The Story of Stuff

Do you ever stop and ask why? Why is our planet so messed up? Why are people so unhappy? Why can't we make a dent in poverty in spite of all the apparent effort?

Well the answer is that we need more of Jesus everywhere. But practically speaking, there are some pretty good explanations for how the lack of Jesus in people's lives has created a pretty messed up system. For a very interesting and illuminating 20 minutes give this a watch...

Trading Trivialities

I'm pretty close to reaching the end of my song stockpile. There are a few left, but I haven't posted them yet because I'm not really 100% happy with them. I think after working on Life's a Beach I realized that I might have a shtick. Mid-tempo songs where the verses ended with drawn out notes and have a tendency to be "rhymey". Sure rhyming isn't terrible in and of itself, but I'm learning that you have to be pretty careful with rhyme. It's great if it allows your music to be memorable and catchy. It's bad if it makes it cheesy, saccharine, or expected. And I guess as I'm going back and tweaking stuff before I try to post it, it feels rather expected.
Of course this could also be due to the fact that after you work on something for a while, it becomes impossible to discern if it is original or inspiring at all because of the sheer weight of repetition you have to go through when editing it. The best metaphor, most clever lyric, and the most original rhyme sound tired and expected the 30th time through. But anyway, I just finished the song for Judah and I posted it on the baby blog, but I'll put it here too just to consolidate all of the music in one place.

Writing that song though has been kind of eye opening for me though. I mean lets be honest, its kind of gooey. And this is not a bad thing because I really do love the dude and the point was to saturate the song with theme of unconditional love. But its certain

ly a different side of me. I've been wondering a lot lately about what sort of shift is going to go on as we make the transition to parenting.

For example, today I was reading a blog (that was actually excellent) and the girl was talking about laundry piling up and the stress of trying to manage three boys clamoring for attention and peppering her with requests for juice and chocolate, and all the while struggling to find simplicity or any sort of quiet time for reflection and centering on God's love. And as I'm reading I find myself nodding along like all of this is so very expected. I feel at home now in conversations about mortgages, lawn techniques and stain removal and it worries me slightly.

And maybe it shouldn't because maybe I'm just trading in the boring trivial things that I used to talk about for a new "parenting" set. Is there more redeeming value in talking about great beers and 30 Rock, than the benefits of breast feeding and whether cloth diapers really are worth the trouble?

I don't know. I imagine it doesn't matter as long as we eventually get around to what really matters. It's all part of the dance of human interaction that creates the environment where we can dangerously expose what's on the inside to one another under

go the risk of being known. It's so dangerous because when we are known we share all the crap that has blinded and crippled us all and when we share that we can either receive healing or find agreement with the lies that we tell ourselves to cope with the pain.

I guess that's what I'm worried about though. Being buried beneath the weight of preschool and soccer practice and our constant lust for more/better stuff and somewhere along the line ceasing to do the things that matter. Tending our own gardens and insuring that what grows is all together lovely, not just shiny or new.

Anyway, here's to the idea of a garden that is so showered with love and grace that it gives birth to a oak. A child who never has to doubt wether God or his parents adore him and knows in his deepest parts that nothing he can do for good or for evil can change that.

Judah's Song

shake the tree and the apple falls

not far at all

just far enough to know his life’s his own

so put down those roots and grow

cause right here you’re home

and nothing can change that

there’s a lion I love with all my heart,

it’s not what you do, just who you are

sleep in peace my child the only war

is over if there’s any room to love you more

A curly mane and a tale that grows

as we slip down these roads

that lead us everywhere from Narnia to Boles

through autumn leaves and the summer sun

we’ll laugh and play till evening comes

Then we’ll lay back down and sing that

There’s a lion I love with all my heart,

it’s not what you do, just who you are

sleep in peace my child the only war

is over if there’s any room to love you more

You’re teaching me about love so strong

that’s its power alone

can make a heart of flesh from one that’s wrapped in stone

so lets sing about the one

who made this love that keeps us breathing

our tameless one who’s singing

there’s a lion who loves with all His heart,

it’s not what you do, just who you are.

sleep in peace now child may fear be gone

because He loves you and His love will guard your heart

Going Home

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." - John 14:22-23

Have you ever met someone who had God living with them?

A remarkable idea if you really believe its possible. So much of our Christian understanding is that we suffer and trudge through life, but one day we will "go home" to be with God in heaven. And that is certainly true. But if that is all that is true, what do we do with Jesus' offer of life with God here and now?

Could it be that we use what we often call hope in the afterlife as a veil to cover that fact that we are afraid of beforelife? Maybe that's what Judas was asking.

Jesus, why are you bothering spending time with us? If you're God, just show yourself to the world and lets get this done with. We'll get everyone into heaven stat.

But maybe God is more interested in having followers who live now, lives that will last for eternity, rather than having to jump-start everyone's hearts when the end comes.

I say all of this because I met someone who was truly alive once, even though he was literally dying. His name was John Gronner and he died of cancer earlier this year. I only knew him for a very short period of time, but in that short time I was immediately taken by the incarnate juxtaposition of this dying man so full of life.

We met because Keight and I had gone one night to visit our dear friend Angie Stryker who had come home from Mexico to spend time with her father who was dying. K8 had told me a little bit about John but I really wasn't prepared for who awaited me that night.

I've only been in the presence of the immenitely dying a few times, but in my experience it had always been a somber, serious atmosphere. So I was not ready for the spirit of peace and joy and love that permeated that Gronner household when we walked in that night. What I found was a frail, bald, grinning man who immediately hugged us and welcomed us into their home. I was prepared to make polite conversation that steered away from any topics that would even brush his passing, but I quickly found him asking questions about ME. Wanting to know my hopes, my dreams. Lavashing blessings and words of hope and grace and wisdom throughout.

We stayed and ate and drank and talked and laughed and then left late that night. And as we were driving home I realized that I had made a friend. And that more than that, we were not only friends that night, we had been at home. John invited us into his physical home but also to the home that was built around the very breath of God and went everywhere that John went. He was a man that didn't just talk about grace, peace, hope, faith, love, compassion, justice and mercy, but someone who embodied them. And so it makes since that I felt right at home around him.

A several weeks later, John physically went home.

I went to his funeral and I shouldn't have been amazed, but I was. I knew in my head that I was not the only person that he had made feel as he did, but I marveled as I sat and I listened to people tell the same story over and over and over again.

John loved me. John listened to me. John was safe, He was kind, He was MY best friend.

And the truth is he was. He overflowed with the love of the God who lived inside of him, who made His home within him. And boy did it show.

So when Judas asks, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

John would reply, "Because through us he WILL show himself to the world. And they will feel right at home."

This was in memory of John. I can't wait to see you again buddy.



Going Home

I've been working all the day to finally go
to be home
I’m going home
It’s the price we have pay, you surely know
to have a home
I’m going home

I’m going home
I’m going home
I’m going home
I’m going home

My brother’s been away to sow his oats and roam
But don’t you know
He’s coming home
Sister made the trip to town all on her own
But now she’s done
She’s coming home

They’re coming home
They’re coming home
They’re coming home
They’re coming home

There’s a man who’ll come one day and take me home
Oh to be home
I’m going home
Joseph’s son is on his way to take me home
Oh to be home
I’m going home

I’m going home
I’m going home
I’m going home
I’m going home

I’ve gone and left you darling ones but don’t you know
That I’m at home?
Oh I’m at home.
There’s a race you’ve got to run all on your own.
But I’ll be there.
When you get home.

Oh you’re coming home!
you’re coming home.
you’re coming home.
you’re coming home.

Standing Firm

So I'm on a tiny crusade. Maybe its my life mission or something, or maybe its just a fad for right now. But the mission is this, I want people to understand being a Christian to mean knowing and following the words of Jesus. Call me crazy, but first let me explain. I grew up in church almost my entire life, and for the most part it has been a pretty positive experience. But it wasn't until after I graduated high school and was out on my own that I really started asking myself some hard questions about what it was I actually believed.

At some point though, I understood and believed that becoming a follower of Jesus was the only way to truly find "eternal life" which as I understand it, is simply life that works both here and now, and there and then. But the problem was I realized that in church I had just been taught how to say that I was a Christian. But I honestly couldn't have told you more than 10 or 15 things that Jesus actually said to do.

And I've found that today isn't much different. Most professing Christians (little chirst's) are woefully ignorant on what it was that Jesus actually asked them do, and how he asked them to live. Now they know what their denominational stances are about issues like abortion and gay marriage, but they will sooner take you to the words of Moses than those of Jesus.

And this is sad to me. Not because Moses is bad, or that any part of the Bible is not important, but in my mind if our life and hope is centered on Jesus, and we call ourselves his followers, shouldn't we be VERY familiar with his entire body of work? All of what he said and did and asked us to do?

If not, that would honestly be like saying you were a rabid Beatles fan, but just because you liked that one song Hey Jude.

Like saying you are a Yankee's fan because you like their logo.

Like saying you're a follower of Jesus just because you want to go to heaven.

The latest song is just about the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The point of which is, the foolish builder is the one who hears Jesus' words but then goes away and doesn't put them into practice.

The problem for Christianity is not so much that they have not heard what Jesus said, but simply that there is almost no intention whatsoever to attempt to live as he suggested. Turn the other cheek, Lay down your life, Love God with all you have, Serve your friends and enemies alike, Pray, Fast and don't judge your brother, and most of all Love the WHOLE WORLD like He did.

If only...



Life's A Beach

They say life is a beach, but I think that I’m finally getting tired of all of this sand
cause here my house keeps slippin’ and my faith starts dippin’
when I listened to the radio man
Give me the felt board jesus and my snack and a little bit
of time to chew on his words
Cause I’m dreaming of a house that’s laughin when the waves come crashing cause we know it’s gonna stand firm

oh can’t we go back to the words filled with truth and grace
I wanna hear from the one who has gone up and seen their face
Dressing me in his robes of love, and telling me about His spirit to come
He said be looking for a Spirit of hope and peace,
in Him I’m feeling my deepest longings cease
These words are making me whole, and they’re taking me home

Sunday used to be a home for the poor and needy, but we got a little greedy and wise
so now their spots got taken by the ones with bacon
who know their way around a white lie.
Oh we’ll sing you our favorite songs
and tell you bout the books that we’ve recently read
but we don’t have the time
for your friend named jesus and following the words that he said!

oh can’t we go back to the words filled with truth and grace
I wanna hear from the one who has gone up and seen their face
Dressed up in his robes of love, and telling me about His spirit to come
He said be looking for a Spirit of hope and peace,
in Him I’m feeling my deepest longings cease
These words are making me whole, and they’re taking me home

Home to be with whom
laid death back in his tomb
If you seek Him while He’s near,
He’ll tune that ear of yours to hear

those words filled with truth and grace
If you wanna hear from the one who has gone up and seen their face
He dressing in his robes of love, and telling me about His spirit to come
He said be looking for a Spirit of hope and peace,
in Him I’m feeling my deepest longings cease
These words are making me whole, and they’re talking me home

Talk about Hope

This is actually really stinking cool. What a guy that coach is!

Back to the start

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in this world, to abstain from the temporal longings, which war against your soul. Rather, live such good lives among the people here that, even though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see the goodness of your work and glorify God on the day that He visits us.

There are some days that I get a longing. No matter what's going on here, whether times are good or bad, I just get this feeling deep within me that looks for something else. It's like a tiny itch in the back of my mind, the faintest glimmer on the edge of my vision, an almost inaudible whisper that reminds me, "This place is not your home."

And truthfully, there are sometimes when it seems to go away. When I am surrounded and safe in the company of the ones who I love and when I am surrounded by the beauty of nature; sufficiently removed from my worries and stress. But even then there is something missing. And this notion of home is what seems to drive a lot of the thoughts and images in the songs that I write.

The song that I'm sharing with you today was the first one that I ever composed. It was written in response to a talk that I was giving for a community youth gathering last summer. I was that guy who spoke and sang a song at the same time. But as much as I didn't want to, I felt and still feel that the song was important enough to share, because it has a timely message.

And its simply this: If you believe in the resurrection of Jesus, then this place is not your home. This doesn't mean, act like a traveling American and assume that this foreign place should bend to your desires and values. Rather, carefully keep watch over your soul and live out the goodness of your homeland, so that even though the people here will note your difference and possibly try to accuse you of doing wrong, they won't be able to stand up against the weight of goodness that results.

This begs the question...what is good?

Well, I'll give you my two conclusions.

1. Jesus is good.

If you follow Him and attempt to live by His words, you will do good. You will produce "good fruit". In my opinion, there is no better way to live. Living the Jesus Way is the only real hope that exists.

But if for some reason that seems too complicated, or you have a problem with the Jesus you have been shown, or you have some problem with reading the Bible, you can do the following.

2. Trading in your treasure is good.

Almost all of what Jesus encouraged his followers to do can be summed up in this. In this world there is a hierarchy of value. It goes as follows: Life, Power, Currency. These are the treasures of this world. Without life, the other two are pointless, but with enough power, you can do anything, and with enough currency, you can do almost anything.

What is good, in my opinion, is willing expending the riches of this world on those who are poor. That is how you trade in your treasure. Meaning, be willing to give your money, your power, and your own life for the sake of others.

Now I tricked you because you really can't do the second without Hope in Jesus. The only way you should lay down your life is if you believe in the resurrection. Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 15 if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others.

But the song that I wrote is simply all about asking for the faith to follow Jesus down that narrow road. The road in which we trade in the currency of this world for the currency of our home with God in the life to come.

What is that currency? I'm not exactly sure. But I'm willing to bet my life I won't be disappointed by the exchange.



Hope That's True

A garden, a tree, a promised land
All signs of a loving father's hand
Which tree will we choose? an eternal fight
The fruit brought us death, the cross bought life

will i be among the faithful few
who loved not this world and followed you
with hope that is not in gold, but hope that true

jesus one thing I ask of thee
make me not rich, but make me free
to live for a world, that’s real, but hard to see

See how this place has made us blind
The light of the world is now hard to find
Have we gained it all, just to lose our soul?
Oh Father we’re lost, you’re our only hope!

chorus

This place gets stranger by the day
cause its not my home
stranger by the day
my life is not my own
stranger by the day
I'm just a stranger here by day,
and yours for life

One day he’ll make all these old things new
He’s promised a home, where pain is through
Then the life we have sought will have just begun
Here we may crawl but there we will run

chorus