Draw from the Well

Cast the First Stone...or Not

...certainly I'm not qualified to do so.  Throughout life, I've learned many lessons in humility.  And a wise man keeps telling me to never overestimate the spirituality of the sheep...or perhaps the shepherds either.

I felt prompted to write this when I heard that a current pastor recently announced his relational sin. I'll spare you his name because most of you (who read my blog) don't know of him anyway.  One thing that strikes me is that this is the first leader of my "generation" [and by that I mean this "new" style of socially-connected, blog-writing, straight talking young church planter group that is in vogue now] to announce his fall from grace. 

This reminds me that we are all only steps from the wrong path (don't I know it!)  There is nothing new about sin nor the temptations which seek to snare us.  (For better thoughts on this than I can articulate see this article here.)

As I read his confession, I was pondering how it was that knew of him as I don't regularly read his blog when I remembered the incident of the stolen trailer and response to it. In it, this pastor shared about what he would do if and when he caught the thief of the trailer. [I'll pause while you read it for full effect.]

This is what prompted me to write.  I don't glory or revel in sin.  Our sin means satan has won (in the short term.)  Our sin means that others and ourselves are going to be affected by consequences...hard ones.  I totally believe that God can and will bring good out of this situation and restore what the locusts have eaten.  Yet the way will be hard because something nasty has taken root, which must be ripped out and healed.  It's sad...so sad.

I don't point fingers or cast judgment because I understand the frailty of people who can do stupid things and make terrible mistakes from first hand knowledge. But it makes me think of Jacob when he wrestled with the angel.  After, he walked with a limp, broken and humbled...yet healed and blessed in spite of it all.

I read about this today and was sad and reminded to be more full of compassion.  I was humbled because I have no stones to cast...I too am a limping sinner saved by grace. 

I pause because just when I think I am righteous enough to get up on my high-horse...Jesus reminds me that, in fact, I'm so far from it.

Every week I am confronted by stories of the stupid, tragic choices people make.  They come broken and humbled, desperate...fired, in debt, relationally bankrupted..hurt by their choices and the choices of others. [Literally...those are just the stories I heard this passed week!]

This morning I'm reminded that if my patience is wearing thin...if my voice is growing condescending, if I am weary and leaning towards judgment or vengeancee...I need to pause, be humble and consider my limp.

HT: Todd Rhoades, MMI

Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

If you haven't yet taken the time to watch this performance of Susan Boyle, take the time to do so.  How often do we do this with people we meet?

I apologize - you-tube is not allowing this video to be embedded, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg

Randy Pausch Passes On

If you don't know of Randy Pausch's Last Lecture, you need to go here.

While I don't think Randy was a Christian, he did have some compelling thoughts on living life fully to the end and what your priorities should be.

Read about him here and here.

Also in the news, evangelist Greg Laurie's son Christopher was killed in a car accicdent.

Psalm 39:4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered—                   how fleeting my life is."

What Technology Do You Use?

Technology has been on my mind recently.  Here's what has technologically been going on in my life:

1) I'm a huge e-mailer. I use it every day for work and pleasure.  I also shop online, download music and watch videos.

2) I have IMed in my life, but that has given way to Facebook as my social networking outlet.

• I liked the immediacy of IM.  It worked well for me when I was in China.  But let's face it, who has the time to just sit at their computer and chat (I don't feel that such things should be done at work!)
• Honestly, I'm not much of a social networker, but it seems like Facebook is a medium for connecting with both my peers (friends from college) and the younger generation.
• I hate MySpace.  Too many bells, whistles, lights, garbage.  What was it good for?  I think I have a page out there but I never, ever use it.
• On that note, I dislike almost all of the trivial things about Facebook - don't poke me, don't send me gifts...even wall writing is weird to me.  If it weren't for the ability to link my blog feeds I would think less of Facebook.
• I also don't like having yet another email address (right now I have 5...yuck.)
• Note to all of you out there - what I crave about your life is knowledge...tell me how you are doing (not a one line update that tells me nothing!)

3)  I just got my cell phone bill and realized that I was spending way too much money on text messaging. 

• Texting is a growing area for me.  I'm not a phone person.  I'm learning how to text faster.
• I dislike it when people text in the car.  Don't do it if I'm with you and you are driving...I will give you a glare!
• I think there is a effort/efficiency balance between texting and just picking up the phone and giving the person a call.
• I also think we old folks (myself included) need to reevaluate our judgments about texting etiquette, i.e., is it okay to text during a meeting?  I think the next generation has some opinions about that.

4)  I'm into blogs.  Both reading them and writing them.

• A daily dose of what you are thinking seems about right to me. 
• I like to be stretched by other people's perspectives.
• Writing stretches me to regularly articulate what I'm thinking about.
• It really does make me feel closer to people I've never met (that's weird isn't it?)
• Unlike chat rooms - you can still dialog without being right there.
• Unlike emails, you have a broader audience that can access your ideas whenever they want to.  It's more user driven.
• I wish all my friends had blogs.

5) I have rejected Twitter. 

• I said "daily" dose, not minute by minute update.
• Does it seem narcissistic to anyone but me?
• Perhaps it's just me or my life is more boring that most, but I don't think anyone cares what I was doing 15 minutes ago (writing a blog and eating carrots and snap peas.)
• And I'm pretty sure that no one cares what I was doing 30 minutes ago (Changing my account with T-mobile so I can send text messages cheaply.)
• And I don't enjoy cyber-stalking other people. (In 10 minutes I'm going to clean the cat boxes.  Seriously, someone must do it.)
• I am totally not an early adopter (I remember warning a student about the "evils" of email years ago in college, and mocking someone about the dangers of texting while driving when I was in Hong Kong back in 1999 (wait...I still do that!))  so if I'm missing it with Twitter...feel free to enlighten me.
• It seriously feels like just one more thing to manage.

6)  Podcasting.

• I will admit to listening to a few podcasts here and there.
• I also enjoyed our brief ventures into the podcasting field here.
• But I can give or take podcasts.  They just seem too long.
• Perhaps when I'm in the car and I remember my Ipod and all the things to connect it.

7)  Here are some observations after living in a house with two teenagers:

• They play more video games than watching TV.
• They don't watch nearly as many movies as I do.  Or read as many books.
• Texting and internet are constant companions.

So where are you with technology?  What are you doing that I'm missing out on?

After bonding with the teens over Guitar Hero, one thing I know is that I need to keep learning.  How about you?

Gas Prices by State

Washington is #3.  See here.  Only California and Hawaii are worse.  That list was from March 18.

This list tells a different story - it's more current.  Afraid the news has just gotten worse.

Planning a trip?  This Fuel Cost Calculator could help.  It's niffty!

Do I Take the Web Too Seriously?

This guy found a great video, just enough truth that you still laughing, but also hurting just a little.

If You Don't Have Time

Don't click on these links...

So I've heard about it, but I've never experienced.  My advice: don't. 

Today is my day off.  I'm supposed to be studying for my midterm.

Instead I was sucked into the TED vortex (3 hours of studying gone!)

TED is this elite conference on Technology, Entertainment, and Design.  It's invitation only.

TED's tag is "Ideas worth spreading"  They seek to "cross seed" across disciplines to promote innovative thinking.

Whatever you do, don't click onto this site unless you have time.  Seriously.  I'm not kidding.

So if you are brave. Or bored.  Choose the red pill.  Jump into the rabbit hole.  Blast off.

TED

Some very compelling videos I watched:

Hans Rosling on Changing World Demographics  Amazing stats.  The myths are wrong.

David Pogue on Simplicity in Technology Compelling thoughts on why we want more, lots of MS bashing.

Pamelia Kurstin playing a Theremin  Because you want to know what a Theremin is, don't you!

Julia Sweeney on Letting God Go  Don't laugh, it's what lots of people are thinking.

J.J. Abrams on Creativity   Mystery is more important than knowledge.

Jill Bolte Taylor on Strokes   She knows what she's talking about.  She holds a real brain!

I could go on.  Sorry about sidetracking your day.  I need to go take a test now!

State of the Middle Class.

This is fascinating.  Still thinking.  What does this say about how we spend our $$.

Tell me what you think!

Source: Nich Poole

Who Did You Vote For?

If you know me, you know that I'm not very politically minded.  (What can I say, living in China affected me in many ways!)  This season I've surprised myself by being more engaged politically than ever. (I even watched the State of the Union address with some interest.)  I'm not sure why, other than it seems that we have a very interesting primary race on our hands.

I've been puzzling over who to vote for.  Yesterday I put my ballot in the mail.  A few weeks ago, I was struck by an article in the newspaper that suggested that this year's election would be greatly impacted by generational patterns.  You know how the mention of generations perks up my ears.  So here are a few insights:

• John McCain (71) represents the "Silent Generation", a group who came of age during the Cold War.
• Hillary Clinton (60) is an arch Baby Boomer; power focused, driven, and savvy.
• Barack Obama (46) is a Gen Xer, the child of divorce who grew up internationally surrounded by diversity.

Three very different sets of influences and expectations.  One can see how their generational positioning is influencing their policy:  McCain's foreign policy; Clinton's very ascension to the political power; Obama's call for unity and harmony though he has little practical experience.  I know people of these same generations who espouse the same philosophies.

Perhaps one of the things which is peaking my interest is that this year our political landscape does really represent a diversity, not just in generations, but in gender and race as well.  I believe these issues will force America to reckon with how far we've progressed (or not) through our history.

All in all it's very interesting.

Most importantly - I voted.  Did you?

Unleashed On the Map!

A few weeks ago I signed myself and one of my interns up to go to New Spring's Unleash 08 conference.  A gift of money and some expended frequent flyer miles later, and I'm looking forward getting exposed to a church that is significantly impacting their area for Jesus.

Today, Tony Morgan strategically posted some info about the conference as well as a map. 

Check out Washington and you'll be pleased to note that little bubble placement looks suspiciously like Olympia, Washington. 

Hey I'm ON THE MAP!

I was really excited because at first it looked like we'd be coming the farthest distance to the conference.  But then I noticed a dot in England. 

Bummer. 

Regardless, I am so excited to be able to go to New Spring and learn from the leaders there.  It's going to be off the hook.

You can pray for me...I will be missing Palm Sunday (which = busy), and must finish both my seminary class's final test and research paper early (which = super busy & super discipline.)