Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Conflict Delayed...

It sort of hit me the other day while looking at photos on the big picture (boston.com/bigpicture... check it out if you haven't yet) that we are at a fairly key, yet easily overlooked period as a church. We have a tendency as people, i think, (oh geez, here comes a crass generalization but I'm going with it anyway) to engage with conflict only when it is directly in front of our faces. Here's an analogy of what I'm talking about. I have beef with the fact that my sister doesn't seem to respect my stuff. However, instead of engaging with the issue at the time or trying to work out some sort of mutual understanding, I wait until she uses my guitar without asking to make it "a thing". I think that to a larger extent we did this with the last election. There is a definite rift growing in the American church (or at least the part of it I have first hand experience with) where the values of a more "traditional" consitituency are at odds with a group of evangelicals who would consider themselves more "progessive" (dang that's a lot of terminology, I'm trying to avoid anything that would be cast as unfair to either side). We saw these issues rear their ugly heads during the climactic conclusion to the most recent election season. Abortion, immigration, global welfare, were discussed or debated or clashed over as it became very obvious that people are developing very different takes on what it means to follow Christ. And then, the election, and as far as I can see, these issues were dropped, moved on from. Have the wounds that were caused by these debates that easily been healed? Is there a sudden mutual respect between groups present in the Church? Are we okay with the fact that there are some very stark contrasts among a body that has been called to pursue unity. I'll admit I'm skeptical... but I think we really need to figure out a way to work through this junk... otherwise I think we're looking at some huge issues for the church and division could be a very real problem. Just thinking...

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Honesty

Sometimes I feel like I'm being teased... like I'm having something I'll will never get waved in front of my face...

but I still trust you...

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

On Computers and Catastrophe

I felt the need to break the relative silence that has been present on my blog over the past weeks (true, I have not been "in transit" persay, but if that becomes the filter through which i pass the decision to blog or not to blog, then I may never write) to respond to a recent development that seems to be a new trend in my life. Many years ago, as a young Ensign in the United States Navy, I made the decision (perhaps overdue) that I should replace my ailing Gateway computer (yes, I was one of the idiots that thought that buying a computer adorned with cow-hide was a good idea). Beginning the search for a new computer, I felt it prudent to use my old computer as a sort of bartering chip (sell on ebay, craigslist, your mom's house, etc.). Almost immediately after making that decision, however, the battery, plug, and the connection between the battery all unexpectedly fried, leaving the IT on my ship to tell me that my computer was "done for." In itself, a frustrating occurence, but fast forward a few years to 2004 and I was the proud owner of a Nissan Sentra with 35 mpg (oh yeah Leo, I know you can dig it) but had made the decision to trade in my economy package for a new vehicle. Two days before selling my car, I ran into a overturned traffic cone on the freeway (that was black and couldn't be seen at night) destroying my windshield wiper fluid resevoir, my front fender, and effectively lowering the value of my car by $1000 or more. Again, frustrating. Flash to present day (i.e. two days ago) and my decision to upgrade again to a new laptop. While moving into my new apartment, I tripped over the chord to my Powerbook, pulling it off of the TV stand it was on and effectively frying the harddrive.

This leads me to a few conclusions.

1) I am accident prone (I'm willing to admit it)
2) The machines have declared war and I definitely need to go see Terminator: Salvation and Transformers 2: Rise of the Machines when they come out (Thank goodness Michael Bay is around to show me the way.)

Friday, August 8, 2008

Realignment

Things rediscovered in Cambridge and Oxford:

1) I am a bit of word nerd
2) I am a bit of a nerd altogether
3) I will randomly burst into song
4) I like saying fresh
5) I can seriously get into a discussion on bioethics
6) I have the attention span of a jack russell terrier
7) I dig a good sweater vest
8) I'm not a fan of choral music
9) I want to read more
10)I'm a big fan of gardens
11)I am actually kind of a fan of who I am when I act like myself

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Cambridge

This has been an amazing week. There's something so awesome about this half of the conference. The campuses in Cambridge have an almost mythic quality. Quiet gardens, open fields, a slowly winding river that borders it all. I've had really cool times of prayer and fellowship with friends and I'm so grateful for the experience. It has also been one of those identity defining weeks that I really appreciate. I feel like God's been peeling back the layers and reminding me of what it feels like to truly act like, or perhaps be, myself.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Preparing to Leave

It's overwhelming in some ways to process all that we have seen and done during this trip. We head back tomorrow and in many ways my head feels like it's swimming from this one. I really feel like God has continually been putting spanish speaking communities on my heart and I've done little to nothing to engage with that. So...goal for the year...one spanish phrase a week...

Monday, July 21, 2008

Ministry

Man I felt inept today. Leading in a culture when you don't speak the language can be downright exhausting. Liesa and Alex did an amazing job with translation and communication though ... very cool stuff. I really appreciated the chance to see them in action. I feel like I'll learn a lot more from this trip, but it's going to take a lot out of me to get there.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Preparation

Today was interesting...saw a bit of the surroundings of Juan Dolio and the layout of the Dominican as we flew in. Couple of hours to unpack followed by dinner and a briefing on what we'll be doing for the next few days... it's pretty obvious that this is going to require a whole lot of flexibility and a willingness to fly by the seat of the ol' pants. Thankful for rad chaperones and that Gomez came along, makes the trip feel more accessible... not sure why that is.

Today we start our first day of ministry... please pray!

Launch

Chilling in the ATL airport with 4 hours to go til the flight to Santo Domingo. Got some Caribou coffee in my system (soooooo good) and I'm actually enjoying the more frustrating aspects of travel...

want my expectations to be expanded for what God can do with this team... want to see myself grow beyond chaperone to a vessel through which God can do the stuff...

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Limbo

Limbo is ridiculously frustrating. I've had approximately 3 weeks in between trips and I've spent most of that time looking forward to the next trip. It's the whole watched pot scenario. It's just that I realize that there is a sort of resignation, not that it's all that bad, that comes from finally returning after a long period of travel. A sense that it is time, at long last, to settle into the status quo of work, home, etc. But, in between trips, there's that tension that all at once tells you to rejoin your life and to stay somewhat separate. To focus on the travel that you haven't completed yet.

Man, I want to take off again...

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Prep

Problem inherent in trying to work around a 11 hour layover...

Laundry, Packing for both trips is fine, but I don't have much room for overlap and don't want to do laundry when I'll get in at essentially 11 and will have to be back at the airport the next day at 7...

Monday, July 7, 2008

Recap

So, basically, this is the plan, and the reason for starting to blog again:

LA, San Diego, Dominican Republic, Cambridge, Oxford, London

Not necessarily in that order...

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Murphy's Law

Things that can go wrong in transit:

1. First flight delayed
2. Second flight is missing baggage and runs out of water (for the bathroom)
3. Third flight is cancelled
4. Fourth flight doesn't load bags
5. Fifth flight switches security areas without notice

What?!?!?!?