Bailey took me out this morning!

Our two-year-old Lab, Bailey, came bounding down the stairs this morning as I going down the stairs. Totally took my legs out from under me and there I went sliding down the remaining 4 four steps.
       I lay there motionless for a few minutes. Bailey retreated, tail between legs, under the dining room table. She knew she had done something bad, just was not exactly sure what. She's not the brightest light bulb!
       So I whacked my lower back, and I landed on my left elbow and it's pretty sore.
       This blog entry has nothing really to do with my blog at all. I just wanted to tell someone what happened!

Bailey last winter in the snow.

A Banquet That Was Worth It

We went to a banquet for Hands of the Carpenter last night. I'm not much into the fundraising banquet scene, but this was the best one I have been to.

What made this banquet better? A few things:

* Location: Denver Botanical Gardens and we could walk around beforehand. Beautiful!

* Open Bar - free beer and wine tasting. Sure, I might sound like a lush but I'm not (really). A beer company and a wine company donated their goods and staff to make this happen. It was a great time!

* The food was outstanding from beginning to end. A+

* The program moved along at a good pace, with a great dance group performing, a powerful slide presentation, and brief but powerful words from the Staff.

We live at a time when generating the resources needed for valuable non-profit work is hard to do. A lot of people are sitting on their wallets for one reason or another. Hands is doing a great work and is worth the investment.

Leadership and Those 3 Magic Words!

I watched Barak Obama's press conference on Wednesday first with wonder and then with great unease. At least four times the President was asked something like this: "Is it possible that you have not heard the American people, and that some of your policies are wrong?"
       Each time the President gave an answer like this: "Clearly the American people are not happy" and "clearly we have to do better."
       I wanted to SCREAM at the TV, "Just admit that you were wrong on some things! Humble yourself, mr. President!"
       But he did not. Pride got the best of Mr. Obama, as it gets of many leaders who have an immense sense of power and authority. Pastors and other Christian leaders are tripped up by this over and over again.
       Somehow I thought Obama just might rise above petty politics, discover humility, own up to situations and policies in which he was wrong.
       Instead he acknowledged that the Democrats were beaten badly in the election. Duhhhhh....
       My point here is not to say that Mr. Obama's policies are right or wrong, best or worst for the American people. But surely Mr. Obama can own up to at least SOME poor policy decisions, even a few! But to put it on the American people and to say they are upset is just dodging the leadership issue. 
       There are two sets of words that every great leadership says AND means and lives humbly by - we would all do well to seek to live with these words on our lips - so would Mr. Obama:


"I was wrong."


"I don't know."

That's My Girl!

Carly is doing really well at Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
Last Sunday was Halloween and some students had a party (I guess). Carly dressed as a Zebra, as you can see from the photos.
That's My Girl! Ya gotta love what college has to offer!

An Open Letter to U.S. President Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President,
Today is the day after the election in which the Democratic Party was roundly defeated by the Republicans. Today is also the next day in your presidency, and so as a citizen of the U.S. I am writing to you with several requests.

       1. I am a supporter of yours, which borders on crazy for me to say in public because many people in my circle of friends are NOT supporters of you. As one of your supporters, I want to remind you about something that Bill Clinton learned. You can campaign from the political left, and you may be able to win a presidential election speaking from the left. However, you must govern from the political center-right.
       2. Resist the temptation to be a political idealogue. You are a left-leaning politician, but do not use your political views as a battering ram. Political idealogues on the right are nothing more than thugs; political idealogues on the left are nothing more than goofy jokers. Do not fall in these categories. Rise above the partisan bickering of this current political climate.
       3. Now that the Democrats have held the Senate (barely), please find a new Majority Leader. Harry Reid has thoroughly discredited himself and is simply a weak leader. Please help your party find new leadership.
       4. Align yourself with the so-called "Blue Dog Democrats," those 50 or so fiscally conservative Democrats who are the last remnant of what was called a "moderate." Oddly, many of these people lost in the election, leaving the political middle ground vacant. Still, I urge you Mr. President to move into the political middle and govern from there.
       You have the most difficult job in this country, and I do not envy you for the responsibility you have. I hope, and pray, that you will govern well in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Brian Newman
Lakewood, CO
(CO- 7th Congressional District)

Today is Election Day in America

Mercifully, today is Election Day in America.
YEA!
No more political ads on TV.
No more canned phone calls with recordings of candidates.
No more four-color flyers in the mail blabbing about the candidates!
YEA!
God save the Queen!

Movember Mustache time!

Today is November 1st and the beginning of MOVEMBER. For the next month I'm joining a bunch of guys in growing our mustaches for the next 30 days - all for the purpose of growing awareness about men's health issues (such as prostate cancer).
       I'll post some photos of my "progress" with the mustache in the coming days. My greatest anxiety is that it will grow in grey!

Juvenile, Childish, Idiotic Politics

"Stupid is as stupid does." So said Forrest Gump. If this is true then Colorado Senate candidates Ken Buck and Michael Bennet are acting in pretty STUPID WAYS. Call it juvenile, childish, idiotic.
       Yesterday, public TV channel 12 said that there is more money flowing into this Senate campaign than any other Senate race in the United States. Millions and millions of dollars being spent on destroying each candidate's credibility and personal integrity.
       Like many people in Colorado and around the country, I am so sick, so tired of this political season. I'm counting the hours until Election Day (coming Tuesday). Let's get it over with and perhaps we can recover some sense of civility. 

The Greatest Leaders Did Not Have to

This idea came to me today. I'm not sure why it has not until now. Here it is:
The greatest of all leaders did not have to be.
       What I mean is that true greatness is not about having to be great. The great leaders of history often shunned the spotlight, did not call attention to themselves, were not ego driven by having to lead, did not have messiah complexes.
       This is the essence of HUMILITY - becoming one who serves and does not seek to be served.
       One who gives away because he or she knows they cannot hold onto it anyway.
       One who sacrifices greatly for the sake of the cause (to quote Mr. Spock, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.")
       I have known only a handful of such leaders: My mentor and colleague Homer who I knew from Geneva days 25 years ago is one of them; My friend David who I am privileged to spend time with nowadays is another one.
       These people are leaders not because they have to be, they are leaders because God elevates people to positions of authority as they humble themselves.
       From my perspective this is true greatest.

On Heroic Leadership

This week I am going to start to read two books with identical titles. They are both called, "Heroic Leadership." The first is by Chris Lowney and focuses on the leadership of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Jesuits. My friend Brian Rice of Leadership Connextions has turned me onto Ignatius and his exercises.
       The second book was published in the past 4 or months and is by William Cohen. The sub-title is "Leading with Integrity and Honor." Cohen is a retired Major General of the U.S. Air Force. This book is his 54th published work!

       Cohen looks at heroic leadership in military contexts and how those characteristics and lessons can be applied to other situations such as in corporations and non-profits.
       I love reading about heroic leaders. They inspire me and call me to a level of living that is truly fulfilling.
       To observe a leader who is humble, self-less, full of integrity, true to his or her own core values ... is thoroughly life-giving to me. Christian organizations and the Church need many more heroic leaders.

Max DePree on Movements

Max DePree was the CEO of Herman Miller furniture in Michigan. He has also chair of the Board of Trustees at Fuller Seminary for many years. From my perspective DePree is one of the greatest servant leaders of the 20th century.
       In 1997 DePree wrote a little book called, "Leading Without Power." It did not get much press, did not sell too many copies. I found it profound at the time, and even more appropriate in 2010.
       Here is what DePree has to say about "Movements," something that is spoken about a lot these days and is the new cool thing in Christian mission circles.

"A movement is a collective state of mind, a public and common understanding that the future can be created, not simply experienced or endured. Many of us never have the good fortune to belong to suh a group, where becoming is a way of living and working together.

       Movement are easier to recognize from the inside. There is a harmony in relationships and a constructive conflict of ideas. There is a palpable unity as the people there implement their vision. There is a rhythm of innovation and renewal. There's a sense of urgency - movements are never casual. Alongside the normal tensions of organized life, there is a high level of trust."

So the question is, Have you ever been part of something that is TRULY a movement? Hmmmm.....

Josh Hamilton Inspires Me!

Josh Hamilton is the centerfielder for the Texas Rangers baseball team, which just won the American League pennant and will play in the baseball world series.
       If you ever wonder if a person is beyond redemption, beyond hope, then you need to know the story of Hamilton. If I did not believe in God his story would cause me to do so.
       Here is his story as told to ESPN some time ago. Click HERE to be blown away!
       I'm pulling for the Rangers in the World Series because of Hamilton. You go Josh!

A Holocaust's Survivor

A couple of days ago I heard Marion Blumenthal Lazan speak at Cortland State. She is a Holocaust survivor, having been born near Hannover, Germany, deported to the Westerbrook detention center in Holland when she was 4 years old, and then being transferred to Bergen Belsen. She was 9 years old when she was liberated. She has written a book, Four Perfect Pepples, about her life in the camps.

       The more I listen to Holocaust survivors (at least Jewish ones) the more I hear similar themes. Blumenthal was typical:
* First, the experience was horrifyingly dehumanizing on so many levels.
* Second, there are small parts to her story when God's mercy was incredibly evident, even though she credited it to luck or chance.
Third, she has not forgiven the people who caused her so much suffering.
       After the session I hung around for a while and wanted to chat with her. She had been signing books for about an hour and I watched her be incredibly generous and engaging with the Cortland State students. She posed for photo after photo with each of them.

       So there I was with Marion Blumenthal, who today lives on Long Island with her husband Nathaniel. Only about 30 minutes from where I grew up.
       I asked her if she thought Simon Wiesenthal had ever forgiven the German officer, as recounted in the book The Sunflower (Marion had referenced this in her talk). She stared down at the table, pensive, turned to me with a sad expression of resignation, and slowly said, "How could he? I don't think he could ever forgive that Nazi officer."
       I responded, "Even though the German officer, on his death bed, confessed to his sin and expressed his deep remorse and how long he was?"
       "Yes," Marion responded, "even then he cannot be forgiven."

The Church that keeps chugging along!

Last night I had an evening at Grace Christian Fellowship, my home church from 25 years ago, to give an update on my family, ministry, and to talk about Islam in Europe. Some 40 people showed up, which is about twice as many as I thought would! A lot of the people I know by face but not by name. Wonderful folks.
       I love GCF - its people, its vision, its history, elders, staff. The church has stood with us as partners in ministry for 25 years! A quarter century! Investing in the Kingdom of God through us - impacting the world in Geneva, Budapest, Amsterdam, beyond.
       I love the spirit of the people at GCF - down-to-earth, kind, steadfast. The best man from my wedding and his family have lived in Cortland all these years and are part of GCF. On Sunday Dan and I spent time walking around the 12-acre piece of land his family bought recently and will develop over the coming years. I got in "on the ground floor" of this new vision for this family!
       GCF is a church on mission. They have been for a lot of years. It's a really solid community, a pretty typically structured church. Nothing really flashy about them. And that's what is so powerful. They are there to serve Christ and to bless people.
       So, dear friends at GCF, I love you guys and count it a privilege to be a missionary of the church.

German Chancellor Merkel Speaks

Check out this strong statement about the failure of Europe to integrate people into their cultures in the past 50 years - a major stance against Islam in Europe:

Click HERE.

Autumn in Central New York

I am not the most observant person of nature. Beauty in nature often does little for my soul - not sure why. One exception is when I come to Central New York each Autumn and observe trees turning colors.

Slowing Down in Small Town America

I spent yesterday driving around small towns in the Adirondack Mountains with my friend Jim. We had a wonderful time together – stopping at a self-service pumpkin patch, visiting the General Stores in a couple of villages, going to the Friday Fish Fry at the Oxbow Inn.

       It was a day for an entirely different pace for us – city guys that we are. Small town America is so unique –

* It is truly QUIET here

* People know each other’s names and tell each other (their) stories of life

* Inanimate objects – such as buildings and tractors and plows and houses and parts – are a major topic of conversations

* I realize how tense and fast-paced I live because of the context with unhurried small town living

       As attractive as these small towns are in some ways, I probably could not live in one of them. The town of Piseco, NY has about 250 voters, according to the waitress at the Oxbox Inn last night. There was 4 times this number in my church in Amsterdam! Somehow I think living alongside only 250 people would be a bit claustrophic for me.

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.

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.