinced I need to do something.

The last time I saw Jim Pool, he had a copy of Tending the Garden in his hands, a book I hope to read. It's good to know that church's like Boise Vineyard are taking this stuff seriously, viewing the Christian life in a more wholistic way. It's all got me thinking: could it be that God (as He has a habit of doing in Scripture) cares about things we don't even think about? Maybe it does matter to God that we use "disposable" diapers for our babies, throw tons of food away every day and drive gas guzzling cars. And maybe we need to stop with that nonsense of "come on man, it's the world we live in." Jesus was a revolutionary. We start growing up when we join him.