This is my brother-in-laws band (he is the third from the left, in the red pants). They just won a contest as best band in Amsterdam. They will get a recording contract and a lot of free publicity. They are a Christian Reggae band and are offering their music to the world for the sake of the kingdom of God. Pretty cool, huh? Keep them in your prayers, for we don't need more Christian radio stations, we need more Christian musicians that are going to play on radio stations that reach those who don't know Christ.  

It is hard to finish your cereal when you are so tired. What is a baby to do?  

All We Know

I am reading a good book called "The Last Word and the Word After That" by Brian McLaren. I highly suggest it to all who haven't read any of his books. It is the third book in a trilogy, the first being "A New Kind of Christian", and the second, "The Story we Find Ourselves In". Pick them up and read from the first through the third.

I came across a poem that he wrote in his latest book, and I thought it would be good to post it. Sometimes art is the only way to approach theology. I mean, there are times when art (poetry, sculpting, or painting) come closer to telling the truth of a matter than any other form of communication. The poem is entitled "All We Know".

All We Know

All we know is but a spark,
Rising from the blaze of mystery,
A falling star in the dark,
Descending from a height we cannot see.
In mists that rise from woodland streams,
the way that we could fly in childhood dreams,
Truth comes in on winds that blow,
From beyond the the rim of all we know.
I have my doubts about certainty.
Its not all that its made out to be.
I trust in things I cannot see,
And reach out for the love that's reaching me,
In mists that rise from woodland streams,
The way that we could fly in childhood dreams.
Truth comes in on winds that blow,
From beyond the rim of all we know.
The secret things remain concealed,
But this good news has been revealed.
(And thats a gift): the rift is healed.
And there's a trusure hidden in this field,
In mists that rise from woodland streams,
And the way that we could fly in childhood dreams.
Truth comes in on winds that blow.
From beyond the rim of all we know.

In the belly of a paradox...

"The sign Jesus promised to the generation that did not understand Him was the "sign of Jonah the prophet" - that is, the sign of his own resurrection. The life of every monk, of every priest, of every Christian is signed wit the sign of Jonah, because we all live by the power of Christ's resurrection. But I feel that my own life is especially sealed with this great sign, which baptism and monastic profession and priestly ordination have burned into the roots of my being, because like Jonah himself I find myself traveling toward my destiny in the belly of a paradox"

-Thought this quote from Thomas Merton was a good one, for I feel the same way, that I am travelling toward my destiny in the belly of a paradox. I know this is where faith comes in. Paul said that we only see through dark glass. I know this, but at times I wish I had some Windex.

I am not Sure about Stuff...

I have come to the conclusion that I am not sure about alot of things. I am not sure where I will be in 3 years. I am not sure how God is all knowing and yet he created us with the ability to choose freely and mess things up. I am not sure why I like to daydream alot. I am not sure why my wife married me, although she says its because she loves me. I am not sure if evolution is all that wrong, or if God chose to create using a form of it. I am not sure what hair style I want. I am not sure what it means to be a good dad. I am not sure exactly the impact of preaching on people's lives. I am not sure if I agree with everything my church denomination believes in. I am not sure what it means to be poor, and what it means to be rich. I am not sure if Jesus would pastor my church like I do. I am not sure....about alot of things. But I am sure that God loves me, and that he sent his son Jesus to show me this. The rest...I will trust in him for. I guess that is what faith is.

This is my dad. He just got his own BLOG at www.lifethroughthevine.blogspot.com. Check it out. It will be in a link to the side here. It is a BLOG of daily devotions. He is going through the book of Colossians now. Connect with it, it is good.  

Dateline Last night

I am trying to make it a habit to spend just a few minutes everyday posting something to my BLOG. We will see how it goes. I know there will be days I miss. But...so what:)
I watched an interview on Dateline last night that had Brad Pitt as the interviewee. (is that a word?) He is a part of the ONE campaign I was telling you about. Bono is the founder of this effort, and I am in support of it. If you want to know more about it, go to www.one.org. You can put your name to a letter that is being sent to the president.
I have been thinking about war lately. I don't want to get too political here, for I know that politics can stir up strong emotions, but the older I get, the harder time I have supporting any war. I know the "Just War Theory", but has there ever been a war that fit its criteria? I have a hard time seeing Jesus of Nazareth stepping out in support of any the wars of recent history. I am still processing these things. Tell me what you think.

I have just recently found out about Project ONE, an effort to end severe poverty in the world by encouraging the leaders at the upcoming G8 summit to embrace 1. debt relief for poor countries 2. increased giving to these countries by the rich countries, 3. and reformed trade policies to increase economic gain in these countries. Check out www.one.org and become involved.  

Why is prayer so hard?

I am a struggling prayer. I admit that one of the hardest spiritual disciplines for me to make a strong habit is prayer. I go through phases. Sometimes I will pray everday, 20 to 30 minutes a day. But more often If I pray at all, it is a quick few minutes. Many times though I will go weeks without a steady prayer life. What is wrong with me?
I sometimes feel that I am abnormal. Theoretically this shouldn't be that hard. I have tried to write out my prayers, keep a prayer journal, and even to pray the daily office, yet time and time again I falter, forget, or just don't do it.
I remember my father saying that the things that seem to be the hardest to do, are probably going to be the most fruitful. I see Jesus in the NT praying constantly, pulling himself away, and praying. I preach and teach on prayer, and its importance for life. Yet when it actually comes to getting down on my knees and praying, I sense something struggling against me to not allow me to pray. Intelectually I am convinced of the power of prayer. Yet my experiences don't give weight to my heart to its truthfulness. No, I am not saying I don't believe in prayer, I am saying I don't want to know what prayer is, I want to experience prayer in my life. I want to be like my elderly aunt who is so intertwined with God in prayer it is as if they are communing constantly. Does this take discipline? probably. But I think it takes more than this. It has to take a divine touch of strength and focus.
Well, I am writing this having only prayed for a few minutes this morning. I wonder if I should stop writing and pray.

I have to be honest, as a relatively new blogger, I am sometimes intimidated by my own BLOG. I have been reading some other more experienced journalists and writers, and after reading them, I wonder what I have to say that is that profound. Nothing I guess.
I see them post sections of exotic poetry written by someone that most everyone else reading seems to have memorized. I see intellectual books being mentioned, must reads, drawing me to feel like I am not in the "know" yet, when I have books on my shelf that I haven't even touched. And I am struck by my own inabitity to communicate like these fellow Bloggers.
I guess it will come with time. I tell myself that if I dedicate to write something, anything, everyday, than my writing craft will sharpen, and soon people will be reading my Blogs; impressed by the breadth of my reading, and intimidated to write themselves. Maybe I don't want that. Maybe I just want to be me. An inexperienced, unimpressive Blogger. Wait, I seem to remember something...simple is better. Jesus was simple. I wonder if he would have read exotic poetry? Maybe. But I am sure his aim in reading it wouldn't be to impress others. I wonder if Jesus would have been a Blogger? Probably. He was a master communicator, telling stories and all. But he wouldn't have done it to impress people. I guess that by the end of this post, I have decided to just be me. I have no poem to add to this either.