I Heart You Tube

Thanks to Anonymous who added a link to the video for Yahweh in the comment section of the last post.

Join my nostaglia by following this link to watch U2 circa 1983.

Make sure you watch at least until the white flag comes out.

U2 Gets Me...And 100 Million Other People

I know they may be the band everyone likes (or likes to hate due to their mass appeal) but I've been a U2 fan since the first time I saw the "Sunday Bloody Sunday" video filmed at Red Rocks in 1983. The passion of Bono, the white flag, the Edge chiming away on guitar- it all got me.

Nearly 25 years later, their music still speaks to me.

This morning on a walk my Ipod dialed up "Yahweh" from their "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" project.

The lyrics form a prayer that speaks about our desire to change:

Take these shoes
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
And make them fit
Take this shirt
Polyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing

CHORUS:
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist no
Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

CHORUS

Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean

CHORUS

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And let it break

You can listen to a 30 second sample or purchase the song HERE.

Several things about these lyrics echo my own journey: a feeling like I don't quite fit into my soul, my deisre to let my life be used for God instead of selfishness and violence towards others, and a longing to completely surrender myself to Jesus.

How about you? Have you heard this song? Do any of the words feel true for you? Is there another U2 song that captures some part of your soul?

How Have You Changed...

Ok- so it is easy to look at ourselves today and see the blemishes, weaknesses and shortcomings. (See everyone's comments on the last post)

Let's shift gears and be a bit more positive if we can.

How have you changed for the better?

Today (at 37) I would say I am becoming more open minded and financially responsible than I was in my earlier days. I'm also a better (but probably not great) listener and less stressed than I used to be. All thanks to the grace and work of God I'm sure.

How about you? Take a minute and talk about the changes and growth you've seen in yourself.

Yeah, YOU Can Change...

Change is a huge business in our country (think teeth whitening, weight loss pills, wardrobe makeovers, the endless home renovation shows, Oprah, etc.).

Why?

We all have things in our lives that we want to change.

Me- I'd like to be taller, have a bit more hair, have more self-discipline, etc.

How about you?

What is one thing about yourself you'd like to change?

Click the comments link just below and spill it.

Yeah, YOU Can Find Hope

This weekend we'll jump fully into a new teaching series called "Yeah YOU". Our hope is to let God get personal with us and to begin to accept the idea that the promises and invitations issued in the Bible don't just apply to "the world" or "everyone", but aslo to you and me.

This weekend we'll focus on the idea that "You Can Find Hope"- something many of us need right now. If you'd like to prepare a little ahead of time, read John 20 and pay attention to the stories of Mary & Thomas.

Also, feel free to add your thoughts, prayers and questions to the post about Nati Carter just below.

Too Close To Home...

A couple weeks back I was given the assignment to teach about the idea that life is short.

Now I (and the rest of our church community) have been smacked in the face with this reality as we mourn the loss of Nati Carter. (Incidentally, three other families at Crossroads have also suffered losses in a similar time frame. We offer our condolences and prayers to the Bies, Heller and Smith families.)

The Carters are some of my best friends and I've spent more time crying in the last couple of days than I ever have as an adult. Many of you have also been touched by Bryan and Erika's love or friendship- or at the very least feel a deep sense of compassion for their loss.

So, we're all mourning, processing, shaking our heads at the senselessness, and smiling sad smiles at the outpourings of love, support and community.

Just wanted to create a little space here for us to process. Use the comments feature to share your thoughts, questions or prayers. As possible, let's try to avoid the cliches which may or may not be true (Ex. God must have had other plans for her.)

These past few days I'm finding that it is better not to have any words than to have empty ones.

I Know...

There's a scene in the movie "Good Will Hunting" that makes me cry every time I see it.

Will (Matt Damon's character) is talking with his therapist- Sean (Robin Williams' character). They've finally developed a sense of trust when the subject of Will's childhood abuse comes up.

Sean looks him in the eye and says,
"You know that's not your fault."

Will shrugs, looks away and says,
"I know."

He says the right words, but you can see in his eyes that he doesn't really believe them. He's spent years blaming himself- wondering what he's done to deserve such treatment.

Sean steps closer,
"You know that wasn't your fault Will."

Another non-committal "I know" follows from Will.

Finally Sean catches his eye and tells him one last time what is really true. He didn't deserve to be treated as he had been.

Will breaks down as he lets the possibility sink inside his soul.

I wonder if Jesus could have a similar conversation with me and you.

"I love you", says Jesus.

"I know", we shrug.

"No, I really love you. Every time I think of you, I smile."

"I know", we mutter.

Catching our eye, Jesus continues,
"I love you.
I know who you are.
I know everything you've done.
I know your secrets.
The dark parts of your soul.
Your shame.
And I still love you.
Enough to die for you.
And live with you and in you."

"I love you."

How would we respond?

Those words are so familiar. But do we really believe they are true about US?

Are we ready to let the love and acceptance of God sink deep into our bones despite the nagging voices that tell us it is too good to be true, or can't happen for us?

Or is there something about that idea that we can't quite come to grips with?

The scene closes with Will sobbing as his friend, Sean holds him tight.

I'm picturing a similar scene with Jesus and me.

Maybe someday soon.

Empty Words? Cliche? Life Statement?

JESUS LOVES YOU.

What's your first reaction when you hear those three words?

Are they so cliche that they don't mean anything?

Are they so basic that they are a given?

Are they so deep that they are hard to really get ahold of?

Are they the basis for your identity?

Something else?

Use the comments feature to give us your feedback.

Didn't we just talk about that?

Ever find yourself in a conversation about a topic and then start noticing it in other places?

A couple weeks back we talked about how Moses appeared to Jesus in Luke 9:28-36. This event is usually called "The Transfiguration"- because Jesus' is transformed as his heavenly glory shows through. (Read the story if you are confused.)

This morning I came across some artistic depictions of this event. Moses is represented in most of them.

Thought you might want to TAKE A PEEK.

Remember That Essay...

...you used to have to write on the first day of school?

The one with "What I Did On Summer Break" at the top of the page?

Each July we ask our lead pastor, Glen Schneiders, to step away from the busyness of his routine. We ask him to rest, get refreshed and to listen for how God might be leading our church community.

Although we miss his teaching and presence in July, we believe this month is essential for him and our church.

Glen is back in the saddle this weekend and will unpack what he sensed God teaching him over the last month.

Don't miss it!

First Person Perspective...

Ever noticed that when someone is facing a life threatening situation there's always a well-meaning person who comes along and tries to talk about the time as a "blessing"?

Although there may be truth in the words, they usually ring hollow to the person who is in the middle of suffering.

But what if those words come from the person themself? Correspondant, columnist (and Berea, KY native) turned White House Staffer, Tony Snow has recurring cancer and sess it as a "blessing".

Read his perspective HERE, then feel free to share your thoughts and/or experiences.