Saturday December 12, 2009

spent the day in Seattle with Melissa. people watching. shopping. good time. Four more years and she will be off at college somewhere. She even walked arm in arm with me. It was very sweet. There are some freaky looking people in Seattle so maybe that is why she was holding on to me. We went to Vivace and got a latte. Went into a snowboard shop and found a ridiculous green body suit. We bought it as a Christmas present from the girls to me. We went to Pacific Place mall and walked around looking at all the insane prices of things. True Religion jeans $319. Unreal. We ate sushi for lunch, walked down to Pike Street Market and then came home. Awesome time. Kris and Hannah were cooking at the McCollums today. Terri had a catering gig tonight so Kris and Hannah were using their mad "iron chef" skills all day.
Just got through reading Ted Dekker's The Slumber of Christianity, Awakening the passion for Heaven on Earth. Now I am reading Anne Graham Lotz book Vision of His Glory, Finding Hope through the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Incredible reading. Touching my soul. Two days ago I went to see the "New Moon" movie. I love movies that can transport me to another place. Years ago I read the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice and was lost int the vampire world so I guess that is why I like Twilight so much. Plus my daughters are obsessed with it. Thinking of my sister today, Alabama, my parents. Also wish I could get more time with my brother and his family. need to figure that out. I love my job. I hope it doesn't end any time soon. Kris and I are blessed to have the friends we have through our small group. After serving at dessert theater together a few of us camped out at Redhook and listened to the "Unoriginals" play cover songs last night. Good times. tomorrow I am teaching Soulfuel, my brother turns 49, maybe watch some football and then chill with the Bakers to end the day watching "it's a wonderful life" drama presentation.

California

spent the weekend in California with my daughter Hannah. flew to San Jose, drove to Sonora, hung out with my parents, swam in the pool, drove to the McIntoshs, hung with Greg, went to old Los Gatos Church now called Venture, ran into Shawna Harris (wow that was a long time ago), drove the long way up hwy 9 to Ben Lomand to Greg's wedding, went to Bogeys, stayed up late talking with Gaylene (I will forever love her), Carmen, & Greg. got up early Monday flew standby back home.

Jesus

He is the one who can tell us the reason for our existence, our place in the scheme of things, our real identity. It is an identity we can't discover ourselves, that others can't discover in us-- the mystery of who we really are. How we have chased around the world for answers to that riddle, looked in the eyes of others for some hint, some clue, hunted in the multiple worlds of pleasure and experience and self-fulfillment for some glimpse, some revelation, some wisdom, some authority to tell us our right name and our true destination. But there it was, and is, the One who can tell us this: The Lord himself. And he wants to tell us, he has made us to know our reason for being and to be led by it. But it is a secret he will entrust to us only when we ask, and then in his own way and his own time. He will whisper it to us not in the mad rush and fever of our striving and our fierce determination to be someone, but rather when we are content to rest in him, to put ourselves into his keeping, into his hands. Most delightfully of all, it is a secret he will tell us slowly and sweetly, when we are willing to spend time with him. {Emilie Griffin}

A proverbs 31 wife.... my wife Kris

The Good Wife

It is hard to find a good wife, because she is worth more than rubies. Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs. She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives. She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands. She is like a trader's ship, bringing food from far away. She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls. She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard. She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong. She knows that what she makes is good. Her lamp burns late into the night. She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth. She welcomes the poor and helps the needy. She does not worry about her family when it snows, because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm. She makes coverings for herself; her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material. Her husband is known at the city meetings, where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land. She makes linen clothes and sells them and provides belts to the merchants. She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy. She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind. She watches over her family and never wastes her time. Her children speak well of her. Her husband also praises her,saying, "There are many fine women, but you are better than all of them." Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised. Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done.

Kris, my wonderful wife

I found my wife at the University Inn in Eugene and she is worth more than any precious stone. I trust her completely, I need to look no further for my needs. She does me good and not harm and will do so her entire life. She shops at Trader Joes, decorates our house, repaints the rooms annually and recovers the kitchen chairs always making our home look wonderful. She always puts others needs before her. Even the cats get their share of her love. She goes on Ebay and Craigslist to find amazing deals on Tivos and tables and plants for our home. She works at the church not only to supplement our income but to invest in the lives of young people. She is smart and talented, so much so I am amazed every day. She is thoughtful and insightful and caring for so many. She cares so much for others, she foregoes her needs for the needs of others. She takes the kids to garage sales to find amazing deals. She takes our girls to Ross for fashionable yet affordable clothing. She cares for people in need. She thinks of those less fortunate. She cooks for those that are sick. She does not worry about her family when it snows, for she knows they are skiing and drinking hot chocolate at Stevens Pass. She has leopard clothing… from knee high boots, to blouses, to coats. I love it, and it gets me excited. I was known in the land of Seattle as the punt returner for a number of years. She was by my side for all of them. She comforted me when they booed. She cared for me when I skinned my knee. She is bold enough to walk into church with her knee high leopard boots. She influences young women and girls to also wear leopard and be proud. She listens to teenage girls. She sympathizes like no other. She truly cares for their needs and understands their fears. She is like a soft blanket they can wrap around themselves in the winter time and feel warm. Her children love her and admire her. They don’t always know how to express it but will be wise to grow up just like her. Of all the foxes and babes out there, Kris you are better then all of them. Some may appear to have something on you but they are deceitful and are from the pit of hell. Kris loves God. She follows Jesus. I don’t tell everyone enough how amazing she is. Hey everyone… Kris is amazing and wonderful and smart and thoughtful and a good cook and sexy and makes my heart thump after 17 years of marriage just as she did when I first met her.

"Man vs God" a Wall street Journal article

I copied and pasted a couple of lines out of the article in The Wall Street Journal recently ran. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440104574405030643556324.html
Too much to comment on the whole thing but here are couple of my thoughts in italics...

The laws of physics, before Darwinian evolution bursts out from their midst, can make rocks and sand, gas clouds and stars, whirlpools and waves, whirlpool-shaped galaxies and light that travels as waves while behaving like particles. It is an interesting, fascinating and, in many ways, deeply mysterious universe. by definition the author of this article contradicts their premise. calling the universe deeply mysterious says that it is beyond understanding. and yet they draw their line in the sand and say "there is no God." --> mystery 1 a : a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand 2 a : something not understood or beyond understanding 3 : profound, inexplicable, or secretive quality or character

There never was a rock that bounded like a kangaroo, never a pebble that crawled like a beetle seeking a mate, never a sand grain that swam like a water flea. Has there never been something like that or has there never been something like that witnessed by scientists of the 21st century that can be documented and tested and retested? (the red sea parting, water turning to wine, the burning bush speaking to moses, jesus walking on water, etc...)
Making the universe is the one thing no intelligence, however superhuman, could do, because an intelligence is complex—statistically improbable —and therefore had to emerge, by gradual degrees, from simpler beginnings: from a lifeless universe—the miracle-free zone that is physics. This is nothing more than an age old plea from God, "Lord, give me a miracle and I will believe in you."

It doesn't matter whether God exists in a scientific sense. What matters is whether he exists for you or for me. If God is real for you, who cares whether science has made him redundant? Another way of saying God is whatever you think he is. In essence let's all just create our own God out of what works for us. what an insult to the creator of everything that exists. no wonder he is pissed. Thank God I have a been justified by Jesus' death and resurrection so that he isn't pissed at me.

Richard Dawkin's premise is there is no God. So he uses science to argue that point. Scientific evolution as so many holes in it, it is a joke. The sad thing if you really think about it, without God there is no hope. without hope your spirit dies. my hope is in Jesus. my belief is in Jesus. The universe is a mystery, that I agree with. It is beyond my comprehension. It is beyond anyone's comprehension. That in and of itself points me to a Creator beyond my comprehension. And yet God has revealed himself to us through Scripture. He doesn't give us every detail, but he gives us enough. God created life. He gave man free will. With that free will man sinned against God. To be reconciled back to God, Jesus paid our penalty. To claim that payment, we must acknowledge Jesus above all names and put our faith in him. It makes sense to me, the same way we have laws and penalties and payments here in our justice system.

Anonymous white guy

Hey anonymous white guy talking on your cell phone about really important things with your cool glasses and your sport coat and slacks and wing tip shoes all shiny and black... I am glad I am not you. I am on my motorcycle with the wind in my face wearing comfortable clothes.

The Falling Man

I just got through watching 9/11 The Falling Man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXnA9FjvLSU Many things going through my mind. I have jumped from what feels like some high places. From my roof, from a high school building, from a 60-70 foot cliff into water, from an airplane skydiving. But to think about being in the World Trade Center as it is burning as smoke is filling the rooms and stair wells and heat that can only be unimaginable and to be so desperate that someone would knock out a window just to breathe then come to the realization of burning or suffocating to death that they would rather jump out to a 1000 foot drop and ultimately to their death really blows my mind. Listening to the loved ones of those that died in 9/11 also makes me think about the pettiness in life. About my pettiness in life. The things I get wrapped up in, the things I get mad about, the things I let bother me, the times I am too harsh with my daughters, the times I am selfish with my wife. As I listen to people talk about their loved ones that died prematurely who they can no longer talk to and laugh with and be with, I think about how ungrateful and petty and selfish I can be with those that I still have. I am sorry Diane how you feel treated by me. I am thinking about you today. Why do things like 9/11 happen? Two thoughts. First is that to have true love, genuine love and authentic love there has to be choice. When two people choose to love each other that is true and authentic. When there is not choice, when one is forced to be in a relationship we would all agree that isn't true love, in fact that is wrong. To be forced into something against your will is wrong. So it is with the Creator of our Universe. God made us for relationship but not a forced one. He gives us choice. For God wants true love from us, not forced love. Because forced love is not genuine, not real. But with choice comes the decision to choose otherwise. The decision to choice evil and selfishness. People in the world choose evil and selfishness. We all do, at times. The consequences of those choices are things like 9/11. So what's the flipside? Is there any redemption out of 9/11? What is our natural gut reaction to a horror like 9/11? To Pray. Life can cause you to pray. Praying is a connection with God. It is one step in the process of relationship with God. Pray. Are we compelled to pray with comfort and success and everything going right in our life? Not as much. But almost universally we pray in tragedy. We pray because life is beyond our comprehension at times. We ask God for comfort, for healing, for a miracle, for understanding. Many times the answers to those prayers don't come in a package that we want or even in a way that we can recognize. The cool thing is that God always answers prayers. Yes.... NO.... Wait....
What are you praying about today?

thoughts at 4:39am

You know your excited when... it is 4:39am and you can't sleep because you are excited. Many things I am thinking about at this early hour. Coaching football, players on the team, junior high youth group started last night and kids actually showed up, high school youth group tonight, another varsity football game tomorrow. The coaching gig is turning out to be really cool. Football has been a part of my life from age 15-30 as a player. At 39 I am now a coach. As I have gone through practices, meetings, a couple games now I think about this sport and what it teaches kids. Many want to get in the game to score a touchdown, some are happy to just be a part of the team and others just want to hit somebody and not get in trouble for it. Whatever the case football provides a chance to be a family, overcome obstacles, work with people you wouldn't otherwise be around, experience success and failure together, be a part of something bigger than yourself and have fun together. For many of these kids, even though they probably don't fully recognized it, football is one of the steps of becoming a man. It makes me wonder what else is in there life that teaches them to be a man. A father, a teacher, media, internet, etc... all have influence on the definition of a man. The privilege I have of being a youth pastor is to focus on the other side of character development, the spiritual side. The part that I believe has eternal significance. What to do on a dive play or a pitch play or what route to run are important questions on Friday night, but the purpose of life, how do I fit in, who am I, who cares about me, and what happens when I die are questions that I get to tackle in my youth group setting. By the way my forearm on top and below my elbow really hurts. After not throwing a football for 8 years or so has taken its toll. It is amazing how a little muscle can cause so much pain. I feel like I am almost 40. Oh yeah I am almost 40.

JV win at Inglemoor

I called my first offensive JV game tonight. Actually I called the defense the whole first half as well. We won 12-8 which was two touchdowns for us, a bad snap on PAT and we came up short on a 2 point conversion. It was fun calling the plays and watching the guys give good effort. We had a couple sweet crack blocks by my receivers and we put one of our guards at full back once one of the players had to leave. I told him I was going to give him the ball two plays in a row and he made 8 plus yards on both plays. Good times. Go Vikings!

Football has started

Much has happened in the last 3 days as far as football goes. My beloved Ducks looked horrible offensively against Boise State and to cap it off, LeGarrette Blount sucker punched a player and got suspended for the season. I coached my first high school football game on Friday night. Inglemoor vs. Juanita. The guys played hard, made some good plays, made some mistakes and were in a position to tie or win with a minute left and we fell short. I wore a headset on the sideline communicating between the head coach and quaterback/passing game coach. I had a total rookie coaching mistake as I went out on the field during an injury timeout to talk with a player. Apparently you can't do that and normally it would be a penalty, but my head coach told the referee that it was my first time coaching so he let it slide. It is weird being a coach after being a player all those years. But to be standing on the turf on a Friday night under the lights, never gets old. High school football is fun. It will be a good season. Then the Huskies played Saturday night. Normally I wouldn't even watch but curiosity got the best of me and I watched pretty much the whole game. They were impressive even though LSU got the best of them with some great quaterback to receiver connections. Terrance Tolliver for LSU looked pretty good. He is a 6'5" receiver that can run. Locker and Chris Polk both had great moments for the Huskies but LSU put too many big plays past the Husky defense. I have to say I wanted to see them upset LSU for the Pac-10 sake. Three more high school games to coach in the next 6 days (2 JV and one Varsity), then in two weeks I am road tripping to Eugene with the family to watch the Ducks live in Autzen stadium. Something about going back to Eugene makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I get to crash at my good friends house Matt Labounty that I played college and pro ball with. Talk about a quality friend. I remember 12 years ago sitting with him on a Seahawks' chartered flight to one of our games and talking about life. Here we are a dozen years later still enjoying it together. Here he is at the top as a Green Bay Packer back in the day.

Closing out TGI Fridays on a Wednesday night in Kirkland

There is nothing like the sweetness of connecting with friends you haven't seen in a while. Years go by, kids fill our time, life marches on. What a cool thing it is to be able to have a drink, share our lives, laugh about the past and be together again. Moments like these can be rare and might not even happen for some, but after hanging with Jenn and Caren I definitely recommend it. In our world of deadlines, soccer practice carpool, paying bills and working that 9 to 5 it is well worth sitting down swapping some old stories and saying over and over again... "remember when...." As I am thanking God tonight for relationships he has put in my life, I am throwing in a shout out for Jennifer Powers and Caren Hull. When are we getting together next?

So it is always nice if you plan an event and people show up. Second pool party in as many weeks and we had 50 plus kids again. I don't say this for the numbers thing because it isn't about numbers. Ok, on one hand it is nice to have a critical mass. You definitely need a certain amount of people for that excited feeling like this is the place to be. But here is where the cool part comes in. We had a comment from a student who we invited, along with others, to our house after the pool party, that said at his other church he didn't think his youth pastor even knew his name and no way would he ever think he would be at his house. Now to be fair I know the other youth pastor (who actually is a senior pastor now) and his ministry is many times larger than mine so practically speaking he cannot know as many kids personally because of the size of his audience he usually deals with. But that is the beauty of a ministry that is not as big. More personal relationships can possibly develop. To know and be known is a desire we have have whether we are pushing 40 or if we are 17. That is also the beauty of God. His audience is big... the whole world. Yet he knows us by name. He can be trusted. God's love is patient. It is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. His love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God's love never fails. The only hard part is waking up the next day after kids leave your house at a few minutes before 1am.

I love mornings drinking coffee before anyone is awake. It is my chance to think, wonder, contemplate, read, search. I ran across a movie, a documentary of sorts, release on YouTube called HOME. It is a look at our world we live in and while I haven't finished it yet, it has a message about taking care of our environment. What strikes me as interesting is the conclusion that so many in our world come to when trying to explain our existence. Evolution out of nothing, started by a spark or bang of some sorts is the explanation that the narrator of the movie speaks of. As the camera moves across the beautiful landscape of our planet the story that unfolds is that billions of micro organisms is where we all have come from. The interesting part for me is when confronted by a beautiful piece of work, one's conclusion is the acknowledgment of design, which logically points to a designer. A Mercedes Benz, a Rolex watch, a MacBook computer, artwork on the Sistine Chapel, and MRI machine all are complex, arguably beautiful and undoubtedly designed with purpose. What the evolutionary process lacks is purpose. For me, it takes less faith that our world was created and designed than it does to have faith in a process without purpose. Not just without purpose but with the evidence of our bodies, these complex shells we live in, infinitely more complex than anything we have been able to create for ourselves, makes it preposterous that we have by chance morphed into what we are now. My faith is rooted in a designer, a creator. Not in a spark, in chaos, in chance.

Intro

Many of you might have guessed I am a Duck. I went to school there via a football scholarship, met my wife freshman year in the dorms, got married there, got a double major in marketing and management, ran track and generally grew to love the Northwest due to my time in Eugene. I am a Nike man through and through and a Duck for life. For those that don't have as strong of feelings for your school I have no ill will. Just don't be hating on my Ducks. They are a force to contend with and have the sickest uniforms in the nation.