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Hilary nails this one. It totally reminds me of "The Naked Gun" when Leslie Neilson is peeing in the bathroom and he leaves his mic on and then he ends with that great symphony of flatulance? Well done Carlos...thanks for making my day!
1. Zeke playing with playdooh and his Hummer (we do NOT endorse Hummers! Gift from my aunt Lindi)
2. Scarlet on the couch after she peed for the second time tonight in the house and just took a crap under our table.
3 & 4. A little mommy, daddy and Zeke time. I love my family!
Hope you all got a Sabbath this week. Back to the grind tomorrow.
Jon Risinger and Ian Loudon helped me put this video together for our last Anthem art show. The theme was isolation vs. community. Eat your heart out Nooma :)
So the guy I'm talking to in the video is someone I just met. I'm talking to him about "beardcore." There was this guy at the conference with a huge beard, selling shirts and stickers that say beardcore. I bought one of course and I will soon be rockin' the shirt and sticker in Riverside. At this point I can't even put into words how awesome the conference was. Flyin' home tomorrow. Shalom.
1. This is the gas prices in Michigan...that's right $1.89 for the regular stuff.
2. This is the only sign for Mars hill. They have stuff printed on their front doors...hilarious!
3. Mac's representin' at the conference...everywhere you looked...it was awesome.
4. This is how they do communion. Wafer and dip it in the cup...loved it!
Manning and Dungy have officially knocked the monkey off their backs. Watch out Chicago!
They meet in the round so they have these four screens so you can see what's happening in every direction. Everything is very minimalist...black and white powerpoint, small stage, 30 stage lights and then a bunch of Costco fluorescents lighting up the rest. I also included a picture of Rob's notes. He prints them out on a big piece of butcher paper and puts it on the stage so he can see it when he walks around. Tonight we rocked out the whole night to funk music. We sang "Let everything that has breath" to Jackson 5...it was epic. I have so many things going on in me...it's hard to let it out on the keyboard. The ministry of Mars Hill is really inspiring. I love what God is doing at this conference. No fluff...just getting to the heartbeat of who we are as the church. Can't wait to get home and tell stories...watch out.
Today we went to church at Mars Hill...it was awesome. Getting there is hilarious. It's right next to a YMCA but there are no signs anywhere. You have to go up to the front doors to see the Mars Hill sign. They've taken over a big mall. Inside it was real bare bones in the main room. It's set up in the round and their sound board and set up is minimal. Rob shared a little bit about entitlement and then had someone from his community share. The time of singing at the beginning was amazing. The worship leader really engaged everyone, made me feel like I was a part of what they are doing as a community. More to come!
Needless to say...it's pretty cold out here. When we first landed it was 13 degrees and then it heated up to about 21 degrees by the time we got to Grand Rapids. Bill and I are going to see "Freedom Writers" tonight and then it's Mars Hill tomorrow...can't wait. Have a great weekend.
This is what we covered on our first night of College Night Life. We looked at the teachings of Jesus and decided how we wanted to practice those teachings as a group. Personally, towards our group and towards others. The first night was awesome...can't wait till next week. If you were there I'd love to hear your thoughts.
So my son is sick today and can't go to school so I am watching him till noon. We made our usual trek to Best Buy because that's what the boys do when they are home alone. I pick up 2 1GB SD cards for my new Cannon SD600 because they were on sale for $19.99. Then we look lustfully at all the flat screen tv's and stategize how we can purchase one shortly. I picked up "Crash" on DVD for a video I'm shooting for the next Anthem art show and then we check out. As we get in the car I see a familiar face...Bernie. He's an older black man that has offered to wash my windows before. I told him we were actually leaving and he said he could be really quick. I really felt God telling me to quit being a jerk and let him wash your windows. So he proceeded to wash my windows with great care. As he was doing it I sat in the car with my son and tried to explain to him the situation and how Jesus looked after the less fortunate and asks us to do the same thing. I gave him the $5 I had in my wallet and then I noticed my prized Starbucks card, and that reluctantly came out as well. Then I asked him about how he's doing and he informed me that he had ulcers in his leg that turned into a stage 4 staff infection and he lost his job. So he's out there washing windows every day to pay for a hotel room that he rents by the day. He told me he could tell that I was "with the Lord" and I really felt compelled to pray for him and he really appreciated it. As I was leaving I gave him my zip up hoodie because I know it's gotta be freezing doing that all day. He said, "I can't take the cloths off your back" and I assured him that I had more than I ever needed. So if you're ever out at Best Buy, look for Bernie and hook him up if you have the means. He's a really cool guy that needs some help. Jesus continually shows me how much I have and how much I have to give to others. I think we owe more to the poor than charity. They need friends and people that really care about them. It's ridiculous in a place like Riverside where people are constantly debating about what size plasma to purchase that we have people that live on the street and struggle every day to get by. I decided on my way home that I have plenty of crap in my house...more than I could ever want. I'd like to live more of my life trying to help others with their basic needs. Please don't read this as me being a spiritual superhero. I suck all the time and overlook the least everyday. It's just refreshing when you do some of the things during the day that Jesus would probably be doing during his day. Thanks Bernie...I saw Jesus in you today!
Last night I got the chance to head down to a studio on Sunset where my friends in Ann Lynn where tracking some songs. The studio was amazing, I got a couple pics to give you a little idea. The Smashing Pumpkins just spent a couple months there tracking for their new album. And the Jayhawks were in the next room tracking some stuff when we were there last night. I drove down with Steve and he got to lay down some electric tracks. Good times. Go see Ann Lynn this week at Spaceland. They are also probably playing our show in February at Anthem.
So I thought I would bring you into my breakfast world. Since weight watchers I'm pretty much a creature of habit. A bowl of Special K that has those fake strawberries in it with fat free milk or some of the Kashi granola cereal from Trader Joes with a light Dannon yogurt. I don't know if I'm the only one, but I've found that most cereals from Trader Joes (or Teeeg as it's referred to at my house) taste like bark and twigs! Anyways both of those breakfasts are 3 points if anyone cares. What's your breakfast of choice? I think this information could open up a window into all of our souls to a place where we are not just posting about surface stuff but like Montell...we'll be askin' the hard questions of life! Plus I know this blog will get comments and everyone will leave the MLK one alone...go figure!
Clips like this always scare me because they remind me of the capabilities we have as humans to be so destructive towards others. I wonder what footage my grandchildren will watch in 50 years of the things that we allowed to happen during our time on this earth. It's so easy to look back and see how stupid people were but I'm pretty sure they might see footage of the genocide in Darfur, or the child soldiers in Uganda, or the human slave trade here in L.A., or people holding up signs that say "God hates fags" or video of the Superdome right after Katrina. Let us be reminded today of the urgency of the kingdom of God that supersedes race, social status, geography and age. Dr. King we remember you today and are reminded of the prayer that Jesus taught us that asks for his kingdom to come "on earth as it is in heaven." So be it Lord.
These are pictures in front of my house at 8:30am this morning. Snow in Riverside...what the heck. Anyone else get snow?
Side note: Come to the Anthem show tonight if you're not doing anything. 6:30pm, $7, 5 bands. Can't beat that with a stick.
The Grove has "Family Night" on Wednesday nights starting at 6:45. Pastor Bill is preaching through Romans and he is on it! You can download his podcasts here. I like family night because they have stuff for my son Zeke who is three, elementary age stuff, jr. high, high school, womens bible study and we are starting College Night Life next Wednesday at 8:30pm. Something for everyone. If you've gone or if you swing by let me know what you think.
I got the SD600. Thanks to everyone that gave me advice on this. They gave me a 15 MB card so I can take like 4 pictures right now. Plus I'm pretty camera dumb so it's going to take me a little bit but you'll start to see a lot more pics that don't come from my macbook sitting in front of my fridge and my kitchen cabinets that still don't have doors on them! Keep your eyes peeled for pics in the future.
Here's a plug for It's a Grind up in Mission Grove. I frequent this place at least a couple times a week. It's got phatty comfy chairs, nice hi-fi wireless connection, cool people work here, good Americano's and a ridiculous jalepeno bagel with lowfat cream cheese. I like to read and study here because it's chill. When I get to the office my mind turns into pastor mode and it's difficult to get my studying in.
So I'm going to the, Isn't she beautiful? conference at Mars Hill on January 20-24th. It's at Mars Hill in Grand Rapids Michigan. I'm going with pastor Bill Risinger from my church. The weather is supposed to be ridiculous but I don't care. He's talking about the local church, narrative theology, heaven, hell, social justice and tons of other stuff that I can't wait to hear about. I'll fill you all in once I go. Anyone else going to be there?
So I finally got a bunch of books that I ordered with my Christmas money. Here's a list and I will update you as I finish them:
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. I'm about 3/4 of the way done with it. Very challenging...feel like it could be a little more balanced but I haven't finished it yet.
Following Jesus, Biblical Reflections on Discipleship by N.T. Wright. He's the man!
The Challenge of Jesus, Rediscovering who Jesus was and is by N.T. Wright
The Bible as it was by James L. Kugel. 560 pages and no pictures. (What was I thinking!)
Jesus and Emire, The kingdom of God and the New World disorder by Richard Horsley
Colossians Remixed, Subverting the Empire by Brian J. Walsh
I need to throw a Harry Potter book in the mix or something to even things out. I'm stoked to start reading. Right now I'm addicted to reading and listening to Rob Bell and Mike Erre on line. There are new things happening in the mind of Reverend Rockstar and I will share as things get clearer.
4 blogs in one night. That's for all you hater's talkin' smack about me slackin' on my blogs. Sorry I had to go and get violently ill for a week. Cut a brotha some slack! Now I'm back with a vengeance. Watch out 2007...
So I just finished "The Jesus of Suburbia" a couple days ago by Mike Erre. I think Mike is awesome, he's the teaching pastor at Rock Harbor in Costa Mesa. I listen to him via podcast every week as I'm sweating to death on an elliptical machine. Damien and myself are starting a book club...that's right, we're giving Oprah a run for her money. Let me know if you'd like in. This is the first book we are going to go over. He says we have tamed down and neutered the revolutionary Jesus of the scriptures to fit into our Christianity of comfort and complacency. You won't be disappointed if you pick up this book. I'd love to talk to you about it.
Today is a very hard day for me. One of my best friends and partner in ministry over the last 11 years, Travis Osborne has announced that he and his family are moving to Santa Cruz. I have known of this decision for a while but today was the day he announced it to everyone. I love Trav, Annette and his family and I totally support their decision. If you know Trav at all you'll want to take the time to read this letter to get the whole story. I felt like Trav and I would be doing ministry till we were old and feeble and things are going to be so much different with him gone. Great friends are greatly missed. If you know Trav and Annette make sure you catch them before they leave and tell them how much they mean to you. Here's the letter that Trav sent to our church:
My Dear Family of The Grove Community Church,
With much prayer and consideration, Annette and I have decided to move our family out of Riverside County due to the air quality and the effects it may be having upon our sons, Jonah and Davey, as they both battle with asthma. Consequently, it is necessary for me to resign from my position as the High School Pastor at The Grove Community Church, as we will no longer be living in this area. I will preach at the weekend services of February 10th and 11th, and finish my duties as youth pastor the following week. This weekend (January 6th & 7th), I will have a brief opportunity to address the congregation at each of the services regarding this transition.
I cannot begin to explain the honor it has been to be a pastor at The Grove for the past eleven years. This decision has been extremely difficult for us. We love The Grove and The Overflow High School Ministry. It has been the greatest privilege to serve as a pastor under and alongside Tom Lance. I am eternally grateful for his leadership in my life, his vision for our church, and his protection and provision for my family - it is every youth pastor's dream to have a Senior Pastor like Tom. The staff and board at The Grove have nurtured us, supported us, and believed in us - and even put up with us! The teenagers and adult volunteers of The Overflow High School ministry are our dearest friends. Who am I, that God is mindful of me, and blessed me with the privilege of ministering to these amazing young people? They have shown us more kindness than we could ever deserve. I am humbled by the support and trust the parents have given Annette and I as we care for their children
and lead them in their journey with Jesus Christ.
I have asked myself so many times, "How could I ever leave a place and a people as wonderful as The Grove?" Ultimately, it is because I believe my responsibilities as a father supersede my responsibilities as a pastor.
As you are well aware, my two sons have been struggling with asthma for the past few years. Our four year old son, Jonah, has been hospitalized three times due to asthma. His two year old brother, Davey, has been hospitalized twice with asthma. Just a few weeks ago, I had to take Davey to the ER at Riverside Community Hospital because of respiratory difficulty. Davey was not responding to the treatments at Riverside Community, so they transported him by ambulance to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Loma Linda Hospital. This is serious.
We are in constant prayer for our boys, and we have taken many measures to ease their struggle with asthma (including medication, doctors and specialists, allergy testing, and diet changes). As much as I love Riverside, our county is ranked worst in the U.S. for ozone and particle pollution - a horrible combination for asthma sufferers. I hope you understand why we feel the need to relocate our family.
Annette and I are thrilled that The Grove has chosen Sam and Stacy Boone to replace us as the leaders of the high school ministry. I have had the privilege of working with Sam for the past 7 years. He is a godly man who genuinely loves people. I have learned so much from Sam about prayer and sincerity as a pastor. There is NO ONE ELSE we would rather have take over our ministry. We know that the teenagers we love so much will be in great hands - and this makes it much easier for Annette and I to leave.
Our personal plans are to move up to Santa Cruz for a short time. Annette's parents have a house on their property that we will live in for a few months. We are going to take some time to seek the Lord's guidance for our next step. We are confident that God is not done with us, and we look for Him to lead us to a place where we can continue to do His work. In the grand scheme of things, I believe that God is in this whole transition. He is not done with the high school ministries at The Grove either. In fact, I believe Sam and Stacy will lead the group to greater places than we ever could ourselves.
I feel it is important, for the health of The Grove, to be completely clear on the reason we are leaving Riverside. I do not want a single person to entertain ideas that there are problems or conflicts between us and The Grove. I do not want anyone to think that Annette and I are not satisfied here, or that we are not in full support of The Grove and its ministries. On behalf of Tom and the board, they would do anything within their power to keep us here (believe me, they've tried!). But they love us so much, that they are allowing us to make this decision on behalf of our boys. They have this attitude because they understand that the Kingdom of God is much bigger than The Grove. The Osborne family will continue to share the love of Christ with those around us - we are all on the same team, doing the same work, even though we will be miles apart.
All I have left to say is "thank you." You have loved and supported us more than we could ever have asked for. You have shown us exactly what God intended the Church to be. We have a lifetime's worth of memories and experiences because of you. I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again, "I have the best job in the world."
Leaving The Grove is the hardest thing we've ever had to do. These last six weeks will be difficult as we say our goodbyes. What we need most from you is your support during this time. I am sorry to leave you, but I am resolved in my heart that this is the step we need to make.
May God continue to bless you and use you to be a blessing to Him.
In His Grip,
Pastor Travis Osborne
So I'm contemplating getting the Cannon elf 600 with my ridiculous amount of Best Buy gift certificates that I got for Christmas. I messaged Carlos and he told me that this was the camera he used to shoot all of his adoption video's in Korea. I want something small that I can take with me anywhere but that shoots great pictures and video's. Any of you tech guru's out there have any suggestions before I go and buy this? Let me know...
