Messy Church

• Thank You Eugene Peterson 
• Crazy Day Today: Lunch with Mike Edwards, Rich Fout, John Zappin, Darren Hoover, and Myself– Roosters could hardly contain us. 
• Afterwords got to hang out with Dave Nixon for 30 minutes while he was taking a breather from a road trip.   
• This afternoon we honored the short life of Beatrix Clementine Baxter at Cooper Road Vineyard. It has a heartbreaking but beautiful service. Nothing underlines the brokeness of our world more than parents burying their children. As a parent I cannot imagine a greater horror. It was clear that Christ is holding Austin and Maggie together on this one. Jesus Christ have mercy. 
• Ian gave himself a haircut- hopefully we can get to Longview Barber Shop tomorrow to Have Jeremy Nicklaus (Super-Barber) work his magic to fix Ian’s handy-work.  
• Tonight spent 60 minutes in the bathtub reading Genesis 3:1-10 (per Eugene Peterson): What separated humankind from intimacy from God? According to this passage it was our desire to know it all right now. Our desire for the power that comes from knowing everything. Knowledge of all the good and bad of everything-instantly.What was God’s intention- A lifelong experience of relationship with him where their is always opportunity to learn, to love, to know him more. Every day a new revelation of the love and character of God awaits. New discoveries to be found, new mysteries to uncover, new songs to sing, more time to spend.But we humans want to know it all now. We want the power that this knowledge brings. Relationship be damned! (quite literally)With humanity’s pathetic attempt at instant power/instant knowledge the rift began. Insecurity landed on the planet earth. Humanity is naked-hiding, afraid to let God in.  We can’t stand mystery– we fear relationship.But God wont be charted, categorized, framed, or defined. He wants us. Knowledge will come… but it comes over a lifetime, and keeps coming in life after life after death. Jesus forgive me for making you academic while hiding from you.  

RULES:1. You can only say Yes or No!
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages you and asks!
3. Tag 5 people to complete the survey!

Danced in front of your mirror naked? YES
Ever told a lie? YES
Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back? YES
Kissed someone of the same sex? YES
Kissed a picture? YES
Slept in until 5 PM? YES
Had sex at work? YES (working at home right now)
Fallen asleep at work/school? YES
Held a snake? YES
Ran a red light? YES
Been suspended from school? NO
Totaled your car/motorbike in an accident? YES
Been fired from a job? NO
Sang karaoke? YES
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? YES
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? YES
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? yes
Kissed in the rain? YES
Sang in the shower? YES
Gave your private parts a nickname? YEA
Sat on a roof top? YES
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? YES
Broken a bone? YES
Shaved your head? NO
Slept naked? YES
Blacked out from drinking? NO
Played a prank on someone? YES
Had a gym membership? YES
Felt like killing someone? YES
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse cry? YES
Cried over someone you were in love with? YES
Had sex more than 4 times in one day? YES
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? NO
Been in a band? NO
Subscribed to Maxim? NO
Tripped on mushrooms? NO
Donated Blood? YES
Video taped yourself having sex? NO
Eaten alligator meat? NO
Eaten cheesecake? NO
Still love someone you shouldn’t? NO
Have a tattoo? YES

I Tag Dad, Dan Baltzer, John Aschcroft, Hugo Weaving

John’s Other Side of Dawn Blog

Wow- I woke up at 3:00am delirious with a fever- shivering body and chattering teath enough to throw my back out.

Much thanks to John McCollum for preaching for me today with NO notice. Apologies to Dave and Kara for not being there to dedicate your child.

Fever is gone, body still aches, and my headache won’t quit- but I do feel 100 times better.

Made it into the office today. While leaving around four, I started the car to let it warm up- and then went to help my friend Ying chip her car out of the ice. While my car was warming up it decided to lock itself with my bag and cel-phone inside. Thanks to Jamie and Lyndie for the rescue.

The kids are missing school! Thank God that they can actually go to a school that they miss! Clinton Elementary is the best. I know Columbus Public has a dubious reputation in the eyes of some– But I Could not be happier about Clinton! I went to UA schools and then WCS- But I am happier about the experience my kids are having at Clinton. You can tell their teachers love them.

After the kids went to sleep A and I watched Shaun of the Dead. I have been begging A to watch this with me for a couple of years and she finally gave in. She loved it.

Tommorow is Valentines Day! The kids are watching movies upstairs while Adrienne and I enjoy a king crab dinner from Weilands!

Perhaps I’ll post something more substantial tommorow.

John McCollum …wow…great job today man!

It was nice to have a breather this week.

I’m so grateful to be in a church community where many people are willing to be transparent works in progress. So many people expend so much energy in managing PR and looking like all is well, while marriages, friendships, lives etc- are going down the pooper.

I was so encouraged to see some people allowing our worship service be a place to break down- receive prayer- and receive grace. Pride keeps us from authenticity. Pride kills: Marriages, People, Friendships, churches, it kills everything in it’s path.

I’m not watchin the Superbowl Today. I think I’ll watch ancient Billy Ocean Videos or something equally stimulating.

BTW- Look what Adrienne and Kathleen wipped up in the Kitchen today while Ian and I were rocking out together to old New Order tunes.

The kids were at their grandparents overnight and got back a few hours ago. Every night before they go to bed Adrienne reads to them. So far they have finished all the Little House books, and have moved on to The Chronicles of Narnia. They are nearing the end of The Last Battle, which is my favorite of the series. After Adrienne reads to them, I read the Bible to them. I have been reading out of the Contemporary English Version. It is an excellent “read aloud” Bible and seems to be easy to the kids to relate to with out dumbing down or over-amplifying. We have been reading through the Book of Daniel. The kids have loved it. It has been a blast pacing around the room- reading it- creating different voices for the characters. The discussions have been great. We started with the “Read With Me Bible” and have gone through that several times. A number of months ago I unloaded to cases at Church with hopes that the parents in our community would start engaging their children with the Bible starting now.

I really look forward to John McCollum preaching Sunday.
I’ve known John since 1984. 23 years, wow.

Fix You by coldplay covered by Young@Heart. This blew me away.

Old folks covering Sonic Youth!
Why is it when old folks sing young songs the meaningfullness factor doubles?