Well, after far, far too long I finally hit the slopes again. And I'm proud to say that I didn't fall once (ok...almost creamed out, but it was a ballet-like save). We drove up Tuesday morning and hit the slopes for a day of skiing.
I have to confess that I was a fair bit nervous that I had completely lost my technique. I am not embarrassed to say that I hit the bunny slope first (well, maybe a tad bit humbled). But after a couple of times I was frustrated at the lack of speed so we went on to the greens, and then the blues and my parallel came back to me easy enough.
So no black, or double-black diamonds this trip. I cherish my joints too dearly and frankly the notion of wanton abandon sounds better as a rock band than it does as a matter of personal disposition.
I had a great time and enjoyed chilling with my friends for a much needed day of recreation.
And yes...I am feeling it two days later. Unfortunately I didn't get any footage of my skiing, just my posse...
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Oh Church Home, My Church Home!
So after many joys and much consternation I have finally come to find my Church home, Seattle's First Baptist Church.
I consider myself quite fortunate to have visited on the Church's installation of their new Pastor, Rev. Tim Phillips. His sermon (click here for video) was a fantastic teaching based on the ever popular John 3:16 passage, but incorporating versus 14-17. His emphasis was on the inclusivity of Jesus, noting the focus of Jesus on the entirety of the world.
Rev. Phillips made a great observation in noting that directly following this passage is the story of Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. This of course was quite controversial in the day. Not only was it "taboo" for men, let alone Rabbi's to teach or converse with women in this manner, she was also a Samaritan, who for all intents and purposes would have been considered a heretic at best.
Another fantastic point in his sermon was his suggestion of the true discomfort of compassion. He related a very honest reflection, suggesting that often people assume that to be "liberal" and therefore tolerant, or compassionate is far easier than to live by social norms, rules, and customs. In his words, "There is nothing easy about compassion." In point of fact, he noted, compassion is uncomfortable, unpredictable, stretching, exhausting, often unrewarding, but very necessary.
I have to say that it has been a shamefully long time since I have been moved to consider the compassion of Jesus. It has been too often that the Church of today has so quickly taken on the role of the Pharisees, by demanding religious compliance, sacrifice, and conformity. It was moving to hear a Pastor share the true focus of mercy, long-suffering, and the sheer compassion of God for those who are the unnoticed, shamed, and miserable of the world.
Bravo, Rev. Phillips! Bravo!
Here's a little peek at the church outside and in...
I consider myself quite fortunate to have visited on the Church's installation of their new Pastor, Rev. Tim Phillips. His sermon (click here for video) was a fantastic teaching based on the ever popular John 3:16 passage, but incorporating versus 14-17. His emphasis was on the inclusivity of Jesus, noting the focus of Jesus on the entirety of the world.
Rev. Phillips made a great observation in noting that directly following this passage is the story of Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. This of course was quite controversial in the day. Not only was it "taboo" for men, let alone Rabbi's to teach or converse with women in this manner, she was also a Samaritan, who for all intents and purposes would have been considered a heretic at best.
Another fantastic point in his sermon was his suggestion of the true discomfort of compassion. He related a very honest reflection, suggesting that often people assume that to be "liberal" and therefore tolerant, or compassionate is far easier than to live by social norms, rules, and customs. In his words, "There is nothing easy about compassion." In point of fact, he noted, compassion is uncomfortable, unpredictable, stretching, exhausting, often unrewarding, but very necessary.
I have to say that it has been a shamefully long time since I have been moved to consider the compassion of Jesus. It has been too often that the Church of today has so quickly taken on the role of the Pharisees, by demanding religious compliance, sacrifice, and conformity. It was moving to hear a Pastor share the true focus of mercy, long-suffering, and the sheer compassion of God for those who are the unnoticed, shamed, and miserable of the world.
Bravo, Rev. Phillips! Bravo!
Here's a little peek at the church outside and in...
Monday, March 02, 2009
Be Afraid?
Well, as promised via my recent status update, I'm blogging on my "aghast" experience at a local Baptist church that led me to actually walk out. Again, I have not walked out of a church in years and generally speaking I'll put up with a bit.
This was the second time I attended the local Baptist church: I am on the prowl for a local congregation to settle into. Setting the stage, we had just finished the worship service, including a band up front in the historic brick building. There were probably 30 people present on this particular morning.
After a few moments of silence and confusion as to whether we were going to take the offering now or later, a gentleman stood up from the congregation and cane-in-hand meandered up to the front stage and up to the pulpit where he sat and waited for the power point to display on the screen in very large letters, "Fear God: The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom."
I was less than eager to hear the message, noting the unfortunately translation of the hebrew word "yare" to "fear" (it is better translated "to revere"). The gentleman began by explaining that he had shared this story with the pastor who had asked him to share it with the congregation.
He continued to relay the story of his first employment at an auto-mechanic garage. He had earlier, very specifically, asked God for wisdom. So the experience he was now sharing was God's providing of his base of wisdom, to fear.
He went on to explain that one of his tasks was to blow up tire tubes using some contraption that would help keep the pressure in the tire. He noted that at the time he was not aware that he should stop blowing up the tire at some point lest it explode.
For some reason he was having trouble with one such tire tube. He pointed his troubles to the fact that he was distracted by a co-worker who was taking "the Lord's name in vain" in every sentence. (e.g. "God" this and "Jesus" that, etc.) He became overly frustrated and finally left to do another task.
Not 15 seconds later he heard an explosion and ran inside to find the tire tube falling from the ceiling. The co-worker had taken over his job and continued to blow up the tire tube. He turned to find the co-worker lying there in exquisite pain, the skin of his hand blown off, his arms shattered below the elbow, and his back broken.
He went on to say, "God had saved me from this demise since I would have continued blowing up the tire had my co-worker not been there upsetting me by using the Lord's name in vain." Additionally he added his own conclusions by noting that one should be careful to not cross God, since the outcome of using his name in vain was the "obvious" consequence of his injured co-worker.
Hmmm...suffice to say, my friends, if this Church feels that the mediocre mis-giving of cursing warrants the explosion of my arms, I can only imagine the horror to be inflicted when they encounter my more human tendencies.
What is more I cannot help but wonder how it is that so many who profess to be followers of Christ (e.g. Christian), cannot recall his words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." Jesus' focus was not on the futility of what a person could do without, deny them self, or sacrifice. In a world of equally imperfect persons, the focus turns to following his example, to lead by love, compassion, and mercy. It was the heart that mattered, not the superficial act.
What a shame that the more Christian virtue of mercy was not exhibited upon this horrific and random consequence. After all, even Jesus' was sure to note that God "causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." We are all left to join in the pains and pleasures of life. We are all equal in the consequence of human existence, good or bad. How unfortunate that it was not compassion that overcame this gentleman rather than relief.
I can't say that I have any desire to return to this particular Church. With the scale this gentleman and consequently the pastor and Church use to judge, on the day of judgment, I'll prefer to stand in the back of the room with a God who promises to use the same standard.
This was the second time I attended the local Baptist church: I am on the prowl for a local congregation to settle into. Setting the stage, we had just finished the worship service, including a band up front in the historic brick building. There were probably 30 people present on this particular morning.
After a few moments of silence and confusion as to whether we were going to take the offering now or later, a gentleman stood up from the congregation and cane-in-hand meandered up to the front stage and up to the pulpit where he sat and waited for the power point to display on the screen in very large letters, "Fear God: The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom."
I was less than eager to hear the message, noting the unfortunately translation of the hebrew word "yare" to "fear" (it is better translated "to revere"). The gentleman began by explaining that he had shared this story with the pastor who had asked him to share it with the congregation.
He continued to relay the story of his first employment at an auto-mechanic garage. He had earlier, very specifically, asked God for wisdom. So the experience he was now sharing was God's providing of his base of wisdom, to fear.
He went on to explain that one of his tasks was to blow up tire tubes using some contraption that would help keep the pressure in the tire. He noted that at the time he was not aware that he should stop blowing up the tire at some point lest it explode.
For some reason he was having trouble with one such tire tube. He pointed his troubles to the fact that he was distracted by a co-worker who was taking "the Lord's name in vain" in every sentence. (e.g. "God" this and "Jesus" that, etc.) He became overly frustrated and finally left to do another task.
Not 15 seconds later he heard an explosion and ran inside to find the tire tube falling from the ceiling. The co-worker had taken over his job and continued to blow up the tire tube. He turned to find the co-worker lying there in exquisite pain, the skin of his hand blown off, his arms shattered below the elbow, and his back broken.
He went on to say, "God had saved me from this demise since I would have continued blowing up the tire had my co-worker not been there upsetting me by using the Lord's name in vain." Additionally he added his own conclusions by noting that one should be careful to not cross God, since the outcome of using his name in vain was the "obvious" consequence of his injured co-worker.
Hmmm...suffice to say, my friends, if this Church feels that the mediocre mis-giving of cursing warrants the explosion of my arms, I can only imagine the horror to be inflicted when they encounter my more human tendencies.
What is more I cannot help but wonder how it is that so many who profess to be followers of Christ (e.g. Christian), cannot recall his words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." Jesus' focus was not on the futility of what a person could do without, deny them self, or sacrifice. In a world of equally imperfect persons, the focus turns to following his example, to lead by love, compassion, and mercy. It was the heart that mattered, not the superficial act.
What a shame that the more Christian virtue of mercy was not exhibited upon this horrific and random consequence. After all, even Jesus' was sure to note that God "causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." We are all left to join in the pains and pleasures of life. We are all equal in the consequence of human existence, good or bad. How unfortunate that it was not compassion that overcame this gentleman rather than relief.
I can't say that I have any desire to return to this particular Church. With the scale this gentleman and consequently the pastor and Church use to judge, on the day of judgment, I'll prefer to stand in the back of the room with a God who promises to use the same standard.
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