She sits hunched over, and half-naked in her wheelchair. She is emaciated from years of cancer treatments, 17 to be exact. Her face exudes sadness and frustration. A triple break in her hip has constrained her mobility. She is struggling to get ready for bed, relying on me for help. She’s my mom, and I am her only son. Read the rest of this entry »

Beauty is not only a terrible thing,
it is also a mysterious thing.
There God and the Devil
strive for mastery,
and the battleground
is the heart of men.
Dostoevsky

I meet a lot of people everyday. It’s fun. And it’s sad. What I find is that many of the people I meet just don’t really care much about anything. They slog off to work every day, get home, grab some prefab dinner complete with family members all going off in different directions, and then sit around watching Dr. Phil or CSI all night. I am not just assuming things here. This is what people tell me. Read the rest of this entry »

Fall back
To your knees in praying
Look back
To the word He was saying
Get back
On your feet get up from
Where you been laying

From the album “Ping Pong Over the Abyss” by the 77s

What do you think this means?  Does it mean to deeply take in God’s grace?  Does it mean that we are all in need of the sustenance of the Holy Spirit?  Does it compell our call to view everyone as God would: with profound and uncomfortable (to give, anyway) grace?  As for me, I will spend the next days pondering this.  The following lyrics, courtesy The Lost Dogs, might be worth pondering.  What do you think? Read the rest of this entry »

What is your response to the current American buying frenzy? How do you live out your life as a revolutionary in the face of our consumer culture? How are you living out a true, Christ-following counterculture? Are you daring to be different from the hoi polloi? Read the rest of this entry »

Went to Opticlash 2, the 2nd Annual VJ Battle in Seattle, last night. Very cool. Got to hear about four hours straight of DJ’d music mash-ups, trance, electronica, funk and even some Beatles thrown in for good measure. Great music! But even cooler were the VJ’s that competed with live video art on the fly. Now this is church. Read the rest of this entry »

OK, I know, it’s corny. But I was inspired. Was in the Nordstroms in Lynnwood, WA (no. of Seattle) this evening, getting my scruffy shoes shined (shone??) so I actually can reflect some iota of credibility with the customers I deal with on a daily basis. I’m kickin’ back in the shiner’s chair, and he’s working his magic. Across from me is the women’s shoe department with a rack sale going on. And it’s utter chaos.

Read the rest of this entry »

I am a cynic. And faithless. My rational mind strives away from faith and the supernatural, while at the same time believing in both. There are days when I hate to pray, because I can’t approach God like He is some fast food counter where I can immediately sate my gluttony for answered prayer. It’s not the results of prayer He is after. It is how were are broken and rebuilt in the process of prayer. This has recently been my life.

But I am seeing faint glimpses. Hardship and pain are giving away to freedom and encouragement. I am seeing to work of the Almighty One in many small ways. And the small ways add up to the big way in which God works.

When I recognize the ways He loves me (the glaringly imperfect me), my heart weeps with joy. I am not worthy, yet I am profoundly worthy in His eyes. My imperfections stare me in the face. Yet He gazes upon me longingly, with adoring grace.  And I am undone.

God has helped me through a few very difficult months, though I have been weak at best in my prayers.  Last weekend, I was compelled to pray for a situation.  I was awake all night in battle.  It was for a person that I love.  The next day God answered, and encouraged me to pray persistently and watchfully through the sermon at my church.  And He reaffirmed His vivid presence to me in ways I will not describe here. 

 As I continue to struggle with staying persistent with prayer, God comes through.  Prayer does work. 

How are you doing with prayer?  Do you truly believe in God’s work through it?  Or are you just going through the motions?  Let me know your experiences.  I am sure we would all benefit. 

I have been limping along with a physically injured laptop. Don’t know what the problem is. I am biding my time to buy a MacBook. My Windows days are drawing to a close.  In the meantime, my blog posting abilities are hobbled by frequent crashes that are unfixable. 

I will try to post as much as possible in the coming weeks, but it will be spotty.  Your patience and devotion is much appreciated.