mathetes | μαθητής | talmida

It has arrived!

2010-05-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

I have finally left the blogspot realm and have ventured into the wide world of wordpress! Please check out my new blog at:

tamida.com

IF YOU HAVE A LINK TO MY BLOG ON YOUR BLOG OR SUBSCRIBE TO IT....PLEASE CHANGE IT :-)

My original blog was called mathetes, which is the Greek word for disciple. I really never intended to be "that guy" who like a "super-spiritual cheesy Christian" uses Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic words to be creative and overly spiritual. I realize that I have done this to some extent, but that was not my intention, so you just have to take my word for it. Or not. Either is okay with me, but allow me to explain my reasoning for using the biblical languages.

I am a pretty sentimental guy. I have an imagination that finds real life, historical events very special and significant. I'm the type of guy that loves re-visiting the neighborhood where I grew up and just sitting and remembering what life was like back then. Weird as it may sound, I love closing my eyes and imagining being there in the moment once again.

I also love spending time imagining what it would have been like living in the past. What would my life have looked like during Israel's trek through the desert? During the reign of King David? During the life and times of Jesus? During Medieval Europe? During the founding of America?

The biggest imagination I have is what it would be like to be in the presence of Jesus while he was here on the earth. What would I think about him? Would I be one that could drop everything and follow him? Would I dismiss him as a religious lunatic? What choice would I make if he looked at me and invited me to follow him?

This is where the desire for the Greek word came. I wanted the exact word Jesus would have spoken with this invitation. That's the sentimental side of me for ya! Ironically, when I created my blog over 5 years ago I failed to realize that although the New Testament was originally written in Greek, Jesus did not speak Greek. Jesus spoke Aramaic, so the word would not have been mathetes. Hence, with a new look, a new blog platform (wordpress), and a new URL comes a new name for my blog - talmida. Below is the description you will find in the about section my my blog.

Blogger Stinks

2010-04-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

Well, things obviously look a little different here. I blame Blogger. I went into my blogger template and tried to change one little thing on my blog layout and my whole blog was ruined. Even undoing what I changed did not help. So my current blog layout is gone forever thanks to Blogger. Unfortunately, I think my time with Blogger has finally come to an end. I am currently in the processing of transferring my blog over to Wordpress, which I hear has way more options.

Stay tuned....

Resurrection

2010-04-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a happy Easter! I am just recovering from the seven services this past weekend that we had on the Gilbert campus at Central. What a long weekend it was!

In the Easter spirit, I stumbled across a video that Rob Bell just released on the resurrection. It is thoughtful, inspiring and free to download.

Check it out (click the lower right icon to make it full screen):

Resurrection: Rob Bell from The Work of Rob Bell on Vimeo.

more info at:
https://www.robbell.com/resurrection/

"everybody believes something
everybody believes somebody
Jesus invites us to trust resurrection"

Something Beautiful

2010-02-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we played the song "Something Beautiful" by NeedToBreath as a special. I love this song and it has easily become one of my favorites. The lyrics are great and the melody is too! Below is the band playing an acoustic version of it. Enjoy!!! Oh, and just ignore the whole "Cosmo Girl" promo at the beginning and end :-)

What a great prayer:

HEY NOW, THIS IS MY DESIRE
CONSUME ME LIKE A FIRE, ‘CAUSE I JUST WANT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
TO TOUCH ME, I KNOW THAT I’M IN REACH
‘CAUSE I AM DOWN ON MY KNEES, I’M WAITING FOR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
OH, OH, OH, SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

A Kingdom Nugget

2010-02-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

"We now live in a time when consumer Christianity has become the accepted norm, and all-out engagement with and in Jesus' kingdom among us is regarded as just one option people may take if it suits them -- but probably 'overdoing it.'"

- Dallas Willard

Get Ready!

2010-02-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Tonight will be the beginning of the end for the GREATEST show on television - LOST! It is a bittersweet feeling to know that we will finally get closure and answers to this amazing story. At the same time I really don't want it to end. If you don't watch it then I highly recommend renting or even buying season 1, carving out about 6 hours on a Friday night, and by Sunday you'll be ready for season 2 and beyond. It's that good!

Divine Patience

2010-01-17T16:38:00.000-08:00

In the last few weeks I have had to read through the books of Joshua and Judges for my Hebrew Prophets class. I must say that there are some crazy things that happen in theses books. To be honest, if I didn't know any better I would not think this stuff would be found in the Bible. Have you read these books lately? War, genocide, scandals, apostasy, etc... It is phenomenal just how raw and uncut the Bible really is.

The difficulty that I wrestle with is that some of what I read seems to contradict the words and teachings of Jesus. It is hard to make sense of the stories we read and the journey that God has the early Israelites on. In the end I guess we just have to realize that God's ways are beyond our understanding.

Another thing that just completely baffles me is how unfaithful the Israelites are. Time after time God gives them second chance after second chance, yet they still turn aside and worship "Baal" and "Asherah" who were gods of the Canaanites. Why? Why does God remain so faithful despite Israel's prostitution?

For class I am also reading a book called Deuteronomic History by Terence Fretheim. In it he shares some great insights into God's judgment of Israel and what Fretheim calls the divine patience of God. Here are some quotes:

"It becomes apparent quickly in this text [Judges] that God's purposes are not annihilation, but that on the far side of the experience of judgment there might be restoration of relationship which God intended."

"...what comes through is the divine patience: God continues to save them from the hands of their enemies in spite of continued apostasy."

"This makes it very clear that the divine judgment is not considered to be an end in itself, as if God had no concerns beyond judgment. Judgment there must be; evil must not be allowed to go unchecked in the world. But judgment is not the end of things for God. Once that judgment has been experienced, and indeed in the midst of the very experience of judgment, God is working graciously for deliverance. Deliverance is what God truly desires for the people. But, finally, it is only in and through the experience of oppression and death, that the experience of deliverance is possible. There can be no direct move from apostasy to deliverance, except through judgment. And so the judging activity og God is finally motivated by gracious purposes. And the degree to which one discerns repetition in these texts with regard to the sin-judgment-deliverance cycle is finally a witness to the incredible mercy of God in desiring life, and not death, for the people."

"God's people, again and again, exhibit patterns of life which threaten their existence. God's response is remarkable in its variety and flexibility, in order to accomplish salutary purposes. A highly personal divine response is revealed, which values mercy above retribution; we see a God who chooses to experience suffering rather than visit the people with the finality of death; we are surprised by a God who finds ways of working in, with, and under very compromising situations in which people have placed themselves in order to bring about good. In the midst of unfaithfulness, the faithfulness of God is revealed, a God who never breaks covenant. Only in such a God is hope to be found."

Long Time No Blog

2010-01-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been a bit of a slacker on my blog lately. I could blame it on the holidays and being crazy busy, but I'm not going to do that. The thing I am going to do is blog more in 2010 -- hopefully :-)

Life has been pretty busy the last few months. I recently received a new position in my job that has brought about a whole new level of responsibility. Nevertheless, it has stretched me and forced me to grow in my leadership. As if that was not enough, I also embarked on the next stage of my academic education. That's right, I began the long and strenuous journey towards a Master of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary. I must say that it has been HARD work! Reading 200 pages a week and writing 15 page papers isn't quite what I want to do be doing in my free time, but it has proven to be great learning experience thus far. Can I endure 4 years of it? We'll see!!!

So why haven't I blogged? Because all my writing energies have gone to writing research papers! :-) But I am hoping that as I discipline myself more and more, I will establish a better routine. That way my blog doesn't get neglected. My hope is that I will be able to share all the things I am learning in my classes. That is, if I have enough energy.

So stay tuned...more to come!

Billie Jean Coldplay Style

2009-11-10T19:46:00.001-08:00

The Covenant of Yahweh

2009-10-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a class right now on the Pentateuch [first five books of the Bible] and I came across something in my reading that was so profound. To me, it fully captures the beautiful relationship that God wants with His people. It comes from a book called Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction by Lawrence Boadt.

"Berit [covenant] is a term so rich it captures the heart of Israel's religous befliefs: (1) they are bound to an unbreakable covenant-union with their God; (2) he has made known his love and his mercy to them; (3) he has given them commandments to guide their daily life; (4) they owe him worship, fidelity and obedience; (5) they are marked by the sign of that covenant-bond. The covenant created the unity of the nation Israel, based not on blood relationship but on submission to the divine will and the confession that he alone is God. In turn, God pledges himself to be Israel's personal protector and helper, not only against foreign enemies, but against sickness, disease, and chaos as well. Most of all, he will be present whether it is a time of prosperity or of failure, for he has laid claim to his people as his own. Yahweh is a personal God who demands personal loyalty. He gives no guarantee that his protective love and help always involves victory in battle, wealth in possessions, or increase of territory; it may at times include such gifts, but more often it describes the blessing that trust in the Lord will bring: freedom from fear in the promised land, the fruitfulness of children and crops, permanent peace and the joy of knowing God is near."

mathetes

2009-10-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

"A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do."

- Dallas Willard

Imperial History of the Middle East

2009-10-10T00:02:00.000-07:00

This is pretty stinkin' cool! If you like history, you will really like this. It is a map of who controlled the Middle East from 3000 BC to 2006 AD. You can find more timeline maps at http://www.mapsofwar.com

Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes

2009-10-09T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought it was about time for a new look. This isn't exactly the look I was going for, but it is a change. After trying for a couple of hours to get the theme I wanted to work, I finally gave up and added this one.

It somehow erased my blogroll so I am going to have to add that soon. Too much work right now and I have already wasted enough time on it.

I promise to post soon! Life is busy...

Outta the Park!

2009-09-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

I have never met anyone who actually enjoys going to the doctor. In fact, it is the exact opposite - we do everything we can to stay away. At least that's what I do. Despite this, I went to a Chiropractor today because I was experiencing severe neck/back pain. I found out that I have a pinched nerve and will not be able to compete in Sunday's triathlon, of which I have been training 3 months for. Though this is rather depressing, it is not the reason for this post.

I wanted to share my experience at the Chiropractor's office. Hands down it was the very best experience I have ever had at a doctor's office. A friend referred me to it and built it up quite a bit. Not that I was skeptical, but I didn't go into it thinking I was going to have such a positive experience.

So why was it so amazing? Here are a few reasons:

- When I walked in, the receptionist enthusiastically said "Hi, are you Jared?" (it was a nice personal touch and made a great first impression)
- After filling out my paper work, the receptionist then took me on a quick tour and introduced me to everyone who worked there - all were extremely friendly
- When it was time to meet with the doctor, he was interested in my back problem and was very thorough, inquisitive, and personable (I really got the sense that he actually cared about me and wanted me to get better ASAP)
- The doctor spent a lot of time with me taking x-rays, other tests, answering my questions, and giving me a plan to get me healthy (He left me feeling confident in that)

But that's not all. Just a little while ago the doctor left me a personal voicemail saying, "Hey Jared, this is Dr. Boch. I just wanted to make sure that you had a good experience with our facility today and that you felt cared for. I want to make sure that you are able to resolve your condition...We expect good things from you and hope nothing but the best. If you have any concerns please give us a call." I have NEVER received this from a doctor before. As far as I'm concerned, this doctor office is knocking it out of the park! It is so refreshing to know that there is incredible customer service and care out there. I actually can't wait for Friday - my next appointment :-)

If you need a Chiropractor you live in Mesa/Gilbert area, then I highly recommend you go here!

American Family Chiropractic and Rehab
Dr. Boch
3011 S Lindsay Rd, Suite 101
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 726-2131
www.amfamchiro.com

Great Quote

2009-09-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

"No matter how discouraged we get, God has not asked us to do the impossible."
- George Grace

It Never Hurts to Ask

2009-09-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Recently Direct TV stopped airing the Versus channel because the two companies could not reach an agreement to renew their contract. This made me furious because Versus airs 75% of the IndyCar races for the season. With two races left I was faced with a decision - do I cancel Direct TV and go with Cox or Dish Network in order to see the remaining two races? Or do I keep what I have and avoid the hassle of cancelation fees and switching services?

What I decided to do is give Direct TV a call and see if they had any "ideas" for me. I explained to the customer service representative that I didn't want to miss the races, but I didn't want to leave Direct TV either. She immediately apologized, blamed the situation on Comcast (company that owns Versus), and offered me a $120 credit on my bill. That definitely perked my interest, but was it enough to entice me to miss the last two races of the season? No... Ok, well yes, but I thought I could squeeze more out of the deal.

I told her that is was tempting and reassured her that I did not want to change my service, but she was going to have to do a little better than that. So I asked, "Is there anything else you can do for me?" Silence....

"I can comp your DVR service for 6 months," she said. Do this would be a $6 per month savings on my bill - a total of $36. That's not a whole lot but it's a nice addition to the $120. Then she added that she could throw in some movie channels and extra sports channels as well. Overall, not a bad deal. I was glad I asked further to get that nice little bonus.

Through this whole experience I was really impressed with the representative from Direct TV. She was helpful, positive and willing to work with me through my situation. Even though I am bummed that there is no more Versus, I am glad to know that Direct TV wants to keep their customers happy.

The Call

2009-09-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

I am 12 chapters in now in my study of Jeremiah. So much good stuff, but it's hard to blog because there is so much detail. However, lately I have been able to relate with Jeremiah's call from God. Through current circumstances in my life I've often found myself praying, "No God, not me..." Yet God has always guided and directed my path, even in directions I didn't want to go. My only responsibility is to humbly and obediently follow. It's not so easy though. At times it seems impossible. I am sure this is how Jeremiah or Moses felt.

In the verses above God calls Jeremiah to a massive task - to be God's ambassador to His people and to the nations. Jeremiah's response? "Not me God! I am too young! I don't speak well!" Have you been there? I sure have - many times. There is hope when I read these callings because I can see that even the heroes of the Bible struggled with confidence and faith. In Exodus 3, Moses is a flat out whinny wimp. I love that! Then you see the journey that God took him through. It's amazing! I can only have faith that the journey God has me on, no matter how treacherous it seems, will be well worthy it.

I think that many times the only obstacle in following God's call is ourselves. Both Moses and Jeremiah wanted to make it about themselves, choosing to focus on their shortcomings. God's emphatic response was that it wasn't about them - it was about Him working through them. How many times has God told me, "Don't be afraid. I am with you!"? Probably too many.

One of my professors in college used to always say a quote that I have kept near to me and used as a constant reminder:

"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

AMEN!

9.58

2009-08-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the Track and Field World Championships in Berlin and last night was pretty incredible! Usain Bolt broke his own world record in the 100m sprint with an amazing time of 9.58. (click HERE to read about it)

In high school I was a sprinter on the track team, running the 100m and 200m. My personal best time in the 100m was 11.14 - though it may not seem like much, it is miles away from 9.58. I truly can't believe that a human being can run that fast. The time keeps getting faster and faster.
(Click HERE to see the world record history)

I remember in high school watching Maurice Green break the world record with a time of 9.79 and saying, "no one is ever gonna beat that!" But someone obviously did...someone always does. Congratulations Usain Bolt!

Check it out for yourself below!

Incredible Resource

2009-08-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across www.worldwide-classroom.com today and it is an incredible resource for anyone who wants some in depth teaching on theology, ministry, and biblical studies. These are literally seminary classes that are made available to anyone who is interested. And best of all, it's absolutely FREE! It doesn't get much better than this.

My favorite thing about college were my Bible classes. I had some amazing professors that would challenge the typical gun-ho, "know-it-all" Christian college student. Their wisdom of the Bible and their hands-on experience in ministry provided me a well balanced biblical worldview. Oftentimes I have missed the classroom environment and learning in this way, which is why worldwide-classroom.com is such a gem. Well, actually it has the potential to be a gem. I guess I can't speak too soon as I haven't actually listened to any of the lectures yet, but it seems to be top notch.

I love learning about the past. My favorite areas of interest are Old Testament history and Church history. I'm excited because there are courses for both of those. I am going to start with the OT History course and see how it goes. It will make for great commuting material! Check out what they have to offer. Maybe you'll find something that really interests you.

Doom and Gloom

2009-07-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

I recently finished studying the book of Matthew and wanted to turn next to the part of the Bible I least understand - The Hebrew Prophets. When I have read books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk etc. I find myself lost. This is manly due to the fact that these are mostly filled with prophetic speeches (sermons basically) to a specific group of people long ago in a land far, far away. It is impossible to read these prophets and understand them unless you look into the history of what was going on at the time. I have only ever barely scratch the surface of this history and never taken the time to really know the context. With that said, I have decided that it is finally time to do that and I am going to start with study the book of Jeremiah. And oh, I am excited!

One of the most famous verses people memorize from the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11.

"'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the LORD. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"

Not only is this one of the most famous, it's also a verse that is usually taken way out of context. Yes, I am sure that God has plans and a purpose for you and me, but this verse was not written to us individually. It was actually written in a very dark time to a nation, Israel, who was God's nation. That nation happened to be in exile, taken captive because of their massive disobedience. Jeremiah spoke these words to encourage God's people that there was still hope even though the judgement had came. Oh, and you know that hope and prosperous future that he talks about? Yeah, that will come after 70 years in Babylonian captivity, so hold on Israel. I bet they didn't tell you that in Sunday school when you memorized that one.

There are some pretty crazy things that happened in Israel's history during the time of Jeremiah. In the midst of this, God calls Jeremiah while he's still a youth to be his mouth piece to the people. The only problem is that God's message is not a pretty one. It's a warning of doom, gloom, destruction, and judgement. How's that for a purpose and plan for your life? Sucks to be that guy.

I could go on and on, for there is a ton of detail to Jeremiah and the times he was living in, but if you are interested I have a few quotes from some of my preliminary reading that I found to be rather insightful. Enjoy some history if you choose. There will be many more posts to come about Jeremiah and the history of Israel.

From John Bright's History of Israel

"The persecution that such words earned Jeremiah, and the agony it cost him to utter them form one of the most moving chapters in the history of religion. Jeremiah was hated, jeered at, ostracized (chs.15:10f, 17; 18:18; 20:10), continuually harassed, and more than once almost killed (chs.11:18 to 12:6; 26; 36). In thus dooming state and Temple, he had, as the official theology saw it, committed both treason and blasphemy: he had accused Yahweh of faithlessness to his covenant with David (ch. 26:7-11)! Jeremiah's spirit almost broke under it. He gave way to fits of angry recrimination, depression, and even suicidal despair (chs. 15:15-18; 18:19-23; 20:7-12, 14-18). He hated his office and longed to quit (chs. 9:2-6; 17:14-18), but the compulsion of Yahweh's word forbade him to be silent (ch.20:9); always he found strength to go on (ch15:19-21) - pronouncing Yahweh's judgment. Yet when that judgment came, it brought him the deepest agony (chs.4:19-21; 8:18 to 9:1; 10:19f)."

From Elmer Marten's JEREMIAH: Believers Church Bible Commentary

"We read a book like Jeremiah for its message and insights. This book has a weighty message. It may shock us into reassessments and realignments; it will almost certainly change our values. The story in this book may strike us as dark and dismal. We shall hear about Israel's failures, her fascination with substitute deities, her disregard for just dealings. We will hear passionate appeals for change, admonitions, laments, exhortations, and threats. We will also hear promises. The underlying message has two faces: God disciplines people and punishes them; yet there is also forgiveness - the promise of new covenant. The gospel of Jeremiah reads: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love' (31:3)."

"For all its difficulty, the book of Jeremiah has great charm and power. 'No Old Testament prophet used a wider variety of literary forms or showed more artistic skill than Jeremiah' (LaSor: 418). The book touches issues of life and death. It depicts the love of God in the face of the sin of the people; it shows the sin of a people in the face of the love of their God. It is a book of exclamation marks. Like a Picasso painting, it yields its contents slowly - but with what force!"

Le Tour De France

2009-07-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the Tour De France a little bit and have just been fascinated by it. I never really realized just how long this race actually was. Here's some information about the race in case anyone is interested. Oh, and Lance Armstrong is currently in 3rd place.

The route

Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometres.

These 21 stages have the following profiles:

* 10 flat stages,
* 7 mountain stages,
* 1 medium mountain stage,
* 2 individual time-trial stages,
* 1 team time-trial stage.

Distinctive aspects of the race

* 3 mountain finishes,
* 2 rest days,
* 55 kilometres of individual time-trials,
* 20 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed.

8 new stop-over towns

Brignoles, Gérone (Espagne), Issoudun, Martigny (Suisse), Saint-Fargeau, Tonnerre, vatan, Verbier (Suisse).

The Need For Speed

2009-06-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

I know there are a lot of haters out there, but I love this sport.
Can't wait for the race tonight at Richmond International Raceway!

On the Road Again

2009-06-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

In preparation for my next triathlon (Sprint in Tempe on Sept. 27th) I've been trying to get a nice decent road ride in every Friday morning. I've done this now for 3 weeks and had a great ride today. At first I found road biking to be rather boring and tedious, but I have really grown to enjoy it more and more. It provides me some good quality time to think and clear my head of all the clutter from the week. I rode today from my house over to the hills of Las Sendas. I did a few loops over the hills and returned home. Here is my route and elevation from mapmyride.com. Thank you iPhone for tracking it! Gotta love technology these days!

7AM-9AM (1:55:43)
Distance: 30.6 Miles
Avg Speed: 15.7 m/hr (my goal is to get this to 18 m/hr)

iMapMyFitness Jun 26, 2009 9:00 AM
Find more Bike Rides in Mesa, Arizona

Click image to make bigger

Death By Meeting

2009-06-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

In my job I have to attend a lot of meetings. Planning meetings, creative brainstorm meetings, strategical meetings, production meetings, impromptu meetings, etc... In other words A LOT of meetings. Some meetings I sit there and wonder "why am I even here? This has nothing to do with me! This is a wast of my time!" And then one of my biggest pet-peeves is when meetings don't start on time, or even worse, when they don't end on time. If I had a quarter for every meeting that dragged on and on I would be a rich man. Meetings that run over by 30 minutes or even an hour just aggravated me - ESPECIALLY if it's a "why am I here?" meeting. Haha, well you get my point...meetings aren't my favorite.

To be honest with you, I do actually enjoy meetings if they are the right type. I believe that it is possible to walk away from a meeting and feel confident, energized, and empowered to do your job better. There have been meetings (though they are few) that I have left feeling like we accomplished so much. These kinds of meetings are so important and valuable.

Two weeks ago, after having a stream of horrible meetings, a light bulb came on and I began to walk over to my bookshelf. "There it is!" I then dusted off the cover of a book I've had for a few years called Death By Meeting by Partrick Lencioni.

A friend and former boss, Ryan Russell, had the whole Youth Team read this book a few years back. I remember it being a really great book with loads of insights, but I couldn't really remember what those insights were exactly. Thus, I began to re-read it. Two days later I was finished - it's that good! It's written as a fable about Casey McDaniel, the founder and CEO of Yip Software. Casey is in the midst of a problem he created, but one he doesn't know how to solve. Through it Lencioni helps us see some of the biggest obstacles that we face in leading meetings and offers solutions on how to fix them.

I am excited to try his suggestions out in the meetings that I lead. I am also jazzed to give some feedback and suggestions to other meetings I am a part of. Not that the book provides all the answers to instantly make your meetings a success, but it does offer many foundational principles that can drastically change your meeting's outcome. But I shall wait and see if mine get any better. I will make sure to keep you posted :-)

On a side note, Partrick Lencioni will be speaking at this year's Leadership Summit. The Summit is put on by the Willow Creek Association and is an awesome leadership Conference. My church, Central Christian Church, is a host site for it and I encourage any one in leadership to go. But hurry! The earlier bird registration deadline is June 29th! Click HERE to get registered.

Here's a clip of Patrick talking about conflict - something he addresses in this book

Here Birdie, Birdie...Here Birdie

2009-06-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went on a little Father's Day outing with my dad to the golf course to play 18 holes. I don't golf nearly as much as I would like to and because of this I am pretty darn inconsistent. Half the time my shots are sliced and shanked, but every once in a while I pull off a "beauty." As frustrating as golf is for me, it's these kinds of shots that keep me coming back for more.

This is after my second shot on a par 4. Hello Birdie!!!

PHASE 1 - COMPLETE

2009-06-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday I officially completed Phase 1 (of 3) of the Maker's Diet. I can honestly say that I feel great and am full of energy. It has been rather hard to stay away from certain foods and especially sweets, but I have done it now for two weeks - except for a few exceptions :-) Now, four more weeks and I will have completed the 40 day challenge. Yay for nutrition!

If anyone is interested in seeing what foods are "OK" to eat on the Maker's Diet, I found a blog that has the food list. Click HERE to see it.

WIPEOUT

2009-06-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

I so wish I could be on the show WIPEOUT! It looks fun and I think I could win. You have to be a resident of California though...bummer! :-(

The Maker's Diet

2009-06-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

A while back someone recommended a health book to me called The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin. I'm not really a "health nut" by any stretch of the imagination, but after reading this book I was fascinated by Rubin's claims. It is hard not to consider a healthier diet after some of his statistics and information about what American's eat. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is straight up harmful to your health. Even fruits and vegetables you buy at a local grocery store are filled with chemicals in order to mass-market them. To me this is pretty eye-opening.

Rubin is a naturopathic doctor and nutritionist who in college suffered from a severe case of Crohn's disease. After trying hundreds of medications, supplements, "miracle" drugs, and visiting doctors all over the world, Rubin turned to the Bible for answers. Through the aid of a doctor, Rubin began following the strict dietary laws that God commanded the Israelites to in the Old Testament. Through this and a few other supplements Rubin was completely cured of Crohn's disease. His "miracle" drug was an ancient book written for primitive people living thousands of years ago.

Through this he has created The Maker's Diet along with other supplements to help aid people towards the healthy lifestyle that God designed us to have. There is a 40 day health challenge at the end of the book that is extremely rigorous and I have decided to take that challenge. I'm not going to follow it to a "T" but I will be within 90% of it. I just can't afford doing it 100% - organic food is expensive! On top of that, there are 5-6 supplements that are required for it. Nevertheless, I am excited to see how good I feel after doing this and not having fast food for 40 days! So don't ask me to go to lunch at In and Out, ok!

If anyone is interested in health and wants an education about just how bad our diet is in America, then I highly recommend reading this book whether you do the 40 day challenge or not.

Here are some of the supplements that I am taking for the next 40 days:
- Perfect Food: A green food supplement. This is nice b/c I don't like many green vegetables
- Super Seed: A whole food blend of seeds, sprouted grains, and an excellent source of dietary fiber
- Vitamin Code (Men's Formula): a RAW multivitamin
- Oceans 3 Beyond Omega-3: This is more than just Omega-3. It also has OmegaXanthin from the ocean

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES
www.makersdiet.com
www.gardenoflife.com
www.oceans3.com/
www.beyondprobiotics.net

Indy Immersion

2009-05-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

I had a really great day today immersing myself into all things Indy. Mitch and I headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to hang out and watch the Driver's meeting. They also had an autograph session with the drivers and I got to meet Dan Wheldon, my favorite driver! It was fantastic!

After that, we drove downtown to watch the Indy 500 Festival Parade. Along with seeing the drivers, we also got to see "Meredith" and "Jan" from The Office, "Chloe O'Brian" from 24, the Geico caveman, and a few others.

Now, I'm so stoked for tomorrow's Indy 500 race! It's going to be a blast. I rented my radio headset so I can listen in on Wheldon's communication with his team...gotta get the full experience! Can't wait! Go #4!

"Good luck Dan"

Tempe Tri

2009-05-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I completed my first triathlon and it feels great to have done it. It was blazin' hot outside and it was a lot of hard work, but it definitely was a rush. I ended up with a time of 1:26:52 and placed 33 out of 48 in my age bracket. I learned a ton from this first one and I know now what to expect. I'm confident that I can shave that time down quite a bit in my next race. Overall, it was a good experience and I'm eager to do more now. Now I'm looking forward to September 27th for the next Tempe Tri. Here are some pics from the day:

Me just finishing the swim portion

Transitioning to the Bike

Running with 100m to go!

A Great Weekend!

2009-05-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was one I will never forget! First, we had a guest speaker at church, William Paul Young, the author of a NY Times Bestseller, The Shack. It was a great time and the story of his life is amazing. He talked about how he came to write the book and how God has used it to bless many people - there a so many incredible stories! One of the questions he posed to the crowd was, "Can God do anything that is not motivated by love?" He went on to say that the answer is "no" because God's character is love. He further said that even God's wrath is motivated by love because he wants to save us from the very crap we put ourselves through. What an awesome thought that God doesn't do anything that is not motivated by love.

If you have not read The Shack, then you need to! It will cause you to think deeply about your faith and about God. It's a book you won't be able to put down.

Also, this weekend I officially became a Triathlete! It was a lot of hard work on a very hot day, but it was well worth it. I will put some pictures up soon. I can't wait for the next one!

Not the Greatest Start

2009-05-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of qualifications for the Indy 500. It didn't start out the greatest for Dan Wheldon, but it's far from over yet! In 2005, Wheldon won the Indy 500 after starting in 16th position. Because of his crash today, he missed the opportunity to qualify for positions 1-11. Tomorrow he will have a chance to earn the 12th position in the lineup.

A New Day and a New Month

2009-05-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

It's almost been a month since I posted. I know, I've been a slacker. The month of April was definitely a hectic one. Nevertheless, I am glad it is May. As I reflect back over the last few months I have realized just how fast time flies. It seems like just yesterday that it was January and it was a new year. Now 2009 is almost half over. Is it just me or is that crazy!?! It's awesome to think about the future, but it is also scary to think that the days we live will never be lived again. It will never ever be May 5, 2009 ever again, except for today. Time is definitely a precious thing.

The reality of time has been fresh in my mind lately, mainly because one of my friends past away last week. It was a rough week and hard to deal with. It reminded me just how precious life is and why it's so important to live life to the full. Lately I feel like I've just been going through the motions and approaching each day as a task to accomplish. Yet each day is a gift from God that we must choose to cherish. I feel that too often I miss out on this gift, and instead focus on things that are not important. Oh that we would live life to the full!

At the first of the year I posted some of my goals and have personally themed this year EXCEL. So far, there are areas where I've done well in, while others not so much. I have a tendency to beat myself up at times if I don't feel like I'm meeting expectations, but with these goals I have been way more optimistic than I usually am. But my desire is not to accomplish a lot and be successful. My ultimate desire is to live life to the full and seek to excel in everything that I do. When I say excel, I simply mean to give everything I got in everything that I do. I want to look back on the day and say that I gave it 100%, from the smallest of things to the biggest. I fail at this and make mistakes constantly, but there is comfort in knowing that, on this journey called life, I am trying my hardest to be the person God has created me to be.

So tomorrow is a new day and honestly I am excited about the month of May. On Thursday I get to join with others to celebrate the life an incredible guy who experience the amazing redemption of Jesus Christ. Though there will be some painful moments, I know that it will be a time of joy [he is in a better place!]. Also, later this month on the 17th I will compete in my very first triathlon...FINALLY! I'm registering tomorrow and I'm so excited! A week after that I will be heading to Indianapolis to experience the Indy 500 for the first time. I can't even tell you how thrilled I am about that! On top of that, I get to live and work and spend time with incredible people everyday. I am so thankful for the family and friends that God has blessed me with. I definitely have nothing to complain about. God is good and he is worthy to be praised in everything. What an awesome gift we've been given - this gift called life. May we live it to the full and spend every single day loving God and loving others.

John 10:9-10
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

His Last Night

2009-04-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of going to Jerusalem a couple of years ago and it was hands down the most amazing experience of my life. I can't even describe to you the feelings and thoughts that flood your mind as you literally walk where Jesus once walked. It is a feeling of wonder and awe, yet eerie at the same time.

As Easter approaches, I am reminded of one of the most impacting things I saw there. I will never ever forget the heaviness of my heart when I walked into an underground holding cell just outside of the walls of Jerusalem. Nothing off course is certain about where exactly Jesus spent his last night, however, archeologists and scholars are pretty convinced that this is where prisoners were taken to await trial the next day if the city was closed down for the night. The dungeon is just a mile or so away from the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested.

Below are some pictures I took of the dungeon and the garden. This is where Jesus spent his last night on earth before he was crucified.

This is the roof of the holding cell where they would lower prisoners in through.

This is the cell room.

Here is the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

Here I am on the roof of the building where the dungeon lays on. Above my head, slightly to the right you can see the Mount of Olives, where the garden of Gethsemane is.

Race Day

2009-04-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Today is the opening day for the 2009 IndyCar series and I'm excited! Today's race is in St. Petersburg, FL at 11am on VERSUS. This will be the official debut of Dan Wheldon with Panther Racing in his new #4 DELPHI NATIONAL GUARD car. Go #4!!!

There is another race today that just so happens to be immediately following the Indy race on the same exact channel - VERSUS [DIRECTV=CH603,COX=CH69]. This is a cycling race - TOUR DE FLANDERS. I have really grown to appreciate this sport because of my triathlon training. Thus, I am excited to watch my very first pro cycling race on TV.

ENCOUNTER

2009-03-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email from Hillsong Church promoting some conferences they are having in the U.S. coming up. Their vision for these events is incredible. Check out the description below:

My favorite part is the first paragraph. It's much like the series my church recently went through called REPULSED. Here it is again:

To be changed from the inside out so that as the Church, we would go out and change our world. It’s about coming together with hearts as one, losing ourselves in worship to our creator and finding our purpose in creatively meeting the real needs of humanity.

What an awesome prayer and desire! This, I believe, is what the Church should be all about. If you want to check out the ENCOUNTER conferences, click HERE.

Matthew - The Record of Jesus the Messiah

2009-03-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

If you read my previous post you are aware that I have been thinking a lot about the Bible lately. I have realized that it's been too long since I have really dug into the Bible and studied it in depth. Furthermore, through recent discussions I have also came to the conclusion that I need to touch up on my knowledge of Jesus and the gospels. So that is what I'm going to do. I started studying the book of Matthew, verse by verse, a couple of days ago. It has already proven to be a huge refreshment for my soul. If any of you are feeling the same way I am then I invite you to join me as I look in depth at the "record of Jesus the Messiah." I will be posting my thoughts on the gospel weekly and I welcome any comments or insights that I may have missed. Below is my reading plan.

I wanted to get some some context for Matthew so I did a little bit of research first. One of my favorite commentary series for personal Bible reading is "The New Daily Bible Series" by William Barclay. His commentary is both pastoral and scholarly, yet he writes in a way that anyone can understand. If you are interested in any of these just search his name at www.amazon.com and you can find his commentary for every book of the New Testament.

The book of Matthew along with Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels, which simply means "seen together." They get this title because they are very similar in their content and structure
while each of them have some unique additions and omissions. Even though they are similar they each have a different audience. For Matthew, his audience is the Jewish community. Barclay says, "It is Matthew’s primary and deliberate purpose to show how the Old Testament prophecies received their fulfillment in Jesus; how every detail of Jesus’ life was foreshadowed in the prophets; and thus to compel the Jews to admit that Jesus was the Messiah."

Throughout Matthew's gospel the Old Testament Law is held in high esteem. This would be huge for a Jew because the Law was everything to them. Jesus says that he did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Mat. 5:17-20).

Matthew is also very interested in the Church. It is the only Synoptic gospel that even uses the word Church at all! Only Matthew says that disputes are to be settled by the Church (18:17). By the time Matthew was written, the Church would have been a very important part of the life of a Christian.

Barclay says that Matthew's dominating idea is that Jesus is King. We see that from the very beginning of the gospel that he demonstrates the royalty of Jesus. In fact the genealogy is simply to prove that Jesus is the Son of David. You have probably heard that title of Jesus before and Matthew uses that name for Jesus more than any other gospel. Matthew's picture of Jesus is of the man born to be King!

Like Honey on my Lips

2009-03-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

Psalm 119:97,103,105

97 Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.

I absolutely love the Bible. It is the most beautiful and confusing book of all time. I believe wholeheartedly that it is God's Word that He inspired through individuals to be a testimony of two things: 1) Who God is, and 2) How to have relationship with Him.

I say it's confusing because there is a lot more to the Bible than we tend to think. It's simply not as cut and dry as many people believe. In fact, it is nearly impossible to just pick up the Bible with the assumption that it will be clearly understandable. Why is this? Why would God not make His word clear? Perhaps it is because God wants us to look to Him, and not only His Word. Maybe just maybe the Bible has the potential of becoming an idol if we aren't careful to handle it properly. Maybe God doesn't want us to have it all figured out, and so somehow not to have any need for Him in our daily lives. I know I am guilty of going straight to the Bible for things instead of praying to the living God who promises to be dwelling in me. I don't know. Just a thought...

The problem I see is that we can twist and skew the Bible to make it say whatever we want it to say - within reason of course. Ultimately, the Bible has caused more divisions, more church splints, and created more denominations and religions than anything else. Wait? Did I say the Bible has done this? Maybe what I mean to say is that people's understanding of the Bible have created these things. It is not the actual Bible that creates any division, but rather it is what people claim the Bible actual says that is the author of such division. It is this fact that makes my heart heavy.

The reality is that we all have certain lenses in which we view the Bible. Each person that picks up the Bible and reads it, interprets it through their own worldview. It has been said that once the Bible is read it ceases to be God's Word and becomes the reader's interpretation of God's Word according to their own values and convictions.

So what's the point? Should we not even attempt to read the Bible because it's impossible to understand? I don't think that's the case at all. I think the important factor to helping us understand the Bible is historical and cultural context. The Bible must be read with the knowledge of who the original audience was. For example, when we read the book of Colossians, we are reading a letter from the Apostle Paul to the Colossian church. This letter and others like it were written to a specific group of people, in a specific point in time. To ignore audience and the historical/cultural context would be pointless. Too often we read it and think it is talking directly to us within our 21st century world. I do believe that God uses the Bible to teach us and guide us, but we must be open to what it is actually saying and who it is saying it to.

There is mystery to the Bible and there is mystery to God - something that our minds can't fully comprehend. But thank God that He doesn't require us to have it all figured out. To me that is the beauty of the journey. Let us jump in and continue to strive towards more understanding of God and His Word. After all, it is honey to our lips.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2009-03-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

One thing I love is history - especially Church history. Though there is a lot of myth and legend connected to St. Patrick's Day, the story of this man is incredible. If you don't know anything more about March 17th other than that you're supposed to wear green and run from the leprechauns, then let me tell you. St. Patrick was captured by Irish raiders in Great Britain when was he was a young lad - 16 years old. He became a slave and after six years he escaped. He later received a vision from God calling him to be a missionary to his former captors. Though it was a bit rocky at first, Patrick eventually had great success, baptizing people by the droves. Soon after, monasteries began sprouting up all over Ireland. Ireland then began to send out many missionaries to other countries. And it was started by one man - good ole' St. Patrick. Here is a insightful article (Who Was St. Patrick) I found on historychannel.com if you care to know more about this great man of God. If you don't have time to read it, you may enjoy this short video - click here.

PS. I wonder what method of evangelism Pat used? Was is street evangelism? Did he hand out tracts? Was it friendship evangelism? Haha, just kidding....bad joke :-)

Why They're My Favorite Band...

2009-03-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

Coldplay was recently featured in an interview with Steve Kroft on 60 minutes. You can check it out here. I love me some Coldplay!

I really appreciate the humility, determination, and work ethnic this band has. They aren't out there to be the "greatest band in the world." They are just doing the very best they can with what they have. Here are some quotes from Chris Martin that were inspiring to me.

"We rely more on enthusiasm than actual skill...Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically and people will like it more."

"I can't dance like usher, I can't sing like Beyonce, I can't write songs like Elton John. But we can do the best we can with what we've got...so that's what we do. We just go for it."

Kroft comments that before the end of their tour they will have played before 3 million people, but you wouldn't know it from talking to them. Je found them modest and self effacing. He says:

"You won't catch this band in tight leather pants or snorting drugs off the back of a stripper. The British press often rags on them for being too earnest and boring. They are extremely consciences, dedicated to their music, and leave a small carbon imprint. They all share equally in the profits..."

What is more, the band has certain rules that they abide by when making new music/albums. This is incredibly fascinating and just awesome! You can see them in the interview and I also found them on a website:

1. ALBUMS MUST BE NO LONGER THAN 42 MINUTES, OR 9 TRACKS.
2. PRODUCTION MUST BE AMAZING, RICH, BUT WITH SPACE, NOT OVERLAYORED, LESS TRACKS, MORE QUALITY. GROOVE AND SWING. Drums/Rhythm are the most crucial thing to concentrate on; diff. between bittersweet and science of silence
3. COMPUTERS ARE INSTRUMENTS, NOT RECORDING AIDS.
4. IMAGERY MUST BE CLASSIC, COLOURFUL, AND DIFFERENT. COME BACK IN GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOUR.
5. MAKE SURE VIDEOS AND PICTURES ARE GREAT BEFORE SETTING RELEASE DATE. And highly original.
6. PLEASE KEEP MYSTERY. Not many interviews.
7. GROOVE AND SWING. RHYTHM AND SOUNDS MUST ALWAYS BE AS ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE. Once jon has melody, twist it and weird it sonical.
8. Promo/review copies to be on vinyl. Stops copying problem. Sounds and looks better.
9. Jaqueline sabriado, ns p cc, face forward
10. Think about what to do with charity account. Set up something small but really enabling and constructive. Ref; j oliver fifteen

My Trip in Photos

2009-03-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

Mauritania Trip from Jared Ulrich on Vimeo.

Finally Here

2009-03-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked when I am going to blog again, if ever, and here it finally is. I apologize for the hiatus, but many of you know I recently went on a global connections trip to Northwest Africa for two weeks. Though I have been back for two weeks, I am still processing my experiences and did not want to blog on anything else until I talked about my trip. Thanks for being patient :-)

I feel like I learned a lot on my trip and I am definitely still processing things to this day. People are always asking me, "how was your trip?" I never really know how to answer that question. It's just impossible to put an experience like this into words. Nevertheless, I have attempted to do it. The following is a journal entry of mine that I wrote when I got home. Hopefully it will give you a glimpse of what God taught me in Africa.

February 22, 2009

The theme I adopted for this trip was "to see the world how God has to see it everyday" [this will make more sense as I explain]. Going into this trip I knew a few things. First, we were going to be in an extremely poor area - one of the poorest regions in the entire world. It is also considered to be 100% muslim and hostile to Christianity. We would be going into a world of spiritual darkness and extreme poverty - a reality that God sees and is heart broken over each and everyday.

I have been to many places in the world and have seen poverty, but this time it was different. This time, God spoke to me and simply said:

"you have been greatly blessed with many things and I have opened your eyes to the reality of the rest of the world. As you have seen and have now witnessed, you have a responsibility to help be the solution."

God's voice was clear. I kept hearing "you have a responsibility," as I walked the dirty streets filled with trash and filth everywhere, complete with smells far less than pleasant. "What will you do to bring my Kingdom to earth?" This is a scary question for me and I have no elaborate answers yet. However, I know that I must do something. And no, I'm not talking about being some sort of heroic savior like the Western World often see;s itself as. I'm not talking about selling everything and moving to Africa either. But, there must be something more that rich, wealthy, healthy disciples of Christ can do to bring God's Kingdom of hope, peace and restoration to ends of the earth.

I read Brian McClaren's book, The Secret Message of Jesus, while on the trip and I believe it was not a coincidence. In it, he suggests that Jesus' sole message is that the Kingdom of God is at hand - that Jesus came to bring life to the full, not for the future, but NOW! His intention was never that "eternal life" would be limited to "life after death" where we just wait around till it came. He gave us the Holy Spirit as a guide to a new way of life, life to the full, that is Christ in us the hope of glory, in order that we may experience the Kingdom of God HERE and NOW. God wants to restore His broken world NOW. He has a SOLUTION and it is "Christ in YOU." God is not wanting to bring us up in to heaven right now. He wants the Kingdom of Heaven to invade the earth.

God wants to work in and through us. It is a big responsibility! Again, I don't entirely know what it means specifically, but it means we must do something. Going to church, singing praises, soaking up messages, giving our tithes is not enough. Jesus commands:

"Therefore 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

"and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Will we be the solution?
Will we be the light to the darkness?
Will we be the hope for this hurting world?
Will we bring the Kingdom of Heaven to the earth?

God has given us an incredible opportunity to partner with Him in the restoration of the world. He wants to use us. He is choosing to need us to bring His Kingdom to earth. He wants us to become like His son. The apostle Paul knew and understood this, saying "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Phil. 3:10-11)

This is Incredible!

2009-02-02T08:10:00.001-08:00

You have to check out this video. I have no idea how anyone can run for 33 hours! Something that David said in the video was "If you can see yourself doing something, you can do it. If you can't see yourself doing it, usually you can't achieve it." This is a simple yet profound thought of dedication and determination. This is great inspiration for my upcoming triathlon. I wonder what your dreams are. Can you visualize yourself doing it? Go for it!

Totally Impressed

2009-01-30T11:10:00.000-08:00

Recently I had two pieces of electronics go bad on me - my macbook laptop screen and my Xbox 360. On my 360 I received the infamous "red ring of death." After making Apple and Xbox (division of Microsoft) aware of my problem they immediately starting the process of helping me with a solution.

For my mac, there was some sort of crack on the inside of my screen. I called Apple and made an appointment with the Genius bar at the nearest Apple store. When I arrived to my appointment I was pleased to see 60" screens on the back wall letting everyone know that "Jared U." was the next customer to be helped. Someone got right to me and took a look at my laptop. After the technician inspected it, he determined that the crack was not covered under the warranty. This was seemingly bad news since I paid for a three year warranty. However, after a manager was told about it, he intervened and assured me that it was indeed covered. In the whole process I was treated very well. Apple made it easy and when I received my laptop back in a short four days, they completely replaced the whole interior of the laptop. A new keyboard, all new plastic parts, and a brand new shiny screen. Way to go Apple!

For my Xbox, I searched online to find a number to call and inquire about the "red ring." Turns out that they have an online service request form that is quick and easy. After determining that I would have to send my Xbox out to get fixed, they gave me three options: 1) print out a shipping label, 2) have them send me a shipping label, or 3) have them ship me a box that has a shipping label with it. This blew me away. I opted for option 3 and four days later I received a box with a plastic bag for the Xbox, foam to keep it safe, a shipping label, and even a strip of packing tape! It doesn't get easier than that. All I had to do is drop it off to a UPS store and wait about two weeks. I dropped it off two days ago, so I'll see if it continues to be a great experience. So far I am completely impressed. Way to go Xbox!

Amazing Medley

2009-01-26T16:55:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that Dashboard Confessional is easily one of my favorite bands (second only to Coldplay). Well I found this on youtube and it is stinkin' amazing! It's a medley of four of their songs. Check it out!

Just in Case You Were Wondering...

2009-01-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

32

2009-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Is the number of laps I swam the other night for my triathlon training. I got to tell you that it felt really good! 32 laps equals 1600 meters (1 mile). The actual distance of the swim portion of the triathlon is 1500 meters, so I would say that I am right on target.

So far, swimming has surprisingly been my favorite thing to do. It is so peaceful and refreshing being in the water. Right now it takes me about 50 seconds to swim a lap so I get a lot of time to think during my workouts (so far the ipod is not water friendly so no music yet). Although sometimes it gets boring, I feel like I am able to slow down and think about life. And as I said before, there is something so quiet and peaceful about being under water.

Well, I'm off to the gym now for some more swimming.

Deep Thoughts with Dwight Schrute

2009-01-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

Here is some more Office humor to start off the week :-)
I wish I could fly! However, one life is good enough for me.
For anyone who is wondering what Second Life is, don't!
It's dumb and a waste of time.

Kiva

2009-01-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

Jeremy showed me the Kiva website yesterday and it is incredible! Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. It is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

My first Kiva Loan went to the Christine Namayega Group. It is a group of 10 women who sell clothes in Uganda. Click Here to see my lending page.

A Case of the Mondays

2009-01-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

Mondays are usually tough, especially after long weekends. However, thanks to a fantastic Christmas present, my Monday started a little brighter today. Enjoy these words of wisdom from the great (or not-so-great) philosophical thinker, Michael Scott. :)

Excelling in 2009

2009-01-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

A friend asked me the other day if I made any New Year's resolutions and at first I went blank. I have never been big on "New Year's Resolutions" but the more I thought about the question, the more I realized that I do have some goals and aspirations for the big 2009.

I am definitely a visual person and need to "see" my goals in order to keep focused on them. I also like to be neat and organized, although I fully admit that it is difficult at times. If I am messy it means one thing - I'm stressed and overwhelmed. All that is to say, I am choosing to create habits this year that will help me focus on the goals I want to achieve. So meet my new best friend - X.

Excel is a program for my personality. You can make lists, charts, graphs and formulas to serve your purpose, whatever that may be. Right now I'm a novice at best with X, but I'm hoping that will all change this year. As I learn it, I know it will help me focus on what I want to accomplish and EXCEL in life (no pun intended).

To start, I made a simple and somewhat generic list of goals and things I want to do in 2009. This is only the beginning. My plan is to add to this and build more and more "action steps" to help me excel in them. If you have read my blog in the past, you know that DISCIPLINE has been a key word for me. It will continue to be in '09. But I just don't want to be discipline. No, I want to EXCEL in everything I do.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
- Colossians 3:17

Click image to make bigger

Highlights of 2008

2009-01-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

I got to do some cool stuff in 2008. Here are some favorites...

Travel:

- in February visited my friend JJ in LA
- in March I lead a mission trip to Salamanca, Spain
- in April the 3F team went to New York for the Q Conference
- in July I visited friends on Nantucket Island and spent a few days in Boston
- in November I visited my Grandma in Boise, ID which is where I grew up

Favorite Books:

- Lone Survivor by Marcus Lutrell
- The Shack by William P. Young
- Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell
- Following Jesus by NT Wright

Favorite Movies:

- The Dark Knight
- James Bond: Quantum of Solace
- Ironman
- 21
- Get Smart
- Valkyrie
- The Spirit - NOT!

New Look for a New Year!

2009-01-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

To welcome in the new year I decided I needed a blog makeover.
Out with the old and in with the new!

Happy New Year!

iTunes U

2008-12-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon one of the coolest ideas from iTunes yet - iTunes University. Now you can not only download thousands of podcasts, but you can also download lectures and documentaries from the top Universities in the world. And the best part is that it's completely FREE! If you are like me and enjoy learning, then you have to check this out. They have courses in history, science, literature and much more.

If you ever wanted to take classes from Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, or Harvard then you finally can get a taste for it. Check out this link and watch the video below if you want more info.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/whatson/itunesu.html

Medieval Christmas

2008-12-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

First off, Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a great day celebrating our Lord's birth.
I found this Medieval Christmas quiz and it was a fun little history lesson. I didn't do that well on it, but it was interesting. Check it out if you have some time.

Medieval Christmas Quiz

Also, Tim Hughes wrote a fantastic blog about adoration. He uses Gentile Da Fabriano's "Adoration of the Magi" painting (the picture above) to illustrate the great point that we need to love and serve Christ out of adoration, not duty. Check it out here

It's Coming!

2008-12-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

I am super excited about the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie coming out May 1, 2009. The preview looks stinkin' cool! I am also excited that Gambit will be played by Taylor Kitsch from Friday Night Lights. Check out the trailer below and if you are interested I found a good blog site about the movie - http://wolverine-trailer.blogspot.com/

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE HD

Putting Right, What Once Went Wrong

2008-12-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

For my birthday, I received the first season of Quantum Leap from a friend. As a kid I always loved watching Quantum Leap because you would never know whose body Sam Beckett would leap into next. Sam is a scientist who, through a botched experiment, leaps into the the bodies of different people all throughout history. His purpose in every leap is to find out what has gone wrong and set it right. He believes that God is in control of his leaps, sending him to different times and places to fix bad situations. Each shows starts off with Sam explaining how it all began:

"It all started when a time travel experiment I was conducting went... "a little caca". In the blink of a cosmic clock, I went from quantum physicist to Air force test-pilot. Which could have been fun... if I knew how to fly. Fortunately, I had help - an observer from the project named Al. Unfortunately Al's a hologram, so all he can lend is moral support. Anyway, here I am, bouncing around in time, putting things right that once went wrong, a sort of time traveling Lone Ranger, with Al as my Tonto. And I don't even need a mask..."

I like the show because Sam travels in throughout history, having to creatively solve problems so he can leap. Sam is not alone though. He does have a little help from Al, his holographic friend.

Sam leaps as a pilot, a college professor, a doctor, a hitman, a 15 year old high schooler, and even a woman :-). But Sam's real hope is that his next leap will be the leap back home.

The Sabbath

2008-12-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to have some time of rest this weekend which was nice and much needed. I am definitely not a "go-go-go" type of person and when life gets busy I just need to slow down. Relax. Chill. Breathe in life and live in the moment. I started reading a book called The Sabbath, by the great Jewish scholar, Abraham Joshua Heschel. In the opening chapter he describes the Sabbath as being all about time rather than space. Humans tend to view spirituality through the realm of space, focusing on things. We even tend to view God as if He were a thing, rather than a spirit.

Here are some quotes that I found extremely interesting and insightful.

"To gain control of the world of space is certainly one of our tasks. The danger begins when in gaining power in the realm of space we forfeit all aspirations in the realm of time. There is a realm of time where the goal is not to have but to be, not to own but to give, not to control but to share, not to subdue but to be in accord. Life goes wrong when the control of space, the acquisition of things of space, becomes our sole concern."

"Indeed, we know what to do with space but do not know what to do about time, except to make it subservient to space. Most of us seem to labor for the sake of things of space. As a result we suffer from a deeply rooted dread of time and stand aghast when compelled to look into its face. Time to us is sarcasm, a slick treacherous monster with a jaw like a furnace incinerating every moment of our lives. Shrinking, therefore, from facing time, we escape for shelter to things of space."

"The higher goal of spiritual living is not to amass a wealth of information, but to face sacred moments."

"One of the most distinguished words in the Bible is the word quadosh, holy; a word which more than any other is representative of the mystery and majesty of the divine. Now what was the first holy object in the history of the world? Was it a mountain? Was it an altar?

It is, indeed, a unique occasion at which the distinguished word qadosh is used for the first time: in the Book of Genesis at the end of the story of creation. How extremely significant is the fact that it is applied to time: 'And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.' There is no reference in the record of creation to any object in space that would be endowed with the quality of holiness."

"The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation; from the world of creation to the creation of the world."

Aaaaa....What's up Doc?

2008-12-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

My favorite Looney Tune has always been Bugs Bunny. He always found a clever way to humiliate Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, and Yosemite Sam. And he was always nibbling on a carrot. Before, I only liked them if they were accompanied with loads of Ranch dressing, but now I've learned that I actually like them without it.

I have been trying to eat healthier so I've ditched the potato chips, hostess cupcakes, etc, and instead I've been buying grapes, apples, bananas, and carrots. And now I love them! What is even better is that I found out some great nutritional facts about eating carrots:

- they help your immune system
- they help maintain healthy skin
- they help regulate metabolism
- they help maintain optimum health
- they have a high Vitamin A content
- they are loaded with fiber

No wonder why Bugs liked them so much. If you are looking for healthy alternatives to junk food, then I highly recommend carrots. They're great! And if you're a Bugs Bunny fan then enjoy the video below.

PS. Road Runner is also favorite, because he is so fast! :-)

Discipline Continued

2008-12-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

I have recently made a huge life goal that has already tested my discipline in extreme ways. What is it, you say? I have decided to do a triathlon. Call me crazy, but as I have tried to be more physically active and stay in shape, I've found that it is difficult if there is not "something" to work towards. So that "something" will be an Olympic Triathlon at Lake Havasu on March 24th. With less than four months to train, I have already been swimming and running 3-5 times a week. Man, swimming is tough! I'm getting a bike for my birthday and will be putting that into the rotation this week.

The Olympic Triathlon consists of:

- a 1500 meter swim
- a 24.9 mile bike ride
- a 6.2 mile run

It takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to complete. Sometimes I think I am crazy for even thinking about doing this, but I believe it is the perfect thing to help me work on my physical discipline. I miss being athletic and competing in stuff. I have a lot of work to do!

TOMS Shoes

2008-11-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

I bought a pair today.
Share this with everyone you know.

Run For Your Life

2008-11-16T16:11:00.000-08:00

A friend sent me a link to an article about how running (and just exercise in general) will help improve your life. There are many benefits to exercise and I have felt convicted lately about the last 4 years of my life as I have done pretty much nothing, but been lazy. In the last few months I have taken up running and I already feel better.

If you are interested, read this article, Run For Your Life.

In the article there is a link to a website called livingto100.com. It will give you an estimate of how long you will live according to your current habits. It projected me to live to 89. Haha, actually I don't know if I really want to live to be that old.

So if you feel lazy like I was then do something about it. 30 minutes of exercise a day can really do wonders for you. Plus, you don't have to run. Even walking is a great way to exercise.

John

2008-11-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading the Gospel of John and I found this Wordle (a word gallery) of John.
This is pretty cool! Click the image to make it bigger.

Two Encounters

2008-11-08T14:46:00.000-08:00

I've been participating in the 3F Daily Bible Readers group, which is a group that is going through the New Testament in 90 days. Right now, I am reading in the book of John. I have enjoyed John so far, as it is different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John tells some unique stories, two of which grabbed my attention:

Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)
Jesus' encounter with a Samaritian woman (John 4:1-45)

There are some extremely interesting contrasts to these two stories that I think are intentionally put there by John. These are fascinating!

1] GENDER
Nicodemus was male
Samaritan woman was obviously female

2] ETHNICITY
Nicodemus was a Jew
Samaritan woman was obviously Samaritan

3] MORALITY
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin - aka He was "blameless" & Law abiding
Samaritan woman was an adulterous woman who had 5 husbands and was sleeping with another

4] TIME
Nicodemus came seeking Jesus at night
Samaritan woman met Jesus during the middle of the day (the sixth hour, which would be noon)

5] EDUCATION
Nicodemus was an expert in the Law
Samaritan woman was uneducated

6] ISSUE
Nicodemus needed to be born from above
Samaritan woman needed the Living Water

7] PLACE OF WORSHIP
Nicodemus worshipped at the Temple (Jerusalem) - to the Jews this is the only place to worship
Samaritan woman worshipped on Mt. Gerizim where all Samaritans worshiped

8] RESPONSE
Nicodemus' response was meditative with no immediate action
Samaritan woman's response was energetic and she immediately began sharing the Good news

9] CONFESSION
Nicodemus called Jesus Rabbi
Samaritan woman proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah

What do we learn from these encounters? For me, it shows that Jesus meets each individual where they are at and speaks to them on their level according to their own issues. Nicodemus misunderstood what Jesus was saying by being reborn, but in reality he was simply just having a hard time accepting what Jesus was saying. He was a Pharisee, an expert in the Law so the concept of a spiritual rebirth would not be foreign to him (OT prophets speak a lot about that).

Jesus broke all the rules in talking to the Samaritan woman, but he didn't care. I think he sent his disciples away so that he could speak to the woman alone. John tells us that Jews didn't associate with Samaritans - strike 1. On top of that, women were not to speak to men in public - strike 2. When the disciples came back they were shocked that he was talking to a Samaritan woman. However, Jesus found it too important to dismiss her for some lame cultural rules. Because of their conversation the whole town came to know Jesus as the Messiah. Pretty cool if you ask me!

Words of Wisdom

2008-11-02T15:53:00.000-08:00

My friend Jeremy Jernigan recently interviewed Jamie Tworkowski, the founder of To Write Love on Her Arms. Jamie is an awesome guy and is doing great things for the Kingdom of God. Here is a quote from the interview that impacted me the most:

"You were created to love and to be loved, to know and to be known."

What more is there to say? That pretty much sums up this life that God has created us to live.

Check out the rest of the interview here.

Free Fallin' [a John Mayer cover]

2008-10-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

This is amazing!

Excellence

2008-10-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

"You have an obligation to strive for excellence. You don't have to be perfect; you just have to do the best you can with what you've got..."
- Nelson Searcy

Top 5

2008-10-16T17:13:00.001-07:00

Lately I have been in conversations about movies, tv shows, bands, songs and such. So, I thought it would be cool to do a "Top 5" post. I would also like to know what everyone else's Top 5's are so if you feel like it then post yours on your blog as well. Well here we go...

Favorite Bands:
1] Coldplay
2] Dashboard Confessional
3] The Fray
4] John Mayer
5] Jimmy Eat World

Favorite Songs from those bands:
1] The Scientist by Coldplay
2] Swiss Army Romance by Dashboard Confessional
3] How to Save a Life by The Fray
4] Why Georgia by John Mayer
5] Sweetnes by Jimmy Eat World

Favorite Movies:
1] Gladiator
2] Braveheart
3] The Patriot
4] 300
5] Elf

Favorite Trilogies:
1] Star Wars [the original 3 - episodes IV,V,VI]
2] Back to the Future
3] Beverly Hills Cop
4] Indiana Jones [the original 3]
5] Rambo [the original 3]

Favorite recent/current TV shows:
1] LOST
2] 24
3] The Office
4] Seinfeld [technically this is classic but I put it here to b/c it fit!]
5] Anything on the History Channel

Favorite classic TV shows:
1] Macgyver
2] Quantum Leap
3] Cheers
4] Save by the Bell
5] Leave it to Beaver

Favorite Resturants:
1] Native New Yorker
2] PF Changs
3] BJ's Brewery
4] Tum Nuk Thai
5] Sullivan's Pier

Favorite Fast Food:
1] Chick Fil-A
2] Filaberto's [yeah that's right and it's not cat meat!]
3] Wendy's
4] Jason's Deli
5] Pirate's Fish and Chips [thanks Mitch!]

Favorite Places I've been in the World:
1] Switzerland
2] London
3] Kenya
4] Rome
5] Australia

Favorite NON-Fiction Books [other than Bible]:
1] Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
2] Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
3] Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
4] Lone Survivor by Marcus Lutrell
5] Sex God by Rob Bell

Favorite Fiction Books:
1] The Grail Quest Trilogy by Bernard Cornwell
2] Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead
3] The Shack by William P. Young
4] The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
5] The Iron Lance by Stephen Lawhead

Discipline - Do You Not Know?

2008-10-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

Since reading Lone Survivor, I cannot stop thinking about and wrestling with the concept of discipline. I don't know about you, but the "D" word kind of scares me. Somehow I believe Jesus intended his followers to be a whole lot more disciplined than we realize. I hear much more talk about being blessed by God today than I do about being stretched by God. I mean, think about it for a moment. In today's consumeristic society do we [the Church] focus too much on what we receive as Christians? We want so much to be the recipients of God's love and grace and forgiveness. We want Him to bless our lives and make us prosper. Don't get me wrong. All these things are gracious gifts that God freely gives to us. But what is our response to these amazing gifts? A simple 'thank you very much'? Or is there a responsibility to respond in obedience and commitment? Well duh! We all know the answer to that is a resounding "YES!" Why is it so hard though?

Growing up, sports were my life. I am so thankful that my parents kept me active as a child and taught me the simple disciplines that would later make me successful in life. I did everything as little kid. I remember wrestling at the age of 4 and up. I remember playing competitive golf when I was so young that our tournaments were only 3 holes long! I participated in BMX racing. I was on the Plantation Swim Team (still have my iddy biddy speedo :-). I played soccer, little league baseball, YMCA basketball, and of course Pop Warner football when I was finally old enough! Football was my favorite. I remember as a kid I had it all planned out. I still remember sitting in Skipper's, my favorite seafood restaurant in Boise, Idaho and laying out my future plans to my parents. "I'm going to USC to play for the Trojans and then get drafted to the Buffalo Bills." That was the plan and it was going to take a lot of hard work, dedication, and a lifetime of discipline.

I did continue to play sports in junior high and high school, choosing to focus on football and track. One thing God gifted me with is speed. I didn't really have the size for football (5'9" and a buck thirty), but I had speed. I had the fastest forty yard dash time on the Mountain View football team, my personal best time being 4.43 seconds. Again, if I really wanted to see my NFL dream come true, I would have to be more disciplined than I could possible imagine. If there was a place for discipline, it was at Mountain View High School.

Mountain View had a huge reputation for their sports program. They were the best at everything. It wasn't quite as hardcore as Navy SEAL training, but it sure was close - at least to a 16 year old. I remember getting up at 5:30 and hitting the track and running till some guys would puke their dinners up from the night before. I remember being in the weight room every day, pushing our bodies to the limit. Day after day. It was rough and there were times when I wanted to quit, but I stuck with it. While I was at Mountain View we went 40-1, winning two State Championships. The one loss came in triple overtime of the Semi-finals my senior year. Discipline? I will tell you those few years of my life were the most discipline years I have ever experienced.

God got a hold of me my junior year of high school and convinced me that the NFL wasn't truly my life's dream. Honestly, I never would have made it to the NFL anyway, but you can't fault me and every other young guy for wanting that! Nevertheless, on the spring break mission trip to Mexico building houses, God revealed to me that our world is full of broken and hurting people. He needed some more workers and asked me if I might consider joining His team to bring His Kingdom here on earth. That is when I heard the call. I responded. "Lord, take my life. It's is Yours."

The rest is history.

Sorry for the long explanation, but now that I am a pastor I am sitting here wondering where the discipline went? If there was some sort of spiritual football or Navy SEAL training, would I have what it takes to make it through? Honestly, I think a lot of times my approach to the Christian life is that I have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and now it's just time to enjoy life and coast on cruise control. This is not how the Apostle Paul saw the Christian life.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

This speaks to me. I know what it is to run a race. I know what it means to compete in a game. Do I view my life as a disciple this way? Paul did. William Barclay writes,

"Paul was always fascinated by the picture of the athlete. An athlete must train with intensity if he is to win his contest; and Corinth knew how thrilling contests could be, for at Corinth the Isthmian games, second only to the Olympic games, were held. Furthermore, the athlete undergoes this self-discipline and this training to win a crown of laurel leaves that within days will be a withered chaplet. How much more should the Christian discipline himself to win the crown which is eternal life."

I want to wrap this up and I apologize for this going on, but this is where I am at. I can't get this word discipline out of my mind. Part of me hates it because I know it means pain. But we all know the saying, "no pain no gain." Thus, please help me as I seek to live a more disciplined life. Let's help each other as we spur one another on towards living godly lives. Here are five things in my life that I am choosing to be more disciplined in. Pray for me and keep me accountable to the 'strict training' that is being a disciple of Jesus. Thank you in advance!

Five areas I am disciplining myself in:

1) My relationship with God - uninterrupted quality prayer, daily time in the Word, listening to Him speak and guide me

2) My ministry and relationships - taking the time to give myself to people (family, friends, the broken and the hurting)

3) Education - reading and listening to podcasts to learn more and sharpen myself
(I made a goal this year to read 25 books...so far I have read 15)

4) Honing my musical skills - taking voice lessons and working on improving my guitar skills

5) Physical fitness - running 3-5 times per week, working out, and eating healthy

Can you say 4-0...

2008-09-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

No More Target #10

2008-09-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

I know there aren't many IndyCar fans out there reading this, but I am a huge fan and love the thrill of these cars zipping around a track at speeds well over 200 mph. My favorite IndyCar driver, Dan Wheldon, is leaving the Target/Chip Ganassi team and moving to the Panther Racing Team. He will no longer be driving the Target #10 car, but moving to the Delphi National Guard #4 car. I loved the Target team as Dan and Scott Dixon were great teammates, but now its time to move on. I will be rooting for the #4 car. Dan will debut his new car in the "land down under" on October 26th for the Nixon Indy 300. The car will be ripping through the streets of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Australia. Can't wait for that! For more on Dan's debut, click here.

Dan was also featured on the CBS Early Show where he took Russ Mitchell on a little ride around the most famous oval of all time - Indianapolis Speedway.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Lone Survivor Movie

2008-09-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

I just found a link that discloses plans for a Lone Survivor movie! Peter Berg, who directed the Middle Eastern thriller The Kingdom, and Hancock, starring Will Smith, will direct it. It's set to come out sometime in 2009. I'm excited!

Click here for the article.

Lone Survivor

2008-09-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

I just got done reading one of the most incredible stories I have ever read. Lone Survivor is the story of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and Operation Redwing. It is absolutely gut-wrenching! I highly recommend this book to anyone. You will not be disappointed.

Marcus talks about the principles that he learned in the Navy as a SEAL. These principles include: honor, courage, commitment, confidence, discipline, determination, leadership, respect and teamwork. This is what the SEALS live and die by, and in Lone Survivor, we get a first hand account of these principles in action.

The discipline that the Navy drills into SEALS is completely ridiculous. I cannot believe the vigorous training that they have to endure. They push them and push them until they can’t be push anymore. Then they push them some more. It made me hurt just reading about their training. I can’t imagine wading in freezing cold water for twenty minutes only to have a couple minute break and then doing it two more times. Or running four miles in boots and wearing eighty pounds of gear, all in under thirty-two minutes. The list goes on, but as cool as it sounds to be a Navy SEAL I am thankful that I have never had to go through any of that. These guys are tough.

Another thing they instill into SEALS is confidence. They are taught a “never-quit” attitude in which they believe to the core that they will be successful in whatever they do. There is no room for failure. They are taught to never surrender. You die before you surrender to the enemy. This confidence and drive is admirable. Though it comes across as arrogance at times, SEALS believe they are the best of the best. Indeed, they are for they have earned it through their training.

Respect is something that is demanded of the SEALS. You are to respect your teammates and are to obey anything your superiors command. “Always remember your own accountability, to yourselves, your superiors, and your teammates. The chain of command is sacred. Use it” (91).

Teamwork is a non-negotiable for the SEALS. I enjoyed reading about this value and it served as a great reminder for me that life is not meant to be lived alone. We need each other. The SEALS recognize that the only way they can be successful is to work together. There is no room for self. This, I believe, is exactly what Jesus taught his followers to be like. It is the very definition of the body of Christ. I found this quote inspiring, “We’re all in it together, and the first thing they instill in you at Idoc is that you will live and train as a class, as a team. Sorry. Did I say instill in you? I meant, ram home with a jackhammer. Teamwork. They slam that word at you every other minute. Teamwork. Teamwork. Teamwork” (81).

Here are a few other quotes that were really powerful for me:

“I give it everything. On time. Every time. Might not always be good enough, but it’s always my very best shot” (88).

“always listen, and always jump all over anything your instructor tells you. Get out in front. Fast. Then make sure you stay up there” (89).

“Stay alert. Be on time. And be accountable for your actions at all times, in and out of uniform. Remember, your reputation is everything” (109).

“He closed by telling us the real battle is won in the mind. It’s won by guys who understand their areas of weakness, who sit and think about it, plotting and planning to improve. Attending to the detail. Work on their weaknesses and overcome them. Because the can” (123).

I can't really do justice to the Operation Redwing story by telling it, but just to give you an idea, it was a Navy SEAL team mission to take out a terrorist in the mountains of Afghanistan. Luttrell and three other SEALS set off, but after being compromised, the 4 SEALS were left to fight 100+ Taliban fighters armed with AK-47 and RPG's. Watch this interview with Luttrell and read the book! It will change your life!

1-0

2008-09-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

So far, looking pretty good!

Here is the NFL Play of the Week featuring #11 Roscoe Parrish who returned a punt for a 63 yard TD.

LOST!

2008-09-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here is the performance of LOST!

It's Hard Being Chris Martin

2008-08-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

Coldplay is my favorite band. They have been #1 for me ever since I first saw them in concert and totally rocked my musical world. Not only is their music solid and creative, but their charismatic frontman, Chris Martin, is in my opinion one of the greatest musical entertainers around. Many people think he is extremely weird and goofy onstage, but I flat out disagree. He brings a realness that makes you feel like you are getting the real deal - the real Chris, not a show. His personality shines through his music and it is obvious that he loves what he does.

Nevertheless, its hard to follow in his footsteps. This weekend at Third Format I sang LOST!, a song from their new album, Viva La Vida or Death and all His Friends. Putting away my guitar and singing without it is a hard thing for me to do. It is kind of like my security blanket so-to-speak. On top of that, it is a Coldplay song so you have Chris Martin's energy and charisma as the bar. I probably watched 20 or so videos on youtube trying to capture a fraction of the pizzaz that he possesses. Now, my goal was not to copy him and be some sort of Chris Martin "wannabe." Instead, I wanted to do my very best to make the song as enjoyable as it's original creator makes it.

The song went alright and I was mostly satisfied. I still felt slightly uncomfortable without my guitar, but thats ok. It's just like anything else in life. You have to keep trying even if you fail, then eventually you will grow and get better. All in all, it was a good challenge and a fun song to perform. If you want to see Chris in action performing it, watch the video below.

PS. A review of their new album is coming soon. It is awesome!

The Legend of Hood

2008-08-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love reading fiction books. I mean, who doesn't love a great story that draws you in as you get lost in the adventure? A few years ago one of my professors, Dr. Baloian, recommended a book called, Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead. Intrigued, I read it and it immediately became my favorite fiction book (One of the easiest ways to judge how good a fiction book is that you have to keep reading to find out what happens). Its about an Irish monk named Aidan, who sets out on a journey to Constantinople to deliver an important manuscript to the Byzantine Emperor. Aidan experiences many trials and through his unfortunate circumstances he loses His faith in God. God, however, does not give up on him, but rather floods Aidan's life with grace, compeling him to rekindle his faith.

Since Byzantium I have read other books by Lawhead that have just been alright. One that I was extremely excited about was Hood. I just finished it last week, but was sorely disappointed with it. It is the first book in a trilogy that gives a retelling of the legend of Robin Hood. I have always loved the story of Robin Hood, yet Lawhead's story is lacking good action. It is mostly filled with character development. In other words, this book was hard NOT to put down and I had to push through it. I was really bummed with this book and I seriously doubt I will be finishing the trilogy.

NOOMA She | 21 Rob Bell

2008-08-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you know what NOOMA videos are, but the newest one is now out. You can watch it until tomorrow at 9am for free on facebook. NOOMA videos are 10-13 minute teaching videos by Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Michigan. He is one of my favorite preachers/authors.

To watch it, click here

This one is dedicated to all the mothers out there. What would we do with out their compassion, their love and their deep care? Thanks Mom! :-) And how much more is the love of our God who cares for us like a mother to her children? What an awesome God we have!

I hope you enjoy this video. Hurry and watch it before tomorrow!

Solitude

2008-08-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

In this busy, chaotic, fast-paced world we live in I am reminded of the dire need for the discipline of solitude. Though we find it hard to be alone and away from matters that keep us occupied, it is in that place that God can intimately shape us. Solitude can be the best remedy for the weary soul.

"In solitude I get rid of my scaffolding: no friends to talk with, no telephone calls to make, no meetings to attend, no music to entertain, no books to distract, just naked, vulnerable, weak, sinful, deprived, broken, nothing." - Henri Nouwen

The Language of God

2008-08-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

This past April the 3F team went to the Q Conference in New York City. One of the presenters was a scientist named Francis Collins. Collins was formerly the director of the Human Genome Project, but now has resigned on August 1st to pursue writing and other opportunities. After hearing Collins talk about evolution and how it fits into God's plan of Creation, I knew I had to read His book called The Language of God to hear this heretical idea.

The Language of God is Collin’s argument that science and faith are compatible and complimentary to each other. For hundreds and hundreds of years the debate of science vs. belief has been met with extreme contention. Through historical evidence, scientific data, and some supernatural mystery, Collins attempts to bridge the gap.

I was blown away by some of the things I learned about evolution and biology. I willingly admit that this was a tough read and that a significant amount of the scientific data went right over my head. Nevertheless, the information I was able to grab a hold of was extremely insightful.

The biggest intellectual transformation for me was my view of evolution. I used to think that this was a naughty word. Growing up as a Christian I was taught that evolution was an atheistic theory to prove that God does not exist. It is true that many people hold to this strong of a view. However, there is a more balanced view of evolution, which Collins lays out in this book. Collins claims that God is indeed the Divine Creator, yet somehow in His own infinite way He uses the process of evolution within his plan of creation.

I learned so much about how the scientific world works and how theories like evolution have evolved (no pun intended ☺). This book has opened my eyes and has burst my “Christian Creationist bubble.” I feel enlightened, really confused, somewhat frustrated, but most of all reassured that there is a Divine Creator who is so powerful and far beyond my understanding.

I did not agree with a lot of Collins views by any means, but it did open my eyes to the science world. Some of the scientific evidence simply cannot be ignored, even when it contradicts Christian tradition. Ultimately, there is no way to prove many of the things that science claims. Though scientists try to have "everything" figured out, no one can comprehend the mind of God - not even close. He must laugh at some of the "theories" and "facts" we come up with.

Here are some interesting things Collins says in his book that I wrestled with:
- The universe was created with the Big Bang approximately 14 billion years ago
- The Earth came into existence approximated 4.5 billion years ago
- Homo Sapiens start showing up around 500 million years ago (I don't quite know what to do with the fossil records)
- Human beings evolved from apes and share a common ancestor with Chimpanzees (yeah right!)

If you are interested in some of this scientific stuff, here are some links that will help you in your journey:

God and Science
Human Genome Project
Theory of Evolution
Reasons to Believe
The Hubble Site

Two Books Worth a Read

2008-08-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

I recently read two works of fiction that were simply "can't put it down" reads. I would recommend that all followers of Christ read these books. They bring such a fresh perspective to life, love, and relationship to God.

The first book is called The Shack. This is about a guy named Mac who has been plagued with a few traumatic circumstances. Because of this, he finds himself having a supernatural experience that will leave him changed forever.

The thing I appreciate most about this book is that it deals with real life issues. It also addresses many misconceptions about Christianity. Through Mac's weekend away at a shack, he has an encounter with God and is forced to face a past that is filled with guilt, fear and plenty of doubt. I give this book a 5 out of 5!

You can even get a free copy of the book at papaslove.org.

The second book is called Redeeming Love. It takes place in the late 1800's and is a loose retelling of the book of Hosea in the Bible. It's technically a romance novel, but I didn't know that going into it :-)

What would you do if God asked you to marry a prostitute? This story will send you on a roller coaster of emotions. The thing I appreciate about this book is how it captures God's heart for His people. I give this book a 5 out of 5 too!

And I Think I'll Go to Boston...

2008-07-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the whole day in the heart of Boston and I must say it is a fine city indeed! I started the day out by walking the famous historical Freedom Trail. This trail is a 2.5 mile path marked by red brick and paint. It takes you around to 17 different historical sites throughout the city. For more info about the different sites click here.

Here are some pictures from my walk:

Park Street Church, where William Lloyd Garrison gave his first antislavery address on the Fourth of July 1829.

The Old Granary, right next to Park Street Church where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock are buried. This isn't the only Sam Adams I saw this day :-)

Paul Revere's House

Bunker Hill, where the first battle took place between the Patriots and the Red Coats.

Some other interesting sites I saw include The Old South Meeting House, where on December 16, 1773 Samuel Adams gave his famous nonimportation speech that started the Boston Tea Party. Also, The Old State House, where just outside the Boston Massacre took place.

And to top off this eventful day I retired to a place "where everyone knows your name" - Cheers! Although I am pretty sure no one had a clue who I was :-)

Harvard

2008-07-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally made it to the Boston area today. The journey consisted of an hour ferry ride, a two hour bus ride, a 30 minute subway ride, and another 15-20 minute bus ride. Nevertheless I finally made it to Arlington (12 miles West of Boston) where I will be staying with a friend.

After resting a bit I set out for Harvard which is just 5 miles from where I am staying. It was interesting, but not nearly as big as I thought it would be. The area has a college town feel but its nothing too special. Honestly, it felt like a cheap imitation of Oxford. It doesn't even come close to Oxford!

Harvard is the most prestigious university in America and a lot of brilliant minds have come from there. Interestingly enough it was started in 1636 by Puritan leaders to educate future generations of clergy. When young Charlestown minister John Harvard died two years later and left his books and half his money to the college, it was renamed Harvard.

John Harvard

As I was heading home this is what I saw in Harvard Square. It blew my mind and I still don't know what to think about it.

This is the most bizarre street evangelism I have ever seen to this day. They are a group from a Menonnite church despite looking like pilgrims fresh off the Mayflower. The Pastor is shown here speaking about how the "Good Lord" hath saved our souls from hell. "Thees" and "Thous" and all the other stuff you would hear a century ago. I couldn't tell if they were putting on a play or if this was the real deal. It was sad to watch them speak about the Lord while young people walked by laughing and mocking them. It made me cringe. Is this really what following Jesus looks like? Funny enough there were two mormon missionaries talking to one of the guys there. They both looked the same except the Mennonite didn't have an elder badge on. Again, I don't know what to make of this experience. All I can say is that God is sovereign and He can defend Himself if He so pleases.

Nantucket Adventures

2008-07-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

Well, so far it has been a blast on Nantucket Island! I'm here with Ryan and Jen Russell and we are here visiting our friends, Dan and Shellie Dunlap. On the first day we went fishing with some extraordinary people. No one caught anything but seaweed. Nevertheless, it was a good time and I finally got to step foot into the warm Atlantic. The beach was beautiful and the weather has been absolutely gorgeous. Everyone complains about the humidity here, but I definitely prefer it to the 110 degree dry heat :-)

Yesterday we boarded Dan's boat "Journie" and headed out to sea for a little cruise. We went to the Northeastern tip where there is a lighthouse, but it was so foggy we could barely see it. Here is a picture:

Last night we had one of my favorite meals of all time! LOBSTER! And this wasn't something you get a Red Lobster either. This was the real deal and it was the best seafood I have ever had. Words cannot describe how good it was. For lunch I had the best New England clam chowder I have ever had too!

Tomorrow I am heading into Boston for 3 more days before I come home. Can't wait!

Welcoming "The Grey Lady"

2008-07-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

Today I will arrive in Boston where I will be taking a bus to the coast and then boarding a ferry to Nantucket Island. I will be there visiting some friends and am extremely excited to have some R & R (rest and relaxation). Nantucket is nicknamed "The Grey Lady" because of occasional intense fog. It is also made famous by the TV show, Wings, which I thoroughly enjoyed in my junior high years. For more info on Nantucket Island click here.

I am looking forward to eating loads of lobster, New England clam chowder, and just hanging out on the beach. The weather is in the 80's so I will be living it up :-) I have never set foot in the Atlantic Ocean so I am looking forward to that as well!

I will try to keep you updated on all my travels and adventures.

Why So Serious?

2008-07-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went and saw the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, and it was amazing! It was packed with great action and a great story line. But what took this movie over the top for me was Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker. In my opinion he played the part perfectly and was so fun to watch.

It was kind of a weird, eerie feeling to watch him, knowing he is not around anymore. I know there is a lot of talk going around about him being nominated for an Oscar, which I think he totally deserves. I think he should get "best actor." It was simply that good.

So if you haven't seen The Dark Knight then you need to go sometime soon and see it in the theater. It is an experience that is well worth the ridiculous $10 it costs to see a movie these days.

Really?

2008-07-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

I went to lunch this week with a friend of mine and we headed to Barro's Pizza for the 2-slice lunch special. I don't care what you say; Barro's pizza is one of the best! This day the pizza was indeed great and I was extra happy because one of my slices was huge! You always hope that you don't get stuck with 2 tiny slices. Our conversation over lunch was great too, so it turned out to be a pretty stellar lunch. Until....

We were walking out to my car to head back to work when I hear a voice from behind me. "Excuse me, would you mind sparing me some money for a motel room tonight?" I turn around and there was a kid probably 18 or 19 years old with a cup in his hand. Now he looked hot and sweaty, but he didn't really strike me as the homeless type. I took a few moments to have that internal wrestling match to figure out whether I should continue to my car or stop and hear his story. I opted for the latter not thinking I would regret it later.

I always freeze up in these kinds of situations, not being able to discern how to handle the situation in a Christ-like manner. Nevertheless, I decided to hear the kid out and he told me he got in an argument with his parents and they kicked him out. Right there I should have investigated his story further. Instead I told him I was uncomfortable with giving him money, but that I would buy him a slice of pizza (he also said he hadn't eaten all day).

While we were in line, I asked him why he got kicked out and of course it wasn't his fault at all. His parents were over-reacting and sick of driving him to Glendale to work everyday. Again, I should have made a run for it, but I thought to myself, "what could a little pizza hurt?"

After he got his pizza, he thanked me and we went our separate ways. I returned to my buddy in my car only to hear him utter these depressing words, "I don't want to disappoint you, but I ran into that kid about 2 months ago and he told almost the same exact story." Then it hit...

I just got played. Cheated. Taken advantage of.

The reality is that this kid probably had a place to stay that. He is probably hooked on some drug and is unofficially fundraising to feed his addiction. Who knows what the real truth is. All I know is it is sad that people have to lie and manipulate other people to try to get "aid and assistance."

I learned my lesson this time and I will be more cautious in the future. And all of you who live in Mesa and are reading this: if a 19 year old wants money and he just got kicked out of the house, DON'T BELIEVE HIM!

God of Wrath

2008-07-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

So I definitely waited in line last Friday morning at 6am for the new iPhone and it was well worth it. Along with the amazing GPS tracking and other really cool 3rd party applications, lifechurch.tv developed a Bible application that gives me 15 different translations at the touch of my fingertips. In the program there are three random chapters selected per day for daily reading. Today as I was waiting for a meeting I decided to read one of them. It was Jeremiah 4 which doesn't happened to be a very positive and uplifting passage. Here is how it starts off:

1 "If you will return, O Israel,
return to me,"
declares the LORD.
"If you put your detestable idols out of my sight
and no longer go astray,

2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
you swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives,'
then the nations will be blessed by him
and in him they will glory."

3 This is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:
"Break up your unplowed ground
and do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD,
circumcise your hearts,
you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it.

This is a plea to RE-TURN. Return to what is true. Return to what is good. Return to the source of love and joy. "Return to me," says the LORD. God is giving Israel a chance to turn around and leave their idols. He is pleading for them to come back to Him. My favorite part of God's plea is for them to circumcise their hearts. Circumcision was a physical sign that Israel belonged to God. Yet, on the inside these people were completely unfaithful to Him. This just reiterates that God is interested in our hearts not our outward appearance.

It is easy to look at Israel and think they were a bunch of idiots, which they were. Time and time again they were unfaithful to their God despite all His patience and forgiveness. Yet, we are just like Israel whether we will admit it or not. Sure we don't have statues of idols displayed in our living room, but we do have idols - things we chose to value over God at times.

We find out that Jeremiah's warning is not heeded by Israel and that God does indeed bring wrath on His people. In 586 b.c. Israel loses everything. God uses a pagan nation, Babylon, to humble His people greatly. It is the consequence of their actions and their lack of trust in Him.

Many people write-off stories like these because it is soooo "Old Testament." I mean, we are living in the New Covenant now right? Jesus has come and conquered sin and death. The cross has given us forgiveness from our sins, so there is no more wrath of God right!? Somehow I don't think it is quite that simple. Jesus says, "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." He also says, "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." That sort of sounds like what happened to Israel when they didn't trust God and follow Him. Maybe we too are still held accountable for our actions. Maybe we need to try and understand what Proverbs means when it says that we need to have "The fear of the Lord" in us.

Yes Jesus died for us. Yes He has washed our sins away. However, that does not free us from the responsibility of trusting and obeying Him. That is why Philippians urges us to 'continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.' This is not an easy road to travel, but it is well worth it!

Who is the Customer?

2008-06-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

I recently went on the Junior High summer camp trip in beautiful Malibu, California. It was so nice and refreshing to be near the beach and feel the cool ocean breeze. I also really loved hanging out with junior high kids again. They are wild, crazy and just fun to be around. Oh, and man can they have fun worshiping God! Jumping, shouting, singing to the top of their lungs....My favorite time was doing Crowder's tune, "We Won't Be Quiet" and having them just shout it out! Like Crowder, I used a megaphone on that song and it was fantastic!

As fun as the trip was, there was one thing that I really wrestled with. I will borrow Bill Hybel's term "holy discontent," to describe the uneasiness that I had through out the week. I came to the realization that sometimes Christian adults can be rather ruthless. Now I am the first to admit that kids (especially Jher's) need discipline. However, what approach do you take with kids who have had no exposure to the church and with Jesus? We are talking about kids who come from broken homes and who have little or no positive influence in their lives at all. Yet, we expect even these kids to be polite and respectful. Maybe just maybe they don't know what that looks like. Maybe we are the only example of that they will ever see. Somehow, yelling at kids and forcing them to behave might not be the best approach.

I think of Jesus with the woman at the well. He had such a marvelous way of exposing her sin yet affirming her at the same time. He even plays dumb a little bit in order not to come across as superior. Jesus found a way to speak the truth in love. I think that we can do the same it just takes a few things to get there. It would require us to slow down and be patient, kind, caring, and altogether interested in the human beings we come in contact with. Jesus wasn't in a hurry, but rather he stopped to sit with this woman. Through His words and actions, He communicated to her that she was the most important thing to Him at that moment. Jesus gave her His full undivided attention. This is what it means to love your neighbor - something I willingly admit that I am not good at.

So who is the customer? Think about when you go into a place like starbucks or a restaurant. We naturally expect to be served. And don't just serve me but, I want service with a smile. Oh and I want my coffee in 12.045 seconds. But when it comes to relationships and more specifically interactions with non-believers, a lot of times this attitude of service is not present. Not that Christianity is a product to be sold, but we have a job to present this hope we have in Christ as something that is freeing, not burdensome. How are junior high kids ever going to know a better life if they are constantly talked down to and told to follow a certain set of rules? After all, they are the customers. People are customers who are looking for something to follow and they will choose whatever option they think is best. What can we offer them? Grace and freedom and hope and peace and rest from the burdens of life through Jesus Christ. I think before we can expect someone to behave like a Christian they must first need to understand the good. They need to first know what we are for, rather than what we are against. Consider what Jesus' says in Matthew 23 to the religious people of His day. May we never fall into this trap!

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.c

15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides!

Red Supergiant

2008-05-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

God is my favorite artist by far!

I am Indy

2008-05-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is the 92nd Indianapolis 500 (10am on ABC). You better believe that I will be watching the excitement as 33 open-wheel cars battle it out at speeds well over 200 mph. Some might say that motor sports are nerdy or "hick" but that is lame. Boring to watch cars circle around and around an oval track? It's no more boring than watching nine innings of baseball on TV.

The #9 and #10 cars of the Target/Chip Ganassi racing team are out front this year as Scott Dixon has the pole while Dan Wheldon (my favorite driver) is in the second position. Sports Illustrated just did an article on Danica Patrick that said she is claiming that this is her year to win Indy. Haha fat chance is what I say, but we shall see. Danica is in the 5th position this year. To see the starting grid, click here.

In preparation of this year's Indy here is a video and some fascinating facts about Indy cars. These machines are truly spectacular! My dream one day is to get to drive in one. That would be sweet!

Did you Know? (taken from indycar.com)

* That the 3.5-liter, ethanol-powered engines of IndyCar Series cars produce more than 650 horsepower, nearly four times that of the average street car?

* That each of the eight pistons in an IndyCar Series engine travels nearly 1 mile up and down in the cylinder every minute?

* That each of the eight pistons in an IndyCar Series engine is subjected to a maximum acceleration of 70,000 times the force of gravity?

* That an IndyCar Series car accelerates from 0 to 100 mph in less than three seconds, more than nine seconds quicker than it takes a production Porsche 911 Turbo street car to reach the same speed?

* That a 1,530-pound IndyCar Series cars generates 5,000 pounds of downforce at 220 mph, enough to allow the car to run upside down if that speed is maintained?

* That the tread depth of an IndyCar Series tire is 3/32nds of an inch – slightly thicker than a credit card?

* That a front tire for the IndyCar Series weighs about 18 pounds - slightly less than the average weight of a 1-year-old?

* That, at speed, the tread area of the racing tires approaches the temperature of boiling water (212 degrees Fahrenheit)? At those levels, the tread area actually becomes tar-like in consistency to help the tires and car adhere to the track.

* That at any given moment on the racetrack, the total area of all four tires that is in contact with the track surface is equal to about 1 square foot? That means that an area not much bigger than a sheet of notebook paper is responsible for transferring all the technology and power generated by IndyCar Series cars into speeds exceeding 220 mph.

* That at speeds of 220 mph, the front tires of an IndyCar Series car rotate at a rate of 43 times per second. That means, over the course of a single lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the front tire will experience about 1,955 revolutions, and the rear tires will experience 1,800 revolutions. Considering a normal fuel stint is 30 laps or more at Indy, each tire could experience more than 60,000 revolutions before it is changed for a fresh set.

* That the draft (or the “hole” in the air) created by an IndyCar Series car extends 25 feet behind the car?

* That while traveling about 220 mph, IndyCar Series cars travel slightly more than the length of a football field every second?

Expelled!

2008-05-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

I recently went with my small group to see Ben Stein's documentary film, Expelled. This is a film about how scientists and professors have been expelled from their fields because they believe in "Intelligent Design." In fact, some were fired from their jobs just for mentioning "ID." Apparently in scientific academia the theory of God (or any other intelligent designer) creating the world is looked on as complete and utter ignorance. Alternatively, common evolutionary theory says that life developed naturalistically over time from mud and lightning or perhaps on the backs of crystals. Ignorance? Watch this trailer for the movie and I encourage you to go see this film soon while it is still in the theater.

This film has obviously stirred up quite a controversy, especially with evolutionist Richard Dawkins. He wrote a blog in response to Expelled on his website called, Lying for Jesus. If you were at church a few weeks ago when we covered secular humanism, Richard was the guy on the video. He says some pretty crazy stuff! So much that it just makes me sad.

Following Jesus

2008-05-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

I recently read a book by NT Wright (a fantastic author and theologian) called Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship. I am constantly challenged by the concept of discipleship. For some reason I can easily understand my faith in terms of a teacher/student relationship. If there is anyone who I relate with in the Bible it would be the disciples. Though they were slow and didn’t get it most of the time, Jesus still poured His heart and soul into them with confidence that they could be like Him. And they turned out alright. They completely changed and revolutionized the world. There is still hope for you and me after all. :-)

Wright writes this book to help bring a clearer picture of the real biblical Jesus. He admits that many people inside and outside of the church have made up a ‘Jesus’ for themselves, inventing Him to be whatever they wish. Jesus to many Christians makes them feel warm and happy inside, but doesn’t challenge them or suggest them to do something about the plight of the world. However, the real Jesus cared more about the world than our comfortable little feelings. The call of discipleship for us is to do the same.

Something that was incredibly insightful was a chapter about who Jesus is according to the book of Hebrews:

- He is the true Son of God that is higher than the angels (Hebrews 1)
- He was 100% human that ‘lived our life and died our death’ (Hebrews 2)
- He is the true Joshua who leads His people to the promise land (Hebrews 3-4)
- He is the true high priest (mediator between us and God) forever (Hebrews 5-7)
- He is the final sacrifice and the new covenant (Hebrews 8-10)

This leads to the great heroes of the faith in chapter 11. Then chapters 12 and 13 sum everything up. Wright says,

“...it is the Jesus who will guide us through life, the Jesus who meets us today as we feast at His table, the Jesus who summons us gently but clearly to follow Him. And at the heart of this picture we find the cross: the cross which Jesus endured on our behalf, which was the climax of his life of suffering and rejection, which was, as we shall see, the final sacrifice.”

What an amazing and refreshing picture of Jesus!

Wright also wrote about the kingdom of heaven and what that meant to Jesus. He, like many others today, insists that God wants to bring heaven to earth. He points out how so many Christians are sitting around waiting to die and go to heaven. But Jesus wants heaven to be here in this world, NOW! And we, His disciples, are the ones charged to bring it here. This is a scary thought. That is what the disciples must have felt when Jesus gave them the great commission, putting the responsibility of His kingdom in the hands of His students.

If this seems like too daunting of a task, the writer of Hebrews encourages with this:

Hebrews 12:1-3
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Calling All Lead Worshipers

2007-05-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

"If you can't worship at the back, you can't worship at the front"
- Mike Pilavachi