Pure idiocy

Someone in the current aviation administration thought it would be a good idea to fly Air Force One at low-levels over NY. And they supposedly didn’t disclose the details to the president. Brilliant move folks.

See story here

wish I …

would’ve had more opportunities to know my Grandpa. Last week, our family gathered to celebrate the life of my grandfather who passed nearly two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I never really had the chance to develop a deep relationship with him. After my father passed when I was a young child, we never really stayed close and after last week’s services, that saddens me. As it turns out, my grandfather & I shared so many things in common, from being avid golf fans, enjoying playing baseball/softball in the adult years, and interestingly enough, enjoying keeping the church records like finances and attendance.

Even though I never had a significantly close relationship with him, I feel as if we were really close.

It’s definitely another reminder in this crazy world we live in, to develop deep relationships, to love people, and most importantly, invest your life into others lives.

thanks for reading/listening.

Churched @ CP

Last night we had a great night at Centerpoint with Matthew Paul Turner speaking to a decent size crowd – around 70 or so attended. I especially enjoy MPT’s humor and satire, but most of all, his stories are true. While I don’t have the same demoninational background as Matthew, many of his stories hit very close to home. However, I was truly inspired as I listened to him speak on the fear and how Christianity shouldn’t be a religion based out of fear nor should we communicate the good news and hope of Christ by telling people they are going to hell. Fear tactics prevent ppl from living the true life God intended.

What a great night of story-telling, of redemption, and hope.

A moving moment

Last weekend at Centerpoint we had an amazing experience of Communion. Not only was this significant to those of us serving at Centerpoint, more importantly, it was a moving moment for those able to participate in communion with us. Over the last several weeks we had discussed the various perceptions and realities of the person and God of Jesus and to end the series partaking of the remembrance of his sacrifice was a moment I will remember for quite some time.

It definitely was a time of great reflection for me to remember the sacrifice given to bring hope and peace and love to our world, and to me. In the midst of our busyness it’s so easy to get distracted from the importance of such a sacrifice.

Thank you Centerpoint for teaching Jesus and offering communion.

The Cross

 

Today, we recognize, we honor, we celebrate the death of the historical  Jesus who came to offer peace, hope, love, and redemption to every man, woman, and child.

Today may you find time to reflect upon its importance, its symbolism, and significance in your life. May you come to know this hope is extended to everyone. May you know that the cross wasn’t the end of this story, just the beginning. May you take part in this story this wknd.

The Masters

Less than one hour ago, the 2009 Masters got underway. Augusta is an amazingly beautiful golf course and usually hosts some good drama.

Dr. House

Over the years, we have watched House on Fox and readily admit, it’s an adult show.  But nearly most episodes deals with House’s struggle with religion and spirituality. House is rational, though viewers believe he acts irrationally, he really responds to fact, reason, and science. He doesn’t believe in in-depth spiritual things – or at least that’s the front he puts out there. The reality is, he struggles with it b/c he’s such a hardcore fact and reason guy; anything outside of those relms he doesn’t like to credit.

But he’s challenging and his character is one I find myself having dialogue with b/c he’s not afraid to challenge my beliefs. The most recent example in his struggle came when a man was in an accident and was in a near coma but still could communicate by blinking his eyes. In the “dream world” he had a conversation with House and the man, Mos Def, was happy he was sent to House and came to believe he’d be okay b/c “God sent him to House to be made better.” In coincedental events, House was in an accident that caused them to come together at a hospital; therefore the man believes God sent House to him.

House doesn’t buy that and challenges him back, “Fine, then the same God who sent me also is responsible for causing you to hit the door and get in this near tragic accident.”

It’s really a tough question. Many people like to thank God and believe he’s sovereign when the good things happen; but if something bad happens, we have no real reason or explanation. House believes if God is sovereign, then he’s always sovereign and should take flack for the bad things too.

Surely we could all dialogue with this, but could it maybe not be such a black & white issue, meaning that, maybe these questions aren’t always so easy to answer and maybe sometimes good things happen, and bad things happen, God can be in control, etc.

Thoughts?

Methods Change, Message remains the same

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Kansas City, MO and visited the Union Station. This massive building 850,00 sq. ft, opened around 1914 was a huge success. Within a few years, hundreds of trains with thousands of passengers went thru every day.  By the 1940s nearly 700,000 trains had passed thru in less than 30 years. However as we know, automobiles and airplanes became more and more prevalent during this time and the railway services began to drastically decline. By 1983, less than 70 years after opening, Union Station closed its doors.

But yet more and more people travel each day. You see, the method of travel changed from railway to car to airplane but the message, travel remained.

Looking at the history of the followers of Christ, the message should always be the same – that is simple, Christ died on a cross for man’s fallen condition. Nothing more nothing less, it’s about a cross and our response to it.

The way the followers, ie the church communicates that message is the method. The method of communication should change in order to broaden the amount of ppl to hear, to see, to read, to witness the greatest message ever told. If the message is the same, then truly we all should appreciate the beauty, the creativity of the methods being used.