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Lions and your Community

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Have you ever seen a national geographic or animal planet special on lions? Somewhere I once heard that lions sleep away the majority of their day.  That sort of fact makes me wonder how they can be name the king of the jungle. It may have something to do with what I’ve seen on National Geographic. I have watch as a lion, now in hunting mode, waits in the grass, watching.  They are skilled hunters.  They sneak!  They wait! They watch! They are present even when the prey does not ever know.

When the moment is “right”, the lion runs after the herd.  Still he does not just run in and nab anything.  The lion is a wise hunter.  He chases the herd for a short time, creating a stampede.  Even still, the lion waits.  He watches!

What is he waiting for?  What is looking for?

He’s looking for the weakest one.  As the herd runs, the lion waits for the weak one that cannot keep up with the rest. He looks for the one unaware of the impending danger.  He wants and watches for the one unable to keep up with the protection of the herd, of the group, the pack.

Once the one begins to trail behind the rest, unaware of the impending danger, the lion pounces, attacks, and devours in a matter of seconds.  The actual attack is short and quick.  The prowl is the real wisdom of the entire thing, because while the lion prowls, the prey is too comfortable and unaware; it is unprotected by its own apathy and naivety.

The lion may appear lazy and a non-threat, but it is that sort of assumptive naivety that the king of the jungle preys upon.

1 Peter 5:8-9 reads, “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

We have a very present enemy who longs to keep individuals away from the heart of God.  If we really care about those in our community we will realize a couple things.

1. We cannot isolate ourselves from the community or the group. 2. We cannot allow other people to isolate from the group.

We have an enemy who prowls like a lion waiting for the one that isolates themselves from the group, the one who is unaware of the danger and he attacks that one person.

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I Want to Go to There: booking schools, retreats, etc.

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In the next year, my hope is to pursue opportunities to do more of what I love. Speaking! I am preparing my calendar for speaking engagements over the next year.

Please inquire here if you are interested.

TOPICS: pursuit of faith in college, making the most of college, recovery from distorted images of God, faith in pain and hurt, faith and creativity, general topics such as grace, gospel, and faith. I would love to chat with you about anything YOU might need.

You're Welcome: the burning house

I have a reoccurring post idea here called: “You’re Welcome”.

Every once in a while you come across a website that just steals your attention right from under you. You may not even know why, but you find yourself just mindlessly clicking through because you just have to see one…more…post.

These will be things I find to share with you; things before you thank me for showing, I’ll just say, “You’re welcome!”

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Once while working out of "my office", a friend introduced me to The Burning House. I love the concept and the pictures which come along with it.

If your house was burning, what would you take with you? It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable and sentimental. What you would take reflects your interests, background and priorities. Think of it as an interview condensed into one question.

Someone or something stole my time that day while using TBH as a distraction.

Enjoy!

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New Album: MuteMath

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Mutemath is one of those bands I tried over and over again per suggestion of different friends. It took several tries, but at once they became strong favorites. They remain one of (if not THE) best live show I have every seen. They have a new album set to release in October, and this is the first single they've let loose. I can't wait. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvrfoU3SS4U&w=560&h=349]

Don't Cry for Me [list]

I married my dream girl I have a daughter I am smitten by I have a family who are vocally proud of who I am I have in-laws I am proud to call family I have 1.5 college degrees from expensive private universities I work with college students every day I have incredible students I have spoken and/or performed all over the country I have a day job that is VERY close to my 'dream job' I have some of the best friends I could ever wish for I lost 70+ pounds a few years ago and have not returned to "that weight" I live within 2hrs of the ocean, the desert, Tahoe, the mountains, SanFran and Fresno I had a hotdog and a coffee with Brennan Manning I have stood front row center at a Counting Crows concert I have seen 6 Counting Crows concerts I have learned life-lessons from homeless men I have jumped from a 100ft pole into nothing I still read and write with these things called pen and paper I have seen Michael Jordan play basketball twice I flush my toilet with cleaner water than most of the world ever sees My friends' dogs dress and eat better than most of the world's people My baristas know me by name (and I know theirs) I have sat in on a Second City comedy school class I was once Retweeted by Adam Duritz I get free books in exchange for writing about them. (win win) I drive a Scion xB I am a devout Mac user named PC I have tested and solidified a faith over time I have been ambushed by the love of Jesus in a way I'll never recover from.

No matter how stuck you feel or trapped you feel, you always have reason for a list like this.

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Entangle

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Not only did Jesus come to teach, but He is still making you what he teaches you to be.

This is not something Jesus puts into you; it is himself in you.

Come closer and identify more with Jesus than you just try to follow the teachings

This is not behavioral modification it is entanglement.

I'm not dead yet

You know the story in Matthew 9 when Jesus heals the little girl? When he shows up to heal her, everyone tells him that she's dead. Jesus says, "Go away! She isn't dead, she's only sleeping." Other translations say, "Make room! She isn't dead, she's sleeping." It is interesting that things we call "dead", God calls "sleeping". It is a reminder that God is always making things new (Rev. 21:5)...even the things we have given up on and deemed "dead". That thing or part of us we are sure will never heal or change, God says "Make room! Its not dead, its just sleeping, and I am making it new."

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Dog lessons on being lesser

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A couple friends of mine have a young chocolate lab named Teague.  They've done very well at training the dog.  He is a very well-mannered and behaved dog.  I remember a moment at a dog park in the Santa Clara area when Teague was playing with a smaller dog.  Teague didn't realize how much bigger he was, and he simply overpowered the other dog.  He was only playing, but because of his size and power, the other dog had no chance.  So my friend grabbed Teague and laid him out belly up and placed the smaller dog over him, allowing the smaller dog to pin Teague down.  From that moment, the smaller dog was able to continue playing with Teague. Reflecting on that moment has taught me a great lesson in earning trust from people.  In order to earn the trust of people, you often have to place yourself "below" them.  You have to removed the level of threat that you otherwise bring.  You humble yourself and place yourself below them and even serve them.  It is in this posture of relationship that people come to trust you.

Even Jesus, our greatest example of trust, humility, relationship, and service did not come to be served by the culture but to serve the culture.  God emptied himself, laid himself down and allowed smaller people to trample on top of him and pin him down.  he is ultimately worthy of being trusted.

Once you can be trusted, you can speak the gospel to ANYONE no matter what culture they're from.

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I just don't like that guy

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I can think of a few friends of mine who fall into a particular category.  They are those I remember being around before I actually knew them, and from what I had known (which was very little) I had determined that I didn't really like them a whole lot.  For different reasons (most of them unfounded) I had this bizarre resentment  or frustration with them. Then the crazy thing happens.  Maybe its at a party for a common friend.  Maybe its a team we both end up on.  Whatever the means, the crazy moment occurs when I actually have/get to interact with that person.  Then I come to discover new things through conversation and my previous doubts about this person begin to melt away.  Eventually over time these individuals become great friends who I can't believe I ever doubted or wondered about.

Really, every human relationship is like this.  Every relationship we have is weaker or stronger depending on which doubts we have faced and either disproved or proved.  These doubts we have about people are essential elements to human relationships.  They are inevitabilities.  The big difference is in what we have done with those doubts.  Have we come to know that person through connection and communication, and having done that, have we proved our doubts accurate?  Or have they been proven as mere assumptions that have stifled our ability to have a great friendship?

Faith operates much the same way.  I have different doubts about faith, and I only grow closer to the heart of God when I confront those doubts and determine whether they are accurate or if they have only been assumptions that keep me from connecting more intimately with the heart of God.

Metal Drawer

I remember an old metal desk I once had when I was much younger.  Green. Shaky. Short-lived metal desk with two small drawers.  I don't recall what ever happened to the desk, but I remember having one of the drawers years later.  That drawer may even still be in an attic somewhere in Wisconsin for all I know.  The drawer was very important because it contained treasure. It was the place I collected only the most important things to me at the time.  To most people, it would have been filled with worthless junk.  In fact, I am not too sure I would want any of it NOW (I don't even know where the drawer IS.)  But each item in that drawer was well thought out and discerned with care of its worth and warrant as  determined by me at that time.  I was careful to think long and hard about what should make its way into my drawer.  All other items were unworthy of the drawer.

Whether or not the items are of any value now, they were important enough to be sure I kept hold on the drawer even after the desk was long gone; even after several family moves later.  I was devoted to taking care of that drawer because it contained important items, and those items made all the effort worth the work and care.

I remembered a little metal drawer after reading through Philippians 4 today, specifically verses 6-8.

The last couple weeks, I have read my Bible a lot, but I cannot say I have really "come to God's word" today.  I have been disciplined at reading a book the last couple weeks, but not disciplined in connecting with God in that reading or much of anything for a couple weeks.  Philippians 4:6-8 has struck me to the heart to realize how important that time needs to be.

My heart and mind are little metal drawers, and that time I set aside to read through scripture or do ANYTHING needs to be approached with that in mind.  There are all sorts of things that pass through my heart and mind in the course of a day; thoughts and ideas about God, myself, others, the world... Which of those things make their way into my heart's drawer?

"Because," says Henri Nouwen, "in this useless hour in which you do nothing 'important' or 'urgent', you have come to terms with your basic powerlessness...you will find out that your many projects, plans, and obligations become less urgent, crucial, and important and lose their power over you.  They will leave you free during your time with God and take their appropriate place in your life."