Graduations

So I sat out in the sun today with my family and watched the seniors at Simpson graduate. There were three students that all came through The Grove youth group that graduated today. Tyler, Holly, and Daniel. We were also there to see our friend Trisha graduate with her masters...you go girl!
Graduations crack me up. Old people singing weird songs...choirs...outside speaker that comes in a throws out one last don't do drugs and make sure you got good friends speech.
Seriously...Is that the best we can do? Did these students spend TONS of money and four years in classes to dress up in robes and weird hats and have someone make sure they have everything checked off on their Christian checklist? (pretty sure that was a run on sentence)
Why can't someone get up there and challenge these students to change the world by loving God and each other and the world and the least? What about the emphasis that Simpson is supposed to be about...go into all the world and make disciples. Make God's kingdom a reality in Redding and the ends of the earth. Seems like the easiest platform in the world to inspire some folk. But instead they got one last play it safe speech...bummer.
Sorry for the soapbox...if any graduates are reading my blog...go out and change the world...there are a ton of people in your city that need to know Jesus. Love people in such crazy ways that the world is forced to take notice. Don't play it safe...break all the rules...don't do it the way it's always been done...we believe in you.
Congratulations!

Turning over a new leaf

No I did not go outside and pick a leaf off a tree just so I could take a picture in photo booth that would visually capture the idea that I am turning a new leaf in my life. There just happened to be a leaf sitting on my computer desk for some reason...I'm assuming Zeke's doing.
Anyways...I've decided that I'm going to start becoming a blog commenter. I've realized that I still have a lot of Riverside crew that comment up in this piece and I hardly ever get to talk to them so I figured blog comments are the next best thing. Because everyone knows that a comment on your blog is just like hangin' at Starbucks and sharing your heart over an Americano! I'm going to start with commenting back to people that post to my blog. There's a possibility that I will venture into commenting on other blogs but don't bank on it. But just in case you're wondering...I do check in on the Riverside and Redding and Random crew everyday. Keep bloggin'...I'm readin'!

The countdown

Two days left in Riverside. Yesterday I sang one of my songs to close out the Grove services. It was nice to be a part of one last thing at the church I've been a part of for so long. Tonight we are getting together with a bunch of friends to celebrate the New Year and say goodbye. Tomorrow we are having lunch with our families to celebrate Sofia's B-Day and say goodbye. Wednesday after lunch we are taking off. Lots of goodbyes, a couple loose ends to tie up, then Redding here we come! I'm ready to get into some "normal" life and get our kids into a routine. Staying with our families has been awesome, they've been a huge help. Alyssa and I went out to dinner last night and saw Juno (great movie). We haven't been able to do that in forever. (Thanks mom and dad). We will miss you all. I'll try to be consistent in blog world so we can stay connected in nerdland.

Back at moms and pops

I made it to Riverside about 4pm yesterday. Saw my family for the first time in 17 days...it was amazing. Couldn't believe how much I missed them. Now we're staying with my moms and pops till the 2nd of January. It's funny how you can be 31 years old, married, and have two kids and still find yourself staying with your parents for 2 weeks like it's no big deal. We stayed for month a couple years ago when we were fixing up our house. It's good to have family that will let you invade their lives at the drop of a hat. I'm looking forward to chillin' and spendin' time with friends and family before we head back.

Goodbye to my Grove peeps

Today we had lunch as a staff and they all said their farewell's to my family. It's crazy that this is actually happening. There are some people on staff that have known me for my entire 31 years of existence. There is something really weird about leaving the familiar. I'm always up for change but it is going to be crazy figuring out how to do life and ministry in a new place. I'm planning on a couple huge melt downs in the next month or two. I'll be up in Redding for 17 days without my family starting Friday so you can bank on a huge panic attack coming soon. Stay posted.

Anyone want to help a brotha load a moving van?

This Wednesday and Thursday I'll be packin' the Uhaul. I could use the love if anyone has any extra to spread around. Thanks.

7 days...

...and counting till we load up everything we own and put it into a Uhaul truck with a trailer on the back that will carry my "light blue" Echo and I drive 600 miles to the place we will call home...Redding California. What the heck. It's officially becoming weird.
We'll be loading up the Uhaul next Thursday if anyone wants to throw their backs out for their good ol' friends!

Tons to be thankful for

New life
New family
New church
New friends
New house
New food
New conversations
New opportunities
New struggles
New provision
New vision
New hope
New dreams
New songs
New heavens and new earth
Happy Thanksgiving

Periwinkle is the "new white" for garage doors

Here's a pic of our new place in Redding. It's a 3 bedroom town home. All the garage doors are crazy colors. Blue, yellow, etc. I love it. It's pretty easy to lead people to our house. God provided in ridiculous ways for this place. Thanks Nate for makin' it happen. I'll post more pics later.

Don't be jealous...

...the truck is gone and the echo is here! I imported my rims so don't start askin' where you can get some like em'. It's a 2000 Toyota Echo, 73,000 miles. Alyssa had the audacity to call it "Sea Foam"... I'm callin' it light blue. It gets over 40 miles to the gallon...just like my truck! Ended up sellin' the truck for $4,000 and picked this bad boy up for $3,500...I should work at a used car lot. If you want to go cruisin' before I take off for Redding you better get a time slot now...the schedule is fillin' up!

We're back!!!

Sorry for the long blog drought...it was actually kinda nice.
We're back...Redding was awesome...Alyssa posted a little about it.
I got 129 blogs to check in my reader
Gotta pack the house
Gotta rent our house
Sold our truck
Gotta find a little cheap car...good gas mileage
Found an amazing pad in Redding...gotta post pics
Gotta find some time to blog
Gotta go...

Already gettin' some love from the Stirring

We made the front page of The Stirring website. I think that's awesome. We can't wait to get up there and join the team.
Related news...We head up to Redding next week to find a house to rent. Please pray that we find the right place for our family. We also need to find a renter for our house here in Riverside. Anyone interested? Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

THE FUTURE OF REV ROCK...

Here's the bomb drop...prepare yourselves...

About two months ago a very close friend of mine asked me to come on staff with him at his church in Redding California. His name is Nate Edwardson and he is one year into a church plant called The Stirring. (www.thestirring.org) Nate and I started a ministry 8 years ago when I was living in Redding called Celebration. That ministry has slowly evolved into this church that he is asking us to join. I have never worked with someone in ministry that I am more like minded with. Alyssa and I have accepted this position and will leave to start this ministry in January of 08. This has been an extremely difficult decision for us as both of our families live here, along with many of our friends and we are leaving a church that we love dearly.

I was born on a Wednesday and started attending VCC (now the Grove) that following Sunday. That puts me as part of this church for 31 years! I feel like I have 100’s of parents and grand parents that have looked after me here since I was old enough to start getting into trouble. The Grove has been an amazing place to call home and I have 1000’s of positive memories here. I have nothing but love and respect for the Grove and for my parents as they lead this church. I wish the Grove continued blessing as they strive to make the reality of Gods kingdom alive here in Riverside. We feel 100% convinced that this is the right move for our family at this time in our lives. We have spent time in prayer and have sought counsel from the people closest to us that know us the best in making this decision.

The Stirring has grown from 80 last summer to over 600 this summer. Nate is in desperate need of help on his staff as he is the only full time employee at the church. The Stirring is committed to being and making disciples and living out the way of Jesus in Redding and the world. My job will consist of sharing the load of teaching and leading worship along with other pastoral duties, but the majority of my time will be spent modeling and training others in how to live out the teachings of Jesus in covenant communities throughout the week.

Alyssa and I love Redding and we will always have room for visitors if you are ever headed north for any reason. If you have any questions I would love to spend time talking to you about the journey that has brought me to this place. We will miss all of you greatly so feel free to take us out to lunch or dinner in the next month and a half :)

Bomb officially detonated!

May his kingdom come...

Please read this

It gets at the heart of my journey. It's a little long but it tells the story of why I am who I am today.
From my reading today of "Everything must Change"

A lot of us are very happy to go through life knowing as little as possible about economics, politics, and ecology. As long as we can pay our credit card bill, avoid going to jail, and enjoy a cold drink, we'd rather not deal with the complexities of the societal machinery around us. But if we start becoming concerned about emerging global crises and the effects they may have on our own future and the lives of our children and grandchildren, then maybe we'll want to learn a little bit more about how the world works. (page 59)

WOW!!! This was me in a nutshell for most of my life! Don't ask questions...Vote Republican...Hang out in the Christian ghetto...Caring about the earth makes you a hippie and a pansy...Listen to these 5 safely prescribed pre-processed cookie cutter bands...Read these authors...Laugh at and antagonize people that think differently...Science is stupid...All those people that have spent their entire lives studying the earth and think its really old are out of their minds...Clinton is the anti-Christ (both Clinton's...they are co-anti Christeses')...This world is going to blow up someday so I'm just helping the process of having Jesus come back and get me out of this God forsaken place!

Now I'm pushing it on purpose but I feel like McLaren nailed where I've lived most of my life. I don't blame this thinking on my parents or my church...I'm a big boy that just didn't think for myself. I think it's glorified Gnosticism when you get right down to it. The world (flesh, sinners) are bad but the spirit (church, Christians) are good. Stay away from the world...win people onto our side, then hang out with them. I can't believe how much of the Bible I've glossed over and rewritten into Riverside 2007 language that makes it so easy and safe for me. You're wrong, I'm right. I have nothing to learn, you have everything to learn. I have the truth and you are deceived.

I wish I would have paid attention in school. Sorry Karen for cheating off you in college constantly. In retrospect Hermeneutics's is pretty important and maybe I should have done my homework. All of life is spiritual. Math, science, politics, history, ecology, the way I eat, the way I sleep, what I spend my money on, every choice I make, and how I treat my friends (and enemies). It all matters!

READ...LISTEN TO PEOPLE THAT CHALLENGE YOU...IT'S OK TO NOT ALWAYS PLAY IT SAFE...GOD WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU FOR ASKING QUESTIONS...OUR WORLD IS IN A GLOBAL CRISIS AND THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY MUST BE WILLING TO USE OUR BRAINS...OUR HANDS AND OUR FEET...OUR HEARTS AND OUR SOULS....TO ENTER GOD'S STORY OF REDEMPTION!!!

And now I'm officially off my soapbox

This week...

Prison Break begins.
I'm going to see the Pumpkins with my good friend Josh Hagquist.
I'm possibly going to the beach with family and friends.
I'm getting in my car and driving for a long time. Friends will be seen. Good times will be had. I'll leave sometime Friday and I hope to be back by Life Group on Tuesday.
Blogs might be sparse.
There will be plenty of gas tank fill ups, hot tamales, podcasts, silence, food, books, coffee, laughing, and great talks. This time could be shaping for what's ahead with the Lance's.
Good times!

10,000 views! And the knuckle sandwich goes to...

Some unknown dude in the middle of the country (looks like Kansas). At least he/she uses a Mac. They stayed for 1 minute 24 seconds and was referred by www.netvibes.com
Sorry that was so anti-climactic. Thanks to all of you that have been on the journey to this point. I guarantee the next four months of my life will freak you out so stick around. Life is good and life is changin'! I love having a place to share snapshots of what my life looks like. I love getting glimpses into what you all are about as well. Thanks to all of you that told me your hidden identities. We now share internet friendship...for whatever that's worth?!?