Filed under: focus
I’ve learned more and more how to step outside of a moment and really take it in. Some, including those in Buddhism (or Zen), may call it experiencing the now (or something like that). I have some great memories pressed into my mind b/c I was able to almost slow time down and really see everything that was happening in that moment – the smells, the surroundings, the sounds, etc. Today I had one of those moments and the main word I could think of to describe my feeling was the ancient Jewish word “shalom.” Shalom doesn’t mean simply “peace” but a holistic everything is alright. Today I took Bess, my 5.5 yr old daughter, to the beach. A “now” moment crystallized into my head occurred when I was running down the beach with Bess, the sun was setting behind the lighthouse, I knew my wife was taking a nap at home, the waves were rough (we like rough waves…calm seas are boring…like a swimming pool), a thunderstorm had just rolled through and you could see it off in the distance across the Atlantic…nice. Shalom.
Kent
Filed under: Uncategorized
Janna, that would be my wife…or as I tell my daughter, Daddy’s girlfriend…and I watched a movie the other night called “Lars and the Real Girl.” I must say it was good. Not real action packed if you’re looking for that but really funny and out there (not Dumb and Dumber funny). It’s about a shy guy who brings home a girlfriend, his family is thrilled until they find out it’s a blow up doll. Please don’t let that freak you out. It’s a sweet movie (did I just write that…sheesh)…but it’s good. Finally an appropriate time to ask WWJD actually pops up – no pun intended.
Kent (link below)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm69703168/tt0805564
When I say “gravitational pull” I mean the attraction and pull each one of us has on those around us. Some folks have a strong and far-reaching gravitational pull while others may have one that is barely there. But I feel that every one of us has someone looking at us and to us to some extent. It may be the little kid next door or a co-worker but someone is looking to us as an example or source of something. God wants us to follow Him – to be in His gravity well. He wants to draw us in and keep us anchored. We orbit Him to get a full view of His character and power. A rhythm that even the Universe itself reveals should resonate in our lives. As we awake and sleep, breathe in and out, work and rest…we also look to Jesus and stay in God’s orbit. Paul even went so far as to say “follow me as I follow Christ.” He wasn’t saying “I’m your god, be just like me,” but rather (in a sense) saying “if you orbit me and look to me as an example I will point you towards Christ, in whose orbit I exist, and therefore you will be in God’s orbit as well.” In fact, the longer you stay focused on Christ, the stronger your tie to God becomes, despite lies and temptations to knock us out of orbit, and the more influence you’ll have on others for their benefit. Be a rock. Stay strong. Stay focused on Christ. Be aware of others around you.
Kent
Savannah is no large city by any stretch but it’s spread out. Some of my friends live an hour (driving distance) apart even though we consider ourselves in the same “area” and attend church together. That makes forming community really difficult. Throw in the fact that many of us are already busy, a little shy of making friends, possibly moving in [pick a number] years and it’s all that harder. It takes time and purpose. Purposely cutting out some things to do others. Time that could be spent watching TV or running the kids around. I’m waiting to see how I will react (or proact, if that’s a word) when my daughter gets to the age where activities (ballet, sports, lessons, etc) kick in. How will I say no or yes and to what will I do this? How will I teach that other things are important? Yay.
Kent
Over the past several years, and in the last few weeks specifically, the issue of loneliness, isolation, and general “not-connected-ness” has been a big issue. A few simple reasons: we live in a culture that mostly drives instead of walks or takes the bus, our front porches have turned into back decks (less waving), we are able to live, work and go to church in very spread out places, we aren’t friends with those we work with and we spend no time with those we’re friends with, etc, etc, etc.
The gospel has a lot to say about a lot of this and we at the Vineyard have been actively trying to do simple things (like eating, praying and playing together) to confront these issues. We did not come to Savannah to start a church full of people who smile at each other and then say “see you next Sunday” (translation: so we can merely sit in a room together, maybe sing songs we kinda like, and tolerate a preacher we somewhat agree with and then go about our merry ways). The gospel is about connection and overcoming barriers: with God (against sin), with each other (against loneliness, fussing and hierarchy), and with the poor (overcoming stereotypes, agendas, greed, pride). If you don’t sense a connection in any one or more of these 3 areas: ask why not? Ask what can you change to see that it starts? thanks
Filed under: rhythm
So I finally went to the doctor after my sinus infection reared its ugly head again. A friend of mine gave me some good advice one time: Life’s too short to not get drugs if you need them. So, I got a shot and some antibiotics and I feel much better. I’m ready to take on the world again. I’m not a sissy, I was just sick. Yay.
Kent
Filed under: rhythm
A lot of things can throw you out of or off your rhythm. Actually few of us ever really feel like we’re in a good rhythm. I don’t know when prayer and such got replaced by checking my dern facebook or myspace pages. Sometimes you feel out of kilter and you need something to kick you back into place. Sometimes it takes getting away. Sometimes it takes doing something completely different for a time. Sometimes it takes a painstaking evaluation of how you spend your time – good or bad. I have felt this way for a while. It might have just come from a time of transition. I’m not really sure. Yay. But I am taking steps and steps are good. I have already sensed some progress but we’ll see.
Filed under: gravity
See the link to the Savannah Morning News. Only one correction – I’m 34, not 36, haha. The paper dubbed me the Reverend of Random Kindness. Is it random if it’s planned? Can you plan for spontaneity? Yes. Maybe that’s a new motto – Plan for the Random (it’s not so random if you believe God is in control). Enjoy the article.
http://savannahnow.com/node/471915
Jesus is often called a revolutionary. He asked people to completely change the way they thought. He asked them to rise up and fight against the powers that be. Of course His methods of fighting were loving your enemies, doing good to those who hurt you, healing the sick, loving the outcast, hanging out with kids, being generous, following the laws of the land w/o becoming just like them, and picking up your own personal cross and suffering with Him. No one has said or insinuated anything close to that. I’m beginning to not use the word Easter so much because of it’s connotations – so much of the package is not Jesus-focused at all and that’s the whole point of this time of year. Jesus died but is now alive. So, Uprising has many meanings: Jesus rising from the dead, Jesus gathering a kingdom of people to turn the tide of sin and death in the world, being forgiven and finding new life, purpose and hope.
Filed under: focus
I’ve never been too excited or “into” politics knowing that no candidate is perfect and a president only has so much power anyway. Probably the most power they have is as the “face of the nation.” Their life gets lived in a fishbowl so to say and we see or find out about all their junk. This has been a very divisive and (to some) exciting election campaign so far. But what I’m seeing from Jesus-people is that issues, even if they are important, are causing division among us. People are getting angry with other Christians who even think of voting for (fill in the blank). Some will pull for one candidate b/c they are pro-life while others will pull for the other b/c they are anti-war (pro-life from a different perspective??). Some will pull for one candidate b/c they want healthcare for the poor while others will pull for another one for trying to create jobs (both are pro-life views?, yes). Here’s the deal, until Christ is commander in chief we Christians will still need to pray for our leaders, love our enemies (who is our enemy?), and keep on truckin’ …all the while putting love in the forefront.
