Hey all, here's Tom's Address in Prison! Write him and pack it in a metered envelope (no stamps). Keep contents simple, and if you send pics, make them printouts on copy paper. That way they won't just trash your letter.
Thomas Jewell Jr.
Fulton county Detention Center
2010 South 7th Street
Hickman, KY 42050
pray for Tom daily... pray for him to accomplish God's work there as God accomplishes His work in Tom, there.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Home again
It's early morning and i'm just getting the kids down for bed... I hope they sleep really long, tomorrow. I have 6am Bible Study with the guys, too... I think I'll be alone, though. Just called JP and he's just gotten off work. So I'll get some shuteye, head to the Sidewinder (moving the location) and crack my big old Jerusalem Bible for some time in the Word.
Took the German boys (Tim and Paul) to Arkanum, north of dayton, last night. Had an incredible time with some folks up there, playing guitar. We sat around and these guys were really good and I could just fade into it and play... I really want to say thanks to all who helped to get us the Black Beauty...
This evening, from 8 to 1130, I took t&P to the Florence Skatepark to show them about skating in America. Younger folk mocked me as I rode the Dogtown Pinstripe Longboard I picked up in DE. I loved it... Thing goes so smoothly! Such fun. Unreasonable. Ungodly! Thank you, God!
Then we went to the airport to try to reclaim Paul's lost bag. Day seven lost. Gonna get a form to fill out for reimbursement from the airline.
I'm really learning a lot of german.
Almost finished a letter to Tom, in prison, today. i miss tom so much. I miss tom so much.
Took the German boys (Tim and Paul) to Arkanum, north of dayton, last night. Had an incredible time with some folks up there, playing guitar. We sat around and these guys were really good and I could just fade into it and play... I really want to say thanks to all who helped to get us the Black Beauty...
This evening, from 8 to 1130, I took t&P to the Florence Skatepark to show them about skating in America. Younger folk mocked me as I rode the Dogtown Pinstripe Longboard I picked up in DE. I loved it... Thing goes so smoothly! Such fun. Unreasonable. Ungodly! Thank you, God!
Then we went to the airport to try to reclaim Paul's lost bag. Day seven lost. Gonna get a form to fill out for reimbursement from the airline.
I'm really learning a lot of german.
Almost finished a letter to Tom, in prison, today. i miss tom so much. I miss tom so much.
Prayer Language: Response to a comment
In 1 Cor. 14, i do find the apostle saying, "I wish you all spoke in tongues..." in that chapter. This is surely because it builds up the person who does it. Let's all be hungry for that kind of thing!
I'm not so sure about the part where you say, "paul says everyone is definitely NOT supposed to have it."
I see that not everyone has it.
I read that not all do it.
I hear Paul desiring it for all.
I recognize that there are greater gifts.
But there doesn't seem to be a major problem with everyone having it.
Now, everyone going BERZERK with ecstatic stuff in a meeting of the church, that's not okay by the Scriptures. Definitely not.
but what about the use of this spiritual blessing in song, during the worship time of the church? I understand that people aren't to clash with each other in the use of this gift. I understand that we're not to crowd out the clear, upbuilding delivery of the prophetic word with ostentatious glossalalia... but what about the "Spirit Songs" of Col. 3:16 and 1 Cor. 14?
I'm not afraid of disagreement, division, or trouble in these things. Let's let down our guards and really talk about it. I'll be bold to say that it would do all our hearts a lot of good to have prayer languages. This is clear in scriptures! It'd also bless the socks off men and angels alike for us to really throw down intimacy with the Lord in our worship times...
These are things that aren't FORCED on you by hype, but must be taught and encouraged. Honestly, they're good things... there's so much good news here for all. God has blessings in store...
Focus on the cross. Jesus died for you. Live for him. This stuff comes in His perfect timing, as we lay our lives down in submission to Him...
Know this: we're a long way from disorder in our meetings. we're safe here to experiment in spiritual giftings. Here, we can seek the Lord together, and learn how to pray for one another, use tongues, listen for words of prophecy, heal, all the stuff of the Bible...
So be bold to lay hold of Jesus today. He has loved you so much. Don't let go of Him. He'll never let go of you. He loves you. He really does!
I'm not so sure about the part where you say, "paul says everyone is definitely NOT supposed to have it."
I see that not everyone has it.
I read that not all do it.
I hear Paul desiring it for all.
I recognize that there are greater gifts.
But there doesn't seem to be a major problem with everyone having it.
Now, everyone going BERZERK with ecstatic stuff in a meeting of the church, that's not okay by the Scriptures. Definitely not.
but what about the use of this spiritual blessing in song, during the worship time of the church? I understand that people aren't to clash with each other in the use of this gift. I understand that we're not to crowd out the clear, upbuilding delivery of the prophetic word with ostentatious glossalalia... but what about the "Spirit Songs" of Col. 3:16 and 1 Cor. 14?
I'm not afraid of disagreement, division, or trouble in these things. Let's let down our guards and really talk about it. I'll be bold to say that it would do all our hearts a lot of good to have prayer languages. This is clear in scriptures! It'd also bless the socks off men and angels alike for us to really throw down intimacy with the Lord in our worship times...
These are things that aren't FORCED on you by hype, but must be taught and encouraged. Honestly, they're good things... there's so much good news here for all. God has blessings in store...
Focus on the cross. Jesus died for you. Live for him. This stuff comes in His perfect timing, as we lay our lives down in submission to Him...
Know this: we're a long way from disorder in our meetings. we're safe here to experiment in spiritual giftings. Here, we can seek the Lord together, and learn how to pray for one another, use tongues, listen for words of prophecy, heal, all the stuff of the Bible...
So be bold to lay hold of Jesus today. He has loved you so much. Don't let go of Him. He'll never let go of you. He loves you. He really does!
JP's Comment to last post
HEY EVERYBODY, JP'S COMMENT IS WORTH BRINGING TO THE TOP OF THE PILE. I HOPE YOU ALL REPLY AND COMMENT AND THINK ON ALL THIS STUFF A LOT...
John said...
totally. here's the thing with praying in tongues: i simply CANNOT find any place in the bible that describes EVERYONE as having it! in fact, i find quite the opposite: paul says everyone is definitely NOT supposed to have it, or else we would be puffed up with pride, not depend on anyone (let alone JESUS!), and on top of it all look really goofy to the world. this past week it was argued that when paul gives his little set of rhetorical questions about spiritual gifts, what he MEANS is that tongues shouldn't be used by everyone in the public sphere...right...so then why didn't paul just SAY that? he very specifically describes public worship in other places; if that's what he meant, don't you think he would have SAID that?
gifts are meant to build up, to love, to serve. they are used to help those in need (ironically that's ALL of us!) and often unconsciously they help the individual. how? they show us that no one person has ALL the gifts, no one really can do it on his/her own. i've seen this really clearly in my life lately. it's neither healthy to pretend like we've got every spiritual gift, nor to pretend like we don't have any. God simply doesn't judge the way we do...(there's hope for me yet!!) we judge in terms of the result, the bottom line; he judges the heart. that's how thieves, whores, and swindlers always seemed to catch the eye of Jesus...and the self-righteous always caught the sharp edge of his tongue.
yeah man, let's use ALL our gifts, small or great, flashy or modest, to build up the body. let's encourage one another to lay down our pride or fear and let God use the individual HE made; not the one we think we're supposed to be or the one the world says we should be. embrace diversity...rejoice in the wide spectrum of color, talent, and creativity the Lord has used in his creation, especially his children. keep in mind...lew mentioned (paul did first) only using our gifts to BUILD UP. who? the body. not our own egos (that's hittin me now) or our own pride. my gifts aren't meant for me. they're meant for you. and it goes full circle. i go last, you go in front of me, and Jesus is at the head. let's go there.
10:01 AM
John said...
totally. here's the thing with praying in tongues: i simply CANNOT find any place in the bible that describes EVERYONE as having it! in fact, i find quite the opposite: paul says everyone is definitely NOT supposed to have it, or else we would be puffed up with pride, not depend on anyone (let alone JESUS!), and on top of it all look really goofy to the world. this past week it was argued that when paul gives his little set of rhetorical questions about spiritual gifts, what he MEANS is that tongues shouldn't be used by everyone in the public sphere...right...so then why didn't paul just SAY that? he very specifically describes public worship in other places; if that's what he meant, don't you think he would have SAID that?
gifts are meant to build up, to love, to serve. they are used to help those in need (ironically that's ALL of us!) and often unconsciously they help the individual. how? they show us that no one person has ALL the gifts, no one really can do it on his/her own. i've seen this really clearly in my life lately. it's neither healthy to pretend like we've got every spiritual gift, nor to pretend like we don't have any. God simply doesn't judge the way we do...(there's hope for me yet!!) we judge in terms of the result, the bottom line; he judges the heart. that's how thieves, whores, and swindlers always seemed to catch the eye of Jesus...and the self-righteous always caught the sharp edge of his tongue.
yeah man, let's use ALL our gifts, small or great, flashy or modest, to build up the body. let's encourage one another to lay down our pride or fear and let God use the individual HE made; not the one we think we're supposed to be or the one the world says we should be. embrace diversity...rejoice in the wide spectrum of color, talent, and creativity the Lord has used in his creation, especially his children. keep in mind...lew mentioned (paul did first) only using our gifts to BUILD UP. who? the body. not our own egos (that's hittin me now) or our own pride. my gifts aren't meant for me. they're meant for you. and it goes full circle. i go last, you go in front of me, and Jesus is at the head. let's go there.
10:01 AM
more on prayer language
the comments on the last post were really helpful in framing some thoughts of agreement and response... Yes, we all have different parts in the Body, and different communities may frame up application of different gifts in different ways, depending on the gifts of administration, helps, teaching, etc, among them... That's wonderful.
In our meetings, there has been ample opportunity for the use of supernatual gifts. We have a format, a context, a history that lends itself easily to the use of spiritual gifts WITHIN the boundaries of Love...
When someone has a word of prophecy, it is in order for them to share it, for us to look at scripture around it, and for the community's leaders/elders to test it and implement actions around the message...
You see, as far as our meeting style is concerned, we've taken 1 Cor. 14:26 as a cornerstone for our philosophy of ministry... "So, my dear brothers, what conclusion is to be drawn? At all your meetings let everyone be ready with a psalm or a sermon or a revelation, or ready ot use his gift of tongues or to give an interpretation; but it must always be for the common good." The Common Good is the bottom line. We are christians who prepare ourselves to share in the meeting, together... Our meetings are simple: prepare a meal, eat it, clean up, sing, pray, share in the Word and the gifts...
Around such meetings is rising a culture of proximity: people moving into the neighborhood to be near each other.
From such love rises a sense of mission: people moving toward the lowly/poor in their sphere of influence, as they see themselves in such people... as they recognize Jesus in such people...
from such life rise the behaviors of love, otherwise known as holiness... (Gal. 3:15) "...be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in WORKS OF LOVE, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself."
So, "the common good", in avoidance of "self-indulgence", will keep us safe from hurting each other with our gifts. Isn't that the danger when the Lord grants power to us? We can end up using our powers to subjugate each other, to elevate ourselves! This is poisonous and violent in nature. But we were intended to use our powers for good (or for awesome)! That is realized when our hearts intend "the common good", and to "serve one another".
Let's guard against the desire to stake our claim in the meetings of the faithful! Be afraid! Don't let yourself glory in God using you! Whether it's one thing, or another, always set apart christ as Lord in your heart. Never take assurance or self-stock in whether or not God uses you! There are many who are used of God who will never see the kingdom.
Look at mat 7: there're those who prophesy, do miracles, cast out demons--people who set people free! Who will never enter into rest!
Look at luke 10:17-20: the real reason to rejoice in this world is because it's not our home and none of it holds any power over us, since we're HIS!!!
So, as we exercise spiritual gifts, let's remember Jesus in mat.6, where he warns us to avoid making a show, or playing to a crowd. Let's "eschew" (push away from us) all "ostentation" (showiness) in the use of any of the gifts the Lord gives us.
Don't forget to encourage each other daily to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, clinging to Jesus in our hearts, leaning on Him in each other! There are too many who live like the Church is a club.
In our meetings, there has been ample opportunity for the use of supernatual gifts. We have a format, a context, a history that lends itself easily to the use of spiritual gifts WITHIN the boundaries of Love...
When someone has a word of prophecy, it is in order for them to share it, for us to look at scripture around it, and for the community's leaders/elders to test it and implement actions around the message...
You see, as far as our meeting style is concerned, we've taken 1 Cor. 14:26 as a cornerstone for our philosophy of ministry... "So, my dear brothers, what conclusion is to be drawn? At all your meetings let everyone be ready with a psalm or a sermon or a revelation, or ready ot use his gift of tongues or to give an interpretation; but it must always be for the common good." The Common Good is the bottom line. We are christians who prepare ourselves to share in the meeting, together... Our meetings are simple: prepare a meal, eat it, clean up, sing, pray, share in the Word and the gifts...
Around such meetings is rising a culture of proximity: people moving into the neighborhood to be near each other.
From such love rises a sense of mission: people moving toward the lowly/poor in their sphere of influence, as they see themselves in such people... as they recognize Jesus in such people...
from such life rise the behaviors of love, otherwise known as holiness... (Gal. 3:15) "...be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in WORKS OF LOVE, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself."
So, "the common good", in avoidance of "self-indulgence", will keep us safe from hurting each other with our gifts. Isn't that the danger when the Lord grants power to us? We can end up using our powers to subjugate each other, to elevate ourselves! This is poisonous and violent in nature. But we were intended to use our powers for good (or for awesome)! That is realized when our hearts intend "the common good", and to "serve one another".
Let's guard against the desire to stake our claim in the meetings of the faithful! Be afraid! Don't let yourself glory in God using you! Whether it's one thing, or another, always set apart christ as Lord in your heart. Never take assurance or self-stock in whether or not God uses you! There are many who are used of God who will never see the kingdom.
Look at mat 7: there're those who prophesy, do miracles, cast out demons--people who set people free! Who will never enter into rest!
Look at luke 10:17-20: the real reason to rejoice in this world is because it's not our home and none of it holds any power over us, since we're HIS!!!
So, as we exercise spiritual gifts, let's remember Jesus in mat.6, where he warns us to avoid making a show, or playing to a crowd. Let's "eschew" (push away from us) all "ostentation" (showiness) in the use of any of the gifts the Lord gives us.
Don't forget to encourage each other daily to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, clinging to Jesus in our hearts, leaning on Him in each other! There are too many who live like the Church is a club.
6AM COFFEE TIME, FRIDAYS
I'm writing this post to talk about our weekly 6am Bible Study.
In the last month I've failed to make it with shocking regularity. I think I have made 3 of the last 8. Something like that...
I made an agreement with one of our guys and I'd like to refresh it on a broader scale:
Since I've been having a lot of trouble getting to Bible Study (allmyfaultsosorry), would you hold me accountable and shoot me a call those mornings if you wonder (and even if you dont)? All you guys can!
I'm in a season right now where one week i'm on a trip to Philly, one week to VA, one week to NY, last night up above Dayton till midnight... The exchange student placement season is GRUELING... Judy is in San Francisco, I have two German Students sheltering with us... And I have a three-year-old and an 11-yr. old to look after the whole time, except Mon, Tues, and Thurs. from 10am to 2pm. So I have a lot more trouble getting up and remembering to set my alarm correctly...
I'm not attempting to make an excuse, though you may find material there to help you understand some "bigger picture" issues as to why I've been failing so badly in regard to this. I'm asking for help... So JP, Smitty, Zach, Justin, Chris, can you guys just shoot a call? It'd work, but none of you's tried it yet, even once! Come on, man! Help a brother out. Sometimes we need each others' help to be faithful...
In the last month I've failed to make it with shocking regularity. I think I have made 3 of the last 8. Something like that...
I made an agreement with one of our guys and I'd like to refresh it on a broader scale:
Since I've been having a lot of trouble getting to Bible Study (allmyfaultsosorry), would you hold me accountable and shoot me a call those mornings if you wonder (and even if you dont)? All you guys can!
I'm in a season right now where one week i'm on a trip to Philly, one week to VA, one week to NY, last night up above Dayton till midnight... The exchange student placement season is GRUELING... Judy is in San Francisco, I have two German Students sheltering with us... And I have a three-year-old and an 11-yr. old to look after the whole time, except Mon, Tues, and Thurs. from 10am to 2pm. So I have a lot more trouble getting up and remembering to set my alarm correctly...
I'm not attempting to make an excuse, though you may find material there to help you understand some "bigger picture" issues as to why I've been failing so badly in regard to this. I'm asking for help... So JP, Smitty, Zach, Justin, Chris, can you guys just shoot a call? It'd work, but none of you's tried it yet, even once! Come on, man! Help a brother out. Sometimes we need each others' help to be faithful...
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Want to respond to JJS publicly:
thanks for the comment! I love feedback. It's good to know you're out there. More the merrier.
JJS Wrote in his comment to my last post:
1 Comments:
Justin said...
The war...
What's left of it.
Those who seek to kill all the Jews and all the "westerners."
I guess no one understands this. They will not stop until they are dead or we are all dead. They have made that totally clear. So I guess it's more holy to love one than that other?
I am better blessed to love a terriorist by opposing the war and the President; and risking the old man next door to death in an atomic flash?
Good, as this excuses all of us from the horror of war.
Whom shall I love?
-jjs
10:33 AM
Good questions. I hear a pained heart. I'm sorry for all the pain we're all experiencing in light of 9/11 and the war and the whole world. I don't oppose our president, and I'm not interested in politics in specific. In general, today, I feel deceived and let down.
as for loving a terrorist: no, not by opposing the war and the president. that's not it.
by serving the Truth, courageously, uncompromisingly, no matter what the cost. The Truth will lead us down, beneath the symptoms of these things, into the roots of the deepest human problems. Instead of fighting the branches, we can bring the fight to the root.
as for "they will not stop until they are dead, or we are all dead", we're already dead as long as we see this life as something to cling to... as long as we have in mind the interests of men, not of God...
So, I do guess it's more holy to love our enemies, reaching out to them here, in love. Going to their countries and sharing in their trouble. Learning their perspective, sharing the Gospel of Christ, weeping their tears with them... It's more holy to love than to hate... To give mercy than to withhold affection... To share hospitality than to hold count of offenses...
Loving those who love us, who don't threaten us, who share our view of things is simple and natural. There's nothing in this that's beyond the unregenerate life...
Loving those who hate us, judge us, despise us for our skin, our flag, our religion... This is to love! To cry for their dead children. To pray for their leaders. To crave Kingdom Come FOR THEM... To spend ourselves in prayer and work for their healing!
This is not to bomb an old man. This is not to hate my neighbor. This isn't to start a nuclear war. Our government has given the option of CO as a viable option for some. This is in honor of law, order, the president, and the American Way. This isn't rebellion. It's done in submission, according to the way established in law. The founders of this law were wise, since there are those for whom participation in military service is a profound moral sin, inlight of other vocation.
Zach is responding to a vocation to be a peace-maker. I support him fully, convinced that he will serve Christ to all of our betterment in that call...
This isn't anything like the exposure of an old man to death in an atomic flash.
Now, there's possiblity for debate, however, on the most faithful, effective, creative ways to safeguard the safety of an old man next door. As for that, Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11. Their threat to Israel was not what it was made out to be. A war with them just isn't the most effective... It just didn't make sense! Not an 80billion dollar war. Not a 300 billion dollar war...
I think we were far from our capacity for creative solutions in deciding war. I think we were thinking with our fears and loathing, not with the good of the world, or our neighbors, in mind.
Time will tell what our war in Iraq means for us. In my opinion, it's a distraction from the best options...
What are the criteria for a "just war"? How many of them did our action in Iraq meet? I don't know. I'm just disappointed to see such high cost in human lives committed to such a rabbit trail...
And I respect Zach's lawful dissent and honorable handling of his course. I think we all should, even if we don't agree with his conclusions. We're all trying to walk out Love for Christ here.
Thanks for your comment here, JJS. I'm glad you come around! See ya friday!
thanks for the comment! I love feedback. It's good to know you're out there. More the merrier.
JJS Wrote in his comment to my last post:
1 Comments:
Justin said...
The war...
What's left of it.
Those who seek to kill all the Jews and all the "westerners."
I guess no one understands this. They will not stop until they are dead or we are all dead. They have made that totally clear. So I guess it's more holy to love one than that other?
I am better blessed to love a terriorist by opposing the war and the President; and risking the old man next door to death in an atomic flash?
Good, as this excuses all of us from the horror of war.
Whom shall I love?
-jjs
10:33 AM
Good questions. I hear a pained heart. I'm sorry for all the pain we're all experiencing in light of 9/11 and the war and the whole world. I don't oppose our president, and I'm not interested in politics in specific. In general, today, I feel deceived and let down.
as for loving a terrorist: no, not by opposing the war and the president. that's not it.
by serving the Truth, courageously, uncompromisingly, no matter what the cost. The Truth will lead us down, beneath the symptoms of these things, into the roots of the deepest human problems. Instead of fighting the branches, we can bring the fight to the root.
as for "they will not stop until they are dead, or we are all dead", we're already dead as long as we see this life as something to cling to... as long as we have in mind the interests of men, not of God...
So, I do guess it's more holy to love our enemies, reaching out to them here, in love. Going to their countries and sharing in their trouble. Learning their perspective, sharing the Gospel of Christ, weeping their tears with them... It's more holy to love than to hate... To give mercy than to withhold affection... To share hospitality than to hold count of offenses...
Loving those who love us, who don't threaten us, who share our view of things is simple and natural. There's nothing in this that's beyond the unregenerate life...
Loving those who hate us, judge us, despise us for our skin, our flag, our religion... This is to love! To cry for their dead children. To pray for their leaders. To crave Kingdom Come FOR THEM... To spend ourselves in prayer and work for their healing!
This is not to bomb an old man. This is not to hate my neighbor. This isn't to start a nuclear war. Our government has given the option of CO as a viable option for some. This is in honor of law, order, the president, and the American Way. This isn't rebellion. It's done in submission, according to the way established in law. The founders of this law were wise, since there are those for whom participation in military service is a profound moral sin, inlight of other vocation.
Zach is responding to a vocation to be a peace-maker. I support him fully, convinced that he will serve Christ to all of our betterment in that call...
This isn't anything like the exposure of an old man to death in an atomic flash.
Now, there's possiblity for debate, however, on the most faithful, effective, creative ways to safeguard the safety of an old man next door. As for that, Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11. Their threat to Israel was not what it was made out to be. A war with them just isn't the most effective... It just didn't make sense! Not an 80billion dollar war. Not a 300 billion dollar war...
I think we were far from our capacity for creative solutions in deciding war. I think we were thinking with our fears and loathing, not with the good of the world, or our neighbors, in mind.
Time will tell what our war in Iraq means for us. In my opinion, it's a distraction from the best options...
What are the criteria for a "just war"? How many of them did our action in Iraq meet? I don't know. I'm just disappointed to see such high cost in human lives committed to such a rabbit trail...
And I respect Zach's lawful dissent and honorable handling of his course. I think we all should, even if we don't agree with his conclusions. We're all trying to walk out Love for Christ here.
Thanks for your comment here, JJS. I'm glad you come around! See ya friday!
Radical
Did you know that the word "radical" comes from the word "root" in some other language? Problly latin. What does that say about people we're calling "radicals". Are they bettter connected to the root? the Root of Jesse?
Aaron Independence Hall
"The great german rescue from Philly" continues to be a source of great memories for us. it was a three day trip to snatch Katy from the Jaws of Difficulty (Lia, too). they were so wassted by their experience there that we HAD to hit Rehoboth beach, where I visited John Wallis adn bought my Dogtown longboard!
It made the world smaller to me to do that trip. I feel connected to my old friend who moved away. I finished an English and culture course with Saida and Malika, on the trip. I enjoyed my boys, got my feet wet, gave hospitality to foreigners, skated like 3 miles with Seth on my back, saw night surf, watched all of JW's 15 kids frolic in the sand and surf... It was WONDERFUL! thank ya lord!
It made the world smaller to me to do that trip. I feel connected to my old friend who moved away. I finished an English and culture course with Saida and Malika, on the trip. I enjoyed my boys, got my feet wet, gave hospitality to foreigners, skated like 3 miles with Seth on my back, saw night surf, watched all of JW's 15 kids frolic in the sand and surf... It was WONDERFUL! thank ya lord!
Friday Morning bible Study
Hey all you Friday 6am Clifton Starbucks guys! that's right FRIDAY! Now we're on Friday. Last week was a no-show, but this week is on. Are you in? comment to rsvp! Let's tear it up!
Challenged?
So many christians are "challenged" to test God by just giving 10 percent of their money, every Sunday. Well, the Mosaic command of Repetitive Tithing (Abraham did it once, Jacob for a season) pales in comparison to the "challenge" to (Luke 9: 23) "...renounce [yourself] and take up [your] cross every day and follow..."
"For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyonw who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?"
Tithing is a "challenge" to your faith? You get up and talk about how you, "... just went out on faith and did it. And look! It works!" You cite financial blessings of plenty as the proof! well Jesus has a real challenge for you: 100%!!!!!!!!!! find a heart for the poor. Love Jesus! Lose your stuff. Crash it on the rocks of your desire to REALLY EXPERIENCE Jesus...
It's fine that you participate in programs to do something about the problem of poverty. But Jesus is calling you to FRIENDSHIP WITH... neighborhood with...
It would cause a revolution in our society if the followers of Jesus would begin to just learn the names and stories of people who live around them, not for entertainment, but for prayer...
...and have you noticed that the POOR are favored? That it's about dropping our status DOWNWARD, from the heart, outward... Joel says, "rend your hearts and not your garments..." Matthew 25 leaves us a clear call. Inescapable.
In 2 Cor.8:9 it says, "Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to makke you rich out of his poverty."
We are called to follow that example. Let's stop trying to help the poor out of our affluence! Let's do what Jesus did. The Law reached down and offered a ladder to us that we could never climb. But the grace and truth that came through Christ... He got UNDER us and lifted us, like a stretcher! We were DEAD! When we attempt to serve Jesus by our "Largess", that is, big programs that treat the big picture, we almost invariably compromise our call to really LIVE with them! We visit them that way, spending to stop the problem. But love gets into the neighborhood and bleeds along with. Not for the faint of heart.
"For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyonw who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?"
Tithing is a "challenge" to your faith? You get up and talk about how you, "... just went out on faith and did it. And look! It works!" You cite financial blessings of plenty as the proof! well Jesus has a real challenge for you: 100%!!!!!!!!!! find a heart for the poor. Love Jesus! Lose your stuff. Crash it on the rocks of your desire to REALLY EXPERIENCE Jesus...
It's fine that you participate in programs to do something about the problem of poverty. But Jesus is calling you to FRIENDSHIP WITH... neighborhood with...
It would cause a revolution in our society if the followers of Jesus would begin to just learn the names and stories of people who live around them, not for entertainment, but for prayer...
...and have you noticed that the POOR are favored? That it's about dropping our status DOWNWARD, from the heart, outward... Joel says, "rend your hearts and not your garments..." Matthew 25 leaves us a clear call. Inescapable.
In 2 Cor.8:9 it says, "Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to makke you rich out of his poverty."
We are called to follow that example. Let's stop trying to help the poor out of our affluence! Let's do what Jesus did. The Law reached down and offered a ladder to us that we could never climb. But the grace and truth that came through Christ... He got UNDER us and lifted us, like a stretcher! We were DEAD! When we attempt to serve Jesus by our "Largess", that is, big programs that treat the big picture, we almost invariably compromise our call to really LIVE with them! We visit them that way, spending to stop the problem. But love gets into the neighborhood and bleeds along with. Not for the faint of heart.
I think of the bullets.
I think of the bullets.
Bullets scare me less than living cold to Jesus. Matthew 25 doesn't leave us any wiggle room.
If you love Jesus you'll (Romans 12:16) "Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friens with the poor. do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied."
yes, some bullets flying around are less dangerous to me than the slumber of complacency. Bullets will send me to heaven, or fit me for it through trials of infirmity. Bullets would leave my sons a legacy of sacrifice and risk for the King, who risked all glady to sacrifice everything he had, everything he was. He did it to call us to similar heroics! I'm not shy to say it, God is looking for us to be heroic and leave complacency behind.
Bullets scare me less than living cold to Jesus. Matthew 25 doesn't leave us any wiggle room.
If you love Jesus you'll (Romans 12:16) "Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friens with the poor. do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied."
yes, some bullets flying around are less dangerous to me than the slumber of complacency. Bullets will send me to heaven, or fit me for it through trials of infirmity. Bullets would leave my sons a legacy of sacrifice and risk for the King, who risked all glady to sacrifice everything he had, everything he was. He did it to call us to similar heroics! I'm not shy to say it, God is looking for us to be heroic and leave complacency behind.
New Prayer Gathering
At six am on Mondays and Wednesdays, there's an opportunity for leaders of ministries in Northside/Cincinnati to meet at the Sidewinder Cafe, on Hamilton Ave...
This morning, I got up at 530am, jumped on the longboard and scooted down. gary and joanne from North Church were there. Gary works with City Cure, a big outreach to cincinnati. Very famous, city Cure... Joanne is an "urban missioner" with the Presbyterian Church... It's cool... Gary does Youth Ministry at North. Joanne, too. They are bringing in "interns" to work with ministries in the neighborhood. It's probable that their interns will join in our learning from Jesus, on the streets here...
Still processing a great ride last night, up and down Chase, at 11pmish... I love the way people are out. I know they're supposed to be up to no good, but they're just so "available". The guys who yelled out to me as I passed them on my board were likely to have been trying to just be friendly! I'm serious... I think racism and fear are ground deep into us who have been raised in affluence. don't we remember that we're all going to die, anyway? Why not try finding out that you weren't in so much danger as you thought.
This morning, I got up at 530am, jumped on the longboard and scooted down. gary and joanne from North Church were there. Gary works with City Cure, a big outreach to cincinnati. Very famous, city Cure... Joanne is an "urban missioner" with the Presbyterian Church... It's cool... Gary does Youth Ministry at North. Joanne, too. They are bringing in "interns" to work with ministries in the neighborhood. It's probable that their interns will join in our learning from Jesus, on the streets here...
Still processing a great ride last night, up and down Chase, at 11pmish... I love the way people are out. I know they're supposed to be up to no good, but they're just so "available". The guys who yelled out to me as I passed them on my board were likely to have been trying to just be friendly! I'm serious... I think racism and fear are ground deep into us who have been raised in affluence. don't we remember that we're all going to die, anyway? Why not try finding out that you weren't in so much danger as you thought.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
prayer language
Last sunday night, we hit cult heights. In addition to moving into a dangerous urban area...
SIDE NOTE: to all parents of twenty-somethings who got withme to ask me, "is this a safe move for my son/daughter (moving into this neighborhood)":
I WAS SINCERE, BUT I WAS WRONG. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT AS SAFE AS I THOUGHT. I AM SORRY IF YOU FEEL BETRAYED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S ROUGHER, TWO BLOCKS DOWN, THAN I KNEW.
end of side note
so, in addition to moving people into the urban to live... in addition to sharing a strong message of unapologetic, "follow Jesus radically, no matter the cost"... in addition to sending two to Kenya, where the AIDS epidemic is ravaging... in addition to believing in the stuff of the New Testament accounts to be NORMATIVE for the Church...
...we now have a septigenarian who has forced the issue of speaking in tongues, prayer language, singing in the spirit, etc...
yep, for those who were not there, Mr. Weiss shared a burden to have more "singing in the spirit" in our meetings, last Sunday. he shared his opinion that this was a neglected practise: the use of glossalalia during musical interludes--speaking in tongues/singing in tongues, and making up songs of adoration in English, spontaneously... He shared that we should honor the Scripture in 1 Cor. 14 where it says, "I will sing with the understanding, I will sing with the Spirit..." by spontaneously worshipping God with tongues during our singing times...
Then he really crossed the line, eh? He says, "let's do it now." and so I fires up the old 2-chord medly background on that black beauty of mine and we all tries to sing our hearts out.
Was it wrong?
Was it forced?
Did you hate it?
Did you feel something?
I'd like you to know that this stuff is real. I'm afraid that some of you might feel offended by a slight to your sense of pride or dignity... You need that.
Others might feel afraid. Afraid that if you don't do this--speak and sing in tongues--that you're somehow less loved, less Christian, less anything.
That makes me really freak out. Look, if this experience shook you from confidence in the Lord's love for you, I'm really freaked out about that. You need to know, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS TO BELONG TO JESUS! Love the Lord your God and serve Him only! follow Him unreservedly!
More later...
SIDE NOTE: to all parents of twenty-somethings who got withme to ask me, "is this a safe move for my son/daughter (moving into this neighborhood)":
I WAS SINCERE, BUT I WAS WRONG. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT AS SAFE AS I THOUGHT. I AM SORRY IF YOU FEEL BETRAYED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S ROUGHER, TWO BLOCKS DOWN, THAN I KNEW.
end of side note
so, in addition to moving people into the urban to live... in addition to sharing a strong message of unapologetic, "follow Jesus radically, no matter the cost"... in addition to sending two to Kenya, where the AIDS epidemic is ravaging... in addition to believing in the stuff of the New Testament accounts to be NORMATIVE for the Church...
...we now have a septigenarian who has forced the issue of speaking in tongues, prayer language, singing in the spirit, etc...
yep, for those who were not there, Mr. Weiss shared a burden to have more "singing in the spirit" in our meetings, last Sunday. he shared his opinion that this was a neglected practise: the use of glossalalia during musical interludes--speaking in tongues/singing in tongues, and making up songs of adoration in English, spontaneously... He shared that we should honor the Scripture in 1 Cor. 14 where it says, "I will sing with the understanding, I will sing with the Spirit..." by spontaneously worshipping God with tongues during our singing times...
Then he really crossed the line, eh? He says, "let's do it now." and so I fires up the old 2-chord medly background on that black beauty of mine and we all tries to sing our hearts out.
Was it wrong?
Was it forced?
Did you hate it?
Did you feel something?
I'd like you to know that this stuff is real. I'm afraid that some of you might feel offended by a slight to your sense of pride or dignity... You need that.
Others might feel afraid. Afraid that if you don't do this--speak and sing in tongues--that you're somehow less loved, less Christian, less anything.
That makes me really freak out. Look, if this experience shook you from confidence in the Lord's love for you, I'm really freaked out about that. You need to know, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS TO BELONG TO JESUS! Love the Lord your God and serve Him only! follow Him unreservedly!
More later...
Wi Fi
The guys come over and use the Wi Fi.
It really helps my life. Seeing them is a daily reminder that I belong to Jesus. That I serve him, overseeing souls and teaching the Word in the World...
They can just get a bit of the signal across the street, but to really get it to work well, they have to come over, sit at the table, or in the meeting room, and enjoy AC while they work.
This has led to a lot of encouraging discussions. In fact, our lives are getting really impacted, honed, sharpened... our minds, our hearts, our spirits... you never know what we'll get into!! It's been really exciting! At the same time, everyone shows a wonderful restraint, respecting when someone just HAS to work, and whatnot...
This was what I saw when we were praying into a house, and how to share it...
So...
there's all this talk about getting a "repeater" to boost the signal, so the other house gets signal just as well... bout a hundred dollars as far as I know.
yep, that's us. that's how we "improve" our situation... I wonder what the addition of the repeater will cost us, beyond 100 dollars out of dangerous hands...
It really helps my life. Seeing them is a daily reminder that I belong to Jesus. That I serve him, overseeing souls and teaching the Word in the World...
They can just get a bit of the signal across the street, but to really get it to work well, they have to come over, sit at the table, or in the meeting room, and enjoy AC while they work.
This has led to a lot of encouraging discussions. In fact, our lives are getting really impacted, honed, sharpened... our minds, our hearts, our spirits... you never know what we'll get into!! It's been really exciting! At the same time, everyone shows a wonderful restraint, respecting when someone just HAS to work, and whatnot...
This was what I saw when we were praying into a house, and how to share it...
So...
there's all this talk about getting a "repeater" to boost the signal, so the other house gets signal just as well... bout a hundred dollars as far as I know.
yep, that's us. that's how we "improve" our situation... I wonder what the addition of the repeater will cost us, beyond 100 dollars out of dangerous hands...
probably a cult
you know, in the last year... in the past few years, I've gotten several whiffs of "he's a cult leader" from the grapevine around the Cincinnati ministry scene.
you know, that's more than ok with me. it's great! Didn't Jesus say, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you?"
But what fools these people are, really. They literally shake my hand and bob their head, saying, "man, you're cool...you're alright... good to see ya... bless you..." And go away telling their proteges not to get involved with us because we seem like a cult... Then I see them again and they're all, "Heeeey brother!" again...
Man, ask me some hard questions! Grill me on theology. Confront my fruit--do people in my ministry live lives of sin, unconfronted? Do we teach falsely? Do we speak against God somehow? Are we bitter in any way that's inappropriate in view of the heart of God for a backslidden church?
Not once. Not once has one of these guys ever asked me anything challenging about my life, doctrine, practise, teaching, family... nothing. I'm available, but nothing. They just stay busy working, try to ignore me, patronize me when they see me, and then slander me subtly, "you'll want to watch out for that. It sounds cultic..." then, "heeeey, Lew how's it going, brother?" Well, get to know me.
If i were a false teacher, If I did tell lies, if I were an elitist snob, if I did work contrary to the Word, would you be faithful to raise a call to the Body? No. You would just skulk around the edges of it, too. I'd go unconfronted. It wouldn't matter unless it touched "your territory"... Well if I am, you'd better stop me. Because Jesus will hold you accountable for letting me go unchallenged to my death. He'll hold you accountable for my death and the death of many others...
There's no integrity in it.
Hey, if someone leans over to you and tells you that someone might be bad, ask them why they think so. Do they have a real reason to slander? To judge? Have they learned, listened, and discerned something real? Do they know what they're talking about, or is it just slander...
Hold each other to this.
you know, that's more than ok with me. it's great! Didn't Jesus say, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you?"
But what fools these people are, really. They literally shake my hand and bob their head, saying, "man, you're cool...you're alright... good to see ya... bless you..." And go away telling their proteges not to get involved with us because we seem like a cult... Then I see them again and they're all, "Heeeey brother!" again...
Man, ask me some hard questions! Grill me on theology. Confront my fruit--do people in my ministry live lives of sin, unconfronted? Do we teach falsely? Do we speak against God somehow? Are we bitter in any way that's inappropriate in view of the heart of God for a backslidden church?
Not once. Not once has one of these guys ever asked me anything challenging about my life, doctrine, practise, teaching, family... nothing. I'm available, but nothing. They just stay busy working, try to ignore me, patronize me when they see me, and then slander me subtly, "you'll want to watch out for that. It sounds cultic..." then, "heeeey, Lew how's it going, brother?" Well, get to know me.
If i were a false teacher, If I did tell lies, if I were an elitist snob, if I did work contrary to the Word, would you be faithful to raise a call to the Body? No. You would just skulk around the edges of it, too. I'd go unconfronted. It wouldn't matter unless it touched "your territory"... Well if I am, you'd better stop me. Because Jesus will hold you accountable for letting me go unchallenged to my death. He'll hold you accountable for my death and the death of many others...
There's no integrity in it.
Hey, if someone leans over to you and tells you that someone might be bad, ask them why they think so. Do they have a real reason to slander? To judge? Have they learned, listened, and discerned something real? Do they know what they're talking about, or is it just slander...
Hold each other to this.
Posts at Lewminator, Zach Cornelius
Hey folks, check out the links for Lewminator and Zach Cornelius. that's where there are personal news items from the folks who live here... The whole GK concept isn't to found some organization, but to provide support for the coalition of christians... the coalescence of christians into service of Jesus in the world...
To help us shake free from the stuff that is holding us down and run the race.
To help us shake free from the stuff that is holding us down and run the race.
Corner guys and conscientious objectors
Went on a 10:45pm skate tonight down chase ave. Longboard. Bout twenty miles per hour, just cruisin... Two passes of this north end: about a half-mile distance, maybe less... got a water at the UDF. Got yelled at by the guys on the corner... These corner guys are supposed to be drug dealers. This summer, there have been muggings, robberies, shootings, beatings... All at these two corners...
Last night I was practicing the preached things Jesus taught, and I was walking with Zach and I offered my hand to the corner guys... they wouldn't shake... "sorry man, I don't shake"
then on the walk back the same guy got me while he was walking alone and apologized! He said he was going through a really hard time because his girl was PG and didn't want anything to do with him... I was honored that he would apologize to me, a "rich cracker" in the eyes of this neighborhood. Needless to say, it was a great time of Jesus hugging on me. It's easy to preach the Word to a guy when you're the first preacher who has met him on the street and loved him at risk...
I'm installed in this neighborhood, hoping to really see Jesus more clearly. He's in the corner guys. Mt.25
Zach is applying for conscientious objector status. That's really unpopular. When he asked his former pastor, whom he helped to found a young adults ministry (Zach was the right hand man, there), the guy Blasted him. something about war, masculinity, violence and christianity all being one big ball of... being the thing... or something.
I don't know what I'd do in Zach's shoes. He's really, truly the stuff of a Conscientious Objector (CO). He's had an extreme, even traumatic change of values and views in the last year, starting with exposure to the emergent/postmodern movement, continuing with the influence of JP, Matt, John Wallis, among others... It continued and intensified last winter when he went to visit The Simple Way and The Camden House. Now he's ruined for military service by the firm conviction that physical violence and human force aren't the path for his Christian witness.
If I were Zach, I'd be right where he is right now. I'd be him, darn it! There is no way I could judge him wrong today, from here. What's more, the more I am exposed to his journey, the more I question the things I've been told on the TV. I no longer feel unmoved...
I said the other day, "It's not that I'm changing my opinions, I'm just getting some!"
I am sad about (understatement) our state of war. We are losing so much in spending so much on war. We have lost the image of God's creativity in dealing with the world... We've been lied to. I believe that. And I believe that we are wasting the hour of opportunity. anti-personnel bombs. on a hospital. on more than one... laser guided? exportation of torture?
Oh yeah, that's just war. I know.
sad? No. Horrified.
And Hopeful. I'm more hopeful now than ever that the sleeping giant of the church can awake and shine light in this darkness... There are hundreds and thousands out there who will jump at the chance to answer the call of Jesus to sell all and follow. I'm hopeful that many will lose it all to follow him.
before the "all" is lost to upheavals that we cannot foresee...
But one thing's for sure: I'm proud of Zach. I'm proud of the God of Zach. He's the God who takes a spoiled, well-groomed, taught to conform, worldly guy, and undoes the devil's job. Now he's blowin' in the wind, ready to serve Jesus in risky circumstances.
Did you ever wonder if Jesus really meant it about the whole "sell all" thing? Well, when you find love, you find out. Love, people. find love and run with it. I truly look to the Father to show more people how to find love and run with it all. That's gonna free us of the shame of our affluence and complacency...
...i'd feel sad for someone who gave up all but didn't have love, though.
Last night I was practicing the preached things Jesus taught, and I was walking with Zach and I offered my hand to the corner guys... they wouldn't shake... "sorry man, I don't shake"
then on the walk back the same guy got me while he was walking alone and apologized! He said he was going through a really hard time because his girl was PG and didn't want anything to do with him... I was honored that he would apologize to me, a "rich cracker" in the eyes of this neighborhood. Needless to say, it was a great time of Jesus hugging on me. It's easy to preach the Word to a guy when you're the first preacher who has met him on the street and loved him at risk...
I'm installed in this neighborhood, hoping to really see Jesus more clearly. He's in the corner guys. Mt.25
Zach is applying for conscientious objector status. That's really unpopular. When he asked his former pastor, whom he helped to found a young adults ministry (Zach was the right hand man, there), the guy Blasted him. something about war, masculinity, violence and christianity all being one big ball of... being the thing... or something.
I don't know what I'd do in Zach's shoes. He's really, truly the stuff of a Conscientious Objector (CO). He's had an extreme, even traumatic change of values and views in the last year, starting with exposure to the emergent/postmodern movement, continuing with the influence of JP, Matt, John Wallis, among others... It continued and intensified last winter when he went to visit The Simple Way and The Camden House. Now he's ruined for military service by the firm conviction that physical violence and human force aren't the path for his Christian witness.
If I were Zach, I'd be right where he is right now. I'd be him, darn it! There is no way I could judge him wrong today, from here. What's more, the more I am exposed to his journey, the more I question the things I've been told on the TV. I no longer feel unmoved...
I said the other day, "It's not that I'm changing my opinions, I'm just getting some!"
I am sad about (understatement) our state of war. We are losing so much in spending so much on war. We have lost the image of God's creativity in dealing with the world... We've been lied to. I believe that. And I believe that we are wasting the hour of opportunity. anti-personnel bombs. on a hospital. on more than one... laser guided? exportation of torture?
Oh yeah, that's just war. I know.
sad? No. Horrified.
And Hopeful. I'm more hopeful now than ever that the sleeping giant of the church can awake and shine light in this darkness... There are hundreds and thousands out there who will jump at the chance to answer the call of Jesus to sell all and follow. I'm hopeful that many will lose it all to follow him.
before the "all" is lost to upheavals that we cannot foresee...
But one thing's for sure: I'm proud of Zach. I'm proud of the God of Zach. He's the God who takes a spoiled, well-groomed, taught to conform, worldly guy, and undoes the devil's job. Now he's blowin' in the wind, ready to serve Jesus in risky circumstances.
Did you ever wonder if Jesus really meant it about the whole "sell all" thing? Well, when you find love, you find out. Love, people. find love and run with it. I truly look to the Father to show more people how to find love and run with it all. That's gonna free us of the shame of our affluence and complacency...
...i'd feel sad for someone who gave up all but didn't have love, though.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
coffee, longboard, laptop
got up
read some more of my book (i'm trying to finish a piece of historical fiction).
SETH started watching batman, xiaolin showdown...
judy came in, layed down, rested... phone rings and she's off. I'll see her again a little around lunch, then after 11pm she'll be done for the day. Just a few more weeks and all the xchange students'll be placed and we'll have a more domestic tranquility... our tranquility now is more of a "HECTIC" tranquility... Seriously. House is messy, we're exhausted, but we're really happy with what we're in... placing students, teaching english, helping families find their students, schools their families...
anyway, Judy comes to me with the phone on one ear and mouths, "would you make me some coffee"... So I set up the wonderful coffee maker that Brother Bobby floated to our household last year (i really miss ya, Bobby), got the pot on, and got out my longboard.
I did about 25mph all the way to and from the UDF 4 blocks down. What a smooth ride! Almost effortless... I'm still a little sketchy on ollieing up things and all, but I'm really lovin' the board... I'll work hard to see if I can get some pics on the blog this week...
So, now i'm checkin' email and bloggin. I set seth up on an old broken laptop across from me, that was fun for him. Thanks for that old set of laptops, Phil. They were great for the couple of years I was using them... Now I'm on a 1999 apple g4 laptop. It's a 667meg processor (slow now is a gig or so)... I love the simplicity and durability of its design. Thin, light, made of metal, not plastic. Just pop off the keyboard to clean...
I hope you're well, readers. I hope you recognize all the goodness that God has embedded you in, no matter how difficult the surface of it may seem.
read some more of my book (i'm trying to finish a piece of historical fiction).
SETH started watching batman, xiaolin showdown...
judy came in, layed down, rested... phone rings and she's off. I'll see her again a little around lunch, then after 11pm she'll be done for the day. Just a few more weeks and all the xchange students'll be placed and we'll have a more domestic tranquility... our tranquility now is more of a "HECTIC" tranquility... Seriously. House is messy, we're exhausted, but we're really happy with what we're in... placing students, teaching english, helping families find their students, schools their families...
anyway, Judy comes to me with the phone on one ear and mouths, "would you make me some coffee"... So I set up the wonderful coffee maker that Brother Bobby floated to our household last year (i really miss ya, Bobby), got the pot on, and got out my longboard.
I did about 25mph all the way to and from the UDF 4 blocks down. What a smooth ride! Almost effortless... I'm still a little sketchy on ollieing up things and all, but I'm really lovin' the board... I'll work hard to see if I can get some pics on the blog this week...
So, now i'm checkin' email and bloggin. I set seth up on an old broken laptop across from me, that was fun for him. Thanks for that old set of laptops, Phil. They were great for the couple of years I was using them... Now I'm on a 1999 apple g4 laptop. It's a 667meg processor (slow now is a gig or so)... I love the simplicity and durability of its design. Thin, light, made of metal, not plastic. Just pop off the keyboard to clean...
I hope you're well, readers. I hope you recognize all the goodness that God has embedded you in, no matter how difficult the surface of it may seem.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
St. Bernard Mini-Park
these are the street 'stacles here. crowded and too close to the bowl, much fun can be had. the park's micro small and a lot of folks hate it, but it has its place in our world.
One big deal is that there's a whole bunch of grafitti on it, now. all the signs are defaced, the garbage cans are messed up... it's a mess. I wonder if the city won't 'doze it in a year or so if there's no improvement.
I'm contemplating getting under an effort to create a skate park here, in Northside. I'd like to push for the creation of a concrete park in a drainage area, somewhere. I'd go for classic, with large, loping lines, a simple, classic bowl with a pool-shape.
I'd love to start a non-profit skateshop to fund the extension of the park's phases, too. Something high quality, with a lot of old school/new school fusion. Best of both worlds-style...
And I'd love to equip a demo-team out of local hardcores, too. Get some of the guys to put Northside on the map. That way we'll "capture" skate culture and Northside will become central in a skattered scene.
Do I dare hope? All tell me I'm gonna waste time.
One big deal is that there's a whole bunch of grafitti on it, now. all the signs are defaced, the garbage cans are messed up... it's a mess. I wonder if the city won't 'doze it in a year or so if there's no improvement.
I'm contemplating getting under an effort to create a skate park here, in Northside. I'd like to push for the creation of a concrete park in a drainage area, somewhere. I'd go for classic, with large, loping lines, a simple, classic bowl with a pool-shape.
I'd love to start a non-profit skateshop to fund the extension of the park's phases, too. Something high quality, with a lot of old school/new school fusion. Best of both worlds-style...
And I'd love to equip a demo-team out of local hardcores, too. Get some of the guys to put Northside on the map. That way we'll "capture" skate culture and Northside will become central in a skattered scene.
Do I dare hope? All tell me I'm gonna waste time.
St. Bernard Mini-Pk.
Local spot, about 7 minutes from my house. worth the trip. this is it's run-in bowl. It's about 3.5 feet deep and has a slow, easy transition. Still good for airing out, with a nice hip and smooth coping.
Anderson OH Skatepark
Anderson Park is really good. Nice lines, good 'stakles...
I got into a conversation with a guy there last month or so... He is a "pagan". Had a lot to say about nuthin'. Got down to it and we really chatted about Jesus. His kid was there, wife, too. He had just gotten off crack like a year before... I would love it if he came to our house to eat.
I'll keep going around to all these parks and spending time there. Salt in the stew, eh?
I got into a conversation with a guy there last month or so... He is a "pagan". Had a lot to say about nuthin'. Got down to it and we really chatted about Jesus. His kid was there, wife, too. He had just gotten off crack like a year before... I would love it if he came to our house to eat.
I'll keep going around to all these parks and spending time there. Salt in the stew, eh?
Seth at the Susquehanna
We took this really great trip in the beginning of July, up to NY. My parents just bought like 80 acres up there and the boys and I camped for about 9 days... JP came up and helped us, too. My ribs were really broken, so he did some farm work, too.
Seth at Rehoboth Beach, DE
Just want to drop a foto of Rehoboth beach on here. I gotta say, it was fantastic just to be near a dear friend... with dear friends...
Old Men with Skateboards
Met a guy today on my second visit to the Florence outdoor skatepark... Mark. He's older than me by about 12 years, grayer, with a more advanced paunch than my "starter kit paunch". He's out there with his shirt tucked into his pants, his insulin pump on his hip, pulls out a dogtown bullet from his car... wide trucks, soft wheels... seriously old school...
I freak out! get talking to him, he takes me to his car and WOW! He's got a like 55 inch longboard! It's like as tall as me! So I am showing him my new one, he's showing me his...
I predict a total renaissance of longboarding and old-school style. We're tired of bustin our shins on stuff. Let's feel some wind! Three years and there'll be a wave of land surfing...
So, turns out mark'o's a pastor. So we're thinkin on starting an old-guy hill bomber club... coming soon...
I love the connections I'm getting by just BEING out there... I get hurt a lot, but I really feel like the Spirit's saying, "get out there and be salt, man!"
I freak out! get talking to him, he takes me to his car and WOW! He's got a like 55 inch longboard! It's like as tall as me! So I am showing him my new one, he's showing me his...
I predict a total renaissance of longboarding and old-school style. We're tired of bustin our shins on stuff. Let's feel some wind! Three years and there'll be a wave of land surfing...
So, turns out mark'o's a pastor. So we're thinkin on starting an old-guy hill bomber club... coming soon...
I love the connections I'm getting by just BEING out there... I get hurt a lot, but I really feel like the Spirit's saying, "get out there and be salt, man!"
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
At Bansens' Northern Indiana
Up here at Shawn and Ginger's house... They're leaving to california to attend a Discipleship Training School with Youth with a Mission in Chico... They'll spend 3 months there, three in the field... Good, overnight goodbye visit... Kids played, we cooked, ate, prayed, talked... We won't miss them. We're with them, y'know?
Saturday, August 6, 2005
delaware
i went down to delaware from Philly... i took Aaron and Seth and Malika and Saida down there, Also Katy and Lia from Germany...
We drove about 2 hours from Philly to Rehoboth Beach...
Got there in the 5pmishness. Hotel. Beach by 930pm.
We drove about 2 hours from Philly to Rehoboth Beach...
Got there in the 5pmishness. Hotel. Beach by 930pm.
germany, tajikistan, kyrgyzstan
took aaron and Seth to Philly, with two students from tajikistan and kyrgyzstan, to pick up two tourists from Germany (friends of family) who were stranded in an emergency.
visited liberty bell
drove to rehoboth beach, Delaware
nighttime beach visit
bought a DogTown Longboard (Skateboard) and used it to make three trips to car (mile away), with Seth on my back.
Breakfast with John Wallis
Beach till noon
saw Sydney and all the kids (15) at the beach...
drove back home
arrived 3:30am
happily home...
judy back last night from 4 day training students in Sanfrancisco
visited liberty bell
drove to rehoboth beach, Delaware
nighttime beach visit
bought a DogTown Longboard (Skateboard) and used it to make three trips to car (mile away), with Seth on my back.
Breakfast with John Wallis
Beach till noon
saw Sydney and all the kids (15) at the beach...
drove back home
arrived 3:30am
happily home...
judy back last night from 4 day training students in Sanfrancisco
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