Sacred Assembly

Live Oak Book Drive

2008-02-27T14:58:00.001-08:00

If you have any children's books lying around that aren't totally tattered you might think about donating them to the Live Oak school district. All you have to do is bring them by church on Sunday and deposit them in one of the cardboard boxes marked "Books".

Some of you don't have children and therefore do not own children's books. But I KNOW most of you keep a Harry Potter book tucked away on your bookshelf, which is way below your reading level and belongs in the hands of k-8 graders.

Books saved my life when I was a kid. This is important.

"We All Need" Video

2008-01-31T20:16:00.000-08:00

Check out this new Esterlyn video- their first video off their new cd "Lamps". You can interpret the message yourself, but the overall theme of their record is taken from Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven".

Here is an excerpt of my response I sent them:

I really like the new video. I am a little curious about the choice of time period overlapping with the
present, and the divining meter gadget thingie that seemed to locate hidden
sources of light. Maybe it represents the timelessness of Truth linking us to
the past, present, and future? Maybe it is an illustration of an independent
search we embark on as individuals? I'll have to watch it a few more times to
really grasp the whole meaning behind it, but upon the first viewing I would
liken the meter to God's guidance, and excavating "light" or perhaps truth from
the places locked within ourselves and others. The various styles of lamps
presented near the end perhaps represent the various needs we all have, and our
continuous effort to seek their fulfillment, whether it be the need for love,
acceptance, guidance, forgiveness, strength, courage, etcetera. Or just the
individual vessels God uses to shine His light, and when combined create a mural
reflecting His image.

Feel free to share your interpretation of the video, too.

PS- I love them so much it's not healthy.

Collaboration:: humility

2008-01-15T19:55:00.002-08:00

yet to come are

pieces of

whatsoever we

shall desire

the

exaltation of

base

humility

our baseness

foolishness

But He who came first,

let them go first
and sharing

a cup

suffering

He gave up

everything

for our purchase
and a beautiful scar

took the blame and

sorrow and all

glory

rightfully

with a perfect

foolish love

Collision::Woman Caught In Adultery

2008-01-07T20:46:00.001-08:00

like steam our

esteemed

memory

bald

streets paved with unflung stones

hardened tiles cut from fine powder

baked by the light of the sun

ground-up sorrow tread underfoot, packed

down and then clawed open

a single wound gaping, crusting

and the stench of cruelty making

known the ugly underneath and white-knuckle-clenching it anyway.
Clods of dried soil mapped with veins of

withered roots and weeds

under open sky so wide

a rapid-beating heart explodes

impact of freedom

cracked, unpacked, your own tongue click

click clicking until

No more. There is therefore now
no condemnation
for those
who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Condensation and evaporation

So much cooler online

2007-12-30T12:51:00.000-08:00

And you're invited to be my friend.

http://www.myspace.com/masonjody

Big Church Genesis Style

2007-12-28T20:24:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder- this Sunday is Big Church Genesis Style. So we'll be meeting at our regular time in the main santuary to show Big Church a thing or two about Genesis and our new series, "Collide".

Also I just wanted an excuse to post this awesome Collide banner here...

It's like a freeze frame from Carrie Underwood's "Love is all that Matters" video (you know you love her).

Give Childlike Faith a Chance

2007-12-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

Now that most of us have digested the holiday festivities, I could use this time to expand on Charlie’s Christmas message from the Christmas Eve service. I could intertwine relevant examples of excitement, expectation, and hope. Once I come down from this sugar high I could probably even think up a few illustrations to go along with the topic of Childlike Faith. But I don’t want to do that now.
I didn’t plan on going to the Genesis Christmas Eve service for a number of reasons. I already had something planned that night. I was tired. I heard the message on Sunday morning, so…? I didn’t expect there would be very many people going since it was midnight and all. Figured maybe twenty. But I couldn’t sleep and I decided to go anyway, and I am so glad I did.
I was astonished to see so many people at Genesis, many of whom I’ve never seen before. I took a step back for a moment just to watch the crowd assemble and to feel the muted excitement quivering overhead. Even in the dim light I could see families huddled together in thick coats, sitting or standing closer together than they normally would on any other evening.
And to stand amidst a crowd worshipping Jesus together, remembering His birth, lent a tranquility to this season that seems to scream past us at 120 miles per hour. I wanted to climb a ladder to stare across the clusters of people. I felt frustratingly short. But when everyone lit their candles and held them up I suddenly wanted to curl up deep in the warm, euphoric glow. It felt like maybe what Heaven is like; surrounded by worshippers lit by a pure-burning light and God dwelling among us. The strangers sitting next to us not really strangers- unified and presently safe from distraction.
And later I caught my reflection in a little boy’s eyes.

It's the most WONDERful time of the year

2007-12-17T20:29:00.000-08:00

to run out of batteries in my camera.

I saw the Twin Lakes Christmas Concert for the first time in my life. I can't believe they let me in for free. I was completely stunned, expecting a quaint-yet-didactic skit performed by second graders. Everyone told me it was AMAZING, but I always thought it was pretty AMAZING when fourth graders remember every verse of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman". So I'm not too hard to please, I guess. Give me a fog machine and sequined gowns and I'm happy. I knew I was in for a real show when I spotted a temporary orchestra pit nestled against the stage.
But, no, this show- this spectacular show- exceeded expectations. All of it was amazing. A phantasmagoria of voices and drum beats and strings and lights and costumes and seamless transitions. Plus a nonpareil Stomp act that made the Blue Man Group seem languid.

I apologize for lack of visuals.

Also lacking in visuals is the fun Genesis Christmas Party. Who doesn't love Pictionary? (Usually I don't, but it was so much fun!)

Give Servanthood a Chance

2007-12-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning Eric spoke on serving one another intentionally as a way of honoring Christ. We are challenged each year to make Christmas about Christ and His birth. When we celebrate a close friend's birthday, don't we make the attempt to bless them in some special way? Don't we contemplate ways of honoring who they are and expressing why we love them? Some of us know people who insist that they don't want personal gifts for themselves, but would instead prefer a donation to their favorite charity. And they are honored when someone actually heeds their request. I believe Jesus is honored when we serve one another in His name, but not just serving for the sake of fulfilling a request. We should serve intentionally, keeping the other person's needs in mind, whether it be through material or intangible gifts.
I love that Genesis is participating together in the Give Hope project this year by giving tenants at the River Street Shelter thoughtful items that most people take for granted. Things like deodorant, nail polish, perfume, shaving cream, etcetera, that may not be needs for survival but are often overlooked in donations to shelters. It's going a step beyond the survival needs and showing a person, "I know you are more than a mouth to feed, or a body to clothe. You are also beautiful and insecure of the same things that I am sometimes." It's remembering them as real people.
I also love the idea of setting aside time with another person, free of distraction, to discuss life and Christ beyond the safe topics. Eric's story of his dad was beautiful because it revealed our humanity and our inherent neediness, and our desire to give ourselves to the ones we love.
But it needs to be heartfelt, or else it isn't a sacrifice.

This year I get a wedding ring. I've been married for 5 years but for the first time since I've known him my husband can afford to buy me a ring. My husband also likes to read books. But reading them is not always as important as owning them, for some reason, and seeing his treasures lined up on a bookshelf really does something for him- the way other men like to see their trophies glistening on the mantle, or their interest in taxidermy displayed in the "den".
In order to pay for my wedding ring, my husband sold all of his books on eBay.
This ring is not just meaningful for conventional reasons. It is meaningful because I know what he sacrificed to buy me that ring, and we're getting rid of that ugly bookcase. And instead of just one diamond I get five (pictures forthcoming)!

What I learned from my husband was that he was willing to serve me with humility. He did not reach this goal with his own interest in mind. Philippians 2:1-11 is one of my absolute favorite passages because it is such a great reminder of how we should serve God and each other. And Christmas is an excellent time for this reminder.

Give Scripture a Chance

2007-12-02T16:19:00.001-08:00

Christmastime is my favorite time of year besides Autumn and Valentine's Day, and summer when I get off work early every Friday. Oh, and Cabrillo's bi-annual Pottery Sale in the parking garage.
But Christmas definitely tops the list, if I had to choose Number 1.
The problem is, I get just as distracted by shopping lists and mailing Christmas cards as anyone else.
Last Friday I spent the entire afternoon at work with some friends taping $5 Starbucks cards inside giant Christmas cards and mailing them to 75 business contacts all over the country. And I let myself get stressed about it getting finished "on time" so it stopped being fun at one point- and it wasn't officially December yet.
I've decided this year to minimize the holiday stress by just saying no and prioritizing my to-do list. For instance, I put lights on the outside of my house. But I'm leaving the inside of my house unadorned. I'm not getting a Christmas tree this year because my cat is still crazy. (We thought he would have outgrown this phase by now). I am almost completely finished with Christmas shopping except for one family member who is rich and won't tell me what he wants for Christmas (because he probably already has it). I will not send out personal Christmas cards this year but I will bake Christmas cookies. I plan to wrap a co-worker's entire workspace and personal belongings in wrapping paper while he is on sabbatical and hiding a small gift that he has to find by unwrapping everything he already owns.
Aside from all of that, I really just want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I know I say that every year, but I don't want to be distracted by getting the traditions right. I want to reflect on the Father's tremendous act of Love by sending his Son to fulfill a promise. I want to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving throughout the season as I ponder Jesus' willingness to come to us in human form.
But above all, I want to reflect on God's word and grow nearer to him. Not that mailing Christmas cards is bad. I just don't feel like doing it. And I don't feel the least bit guilty.
Charlie's challenge this week is to spend 20 minutes reflecting on Scripture, twice. This is exciting because we can choose a passage ourselves and devote our full attention to waiting on God.
This will be challenging for me because I don't like to wait for anything. I don't wait to open my Christmas gifts and I make others open their gifts long before Christmas Day. So unwrapping God's word slowly is going to be an exercise in patience for me.

The Turkey Bowl!

2007-11-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

Next week, on Thanksgiving Day at 10 AM there is a High School Group vs. College Group flag football game at New Brighton Middle School. I think we all know who will win. But let’s take a vote anyway!

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Thanksgiving Stories

2007-11-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

Tell us your favorite memory of Thanksgiving, or tell us what you are thankful for!

Give Suffering a Chance

2007-11-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

This seems an odd time of year to bring up suffering, doesn't it? After all, it is the season of happy consumption: Eggnog lattes, food glistening on a table set for twelve, half-priced Halloween candy, sugar-scented candles, warm stuff, shopping, full-belly euphoria, Pumpkin spice anything, etc.

But the truth is, even while we might be partaking of the aforementioned vittles, real suffering could be clear and present. In fact, for some of us the suffering is so intense we consume even more seasonal delights than necessary, because sucking our thumbs became inappropriate long ago.

So why do we try so hard to avoid and deny suffering when it is so much a part of life? Sentient beings have a natural revulsion to that which is unpleasant. But our revulsion does not ward off suffering, and neither does that $40 cinnamon-apple candle you keep lighting every night. God's word teaches that we will endure trials, and when we do we are to rejoice rather than despair.

I know how trite that sounds. (I wince as I write it).

Let me tell you a story that may or may not help my cause here.

When I was in college I took a job where I had to virtually step outside of my admittedly emo personality to "get fired up" and drive up sales. When I took the job, my manager told me, "Jody, you are going to have some very hard times. There will be days you want to give up completely. But you have to learn to embrace those challenges. Conquer them. Persevere. It will be character-building."

Not the best motivational pep talk, I know. Among other humiliations, every time I encountered a tough time I was supposed to chant, "I love challenges! I eat them for breakfast!"

You can understand why I had a hard time taking myself seriously.

After a few weeks I had character coming out of my ears. When the Bible talks about rejoicing in the sufferings of Christ it does not mean gritting your teeth into a grimacing smile and challenging God to bring it on. That kind of masochistic attitude is not as gratifying as one might think. It's weird. And it is okay to admit when you're suffering, but rejoice in the knowledge of God's love and have faith that He is with you through it all.

In a way, my manager was right- sort of. I never learned to welcome challenges with open arms, but I did grow through those experiences and I have to admit it was (gulp) character building.

This is what James 1: 2-3 and Phillipians 4 are referring to when we face trials, producing patience/growth. Character.

As children of God, we are heirs of His glory and His suffering (Romans 8:17). This is what families do. You share one another's grief and joy. So if we are God's children, He will be with us even through the hardest times. And this has implications for the body of Christ as a whole. Through our own trials, we grow compassionate towards others who suffer. We resist the urge to offer hollow, well-meaning platitudes and instead cry with them.

When a hurricane mows down a coastal city, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced and suffering (Christians among them), we respond with prayer, support, and aid. As they sink their knees into the mud and, fists clenched, cry out WHY we don't pretend to have an answer. We sink our knees in beside them and lift them up instead of pointing a condemning finger and declaring them hopeless.

There is hope. There is a peace that surpasses our human understanding and emotions.

Glorious Mooooorrrning!

2007-11-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

Don't forget! On Sunday we get an extra hour of sleep. Daylight Savings Time Ends. Woooooo!

2007-10-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

So Basically: The Church

2007-10-16T18:17:00.001-07:00

On Sunday we looked at the church and how it relates to Christ and one another. So often we hear the Church referred to as the Bride of Christ, with numerous biblical references and representations. The book of Hosea paints the Bride of Christ as a wayward prostitute seeking her own desires and lusts, and shows us the steadfastness of Christ's love for His bride. Psalm 23 illustrates the way God seeks us, calling us to Him as we veer dangerously away from His path. His love is relentless. Unrelenting. We've been learning about justification and sanctification, and the Bible talks about how Christ clothes us in righteousness, blotting out our sins. As humans, we are not perfect, therefore the Church is not perfect. But as God continues the work of sanctification in each one of us, we take on the responsibility and calling as believers to reach out to the community and to reach our arms around one another.
Every member of the Church is equally important. Together we form a strengthening bond to bear one another's burdens, and to love others inside AND outside of the Church. We can support each other through prayer, acts of kindness, admonishment, edification, and forgiveness. We can love others outside of the Church through much the same way, sharing the message of the Gospel relentlessly. As imperfect as we all are, God still entrusts us with His gospel and we should honor this gift above all else.

So Basically: Sanctification

2007-10-07T21:09:00.001-07:00

You can't really talk about Justification without immediately following it up with Sanctification. Sanctification is what God does to us AFTER he justifies us. It is the process of maturation in our spiritual lives that makes us righteous. As Charlie pointed out, sanctification is not a process that begets instantaneous growth, and it is not a painless process either. When we are sanctified, we undergo a metamorphosis that alters the way we think and behave. This is not the pop-culture understanding of metamorphosis - those superheros who mutate into something else (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, Michael Chicklis transforming from The Commish into The Thing from Fantastic Four). Sanctification does not mutate the the components God used to create us- our physical make-up and appearance, our personality, our voices.
And when we are justified, there is a certain knowledge that all is not right in ourselves, and we want to be changed, to become more holy.
Charlie mentioned Weight Watchers this morning so I'll roll with it. Much like those who realize at a certain point that they are overweight, they acknowledge that there need to be changes in their intake and lifestyle. There are the overwhelming cravings, the painful work needed for a metamorphosis, the humiliating weigh-ins, the cravings again. I often pity the visitors of the local Weight Watchers' headquarters in Capitola, which opens out into a giant food court. I arrive at Zizzo's every day during my morning break and I can see how the Weight Watchers are just set up for failure. They weigh-in, divulge what they've really been eating over the past 2 weeks, and then reconvene in line for a triple white mocha. How is that fair? They should really consider moving their headquarters to Davenport.
What were we talking about again?
Oh yes, anyway, the difference between WW and our Sanctification is that we are not set up for failure. God has a specific idea in mind, dare I say purpose, that we will ultimately embody as His children. He wants to see us grow, and he knows it won't be easy. But we will one day be unrecognizable as our old selves. We won't be defined by our habits or shortcomings. He changes our hearts' intent to work towards exercising our gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. For God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of Christ.
And it is true that if we are not growing, we are dying. Both are painful, but which would you prefer?
When my sister and I were in junior high, she started complaining of excruciating pain in her legs. I remember one cloudless day, much like today, when she collapsed on the ground, her over-stuffed bookbag spilling its contents across the pavement. Our homeroom teacher/self-appointed physician was not of the nurturing species, so when my sister squinted upwards in the sunlight, tears flooding the collar of her dingy polo shirt, she met the gaze of a very tall woman wearing a tailored pants suit.
"Get up! What are you doing on the ground! If you'll stop crying you won't have trouble breathing like that! Relax!!! Do you hear me? Relax!!! They're only growing pains!"
One of the books that slipped from my sister's bag was the Diary of Anne Frank. In my overactive imagination I pictured the teacher as a strict S.S. officer screaming and kicking my sister on the ground. Prepubescent myself, I lacked the skills and courage to comfort my sister as she lay writhing on the asphalt, her knobby knees exposed below her skirt, her skinny legs twisting in the air like undignified tree limbs stored for kindling. I displayed exemplary cowardice, and instead of rushing to her aid to shield her from the verbal blows from the teacher, I stood to the side with many others and watched.
It turned out the "growing pains" were nothing of the sort. My sister was suffering malnutrition so advanced that her bones were turning black.
Perhaps fearing a law suit, the teacher later approached my sister with mock surprise and asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were in so much pain?"
So, for us to avoid growing up, to avoid growing spiritually because we fear the pain the metamorphosis causes, is as foolish as opting for a painful death instead.

So Basically: Justification

2007-10-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

Justification by faith. Theology. the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin.

Most of us want to believe that mankind is basically good. It's hard to admit there is a fundamental "sin nature" within all of us (yes, all) that acts as a driving force behind the selfish, impure thoughts and actions that we repeat day after day. To admit depravity is to admit defeat.
But we are, in a sense, defeated by our very own sin. There isn't anything we can do to erase it, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". We can't do enough to cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness.
This acknowledgement can be very discouraging when we try to justify our selves. I think that's why a lot of people deny their sin, or wallow in despair, or flex spiritual muscles in a vain attempt to obtain righteousness.
Last week a young man plucking a guitar asked me if I could name the tune he was playing. It was a proud moment when I immediately recognized the Nintendo Super Mario Bros. theme song emitting from his fingertips. I asked if he could make the dinging sound you hear when the Bros. collect those little coins (he could!).
But that's what I think a lot of us do when it comes to accepting responsibility for our sin. We nod begrudgingly, and then face forward heroically to obtain righteousness like coins. The more coins you gather, the closer you are to everlasting life! ('I just gave that other driver the last parking spot." Ka-ling-a-ling! "I just completed a 35-day fast. And I don't even feel hungry!" Ka-ling-a-ling!) You can fall down a pit a whole bunch of times, but as long as you have a stash of good deeds or works, you'll just keep coming back over and over again, without any visible harm!

I love that game.

Anyway, that's not how it works actually.

Unfortunately, we are dead in our trespasses and sin. We can't dodge and weave our way out of it. We are Hell-bound, and God would be perfectly just, perfectly fair, to condemn us.

However,

we can be justified. We can be justified. We are justified by God "who justifies those who have faith in Jesus"(see Romans 3:21-26). The verb implies that justification is done to us. So when it looks hopeless, take heart because there is hope. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe."

This doesn't mean that we should do whatever we want, whenever we want so long as we have faith in Jesus. When we are justified, we encounter the process of sanctification. God works in us to overcome temptation, and our good deeds are no longer futile acts of working towards holiness to save ourselves, but are acts of gratitude meant solely to serve God. We are already justified through faith, so we can't feasibly make ourselves more justified by trying to please God with good works.

So, Basically: The Trinity

2007-09-17T16:06:00.001-07:00

Have you ever tried to explain the Trinity to someone? Have you ever tried to explain the Trinity while that certain someone was looking at you, incredulously, as though you were trying to describe God as a three-headed monster? Because it's actually very difficult to describe the Trinity without touching dangerously on the image of a three-headed monster.
I think Adrian did a great job yesterday of using a kind of deductive reasoning to logically explain the trinity. I took notes.

God is 3 persons- Father, Son, Spirit
Each person is fully God- Father, Son, Spirit
There is one God

Therefore, the Trinity makes up one God.

Although I think deductive reasoning hinges on only two criteria.

So that means you could rearrange the premises to:

a. There is only one God

b. God is 3 persons

Therefore, each person is fully God.

You Philosophy students follow me, right?

In other words, borrowing from Conjuction Inference rules, a and b are true separately, therefore they are true conjointly.

a, b ⊢ (a ∧ b)

See? It makes total sense! How could you not grasp this concept immediately when it's explained so clearly???

Actually, Adrian is probably right. We might not grasp the fullness, the complexity, the simplicity, of the Trinity until we reach Heaven. But we should still try to comprehend the truth of this mystery because God wants to make Himself known to us, and we can know Him.

We don't have to use deductive reasoning to understand the Trinity. We can rest in His Spirit, read His word, and pray for insight. We don't have to go round and round and round trying to pin this conclusion down. Matter fact, I made myself a little dizzy for a second there. I'm going on vacation.

Who wants to write next week's blog?

So, Basically: Part 1

2007-09-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

The new series at Genesis, So, Basically, is our chance to get back to the basics of the Christian faith. This is a great opportunity for new believers to come to grips with the fundamentals of following Christ. And let's face it, seasoned believers can always use a refresher.

Such as this week's message about the authority of Scripture.
Usually it's the new believers who lace their Bibles with copious notes in the margins. New believers are sometimes more apt to keep journals on the insights they glean from God's word.
After a while, we become less dependent on God and His word, and we think we've got that wisdom thing down. And we stroll into church, sans Bible, (I do it. Yeah, I admit it) and breathe a sigh of relief that someone had the foresight to print the week's passage in the bulletin. (I challenge the Genesis staff not to print the week's passage in the bulletin just once, just to see someone like me scramble for a loaner Bible in order to keep up with the sermon. I think it would be funny. Probably no one else would, but I would laugh.)

But aside from not bringing a Bible with us to church ('my Nelson Study Bible is, like, so heavy'), sometimes we forget to carry it with us daily, hiding it in our hearts, committing it to memory, or simply opening it once a day.
I think it is important not to make a ritual out of reading the Bible. I don't think we should read it for the sake of crossing it off our to-do list. There can be so much pressure to read and retain a hefty chunk of Scripture each day. I used to think I was more spiritual if I raced through no fewer than 5 chapters a day, no matter who died of indigestion along the way, it was all about quantity. Gradually, the magic number was reduced to 3 chapters a day, then one if I was lucky, then nothing at all. Because I believed if I read only a few verses from one chapter I risked reading out of context.
I really love Charles Spurgeon's quote, referenced in this week's bulletin, along with the Bible passage-of-the-week: "I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hands in several chapters."
Amen and amen. When I go for broke and power through 3-5 chapters in the interest of finishing a specific quantity of Bible-reading, I rarely absorb anything more than one or two convoluted pieces of trivia that I would choke on if tested later. It's those quiet moments of reflection on even a small section of a chapter, even a couple of verses, that God uses to show me something amazing.
One of the reasons I love Mosaic (Coming soon, Sept. 23) is that I can reflect on a short segment of Scripture long enough to internalize and then reflect the truth through art or writing.
Maybe this week, if you're having trouble motivating yourself to dig into the Bible, think about soaking in a few verses that are meaningful to you, and then respond to it creatively and seek a companion to share it with, or share it with your home group, or comment on this blog. That's what Mosaic and friends and home groups and this blog are meant for.
Everybody experiences dry spells from time to time. Sometimes for a very long time. Psalm 19:7-11 reminds us how refreshing it can be to spend time reading the Word.

Genesis Vision

2007-09-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Now that we've wrapped up the phenomenal Embrace series (my favorite thus far), I'll be making more of an appearance here on Sacred Assembly. I took a brief hiatus during Embrace, because talking about sex is like encountering that hard crust that forms in the nostril of a lotion bottle- you secretly hope someone else deals with it for you.

So, if you weren't present during Vision Sunday, there were two main take-away points that sum up the vision behind Genesis as a faith community.

To make disciples. We desire to be missional in our approach to the communities around us, and to equip one another to go out and love others intentionally with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Establish Home Groups. Currently there are several small groups with plenty of room for new-comers. Ask Haley or any Genesis team member if you are interested in joining a small group. Home Group leaders are also in demand, so pray about opening your home or facilitating a small group yourself.

Next week we're starting a new series, rated E for Everyone, called "So, basically..." which focuses on the basics of what it means to be a Christian.

Have a great week!

Embrace: Q & A

2007-08-30T21:40:00.001-07:00

Q: When you say not to "settle" for one person, even if you love them and could imagine a life with them, what exactly do you mean? I mean all people are imperfect, if we were to search for someone who completely satisfies every part of us that would be near crazy wouldn't it? I feel like there are basic standards which we inherently are aware of when we choose to start a relationship with someone (i.e. faith, moral boundaries, self-respect, common ground etc.) but when there is something missing in the relationship, wethor its a lack of interest in certain areas or a disregard for the other's needs to do something they love to do...is it settling when you choose to love them regardless or choose to start a life with them? I guess this talk touched me on a very personal level because I desperately would like to avoid making a bad decision in the area of my love life, but am in love with someone who can often abandon certain needs without their knowing of it. So I guess what I am asking is, if love is a choice, how do we conclude it?

A: (by Charlie)
I agree that we are all imperfect. There is no perfect human being outside of Jesus. And when I say, “don’t settle,” I am not saying that someone should look for another who completely satisfies every part of us. No two people can be this for each other—that’s why we need a Savior.
As a pastor over the years I have seen many people make compromises in who they date because they are afraid that God can’t provide someone “better” for them and the deeper they get into the relationship, the harder it is to turn back.
There is a spiritual truth that I believe applies to all of us as human beings: we become like the people we spend time with. King Solomon found this out the hard way. King Solomon, who was given incredible supernatural wisdom from God, compromised in his marriage relationships (yes, I did mean relationships—back then polygamy was an accepted practice!). 1 Kings 11:1—3 talks about how Solomon “settled” in these key relationships in his life. His wives didn’t share the same faith in God that he did. 1 Kings 11:4 tells us the disastrous result of his choices: “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” If one of the wisest men who ever lived fell into this trap what makes us think that we are immune from it? When I say, “don’t settle,” what I’m saying is be wise in who you choose to trust with your heart. Watch his or her life. Anyone can say that they are a Christ-follower, but not everyone lives this way. If someone isn’t making good decisions when you are dating them they aren’t going to change when you are married. You will become like the people you spend time with. The question we have to honestly ask ourselves is, “Are we OK with this?”

Please take note, to your right...

2007-08-26T15:48:00.000-07:00

in the sidebar you'll notice a link to a "Prayer Request Page". This will be a permanent link where you can write prayer requests or contact the Genesis Prayer Team. Anonymous comments are welcome, of course. This is just one way to let us know how we can pray for you!

Big Church, Genesis Style: Identity Crisis

2007-08-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

If you came to Genesis this morning and noticed the doors to Monschke Hall were locked, don't worry- We did not disband!

Instead, we met inside the main sanctuary and held the regular "big church" attendees hostage for a while so they could see what a Genesis service is like. This temporary mutiny does not indicate an identity crisis; we will meet again next week in Monschke Hall as usual (although we could change our name to geneCRIsis and regularly take over big church...nah!). However, the topic for this week happens to be about our own identity crises: what happens when we forget that we are children of God, and use external/temporal parameters to identify ourselves.

Sometimes we identify ourselves by tastes in music, a job title, relationships, race, favorite sports teams, etcetera, etcetera. But I think we can also do this within the body of Christ. We will strive to determine our spiritual identity, naming ourselves non-denominational or denominational or Calivinist or Pre-millenial dispensationalist or Arminian or postmodern or emergent or reformed or Christian or Christ-follower or "a thru d". And somewhere in the midst of defining our faith, we can forget that it all comes down to being a child of God. We might change our theology frequently or not at all, but in the grand scheme of things those terms don't compare to the privelege of calling Almighty God our Father, and to know that He lavishes His love on us (1 John 3:1).

Prayer Request Page

2007-08-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

Feel free to submit a prayer request here, or contact GenesisPrayerRequest@tlc.org.

Q & A

2007-08-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Question:I’m in high school and…one friend told me that her and her boyfriend had been sleeping together before they broke up. When I talked to her about it, she said she really regretted it, but wouldn’t be surprised if it happened again with a different boy. Another friend is currently sleeping with her boyfriend. She says its OK because they are going to get married…I’m really concerned. Both of these people go to church too. What do I say? ...I feel someone needs to do something but I also feel like it’s not really my place to step in.

Answer (by Charlie):I think it’s great that you have a desire for your friends to experience God’s best. The fact that you are wrestling with this is evidence that you love your friends. Here’s the question I have for you--if your friend was in the road and didn’t see a car coming that was headed straight for her and was a few feet away, would you scream at her to get out of the way? My hunch is that your answer is “Yes!” Proverbs 27:6 talks about the value of good friends who speak the truth in love. Solomon writes. “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Solomon’s point is this—it takes a good friend to tell you the truth even if the words hurt a little bit. In fact, he is saying that those who don’t tell you the truth and just tell you what you want to hear are actually enemies and not friends. You can’t control your friends’ decisions. They stand before God on their own decisions. What you can do right now is to pray for them, that they will see and choose God’s best plan for their lives. Also, pray for God to prepare an opportunity to talk with them individually. When it is time, gently, lovingly, yet directly point out to them your concerns—you may even get a chance to pray together. Then continue to actively love them with the love of Jesus, regardless of what choices they make.

Q & A

2007-08-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Question:Due to witnessing unnatural sexual experiencing my fantasies are jaded. Since last week I talked to a therapist. She said better to fantasize about my male friend and a loving sexual experience that happened in our past than to continue these bad fantasies. Scripture says…that it is wrong to fantasize about a person because that’s as good as doing the act. In not doing that, the other is worse. The therapist says that the treatment for my condition to get better is to go against God’s law. What do I do?

Answer (by Charlie): First I want to affirm you in your struggle and in your desire to find healing and freedom from your past. That is a brave thing to do! I don’t answer this question lightly because it sounds like there is a lot of pain surrounding this issue for you. As one who believes that the Bible is God’s ultimate Word, I have some concerns about the therapist’s advice. On the one hand, it makes sense that she is trying to replace your memories with better images. Yet, I resonate with your concern about her advice because in Matthew 5 Jesus tells us that when we lust after someone it’s as if we have had sex with him or her. In Jesus’ eyes, this mental act of sexual fantasy (outside of marriage) is a sin. I agree with your therapist that our former corrupt images need to be replaced with new and better ones. Instead of dwelling on a mental picture of human love, though, the Bible points to an even bigger, more perfect, more healing love. I go back to Colossians 3:1-2. Right before he commands us to put to death all that belongs to our earthly nature (including sexual immorality), Paul says these words, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” His point is that as followers of Jesus our eyes and minds need to be focused on the things of Jesus—His love, His beauty, His glory, His power and His Kingdom. This means that we need to go to Scripture and replace our old, corrupt mental pictures/fantasies with new Biblical pictures of God and His character. This is what Biblical meditation is all about. It is about bringing the truth of Scripture to life in our minds. Romans 8:38-39 has been a passage I have found myself meditating on recently. This passage talks about the power of Jesus’ love for His people regardless of the obstacles. When I see this passage in my mind I see everything in the world trying to separate me from God—my failures, my sins (past and present), my desires, my decisions, my doubts, my fears, spiritual powers, etc. They are all pulling at me and clawing at me and powerfully trying to separate me from God’s love. At first I’m frantic and I’m just grasping at anything and everything to stay close to Him. But then I rest in the truth of this passage and instead of frantically trying to hold onto Him, I realize that He is holding onto me. This is Biblical truth! There is nothing in this world more powerful than the grasp of God. These are the kinds of mental pictures that I come back to when I am tempted by thoughts that pull me away from Him—including sexual thoughts and fantasies. Let me know how I can be praying for you. This is a spiritual battle (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) and the more people you can have praying for you the better.

Q & A

2007-08-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Q: My boyfriend says he is a Christian but he likes to watch porn. He knows that it makes me have a low self-esteem, I am really uncomfortable about it, and he wont stop even though asked him too. I want to be with him for the rest of my life but I cant deal with this fact. I don’t know how to help him and make him realize that its hurting his walk with Christ and our relationship. How can I help him?

A (by Charlie): This is a great question that obviously has much personal pain behind it. I want to start by acknowledging that this a tough situation for you to be in. It probably has created a lot of pain, hurt and confusion for you. This is obviously someone you care about.

Let me start first by addressing the issue of pornography. Many people think that pornography is harmless. They think that they aren’t engaging in sin when watching it, so it’s OK. This isn’t the case. Pornography is sin because it negatively affects our relationship with God and our relationship with others (as you are well aware). Matthew 5:28 tells us that when we look at someone lustfully (with an unchecked sexual desire in our hearts) we have sinned against God. So sin is not just what we do, it’s also what we think about. When we watch porn, we feed our lust and engage our minds with sexual immorality. Furthermore, the things that fill our minds and hearts will eventually control our thoughts and behavior. That’s what Jesus is talking about In Matthew 15:19 when he says “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” The more we watch pornography the more it fills our hearts. It eventually ends up controlling our thoughts and our behavior. All of this sin does damage to our intimacy with God and our intimacy with each other. Psychologists and sociologists are starting to support the Bible’s teachings with their findings regarding pornography. They are discovering that when we watch pornography it has a negative affect on our intimate sexual relationships, with the end result being loneliness and disconnectedness. If you think about it based on the series we are doing in Genesis, this makes perfect sense. Watching pornography fills our minds with visuals of physical sex without any emotional or spiritual intimacy. It’s the “animal” approach to sexuality; the more we watch the more we start believing that this is the true approach to sexuality. In addition to all of this, pornography can be highly addictive and Christians are not immune to its power. A Promise Keepers survey revealed that over 50% of the men struggled with pornography just 1 week after attending the stadium event. I applaud you for saying that you “can’t deal with this fact.” You shouldn’t. He is engaging in sin and it’s hurting you and it’s hurting him (whether he realizes it or not). The only way he can get help is if he wants help. The first step in getting out of sin is agreeing with God that what you are doing is sin. If he can’t and won’t do this, there is no way to help him (outside of praying for God to soften his heart). If he does want help, there are plenty of resources (check out www.xxxchurch.com ) and people to help him. Our desire at Genesis is to help people find healing from sin and the resulting pain of sin through Jesus first and then through community. We would love to walk with him through this—he just needs to be willing to do this. If he isn’t wiling to get help, my advice to you is to end the relationship. I know this sounds harsh, but it is in your (and his) best interest. God’s command to husbands is to love their wives as Christ loves the church (see Ephesians 5:25). This is a radical, self-sacrificing love. If he isn’t willing to give up porn for himself and for you now, he won’t be wiling to do this in marriage. If you stay in the relationship, you will continue to be hurt and you will enable him to continue in this sin.

Let's Meet at the Beach this Sunday!

2007-08-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

Arrive early for a parking space! We'll meet at Rio Del Mar Beach this Sunday for worship, the Word, volleyball, probably some donuts, coffee, and sunshine! Bring a lunch and some sunscreen!

Sex Q & A

2007-07-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

Q: What are your thoughts about masturbation?

A: (by Nancy Broxton)
Great question—one so few are willing to ask. Thanks for your courage!
The first thing to note is that the Bible is largely silent on the topic of masturbation.
Yet, the Bible is full of advice surrounding our sexuality (go to 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 if you’d like to meditate on a great passage celebrating the body). So, let me try to get to the heart of the question…where to start? First, masturbation (self-touching of the genitals) is a pretty normal part of the developmental process—even babies find great pleasure in touching their own genitals. The confusing (& spiritually related) part starts in adolescence. At the time when sexual organs begin to work (party at the Broxtons’!), we aren’t ready to be in married, intimate sexual relationships. The amount of time each part needs to develop into adulthood—biology, emotions, intelligence, and social recognition—is totally different. The body matures much more quickly than any other part. Masturbation at this stage can be a solitary way for teens to release the curiosity & sexual energy building up in the body, especially since they are not yet ready emotionally (or financially!) for marriage.
Unfortunately, the topic of masturbation is not usually that simple. Guilt and shame enter into the picture, sometimes with other forms of sexual stimulation like pornography, which ultimately leads to lust. The core problem is this: The sexual drive was not designed to be fulfilled in solitude. Our bodies were designed by God to constantly pull us into two primary relationships—first with God, and then with others (in this context, one other person that we commit to in marriage). That’s why masturbation can lead to a feeling of emptiness—which many young Christians think is guilt. That “empty” feeling may not be true guilt (unless coupled with lust, see below), but rather the body’s way of saying “I want more! That’s not enough!” Ultimately, that empty feeling is good because it keeps us looking for sexual fulfillment and total emotional intimacy—that’s why God designed marriage.
For many people, though, this is where the addictive cycle of masturbation often starts—we look for more and more ways of fulfilling our sexual desires before marriage (or when marriage doesn’t seem fulfilling), while still remaining “abstinent.” The thing that complicates the question is lust—this is the sin part that the Bible tells us to run away from (go back to 1 Cor 6:18). It’s also the addictive factor which, when paired with any form of sex, leads to a compulsive cycle resulting in guilt & shame. It also becomes a behavior which feels impossible to stop. When fantasies, pictures, videos, novels, or other types of stimulation are paired with masturbation, we’re fulfilling lustful desires (wanting sexual fulfillment through some “object” in our minds, not our spouse). Not only do we hurt ourselves—we get stuck in a painful cycle of lust & shame—but it’s also harmful to others: First, the person in the picture or movie has become a “thing” to us, rather than a real person created in God’s image; second, we’re stealing true intimacy from our mate (or future mate). We keep ourselves from having real, “naked” intimacy with anyone else, even God.
There’s another possibility that Lewis Smedes suggests in his book, Sex For Christians (great reading to think more about this topic!). He says compulsive masturbation can be one type of self-abuse, not of the body, but of the soul. For people who go through each day feeling a vague sense of guilt, masturbation can be a “thing” that becomes a tangible way they “prove” themselves to be unlovable and unworthy, especially to God.
So…what do we do? First, as Smedes says, “the answer to this problem is grace” (1994, pp. 141-2). This has to start with total intimacy & honesty—if you’re stuck in a cycle of lust and guilt, confess it before God and one other close friend who can help you in prayer & encouragement (Note: If you’re married, yes, confess your struggle to your spouse…but maybe ask a friend/mentor of your gender to pray & ask the tough questions—sexual sin is painful info for spouses to process & it will be tough for him/her to keep an objective mindset, which you’ll need. Consider a Christian counselor, too, to get to the heart of your issue. If you want, you can ask us for contacts.).
Second, know that you are not alone. It is a trick of the devil to keep us isolated in our guilt and shame—unfortunately, we can’t grow & change unless we open each part of our life to honesty, forgiveness and relationship. Since sexuality is at the center of how we are designed—created in God’s image—I’m not surprised we wrestle with it so much. We all struggle with sexuality in one way or another.Well…thanks for reading…those are a few of my ideas to think & talk about (post your comments!). If you’re wrestling with this question (or other questions about sexuality), here are some of the questions I ask myself in the process:
1. Am I continually pursuing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ thru prayer and the Bible?
2. Am I active in the body of Christ, seeking out intimate & honest relationships with others?
3. [If married] Am I wholeheartedly pursuing a committed, intimate, healing, life-bringing relationship with my spouse through every means possible (i.e. intentional & honest conversation, prayer, counseling, small groups, godly friends, marriage retreats, etc.)?
And then I pray with Paul in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Blessings & prayers on the journey!

Sex Q & A

2007-07-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Q: I met a girl a few weeks ago that I really connected with. We eventually found ourselves in the same bed after only 2 days of knowing each other. We didn’t engage in intercourse but we went as far as hand to genital contact. Am I still a virgin? How can I talk to her? How can I pray to God for healing of this shame? (this question has been paraphrased)

A: (by Charlie Broxton)
This is a great question that really got me thinking about how we view sex and sexuality in the church. For the longest time, I have heard the saying “True Love Waits.” To me, this saying means that someone is waiting to have sexual intercourse until they get married. This is a good thing but it’s incomplete. You can have hand to genital contact and still be a virgin according to this mentality. These are lines that we have drawn to determine the difference between a virgin and someone who has lost their virginity. In the process, I believe that we have elevated physical virginity and completely forgotten about Jesus’ teaching about sex and our hearts and minds. Jesus didn’t draw the line at physical virginity. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” This means that when we look at someone with sexual intent, we have had sex with them even though it’s only in our minds. According to this teaching virginity is not just about what we do, it’s about what we think and imagine. Most of us have struggled with impure thoughts. Most of us have struggled with sexual intent towards people we aren’t married to. This means that in Jesus’ eyes, we have all crossed that line. The point is that it’s not about whether we are physical virgins or not, we have to guard not just our bodies but also our minds if we are going to live the life that Jesus calls us to. The good news is that the blood of Christ covers over every sin. There is no sin outside of the reach of God’s grace. Check out of 1 John 1:9. All we have to do is confess. The bad news is that once you have crossed this line with someone, it is really hard to go back. The best advice I can give you is to be very careful with this relationship. I would heavily caution you against pursuing this relationship. If you decide to pursue it, find people to hold you accountable so that you don’t make the same mistake twice. When the shame from this situation sets in, ask God for His help to step outside of it and rest in His grace and love revealed in Jesus Christ. Soak yourself in Romans 8:1. This passage is amazingly freeing! It tells us that there is no condemnation for those of us who have faith in Jesus Christ.

Embrace: Q & A

2007-06-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Questions by You, Answers by Charlie:

Why did God reserve something as great as sex just to happen within the confines of marriage?

God modeled the marriage relationship after His relationship with His people. God wants us to worship Him alone. He wants to be our only God. It goes back to the first commandment in Exodus 20:3 when God says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” He is to be our only God and in Christ He brings us into union with Himself. Throughout Scripture, God calls for faithfulness from His people over and over again. Ephesians 5:25-33 tells us that God modeled the husband and wife relationship after His relationship with His people. In marriage, two people become one. They are so connected with each other, they are united in a faithful love commitment that lasts for a lifetime. The prophets speak frequently to the Israelites about their unfaithfulness to God (see Ezekiel 16 as one example). In their unfaithfulness, they are likened to a wife who prostitutes herself and has sex with other men. They promised to be faithful to God, their husband, and they broke their promise. God was calling them back to Himself. Because marriage is an intimate union that gives us a glimpse of God’s relationship with His people, God asks us to have the same attitude in our marriages—that of faithfulness (emotionally, spiritually and sexually)--to one person and one person only. Sex is essentially a taste of heaven. It is the most intimate way of connecting with another person. This is what the Bible calls being one flesh (see Genesis 2:24). Our world has lost the meaning of this reality because it sees sex as only an act of the body. But for God, sex is an act of the body, spirit and soul. It bonds us intimately to the person that we are having sex with. This is why God reserves it for the life long commitment of marriage. When we have that kind of multi-faceted intimacy with another human being as God intended it is a foretaste of the kind of intimacy we will have with God in heaven. This doesn’t mean that we will have sex in heaven, it just means that we can look forward to that kind of freedom, safety, oneness and intimacy with God.

Is oral sex, sex?

The answer to that question is yes! In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus talks about sex not just being an act of the body but also an act of the heart and the mind. In this passage, Jesus tells us that when we hold in our hearts a sexual desire for another, we have already had sex with him or her in our hearts. Jesus calls this kind of sexual desire lust and tells us that we shouldn’t lust after someone who isn’t our spouse. I am a firm believer that oral sex, or even the desire for it, shows that we are struggling with this kind of lust. I’ve found over the years is that people who ask this question are often people who are dating and are looking for a loophole to get out of God’s design for sex. On the other hand, some people often ask, “Is oral sex OK within the confines of marriage?” My answer is that it is up to the Christ-following couple to decide. There are some pastors and scholars who think that last line of Song of Songs 2:3 is referring to oral sex. I’m not completely convinced that this is true. What I do know is that whatever happens within the commitment of a Christian marriage first and foremost has to be done out of a love for Jesus Christ and a love for the other person. In my opinion, there are some couples that can engage in oral sex because it is an expression of love and their consciences are not telling them it is wrong. There are other couples that can’t because it is not an expression of love and their consciences tell them it is wrong. And when I talk about love, I’m talking about a “I would give my life for you” love. This kind of love brings glory to God. All sex within the confines of a God-honoring marriage is done for the purpose of worship and bringing glory to Jesus.

Christ-like Figures at the Box Office

2007-06-22T14:50:00.001-07:00

(I give the ending away, so read no further if you wish to be “surprised”.)

I can’t believe I’m actually writing a review of Fantastic Four: The Silver Surfer. But I need to write this down just to let the cosmic dust settle. To begin with, I am not about to herald this movie as “The Next Big Evangelical Movie from Hollywood,” nor will I recommend it to budding Astro-Physicists looking to turn in a half-page extra credit review proving you went out and saw the movie to gain recognition from your teacher/professor.

I’m just trying to unearth the overall theme of this movie, which proves I need to get out more, since digesting and analyzing action hero flicks is about as intellectually shallow as one can get. I mean, once you get past all that eye candy and neoprene suits and billowing smoke, there has to be thematic content scattered among the urban rubble somewhere. They manage to sprinkle plenty of pseudo-scientific jargon throughout the dialogue, strings of words that don’t make sense in any dimension of the Universe, except Hollywood sets; like Rob Lowe’s character says in Thank You for Smoking, “If anyone asks, we’ll just say, you know, thank God we invented the…whatever…device.”

That’s Fantastic Four in a nutshell.

But beyond that, there seems to be an obvious, but not so explicit, picture of Christ at one point. An “alien” enters the Earth’s atmosphere, this perfectly structured, flawless specimen with a powerfully multi-acoustic, echoing voice reminiscent of British Jesus in past Hollywood films. He warns of a Thing so grandiose and all-consuming, it is known “by many names” and is coming quickly, devouring whole galaxies like a roaming bear at a crowded campsite.
The Alien tells Susan he has no choice but to follow his master, that great big thing that systematically eats outer space. But Susan says, and this is the crux of the movie’s theme, “You ALWAYS have a choice.” Then silence, to let the novelty of Free Will sink in to the audience, then an unwelcome interruption.
Superhero movies are like this, and I don’t resent it: Hero-Victim faces life lesson, contemplates momentarily, and then BOOM! the city is on fire again, a temporary diversion from further contemplation. I think life is like this, too, sometimes. You find that quiet moment during the day, when clarity alights upon your tongue like a snowflake and you savor its qualities and then BOOM! you swallow clarity whole and pick through the wreckage of an orderly life.

The difference between this superhero movie and every other superhero movie, is that this isn’t so much a fight between Good and Evil. Sure, you could surmise that the enormous, star swallowing mass is like Satan, but evil is never satisfied. It reaches and takes and consumes and steals and destroys, and is the stuff of Hell. This film seems to step outside Good Vs. Evil momentarily, causing the lines to blur slightly.

Later in the film, after the entire glossary of astronomy terms has been exhausted and new words coined, the incendiary globe a’ la Wrath Of God encroaches on Peaceful Earth, and we get a Space Station’s View for added effect. The Alien realizes that he really does have a choice. He doesn't HAVE to serve this thing anymore, and his new self-sacrificing friends and their planet will be exterminated, so he flies back into the particle cloud just as its fingerlike tendrils of smoke caress Earth’s Ionosphere, and bringing lightning.
Once inside the dark cloud, and here’s where I give the ending away, the alien bows inside of it as though praying “Let this cup pass from me” and then with steely resolve, jackknifes backwards and spreads his arms as if crucified on thin air. The splaying of hands is so fleeting you almost believe you imagined it.
The ominous blackness finds the alien an acceptable sacrifice and recedes back into space, having tasted Planet Earth and decided maybe it’s for another day. Amazingly, the Earth is not knocked off it’s axis, the sun is not extinguished, although our planetary solar system may have suffered minor casualties, such as Saturn. Intergalactic order is restored, phew! The lights flickered momentarily and that was scary. Close call, but nothing the Fantastic Four can’t handle, even though they didn’t handle anything at all, really, once the alien single-handedly saved the world from being vaporized.
The F4 took credit for it.
We are so much like them sometimes.

Embrace: Q & A

2007-06-19T17:27:00.001-07:00

Those questions you've been wanting to ask?...get answered here.

(Go ahead, see what Charlie will say!)

Anonymous questions are welcome.

Re-Genesis Website

2007-06-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

So I just happened to click on a link to the Genesis homepage, and whoa! What's this? It's a totally different, yet authorized/registered new website for Genesis!
So let me get this straight...Not only will our place of gathering undergo drastic remodeling this summer (see dictionary, under Re-Monschke), but apparently so will our logo and cyber center???

That's cool.

The unveiling of the new website was probably meant to happen this coming Sunday during announcements, but you read and saw it here first!
Ahh, so this it what it feels like to break a story.

Vision Day

2007-06-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

This month, the "new" Genesis is officially one year old. It's usually a good idea to reevaluate things after a year goes by, so today we revisited the vision of Genesis: following Jesus and loving people.
There are five words used to describe Genesis.

family: We want to be one. If you haven't joined a home group, seriously think about doing so. To be a family, we need to know one another and grow in love. This is what leads to crying on one another's shoulders, helping each other out, and occasionally ringing each other's necks- in love.
authenticity: to be an authentic family, we need to be real with one another. We need to feel comfortable in our own skin and to accept others in their skin. It all comes down to respect and vulnerability.
worship: Let's face it- not everybody can wail at the microphone or on any specific instrument. But everyone can worship together in different ways. If you're not gifted musically, maybe your service and willing heart expresses worship to God. Or maybe you contribute to Mosaic, or you use a very specific gift as a means to worship in a corporate setting. Genesis is a place where devotion and worship to God is expressed in different ways.
missional: a relatively new word, this means extending our faith community into the rest of the community. Gathering together a couple times a week is all well and good, but we can't forget that Jesus tells us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," and teaching them to obey everything He has commanded us. We should serve others and love them, not only through our actions, but with the Truth of the Gospel.
faith: as Charlie put it, we need to face a daily fight for faith. Pursue righteousness and a passion for Christ. All of the above definitions of Genesis are tied together, and should remain equally valuable for us to maintain a thriving church body.

What to look forward to in the coming weeks:

Joining the worship band, which consists of Adrian. Talk to Adrian if you are interested... and musically gifted.
Leading a Genesis Home Group. Email genesis@tlc.org if you are interested.
Missions Trip- a hurricane relief team will be repairing homes in Port Arthur, TX. The Carltons have all the answers you're looking for: joel2-25@sbcglobal.net.
The New Series starting next week: Embrace. As in, embracing our sexuality in a healthy, godly way. Rated PG-13 for some mature content.

Thanks to everyone for making Genesis' first year great!

This Sunday: Mosaic & Breakfast!

2007-05-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

That's right- not only will we be treated to a free art display on Sunday, but a free (donations accepted) breakfast, too!

The theme for Mosaic this time is "For the Children".

Bring your art and your appetite!

Explicit: Entering the Kingdom

2007-05-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we concluded the Explicit series with Matthew 7:13-29. There is a lot of imagery in this passage, as if Jesus realized the grand finale of his fireworks presentation was coming up and he needed to fire off every rocket he had.

This is the part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus describes the broad and narrow roads. The broad road, he says, leads to destruction and ultimately death. It might look inviting, comfortable, room enough for many to enter, but the end of this road is death. The narrow road, however, leads to life- but it appears treacherous and difficult to navigate, so only a few venture through its gate. People who find this road may be asked to leave their most precious possessions behind. They may be asked to give up comforts and their own personal aspirations. There is no room for those things on the narrow path. They must be prepared.

Along the way are stationed false prophets (it doesn't say which road in particular stores false prophets; I think both). These false prophets will look harmless, espousing half-truths and feel-goodiness that seems right on the surface, but underneath is a spirit of destruction and an intention to mislead. "By their fruits you will recognize them," Jesus says.

This makes me think of people who beg for "seed" offerings to support their ministry, and then buy a private luxury jet to properly spread the Gospel to third world countries they never get around to visiting. It sounds good at first- you'll be supporting a missional cause, the unreached will be reached, and that much faster with a jet plane. But then you wonder why Venice, Paris, and Monte Carlo qualify as Third World. And you wonder whether or not a "Holy Spirit enema" would be a good thing.
Sometimes bad fruit is easily identified. Other times it requires further examination. We're told here to look at the fruit of false prophets to be sure.

The broad road is filled with many who believe they are destined for Heaven. No doubt a little help from false prophets along the way aided their misgivings. When they reach their destination they will be surprised and disappointed, and will likely protest, saying "Lord! I did good things along the way. Don't I deserve to go to Heaven?" (A side note here: The answer to this person's question is always "No". Our sin nature strictly prohibits us from any birthright into Heaven, and so there is no amount of "trying" on our part that will land us a seat in Heaven, and probably not standing room, either. We cannot earn God's favor simply by doing nice things. God is soveriegn and we cannot make choices for Him).

The travelers on the broad path have refused to repent of sin and seek God's will for their lives. They will see Jesus at the end, but He will not recognize them as one of His. Sometimes I wonder why. Why can't the broad road just automatically deposit into Heaven, no questions asked? Why the two roads and not just one? The only conclusion I can come up with is that the broad road isn't founded on truth. Jesus goes on in this passage to talk about building a house on a strong foundation to stand up against storms. Building a house on a shifting foundation would cause it to tumble apart.
I think the same is true for the broad road. We can be deceived into thinking the broad road is solid- look at all the people on it! It must be sturdy. But when hard times pass through, when tribulation comes, what do people cling to? Do they cling to their possessions, which fit comfortably on their trek? Do they cling to the ground as it bucks and caves beneath them? Do they turn and leave the broad road in search of the narrow one?
When Jesus finishes with the description of the rock foundation and the sand foundation, it says the crowds were amazed because he taught with authority, unlike the teachers of the law. People might be hard of hearing when it comes to God's word. We're not as bright as we like to think we are. Biblically speaking, we are oft compared to sheep, the dumb animals. But Jesus also says, "My sheep hear my voice." You don't need a PhD to recognize your master's voice. Sheep do it all the time.
The crowds that day could tell the difference between a teacher and a shepherd. A teacher will tell people the difference between the broad and narrow roads. A shepherd will guide and lead people over the narrow road himself. A shepherd will share in the tribulation his sheep endure. He will protect them from wolves and whisper truth in their ears. He will point out the good fruit and the bad. The shepherd always has our best interest in mind.

A couple good books to read are Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, and Hinds' Feet in High Places by Hannan Hurnard. Both are allegories of the narrow path, offering insight into the kinds of trials one may encounter while following Jesus, and the reward that comes with it.

Explicit: God's Goodness

2007-05-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight we decided to watch The Untold Stories of Columbine on dvd. When the shootings happened I was a senior in high school. I did not believe in Jesus, at least I didn't think I did. But when my sister stopped me at school in a hallway and told me about the Columbine school shootings, she used the word massacre, she told me about the kids who were targeted for their faith in Jesus. She told me about the girl who looked into the barrel of a gun and said "Yes" when the murderers asked if she still believed in God. I knew she was in Heaven, even though the day before and many days after I refused to admit Heaven existed.
As I heard about the tragedy and the growing body count, I remember sitting in my Humanities class and weeping so hard the girl next to me grabbed my hand and squeezed.
I've thought about Rachel Scott many times since then. The remembrance of that day and those who were killed still brings me to tears.
In the film we watched tonight, Rachel's father, Darrell Scott, talks about the passage we looked at yesterday about God's goodness. In Matthew 7: 7-12, Jesus gives the illustration of a human father interacting with his child and briefly compares this with our interaction with Father God. He says, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask him."
Darrell Scott reads this passage, and speaks about all the times God answers our prayers in way we don't understand at first. He likened the stone and the snake to certain ways God answers our prayers; it might not look like what he asked for, but all that comes from God is good.
Darrell Scott looks at the stone he was handed when his daughter died and tried to decipher how it was a good gift. And he realized that all of his daughter's prayers were answered the day she was killed. Her story was far-reaching and aided in spreading the gospel to many people.
I think of that day I grieved in a classroom for young people I would never know, and in no small way I believe God used Rachel's death to prepare my heart for regeneration years later. I am not alone. God used the brutal circumstances to sow His truth among many others. That is the "stone" God handed Rachel's father that day, and Darrell Scott is continuously sustained.
The Scott story always reminds me that no matter what happens, God is always good.
Sometimes I think about meeting Rachel in Heaven, and what I'll say to her, or if I'll have to say anything at all.

Apologies

2007-05-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been feeling mentally exhausted and I know it has been affecting my commitment to this blog. (I just searched the word "commitment" on Dictionary.com to make sure I spelled it correctly. That's how tired I've been). I apologize for my lack of effort these past few weeks. Taking on new and exciting responsibilities at my day job has left me drained of creativity and drowsy by the end of the day. I told someone recently that all I want to do is stare straight ahead at a superhero flick and not think. (I saw Spiderman 3. I'm that one person who really loved it!)
To some of you, my recent posting may be rather transpicuous in terms of intelligability and diminished standards. It at least seems this way to me.

I just returned from a meeting with my home group and I feel somewhat refreshed after a long discussion about judging others. I'm so grateful for the insight of my home group members. Jesus' words about judging people are applicable to so many areas of life. Sometimes we can be afraid to judge others lest we be judged ourselves, and this is true pertaining to condemnation. Jesus doesn't want us to mingle at church or around town deciding who is going to Heaven and who is going to Hell. However, if we see someone giving into temptation, instead of rushing to their side with a stern warning we should pause, examine our own weaknesses and evaluate how well we have temptation kept at bay, and once we deal with our own sin (God will certainly bring to mind one or two right away) then we can approach the other person with compassion for their situation.
Taking the time to look deeply at our own struggles can help us gain perspective and empathy for the other person's struggles. When we approach the person, meekly and discreetly, and that person rejects our concerns outright then we can move on knowing that we tried to communicate our care for them in a loving manner. I think this is what Jesus means when he talks about "pearls before swine" and whatnot. If they don't receive what we bring before them we must move on and keep the person in prayer, rather than hassle them repeatedly with our opinions- no matter how heartfelt. There comes a time when we must step away quietly with humility, bearing in mind that we can fall for temptation at any time.
Judging others is not necessarily inherently bad. Judging others is a very real and natural part of our day to day existence. It's called discernment. But condemning others or believing we are in any way better than them is a faulty use of discernment. When a church hires a new pastor or leader there are certain Biblical criteria the church will use to judge a candidate. If they don't see fit for a person to come on board based on this criteria, that is perfectly acceptable. It is not acceptable to then cast the former candidate to the curb and verbally condemn them to Hell.

I just finished up a week of interviews at work. I'm not the best at what I do. I make mistakes and I get careless and I have to examine my work quality often. With that in mind, I had to judge people based on a set of criteria pertinent to the job, based on a superficial meeting or a long distance phone conversation. A more politically-correct person might say I was judging their job skills or experience, but I'll admit that I was actually judging them- their personality, their long term goals, their sense of humor, their ability to admit when they've made mistakes. And then I sincerely wish them the best on their career path, knowing their future is not entirely up to me. If they don't meet the criteria, I don't call around town to ensure they never work in these parts again.
In a similar way, when we approach someone with a pure heart and they reject what we have to say, we should remember that their future is not entirely up to us, so criticizing or condemning them is neither necessary nor appropriate. God has a divine path laid out for them and He will be the guide, not us. We can be supportive and corrective, but we've also got our own sins and frustrations to deal with.

Thanks again to my home group for their inspiring thoughts this evening! I apologize if posting is spotty these coming weeks, but you'll understand why ;)

Re-Monschke

2007-05-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend Twin Lakes is taking an offering for the remodel of Monschke Hall. If God leads you, please pray about giving money for the cause. Major repairs are necessary, including a new roof and heating/ventilation. Of course, if the roof falls in we at Genesis will have plenty of heat and ventilation on Sunday mornings.

Explicit: Judging Others

2007-05-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday we read Matthew 7: 1-6, which is about judging others. But first we had some baby dedications (left).

I don't think anyone can convince themselves that they don't judge others. It comes naturally, and we are often incognizant of our own evaluative criticism, which makes this tendency seem reflexive- involuntary, even.
When I was starting high school, I brought home a senior boy who very much resembled the anti-Christ. My parents weren't trying to be judgmental when they scoffed at his long bottle-black hair, a goatee that reeked of cigarette smoke, and his dual nipple rings. At the time I thought they were being so judgmental, but upon years of reflection I'm not so sure I would allow my daughter to pursue such a doomed relationship, either. But the point is, my parents just couldn't help themselves. God help them, they tried to be supportive. Of course it ended badly, but all of that is just a dim memory now; a wry smile on my face and a shudder down my parents' spines.
But this isn't exactly what Jesus means when he tells us not to judge others. It's one thing to make an appraisal of your kid's friends, with their best interest in mind, but it's another thing to criticize another person for something that is:

Not their fault (illness, wealth/poverty, circumstance)
Something you are guilty of yourself (hypocrisy)
None of your business (get that plank out of your eye)
Subjectively "wrong" in your plank-filled eyes (mere opinion)

I heard a Reliant K song on the radio today. It went: "And you can't see past the blood on my hands/To see that you've been aptly damned/To fail and fail again/Cause we're all guilty of the same things/We think the thoughts whether or not we see them through/And I know that I have been forgiven/And I just hope you can forgive me too".
Have you ever caught yourself in the middle of making a judgment, big or small, against somebody and then stopped to realize you do the same things? Everyone sins again and again, but we make excuses for ours and condemn other people- for the same exact thing! And then we draw a line of demarcation between 'us' and 'them' and we cast stones.

Currently, I am interviewing people at work to fill a position. Interviewing can feel like the most brutally judgmental activity. I can be extremely judgmental towards people who take too many liberties on the job. I usually don't voice my opinions. I just harbor them safely in my mind, and roll my eyes on cue when I observe a slacker. See? I just used the word slacker. Of course I don't say anything when I witness someone slacking. I wouldn't want to appear judgmental. Of course, when I need a break it's perfectly acceptable and I tell myself I've earned it.

So, my boss asked me to get a feel for how applicants would "fit in" at the office. This has proven to be uncomfortable, because I have to ask questions that will glean information without getting us sued. While prospects deliver well-rehearsed verbal resumes, I am scanning them for major personality flaws, special interests that are borderline unique but not weird, and whether or not they might accompany me on frequent coffee breaks to Zizzo's. And it all feels so wicked. Really, I don't care all that much if the person doesn't "fit in," because if they work diligently that's all I care about. We've spent months cleaning up after colleagues who "fit in" but didn't apply themselves beyond socializing. And since when am I the qualified expert on fitting in? I am supposed to screen for "team players" and "trainable" people, but I'm really asking myself, "Is this person a work horse, willing to forego the lunch or break they are entitled to? Will they voluntarily enslave themselves to productivity? Will they embrace an obsessive-compulsive work ethic- nay, foster and nurture an obsessive-compulsive work ethic? Can they transform into a machine?"

And if not, does that really make them a poor employee? How come I'm justified when I take a break to catch up with someone in the hall, but I judge other, equally hard-working, people so harshly?

Browsing the Bloggers Choice Awards

2007-05-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Bloggers Choice Awards offers a category for "Best Religion Blogs". Check out some of the nominees:

The Rebelution- Twin teenage boys take blogging and faith seriously

All Things 2 All- New Zealand blogger on faith and other stuff

Real Live Preacher- a blog written by a real live preacher

Felmar's Missionary Journey- Daily life of a Seminary student in the Philippines

I wasted time..and now doth time waste me- this guy Ron makes me laugh

From the morning- also makes me laugh, in that "it's so true" way

Pyromaniacs- I dig the graphic design here

Wife of an Addict- a woman chronicles the struggles of being married to a sex addict

Holdfast- a high school senior puts his biblical thoughts here

J's Mental Scraps- JP in Seattle recently participated in Displace Me (like Haley Cloyd), and posts some thought-provoking videos

...And these are just a sampling of the many nominations. If you know of a rad site, let us know!

Reminder: Genesis BBQ at the Dawsons'

2007-05-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow evening, Friday May 11th, is the barbeque at the Dawsons' house! Starts at 6. Gonna be a great time!

Explicit: Worry

2007-05-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

This morning Charlie spoke about worry, and what Jesus says about it in Matthew 6:25-34. I sort of love this passage, and I sort of don't. Because as much as worrying plagues me, I almost like to worry about things. That unnecessary jolt of anxiety keeps me alert in a shallow-breath, bouncy knee sort of way. I feel alive and buzzing like a frayed live wire, eliminating the need for caffeine in the morning. However, this self-perpetuating electric shock can be draining throughout the day, causing my neuro-transmitters to crackle and pop and slowly fizzle, rendering me useless save for data entry or monosyllabic email replies. Last week I went ahead and diagnosed myself with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The impersonal, free online quiz I took suggested I seek professional help. But I was actually relieved to know I might have OCD. Now when I'm stressing out I can just say, "Jody, you are being so OCD right now..."

Don't Worry, Be Happy
Growing up, I liked to brag that my Uncle Ben knows Bobby McFerrin through a project they worked on together. That has nothing to do with this topic, except that I wanted to brag about my uncle again.
But Charlie is right about those lyrics- they are kind of insensitive. I once divulged a very troubling matter to someone with the hope of at least some emotional validation, and all I got was, "Hey, at least you know you're going to Heaven, dontcha?" This response made me cry because not only did it seem that my situation on Earth was hopeless, it also made Heaven seem very, very far away.
God's word tells us to not to worry, but it also tells us to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). I don't think you have to squeeze out a tear every time your friend has a meltdown, but perhaps exuding some sympathy would alleviate their stress.

Just Breathe
When I was in college I worked two jobs simultaneously and I had a full course load every quarter. Somewhere in my spare time I managed to get married, pay the bills, and occasionally eat meals. One night, after one of these rare meals, I dragged myself to my bed to lie down and then I quit breathing. Just stopped the inhale/exhale/repeat. Patrick of course panicked and flung me over his shoulder to race me, choking, to the emergency room, where they took my blood and informed me that I was entirely too stressed out. I was so sick from worry I almost half-suffocated myself, which could have led to partial brain damage and other physiological unpleasantries. Jesus says in this week's passage, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" You can't, but it certainly appears that by worrying you can subtract an hour or two.

Remember the Birds
Here are some shots of birds near my house. They aren't exactly "birds of the air", but they'll do.
Even if we don't worry ourselves to a physical death, it is still possible to damage our spiritual well-being. When we constantly worry and distract ourselves with fears, even fears that are legitimate, we might experience a spiritual hiccup, wheeze, and then commence choking. Why? Because as Charlie stated today, "Worry is a symptom of unbelief". I sometimes liken this worry/unbelief dichotomy to watching animated films. I kid you not, Finding Nemo had my insides twisted in a knot. I was so wound up with anxiety when I watched it for the first time I couldn't even enjoy it. I had to constantly remind myself, "This is a kids movie. Kids movies end happily. The mom always dies but whatever, everything's gonna be fine". I have to have faith that no twisted masterminds would create a family friendly film that doesn't end happily. I've seen that movie 600 times now and I am finally numb to its climactic scenes.
I know life is no kids movie. Real bad stuff happens to all of us, but we need to have faith that God is good and knows what we have need of and He will take care of us. Everything is gonna be okay.

Explicit: Money

2007-04-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we heard Erica talk about money, and not just money but material wealth that can sidetrack us or become more important that the things God wants for us.
Some have said that God really wants us to be rich and to live life to the fullest. But most people who attain physical wealth will tell you that it is never satisfying, and you'll always want more. Instead, if we focus on what God values we will reap eternal benefits and we will be satisfied. Jesus says in Matthew 6: 22, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If you're most prized possession is something that can be destroyed it is likely you are setting yourself up for disappointment. But when you cherish the things of God you can rest in the satisfaction that it is eternal.

Jesus also says "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." I think what this means is that the human heart cannot accept the duality of two affections. You cannot parcel out pieces of your heart and have it remain intact, and you cannot devote your entire heart to more than one object of affection at the same time.

This makes me think of chick flicks.
Growing up, I used to both love and despise the prolific genre of romantic comedy. I loved the idea of the perfect relationship/circumstances/person/self. I hated that it wasn't real. It is because of this form of entertaining drivel that a young girl will envision her mid-twenties on a glamorous film reel, starring herself as she and her loyal best friend lounge by their own pool with a pink cosmopolitan in one hand and the other shading their eyes from the happy sun. After a long day pursuing some indiscriminate-yet-successful career, Young Star would like nothing more than to complain about her life. And her relentlessly loyal BFF is more than happy to listen supportively, because she exists solely to lavish compliments on the Young Star and to fixate intensely on the Young Star's pathetic love life.
Then YS meets the man of her dreams; a dashingly handsome and sophisticated man with smoldering eyes and an expensive Italian suit. Meanwhile her close guy friend, who was originally cast as just a supporting character, is madly in love with her. This guy friend of hers is rather goofy in comparison to Smoldering Eyes, but he has a disarming grin that she finds comforting.
Of course, Smoldering Eyes and Disarming Grin Guy must now compete for the Young Star's affection. Young Star becomes torn. She claims to love them both, but how can this be? How can you really love two people at the same time in the same way? You can't.
If someone told you to your face, "I love you and I want to be with you, and you are important to me. But, I also love this other person, too, and I want to be with them because they are just as important to me. I'm torn," would you honestly accept that? Nod your head if you think that is ridiculous.* But S.E. and D.G. are patient.
Of course Disarming Grin eventually wins when YS realizes she's really been in love with him the entire time and Smoldering Eyes was merely the catalyst of said realization.
And the thing is, none of this ever happens. Ever.
In real life, Relentlessly Loyal BFF is actually jealous of Young Star, and doesn't care a whit who YS ends up with because she's too wrapped up in her own problems, and being emotionally torn between two eligable bachelors just doesn't seem to be a "problem" as far as BFF is concerned.
In real life, Smoldering Eyes is not sophisticated. He's predatory.
And now that Dismarming Grin Guy won the girl, he dumps her because he discovers it was really all about winning and since S.E. is gone, so is the thrill. Young Star comes home from a mediocre day job and throws herself across her bed and weeps. Oh yeah, and this morning she detected wrinkles around her eyes.
So, I digress slightly, but coming back around to the point I was making about being torn between two masters...

Something suffers. We're so used to overcommiting ourselves and working toward exhaustion that we forget what's really important, and we can't give ourselves fully to the cause of Christ. When we remember to keep His perspective in our thoughts and in our hearts we'll know that we are serving Him.

* Did you really just nod your head? You do realize I can't see you right now, don't you?

Mexico Photos from Kayla

2007-04-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kayla, we have some visual aides to help tell a story. Some might require more explanation than others, but I really feel like I have a good idea of what things were like.

Thanks Kayla!

Celebrate Mexico

2007-04-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm supposed to be at Celebrate Mexico, listening to all the amazing stories from the Isaiah Project. Instead I'm just wiped out and I feel like a flake because I want to be there but...

So if you want to share anything about the trip to Mexico, (pictures, stories, spiritual truths) feel free to post here or send me your pictures.

Sorry I'm not there to see everything!

Explicit: Fasting

2007-04-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

This week we looked at Matthew 6:16-18, which talks about fasting. As Charlie mentioned, we live in a country where we don't eat to live, we live to eat. And the practice of fasting does not apply only to food, but to other resources, distractions, personal habits, etc. As we see from reading the old and new testament, fasting should remain a part of our lives. And there are several reasons for fasting. One that comes to mind is the Isaiah Project, wherein 100 people from our community traveled to Mexico to spend a week building homes. They gave up their iPods, showers, real toilets and bathrooms, comfortable shelter, personal relaxation time, Spring Break, FDA quality controlled food, etc., to serve God and fellow man. Yet they had joy and lots of fun, and in the process they built relationships, grew closer to God, and realized the many blessings in their lives.
And as Charlie noted, there are 5 main reasons for fasting:

1. as an act of repentance
2. for guidance and direction
3. to pray for specific needs
4. to seek God's protection and deliverance
5. as an act of worship to God

Whatever the reason may be, scripture tells us not to announce why or when we are fasting. There are a couple reasons for this:

It annoys people and, no, it does not make you appear more spiritual
God will notice and He will reward you

We also need to be sensitive to those who are fasting. There's nothing worse than being tempted with the very thing you are tempted by. At a prayer meeting, I once offered a friend some food that was good. She declined once, and I said in between mouthfuls, "Come on, don't make me eat alone." She declined again, this time saying she didn't want any. I said, "Just try it. It's sooooo good. Mmmm. I feel bad eating in front of you. Please have some." Food tumbled out of my mouth and I caught some of it in my hand and shoved it back into my mouth, carelessly brushing the fallen pieces from the table to the floor. My friend's gaze dropped to her lap and she said quietly, "I'm fasting." I lost my appetite. I felt so badly so I groveled and removed the food from her presence. My insistance drove her to disclosure. I felt like a jerk, but I would have been a bigger jerk had I cackled and shoved the plate closer to her. That's the stuff of Satan.

Weekly Poll: Textbook Scripture

2007-04-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

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Explicit: Prayer, or Lord I was born a ramblin' man

2007-04-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

This week's passage is about prayer; specifically personal prayer. This is where Jesus shows us how to pray to our Father in Heaven, by keeping the focus on God. As Charlie noted, we're not supposed to pray for show; meaning that our attempts to appear pious and holy in front of men will amount to just that- God knows our true intention.

And we should not pray repeated mantras in an attempt to nag or convince God to do things our way. This exercise is about as charming as small children constantly asking, "Can I have it now? Can I have it now? Can I have it now? Please?...Can I?...Why not?..." It becomes a test of will, and you just can't out-do God on this one.

As straightforward as this particular topic seems to be, I still have some questions.
Forgive me if this seems off topic, but is it okay to pray to Jesus? Or for that matter, the Holy Spirit? I only ask because I once heard that we should only pray to the Father, which confused me immensely because I'm supposed to boast that Jesus is my best friend, but how do you become best friends if you don't talk? The counsel I received delineated God to be structured almost like a cell phone company. The Holy Spirit is able to translate our groanings and articulate our cries for help. Does that mean when I'm sobbing uncontrollably the Holy Spirit is licking the tip of a pencil and dictating my grievances on a legal pad, so He can decode my rambling to Jesus- because as I understand it Jesus is continously interceding on our behalf. And is it a sin to pray to Jesus? Does He silently pass my request on to the Father? I find this to be a troubling understanding, because it makes the Holy Spirit a lofty receptionist and it makes Jesus a kind of complaint department.
It was once explained to me that we should pray to the Father, and that sort of encompasses both Jesus and the Holy Spirit under a finely-printed Trinitarian clause. And that the whole reason Jesus went to the cross was to create some kind of satellite signal for us to go directly before the Father, unencumbered by land lines and tunnel static. Forgive me for being crass. Sometimes I just want to talk to Jesus.
Sometimes I sense the Spirit stirring in me.
Sometimes I want to mentally or physically crawl into my Father's lap.
I don't want to stand in line or have my account number ready for the next available representative.
And then it's like, "Well Jesus prayed to the Father. See how He does it?"
And I'm all, "Yeah, but why on Earth would He pray to Himself, like 'Self, hallowed be thy name...'?"
Admittedly, I may be overthinking this. But if that's the case then why do we sing worship songs to Jesus? Or is that a whole 'nother canno?

Easter Sunday at the Beach: Part 2

2007-04-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday at the Beach: Part 1

2007-04-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday: Rio Del Mar Beach!

2007-04-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

This Resurrection Sunday, April 8th, we're meeting at Rio Del Mar beach at our regular time, 10:45 am.

At this early date, various weather reports predict "partly sunny," "partly cloudy," and "few showers." Show up on Sunday and find out which report is correct!

Here and There

2007-04-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

Keep praying for the Isaiah Project while our friends are in Mexico. Pray that God will continue to use them as they build homes for families and pray for safe travel as they come home to Santa Cruz.

Also, pray about volunteering with the Salvation Army. Tonight is the night to serve in the Watsonville location. Talk to scott@tlc.org.

Weekly Poll: Don't Almost Give

2007-04-03T14:37:00.001-07:00

Many home groups have started at Genesis, and some might still be considering what to do for their "service night". The Ad Council is running a campaign called Don't Almost Give, which encourages the public to notice needs in their areas and to take action. Perhaps some of their suggestions will inspire your home group!

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The Ringing Bell

2007-04-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

Derek Webb's newest record is now available for pre-order. The Ringing Bell will be in stores May 1 but you can listen to the Beatle-esque project here. This time Derek is expanding beyond music into the realm of graphic novels. I'm not sure if a different artist illustrated the 96-page book or if Derek did it himself. But it looks cool.

Explicit: Giving

2007-04-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

This morning Kevin preached on Matthew 6:1-4 about giving. As Kevin mentioned, few of us need to be reminded to give to the needy, but when we do give it should not be flaunted or bragged about. As Jesus says, those who boast of their "generosity" are looking for admiration from other people, and they'll get their reward. But we should give discreetly, and God will still see it if others don't.

Kevin talked briefly about "human economics" and the difficulty we have with just giving for nothing in return. It makes sense to us to pay others back for lunch or gifts or what have you. This cycle of reciprocity is normal in our society, in fact normal across the world. It's proper etiquette after receiving a gift to send a thank-you note. In my family, iron curtains have been drawn because of the savage inconsideration of neglecting thank-you cards; and thank-you emails are both undignified and unacceptable. Most people want something in return, as though by default of receiving a gift you are hereby bound to an unspoken exchange agreement that will gently wane for the next 7-10 years. Friendships and romances are reduced to fine print contracts forged by credit card companies.
But there are people who prefer to have their deeds shrouded in secrecy, such as some home groups at Genesis that practice "drop and run" operations under the cover of night. Some folks would rather others don't know the depth of their generosity.
Patrick and I have met such people. When we were living in a two room raccoon-infested hovel on Depot Hill in Capitola, during the first and almost final year of our marriage, some friends of ours offered to loan us money to buy a house. They told us God blessed them and they wanted to bless us. The stipulation was that we not tell others who gave us the loan, and if anyone asked we were instructed to say "private loan," or "none of your business."
And our friends didn't stop with just the loan. They also helped us find a house to buy, guided us through the escrow process, helped us move and clean the house, and helped us furnish the house. It was like "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" but without an obnoxious person with a megaphone standing in our front yard. And for those of you who think a home loan doesn't count as a gift because we have to pay it back, I have just two words for you: home equity.

This week I'd like to practice giving without expecting anything in return. To give God the full glory I think it best not to keep any of the glory myself, which means I won't sniff if someone doesn't say thank you. The idea is that the receiver knows the gift is from God and I am just the delivery girl who doesn't accept tips, because my God takes care of me.

Weekly Poll: Lyrical Cussing

2007-03-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

Last year Andrew Beaujon published Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock. I've only read the excerpt available on Amazon, which is linked in the title of this post. I should warn you first that page 2 of the excerpt reports on some lyrical content in Pedro the Lion's song "Foregone Conclusions." Yes- that "F-word" that doesn't fit any particular rhyme scheme in the song that I'm aware of.
The song is performed at the Cornerstone Festival; a days-long Christian concert not so unlike our beloved Spirit West Coast. The author, not a professing Christian, is on site as a reporter. His initial observations include Pedro's lead singer, Dave Bazan, "swilling from a milk jug full of vodka and water in defiance of the festival's no-alcohol policy." (Pg 1).
Beaujon also writes of his personal interaction with P.O.D. His observation of the band's lyrics keys into their desire not to shock anyone with foul language but to make the audience feel "comfortable"; whatever that means- not preached at, I guess.

Although Pedro the Lion has since split, for reasons unrelated to the Cornerstone event, and although it does not appear Pedro the Lion was ever a "Christian Rock Band," they were implicated in the book by their association with other bands at the concert.

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Park Day!

2007-03-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few pics from Park Day today. It was great to get out and enjoy the sunshine and spring weather.

Explicit: Loving Enemies

2007-03-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

This morning Nancy reminded us about loving our enemies, and since Matthew 5:38-48 is a lengthy passage from the Sermon on the Mount perhaps we can continue to explore Jesus' words here on the blog.
I really appreciated the way Jesus' examples were given in light of the cultural background and the

Mosaic Law. I never knew backhanding someone was a deeply insulting gesture. I always thought it was worse than merely slapping because your hand gained momentum on the back swing and rendered more pain. I also never knew the background behind "the Roman mile" and why someone would force another to go a mile. It all makes sense now.

Here we see Jesus in the first half of this passage telling us not to retaliate against those who do us wrong. It is way too often that we see individuals behaving in an opprobrious manner and we vigilantly seek retribution ourselves because that person has to suffer for what they did. It's only fair, we tell ourselves.
The second half of the passage tells us to love and pray for our enemies. So not only are we to defy nature and restrain ourselves from offending the offender, now we're supposed to LOVE them and also PRAY for them? But prayer should be reserved as a solicitous effort for those we care about, we argue.
I must confess, I read this passage months ago and immediately a person came to mind that I would not consider an enemy per se. Enemy denotes other war terms for me; words like battle, fight, evil genius, constant threat, and also the ear-sharpening sound of clashing swords. But anyway, this person came to mind and I thought, yes, I'll pray for this person. So I prayed, "Looooorrrrd! I pray for [this person]...It's just...They're just so...so awful!!!"
I don't think that's what Jesus meant when he told us to pray for those who persecute us.
But it did allow God to at least crack open that part of my heart and I was eventually able to pray for the person without using insulting or reviling rhetoric. I'm still working on the loving part, but I haven't given up on that yet.
What we learn from this passage is that life is not fair. And should it be? God is just, but without forgiveness of sin and Jesus' death on the cross we are all hellbound. To some degree we have to crucify our selfish desires in order to know what love is. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. And we think we can pick and choose those whom we love?

Dude....that's heavyyyy.

Weekly Poll: Global Warming?

2007-03-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

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Now available in RSS

2007-03-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hate the word blog? You're not alone. I thought, "Maybe some people are reluctant to dialogue on this blog because they don't like the word 'blog'."
And then I thought, "Sacred Assembly readers are NOT so superficial that they let a teeny word like blog obstruct them. It's more likely they are preoccupied with March Madness at the moment."
So how 'bout we think of a new word for the blog. Something non-bloggy. This of course eliminates vlog and blideo. We do not have to marry two words together to name this thing.
(examples: Chill + Relaxed= Chilaxed...Air+ Bazooka=Airzooka)
Nor do we need to implement the ubiquitous acronyms that stymie an even flow of thought. LOL!!!
(h.t. Victoria)

In other news...
This little orange icon, found in the right margin, represents a link to RSS feed (Really Simple Syndication). If you subscribe (free, of course) you'll receive live blog updates, which means you won't have to memorize this site address, and you'll never miss a Sacred Assembly article again!

Now instead of torturing yourself trying to recall this blog's address, you can use more brain power trying to think of an alternative word for "blog".

Explicit: Our Words

2007-03-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

This week's study on Matthew 5:33-37 is about keeping our word to God and to each other. But keeping our word is different than swearing by something we have no control over. These days we typically give our oath in the form of a contract or a collateral. Trusting someone to follow through with their actions seems foolish in a world where promises are broken constantly, whether purposely or accidentally.
Usually I assume everyone has my best interest in mind, which makes me vulnerable to pyramid schemes and armed robbery.
At work I sign and write agreements every day. When I agree to advertise with someone I will send a contract or sign theirs so three months from now there is proof of an agreement. There are some companies that require a signed contract every single time we make an agreement, even if I partner with them three or four times a month. This tells me they've been taken advantage of before, and they are willing to take any chances on me.
I once wrote a contract, signed it, sent it, recieved it with the other person's signature, and I noticed that they made a amendment to the contract without telling me. I was shocked that they would try to dupe me this way, and I informed the person that not only were their actions illegal but they had tarnished our business relationship and I was forced to terminate the contract altogether. Eventually that particular partnership regenerated itself, but only after I meticulously scrutinized every agreement that came through the fax machine.
Of course, not every broken promise is intentional. A few years back a close friend of mine was getting married. I offered to hire a budding photographer I knew from church as a wedding gift. The photographer gave me a huge discount as a favor and we verbally agreed I would make several payments.
By the time I paid off half the debt, Patrick was laid off from his job and we were struggling to make our bills. I let the photography debt slide for a few months until we had enough to pay the rest. My photographer friend was extremely gracious and understanding of our situation, but I knew he needed to pay his bills, too. I felt like I had taken advantage of him even with my good intentions.
Basically, what we learn from this passage in Matthew is that we need to do what we say we're gonna do, and we shouldn't have to swear by anything because
a) swearing on sweeping, grandiose forms of creation are not ours to swear by (they're already God's) and
b) Swearing by something shouldn't be necessary if we truly intend to follow through.
As Charlie reminded us this morning, our God is a God who keeps his promises, and we need to be people of our word.

Here's an uncomfortable article called "Not Getting Paid in the Worship Environment" by Jamie Rio. It touches on the issue of Christians taking advantage of each other by breaking oaths, and justifying it by using the "forgiveness" and "you can't sue me" card.

Weekly Poll: Spirit West Coast, Ya'll!

2007-03-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

So lately I’ve been hearing a lot about Spirit West Coast. Like it or not, it’s semi-local and therefore harder to avoid. You have to admit, though, that the presence of a Christian-based Woodstock is somewhat intriguing. Instead of a crowd of dusty, sweaty, muddy people wandering and weaving, toppling over each other, and indulging on mass quantities of contraband, now we can watch a crowd of dusty, sweaty, muddy families wandering and weaving, shopping, and indulging on mass quantities of sugar and high-fat foods. Let’s make a three-day weekend of it!
I promised myself I would never return to SWC unless my favorite band Esterlyn (the now-defunct Grand Prize) would play there. When I made this flimsy promise, Grand Prize was but a local worship band that toured churches and mostly played at home in Boise.

Before Grand Prize morphed into Esterlyn, I used to email and beg them to come to Santa Cruz. I’ve left messages on their You Tube profile. I ordered multiple CDs by mail for friends and family, and with each order I wrote on the check “COME TO SANTA CRUZ- THIS IS NOT THE LAST YOU WILL HEAR OF ME!!!” I mean, who wouldn’t want to visit after a message like that? The lead singer, Luke Caldwell, responded once with a handwritten note inside a cd case: “Hey Jody! Thanks for your support! You rock! Love, Luke.”
Which satisfied me for a period. But no longer.
What will it take? I mean, what is it that I have to do to make them come out here??? And what were the chances that they would ever be invited to play at SWC/Woodstock 2007? So this week I checked their My Space page, as I do regularly, and what’s this? They’re coming to Monterey? Mmm. Not quite Santa Cruz, but we’re getting there. For the past two days I have wrestled with myself on this question: Do I or don’t I pay $100+ to finally see them play on California soil?

Spirit West Coast-
I've been to SWC one time, for one day, a few years ago. I got a vendor pass to sit at the Gospel For Asia booth and hock free books by K.P Yohannan at unassuming passers-by. You would be amazed by how many people are not only uninterested in receiving a free book, they are also very hostile towards the offer.
But anyway, I had some time to roam the grounds and see some bands play even though I only cared about seeing Third Day and Reliant K, who weren't playing that day. I can only describe the experience as miserable.

The booth next to us sold an incredibly inane invention called "Air-zooka!," which was basically spandex affixed to a tennis racket that you pulled back like a slingshot, which created a puff of air so heavy and fast it feels like you're getting thumped with a concrete object. Prospective buyers (mostly between the ages of 7 and 11) insisted on using us as targets.
It was hot. Vendors hollered at me like carnies from all directions. People stepped on my feet and snarled at me. Some littered. When Jeremy Camp was scheduled to perform I saw six girls tear off their Jesus sweatshirts and adjust their tight, cleavage-enhancing tube tops and pick lint from their belly button rings.
Boys whistled.
The books I handed out were about modern missions efforts and cutting back on unnecessary daily expenses. I was standing in the middle of a gypsy marketplace, trying to GIVE AWAY books on how to buy less stuff and no one would take them! I fancied myself a modern day prophetess, tempted to overturn tables and tear Jesus merchandise from hooks and then reduce the items to ashes with a single match.
Looking around me, it felt like I was stranded on a small island in the middle of a vast ocean, and the only available lifeboat had the letters WWJD printed in large block font, and I said to myself, "I'm not getting in THAT! I'd rather die of thirst on this island."
But then a tidal wave swelled and swept me from my perch in into view of Kirk Cameron. When Kirk appeared I became like those I harshly judged. While Kirk shared the Gospel from a sound stage inside a big tent I shifted restlessly in my seat and silently chanted, "Mike Seaver Mike Seaver Mike Seaver." When he ended his speech I stood and clapped and shouted "Woooo!" as if he just hit a high note on a Rascal Flatts cover song.
Later, after Jeremy Camp performed, Patrick and I rushed to the tent where he would be signing autographs- not because we wanted an autograph (pft-shaw!) but because Patrick and Jeremy know each other. While we waited behind a velvet rope, watching a Christian magazine writer interview him briefly, Patrick yelled "Jeremy!"
Mr. Camp glanced towards Patrick, his face lighting up in recognition and he pointed a sturdy index finger at Patrick. He mouthed the words, "YOU! Stay right there- I wanna talk to you!"
Patrick and I beamed and giggled, absorbing the glares and whispers of Jeremy's lowly fans the way sunbathers willfully absorb ultraviolet rays. After the mini-interview was over, Jeremy was whisked away by bodyguards, never given a chance to catch up with Patrick. He waved, though, and said "I'll be back! I'll be back!" and I wondered if we were supposed to wait there until then, because everyone knew he certainly would NOT be back.
Patrick and I became sullen and cranky. Nobody wanted our stupid free books. I had to convince Patrick that Jeremy did not "snub" him; he merely had places to be to promote himself and make more money for the record label. We continued to dodge onslaughts of air balls from the increasingly maddening Air-Zooka! camp until I grabbed two young boys by the collars and sent them away with an armload of free books to hand out to the passing river of people; people who I was convinced NEEDED to read this book more than ever.
By nightfall, we took another break and caught Toby Mac’s act on the main stage. Now, I would not call myself a fan of Toby Mac, but that guy knows how to put on a show. He is a showman. Such spectacle. Such pyrotechnics. Such break dancing. Patrick and I were mesmerized. One disgruntled lady squeezed past us and muttered, “I don’t care to see no Eminem wannabe…” which I thought was funny.

But over all, I can’t say I had a “good time.” So it’s very hard to convince myself it would be worth it to see Esterlyn for over a hundred bucks, when I know they are only going to play for like fifteen minutes, plus I saw them last September in Boise. And yeah, they were awesome, and yeah I’ve been waiting for them to come here, but I just don’t know if I can do it, you know?

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Explicit: lust and marriage- by Charlie Broxton

2007-03-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus has some pretty powerful words to say about divorce. Here’s what he says:
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery."
I have to confess that this is a passage that I write about with great trembling and humility. Divorce is a complex and controversial issue. It is a cultural reality that causes great frustration and pain to those involved. John Stott in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount says this, "There is almost no unhappiness so poignant as the unhappiness of an unhappy marriage." I agree completely with him. So I write keeping this in mind.
During the time of Jesus, there was a controversy about divorce between two Rabbinic schools. Rabbi Shammai took a very conservative approach saying that divorce was allowed only in cases where there was sexual immorality involved which could be authenticated by a witness. Most Jews of Jesus’ day, however, sided with the Rabbinic school of Hillel which stated that divorce was allowable for any cause of complaint, even including the wife burning dinner. In general, divorce was taken lightly and was a common occurrence in Jesus’ day.
In this passage and again in Matthew 19, Jesus sides neither with Shammai or Hillel in His view on divorce. And He gives His reason in Matthew 19:4-6:
"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
Here Jesus goes back to creation to talk about the sacred nature of marriage. According to Jesus, marriage is not just a union of two people on paper confirmed by the state. It’s an exclusive and permanent union of two bodies and two souls for life. Jesus then goes on in Matthew 19:9 to say the same words that he said in Matthew 5:31-32:
"I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
Jesus’ point is that when divorce happens, it results in adultery because we are dividing a union that God united. Divorce is not part of the Creator’s perfect design. It’s against God’s plan for marriage and so Jesus is saying that we should fight to maintain the sacred nature of marriage and avoid divorce at all costs.
I know as a pastor that there are always exceptions. A woman being abused by her husband is an example of one of those exceptions. The problem is that we often search for loopholes (like the Pharisees)—but according to Jesus’ teaching, the exceptions allowing for divorce are few and far between. I like the way pastor and scholar John Stott puts it. He writes,
"I’ve made the rule never to speak with anybody about divorce, until I have first spoken with him (or her) about two other subjects, namely marriage and reconciliation."

I think that there are many practical applications of this Biblical reality. Here are three:

For those of us who are married, we need to work hard at learning to love one another in the way that God calls us to and not consider divorce as an option. If that takes counseling (like it did in my marriage), so be it! The benefits are worth the intense work and commitment.

For those of us who are single, we must enter into marriage very carefully. It is not the answer to our loneliness and pain. Yes, it can be rich and wonderful but it takes a lot of work when it’s done God’s way. Choose your spouse very carefully and make sure they are willing to work through the tough issues.

For those of us who are divorced, the cross of Jesus is big enough to cover over everything and anything. The past is the past. We can move on into the future without shame or condemnation.

I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts on these passages. Feel free to respond.

-Charlie

Weekly Poll: You're Hired!

2007-03-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

If you need a babysitter or some light housecleaning let Judy know about it (Judy@tlc.org). There are plenty of high school and college students looking to earn some money for the upcoming Isaiah Project (which I think means a Mexico trip and building houses and stuff).

You remember what it was like starting out on the workforce. Where did you begin?

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Genesis Breakfast on Sunday! Holla!

2007-03-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, I just used "holla" for the first time and I'm not liking it. That will be last time for me. I'm thinking I should delete that while I still can. But then again, others may learn from my mistake.

I am strenuously resisting the urge to backspace backspace backspace. I am also thinking of writing this entire post in the present tense. Stay with me, here.

On Sunday we are having breakfast together, which is something we sometimes do, and is really fun, plus the food is good and free. I am really looking forward to it!
Until then I am continuing to self-flaggelate while I consider the 4.5 years I spent at University, only to expand my lexicon with words like "holla!" and phrases like "that's pretty much how I roll."

ALSO: Sunday is Daylight Savings Time (begins), also known as The Worst Day of the Year. But I think if we huddle together we can make it through alright. Kind of like how some of us made it through "Batman Begins."

See you bright and earl[ier than usual] on Sunday!

Explicit: Anger

2007-03-04T14:13:00.000-08:00

This week's topic from the Sermon on the Mount is Anger (Matthew 5: 21-26). Most of us have been brought up to believe that anger itself is a bad thing. But that's like saying modern technology is bad. Technology is just here; it's how we handle it that matters.
For example: last week Patrick accidentally backed my car into another car. Actually, he and the other lady backed into each other, which puts them both at fault. When Patrick called to tell me he had been in an accident, but everything was fine and no one was hurt, I was angry. I was angry at myself for letting him drive my car. I was angry with him for not seeing behind him. I was angry at the woman he collided with. I was angry at Jamba Juice for existing in that infernal parking lot on Clares Street. I was just mad.
Everyone around me at work overheard my end of the conversation.
"Hello?...What?...Ok good. How bad is it?...Is it a little scratch or a big scrath?...Are you trying to shield me from the magnitude of the damage? Because sometimes you do that...Well, I mean, when you say 'little scratch' I can imagine the bumper torn off and lying on the pavement. Is the bumper still attached to the car?...Did you call the insurance company?... Call the insurance company!"
When I hung up I was seething, but I wasn't sure how mad I should feel, so I wanted everyone to be warned.
Before anyone could inquire and therefore suffer my unquenchable wrath, I announced, "I don't want to talk about it. Nobody ask..."
The room went completely silent, until someone tried to break the tension. "I assume you mean you don't want us to ask about that phone conversation. The one that sounds like there was an accident. I guess that's what you mean when you say you don't want to talk, right?" I wanted to stand up, walk across the room, and punch this person in the face repeatedly. I'm just telling you this because there is always one person who tries to alleviate tension by stating the obvious, and my advice is that you strive very hard not to be that person.
It turns out (you've seen the pictures) that the scratch is very mild and the bumper is not only still attached, it is not even loose. So I'm really glad I did not conduct a nuclear experiment when it felt right to do so. Although at one point I heard myself say, "Patrick, I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the situation." And I felt like I had just graduated from Anger Management school. It felt really great to just...let go of it. Then we got some coffee and lived happily ever after.
What Jesus tells us in the passage we're looking at is that angry thoughts towards others is the same as murder, and unresolved anger is actually detrimental to our souls. Hoping something bad happens to someone is the opposite of God's character. Jesus is saying the only way to deal with anger is to deal with it. Be reconciled with one another, even if it means having to admit fault.
The woman Patrick bumped into in the parking lot was driving a heavily abused car. Nicks and dents covered the exterior, and it was clear she was no stranger to the occassional accident. At first she even laughed about the incident. "People are always running into this car!" She said. "So, Patrick, you're going to accept fault for this, right?" When Patrick said he would accept part of the fault but not 100%, the woman became irate and cussed and swore. She refused to accept any responsibility, even though there were witnesses willing to stick around for a traffic cop to swing by.
Immediately she jumped back into her car, offered a few choice words to Patrick and mentioned something about letting our insurance companies figure it out, and she tore out of the parking lot, nearly hitting other cars on her way out. It was clear to Patrick the woman was angry, and her badly dented car served as a metaphor for her life; always carrying around old wounds and placing 100% of the blame on others. Her anger was not immediately noticeable but was lying just below the surface. I really don't want to be like that, but I know I am just as prone to carrying anger with me as anyone else. And nobody suffers for it but me.

I do have some questions though pertaining to Bible translations. My Bible reads in verse 22, "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." And I'm wondering what that means, and why it is omitted from other translations. Is it too often used as a loophole for people who want to be angry at others? Is there some hidden meaning that I don't get? Also, the text alludes to "brother" as in a Christian brother, so does that mean this passage only applies to disputes between Christians? Does it really matter?

Weekly Poll: Bumpers

2007-02-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

Patrick needed to go to the doctor today so he borrowed my car. Later at Jamba Juice, he and another car backed into each other. Both cars were scraped, but neither dented. Thankfully no one was hurt. Except Audrey (my car) now wears a blood red streak on her hindquarters.

I have resolved to have the damages fixed, but in the meantime let's take a poll!

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Salvation Army Thursday

2007-02-28T14:42:00.000-08:00

Thursday night (tomorrow) is the night to serve dinner at the Salvation Army in Watsonville! If you have any questions, or want to volunteer your time or resources, contact Scott@tlc.org.

Amazing Grace

2007-02-25T21:09:00.001-08:00

I went to see Amazing Grace at the Del Mar this weekend. Now, this is not your run-of-the-mill-bring-your-unsaved-loved-ones kind of Christian movie. The acting was superb and, except for a slight rough patch in the story-telling sequence at the beginning, it was very well done.
The story revolves around William Wilberforce, a politican in England during the 1700's. Wilberforce grew up in a congregation led by John Newton. John Newton is the guy who wrote a slightly obscure hymn called "Amazing Grace" while he was the captain of a slave trade ship. God revealed His truth to Newton, so he repented, quit the slave trade, and became a preacher. He often preached on abolition of the slave trade in Europe, which lit a fire under Wilberforce as a young man, and he carried the torch to Parliament.
Year after year, Wilberforce and his young friend William Pitt (who later became Prime Minister) presented their dreamy-eyed abolitionist bills to a room full of powdered-wig'd curmudgeons. They faced defeat repeatedly, and both suffered severe health problems, but they slowly won favor and turned the slave trade back to sea.
This film is not visually graphic, although they do make a point to describe the Africans' traveling conditions below deck, shackled and suffocating; the weak thrown overboard to lighten the ship's load.
Patrick confirms that the film is historically accurate, and this could make a great topic on a term paper for you History majors.

Explicit: The Law

2007-02-25T20:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we read Jesus' words about the Law. Matthew 5:17-20 is a brief passage wherein Jesus explains His role, and the difference between destroying the Law and fulfilling it.
Charlie put it in terms like this: Jesus fulfilled and completed all that was required of the Law presented in the Old Testament. This does not nullify the Old Testament; it is still very much God's Word. But we sometimes re-introduce the Law to Christianity by forcing ourselves to abide by certain rules that may be unneccessary. We think we have to "do" Christianity a certain way or else it is useless. This is a very ego-centric way to approach God. It may in fact pose a barrier between ourselves and God when we make up rules that do not make us righteous. And Jesus is the one who broke through that barrier in the first place. So why do we sometimes build up the barrier again and again?
Charlie thinks it might be a way to feel comfortable. If you appear to be following a bunch of rules, going to church, leading a moral lifestyle then you don't have to ponder the state of your soul.
But following rules for the sake of following rules leads to lifeless, drab, stagnant spirituality. It becomes all about you and building up your endurance. You start to believe that more Bible study and more church and more teaching is going to sustain a hidden super power, and without it you might wither into something scrawny and helpless. Which, in reality, is all you are.
And this has been a habit for most people since God first spoke the Law into existence. We want to add to it; to over-achieve; to prove ourselves to a God who already knows what we are made of.
Or maybe some of you are lazy and absolutely do not struggle in this area at all (wink), but the important thing to remember is that living a moral lifestyle, while good, does not supercede our need for Christ. Jesus is the living, breathing embodiment of God's Word (John 1:1), and God's Word is not merely a stack of yellowed checklists that we are expected to fulfill ourselves.

Potluckaoke Pictures!

2007-02-23T21:56:00.000-08:00

A great big Thank You to the Dawson household for hosting Potluckaoke. It was such a blast. And thanks also to the 3 or 4 willing participants of Karaoke. I kept meaning to contribute with the latest Carrie Underwood songs, but you know, the night got away from me.

See you Sunday!

I'm Takin' Names

2007-02-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day my mom gave me The Blogging Church, by Brian Bailey. Which was really cool since my mom does not blog, does not have time to read my blog, and does not attend church.
I really liked this book because everything is really straight to the point and offers extremely basic how-to's on blogging, along with do's and dont's and input from various church bloggers.
One of the ideas presented in the book was to occassionally "spotlight" a particular hardworking volunteer within the church community. The purpose would be to introduce the the larger group to someone whose efforts might go unnoticed or underappreciated (insert church staff here--har! har!)
I wanted to do this originally for new staff members as a way to get to know him/her, but I think it would be really cool to "interview" (I put that in quotes, even though that's exactly what I intend to do) a "veteran" volunteer who has diligently kept pace behind the scenes. Most people are shy about this sort of round of applause, and most people don't want to be recognized in a public forum because they are afraid they'll "lose their reward in heaven" or whatever, and that's noble. I respect that. But at the risk of forfeiting some crown jewels or a bigger heavenly mansion, I am requesting that volunteers be willing to step forward for a moment. So, if you know of a person who should be "nominated" for a brief profile here on Sacred Assembly, please leave a comment or shoot me an email.
Thanks!

Weekly Poll: Fasting

2007-02-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

Apologies for skipping the poll last week. I clean ran out of ideas!

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Explicit: Our Calling

2007-02-18T16:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Adam spoke on Matthew 5: 13-16, which talks about believers being the salt of the earth. Jesus used this metaphor to describe our mission in life; just as salt is used to preserve and purify, to season, and as a metaphor for wisdom- we are called to fulfill these roles. Being the salt of the earth will allow us to participate in God’s will, His
wisdom, law, and love. Not being the salt of the earth leaves us vapid and useless for God’s purposes.
As examples of what it means to be the salt, we need

Knowledge of God’s word
Integrity- acknowledge our mistakes and correct them
Inspiration (enthusiasm)
A willingness to let others know what God is doing in you

The great thing is that the above four principles are symbiotic, so if you focus on only one the rest will follow suit. And the effect can be contagious, and that’s how great revivals begin.

On a side note, whenever I read about the city on a hill which cannot be hidden, I think of UCSC on the hill, which is hidden. So the analogy is lost on me. But I sorta get the idea.

Bob Millspaugh Music

2007-02-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

Last night Patrick's friend, Bob Millspaugh, stayed over and played music for us. He's got about 4 CDs out right now and he's awesome. Not just an awesome guitar player and singer, but also an awesome person. And an awesome big wave surfer from SoCal.
He lived in Costa Rica for a few years and worked in an orphanage, played music for the kids, and surfed on his down time.
He took a surfing trip to Indonesia not too long ago, and he currently resides in Southern California.
Patrick first heard Bob on the radio a few years back and then happened to meet him shortly thereafter and they've been friends ever since.
Bob came through town on his way up the coast in search of big waves, and he might hit up Mavericks today or tomorrow. No joke. When he's not surfing or playing guitar he's probably coasting the highway on a vintage motorcycle and checking out local culture.
His style of music spans a range between blues, folk, country, classical, and actually now that I've watched him play I doubt there is anything he can't play. You can hear his music on his website, and check out some of his surf photos.
Here he is putting my guitar to good use and telling stories about Costa Rica. Bob is great to have around because of his excitement about being in a new place and wanting to know all about the people of Santa Cruz. He was particularly interested in the tensions between east/westside surfers, but he couldn't wait to get out and observe the rest of our community. Sometimes it's good to show a visitor around to remember that Santa Cruz can be pretty neat place to live.

This Sunday: Mosaic

2007-02-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to turn in artwork and that little white card before 4:30 on Thursday the 15th. Mosaic is this Sunday and we'll get to see each other's art and read how each piece is an expression of worship to God.

Happy fingerpainting!

Explicit: Character

2007-02-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

Today we began our study of the sermon on the mount. Throughout the 15-week series we are challenged to memorize the entire sermon on the mount, which equates to about 3 chapters. To help aide your effort in this largely autodidactic project, there are some cool pocket pamphlets and a cd recording to carry around with you while you're waiting in line for a flu shot, riding the bus, or taking a lunch break.

This week we looked at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. These verses are about people who live differently than how our society encourages us to live. Altruism and humility may look good on paper, but when push comes to shove we're told to shove back. We're taught to claw our way to financial and social success (read:abundance), even if it means pushing others aside to get there first.
I remember when I was in elementary school. I was the fastest girl runner in my class from kindergarten and all the way through 6th grade. But being the fastest girl runner didn't make me the fastest runner in the school. Ryan Targee, who was also in my grade, was the fastest boy runner. By the fifth grade he was the fastest runner in the whole school and everyone knew it. No one contested this oft-proven fact.
Every year, during the quarterly mile-run in P.E., I would steadily trail behind Ryan and wonder what it was like to be him, ahead of every person in our class and eventually ahead of every person in our school. This innocent daydreaming slowly picked up speed over the years, like a heartbeat under considerable weight and strain. At some point it became a mild obsession that prompted me to "practice" the mile-run during recess and lunch. I didn't time myself, but I tested my endurance and my breathing capabilities to see which breathing strategies prolonged the onset of an inevitable side ache.
My friends watched from their perches around the playground. Some chided. Others glanced blithely in my direction. No one joined me or cheered as I rounded yet another bend and circled a lively boys-only soccer game.
So it wasn't a huge surprise to everyone when I beat Ryan Targee in the sixth grade. It was the last mile-run in P.E. before we would leave elementary school and move up to junior high across town.
I remember the surreal feeling as I passed him in the warm sun and slightly damp grass that squeaked under my soles. My breath quickened and I nearly lost my rhythm, but once I gained a few paces I felt elated. Years of sweat and side aches and sheer fantasizing had finally culminated into the electric force of light headed triumph. I could barely feel my legs pumping; only a faint pounding and dull impact in my joints told me I actually running and not dreaming at night as I lay in bed, wondering how it would feel to hear the cheers and clapping of my classmates as I clocked the best mile of the day.
After about an eighth of a mile, I had to turn around to see what victory looked like from the lead. I had to sneak a glance at my peers as they ran out of steam and stumbled one by one to the sidelines, clutching their sides and fanning their chins with the neckline of their t-shirts. But when I did turn my head slightly (something you're apparently never supposed to do, under any circumstances) I didn't see gleeful faces of childhood friends encouraging me to finish first. I didn't hear whooping and hollering as the first and only kid to pass Ryan Targee, and a girl at that.
What I saw was pure, unadulterated wrath.
Instead of viewing the children of my youth behind me, I saw a wild stampede of sinewy race horses huffing and puffing, sweat mingling in the warm air. Black and white Adidas pounded and kicked up blades of fresh grass in their path. The girls were sparse in front, most of them sprinkled towards the back of the pack, half running-half walking, mostly talking and adjusting their pony tails. More vividly, I recall the expression on Ryan's face.
Ryan's eyes were dark and narrowed. His mouth was pulled into a grimace of pain and determination, and spittle gathered near the corners like foam on a rabid animal. His fists were like blurred pistons on an out of control steam locomotive. Behind him was a small herd of boys who shared his same expression.
These people were not happy for me.
And suddenly, I felt strangely dissatisfied. The letdown was immense and burdensome, and slowed my pace to my usual position, behind Ryan. I was depressed.
Not only had I achieved my life long goal by the age of eleven, but I knew I had somehow taken something from Ryan. Something that was undeniably his, and was still his, but less so.
Ever heard the phrase, "It's lonely at the top?"
It is.
After the race, no one congratulated me. No one verbally acknowledged my performance, although I thought I saw Brian Stoltz sneer at me by the water fountain. And I knew then that trying to be The Best is different than trying to be Your Best. A piece of my competitive spirit died that day. And I'm glad. I don't want to revel in another's downfall. I don't want to cackle while someone is humiliated publically. I don't want to see others lose in order to gain for myself. So why does the desire to be Number One permeate our society, and often return to my own list of priorities? I think the easy answer is that it is a part our nature to be set aside from others in a way that is good. Like Charlie said, there is good-different and there is different-different. Nobody wants to be different-different.
Everyone wants to be recognized for something great, and with this greatness comes a certain aspect of cannibalism; a disregard for the welfare of others in order to maintain the self.
Last week at work we took a new employee to lunch. She is new enough to have the advantage of an objective point of view over the anthropology of our work environment. So she was able to identify the cool kids and the uncool kids. She identified me as one of the cool kids, a prospect that tugged on both of my sleeves. On one hand, I thought, "Yes! I've never been cool a day in my life. I'm in!" and the other hand was like, "Man, what is this ball of guilt settling in the pit of my stomach?" Because I knew who she was identifying as the "different-different" people, and in an instant I saw them as merely insecure, socially awkward, or lonely people. I have been all of those things at one time or another, and those are the times I'm closest to God because I have to admit my need for him.
If you didn't catch it, we'll be seeing a piece of artwork from different people at Genesis that relates to the topic each week. Here is a photo of today's piece.

And here is a picture of Adriene and his wife Jamie, who came to pay us a visit and help lead worship.

And here is a shot of some type of jam session.

Weekly Poll: Pink!

2007-02-06T06:58:00.000-08:00

Last week's poll reveals that no one has been baptized in a bathtub. But most of us were baptized in an indoor baptismal, and what's an indoor baptismal but a glorified bathtub?
This week's poll is about Valentine's Day!

One thing most people may not know about me is that, next to Christmas, Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday. I don’t have a specific reason to give since before I got married I spent virtually every Valentine’s Day alone. But I look forward to it every year. Maybe because I love all the pink and red and white. Maybe because Momma Mason faithfully provides Valentine’s gifts every year since my birth. Perhaps it’s the little heart-shaped red hots. Whatever the reason, I LOVE this day.
What makes it so much more enjoyable is that I shouldn’t love it, based on Valentine’s Days past. It defies natural law that I should love this day so much. Growing up, nothing good ever happened to me on Valentine’s Day.
In the fourth grade, little Ben Morrison gave me a perforated-edge Ninja Turtles card and wrote in ballpoint pen: I like you…NOT!
It wasn’t the words that cut me. It was that he used non-erasable ballpoint ink instead of pencil, like normal kids use. He gave me some of his candy when I didn’t laugh at his joke. After that, Valentine’s Day passed annually without incident.
When I was in high school I knew a girl named Cynthia, and every year on Valentine’s Day I think of her. This is odd because we were not close friends. She held many people at a distance, if not by her very nature then by her Sally 2.0 appearance.
Cindy haunted the campus in torn fishnet stockings, skimpy clothes that actually draped over her rail-thin frame as though on a clothes hanger, large combat boots, Marilyn Manson t-shirts and makeup, and sometimes she wore false eyelashes on one eye to duplicate a character from “A Clockwork Orange.” Her pale skin was made even paler by her straight, chin length hair dyed black. She had large, round eyes. When she didn’t sculpt her hair into a crude mohawk with Elmer’s glue she was actually very beautiful.
Instead of employing trite comments and platitudes to express affection for someone, Cindy would produce a startling act of kindness.
For example, during a morning break on a bright, sunny day she and I crossed paths near the school parking lot. She stopped me and dragged a long beaded daisy chain from her black ruffled sleeve.
“Jody, I made this for you in my beading class. I hope it fits you. I used my own neck to measure its length.”
“It’s beautiful, Cindy. Thank you!” I didn’t think she even knew my name.
I remember one Valentine’s Day my boyfriend broke up with me in a passive-aggressive effort to convey his fear of abandonment (he came crawling back less than a week later…with flowers). That day I saw Cindy floating towards me on the sidewalk. She was wearing a monstrous sky-blue 18th century ball gown that dragged on the dusty pavement and gave her the appearance of a ghostly floatation device. She carried a small brown paper sack, the rim rolled down to form a perfect cuff. When she finally hauled herself and the dress within arm’s length of me, she reached into the bag and shook loose a small paper heart. She wordlessly thrust the flimsy paper towards me and waited while I read it.
“Happy ANTI- Valentine’s Day!!!” It read in black and red crayon. I turned it over to read the back, which said, “DIE!!!” also in black and red.
“Oh, Cindy. Thank you. This is the first Valentine’s-er-Anti-Valentine’s Day card I’ve gotten all day!”
Cindy nodded once, yanked on a puffy sleeve that avalanched down her bony shoulder, shrugged, and turned to go. The only sounds were distant birds calling, and her gown scraping along the ground. I kept the daisy chain necklace and the mordant Valentine card for years.
If there is one thing Cindy taught me about why I love Valentine’s Day, it is that a person does not need a significant other to participate in the day’s festivities. I used to love making Valentine gifts for my dorm-mates, and bringing in candles and presents to my co-workers at the coffeeshop, and now I like to bake and decorate cookies for people at work. And I always, always, wear pink. So don’t let anyone tell you Valentine’s Day is all about romance and love interests. It can be about showing the people around you that you care. Even if you hate Valentine’s Day, like Cindy did.

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Freedom: Week 4 or 5, or I can't really remember where we left off

2007-02-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we wrapped up our series on Freedom with Genesis 12:1-3, on the subject of moving from our agenda to His kingdom.
Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking life is all about us. We think of freedom as a ticket to doing things our way, and that serving under anyone is simply oppression. But as Charlie pointed out yesterday, true freedom is not doing things our way. We were created to be ruled by our King.

Bob Dylan came to this conclusion when he wrote "It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna hafta serve somebody." Because everyone will be mastered by something. That sounds so daunting and a little ominous, but it's true. If you've ever wanted something so badly, too badly, then you know.
I used to want to go to grad school in Boise more than anything. During grad school I was going to win over my professors with heartbreakingly poignant prose, earn a teaching assistantship during my first semester, visit the art museum between those pesky classes, live in the family student housing and plant flowers on my little balcony, and slowly- methodically- replace the head of the Creative Writing department.
It was the sort of thing I was afraid to pray for because I was afraid of the answer I might get. (It was "no" by the way. Twice). But I held onto that dream so tightly it almost ruled my life.
When I finally did loosen my grip I felt the way Caleb might have felt going down the slide at the park. Speaking of Caleb, who else besides me wants a signed copy of his brilliant book?

Anyway, here is a snapshot of the "We Have A Dream" artwork series on display at Genesis.

Weekly Poll: Cannonball!

2007-01-30T07:23:00.000-08:00

Poll results last week reflect the presence of a Chicago Bears cheering squad.

This week, let's see how everyone got baptized!

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Prayer Requests

2007-01-28T15:43:00.000-08:00

Today we said "goodbye for now" to Preston, who is leaving for basic training with the Marines this week. Keep him in prayer- for strength at boot camp (physically, spiritually, mentally), that he will help support others while he is there, and for God's guidance.
We'll miss you, Preston! Keep us posted.

We also sent the Billings' packing. Well, they're moving to Bend, Oregon ( a great place, I might add) on an exciting adventure in the middle of winter. Pray that God will continue to provide for them as they get established in their new residence.
We'll miss you, Amy and Cole! Please write and send photos!

Also, please pray for Ritchie and his injuries as he awaits an approval to remove the pins from his hand. Pray that God would relieve the pain and discomfort, as well as provide proper medical attention as he prepares for another surgery.

In other news, our friend Sarah, whom we prayed for last week, is grateful to everyone for your prayers and she reports she is doing better. But still keep her in prayer, especially as she laments the departure of three very good friends (referenced above).

Visit from Steve Saint

2007-01-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

Today we ate a fantastic breakfast while watching the live feed of Steve Saint speaking from the main sanctuary. Steve Saint's father, Nate Saint, was killed with four other missionaries in the jungle in the attempt to bring the Gospel to the most violent tribe ever studied by anthropologists.
After the men died, their wives and children went back to the jungle to continue the work God had for them. As a result, the tribe came to faith in Christ and were transformed from a violent people into an extended family to the widows and their children.
Steve Saint shared his story of growing up and looking to the man who killed his dad as an unlikely father figure. He shared of God's faithfulness to comfort him, even during the most gut-wrenching periods of his life, including the sudden death of his daughter. It is an amazing true story of forgiveness, redemption, and compassion.

The yellow plane you saw on the front lawn of Twin Lakes was either an exact replica of Nate's Saint's plane, or it was his plane. In any case, it was a cool display.

For more information on this incredible story you can read Elizabeth Elliot's account, Through Gates of Splendor, which documents her personal experiences before and after her husband Jim was killed with Nate.

Also, Beyond the Gates of Splendor is an excellent documentary that includes real footage of the four men interacting with the tribe.

And, of course, there is the film End of the Spear.

Weekly Poll: S-Bowl

2007-01-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

Last week's poll on techy stuff came out in favor of Charlie's iPhone. Good luck with that!
Personally, I have recently acquired a Christmas gift in the form of my first digital camera. I hardly know how to work it, so from now on I'll be the annoying girl running around taking pictures with a blinding flash.

Here's one of Craig leading worship. (the close-up came out blurry. Likely my fault)

And here is one of Jeff, Anthony, and Steven at Genesis.

And here is the this week's poll. Remember, if you find difficulty in choosing a favorite team, do what I do: Who has a better logo/mascot? Or, whose team colors do you like best? Or which team's city have you actually been to? Etcetera.

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iTunes Daily Audio Bible Reading Links

2007-01-22T15:41:00.000-08:00

Check out these links for the Daily Bible Readings on iTunes:

Old Testament and New Testament.

New Testament Only.

These links will be added to the sidebar for quick reference. Enjoy!

Freedom: Week 3; from apathy to passion

2007-01-21T21:09:00.000-08:00

This week we continued our series on Freedom: from apathy to passion, and we read Revelation 3:14-22, the passage about the church in Laodicea (aka: the lukewarm one).
This particular church boasted in their wealth and grew apathetic towards God, since they did not sense a need for Him nor a desire to fully serve Him. They managed to distract themselves with their riches, so that they did not see how desperately poor they actually were. It appears in the context of the passage that they were not passionless altogether. They seem to have a passion for acquiring more wealth or at least to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.
I can really identify with that mindset, as shameful as it may be. There are times in my life when I am completely surrendered and fully willing to serve God and other people. It is a consuming passion that supercedes my own needs and desires. But more often I am concerned with myself, and what I want, and worrying about how I'm going to meet my own needs. The drive to be independent and responsible for myself can distract me from admitting my need for God.
Some people, when financially or spiritually broke, will go directly to God and wait. They are comforted and peaceful, and generally focused on God alone. My husband Patrick is like that and it drives me nuts. I, on the other hand, panic and react emotionally and do everything I can think of to correct my situation. You could say I become very passionate about solving my own problems, which takes my focus almost completely off of God and onto myself. It's like telling God, "Hold on, I don't need you yet, I've got yet another plan to fix this mess I'm in," and the whole time He is just waiting for me realize that His plan is better. And that, by the way, I taste really bad and I make Him want to throw up.

I think what helps me get past the lukewarm seasons in my life is looking around at what God has done and is doing. That means praying for others and seeing an outcome eventually, or remembering times in my own life when God was faithful. Or encouraging and serving people in a way that reminds us of how God takes care of us. Or looking around at God's magnificent beauty. Which isn't that hard around here sometimes. Yesterday was unseasonably warm and sunny and clear. You could see all the way to Monterey and I didn't need gloves for once in my life. I think even the simplest gratitude for days like yesterday and today could ignite a new passion for God.

Prayer Request

2007-01-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,
Let's all keep Sarah in prayer this week. As many of you know, Sarah had a personal one-on-one aide for five years who passed away last year.
Pray that God will give Sarah peace and comfort as she grieves, and pray that He will provide a new aide for Sarah as well.
If you've never met Sarah here is a picture of us together. She is a joy to be around and I love to see her smiling face every week.

If any of you have prayer requests of your own just let me know! We would love to pray for you and to see how God works in your life.

Incomplete Beauty

2007-01-16T20:41:00.000-08:00

I finally started reading N.T Wright's Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, which took a moment to fully grasp my attention because Mr. Wright is very much British and tends to get a little "word-y" with his writing, as in he uses too many words. But this minor setback is easily overlooked once I get into the habit of reading silently with a British accent.

In chapter four, "For the Beauty of the Earth," the author writes, "The world is full of beauty, but the beauty is incomplete. Our puzzlement about what beauty is, what it means, and what (if anything) it is there for is the inevitable result of looking at one part of a larger whole." (pg 40)

Wright also asks the question, somewhat rhetorically, "If the earth is full of God's glory, why is it also so full of pain and anguish and screaming and despair?" (pg46)

This question is kind of answered by the preceding quote, about looking at one part of a larger whole. Wright illustrates this point with an anecdote about finding sheet music for a piano, but then realizing that the piece is incomplete without an accompaniment of strings or some other instrument that isn't there in the sheet music you have. The manuscript may contain beautiful music, but it is incomplete without the missing accompaniment.
The image that came to mind for me was a puzzle, which is odd because I don't particularly enjoy puzzles, although the images they convey are often beautiful. But the image is not wholly beautiful when incomplete. At some point you can tell it is going to be beautiful, but you are not satisfied with its gaps and stray pieces.
This is how I think all of creation is. At least, this might be how Wright is trying to describe our limited view of creation. We look at the beauty in the world and we are content, but at the same time we acknowledge the pain and the ugly pieces around us and wonder how everything can coexist. Whenever we work on puzzles we usually have a pretty good idea of what it's going to look like when we're through. Sometimes it can be extremely frustrating. Sometimes it can be engrossing.
I've seen my mom work on some puzzles over the course of several days, the giant ones that take up a whole dining room table. She can be deaf to ridicule or discouraging remarks during the process. It looks shabby in the beginning, like a great big waste of time, but when it's complete she feels quite a sense of accomplishment. I think she framed one once.

So I think this is an elementary illustration of how God creates you and me: we look like a hot mess in the beginning, but as God patiently completes us throughout life we take on more beauty and substance. We begin to resemble the true picture He had of us from the start. We can be frustrating at times. Others might have given up on us a long time ago, but He labors and endures and produces a perfect likeness in the end. And all those pieces that looked like pain and anguish and ugliness fit into the larger whole to encompass complete beauty.

Indeed the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the
day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will
praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was
made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your
eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed."
Psalm 139: 12-16a

Weekly Poll: How do you work this thing?

2007-01-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

Our weekly poll results from last week reflect the growing favoritism of Boise State's football team.
Yeah.
That's pretty much how we do it in Idaho.

This week's poll is for the more tech-savvy individuals in our midst.

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Freedom: Week 2, from guilt to conviction

2007-01-14T15:26:00.000-08:00

This week we looked at 2 Corinthians 8-13a. Basically the main idea was distinguishing between godly sorrow (conviction) and false guilt. I'm really glad Charlie made this distinction because when I first became a Christian I had no idea was "conviction" meant, aside from a legal term that alluded to extensive jail time.
The point was that false guilt often comes from not meeting our own expectations, or the expectations of others, which leaves God out of the equation. I remember when I first started reading the Bible. I couldn't get enough. I would read for, like, five hours a day (I was none too busy at the time). But after a couple months things got hectic, school started back up, I was running all over the place, and reading my Bible was often one more checkmark on my To Do list. It's meaning faded and the act became a chore. People would approach me almost daily to ask, "What did you read today [from the Bible]." So I felt compelled to maintain a certain quota per day, and if I didn't meet that quota, I'd lie.
"I read three chapters today. Honest. Actually it was more like a whole book. I read Galatians. Totally. Galatians." Gulp.
In my quiet time, which took place while being stuck in traffic, I spent most of it confessing those lies than actually talking with God. My Bible languished in the passenger seat, and we repeatedly stared each other down while commuting.
Charlie described our conscience as warning indicator for when we do wrong things. It serves to alert us when we're in the danger zone of sin. It is a God-given guilt that steers us away from further harm.
Sometimes we mistake the conviction from God for guilt trips from other people.
For example.
Last week a minor nuclear fall-out occured between two of my colleagues at work. One woman, a self-proclaimed ultra-conservative Pentecostal known for unsolicited "preachiness" in the office setting, was visibly irritated by a co-worker. Her co-worker happens to be a Pentecostal believer as well, of the homosexual variety, which I did not know existed. Apparently there has been some tension between these two people over the last several months. During an office-wide meeting the woman (an HR director) told the man that his gay lifestyle "offends" her church.
That, I believe, is an example of the false guilt we looked at this morning. Because even though God clearly outlines his opinion on homosexuality, the woman took offense to homosexuality personally, and named her church as the offended party. And she did this in an open forum.
How humiliating for that man, to be singled out in front of his co-workers. I wanted to hop a plane to Carolina and hold his hand, and give the HR director a piece of my mind. She was trying to make him feel guilty for not meeting her church's standards. While she was at it, she told the other women in the office they should not wear clothing that exposed their ankles. She was forcing her convictions onto everyone else.
I think we've all done this at one time or another. I know I've ruined relationships during my short-lived period of spiritual zeal. I've since tried to repair the damage, but I wouldn't blame anyone if they never spoke to me again.
I think it is possible to live a godly, worshipful lifestyle without being obnoxious. Actually, I believe a godly, worshipful lifestyle is at odds with being obnoxious.

Anyway, I think now is as good a time as any to relieve ourselves of false guilt, whether it comes from not meeting our own expectations or from not meeting others'. This can be anything. Our own Post Secret, if you will. You can post your false guilt anonymously in the comments section.

I'll start, even though mine isn't so anonymous here.

When I got married 4 years ago we threw a wedding together the way you might throw together a SuperBowl party. Casual and easy. I was still in school and I skipped class on a Monday to get married on the beach in the middle of January. I thought I was being brave and reckless. I was so reckless I didn't even wait for a suitable time for my own father to fly in to be at the wedding. He's my favorite person in the whole world and I left him out of the wedding because I was too impatient to wait a few months. My twin sister had to leave town the day before the wedding because her classes were starting that week. It was, and remains to be, the most selfish thing I've ever done.
Since then I've tortured myself over the fact that I robbed my dad of the joy of walking me down the aisle. I welcomed perfect strangers from church to the wedding, but didn't make a huge effort for life-long friends and family members to arrange travel plans.
Now I hate weddings. I hate looking at wedding pictures and not seeing Dad there. I hate watching dads walk their daughters down the aisle because I'm both jealous and self-loathing. I cheated myself. And I'm making myself pay. I know God forgave me a long time ago. I know my dad has forgiven me. But I refuse to forgive myself. It's a conscious decision I've made to punish myself forever and sometimes the guilt is overwhelming. But it's not a God-given guilt. He may have provided the initial conviction, but I haven't let it go. Patrick and I have talked about having a new wedding, but will it be as meaningful and will it erase the guilt I've carried so long? I don't know.
But I do know that it feels good to be able to confess this sort of thing. I do know that I won't show up at the worship service tonight to be met with, "Omigosh, you're own father? Man, you're such a loser! I had no idea. I'll pray for you."

Anyway, if you're so moved to post your own secret guilt you may do so anonymously in the comments section. It can be as big as "I committed grand theft auto and never got caught," or as small as "I drink too much caffeine." Everyone's got something.

Reminder: Worship Night this Sunday

2007-01-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

January 14, at 7 PM, we're having ourselves a worship night in addition to the regular Sunday gathering. Not sure if there will be open flames as this graphic suggests, but there will be music so come hang out!

Weekly Poll: Gridiron Gang

2007-01-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

First of all, I had to laugh at the results of last week's poll. It's like, most of us believe cloned animals are still God's creation but we're also like, "Ew!"
This week's poll may seem out of place, but it's really a testimony of miracles and fervant prayer.

Get Your Poll Widget

2007: a year of love

2007-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

This morning we shared our hearts and visions for what we see/want Genesis to be. How cool that we got to take a time-out from the scheduled series to form a huddle, so to speak (I've been reading Football for Dummies ever since Boise State beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl- Go Boise!- so please excuse any stray football metaphors).
I really, really enjoy hearing about what God is doing in your lives, and how to pray for you, and what your passions are.
One thing I wanted to mention today was how Colossians 2:2 talks about "being knit together in love," and I think it's really important to establish love as a foundation. Even Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 1-2,

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I
have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift
of
prophesy, and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I
have
all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing.

God moves in all our hearts differently- to love others in a unique way. We need to be in tune with how the Holy Spirit shows us to reach out in love to people. We have Jesus's example and we can encourage one another to be selfless, but we cannot do it alone. We need the strength of God and we need the support of each other, and not just to be mushy, shiny, happy people but to love through the hard, smudged, miserable reality we face every day. As long as we are here on this fallen Earth we will continue to encounter pain and suffering, but we are also God's gift to one another to bear one another's burdens. And I am happy to shoulder the weight.

Do NOT Try This at Home

2007-01-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

Whoa, Guys. The weird news of the Day (as in Days of our Lives) comes as a direct result of Bad Writing and unfortunate lunacy. Back in '99 (I'm ashamed to admit I actually saw this), the writers of the long-running soap experienced a lapse in judgment that affected us all. They decided to make Marlena possessed by the Devil and then her husband, John Black, would mysteriously yet conveniently remember that he was actually a priest once, back when Stefano Dimera brainwashed him (and the entire population of "Salem" and all of its descendants) as his mercenary. He was sort of able to perform an exorcism on his wife and from what I hear, that period of their lives is never spoken of. And hopefully the entire writing staff was forced pursue a different profession.
Fast forward to now, and the lasting effects of Bad Writing have led to the following incident:

LOS
ANGELES -- An Oregon man has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of
battery and entering private property without permission after bursting into the
Malibu backyard of "Days of Our Lives" star Drake Hogestyn.
A judge also
granted Hogestyn a restraining order against Carl Raymond Cheney.
Hogestyn,
who plays John Black on the popular soap opera, said he was on a ladder on New
Year's Eve when Cheney ran at his daughter screaming, "Where is he? I will cast
him out." Court documents said Cheney was clutching a a bible and was trying to
exorcise the devil from the actor. He was recalling an episode of the soap about
demonic possession, the documents state, adding that the intruder also grabbed
Hogestyn's wife and pushed her backward.
Hogestyn intercepted the intruder and he and his son restrained the man
with duct tape until police arrived.
"I grabbed him by the hair, spun him
around, delivered a right cross to the chin that sent him down the stairs," the
actor said.
"This sick person Carl Raymond Cheney believed that Satan was in
me and that he was the Christ," he wrote.
Cheney was released on his own
recognizance and ordered to stay with his father. Sentencing is scheduled for
Feb. 6.

Hmm. The detail about the duct tape is slightly humorous.
But, man, what's up with that Oregon guy? Is he mentally deranged or-
Nope. You know what, I just can't think of an alternative besides mentally deranged. Could he have been playing an ill-timed, ill-executed prank on the actor and his family? In any case, don't try this at home (this meaning, faux exorcisms, Bad Writing, or this form of punishment)

Genesis Christmas Party Pics!

2007-01-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

Weekly Poll: Barbeque!

2007-01-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

Get Your Poll Widget

Freedom: Week 1, from formulas to freedom

2006-12-31T18:58:00.000-08:00

This week Craig and Charlie reversed roles for a second so that Craig could talk on Matthew 15 and Charlie could wail on the guitar. I just have to say, and I know I say this often, but I just feel so refreshed whenever the order of the Genesis service is rearranged or varied a bit. It just seems so Spirit-led. And the reason it may seem so Spirit-led is because Jesus gives us an example, in Matthew 15, not to become chained to men’s tradition, in this case the order of events we rely on to have a church service.
There is a certain arrogance, I believe, in sticking to a rigid order of events week after week, believing the Holy Spirit will show up where He’s wanted and will otherwise behave Himself. I believe it is lazy to map an order of service and to depend on it as though not much else is required of us. A clean, uneventful service is often considered a successful one. But let’s not ignore all the times Jesus brought down the house during an all-but-orderly church service. The Holy Spirit has also been known to appear at unscheduled times, sometimes during a mealtime, or during naptime. The Holy Spirit has also been known NOT to appear during the time allotted him on the schedule. How embarrassing for all involved.
This morning we looked at our freedom from formulas- that is, formulaic attempts to attain spirituality or oneness with God. Rather than approaching God in a personal manner, sometimes we let ourselves fall into the rut of ritualism, deceiving ourselves into believing we’ve just "spent time with God." I’ve done this. Boy, have I done this.
My favorite passage from Matthew 15 right now (it could change, things do) is when Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for placing more importance on ritual than on being in the presence of God.

...You have made the commandments of God of no effect
by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
'These people draw near to Me with their
mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of
men.'

(vs. 6-9)

For a long time, I believed my "relationship" with God was a monolithic, unmoving one. Like bowing down before El Capitan and talking to it. The order of events was rigid and hard and cold, and I often walked away without hearing a word from God, but by golly I put my time in, whether it was a solid hour of Bible reading or a wandering prayer session that led to bouts of day dreaming. This habit was exacerbated when friends would greet me at any given time of day and ask, "Have you spent time with the Lord today?" Or, "What did you read [from the Bible] today?" To which I needed to have a satisfactory response. The need to impress or satisfy others formed a habit, and that habit became religion, and religion became ritualistic.
It was years before I began to understand that my closeness with God is more fluid than I realized. But first I had to let God chip away at the enormous El Capitan of legalism that I let rule my life, and that hurt. For a little while. Then there was a flood that cleared everything away and it was just me and God.
During that period I was not attending church, and for a while it was great! I remember one warm, sunny Sunday morning I was laying out by the pool and I didn’t even feel guilty for not being in church. In fact, I reveled in the fact that I wasn’t at church. God continued to reveal His truth to me during that time, and I thought "Who needs church? Not me!"
But that was only for a season and soon God was leading me to seek communion with fellow believers again. Which was humbling, because all of a sudden God was directing me to go to church again and I was like, "Hey wait a minute. You and me, we’re doing just fine." To which he solemnly replied, "Go." So, not wanting to be on the business end of another "spiritual lesson," I hurried up and did like I was told.
I think the freedom Craig talked about today is not so much a freedom to run wild and flop on the pavement or jump off a cliff or knowingly grieve God, but a freedom to be led by God. To be willing and obedient, and malleable and fluid, and to recognize when our attempts to communicate with God are actually hindering a real connection.
Maybe we can ponder these things inwardly as we begin a new year.

Update: True Identity

2006-12-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

So I just listened to Charlie’s message from Sunday night, and I’m so glad he spoke on identity and our identity in Christ, even though I wasn’t there in person.
I can’t really speak for my sister, but some of what Charlie said did resonate with me and would probably ring true for my sister as well.
We used to always love hearing about our dangerous birth, where the doctors in a small town in the Idaho mountains didn’t have an ultra-sound machine in their two-room hospital, so nobody knew we were twins. When they finally realized we weren’t gonna be one big strapping boy named Christopher, but rather two very small pre-mature girls, they performed an emergency C-section on my mom. Thank God they at least had a registered anesthesiologist on staff. My aunt passed by the operating room door during the surgery and saw a giant text book open with instructions on how to perform a C-section, which was very reassuring.
After we all survived, they had to pick out names. Since I was in an incubator for almost a month you would think they had plenty of time to think things through. They agreed that Dad got to name me, and Mom got to name my sister. Since my sister was bigger and healthier than I was, she got to leave the hospital earlier so Mom quickly decided in Heather Brooke. Doesn’t it sound like a character straight out of Melrose Place? Or The OC, or whatever it is you kids are watching these days?
Dad saw that I was still alive after a couple weeks and decided to name me Jody Rae, true to his hickory mountain ways. Jody was the name of a babysitter he had a crush on growing up, and Rae is his dad’s name. So I was named after a mysterious ‘other woman’ and an old man. When I was nine I begged my parents to let me change my name to “Stephanie” or “Mariah Carey,” which probably made my dad feel kinda bad.
But usually people didn’t call Heather or me by our names. Mostly we were always “The Twins” or “The Girls,” as in, “can the twins come out and play?” or “What do the girls want for lunch?” As if we were one person, or conjoined.
(Some of these memories have been kicked up in the dust while I’m currently reading a novel about conjoined twin girls.)

I didn’t mind being a twin very much, but Heather did mind. She minded very much. She fought for her right to her own bedroom at age 3, solidified her own friendships by age 7, refused to wear clothing similar to mine, and generally paved the way for our singularity. Kids at school could easily tell us apart, identifying Heather as “the pretty one,” and me as “the funny one.”
Our newfound individuality was like a hungry animal demanding to be fed regularly but in greater quantities as time wore on. We ossified our identities in practical ways. Heather became proficient as a glamorous make-up artist and is now the head esthetician at her place of work; I pursued stand-up comedy and humor writing, and I like to make people laugh at my place of work.

But if that’s all there is to our identities this would be a very pitiful account. If my identity depends solely on my past or on earthly circumstances, I would still be the awkward, self-conscious junior high kid I remember myself as (my junior high years were significantly more awkward than the average American citizen’s). I would also be a hick, with my name and all (this assessment is open for debate and I realize I just opened myself up for cheap shots).

Nevertheless, how thrilling the moment when I put my faith in Christ instead of other people’s perception of me. All that really matters is that I stay true to who God made me.
I think we can also mistake Christ’s identity for someone else. We might have a faulty perception of who He is, but the incredible part is that our perceptions don’t change who God is. He is truth and eternal and we don’t get to shape Him to fit our image, no matter how many different names we use to describe Him.

This Christmas I visited Patrick’s hometown. Whenever I go to his mom’s house I spend a lot time looking through old family pictures to gain a sense of what his life was like before I knew him, plus he was a really cute little boy and for a long time I prayed that we would have triplet boys, all with red hair and freckles and mischievous grins until I came to my senses and made everyone stop praying that we’d have triplets.
And since we got married in a fever it has taken years to gain that sense of where he came from. Even though he hardly resembles the person in his high school photos (thank God-- mullet!) and even though he is a completely different person than he was ten years ago I still feel the need to define him, to picture him walking home from school and kicking a soccer ball, to see him skating the ramp in his back yard, or practically drooling beer onto his studded leather jacket after one of his ghastly punk rock shows. And I realize how defective this method of defining someone can be. You cannot truly get to know someone without interacting on some level. You cannot glance at old photos and grasp a memory that isn’t yours, and then project it onto someone and think you know them.
I think we do this with God.
We read personal accounts of experiences people have with God, and we adapt to their perception and intimacy with God without pursuing our own. It’s like glancing at old photos of God and hearing stories of things He once did, but never progressing or seeking Him right now.
I’m not a parent, so I can’t say this with any authority, but based on my own neurotic tendencies, I wonder if parents do this with their kids- try to shape their identities using pure will power and perception. It’s like how I picture our future son (it’s always a boy, I hardly ever picture a girl) with red hair and freckles and an affinity for team sports, when he might actually have straight blond hair like Patrick’s brother used to have, and he might actually have a revulsion for team sports, and prefer downhill skiing like my dad.

One of the neighborhood kids by his mom’s house is a little boy named Jonah. Jonah has 7 brothers and sisters, but is the only boy with red hair and freckles. I think I spooked him a little last weekend when I stared too long at his resemblance to Patrick as a kid. I’m not as weird as I sound. He really did look just like Patrick.
So all of that is to say this: What really matters is how we appear in the eyes of God, and when we become His and are grafted into His family, He looks upon us with love. Loving us for who we are in Christ.