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Today Alyssa and I got away to Chico.
Lunch at the Pita Pit...awesome
Went to see Get Smart...really funny
Nap
5th street Steakhouse...awesome
Hour of conversation at Starbucks with my wife...priceless
Thanks for watching the kids mom...we really needed this.
Be back tomorrow
This is a picture of me 9 months ago...September 12th 2007.
That was the last diet coke on record to enter my body.
I realize it's a coke zero...don't get hung up on the details...it's what I had at the time.
I was severely addicted to Diet Coke.
It helped me lose a lot of weight because I was drinking them for snacks in the middle of the day. Usually 3-5 cokes a day...sometimes more.
I decided I did not want any more of that crapito in my body and I gave it up cold turkey...not one more...I got all straight edge on it!
Still aspartame free today...livin' the good life!
It's harder to lose weight...I'm not gonna lie...but it's worth it.
Do I get a coin to carry around after a year?
What do you need to give up?
Tomorrow my mom shows up after the Stirring.
She's staying till Thursday then she's flying with Zeke back to Riverside for 10 days.
My mom and dad are going to drive back to Sacramento after the 10 days and we will meet them there, hang out, then drive Zeke back.
It will be good seeing mom. We really do miss our family. My mom is crazy about our kids and it's hard to get surrogate grandparents with that amount of craziness!
Alyssa and I didn't really get a chance to get away for our anniversary so we are sneaking away on Monday to Chico to stay for a night while my mom is with us...can't wait!
Tomorrow I'm leading worship at the Stirring...Ephesians 4...Nate's gonna bring it!
Chuck Norris has a unique gift to bring balance to a blog when it gets too serious.
Go check out the facts here...good times.
Which one's your favorite?
Here's mine: There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist!
Christian sent me this a while ago. It's a great video with Chuck Colson, Greg Boyd and Shane Claiborne talking God and politics. If you know me I lean heavily on the Boyd, Claiborne side but there is some great discussion. Love to hear your thoughts.
I came across this today. I would never pay that kind of money for something like that but I wonder if this type of this is going to make books obsolete. It would save a lot of trees, and my backpack would weigh a lot less. It seems like the books version of moving from cd's to an ipod. I love the feel of a book and I highlight everything and write notes all over in the margins. Would you read a book like this?
Since the last weigh in I'm down another pound...183.4
What's cool is I have a whole new wardrobe that is waiting for me when about 5 more pounds come off. I have about 4 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of jeans and a bunch of shirts that are getting close to becoming wearable again. I could care less about clothes or fashion (as most of you already know) but it will be something tangible to work towards. I tried to put a pair of the shorts on today and I'm not quite there yet. I could pull it off but my legs might turn purple and fall off because of lack of blood flow! Soon!
I'm riding my bike today.
I know by the time I get to work it will feel like I've smoked at least a pack of camels (not lights)
There's still smoke everywhere but I think I'll survive.
If you see me laying on the side of the road be a good Samaritan and put me on your donkey and pay for my medical bills and a couple nights at a hotel. Preferably something in the Super 8 range...those are classy!
Last night we are closing our Love and Respect group in prayer. Alyssa is praying and as the word amen is coming out of her mouth Tracy's phone goes off and it's Marvin Gaye's "Let's get it on." I started dying laughing, it was the greatest ending to a prayer in the history of prayer.
This is the only small group moment that tops that one...
We are sitting around in a circle in our first house in Riverside. We open our eyes from prayer and our dog Jonas has laid a hot piping loaf right in the center of our circle.
And weeks before that Jonas ate Philippians 2 out of Kyle's Bible...classic! I hated that dog.
Share your best small group moment...
if anyone cares. You can grab it here. I covered Ephesians 2:11-22. Love to get feed back.
Here's another excerpt from my book. It comes from the chapter: Coffee, Cohiba's and Newcastle
These are my thoughts. They don't represent any of the places I've ever been employed.
I get at the whole issue during the chapter but this is just to give you a taste. I'd love to hear your thoughts though. When I get the book blog set up I'm sure this will be the chapter with the most attention. Here goes...
My point is that if you are of age and you act responsibly and you’re not smoking something against the law I do not think there is anything wrong with drinking or smoking. Doing either in excess can be bad for you. But to be honest eating cheeseburgers in excess is probably worse for you. I think its funny that pastors can be morbidly obese and have completely unhealthy stress levels, neglect their families and have a ridiculous work-load but that’s considered part of the job. But if they have a beer with dinner or smoke a cigar with friends on occasion they are skating on the fringe of the dark side. It just seems to be pretty hypocritical.
I say lets try to be adults. Let’s start making grown up decisions. The issue is not black and white. There are times that it totally makes sense to refrain from doing something that would make others uncomfortable. There are other times were it would make all the sense in the world to celebrate or hang out with friends in this way. For some people like my parents the tension has caused them to totally abstain and I respect them greatly for that.
It’s just really weird to me that the most natural and deepest community I’ve ever shared with a group of people usually entailed doing all the things the church told me to stay away from growing up. Is that weird to anyone else?
Slept in
Family time
Good food
Read
Nap
Movie
Friends
More good food
Time with the wiffy
How was your day of rest?
This was the analogy that Nate gave me for what life looks like right now. I think that sums it up better than anything else. I feel like I have 28 crazy things in the air right now but I'm running forward and hoping they all stay in the air. There are a lot of loose ends and a lot of decisions that need to be made. Not a great combination. But I'm trying to spend a lot of time with Jesus and hoping he can juggle too! No complaints...God is awesome...I love what I'm doing...just trying not to get clocked in the head with one of those bowling pins!
Preachin' Ephesians 3
Love that surpasses knowledge.
Paul had all the knowledge in the world. Damascus changed everything.
Read it...give me some more ammunition.
I've been asked this question about 30 times over the course of my time being a pastor. I think it's pretty funny. People ask me what I do for a living...I tell them I'm a pastor...then they say, "I know you're a pastor but what do you really do for your job?" Hilarious!
I think I'm gonna try this out on some people. I'm going to ask teachers what they really do for a job. Hey mr. electrician...I know you play around with those different colored wires all day but what do you really do for a living?
Being a pastor is a people job so when people are around they get our attention. So I guess it could be easy to assume that all we do is hang out all week. It probably doesn't help that I do all of my studying at Starbucks because I don't function too well in an office.
So here's your chance. There's a handful of you that read this blog everyday. I'd love to hear what you do for a living...even if people don't think it's work. Sometimes I feel like I'm spilling my guts out into an empty void so this would help me get a better picture of all of you when I'm writing. Lets hear what you do...I want to hear from all of you!
My brother is a huge Laker fan. I can't stand them, but I gotta give it up to Mike...he never gives up on a team. He has been a fan of the Lakers, Chicago Bears and Dodgers since we were little kids. Maybe next year the Lakers will square off against my Pacers!
I'm watching "The Golden Compass" with my wife. I actually found myself dead asleep half way through it. It was probably Jesus making me sleepy to solidify my salvation and keep me away from the world's poison :) Too many things to keep up with in the movie. My brain already hurts with the amount of stuff I'm thinkin' about. I don't think it has room for Satanic movies right now!
So last week I ride my bike like crazy every day. This weekend I eat 3 slices of pizza for the first time in forever...get on the scale...lose 2 pounds!
184.4 pounds
Exactly 10 pounds less then what I started at, I'm stoked!
I have no idea how weight loss works. My new theory is lots of pizza!
Thanks for keeping me accountable.
175...here I come.
I've had some people asking about a copy of the poem from this week. For my old school Porch peeps this will sound real familiar.
EVERYONE is welcome inside
the sinners and saints
the frail and the faint
the rich and the homeless
the happy the hopeless
the red and the yellows
the hyper the mellow
the blacks the whites
the ones that start fights
the gays and straight
the true the fake
the simple the scholar
the open the follower
the addict the abused
the forgotten the used
the liar the cheater
the gossip the stealer
the shorts and the sandaled
the dockers and pleats
the tattoos and piercings
the prudes and the freaks
the punks and straight laced
the old and baby faced
the jocks and geeks
the timid and meek
the married and single
the ones that just mingle
the widow the divorced
the one’s flying off course
the atheist and skeptic
the one’s that don’t accept it
the muslim and mormon
the believer in God’s son
WE ALL NEED GOD’S GRACE
WE ALL NEED A FRIENDLY FACE
WE ALL NEED A PLACE TO FEEL SAFE
I John 3:18
Let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. NLT
Last night I spoke on Ephesians 2:11-22 at the Stirring. Talked about the church that God has in mind. No divisions. No walls. I'd love to hear if there were any ways you were challenged. Not lookin for props...I'd just love to hear what God was speaking to people about. The podcast will be up soon.
I didn't get you a card so I hope this post cuts it. This is the scene at my parents house almost every time we get there. Zeke is in my dads chair and it's wrestle time. My dad is an awesome father and papa (what Zeke calls him). Not many kids have the privilege of seeing their parents truly love each other and follow Jesus for their whole lives. My mom and dad are awesome. In a life with tons of uncertainty they were always constant. Dad, I know you hated having me leave staff but I appreciate your support of what we are doing in Redding. You've taught me so much about what it means to be a man, a husband, a father, and pastor. I love you!
And mom, I'm pretty sure I forgot about mothers day all together. I'm a dirt bag. You win the award for grandma that's the most coo-coo about her grandkids. Thanks for the talks over Skype and way you encourage us and pray for us. Can't wait to see you in a couple weeks. I love you! Happy fathers/mothers day!
I'm in child birth classes with Alyssa tonight and tomorrow.
They're teaching us how to breathe, clench our butt cheeks, and I'm pretty sure she was trying to hypnotize us at the end...good times.
Can't believe it's 58 days till we do this...what the heck!
Tomorrow I get to see the video of the woman going through labor with all the juicy details. (probably could of found a better word than juicy!)
Dad of three...still can't believe it's happening...God is awesome.
Yesterday I spent a majority of the day with my buns in a chair at the east Cypress Starbucks (that's my bucks). I'm pretty sure I know everyone that works there. Here was my day.
Alyssa got a haircut early so I stayed home with the kids...side note...my wife is hot!
Got to the bucks about 10am
Got my drink. Tall americano...no room...in a mug
Worked on sermon till noon
Walked next door to Togo's...lunch with TJ
I've only got to see one whole basketball game this season which is pathetic but it was definitely the one to watch. Holy cow. Boston was down by 24 and they came back. I'm not a Boston fan or anything but I love that the Lakers are going down. Sorry Mike, Aaron and Mikee!
I'm thinking about having a "weigh in" section at the end of some of the chapters in my book. I'd like to set up a blog for my book with the topics that I bring up throughout my story. I'll let all of you "weigh in" with your ideas on each topic. The ones I like the best I'll use in the book. I will have the blog address for each topic at the end of each chapter. So if people want to hear the ongoing discussion of what all of you think, they can go to the blog and hear your ideas. I think all of you have great stories and I'd love to share the love. It will also give people a more rounded look at each topic I bring up. What do you think of that idea? I just thought of it so I'm sure there are things I'm haven't thought of yet. Anyone want to set up the book blog?
Here's some of the topics you can weigh in on:
The Christian music scene in the early 90's (Hagquist and Adam have to go to town on this one)
Drinking and smoking (this one's all you Steve)
A culture of honesty in the church
Your youth group experience
Identity found in what you do (sports, music)
Share your crazy drama when it comes to relationships
Marriage, kids
Infertility
Miscarriage
Adoption (I need some Ivey and Los stories for this one)
Church Planting (this one's all you Nate)
Mega-church (I need to hear from pops and Giovannetti on this one)
Working with your dad
Kingdom life
Moving away from family
God surprises
All creative juices at this point are going into the book and what I'm going to say out of Ephesians this weekend. So feel free to ask any question you've ever wanted to know from RevRock. Personal, spiritual, off the wall, whatever...I'm game.
I've already got all my reformed answers down for Jeff and Josh. I'm a carminiest.
And just to get this one out of the way...boxers!
What else...bring it on.
Ephesians 2:11 - Chapter 3
I'm either calling it "The New Humanity" or "Where the streets of no name."
Paul is talking to two sets of people that formally hated each other: Jews and Gentiles. Now they find themselves sitting next to each other in little house churches. Paul is saying that what Jesus accomplished on the cross made these two groups that despise each other, one new humanity. The church should be the one place with no dividing walls...streets with no names. When the world looks at the church they should be blown away at the way we love people. The world should look at these relationships and be able to see what God is like. That's a quick preview. That dividing wall of hostility was a very real wall between Jews and Gentiles and the church is the one place that should be knocking it down. Is that happening? Tough question.
That's just a taste. Show up Sunday. Read Ephesians this week.
Got my bike on Thursday. Rode it home and took it for a spin that night.
It's 3 miles from my house to work...6 miles roundtrip (figured that out in my head)
It's 3.5 miles to the Stirring from my house...7 miles roundtrip (don't let my math overwhelm you)
I didn't realize how hot it was yesterday till I stated riding to church. I'm really gonna try to get as much riding in as possible before the road turns to lava in a month.
In just a couple days I think I've put 30 miles on my bike. For just starting I'm pretty pumped about that. I didn't lose any weight this week even though I did good with my eating. I think it's because my legs feel like rocks and I'm assuming rocks weigh more than my previous jello legs. But you know what happens when you assume.
In gas terms 30 miles saves me about 5 bucks in gas.
In environment terms my car has been sitting at work since I bought my bike.
Feels good!
I've been writing like crazy this week. I've got the outline for the 23 chapters I'm gonna write and I've written really rough drafts for 4 of those chapters. Here's an excerpt from my chapter called "Jock turned Rockstar."
As soon as I could drive we started going to concerts like crazy. The early 90’s was a beautiful time for the Christian music scene in Southern California. The Prayer Chain, Plankeye, Mortal, MXPX, The Violet Burning, Starflyer 59, The Killing Tree, Sometime Sunday…I could go on forever. Over a period of 2 years I recalled over forty Prayer Chain shows that I had gone to. There was a great community that was built at these shows that I have never seen since. These bands played every weekend and they always played together. You would see the same people at every show and an amazing music scene was built. And it wasn’t about what you wore or how tight your pants were. (I’m starting to sound old!) Nine out of Ten shows you would find me with my shirt off, sportin’ my semi man boobs in the mosh pit screaming at the top of my lungs with every lyric.
The circle pit was a beautiful thing that was the source of every great story after a show. I don’t know why but it wasn’t a real pit unless there was a 450 pound dude with no shirt on in the middle. His job was to keep the pit going in a direction and rough up the dudes that were getting a little too crazy. The amazing thing about pits at these shows is that if you fell down people actually picked you up. I recall a Prayer Chain show in the summer of 91 or 92 when things got a little crazy. I was caught up in the song and the pit was going off. I literally got thrown into the air and then everyone decided to change directions. I came down on a guys shoulder with my nose. As I whipped my head around I remember blood shooting from my nose and spraying this girls white t-shirt from top to bottom…oops. When you are on the edge of the pit, this is the price you pay and the collateral damage that you are willing to accept as being part of the show if you want to be that close.That's all you get for now. The book is going to be called "Born in the pew." The sub title is going to be something like: Pastors kid, turned rock star, turned Pastor, in search of something real. I'm going to end each chapter with a section titled: In search of something real. I'll wrap up each chapter by talking about how in each part of my journey I can see how God was pushing me towards a better understanding of who he is. I'd love to have some more creative elements like that in the book. Any ideas?
Those concerts shaped a huge part of my high school experience. These guys were writing powerful songs that thousands of people were all singing to in unison. The amazing part was that the music didn’t suck! When people think of Christians doing music they usually think of artists like Carmen and the Gather band. (For your sake I hope you have no idea who those people are.)
I remember watching Mortal’s final show. It was over fifteen years ago but I remember it like it happened yesterday. Two thousand kids in a wharehouse on our knees as they ended their set with an amazing rock and roll rendition of “As the Deer.” I was hooked. I knew I was going to do that someday. I couldn’t really play guitar and I couldn’t really sing but I could feel the jock slowly being pulled out of me. I was turning into one of those music guys.
Alyssa and I got to go have dinner tonight, just the two of us. It was awesome. We had an Outback gift card that was burnin' a whole in our pocket so we put it to good use. It's definitely been harder with the kids and not having any grandparents around to watch them. Nights like this used to be super easy but they've become few and far between lately. I'm not complaining, we had a great time. I just realized we need alone time every once in a while for us to stay sane. Anyone else freaked out by that number under creepy floating baby...what the heck!
So I'm spending my usual morning ritual at Starbucks. I rode here this morning and I'm sweatin' like a stuck pig! Back to my point.
I love people that have no clue what they are doing at Starbucks. This lady is in line in front of me and she asks for a small hot chocolate. The guy behind the register says, "one tall hot chocolate comin' up." She says, "No, you didn't hear me...I said a SMALL hot chocolate." I love it...keepin' it real. That's right arrogant Starbucks barista dude...not everyone in the world speaks Italian when they're ordering coffee!
Nothin' but love to Starbucks and their employees. Your tall Americano with no room has stolen my heart. You just need some ordinary folk that come through every once in a while and keep you in check.
I finally got my bike yesterday and it's safe to say that my butt is not ready for the world of bikes. It took me about 15 minutes to ride home from work. I'm stoked because that will give me a great 30 minute workout just getting to work and back. I'm gonna try to get a bunch of riding in before it becomes hell on earth here in Redding. I'm pretty sure my butt will recover...it will just take a few days...I hope. Biking around town is my way of giving the finger to these gas prices. I think I might actually give the finger to the three gas stations I pass on the way to work for a while till everyone really knows how I feel.
Could you imagine what life was like with all five of us on the same staff...scary.
(from left to right)
I am actually in the process of pinchin' a deuce in this picture.
Aaron's using me for leverage.
Sam is classic on the ground.
Seconds after Trav put his arm up like that it knocked him out because he hadn't smelled his armpit in three days.
And Adam isn't jumping...he was actually dropped from a crane (not seen in the picture)
It was a blast boys! Thanks for the pics Adam. Miss you guys.
I finished the rough draft of the intro to the book I have been talking about doing for about a year. It's going to be called Born in the Pew.
Here's a sneak peak...
As I read scripture I see how my story is connected to God's story and to so many that have struggled to follow him. I connect with Abraham when God asked him to leave his family and everything that made sense to follow him into the dark. I sink into David's psalms of joy and lament. God has given me so many songs that help me connect to him in a deeper way. I feel so close to Moses when I hear about his feelings of inadequacy. I struggle with Joseph and his feelings of betrayal. I feel Sarah's pain in her struggle with infertility. I totally identify with Peter when he gets pissed because people are messin' with Jesus and he chops off some dudes ear. I feel like I am a part of their stories.It's really rough but what do you think? Somethin' you'd read?
My hope is that you will read about my journey and realize that we are all part of a much larger story. God is writing his story into existence through his children. He is present in a very real way in each of us....we were all created in his image. As we share our stories of love and heartache and joy and doubt, we are reminded that we are not alone. We are also comforted to know that God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put his great love on display.
Slept in
took Zeke to school...his last day is tomorrow...then kindergarten...what the heck!?!
watched a movie...Reservation Road...depressing
picked Zeke up
made lunch for the kiddos, Alyssa made us these veggie wraps...awesome
kids nap...I work out
take Zeke swimming
talked to my friend Trav
hang with kids
go shopping...always an adventure
pizza
had some family from Alyssa's side driving through come and visit
look at homes in Redding on the internet
blog
great day of rest...have you had a day lately to enjoy God and family?
side note...got on the scale this morning...186.8
started out 2.5 weeks ago at 194.6
stoked!
my goal is 175 by the end of summer
i think I'll be under that
i'll post where i'm at once a week for accountability!
We showed this video at the end of our first night talking about Ephesians 1 at the Stirring. If we understand the language of adoption in the Ephesus culture, what Paul is saying for us that are in Christ will blow your mind. I love that we have video's like this that we can save to show our kids later.
My buddy Nate has become quite the preacha man. He spoke this morning at the Vineyard church in town...he threw down. I just got back from 2 gatherings at the Stirring tonight...he threw down. I love being a part of the team at the Stirring. I love having leadership that all says the same things. If you weren't there tonight, go grab the podcast. If you're in Riverside or living in remote areas of the world but just can't get by without my daily banter on this blog, you should follow us through this series. I'd love to have some feedback. I'm gonna tackle Ephesians 3 in a couple weeks. What are you reading right now in the Bible?
