A few days of fun

Yesterday I drove about 200 miles from northern New Jersey to Cortland (New York). I headed west along Interstate 80, drove through the Pomono Mountains, and turned north on Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania and came to Cortland. It is a spectacular drive at this time of year - changing colors of trees from green to bright red and orange, to yellow to brown.

       Last night I stayed in a majestic turn-of the-century mansion that is the Alumni House of Cortland State. It is stately, serene, peaceful here. I had a good night's sleep, which is saying a lot for me because I don't sleep well. The room I stayed in is beautiful, which helps also.

       Today I have some more fun - I'm driving to Utica (about 90 miles north of Cortland) and picking up my friend Jim. Together we will go to Piseco Lake in the Adirondacks where his mother has owned a cabin for many years. We will spend an overnight together - rumor is we will go to the local Fish Fry on Friday night, probably drink a Genny Cream Ale at a local pub. Great fun!

A Bagel in New Jersey

There is nothing quite like having a bagel made in the greater New york City area. Best bagels in the world in my opinion. The myth is that it has something to do with the water here, which makes very little sense because I think New York City water is pretty dirty.

       I don't really care too much about WHY on this matter. All I know is thatI am sitting in Oakland, New Jersey at my friend Ed and Ann's place and feel like I am in Bagel Heaven. Ann bought fresh bagels from some local place. Put on a bit of schmeer, have a good cup of coffee from the fancy-dancy coffee machine, now I am ready for the drive to Cortland, NY.
       Oh, by the way, I did not come to NJ just to eat bagels! The seminar last night at Emergence on Islam in Europe went very well. Great interact, comments, and questions from people. Really engaged group. It was a good day.

Today at Emergence in New Jersey

People say that Paris (and France actually) is the "graveyard of church planters" in Europe. If there is a graveyard of church growth and church planting in America it would have to be the Northeastern states - New York, New Jersey, most of the New England states.
       It is arguably as difficult to get a hearing for the gospel in the Northeast of the U.S. as it is in most European cities. That's why I am so honored to know a handful of churches in the Northeast that are full of grace and truth and love and mercy. To borrow a phrase from one of them, they are "plowing a counter-culture."
       One of these communities - called Emergence - is in Wayne, New Jersey. I'm facilitating a discussion today at their mid-week gathering on "Islam in Europe." It starts at 7:30 pm. Come out if you are in the area.

Steve H (left) and Ryan B @ Emergence

If you are like me (a good Northeastern guy from Long Island), "church" is kind of a weird thing. In one sense it's totally normal if you come from a traditional Catholic or Protestant background. But even then, most younger people have left religion behind long ago. I know that's the case where I grew up.
       So, for my friends and strangers somewhat close to Wayne, NJ, you should know that Emergence is weird but in a really good way. It's down-to-earth, not stuffy, people have doubts there, the pastors wear jeans (see photo) as does everyone else. If you don't have a regular church home, and if you have questions about faith in God, check out Emergence on a Sunday. They meet at 9:00, 10:15, 11:30 am and at 6:00pm. All the services are the same.
       OK that's enough preaching for this blog!

Tomorrow I Head East

Tomorrow I leave for my annual trek to Central New York. I try to go to Cortland the second week of October every year. Here's one reason - nature's beauty at this time of year. Have a look ...

THIS Can Change Your Perspective

This 3-minute talk will shake you up and can change your perspective really fast!

Iranians and the Kingdom of God

A couple of weeks ago I had a phone conversation with my friend Wes who is a church planter in Glasgow, Scotland. He told me about a number of Iranian asylum seekers who have come to faith in Jesus.
       Quite the amazing tale indeed!
       Here is an excerpt from a newsletter of one of the team members of the church plant: Building friendships through community meals and football (soccer) sponsored by a

local church in the northeast part of Glasgow, several Muslim Iranians accepted our invitation

to join our church gatherings on Sundays. They continued to come along for the community

and care that they received, and took an interest in this Jesus that we spoke so passionately

about.

I’m thrilled to share that this summer we saw three of them accept Christ and get

baptized… and they simply can’t get enough church, Bible study, or Jesus!!! Their joy in

Christ is humbling and I can barely type this without weeping. They want to be discipled

and trained to share Christ w/ their ‘Iranian brothers,’ and I’m starting a bi-monthly Bible

study with them to help in the areas of growth and evangelism!!!

       Here is a few photos of the Iranians:

Back to Blogging

I have had some significant times of travel in September - Los Angeles, Spokane, and most recently to Amsterdam and Madrid for 10 days. So I have taken a hiatus from blogging.
I am now back at it and will be posting regularly - I hope. Please check in to see what's happening.

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.