Highlight video from CA Conference

Here is a video overview Christian Associates' Connect conference in Germany this month. Kudos to Eric Schrotenboer who shot tons of footage and did a fabulous job putting this together.

CA Connect 2010 Highlight Video from Christian Associates on Vimeo.

Selling Things I Thought Important

I love Craig's List. You can sell lots of things on it - cars, jewelry, computers, various services, electronics. Wonderful for this Jew!

       I've gotten into selling things on Craig's List which have been laying around our house collecting dust. Things I used to put a lot of value in. Today I sold a camera we had bought in 1998 in Los Angeles. I have no idea what I paid of for it, but we got years of use out of it (including Carly and Steven taking photography class in high school with it). For the past 5 years it has sat in storage and we have done nothing with it.
       Today a family who has a high school student taking that photography class bought the camera from me. For a whopping $75.
       A little less clutter around the Newman household today. Feels good.

I am "Premier" Class on United - cough, cough

This week I received my "Premier Class" Mileage Plus card from United Airlines, because I have flown more than 25,000 miles this year.
       Wow, I feel so much better about myself because I am Premier! And the next hurdle is "Premier Executive" class if I fly 50,000 miles this year.
       Oh boy oh boy oh boy, I can't wait!
       Nowhere in our Western Culture is "class" more evident than on airlines. People in business class sit in wide seats, are served hot meals, drink booze for free.
       People in economy class ... well, they get bupkis (an apt Yiddish word which means NOTHING).
       The most convicting thing about this is that I buy into the hype also. This week I labeled myself "Premier" because United Airlines did. I can't wait to fly again on United, just so I can board before other people and maybe get a warm wash cloth for my face. I'm not proud of this, by the way, just processing honestly!
       I think it would be pretty cool if I get upgraded to business class (because of my premier status) that I would go to someone in "cattle" class (I mean economy class) and give them my seat up front. No strings attached. A random act of kindness.
       I fly to Grand Rapids on Tuesday, back to Denver on Wednesday. If I get moved to business class I will try to switch seats with someone in economy class, just to see what happens. I'll keep you posted.

The Gospel of Dangerous Lovers and Psycho Scientists

If you are going to be a Christian you have to come to terms with part of Jesus' story being downright shocking and almost embarrassing for his followers. Here's one example, which I am speaking on this weekend: John 6:53-59
       Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.


I have titled my message, "Sorry if this freaks you out." But I want to change it to "The gospel of dangerous lovers and psycho scientists." Inspired by a song we are doing and film clip we are watching during the service. People may be more confused after the serve than before. But that can be a good thing ... I hope!

Serving My Alma Mater

I attended a little known State university in Central New York, in the town of Cortland. I was there at Cortland State for 4 years and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and Journalism. It was a great time in my life, and incredibly formative in so many ways.
       So recently when I was asked to consider becoming part of the Board of Director for the Cortland State Alumni Association I said yes. It's time for me to give back, especially because Cortland State is part of the public higher education system in the U.S. And in my opinion, the public education option is not a great one for a lot of students today. Some of that has to do with state budgets being cut and less money going to public higher education. Some of it also has to do with private universities having vast sums of money to make those schools financially competitive with public school.
       Well for the next couple of years at least I am diving into serve with my Alma Mater's alumni, and I am very much looking forward to it. I will be in Cortland in mid-October for an association meeting and I'm sure I will have a more complete perspective after that.

Some of the Best Lyrics Ever

There are many amazing songs, in a variety of genre, spanning decades. I love music. I'm a class rock fan especially - Springsteen, U2, The Eagles, ZZ Top.

       In my humble opinion, among the greatest lyrics ever penned come from Bruce Cockburn's song, Lovers in a Dangerous Time. Herewith some of those most profound words:

When you're lovers in a dangerous time
Sometimes you're made to feel as if your love's a crime
Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight
Got to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight

       The band at Lookout Mountain Church is doing this song next weekend (Aug. 28-29) when I preach. I figure these lyrics preach better than just about any sermon!

Catching up on 20 years with Nabil and Sarah

There are people in our lives with whom we just click. Even when we don't see them for many years when we finally visit with each other we pick up where we left off so long ago. So it was this past weekend with our friends Sarah and Nabil.
     They live in Beirut (Nabil is of Lebanese decent) where he is the vicar of All Saints Church. We knew Sarah from our time living in Geneva, which is now more than 20 years ago. We attended Crossroads Church together and were part of the singles ministry there.
       Sarah and Nabil reminded me that if my families has "roots" anyway they are in multi-cultural and international settings. Their church community in Beirut has some 30 nationalities, a quite transient group which is always coming and going from that volatile part of the world.
        I dreamed last night that we had moved to Beirut and were doing ministry with Sarah and Nabil in their community. It was surreal, as dreams often are. Perhaps even more so as I think of being a New York Jew living in Lebanon. Sounds like the beginning of a joke!

A Sad and Hopeful Day

Today is both an incredibly sad and hopeful day for me. In the wee hours of the morning Susy and Carly pulled out of the driveway in our van to head west to California. Carly starts at Westmont College this week. I am stunned by the range of emotions I feel - from sheer joy to grief, from sadness over the loss I feel to the hope I feel for Carly's bright future.

Age 19 (Germany, August 2010)

       I'm sure it has much to do with the dad-daughter relationship and the fact that Carly is my first born. I never thought I would feel like the dad in the film Father of the Bride but I do. And she is not even getting married! How will I be when that happens? Maybe this is the warm-up.
       This move to Westmont is great for Carly, and I am so proud of her. She is the traveler in our family - born in Pasadena (California), ages 1 through 4 in Budapest, then 10 years in Holland, 5 years in Colorado, and now moving onto new adventures.
       One of my favorite photos of Carly is from our time living in Holland. She is standing on our bike shed "in victory" in the middle of the winter, ready to dive into her world!

Age 12 (Holland)

      Well, Car, this is your time girl! Give yourself to this world, bless people, shine grace as you have in this home!
I Love You - Car Car,
~ your sad and hopeful Dad ~

Facilitating Financial Peace University

Earlier this year I co-facilitated a Financial Peace University class with some folks I have become fast friends with. I'm facilitating another FPU class in Denver beginning September 8th.
       Dave Ramsey has become kind of trendy over the past couple of years. He has a program on Fox Business and has a talk show on the radio. His book, "Total Money Makeover" has been a huge success.
       He teaches about the "seven baby steps" to Financial Peace. They are not rocket science. The steps are pretty basic: have an emergency fund, get rid of credit card debt, save for retirement, give abundantly.
       This is like, "Personal Finance for Dummies." Well, I have concluded that we Americans are flat out dummies when it comes to our personal finances. That's why I lead an FPU class. To help some folks (myself included!) be a little less dumb and little more smart when it comes to resources.
       It's a good practice a couple of times per year to ask ourselves the honest question, "How am I really doing with money?" Rich or poor, we have to be asking this question.

On Consumerism

If we are going to have an indepth, meaningful conversation about stewardship we must firmly address the matter of consumerism in the Western World. It is pervasive, rampant in America. None of us are immune to it. People of faith are consumers just as non-faith people are. We are victims and perpetrators, we spurn things and crave them. 


Check out this 4-minute video about Red Stripe beer and consumerism.



Advertising Noise from PressWhore on Vimeo.

Ted Haggard and Brokenness

I observed from afar (Colorado Springs to Denver at least) the debacle of Ted Haggard some time ago. I have not even begun to make sense of it, although I am writing a manuscript about the underlying issues in "Bad Leadership." So I am wrestling deeply with these examples.


Here is a recent short three-minute video of Haggard. I won't comment on it for now. This is just food for thought. Anyone brave enough to comment on this?



Q IDEAS | Ted and Gayle Haggard from Q Ideas on Vimeo.

Philip Yancey's Upcoming Book

One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as "those evil people" or "those poor people who need our help." Nor must we search for signs of "loveworthiness." Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.

~ Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace

I was thrilled to hear that Philip Yancey's new book will be released in October. It is titled, What Good is God? I have been impacted by most of his books in profound ways, especially The Jesus I Never Knew.

Over the past few years I have had the privilege of getting to know Philip, and his wife Janet. We attend the same church in Colorado. This much I can say about getting to know Philip: As big as his name is, he remains humble and as down-to-earth as can be. No pretense, no ego.

So when I read Philip's words about grace, or forgiveness I know it's the real deal. Philip writes so eloquently about such deep truths because he wrestles with them and seeks to live it out in his faith.

I'm counting the days until I can get the new book!

P.S. - Read an account from Eric Alexander about hiking with Philip in Colorado. Check it out here.

Fidelity in Leadership

"Fidelity" is a word which is out of favor in the 21st century. We know the word INfidelity a lot better. Quite sad really.
       Mr. Webster defines fidelity as: the quality or state of being faithful. Now that rings true. Faithfulness.

       This reminds of my friends Marty and Carty (pictured at right in the middle). They have served with Christian Associates in Europe for 22 years. In a few months they are moving to America.
       2-2 Y-E-A-R-S!!!! Like more than two decades.
       And ... they planted churches in Amsterdam, then Barcelona, and now in Lisbon. That's what I describe at fidelity.
      We had opportunity at Connect (Christian Associates' staff and leadership conference) to hear how God is leading Marty and Carey. We laid hands on them and prayed for them, sending them out on the next step in the journey. I could not be more thankful for these two.
       People often ask, "What is good leadership? What's it look like?"
       It looks like Marty and Carey.

Reflections on Our Time in Europe

In Fulda, Germany (August 2010)

We returned a few days ago from Europe. We had a great time as a family visiting friends in Amsterdam and then spent a week at a retreat center northeast of Frankfurt in Germany.
     Susy and I met 25 years ago in Geneva and sort of "grew up" in Europe. We have walked together along cobblestone roads in many a European city - Budapest, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Venice, Paris, Brussels, among others.
     So it was with some nostalgia that we strolled along the streets of Fulda, Germany one day last week. I had forgotten how relaxing it can be to just wander around, stop and get a cup of coffee, and do some "people watching."
     We even managed to take a "tourist" photo of us in a garden next to the Catholic Church in town.

Stewardship and 100 Who Believe

Some time ago we launched a campaign - hopefully a movement - we call 100 Who Believe. It's not that wildly original, but we hope it will propel Christian Associates into the future work God has for us.
We are asking people to make an investment of $50 or $100 per month. We are looking for 100 people -
* who believe ... that we are on the verge of something explosive in God's economy;
* who believe ... the Church should be different and can be a sent people;
* who believe ... an investment like this is ultimately a spiritual exercise more than a financial one.
Now I mention the 100 Who Believe because we in Christian Associates did something last week at our conference which you don't see in most other Christian agencies.
We asked our leaders and then the rest of our staff to consider being part of the 100 Who Believe. Yes, we asked missionaries who are not exactly rolling in money to contribute, to sacrifice, to be sort of counter-culture for the missionary culture. After all, missionaries receive money; they don't give money! Right? ...
Our Europe Advancement Team leader took the lead in this, sharing that he and his family were stepping up to give. Other staff have done so also.
This is a very big deal. A year ago when we launched this effort I asked the founder of CA, the new President, and the Operations Team Leader if they and their families would give to the 100 Who Believe as a kind of "statement of faith." All of them began to give, as did my family.
Let's face it - $50 is not a lot of money. Only a little more than a mustard seed. But you know what Jesus said about mustard seeds?


So I am asking everyone and anyone who has a heart for something explosive to happen for the Kingdom to give to the 100 Who Believe. If you are interested go to: www.christianassociates.org/Table/Campaigns and click on the "Give Now" button in the bottom right of the page.