I am not sure exactly of the blogging capabilities in Kenya. We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon out of Cleveland, saying hello to Detroit, stopping over in Amsterdam and then arriving in Nairobi on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. (their time). We will then have perhaps the most adventurous part of the trip with a 2-3 hour van ride to the compound.
Whether I am able to blog or not from the Mustard Patch, we will blog daily as a team from here.
Pray for us, that God would stir in our midst and we would encounter an UPRISING of his Spirit!
Pray for me specifically to have wisdom in leading, empowering, and sensing the Spirit working in and through our group!
Love ya guys!
Ben
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
For or Against?
The number one thing associated with Christianity in the U.S. to those outside the church? Loving? no. Compassionate? no. Missional to the world? no.
Anti-homosexual.
Add to that, anti-abortion, anti-divorce, anti-cohabitation...etc.
The Church is known far better for what its against than what its for. Now we have tried to put positive 'covers' over these negatives...Pro-life. Pro-marriage. But I think our actions are generally still showing an 'anti' tendency.
The Roman Catholic Tradition has taken a staunch stance in some of these areas which is one sense commendable, holding to a True North, Moral Compass, but in another sense alienating some from the church because of an apparent lack of love and grace for those who have "been there and done that" in the sin category.
This is why I think what this Catholic website is doing, is so great. What if we became strong advocates of marriage and life and adoption rather than giving off the impression of being anti-sin, we could be known for being pro-love.
What do you think about this?
Anti-homosexual.
Add to that, anti-abortion, anti-divorce, anti-cohabitation...etc.
The Church is known far better for what its against than what its for. Now we have tried to put positive 'covers' over these negatives...Pro-life. Pro-marriage. But I think our actions are generally still showing an 'anti' tendency.
The Roman Catholic Tradition has taken a staunch stance in some of these areas which is one sense commendable, holding to a True North, Moral Compass, but in another sense alienating some from the church because of an apparent lack of love and grace for those who have "been there and done that" in the sin category.
This is why I think what this Catholic website is doing, is so great. What if we became strong advocates of marriage and life and adoption rather than giving off the impression of being anti-sin, we could be known for being pro-love.
What do you think about this?
Thursday, May 28, 2009
6 to go!
Cavs won...They played better.
Mo was a key contributor and got going early.
Z and Delonte did their part.
LeBron was more of a facilitator than a hoister/dominant scorer. When he approaches 10 assists, you know its been a solid game for him.
Daniel Gibson may have been the x factor, hitting big 3's down the stretch. Has Boobie returned? Here's hoping!
Game 6 is an uphill battle. We haven't won in Orlando yet this year and their crowd will be amped to go to the finals.
Mo was a key contributor and got going early.
Z and Delonte did their part.
LeBron was more of a facilitator than a hoister/dominant scorer. When he approaches 10 assists, you know its been a solid game for him.
Daniel Gibson may have been the x factor, hitting big 3's down the stretch. Has Boobie returned? Here's hoping!
Game 6 is an uphill battle. We haven't won in Orlando yet this year and their crowd will be amped to go to the finals.
It is finished...
had my last class at ATS yesterday afternoon. It was biblical aramaic. Not sure if I would have guessed that three years ago when I started. I'm coming down the home stretch. Got a 7 page paper and a take home final left to complete by Monday. I am really not sad to be done with school. The whole time has been somewhat grueling. The best was when Shaina and I were working a total of 5 jobs between us and I was going to school full time.
Maybe the reason I am most excited to be done is for Shaina. Since we've been married, she has worked at a car dealership that seems to have had connections to drug sales as well...managed a Wendy's where she arrived each day before 6 a.m. to open the store...worked her butt off for minimum wage at a fruit farm...then for minimum wage at a pizza shop...and then finally at Kohls where she has worked her way up from a part time peon to fulltime management.
The road ahead is still bumpy, 7 years of school loans to pay off, life in ministry where sometimes, there is little joy, little fellowship and little evidence of making a difference. But Shaina and I have truly delighted in each other through every step. Maybe the area I am most thankful for about our marriage is the amount of laughter we share even in the midst of some junk. Here's to the end of a long road of school. Don't celebrate too long...we've got a plane to catch! haha.
Maybe the reason I am most excited to be done is for Shaina. Since we've been married, she has worked at a car dealership that seems to have had connections to drug sales as well...managed a Wendy's where she arrived each day before 6 a.m. to open the store...worked her butt off for minimum wage at a fruit farm...then for minimum wage at a pizza shop...and then finally at Kohls where she has worked her way up from a part time peon to fulltime management.
The road ahead is still bumpy, 7 years of school loans to pay off, life in ministry where sometimes, there is little joy, little fellowship and little evidence of making a difference. But Shaina and I have truly delighted in each other through every step. Maybe the area I am most thankful for about our marriage is the amount of laughter we share even in the midst of some junk. Here's to the end of a long road of school. Don't celebrate too long...we've got a plane to catch! haha.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
!@#$%^&
What is going on with the Cavs?!
Our back is against the wall now and quite honestly that could be bad news...the more pressure LeBron feels to take over, the worse we are.
Mike Brown blew the OT when he put Z in instead of Ben Wallace.
LeBron had a triple double. Points, Rebounds and Turnovers. Mikael Petrus has owned him in this series...yes he is scoring 40+ a game, but its ugly to make it happen.
Game 5 is back at our place. Do or Die time. Chances are good that Orlando will be without Howard and maybe without Johnson. We have to win by 20.
Come on Curse of Cleveland. Get off me.
Our back is against the wall now and quite honestly that could be bad news...the more pressure LeBron feels to take over, the worse we are.
Mike Brown blew the OT when he put Z in instead of Ben Wallace.
LeBron had a triple double. Points, Rebounds and Turnovers. Mikael Petrus has owned him in this series...yes he is scoring 40+ a game, but its ugly to make it happen.
Game 5 is back at our place. Do or Die time. Chances are good that Orlando will be without Howard and maybe without Johnson. We have to win by 20.
Come on Curse of Cleveland. Get off me.
Kenya Feel It?
I've been falling behind on blogging. Sometimes life makes that happen. I am now into my version of finals week. There are actually two weeks left, but we leave for Kenya on Monday! Consequently, all my work for two weeks has to be done and submitted this week...including 2 finals, 4 quizzes, a gargantuan notebook on 1-2 Thessalonians translated from the Greek and a 7-10 page paper. The madness starts tonight in my night class with a final.
On to more important things...our Kenya Team Retreat was Sunday into Monday and it was great! There have been moments in this process where I've wanted to throw in the towel (or beat someone with the towel) but this team is gellin' like Magellan right now. It is neat to see the different qualities/attributes of the team members rising out of the things we've been doing.
Empower Worldwide Outreach's website is up and running and it looks fantastic. You need to check it out and then once we leave on June 1 for Kenya, you can follow our blog updates on that website to know how best to pray for us.
I covet your prayers. This is one of those weeks where I just need to stay afloat. Between school, church work and getting packed to go, I need to just find time to rest in the Lord and allow him to fill my cup so that I can discern how best to lead this team!
Kenya Feel it? Oh yeah we can! Kenya Do It? Oh yeah we can! (Cheesy cheer we had to do everytime we completed a low ropes initiative at the team building retreat!)
On to more important things...our Kenya Team Retreat was Sunday into Monday and it was great! There have been moments in this process where I've wanted to throw in the towel (or beat someone with the towel) but this team is gellin' like Magellan right now. It is neat to see the different qualities/attributes of the team members rising out of the things we've been doing.
Empower Worldwide Outreach's website is up and running and it looks fantastic. You need to check it out and then once we leave on June 1 for Kenya, you can follow our blog updates on that website to know how best to pray for us.
I covet your prayers. This is one of those weeks where I just need to stay afloat. Between school, church work and getting packed to go, I need to just find time to rest in the Lord and allow him to fill my cup so that I can discern how best to lead this team!
Kenya Feel it? Oh yeah we can! Kenya Do It? Oh yeah we can! (Cheesy cheer we had to do everytime we completed a low ropes initiative at the team building retreat!)
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Catbirds and Waxwings Oh My
The Cedar Wax Wing is an interesting bird, gray in color, with a bright yellow tipped tail, red dots on both wings and a black colored mask over its eyes.
Shaina found about 20 of these hanging out in our holly berry trees devouring all the berries a couple weeks ago. I'd never seen anything like them so we googled it and sure enough, we found it.
Then not too long after that we started hearing this bizarre dying cat noise, like a cat was repeated being stepped on and crying out. After a quick google search, we discovered that we did not have a dying cat but a living Cat Bird. It is solid gray in color. When I went to find a picture of it, I found the one above, which was funny so I went with it. You can listen to its catcall here. Click "Mew Call".
First flowers, now birds. Manpoints are floating out of my life.
Monday, May 18, 2009
bring on the magic
I was torn in the Boston/Orlando series. I absolutely hate Boston, but I think Orlando is the tougher matchup for Cleveland. So its great to see the celtics season over...and it will be good to see a better conference final matchup.
So, who do you have in the Finals?
CAVS/LAKERS?
CAVS/NUGGETS?
MAGIC/LAKERS?
MAGIC/NUGGETS?
I THINK NIKE IS BANKING ON KOBE V. LEBRON.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Creatures Creating
In my worship design class on Monday, we had a group lead us in a time of worship based on the creation account of Genesis 1. The devotional 'sermonette' was based on humanity as co-creators with God. This is interesting to think about...that God's creativity resides within God's creatures. I have some thoughts on this...maybe I will get to them some time soon.
Not today though. At one point in the service, we were encouraged to worship through creativity. There were water colors, markers, magazines to do collage type stuff and just blank paper to write on. It was a really cool time to just express ideas/themes that were given by God. I spent some time writing some poetry/lyrics...I used to do this frequently, but not in a long time. I was enamored with the breadth of God's creative genius...Here's what I came up with in 10 minutes.
You Made the stars, the planets, the galaxies.
You Made the brain, the liver, the patella tendon.
You made this heart
Now make it beat with yours.
You made the cow, the platypus and the armadillo.
You made the manger, the cross, and the tomb
You made this life
Now make it rise with yours.
You made the Sudan, the Rockies, the Pacific
You made these eyes, these ears annd these feet
You made these bones of mine
Now breathe them back to life.
Make me New, Take me to
The quiet place of still water.
Let me drink deeply. Make me new
Make me new, Make me new
You make all things new.
How do you connect with God through creativity?
Not today though. At one point in the service, we were encouraged to worship through creativity. There were water colors, markers, magazines to do collage type stuff and just blank paper to write on. It was a really cool time to just express ideas/themes that were given by God. I spent some time writing some poetry/lyrics...I used to do this frequently, but not in a long time. I was enamored with the breadth of God's creative genius...Here's what I came up with in 10 minutes.
You Made the stars, the planets, the galaxies.
You Made the brain, the liver, the patella tendon.
You made this heart
Now make it beat with yours.
You made the cow, the platypus and the armadillo.
You made the manger, the cross, and the tomb
You made this life
Now make it rise with yours.
You made the Sudan, the Rockies, the Pacific
You made these eyes, these ears annd these feet
You made these bones of mine
Now breathe them back to life.
Make me New, Take me to
The quiet place of still water.
Let me drink deeply. Make me new
Make me new, Make me new
You make all things new.
How do you connect with God through creativity?
Monday, May 11, 2009
8
Two Series in the books...Now let's hope that Boston and Orlando beat up on each other a few more games.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
fore!
I got a chance to go golfing today at the Legends of Massillon. It is one of my favorite courses.
Well...It was one of my favorite courses. About halfway through the round, high wind warnings kicked in and we tried to play in 30-40 mph winds.
I had good holes (With the wind) and bad holes (into the wind, wind blowing right to left, wind blowing left to right). Good times.
While today was some of the craziest weather I've played in, Golf in general is a great way for me to disconnect from the stresses of life, school and ministry. There is something therapeutic about swinging violently at a little white ball that never goes where it is supposed to!
What is the one thing that you do to disconnect and 'recenter' yourself?
Well...It was one of my favorite courses. About halfway through the round, high wind warnings kicked in and we tried to play in 30-40 mph winds.
I had good holes (With the wind) and bad holes (into the wind, wind blowing right to left, wind blowing left to right). Good times.
While today was some of the craziest weather I've played in, Golf in general is a great way for me to disconnect from the stresses of life, school and ministry. There is something therapeutic about swinging violently at a little white ball that never goes where it is supposed to!
What is the one thing that you do to disconnect and 'recenter' yourself?
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Cheesy Christian Buzz Words
There's a few words out there that the Church is hanging their hats on in hopes of reinventing or reinvigorating the Cross Movement. Here's my take on a couple of them
Relevant
-Everybody is engaged in this discussion of how the Church can be relevant to our culture in the 21st century. So well intentioned people try to become relevant in their churches/ministries/communities.
-Unfortunately, the creativity that we put into being relevant is pretty weak. We think that if we show a cool video clip, play the right songs, have the state of the art website, ___________ fill in your own blanks, then all of the sudden the church will be relevant to people.
-There may be some truth or possibilities in this, but let me say this...As long as there are messes, pain, loneliness, pride and heartache in the world, then THE CHURCH IS RELEVANT. The problem is that for most of us in the church, the cross is only semi- or moderately relevant to our lives. If God became the only thing relevant to us, the world would take note!
Authentic
-There's this notion in Churches that people are generally inauthentic. What they look like on Sunday morning is a facade compared to how they look and live the rest of their week.
-So a movement to share life together has developed. That we are REAL with each other about struggles, pain, dreams, victories and defeats.
-I'll be honest, I think a lot of us love this word, but aren't doing a single thing to move towards experiencing this word in our relationships.
Missional
-This word is all over the seminary...focusing on "going and being" the Church to the world. Again this word is a fine word, but its an even better movement.
Some times in our churches we get so hung up on clarity and definitions, mission statements, vision statements, goals, core values, and the like that we forget to put any of the words into motion.
Jesus tells us to "Go and Do Likewise" right? Maybe that'd be a Missional Step in the Authentic Direction toward Relevance?
Where has your church been living in Authentic, Missional Relevance??
Relevant
-Everybody is engaged in this discussion of how the Church can be relevant to our culture in the 21st century. So well intentioned people try to become relevant in their churches/ministries/communities.
-Unfortunately, the creativity that we put into being relevant is pretty weak. We think that if we show a cool video clip, play the right songs, have the state of the art website, ___________ fill in your own blanks, then all of the sudden the church will be relevant to people.
-There may be some truth or possibilities in this, but let me say this...As long as there are messes, pain, loneliness, pride and heartache in the world, then THE CHURCH IS RELEVANT. The problem is that for most of us in the church, the cross is only semi- or moderately relevant to our lives. If God became the only thing relevant to us, the world would take note!
Authentic
-There's this notion in Churches that people are generally inauthentic. What they look like on Sunday morning is a facade compared to how they look and live the rest of their week.
-So a movement to share life together has developed. That we are REAL with each other about struggles, pain, dreams, victories and defeats.
-I'll be honest, I think a lot of us love this word, but aren't doing a single thing to move towards experiencing this word in our relationships.
Missional
-This word is all over the seminary...focusing on "going and being" the Church to the world. Again this word is a fine word, but its an even better movement.
Some times in our churches we get so hung up on clarity and definitions, mission statements, vision statements, goals, core values, and the like that we forget to put any of the words into motion.
Jesus tells us to "Go and Do Likewise" right? Maybe that'd be a Missional Step in the Authentic Direction toward Relevance?
Where has your church been living in Authentic, Missional Relevance??
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
11 STRONG
SECURE HOME COURT IN PLAYOFFS (check)
COACH OF THE YEAR (check)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (check)
ALL DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM (check)
WIN THE NBA TITLE (5 down, 11 to go)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Information vs. Transformation
I send out a weekly leadership devotional to some key leaders/teachers in our church. I thought I'd post this one here as well. Too often we become inundated with information and fail to allow God to form us more into his people.
Luke 10:25-37
I like Jesus, don't you? Here's this lawyer who wants a clear explanation of Jesus' teaching. This is a good and right request to a rabbi. Before, I consider taking your 'yoke' (a way of saying that you are a disciple of a certain rabbi), you should know what he teaches. And Jesus, He's a good teacher. He starts it off with the Book and sums up the Law with the Commands to love God and neighbor, which is pretty standard stuff...
But then he brings in the HOOK...a powerful story that has as its hero a Samaritan...a good for nothing half breed that was viewed by many as worse than the unbeliever, because they had the promise and then threw it away and married non-Jews. Jesus teaches to love beyond cultural barrier, to love beyond social norms, and to love beyond our own justifications.
But then he hits home. "Go and Do Likewise." Four words that shake the foundations of the Jewish world! (and our world too?) Four words that would make the lawyer distinct from the rest of the world. (And make us distinct too?) Four words that make "Orthodoxy" (Right Belief) into "Orthopraxy" (Right Practice)
Too many times we try to pour information into the people we lead and teach. That if they know the Bible more, or know of God more, or know of the cultural setting of the Bible more, that they will follow Christ more. Yet Jesus has challenged this (and us?)...Forget Information...Embrace Transformation. Don't just hear the words that sum up the Law...Go and Do Likewise!
I will close with a quote from Mark Batterson, "Most of us are educated far beyond our level of obedience. We don't need another sermon. We don't need another service..." We need to go and do likewise!
May you be a catalyst to your people engaging in meaningful ministry to the world. And may you assist in the making of disciples for the transformation of the world!
Luke 10:25-37
I like Jesus, don't you? Here's this lawyer who wants a clear explanation of Jesus' teaching. This is a good and right request to a rabbi. Before, I consider taking your 'yoke' (a way of saying that you are a disciple of a certain rabbi), you should know what he teaches. And Jesus, He's a good teacher. He starts it off with the Book and sums up the Law with the Commands to love God and neighbor, which is pretty standard stuff...
But then he brings in the HOOK...a powerful story that has as its hero a Samaritan...a good for nothing half breed that was viewed by many as worse than the unbeliever, because they had the promise and then threw it away and married non-Jews. Jesus teaches to love beyond cultural barrier, to love beyond social norms, and to love beyond our own justifications.
But then he hits home. "Go and Do Likewise." Four words that shake the foundations of the Jewish world! (and our world too?) Four words that would make the lawyer distinct from the rest of the world. (And make us distinct too?) Four words that make "Orthodoxy" (Right Belief) into "Orthopraxy" (Right Practice)
Too many times we try to pour information into the people we lead and teach. That if they know the Bible more, or know of God more, or know of the cultural setting of the Bible more, that they will follow Christ more. Yet Jesus has challenged this (and us?)...Forget Information...Embrace Transformation. Don't just hear the words that sum up the Law...Go and Do Likewise!
I will close with a quote from Mark Batterson, "Most of us are educated far beyond our level of obedience. We don't need another sermon. We don't need another service..." We need to go and do likewise!
May you be a catalyst to your people engaging in meaningful ministry to the world. And may you assist in the making of disciples for the transformation of the world!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Spring
I'm becoming a pansy...or a petunia...or something else I've yet to learn the name of.
Our new place has been bursting with color and for the first time ever, I'm actually attentive to it. We had approximately 3 bajillion daffodils, some that drooped, some that had orange centers, some that were yellow. Our Magnolia Tree blossomed and it was really...umm. pretty?...ok I can come up with something more manly...The tree was as perfect as a truck hauling 2 tons of freight with hemi power. However, the Magnolia tree is right next to my basketball hoop and that tree is the messiest thing I've ever seen. It dumped its outer casings when it blossomed then within two weeks, the blossoms all fell off.
We've got 6 or 7 lilac bushes that are huge and spell better than a car deodorizing pine tree. We've got some sort of giant red blooming bush that looks like fire...If I were to name it, I'd call it a burning bush.
Add tulips to the mix and this place is just bursting with color.
I am going to monitor my thumb over the next few days and make sure it doesn't turn green.
What's your favorite Spring bloom? I'm leanin' towards the Lilacs...I can be 20 yards from one of those and still catch a whiff.
*This post is nominated as the most de-man-izing post in the history of Mustard. Sigh....tomorrow...I will post about shooting helpless animals.
Our new place has been bursting with color and for the first time ever, I'm actually attentive to it. We had approximately 3 bajillion daffodils, some that drooped, some that had orange centers, some that were yellow. Our Magnolia Tree blossomed and it was really...umm. pretty?...ok I can come up with something more manly...The tree was as perfect as a truck hauling 2 tons of freight with hemi power. However, the Magnolia tree is right next to my basketball hoop and that tree is the messiest thing I've ever seen. It dumped its outer casings when it blossomed then within two weeks, the blossoms all fell off.
We've got 6 or 7 lilac bushes that are huge and spell better than a car deodorizing pine tree. We've got some sort of giant red blooming bush that looks like fire...If I were to name it, I'd call it a burning bush.
Add tulips to the mix and this place is just bursting with color.
I am going to monitor my thumb over the next few days and make sure it doesn't turn green.
What's your favorite Spring bloom? I'm leanin' towards the Lilacs...I can be 20 yards from one of those and still catch a whiff.
*This post is nominated as the most de-man-izing post in the history of Mustard. Sigh....tomorrow...I will post about shooting helpless animals.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Kenya
Going into this weekend we were a few thousand dollars short for our Kenya Mission Trip.
We had one fundraiser left...a softball tournament...for this weekend...Projecting to make the rest of our funding.
Then half the teams cancelled. So we cancelled the event.
Then it rained anyways, which made the cancellation not feel as bad.
Then we mulched our friends (Scott and Angie...avid members of my blog readership...and Akron Zips Fans...makes 'em weird, I know) yard for a donation to the trip. Then we found out that a Sunday School Class at Church wants to donate to the trip. Then, my mom comes along and offers a deal to cover the rest of the expenses for the trip in exchange for some yardwork and painting.
We went into the weekend expecting to fundraise the rest of the trip through softball...We came out of the weekend meeting our goals. Kenya here we come! Gonna make our full flight payments tomorrow!
We had one fundraiser left...a softball tournament...for this weekend...Projecting to make the rest of our funding.
Then half the teams cancelled. So we cancelled the event.
Then it rained anyways, which made the cancellation not feel as bad.
Then we mulched our friends (Scott and Angie...avid members of my blog readership...and Akron Zips Fans...makes 'em weird, I know) yard for a donation to the trip. Then we found out that a Sunday School Class at Church wants to donate to the trip. Then, my mom comes along and offers a deal to cover the rest of the expenses for the trip in exchange for some yardwork and painting.
We went into the weekend expecting to fundraise the rest of the trip through softball...We came out of the weekend meeting our goals. Kenya here we come! Gonna make our full flight payments tomorrow!
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