brain-based afternoon

Had lunch in Pasadena (seared Ahi sandwich) with my friends Steve Goodwin and Rich Melheim. We talked about Rich's brain-based research performing arts preschool project and the possibilities of expanding from Southern California to India, China and Korea. If you know Melheim, it doesn't surprise you. Could start a revolution in education and plant a few churches while we are at it. 

Our waiter's name was "Dane." I told him my name and he said, "That's my name, too. But I go by 'Dane,' because it is just too confusing." I told him I use my middle name "Ed" whenever I need to give my name in public. I call this, "Starbucks Ed."

So, if your name is Terry, Robin, Sam, Pat, Ricky, Mel...Dane and Ed salute you!

visiting Kristina at school

Drove down to UC Riverside yesterday to see our baby girl, Kristina, perform in her first play at the University Playworks. The plays are written by students, and I didn't know what to expect. A Marxist interpretive dance of the life of Robin Yount, or something like that. I don't know.

The small theatre was packed and it was great! Theatre people are so energized. There is a lot of talent in the playwrights. Again, I am amazed at how important it is to know that you are telling a story. The more you get that right, everything else begins to fall into place.

Good to meet her friend Zach, too. Dude did not want to be there, but he made the most of it and we had a chance to connect. Talked about minor league baseball and the strengths and waknesses of Intelligent Design, among other things. I love college. 

my friend's birthday

Guys are so different than women when it comes to personal life. Philip (pictured here) is someone I am as close to as just about anyone; we have connected as friends, confidants and colleagues for about four years now. So, what is the "different than women" angle?

Today is Philip's birthday. We meet often on Friday morning for coffee and so we just happen to get together this morning. 

P: "O, by the way, today's my birthday."

D: "No way." (what I really meant: "Am I an idiot for not knowing that.")

So how many women out there are very close to someone and you don't know their birthday? Is this a guy thing or is it just me?

I did a preemptive strike with Philip. My birthday is exactly one week later on June 6.

Philip you are one of the coolest, most authentic gifted guys I know. Even though I don't know your birthday. Now I do. 

Happy birthday, friend! Love you, man...(guy talk for intimate expression of affection)

his people

Isaiah 51:11

Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Sound familiar? Look at Revelation 21:24. God’s plan is echoing throughout history. He is rescuing and restoring his people. “His people” means anyone who wants God in their lives. Jesus makes this clear.

Pray for those seeking God that they will be receptive. 

see

Psalm 145:7

Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

There will be a day when God will be visible to all. His love will be seen through his people and the only way to avoid seeing it will be by denying it.

Be an ambassador for Jesus by who you are.

where is God?

God prepares all people to know him
beauty, justice, relationships, spirituality (N.T. Wright)

expanding

the younger generations have a problem with the church; God loves the younger generations
let's join what God is doing

hope

Psalm 126:6

They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

With God, timing is everything. To know there will be reason for joy someday because of past experience makes present suffering possible. You have seen God work before. 

Pray for an attitude of hope.

Congressional leadership

At the American Legion yesterday, had time to talk to Congressman Brad Sherman, and his aide Matt. Matt remembered my name and who I was and and introduced me before the Congressman had a chance to say anything. Kind of like Hector Elizando in The Princess Diaries (Hector belonged to my health club and is a pretty down to earth guy, but that's for another day). Matt gets high marks by me. Gracious and effective at what he does.

Congressman Sherman gets high marks, too. Here is why. Every time I have heard him speak in a public gathering, he uses a lot of self-effacing humor. He does a preempt on what people think about politics and politicians and sets the tone for everyone to relax. This is a big thing when it comes to leadership and speaking. Instead of regurgitating some internet joke from an e mail forward, just find a way to cut up on yourself. That'll work.

best friends

the Holy Spirit is not the third wheel of the Trinity

want what God wants

Psalm 45:7

 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

Who are the happiest people on earth? Those walking through the gates of Disneyland? Those who have the most money and the most fame? Those who are the strongest and most powerful?

No, those who want what God wants for the world.

How does God show up in joy in your life?

A 90 year old vet

I spent the day intrigued by a 90 year old guy named, "Leo." 

Only his third day in WWII, at Guadalcanal, Leo Nonn was captured. He was held in a Japanese prison camp in China, and then in Japan, for the next three years. 

Leo is still sharp and still proud to be a soldier. I saw in the Canoga Park Memorial Day parade in the American Legion Post 308 truck. 

I went over to the Legion afterward for a bbq. Leo was in his element, eating, drinking, and laughing with his old cronies. Good for you, Leo! 

This is what freaks me out. I know what three years are like. How many things can happen in that time. How much you can accomplish. How much you can grow. You can really do a lot in three years.

Leo gave three years of his life away. He didn't get to do anything. I can't imagine what hardship and pain he was put through in that camp. I can't imagine what it was like to sit there and expect you have a good chance of dying. Day after day. Night after night. 

I can't fathom how many of Leo's dreams; how much of his soul wasted away during those years. Yet, those weren't wasted years. 

Through the time, energy, and yes, often a part of your soul, guys like you, Leo, give a chunk of their life for guys like me. It wasn't a waste. You already know that. 

It is an inspiration. 

Thank you...

spread

He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.

There will always be time to celebrate. This is how God works. When the blessings come, and they will, share them with your friends and with those in need. The more you spread your joy around, the more your own joy is expanded. Or as Agape says, “Sprinkle sunshine on each other, you might get a drop on you.”

When is the last time that you had a celebration alone? Exactly.

DragonForce - Through the Fire and Flames

Why do I like this video so much? I am worthless at Guitar Hero, would never reach this level in Hero 3 anyway, and I have no hair.

But the guitars...

grateful

Ezra 6:22 There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.

What do you do when good fortune comes from a completely unexpected place? Do you take it for granted? Do you figure you deserve it as payback for all the bad things that come your way from unexpected places? Or do you say, “Thanks God, you’re the best” and join positive and grateful people along the path of appreciation?

What can you give thanks for today that was totally unexpected?

dance

2 Samuel 6:14

14 David was dancing for the LORD with all his might, but he wore only a linen cloth. 

David and the Israelites won a great battle and get the Ark of the Covenant back. Now they return home and celebrate. The King takes off his robe and boogies down the road like the common people. His wife tells him she is embarrassed, and she doesn’t like the way he dances.

At least wives are so much more understanding today about how we dance. “Celebrate good times, come on...”

Have you ever danced for the LORD? Just wait until no one’s home, crank up the music and let ‘er rip! “

I mean it

Deuteronomy 16:15 For seven days you must celebrate this festival to honor the Lord your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all.

God: You will have a party and you will enjoy it for a whole week and that’s an order!

Christians: You can’t possibly mean that. The last thing the world needs is to see Christians having fun at church. They won’t think we take you seriously enough.

God: I didn’t ask you what you think. Now, have fun. It is me you are celebrating. I like it when you are happy.

What would someone think of the God you worship when they look at your main attitude of life?

abundance

Deuteronomy 14:26 When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want—cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household. 

“Scarcity mentality” means there isn’t enough to go around and so I have to be selfish and look out for my self. This means being stingy with what I invest in God’s mission through my local church. This means I neglect to consider those in need. I may even criticize my church for not doing enough for those in need, but personally I don’t do jack. Christians are an interesting bunch.

“Abundance mentality” is God’s thinking. Always more than enough to go around. This text from Deuteronomy is instructions for worshipers who are coming to church with a big offering after the harvest. Look again at what it tells the worshipers to do. Interesting...

What would be different about your life if you had abundance mentality?

not what you think

 Numbers 10:12 “Five days later, on the fifteenth day of the same month, you must call another holy assembly of all the people, and you may do no ordinary work on that day. It is the beginning of the Festival of Shelters, a seven-day festival to the Lord.

I love how this passage sounds- very churchy. “You must call another holy assembly...” That’s just what we need. Sounds dull enough to be spiritual. “Hey, how would you like to join me at the holy assembly?”

Wait a minute. This is God speaking. Wait another minute. This is not a boring gathering of pretentious people going through the motions. It is the start of a seven day party!!

How do our preconceived notions of what the Bible talks about get corrected when we actually read it?

best

Numbers 10.10

Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the Lord your God of his covenant with you. I am the Lord your God.

God is telling his people to blow the trumpets and loudly proclaim that he is their God, whenever they come together for worship. Prior to this verse, he just told them to blow the trumpets as an alarm when they are attacked by their enemies. Either way, God keeps showing up. 

Through challenging circumstances and wondrous occurrences, God just keeps showing up and does what he does best. Being God. So, we might as well pucker up. 

Pray for God to protect you.

expand

lev 23.4

In addition to the Sabbath, these are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the official days for holy assembly that are to be celebrated at their proper times each year.

Is it becoming clear that God had his people celebrate a lot? These biblical texts we have been reading this week are all from the early days of God with his people. I thought he was a God of rules who wants to make sure we never enjoy ourselves?

The great Dampener? The great Downer? I guess not.

Pray to expand your vision of God and what he represents.

fun

ex 12.14

This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.

I can remember ordering the children to have fun when they were younger. “Now go outside and have fun. That’s an order!”

Our Father knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows that to remember what he has done that is so amazing brings us joy. Since the incarnation and the resurrection of Jesus are in the middle of it all, the ways we could screw up Christmas and Easter with things that aren’t connected to Jesus as many. We still manage to experience that joy.

Pray to be more open to the good things that are going on around you today.

celebrate

Monday

“Celebration” is defined as “utter joy in ourselves, our life, and our world as a result of our faith and confidence in God’s greatness, beauty, and goodness.” (The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible) This may be the most difficult spiritual discipline to actually practice. 

Relying on God can’t be forced or faked. Others will be able to tell. It’s one thing to study Scripture and see that greatness, beauty and goodness can’t be ignored. If you are inspired by these attributes you will have joy pouring out of you.

Don’t be afraid of letting yourself be impressed by God. Pray for this.

dirt

People are people and the key to connecting begins and ends with humility

John 6 Bible Study- Feed Me

Jesus surprises everyone

now

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

      he will lead them to springs of living water.

   And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

We don’t lose our need for Jesus when we live in his complete Kingdom for good. We are now living in this new creation, and as Jesus continues to expand his Kingdom, he expands our understanding if we let him, so he might expand our usefulness.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you as you invite him in. 

openness

James 3:15-18

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

We don’t have 100% understanding of the mind of God. Not even close. We do have an indication of what might be from God. That which reflects God’s character. We do have everything we need to live his Way.

Pray for openness for God to build your character.

wisdom

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

When you want to understand something that will help you make progress living God’s Ways, he will give it to you. All you have to do is ask.

Pray for wisdom in matters of faith and life.

wander

2 John 1:9

Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

When you start getting away from the overall message of the Bible and start adding to it then you have wandered away from God. There is nothing that is happening today that changes the way you would think about the Bible. God has known what is happening today from eternity.

Pray for confidence to actually take God at his Word.

skepticism

1  Peter 1:16

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

The first disciples are eyewitnesses and are the source behind almost all of the New Testament. The fact that the stories vary and appear to us this way doesn’t make me think they are less accurate. They appear more accurate, because if I was making it up as the editor, I would have made them all as identical as possible! A reasonable hypothesis is they are left with their differences (though no doctrine is different) because this is how it happened according to the eyewitness.

Pray for any personal skepticism to be based on reason.

straight ahead

Galatians 5:25
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

God is always moving ahead of us and we do well to keep up. This doesn’t just mean moving forward, it also means not veering to the left or right. Straight ahead. How?

Be open. Be receptive. Be ready. Put one foot in front of the other. That works.

 

Pray for perseverance in walking with the Spirit.

receive

John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

We are not waiting for the Spirit of truth to come. If Jesus is your Lord and you trust in him, he has given you his Spirit. The Spirit of truth, or Holy Spirit, is with you in a guiding way as a person of the Trinity. All that is required is you receive him.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you with guidance this day.