Geek heaven

My inner TWIG giggles with glee and envy when I see this: Star Trek Home movie room.

They are coming....

take a look at the future...here
via (Boing Boing)

Sucking nectar...

But you cannot go on “explaining away” for ever; you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on “seeing through” things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too?...a wholly transparent would is an invisible world. To “see through” all things is the same as not to see.” -C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man.

I've been preaching/teaching a series of messages on answering doubts concerning the core issues of the Christian faith. In that process I have been having some really good conversations with honest seekers and intelligent but under equipped believers. These endeavors often have included painfully myopic, rusted Christians who don't want to search the scriptures to see if these things be so, but to defend their "ideas" about what scripture says. It's rare to find those who have spent time truly excavating their beliefs out of the rock of scripture and a broad quarry of Christian traditions, perspectives and biblical scholarship. I am sorry folks but "I feel this to be true" isn't solid ground for most skeptics or honest doubters to crawl up and stand on.

"Let us get clearer views of what we believe. . . . Many are spiritual gipsies. They camp behind any hedge, but they abide nowhere, their theology consists of a few sticks and bits of canvas. It is easily upset, but then it is as easily set up. Well may they sing,—"We've no abiding city here"!. They prefer the chase after truth to truth itself; it is clear that such a chase has not much of reality in it, for the man is pleased that his prey should perpetually escape him. In olden times, the prophet was a seer; but, nowadays, a prophet is one who is too cultured to see anything. A man who protests that he has too much light to be sure that he sees anything is the favorite of certain intellectual hearers. David said, "I believed, therefore have I spoken;" but he was peculiar: our "thoughtful men" now speak because they doubt, and not because they believe."
-Charles Spurgeon

The challenge I find is to root all this biblically required study (2 Timothy 2:15, II Tim. 3:15-17, I Timothy 6:20,21) in a deeply devotionally rich soil of spiritually vibrant experience with God. Speaking from living. Producing nourishing fruit for intelligent consumption that is grown out of a healthy spiritual life. A day to day life that is nourished by the animating and revelatory presence of the Holy Spirit; not withered and juiceless fruit that has already had its nectar sucked out and penned into books and articles by someone else. I don't want to hold a lifeless skull in my pastoral hands but a word of life that through the Holy Spirit, opens peoples minds to understand who Christ is and what He has done. This is a holy tension.

But so long as we know God only in the way of men - by contentious learning, by arguing and dispute -- we see nothing but the shadow of Him; and in that shadow we meet many dark appearances, little certainty and much conjecture. But when we know him with the eyes of holiness and the intention of gracious experience, with a quiet spirit and the peace of enjoyment, then we shall hear what we never heard, and see what our eyes never saw." -Jeremy Taylor

THE DARJEELING LIMITED

Ok, this is one of my favorite movies. It's got that British humor thing, where in a serious moment they have to use humor; it's almost a defense mechanism..but, it works here. This is a deep movie that is funny, insightful and honest about our journey of passing through our parents. So much to unpack in this film. As a older brother of three, I could relate to this movie in a lot of ways. Each brother dealing with his own "baggage" that he is carrying...Dad's baggage, mom's issues and the challenge of letting go, discovery and accepting who you are and how life has a way of sorting that out in unplanned for ways. This is a rated R movie for language and a raw one night stand, that doesn't show anything but is dirty. But...even this part has its place to show the issues that often lie at the root of trysts, cheating and self-centered sexual encounters. Being used is part of the pain of self discovery at times. It tells us a lot about who we are and who we have not become yet and that women and men are users. This movie has a lot of quirkiness to it, which at first started to annoy me but then I saw how it played on the issue of how much we end up being like our parents in those small odd ways. The whole absent and fleeing mother issue in this movie was cathartic for me. It helped me see life from another angle...a woman who chooses to no longer be a mother. Not a bad thing...just a real thing. All in all...I think this movie helped me look at some of my own family baggage that I dont need to carry anymore.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. -Hebrews 12:1

City of Lost Children

One of the most bizarre movies I have ever seen. If you like weird, alternate reality, steam punkish, trippy plot with a slightly eerie feel...this movie is for you. It's a French movie with English subtitles. I simply can not imagine what mind this movie came out of?

August Rush

Great film for the family (slightly older kids), we loved it and my teens enjoyed it too.

TWIG HEAVEN !!!

We watched "Appleseed Ex Machina" last night and it kicked some serious Scfi butt! It's in english, has fantastic animation, action that gave me goosebumps and left me wanting more. It is PG-13 for some language, animated violence (fairly mild in my opinion) and a few intense (slightly scary) images.

Hot Rod vs FootLoose

Hot Rod, this movie made me laugh more than any movie in a while. Style it in the tradition of SNL or Napoleon Dynamite. This scene had me roaring with laughter, the Footloose angry dance was brilliant but the falling sequence is crazy funny slap stick.

Cola wars...

The beast in my belly?

Looks great...

StarWars: The Clone Wars
The movie comes out in August and a TV series follows.

Juno

LeeElla and I saw this last weekend. I loved it. Yes, it's about a teen that gets pregnant and all that comes with that is in it...typical teen life. But the themes that were dealt with in this movie were brilliantly handled. Abortion, adoption, marriage, maturity, friendship, blended family issues, divorce and the prospect of real love. This is a movie that emerges out of a postmodern reality. It's our world. This is where we live today. It's a honest look at the complexity and hope of finding something true in the midst of all the chaos. I laughed so many times.
When the father said He wanted to punch the boy father in the wennie...I died. Been there.

Brooke Fraser

I've been enjoying this song in my own worship times and found out that the singer is Brooke Fraser. This interview is really awesome, it gives me great hope to see the emerging generation mixing art & justice & faith in such a way.

Interview part one:
part one

Part two:

This is the final song based on the above story of her exepereince in Rwanda.

There will be blood...

Excalibur

Check out my eldest son's band: http://www.myspace.com/excaliburheavymetal Excalibur

Put off the old self....

Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:22-24

The ice is gone, well in most places and the weather is getting warmer. I bought my new running shoes today. I am looking forward to getting outside and burning off some of this winter weight.

Same SEX unions...

In our small group, the subject of same sex relationships has been a point of deep reflection and discussion. I have enjoyed the manner in which the group has dialogued about the issue, not from a theoretical point of view but from a relational reality. We have friends and family who are wrestling with the teaching of scripture, the challenge of culture and the pain of personal experience. This is a short video clip of J.I. Packer who is facing suspension from the Anglican Church of Canada over his protest of the churches support of same sex unions. I admire Packer's obvious conviction and yet, there is a very real humility in the way he is wrestling to walk out that conviction. Very wise words.

The grasp of grace...

"The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here--sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it." So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, "Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished. "When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful (compassionate) to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" -Genesis 19:13-17

I guess my 8 year old son was right...if we get caught in a burning house...God will come and take us by the hand and lead us out of the building. Amazing grace...how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. Indeed.

Who let the dogs out?

I live in DOGTOWN...big dogs prevail around this neighborhood. I snapped this photo today, right before my boys came out of the store...evidence for court just in case this dog ate them.
Here is an idea: if you got a CUJO for a pet...make sure the window is rolled up...please?
I'm getting a gun and a concealed weapon permit for sure.

Crushing Satan...underneath our feet.

"And they shall...renew the ruined cities."-Isaiah 61:4

We are moving towards the end of our year long restoration of the old Horseman's store that we have had the honor of rescuing from decay and resurrected it into a place to gather for worship, teaching and by the grace of God many more hundreds of lives transformed by the Spirit, gospel and body of Jesus. Through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord called the people of God in Babylon to: "Build yourselves houses and dwell in them, plant gardens and eat the fruit of them, take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there and do not be diminished."(Jer. 29:5-6).

Seeing the work of the gospel expanding and growing is exciting to watch. Hearing a young adult confesses that the gospel has captured his heat in a way that studying the great philosophers has never done and how he is experiencing the LIFE of the word is fruit of the Spirt at work. Welcoming people from the neighborhood for the first time and hearing them try to express how the Lord touched them in the service is the sweet fruit of labor and prayer. Holding a young woman who is recovering from drugs and facing challenging times is soul moving work. Seeing the joy on a refugees face as she is loved, welcomed and served in her first days here in America makes the hard days worth it. Being embraced by a child who doesn't speak your language but can feel your love is holy. Laying hands on an elderly man who is fighting for life in the pew that you got for free off of Craig's List is powerful.

Seeing things that you wept for in the basement of a YWAM building in 1999 in Amsterdam Holland is confirmation that God still speaks to listening hearts. Hearing a young girl tell you that she loves the song you have been playing that speaks of God doing greater things in the days ahead...is evidence that the children shall truly lead you. Sometimes you get a chance in life to stand in a moment and truly see God's kingdom coming...those are gifts worth remembering.

In the midst of all the hard work, the tears, the stress, the failure, the attacks and and the overwhelming odds...you can still find yourself amazed by grace. It breaks my heart that so many people malign the church, the ministry and the work of God these days. So many times I heard about how it can't be done, it will destroy your family, ruin your marriage and bury you under the weight of the enemy. But I am here to testify that God still crushes satan under the feet of his church (Rom 16:20). If you are out there and wrestling with the dream of planting a church...don't listen to the nay-sayers...yes, it will kill parts of you but what comes alive is worth more than you ever will lose.

Burn in Hell...forever?

Hell has been a hot (no pun intended) topic in my recent conversations...specifically the doctrine of eternal torment. It's been good discussion and one that I have visited often coming from a Seventh Day Adventist upbringing. The SDA believe and teach the idea of eternal punishment and destruction vs eternal torture. A distinction that for many people is one that sounds heretical. I am not convinced either way completely...I do wrestle with the fact that eternal torture seems to be under supported in the whole counsel of the Word. It seems to contradict common sense logic about justice and is a doctrine that often repels people away from God instead of drawing them towards Him.

In my conversation the person said: "Eternal Torment was never taught in the old testament, The apostles never talked about it and the few scriptures where Jesus implies it come with no clarity; I think if a doctrine of this magnitude and horrific consequence were true, God would make it abundantly clear to all, and it would be a continuing theme throughout the Bible. On the other hand, eternal destruction is clearly taught and mentioned by all. The only exception is in Revelation where it appears to say Hell will be no more."

Good challenge...worthy of some good biblical study...I thought.

But then my youngest son, Micah came home distraught and angry Wednesday night from kids church. His first words to me were: "I'm pissed off, why would God kill Lots wife, just for looking back!" He was really upset. He told me that he wasn't going to believe in a God that kills people, that destroys huge cities. His little heart was broken and he was angry too. Every answer he recounted from the teachers of his class...he refuted and cast off with a disdain and frustration that they were not good enough answers according to him...which wasn't really the issue, our kids church is awesome and they were simply presenting a bible story; but Micah can grab a part of any talk and magnify it in his little mind. I tried to reason with him and explain the issues of choice, free will and all the other doctrinal anesthesia we use to try to soften a issue that we really can't explain either. I tried to use the concept of a parent telling a kid to stay out of the street for fear of getting hit or a command to come out of a burning building and if they didn't obey is the parent at fault? He responded: "Well Mom would come in an drag me out of the burning building!" I sat there stunned at his apologetic prowess that was really coming from a revelation of a side of God that frightened him and shook his understanding of a loving God.
We ended after talking some more with prayer. I told him I was proud that he cared about those people, cities and that we should love people. He calmed and I prayed with him about the issue. Needless to say, the hell, judgment and punishment doctrines are critical to understand because how we present our Father...can make some people stumble and even Jesus warned about the danger of making little ones stumble. It's a tough concept to wrestle with, one that trite answer dont really soothe the wounded heart.

I still am wrestling with the talk....the look and sound in Micah's face and voice was haunting.

Boobie-FREE Barristers...please?

I must confess I prefer a man to make my cup of Joe.

No, I am not gay.
I'm not a woman hater.
I don't have repressed baggage because of my mommy issues.
I'm all for equal rights.
I'm cool as someone living in Washington State to have two women senators, a woman for a Governor and woman for our Mayor and potentially a woman for President.

I just hate...yes, I said HATE...getting my cup of coffee and smelling perfume or scented hand creme all over the stinking cup.

I can't enjoy the smell of coffee which is one of the main reasons I enjoy it...because these women have to lather themselves like a buttered ham on Thanksgiving with all the latest manufactured body stink. So please...if you pour coffee for the public, remember that we come to purchase a latte...not an olfactory assault by a ludicrously lathered lady barrister.

The hammers fell...

Five hundred years ago, when asked the motivation for a particular sculpture, Michelangelo replied, "I saw an angel in the stone and carved to set it free.

With the warmer weather finally approaching, I am able to begin my spring time project. Carving. I picked up some tools and found where I can get the wood I want. Now I am going to convert my painting area into a chopping, cutting, hammering and chiseling work area. I got a good new lighting bar in my studio area and with a little spring cleaning and mice hunting I should be ready to create. I've been itching to explore carving...with wood and then with my real artistic fantasy...stone. I want to hammer rock and fashion stone...i've worked a little with wood in the past. So let hammers fall...I might just have to grow my beard out for this season...how can I wield such earth shaping instruments with a clean face??? So if you wander by you might hear the sound track of LOTR playing, metal striking rock, the fragrance of fresh cut wood filling the air...ahhh the glorious return of spring.

Children are a blessing from the Lord...

Micah is my youngest, he just turned eight years old and last night he gave me one of the most precious gifts...his support.

Towards the end of the message, I glanced at Micah who was sitting next to LeeElla and noticed he was fully engaged with the preaching. We met eyes...and for a instant I knew that my heart was passing into his heart...my passion was his passion...he was being formed. At the very end of service, after preaching from the deepest places of my heart and spirt, I was overcome on the pulpit with tears during the closing prayer. It was a holy moment, when the only right response is to bow deeply in your heart, weep and embrace the penetrating light and life of God's word and just worship....in silence.

After I closed, he was the first one to come up to me and asked: "Dad, are you ok?" I took him in my arms and told him that I was fine. As we were walking home, he was holding my hands and he said: "Dad, I enjoy hearing you preach...I want to come every Sunday night." Later I took him aside and told him that those words meant very much to me and gave him a hug.

As I reflect on moments like that, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude that I have the chance to share this pastoring experience with my children. I truly, truly, truly am grateful for the privilege of preaching the word of God and for the call of God that not only envelopes my life but the life of my family too.

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. -Psalms 127:3

A bloodstained coat...

Here is another thing you do. You cover the LORD's altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings, and he doesn't accept them with pleasure. You cry out, "Why has the LORD abandoned us?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made to each other on your wedding day when you were young. But you have been disloyal to her, though she remained your faithful companion, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard yourself; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "It is as cruel as putting on a victim's bloodstained coat," says the LORD Almighty. "So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife." -Malachi 2:13-16

The issue is this...if you choose to engage in a sexual relationship with someone its an act of good faith. You are saying to that person that you will commit to becoming a family. God designed sex to produce life. God designed man and woman to love each other for life, raise a family and keep the human race from going extinct. So if you get a woman pregnant or get yourself pregnant...welcome to married life. Oneness of spirit and flesh has taken place and from that intimacy...new life is created. Not only the life of the child but a new life for you...you move from single life to married life. Engaging in sex is a consummation to a new life...one of commitment, faithfulness and family.

To end the life of that child who is the result of your choice to enter into a God ordained holy union...is murder.
An act that is the same as putting on a bloodstained coat in God's eyes. So if you want closure in a relationship...start by closing your legs....for the sake of a child at least. If you have had an abortion...repent, turn to Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, get married or stop having sex outside of marriage. If you do get married have some godly children and maybe...adopt a child as an act of moral restitution.

Give another child a chance at having a family.

I am going to burn up!

There are some times when I am speaking the Word of God where the fire of God is so intense that I really think I could combust, right there on the spot. I thought that in both service this weekend...the Word was literally a fire in my mouth and there were moments when I wanted to just stop and let it consume me until there was nothing left but smoldering desire. I simply can not express how alive Romans 15 was for me. There were passages in that text that assaulted me with an intensity that was frightening. The prophet said that the Lord's word was like a hammer against rock...a fire that burns and a flame that sometimes feels like its burning from inside your very bones...this weekend, I felt that. I pray that word...will scorch the earth around here.