The Rhythm of Seasons

I am sitting outside on my patio in the late evening. It is crisp and cool outside. Autumn is clearly in the air. This is my favorite season. The days here in Denver continue to be warm and sunny, the nights cool off considerably. At this time of year the change in temperature from day to night is dramatic.

       Last night we were at a friend's house in the foothills. we sat outside facing the mountains to the west as the sun set. We could see the beginnings of the change of color, as some aspen leaves are changing from green to yellow.
       Autumn reminds me of a few things:
* Life has its rhythms - there is life and death, warmth and cold;
* The change of seasons keeps me wondering (and wandering) about the future, what will be in the next season;
* Winter will be upon us soon - a time to slow down a bit, hybernate, sit by a fire.
       I don't slow down too easily. I usually go at a fast pace. This evening on the patio - with my dog Bailey curled up on her bed beside me - has called to me to remember the rhythm of the seasons. It is very good.

The Truth of the "Hokey Pokey"

My friend Bill posted this bumper sticker/t-shirt on Facebook yesterday.

       I know that I take life WAY too seriously too often. I think I should buy a T-shirt with this on it so that I am reminded that sometimes life is just hilarious.
       So maybe life really IS about the Hokey Pokey, and turning yourself around. 

Carly at Westmont

I drove up to Westmont College in Santa Barbara yesterday to visit Carly. I was in Los Angeles and took a some extra time to see my "little girl" at college.
        Wow, Westmont is a beautiful place. Tucked in the hillside in Santa Barbara. It felt a bit like a campground or something like that. Quite spectacular.
        I'm really proud of Carly as she steps out in this new phase of life and learning. I can totally see her doing well at Westmont, Becoming quite the California Girl!

What is Preaching?

Last week I preached for the first time in about 6 months. I think I had something of a breakthrough. Here's what I mean. If I don't preach again for along time that is OK, and if I am asked to preach again I will do so. In other words, I don't think that my identity is wrapped up in this thing called "preaching."
       Ian Pitt-Watson, who taught preaching at Fuller Seminary for many years, once said during class that, "you know what preaching is? It is one person working out his or her issues with God - and others - in front of a lot of people." I am convinced Pitt-Watson was right.
       At its very best preaching is a catalyst for people to consider the claims of Jesus in earnest. At its worst preaching is a "bully pulpit," a context for a person to take shots at people who have hurt, betrayed, abandoned or done other harmful things to the preacher or congregation.
       The pulpit can be a powerful tool for social change. William Wilberforce used it in the fight against slavery in England, Martin Luther King jr. used it in the fight for Civil Rights. Tremendous causes which have bettered society.
       And yet there are so many wounded pastor/preachers who work out their stuff by preaching. In a sense, preaching becomes self-medicating, self-soothing. It's the place we can "safely" show people how much we have been wronged without having a dialog about it. After all, preaching is a monolog.
       Perhaps I am growing up to the point where I just realize that working out my issues in front of hundreds of people is not the most healthy thing. I need to work out my issues with God and with people who know me best. I need restraint rather than sympathy when I preach. People need to be drawn to Jesus because of preaching, not drawn to preachers who are working out their stuff.

September Schedule

Several of you have asked where I will be and when so that we can possibly connect. Here's my schedule for September, with major activities:

• Wednesday, September 8: Financial Peace University begins (every Wednesday for 13 weeks, hosted at Lookout Mountain Church)
• September 9-11: Pasadena, California (dessert on Sept. 9th in Pasadena)
• September 12: Dine at California Pizza Kitchen and Christian Associates gets 20% (Colorado Mills, Denver West)
• September 16-17: Spokane, Washington (with CA President Rob Fairbanks)
• September 20-25: Amsterdam, the Netherlands (facilitating workshop)
• September 26-28: Madrid, Spain (facilitating workshop)

My cousin the restaurantuer

My cousin Susan owns two restaurants in Seattle, right next to each other. She is the most amazing restaurant owner you could ever meet. Once upon a time - more than 25 years ago - I worked at her restaurant in Juneau, Alaska. Feel like a lifetime ago.
       Susan's restaurant, Serafina, is in the Eastlake area of Seattle. Here's their vision for the place -
"Serafina’s philosophy is simple: Offer the freshest, highest quality ingredients, present the food in an honest and inviting way, and provide the casual warmth and soothing ambiance that echoes the welcoming embrace of an Italian home."
       I have to tell you - they have succeeded wildly! Not only is Serafina a great place to dine, Susan has created a community. A REAL community. A third space as it were.
       That's why it did not surprise me when I read Serafina's most recent newsletter in which Susan spoke candidly about battling a recurrence of of breast cancer. Here's what she said to the Serafina community:

For those of you who are wondering about my

new hair-do, it is more of a “hair-fallout” than a “do”.

In February I was unfortunately diagnosed with a

recurrence of the breast cancer I dealt with over 12 years

ago. The good news is the cancer is responding well to

the chemo and I am hoping to “kick cancer’s butt” again

and put it into remission very soon. The support of

my staff and of those of you who already know has

been tremendous, and I am grateful for all your love

and good wishes. Feel free to ask me how I am doing,

but please avoid questions like, “ how long do you have”

(yes, folks, I have been asked that). The truth, as we

all know, is that none of us do know, and it is again a

reminder to live each day to its fullest, as today is really

all we have."

       Here's to you, cuz, and kicking cancer's butt!



I Love This Photo

I love this photo. My heart is drawn more and more to these "other children of Abraham." The Moslem (Arab in this case) and Jew.
       In many ways they are quite similar to one another, even in their usual disdain for one another.
       I wonder if there is a place to do ministry to this odd and unique group of Semitic people.

The "Other" Children of Abraham

I woke up this morning (in Grand Rapids of all places) and this thought occurred to me, "What about the other children of Abraham?" There is a context for this question, one I have been mulling over for more than a year since I facilitated a class at my church called, "Jesus, Judaism, and Other Things Jewish."

       Some 25 years ago Francis Peters published his little historical book, "The Children of Abraham." Princeton University Press just republished it after all these years. I read it a long time ago, but will not soon forget the opening paragraph."

"Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all children born of the same Father and reared in the bosom of Abraham. They grew to adulthood in the rich spiritual climate of the Middle East, and though they have lived together all their lives, now in their maturity they stand apart and regard their family resemblances and conditioned differences with astonishment, disbelief, or disdain."

       I have spent most of my adult life with one "sect" of Abraham's children: Gentiles who are called Christian. They are wonderful folks. But more recently I have been thinking more and more about the two other children of Abraham: those from the line of Isaac (Jews which happens to be my personal line) and Ishmael (today's Moslems).
       There is much to consider here, to be attentive to these stirrings.

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!