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.

Looking Up To Tammy Faye???

Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Bakker) was one of those public, religious figures that illicited strong reactions from people. (Usually negative reactions for negative reasons.) After her passing, at least one columnist praised her.

Not for the way she lived in the public spotlight.

But for the way she died in it.

Click HERE for the full article.

Feel free to share your thoughts as well.

Life Is Short, Let's Review...

This weekend our church community dealt with the difficult and personal topic of death. Cathy White stood before us and shared about the numerous reminders she's had in the past couple of years about how short life is. Let's be praying for her family as they continue to face health issues.

After each service I (Fred) had multiple people approach me and tell their own stories of facing cancer, losing children and walking alongside friends and family members who are staring their own mortality in the face.

Wow! I had a swirl of emotions going on inside of me. How about you?

Let's create a bit of space here for us to express ourselves. Use the comments feature to share your own journey, express your thanks to Cathy or say anything else that's been on your mind about this topic.

God Is Eternal...My Life Is Short

This weekend we'll wrap the "Intermittent" series.

Catch a glimpse of where we're headed by checking out Numbers 20:1-13, 27:12-23 & Deuteronomy 34.

Another way to think about Holiness...

Every day an email shows up in my inbox from the Miriam Webster folks teaching me a new word for the day. Most of the time, the word has more than one definition.

When we say that God is Holy, we often are trying to describe His flawlessness, His perfection, His purity. This is definitely an important part of God's Holy nature. Here's another part of the definition.

Holiness in the Bible literally means "Set Apart". Another way to think about this is that God is "Other" or completely different than we are. This idea of Holiness shows up when God says things like, "My ways aren't your ways, my thoughts aren't your thoughts...".

I think this understaning of Holiness plays out pretty well in the story of the Golden Calf and what follows. (Read Exodus chapters 19, 20, 32 & 33)

God tells the people not to make an idol.

They agree that they won't.

Then they do.

So God kills people (and/or tells Moses to kill people).

About 3000 of them for breaking their word.

Sounds harsh to me.

Where was the second chance for those people?

The "Next time you'll really be in trouble" speech?

God doesn't handle this the way that you and I would.

But then, you and I aren't God.

We make promises we don't mean, set boundaries we don't enforce, and rationalize why things like that are ok.

God is different. Holy.

When He says something, He means it.

When He makes a promises, He keeps it.

Last weekend Greg mentioned that we tend to focus on God's mercy and grace. Which is good, since we all need them pretty much everyday.

What if we thought more about His Holiness?

What if we thought more about a God who is not only perfect, but who means what He says?

Who consistently keeps His promises and expects us to do the same?

Would it change the way we thought about our choices and actions?

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. Who was, and is, and who is coming." - Revelation 4:8

Again and Again and Again and...

Ever come across a song that you just have to hear again? And again? And again?

Right now I'm listening to a song called "This Too Shall Be Made Right" for the 12th time in a row.

The song is off of Derek Webb's current project "The Ringing Bell".

Here are the lyrics:

people love you the most for the things you hate
and hate you for loving the things that you cannot keep straight
people judge you on a curve
and tell you you’re getting what you deserve
this too shall be made right

children cannot learn when children cannot eat
stack them like lumber when children cannot sleep
children dream of wishing wells
whose waters quench all the fires of Hell
this too shall be made right

the earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath
wars and abuses have nature groaning with death
we say we’re just trying to stay alive
but it looks so much more like a way to die
this too shall be made right

there’s a time for peace and there is a time for war
a time to forgive and a time to settle the score
a time for babies to lose their lives
a time for hunger and genocide
this too shall be made right

I don’t know the suffering of people outside my front door
I join the oppressors of those who i choose to ignore
I’m trading comfort for human life
and that’s not just murder it’s suicide
this too shall be made right

Wow! I'm usually drawn to prophetic voices like this, but even more so today. Maybe because I've spent the last week thinking about God's Holiness.

How will a Holy God respond to all the darkness that goes on in our world (and inside of us)?

What does it say about us if we can't mourn the same things that God does? Or do what is within our power to right injustice?

Although the lyrics are powerful, the combination of the mournful vocals and ringing acoustic guitar drives home the pain in the song to me.

Hear a 30 sec. sample or go big and drop 99 cents on the full deal at itunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=252648283&s=143441&i=252648361

If it doesn't speak to you at all, I'll refund your dollar.

Seriously.

Special Thanks...

...to St. Luke Catholic Church in Nicholasville for graciously agreeing to host the video shoot we featured this weekend.

Our hope was that the physical setting would give the video a "holy" feel.

Do you find architecture helpful in creating a sense of awe and reference?

If not, what does that for you? Nature? Music? Quiet? Something else?

Warming Up...

Physical fitness types always try to convince us that stretching is a good idea before exercise. (I think they're right by the way.)

Many of us are finding that a little mental and spiritual stretching during the week puts us in a better place for the teaching conversations on the weekend.

This Saturday and Sunday, Greg Chandler will help us catch a glimpse of the idea that “God is Holy…What I Do Matters”.

Limber up your mind and heart by reading Exodus chapters 19, 20, 24, 32 & 34.

Play Webster For Me...

This weekend Greg Chandler will be prompting us to think about the idea that "God Is Holy".

Sounds right, but what does it mean? Holiness is one of those terms we use to describe God, but can we define it?

Take your best shot.

What are we trying to say about God by describing Him as "HOLY"?

What would you say to a 6 year old who asked you what "HOLY" means?

If it is true that God is "HOLY", what would that mean to/for us?

Give it some thought and post your insights, questions and ramblings by using the comment feature.

Didn't I just hear that??

Coincidence or God trying to get my attention?

The guide to prayer that I use from time to time always ends with a blessing.

Here is this morning's:

"Live today in Christ's presence, remembering HE IS NEAR and will sustain you as you serve in his name. Amen."

May this be true for us today.