Birthday Visitors

This past Sunday, I returned from a faith venture in the DC area to find three guests waiting for me at my house. My dad, my sister, and my dad's dog, Daisy. They had made the long trek from Parkersburg to Morgantown to spend a little time with me on my birthday. Thankfully we had semi-decent weather for Morgantown in late March, and we could enjoy a little hike--something it appears everyone in my family enjoys doing. (My mom enjoyed the outdoors, but her knees were in such bad shape she could never really hike with the rest of us, but she always enjoyed being out and about.)
After taking me to lunch at Texas Roadhouse , we came back to the house, picked up Daisy and headed to one of my favorite hiking trails nearby. (Can you believe there was still a 40 minute wait at Cheddars @2PM?) I would tell you about the trail, but one of the things I enjoy most about it is that not a lot of people know about it, so it's like a private sanctuary. In fact, it was such a nice day I was a little concerned the trail would be crowded, but we were the only car there when we arrived.
The trail meanders along a mountain stream, so one can enjoy the sound of the water as one hikes (unless it is summer and we haven't had a lot of rain, and then this is one of the most depressing places in the world to be!)
Anyway, it was great to share this space with my sister and dad--if only my brother were here to enjoy it also. (sigh) I often go to this trail to think and to pray. There's a spot where I like to go (I took these photos from that spot) to sit, pray, reflect, and soak my feet in the cool mountain water (I typically will do this year round!)
Unfortunately we couldn't linger too long in the woods on this trip. They had to return home, and didn't want to arrive too late. Regardless, I think my dad and sister enjoyed their visit, and I know I really enjoyed sharing some time with them.

Maybe I'll see more of them as the weather warms up, and maybe my brother Chuck and my other brother Willie will make their way out here too!

One Life

A friend of mine is trying to coordinate an event on the campus of WVU in partnership with the ministry of World Vision, a Christian organization that does a lot of work in poverty relief in the world. My friend, Matt Crum, just sent me the link to this video that he wanted to share with our community at h2o. His goal is to mobilize people to do something about the AIDS epidemic that has been destroying Africa. Personally, I think it's a great goal, and I hope we can help him in his efforts here in Morgantown.

While you might not be able to join in this work here in Morgantown, I couldn't help but think that this video could be a good reminder of the very privileged life everyone who reads this blog lives. I just spent over seventy dollars on food at the grocery store. Unless I am intentionally fasting, or simply forget to eat (which happens more often than I like to admit), I never have to worry about where my next meal comes from. Clean drinking water, is just a twist of the faucet away.

And yet, there are over a billion people for whom that is not the norm. While there is a limited amount any one person can do about problems like these, any one person can do something. It is my hope that over the course of this year we would all make some change to make this world a better place for those who have absolutely nothing.

We each have one life to live--what will you do with yours?

Book For Sale

OK, first off this isn't an April Fools joke. This is for real. A friend of mine at Virginia Tech just published his first book. It's calledWhen Answers Aren't Enough:Experiencing God as Good When Life Isn't, and it's available at Amazon.

Personally, I haven't read the book yet, but I imagine it is a pretty solid read. Philip Yancey, a very well known author, has been meeting and speaking with matt over the last year to guide him in his writing, and through his own processing of a very traumatic experience.

Yancey had this to say.

"No campus pastor should have to face the questions Matt Rogers did after the shooting at his school, Virginia Tech. Then again, caany of us avoid these very questions? Tempered by tragedy, Matt explores both doubt and hope, and emerges with compassionate wisdom."

You see, Matt is on staff with GCM (the ministry I work for) at Viriginia Tech. He was there last year when 33 people were shot and killed in Blacksburg, VA. And he had to both help students walk through this difficult time and go through it himself. While I haven't read the book, I just finished ordering it from amazon.

And I want you to order it too. We are trying to get as many people as possible to order it today so that it attracts greater attention. If Amazon.com book sales suddenly surge upward, it will mean that more booksellers will take an interest in Matt's book, this means more sales, but more importantly it means more people will have an opportunity to consider God beyond all of the scholarly intellectual answers to suffering. It also means a huge savings for you because it's about $5 cheaper to order it from amazon than it would be to purchase it anywhere else.

Will you help my friend matt, and order a copy of his book? I would love it if you posted a review here too when you read it. Have a great day!

Becoming a Witness

Becoming a Witness, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Last week, I became a witness. Specifically, it happened last wednesday night. My friend Curtis got tickets to see the Cleveland Cavaliers play and offered one to me as an early birthday present. A carload of us drove up from morgantown for the game.

It was my first NBA game, and while it was exciting to see Lebron James, Chris Paul, and others, I definitely don't plan on making it a habit.

But I can now say I am a witness, to Lebron's legend. It was pretty wild. Back in December he broke the career scoring record for Cleveland. He's 23 years old. That's pretty impressive.

The announcer for the Cavs, Joe Tait, called his 3000th game that night as well, so that made for a little extra fanfare. I always like it when stuff like that is happening--makes it a little more exciting/engaging.

As much as I enjoyed the game, and the whole time in Cleveland, I couldn't help but think this thought.

Wouldn't it be something though if we were all witnesses to something greater than Lebron?

Blowout!

tire_pit, originally uploaded by Travis Nelson.

This isn't my tire or bicycle, but it conveys the story well.

This morning, I hopped on my bike for the first time in SEVERAL months, and I encountered a few problems. To start, a couple of the spokes were loose. So I tried to tighten them. Then one of the nuts fell into the rim, and I couldn't tighten that spoke. My buddy said it would probably be fine, and so I hopped on my bike and road down to the morgantown rail trail.

When I got off my bike there, 3 more spokes were loose. I tightened them with my fingers and proceeded to ride. (I'm still committed to a vigorous fitness routine, but I may have tendonitis in my right foot, so I need to chill on walking/running a bit for a few days--but riding a bike is fairly easy on the ol' tendon).

So I make it about 8 miles up the rail trail with my buddy Josh Drake, when I hear air leaving my rear tire at a very fast rate. My tire had a nice hole in it, and while josh and I deliberated on what I should do, I held my finger over the hole (kind of like the dutch boy and the dike). Neither of us had a patch, a pump, or a tube, and we definitely didn't have a replacement tire. It's a rail trail, I mean, what could possibly happen? hahahaha.

Because we were really far from ANYTHING, I rode my bike standing up, and leaning forward over the handlebars all the way back down to morgantown, and it is now in the shop.

I just finished walking back from downtown, and I couldn't help but remark that this was worth telling the story. My bike should be completely renovated by Thursday, so it looks like I'm going to have to find another form of cardio/fitness for the next couple of days.

Any suggestions?

UnChristian: Judgemental

UnChristian-Judgemental, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Last night, we returned from spring break, and started a new series at h2o. The name of the series is UnChristian, and is based on a book by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons from the Barna Research Group, a Christian research firm that examines faith and culture in the united states. I highly recommend checking out the sites.

The book exposes the fact that Christianity in the United States has an image problem. Kinnaman and Lyons found in a survey of people between the ages 18 and 29 who were asked about what came to their mind when they thought of Christians and Christianity, the words were not necessarily those that Christians would be proud of. In fact, the words were antithetical to what Christians should be known for. That's why they called their book unchristian.

The number one word used to describe Christians was "judgemental". Now upon reading this statement, one might already be trying to construct a defense, or beginning to write off the statement as not having any weight. One of the things that I like about the barna research group is that they actually DO research. They do follow up stories to find out why people would use a word like "judgemental" to describe Christians--to find out more, I recommend reading the book. After all, wouldn't it be better if words like "loving", "compassionate", "godly", "moral", "kind", "patient" or something like that were used? Of course one could easily write off the fact that people are always going to speak ill of Christians, but what if we were giving folks a reason to speak ill? Wouldn't we want to do something about it?

Well, last night, Trey Dunham kicked off our series called unchristian at h2o. He talked about why people are judgemental in general (it's not just a problem with the church), and how we Christians might have an answer and an opportunity to be a witness.

You see, we become judgemental when we are comparing ourselves to others. We want to look "better" than other people. We look down our noses, and become arrogant. But maybe if we remember the grace and mercy that God shows us, and we remember our own glaring sins it would be a start for us to overcome being judgemental.

I remember a story about a log and a splinter that Jesus told, maybe the beginning of not being a judgemental person is simply the admission of the log in our eye.

When we are humble, and we freely admit our faults, it is perceived as weakness. Nobody likes to be weak. People can and often will hurt you when you are weak. But maybe if people saw Christians being raw and honest with their own imperfections, if people saw Christians confessing their sins to one another, if people saw Christians as something different than a harsh and thorny cactus plant, then maybe we wouldn't so easily fit the label of being judgemental.

If you've got a couple of minutes, give yourself an eye exam today--is there a log there? Tell someone about it. Ask them to help you remove it even. Of course, they may hurt you, but wouldn't it be worthwhile to risk it?

Rebound

Rebound, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Last week, through the help of some great friends, I made it to watch the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. You might consider it an early birthday present, or an early easter gift. Whatever it could be considered, I consider it GREAT!!!

This photo was taken from my seat for the first round game against Arizona. I tried to get some good shots, but my little digital camera didn't fare so well with the fast pace of college basketball--most of my pics were a little blurry (it doesn't help that I don't have really steady hands!).

So this photo is from the first half of the Arizona game. Look at our guys box out on a free throw. I had a really great seat for each round, and it was lot's of great basketball. I was there for the near upset of Belmont over Duke, and watched our fellas triumph over Arizona.

In the words of Tony Caridi, "It's a great day to be a Mountaineer, whereever you may be!"

I just happened to be four rows from the floor in the Verizon Center for this one.

Remembering The Desert

Remembering The Desert, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

The photo above is of me and one of my personal mentors in the faith, a guy by the name of Greg Van Nada. Greg was responsible for the Pastor Tim Haring getting involved with the Great Commission Association. And if Tim hadn’t gotten involved, I probably wouldn’t be working for GCM today. And, I would have never met this invaluable mentor.

Greg, during our times together over the last four years, has taught me much about vulnerability, transparency, and brokenness. He has taught me tons about walking with God and the pursuit of holiness and wholeness. I’m deeply appreciative of the variety of mentors God has placed in my life to better equip me to walk with Him and lead others in their own journey of faith. Beyond this role of mentorship, Greg was one of the small group of people who journeyed with me into the Mojave Desert back in January to connect more richly with God. This photo was taken the day our solitude ended.

It’s been over 40 days since I was in the desert, and I just recently pulled up this photo that the director of the program sent to me. He also sent me an extended quote that I gave him on the day my solitude ended.

Here’s what I had to say about my experience in the desert.

”One of the best and most challenging times of my life - a memorable milestone in my journey of faith. It allowed me the opportunity to briefly set aside all worldly pursuits and answer the question, ‘Is God enough?’ Indeed He is! My life and my ministry will never be the same. During these five days in the desert I realized my identity was in the wrong place. I had been finding my identity in what I do instead of who I am. I pray that I can always be mindful that the most important thing about me is to whom I belong. I highly recommend this program to anyone with the guts to confront their inner demons on a journey to encounter the living Messiah!” Billy Williams, Spiritual Director – West Virginia University

It is so easy to start getting one’s identity in what one does rather than who he/she is. It happens so subtly. First we get involved in what God is doing and have a thrill in joining with Him in His work. Then, before we know it, we are doing doing doing, and in the process we are forgetting that we are His. He is so much more satisfying than anything we could do, and as we find our satisfaction in Him alone, and our identity in being His child, we are able to live a more abundant life and in turn we are able to do more than we could have ever dreamed. And that’s the real beauty of it all.

As we entrust ourselves to the artist, we become part of God’s great masterpiece that He is weaving throughout the world. May you take time today to enjoy the One who thoroughly enjoys you because you are His!

The Passion 2008

OK, so it's kind of late. But based on the attendance figures, it's sort of ok. Easily over 8000 people came out to see Chestnut Ridge Church's performance of The Passion this past weekend. In order to encourage folks to go see the drama, we pointed people to go see the passion and take a friend.

Of course, the general story never changes with a drama like this, but I find that the quality of the performance improves each year. Typically I am involved in the play, but this year with my desert experience, it seemed like a bit much to have on my plate.

My friend and comrade in ministry, Cameron King did an excellent job playing the role of Jesus. While he had to give much more time to practice this year than any of the years before, I feel like it did him a great service with regard to taking on such a challenging role.

I could go on and on about the quality of the actors and the musicians involved, the set designers and the people who were working behind the scenes, but EVERYTHING about the performances I saw was polished and quality. It amazes me that the level of quality has just continued to improve over the years.

Beyond the quality of the performances, I feel a degree of pride (in a good sense of the word), that so many people from our college and career ministry, h2o, were involved in the drama. Probably more than seeing the drama itself, I enjoy seeing these folks perform and excel--the folks that make up our community are so incredibly talented. It humbles me that I am a part of such a gifted community of people who love Jesus so passion-ately. (Sorry for the bad pun!)

While it's too late for me to invite you to see The Passion this year, it's never too late to consider ways you can learn about Christ, or maybe get involved in sharing His love with others. So maybe take some time today to do just that!

Abducted Archbishop's Body Found.

Day two of a big win for WVU, and day two of more exposure to what's happening in our world. It's not that I don't typically follow world news, it's just that a couple of stories that might easily sail under the radar came to my attention recently. This is the second story.

The Archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq was kidnapped and held for an increasing sum of ransom during late february. Apparently, the sixty-five year old minister died while in captivity. You can read more about it here or read and watch a video here.

It's troubling to see and here about events like these. It makes one appreciate the relative degree of freedom from persecution that is enjoyed in America. Beyond this, it reminds me that every day, there are people around the world who are suffering for the name of Jesus. People who are kidnapped. People who are beaten. People who are imprisoned because of their faith. Women who are raped. Men who are murdered in front of their families.

May we remember and work toward liberating those who suffer. And may we pray for and look forward to the day when all suffering shall cease.

Pollution Causes Problems for Beijing

After watching WVU beat the Providence Friars yesterday I left the TV on for a bit, and found out a little bit of what is happening in the world of sports. And one of the things I heard was extremely pertinent to any consideration of the environment. The marathon world record holder, Haile Gebrselassie, withdrew his name from participating in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The reason he cited was his health.

China is home to 16 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world. Gebrselassie suffers from exercise induced asthma, and is concerned for the long term effects that running 26 miles in one of the world's most polluted cities would have on his health. He has gone so far as to suggest a different, less polluted venue in China, but the committee is not moving on their location. This would be a tremendous challenge for a world class athlete, but I admire Gebrselassie for the standards he has set. He values his health more than he values competing in the Olympic games. Participating in the Olympics is a dream never achieved for many, but Gebrselassie is not letting prestige come first.

This may lead to other athletes making a similar stand as well. Think about this. Could you imagine living in a place that is so polluted that it is a health hazard to go for a run? What a wake up call for taking some steps toward environmental care. I think about this problem, and think what will life be like 30 years from now? Will olympic events have to take place indoors? Will kids be able to play outside for extended periods?

When I was little, every once in a while we would go swimming in the Ohio River. But then we started hearing about how dirty and unsafe it was. My dad grew up swimming in the Ohio River, but now you can't even eat fish out of the river more than once per month.

I don't think Gebrselassie is making a stand for the environment, he is simply making a stand for good health. But could you imagine what might happen if more folks like him who are in the spotlight began to make decisions like this? And could you imagine the impact of more every day people like you and I beginning to make changes to our consumption habits? Maybe instead of leading the world in consumption and waste (Americans consume 32 times the amount of the rest of the world), we could lead the world in our green efforts. What steps are you willing to take?

Divine Appointments and Mentors.

Mentoring and Care, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Every once in a while you get reminders of how you ended up where you are. The lady above this entry has played a key role in some decisive moments of my life. My junior year at WVU, she was sitting outside the mountainlair connecting with folks and letting them know about an event happening on campus and the beginnings of an American Indian Student group on campus. I took a flyer from her, and she became my link to the Indian community in Morgantown. Then, through that link, I came to know Jesus Christ as my savior at an intertribal function near morgantown. If that wasn't enough, it was through the relationships she had with people in my tribe that I was able to re-connect with my Shawnee tribal community. That connection led me to meet and learn from the most amazing human being I have ever known, my old Chief.

Dr. Ellesa High is an associate professor of English at WVU, and she was one of the key people I went to when considering grad school in English. She was also instrumental in helping me get the first minor in Native American Studies at WVU. She also served as the advisor for the Native American Student Group at WVU (ONAI)--I was president for it's first three years as well.

I had the privilege of running into her on monday afternoon and meeting up on Tuesday. Beyond being a good professor at the university, she has become a mentor and great friend. At times, you can lose sight of all that you have done and become in your life, and my time with Dr. High reminded me of the wide array of talents I've been blessed with, and the many opportunities and healthy risks I've taken in my relatively short life. I left our conversation thoroughly encouraged and grateful that once again, God had used one of my professors to both remind me of my accomplishments, and inspire me toward the future.

While I hadn't seen Dr. High since my mom's funeral, it was refreshing to catch up and be encouraged once again by one of my mentors in the journey of life.

Take time to remember the people who have impacted your life, and be sure to thank them. And remember, something as seemingly insignificant as stepping out to invite people to an event may have a significant impact on someone's life.

There are no ordinary moments.

Dr. Sleeth's Top Three

Dr. Sleeth's Visit, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

So it's been over a week, and I haven't shared with anyone the top three dr. sleeth shared with us during the week of Another World Is Possible.

He was asked the top three things he thought people could do to be better stewards of God's creation. And here were his three responses.

1) Keep the Sabbath. He wasn't focusing in on a particular day; he was simply stating that as a culture we have forgotten how to rest. We are always going, going, going. In fact, he said it was one of his biggest personal challenges as he traveled from place to place speaking about the environment. He has been consistent to take a sabbath, but sometimes it is difficult to make it the same day each week. The key is to make sure you do it. I've blogged about it recently, you can read that blog entry here.

2) Cut consumption and waste production by 10% and give the money saved to Kingdom work. This could be as simple as turning off lights in your house when you aren't in a room. Or, maybe you could turn your thermostat down 2-3 degrees. It's kind of funny because many people want to run their thermostats at 70+ degrees in the winter, and for most of our human existence, we dwelt in homes that were significantly colder in the winter. Another thing you can do is eat out less, or buy locally grown food, or even share a meal with someone. Most of our restaurant portions are large enough for two people. As far as Kingdom work is concerned, there are a number of great organizations out there, and a few of them were part of our week of events at wvu.

3) Find a group of people to do these things with. Could you imagine what the effect would be if you and your small group, or some folks in your church began to cut back and observe a sabbath. Imagine how it would affect your interactions with one another. Imagine what you could do if 10 people cut their consumption by 10%. Just look at my group on the one billion bulbs website. Only 18 people have signed in as my friends and we have saved over $2000 simply by switching our bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs. You should consider switching and joining.

I think Dr. Sleeth's top three ideas are wonderful for a number of reasons. 1) They are doable. There isn't a single person I know who couldn't observe the sabbath, cut their consumption habits, and even find people to do that with. 2) They are able to be adapted by area. People in FL typically don't need to worry about cutting a gas bill for instance, but folks in WV do. People in FL, could cut down electrical use though. 3) He emphasizes community. We aren't meant to be alone in our endeavors, and it is helpful to be encouraged along the way by entering into a practice with others.

Will you make a commitment to these ecological three? Take the time to leave a comment and share what you are doing to work toward better environmental stewardship--maybe your idea can spark others.

Desperate Sex Lives Q and A

Last night we finished our most recent series at h2o with a question and answer session. People could email, text, write down, or just stand up and ask questions regarding any of the subjects we covered over the last few weeks. This could be a pretty thorny predicament (hence the photo), but in the end it was really a unique and different experience for our community. (It was probably also among the shortest talks ever given at h2o!)

Folks asked some really great questions from "Is there such a thing as being TOO HONEST with regard to intentions for a relationship?" and "Where does one get the courage to MAN-UP and initiating a relationship?" to "Is it ok to call out someone of the opposite sex if they are leading you on and not committing?" and "Is it ok for men and women to sleep in the same bed?"

I really appreciated the honesty of the questions that were generated. I also appreciated the discussions that followed our event. It's had me thinking that perhaps this would be a good exercise in the future as well. While Q and A times can be more than a little unpredictable, they encourage greater participation and engagement from individuals, and help everyone in the room to really think about what is being discussed.

Our next series won't start until March 30th, and will involve three different speakers during the three weeks of the series, We will be discussing how Christians are perceived by those outside the faith, and what we need to do about it.

Ultimately, with any subject discussed our Bible is the ultimate source, and perhaps the Q and A time was encouraging for people to not only hear answers and thoughts on a subject, but also to hear the scripture application behind the answers. When you answer people's questions, do you answer with your best guess, or do you seek to bring in the full counsel of scripture to inform your insights?

As we yield ourselves more and more to the wisdom of a 5000 year old text, we find ourselves finding greater and greater stability in a world in which change seems to be the only constant. Thankfully, the scriptures can guide every aspect of our lives, even our sexuality. When we yield our lives to the story of God, we give people a little sign of the beauty of life found in abiding in Christ.

Invisible Children Returns

Invisible Children Returns, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

I took this photo at one of our events during the week of Another World Is Possible. This was the night we showed Invisible Children at sozo, our coffeehouse on high street in downtown Morgantown.

We showed the film to a packed house, and it was simply a brilliant night of hearts being moved to action.

Tuesday and Wednesday of this past week, the road team from Invisible Children returned. This time, they showed a film dealing with a different issue resulting from the civil war in Northern Uganda. The film showed how over 1 million men and women, boys and girls were displaced as a result of the war, and how these people have been living for the last seventeen years.

Heartbreaking doesn't begin to describe the situation. I would love to put this film in the hands of others, or have multiple screenings (even at my house), just so people could witness the stark reality of the problems in our world, and that perhaps we could spend some of our spare time and cash in creatively coming up with a solution to the problem.

I think one of the worst things we could do as individuals and as communities is to get emotionally bothered by some of the modern day tragedies and atrocities in our world, and yet do nothing.

So I want to encourage you to visit the website, and potentially order a copy of the film. It is an extremely well done documentary. There are 100s of 1000s of people just in this one country who are living in conditions (against their desire) as a result of a long term civil war. Perhaps if we can help bring lasting peace to this land (by political intervention and aid) the people of Uganda could return to their homes.

Justice is such a difficult subject to get our minds around. When we get exposed to the needs of the world, most of us want to do something about them, but don't know where to start. Or worse yet, we feel like the problems are already being taken care of, or they will take care of themselves.

The more I get a sense of the injustice that exists in the world, the more I want God to use me to be part of the solution. May you seek justice and take action as you enter into the weekend.

My Enchanted Life

My Enchanted Life, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Yesterday things just seemed to go well for me. I went to get a physical yesterday afternoon. While I was in the desert, I realized that I haven't had a check up in about 10 years, so maybe it was about time. Although it took a while to get in (because of a computer system glitch), it was still cool, because I could do some work while I waited. This week is a week chock full of meetings so every "free" moment counts. Plus, I'm planning to see my dad and sister this weekend, so I don't want to be encumbered or distracted by any projects--ya know.

So I had this physical, and I'm in EXCELLENT health. Great resting heart rate and BP of 120/82. I also had bloodwork done, and my results were STELLAR to say the least. My number for sugars was easily below 100, and my number for cholesterol was also well below the critical 200 number. So I am free and clear to start an exercise program--not that I had any worries, but you always hear that blurb about consulting a physician before you start.

So now I am planning an intense exercise program. I'm going to ease into it this week, and then turn up the intensity next week. I am amazed sometimes at my degree of health and well being in light of the busy-ness that often saturates my life. Maybe a lot of it has to do with the way I go about life-trying to savor each and every moment, and making the most of it.

Speaking of savoring the moment, I just received a tremendous gift from my friends (and fellow mountaineer fans!) Jeremiah and Kim. That's Jeremiah in the photo with me. We are grinning from ear to ear because we just watched Pitt get stomped!!! Jeremiah and Kim had an extra ticket for last night's game, and so I was able to be there guest and sit on the second row to watch WVU trounce Pitt. It was glorious! I even made a cameo appearance on ESPN last night! (I will be available for autographs and interviews later today around Morgantown.)

Although life throws all of us some curve balls from time to time, I have been able to live a pretty enchanted life. I mean who gets a ticket to the biggest game of the year the day it happens--and who gets a seat on the second row? I was less than ten feet away from the ESPN crew.

I am thankful for it all--every moment is precious. Let's go mountaineers!!!!

Desperate Sex Lives Continued

So I'm giving everyone another day to find out what Dr. Sleeth's top three environmental suggestions from his visit on Monday February 18th. In the meantime, I thought I would continue the monday tradition of sharing a brief synopsis of our h2o message from Sunday night. We've been covering some pretty serious issues that young people are struggling with, and it's been really thought provoking and eye-opening for all who have been attending.

Three weeks ago, we started a two week series at h2o on relationships, dating, and purity called Desperate Sex Lives. We "borrowed" the title from some of my friends in Blacksburg who had a similar series last fall. We have expanded the series by two additional weeks because this subject is of tremendous interest and importance to college students and young professionals, and folks really want guidance in relationships and help in overcoming sin in this area.

Next week we are going to simply have a question and answer time on all of the topics covered/overlooked over the last three weeks, so if you could be praying for wisdom, I would appreciate it!

This past week we talked about lust and sexual impurity. During the message we talked about everything from pornography to maintaining sexual purity in dating relationships. Did you know that according to XXXchurch.com that 50% of Christian men are addicted to pornography, and nearly one in four women wrestle with this same problem? One person has been quoted as saying if Christians would stop using pornography it would put a serious dent in the industry.

We talked about sexual sin, and why sin in this area hurts so much, and why it hurts so many people. We talked about why we are even tempted to give in to this area that the Bible clearly speaks against. it isn't that sex is a bad thing. Face it, if you are reading this blog, it's because a couple of people had sex and brought you into this world. The problem is that sex has a proper context--marriage, and when we ignore that context it hurts us and everyone around us.

Really the essence of the struggle with sin in this area is a question of ourselves and of God. Men wonder if they are really men, if they have what it takes, and women wonder if they are loved--and so men and women go to sex to have these deep questions answered. Only God can answer these questions, but deep down, many experience a lack of trust or deep belief that God is good.

As we talked about this subject and about the need not simply for behavior modification (although for some, changing behaviors is a necessary starting point), we shared that the real need is a change in our heart that only Jesus can do. We need him to change our heart so we can live differently and experience life abundantly. In order for him to do that, we need to be willing to let Him in, and to begin to trust Him.

Beyond that key element to overcoming sin in this area, we shared a few resources that can be helpful. Here they are.

Accountability (tell someone you are struggling so they can pray for you and help you overcome sexual sin)
Prayer (we need to seek God's help to overcome)
Scripture (Psalm 119.9 says "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.)
Computer Software--if you are struggling with pornography, there is FREE software that will monitor your internet habits, and send an email to your personal accountability partner. Even if you aren't struggling with this area, you might want to just put this software on your on your computer. Click here for the software. X3watch.
Avoiding temptation (Proverbs 26.20 "For lack of wood, the fire goes out)

I realize that this isn't a fun topic to talk about. I realize that for some reading this blog there may be shock and disdain for sharing about such a taboo subject. For others, maybe this blog can be a first step for you in overcoming sexual sin. None of us are immune to temptation.

I Corinthians 10:12-13 "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

Thankfully, we all have a rescuer in Jesus Christ. May more and more men and women find their identity in being the Beloved of an amazingly gracious and loving God, and as we do this, may that love transform our world and overwhelm others.

Dr. Sleeth's Visit

Dr. Sleeth's Visit, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Last week, I wrote a short statement encouraging folks to come out to hear Dr. Matthew Sleeth speak at WVU, but as yet, I haven't shared what he really talked about.

To me, it's kind of wild because I think that when most people think about someone speaking about the environment, they get a little uneasy. They think that a person who talks about the environment is going to be a radical nutjob, and a Christian who talks about the environment is going to be even nuttier than the rest.

Dr. Sleeth is perfectly sane, and his presentation was hilarious! He and his family have made some radical life adjustments as a result of their faith, but he wasn't shaking his finger at the audience or anything like that. He was simply sharing his story, and he shared a few of the ways that God led him and his family to make changes as a result of their understanding of biblical stewardship.

I would love to share many of the tidbits he shared, maybe at a future time, but for now I want to share with you the answer to one of the questions asked from the audience.

Someone asked, "What are the top three things we can do to care for the environment?" I've been asking that question of people for the last week just to hear their responses. Most people say something about recycling, or switching to CFLs, or buying alternative fuel vehicles.

What would you say? I would love to hear your top three. Instead of telling you Dr. Sleeth's answer straightaway, I am going to build a little suspense, and share his response sometime over the next few days. (maybe tomorrow?)

So in the meantime, let me know how you would respond to that question--what are the top three things you would recommend to be a better steward of God's creation?

Traveling By Bus

Traveling By Bus, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Lately, when I see snow on the ground, I start making plans to make it to the bus depot on days when I have meetings at church. I'm beginning to think that this might be a good general practice. (At least when the meetings are happening late enough in the day that taking the bus makes sense.)

It's fairly inexpensive for travel. Seventy Five cents will get me from downtown to the church in about 30 minutes. (It takes me 20 minutes if I drive straight from my house). The downside to the travel is that I have to walk to the depot which also takes me about 20 minutes--but the upswing is that it's a good health practice to spend at least 20 minutes doing moderate exercise each day--like walking to the bus depot. While I am riding the bus, I can read, work on my computer, make phone calls, and even interact with other passengers if I so choose.

If I were still a student, this whole system would make even more sense because it's FREE (or at least the service is built into student fees). Personally, i would love to see more people taking advantage of this way to get around town (or at least for work/school commutes).

This all goes hand in hand with my lenten commitment of attempting to streamline/simplify my life. I've been trying to walk more to get places (in spite of snow and rain). I've also been trying to eat less (at least smaller portions).

I think in some ways we are addicted to our cars. They give us a sense of independence and autonomy that we lose in some ways when we ride a bus or carpool. In spite of escalating gas prices, people are more willing to drive separately than to carpool (especially if it means that someone else will be driving).

I think our society is suffering from this desire for autonomy, and it is probably a large reason why few people find their way into healthy community.

Who knew all of these thoughts would stem from a simple busride on a snowy day. If you can give it a whirl, I highly recommend riding a bus, or even just walking around town if you live in the city. It's a great way to save money, conserve resources, and maybe even get some exercise. And maybe, it can help open you up to the idea of sharing resources, needs, and possibly even life, with others.

Ohio Kinda Apologizes

My friend Dave in Blacksburg sent me this image and it cracked me up. For those of you who don't know, Shawnee people historically had a number of villages in the state of Ohio. My buddy Dave is reading a book about Mary Draper Ingles who hiked from a Shawnee village somewhere in Ohio back to her home near Blacksburg a couple of hundred years ago.

To me there is a touch of irony in this beyond the cartoon itself. I think we are all a bit like this at times. We commit heinous offenses against our friends, and then we sort of apologize and try to make things right, but not really. It takes a lot to be reconciled to others when we offend, it takes humility, and it takes compassion. Most of the time we just want to offer a band-aid though.

I hope your day is filled with laughter, irony, and true reconciliation.

Another World Is Possible

Last week, a group of us from our pool of college students and young professionals put together a series of events that we called Another World Is Possible. While it was an exhausting week, it was also refreshing. It was refreshing because there were so many cool conversations happening around town about it.

People who I had attempted to talk to for years about some of these issues became more open to the idea that 1) God is interested in things like the environment, poverty, slavery and injustice, 2) that He wants us to do something about it, and 3) that we actually can!

Now that the week is over, and and we have been able to raise some funds and some awareness about some of these issues, it is my prayer that more and more people will take action. Of course, any time people take action it can be messy. Things don't always go according to plan, but then that's where our faith gets expanded--it's during those times, right? "The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes His steps." Proverbs 16.9. I love that proverb--there's a few others like it that remind us that God weaves it all together, and that "He is sovereign," as my friend Trey so eloquently shared this past weekend.

This week, as you consider the grandness of God's world, and the great needs that exist out there, will you consider stepping up to the plate to help be a sign to this world that not only is another world possible, but it is on its way. One day, our King will return, and make all things right and new. Until that day, we get the privilege of living as a sign of what that day might be like.

Rather than just sitting around and waiting for that day, let's go out and be the hands and feet of Jesus in a hurting and broken world. It may be as simple as changing out a few light bulbs to CFLs. (And if you do that, be sure to join my group "Friends of Chanchanchepon" on One Billion Bulbs it's free, and you get to see how much money, coal and greenhouse gases you prevent from being wasted.

There's lots we can all do, but I think the most important thing is to not just sit there. It's so easy to get caught up living for another Kingdom than the one of Jesus--step up and take a small step toward being an instrument of healing and reconciliation. Allowing Jesus to use you to reconcile people to Him and experience the healing of a broken relationship.

Desperate Sex Lives

This photo was "borrowed" from a sister church's website. Some of my friends down in blacksburg (yes, I do have friends in blacksburg) did a series last fall on dating and relationships (with the same title), and I thought it would be good to talk about the subject here in Morgantown.

So our current series at h2o is called Desperate Sex Lives, and over the last couple weeks we have been discussing what it means to be single, and how to set some criteria for dating in a godly way. Unfortunately our media, movies, and music have done a terrible job of presenting young and women with a healthy understanding of sexuality and relationships.

So last week, we talked specifically about guys taking the initiative with regard to pursuing a relationship. Many guys prefer to not say anything, and end up not taking care of other's hearts in the process. On the flip side, women can at times say they aren't interested in a guy verbally, while all of their non-verbals (quality time, proximity, etc.) send an entirely different message. Instead of continuing in non-committal and confusing relationships, we encouraged folks to express their intentions clearly and support what is verbally expressed in action.

And from what I've heard, the talk from last week has created quite a stir in our little faith community. People are really taking stock of their lives in this area of relationships, and I think it is a good thing. I think some folks are setting some standards in their lives that they may not have previously considered.

This week, we talked a little more about being intentional about our approach, and for guys to be willing to be vulnerable by declaring their interest.

In the words of the author Donald Miller, " I think if you like somebody, you have to tell them. It might be embarrassing to say it, but you will never regret stepping up. I know from personal experience, however, that you should not keep telling a girl that you like her after she tells you she isn’t into it. You should not keep riding your bike by her house either."

We also took it a step further and talked about the importance of fleeing sexual immorality and maintaining standards of purity when dating. Unfortunately not many people have these conversations it appears, and we leave tv and movies to teach us how to live and relate to each other.

Next week, we will be talking about the difference between love and lust, and ways young men and women can take proactive steps to overcome lust in their lives.

Seven Bands for Five Bucks

Last night, as the next event in our week of Another World Is Possibleweek, we hosted not just five bands for five bucks, but actually seven. It was a cold and snowy night in Morgantown, but those who were able to come out were able to hear a lot of quality music at a very reasonable price.

But great music wasn't the only thing going on last night. A handful of local non-profit organizations were featured in between sets during this great concert at the Metropolitan Theatre on High Street. That facility is amazing by the way! If you are looking for a cool venue in which to hold a concert, drama, or event, I think "the met" is just the place!

One of the coolest things about the evening was that the artists and non-profits were doing some conversing over the course of the evening too. People were asking each other they could help one another in their respective field. In particulare, one of my favorite bands of the evening, Kessler, and my friends John & Jake's organization Nuru International started talking about some possibilities of working together in the future. I recommend you check out their respective sites. Kessler is a band out of Dallas Texas, and they have just gotten started touring and were signed with Tooth & Nail Records. Their sound is rich, melodic, and passionate. Give em a listen at the link above. Nuru, is a new organization dedicated to helping the rural extreme poor lift themselves out of poverty , first in Africa, and then around the world. It's hard to believe in a land of plenty like the one in which we live, but over a billion people live on less than a dollar a day. Nuru is trying to help people by walking alongside communities, one at a time, and sounding the trumpet to see people with resources and a passion for justice take steps to transform these communities into communities of hope.

I imagine I will blog about both Kessler and Nuru more extensively at a later date, but for now, I just wanted to share great news about another wonderful night/event flowing from our focused week on campus.

As one last side story, a couple of students I ran into as they were traveling home late last night, were totally stoked about the whole evening and the part they were able to play in it. I think that's another beautiful part of this whole week. So many people have contributed to the success of each night's event and to the success of the week as a whole.

What a wonderful opportunity to see the Creator of the universe at work in so many tangible ways. May you tangibly see how He is at work in your own life today, wherever you may be!

Invisible Children

Invisible Children Poster, originally uploaded by nl_photography.

I feel really behind in my blog posts. There has been so much happening in my life these last few days. I've felt very overwhelmed at times. Overwhelmed at the hurt, the suffering, and the brokenness that permeates and saturates this world we live in. The week of events that we have been doing on campus has been an intense time as we talk about things that I find my mind and heart thinking about often.

Last night's event, showing the film Invisible Children was no exception. We packed our little coffee house in downtown Morgantown, sozo, to the brim with people who came out just to see what the film was about. And then, we had a letter writing campaign to encourage our senators to support legislation to work toward ending a civil war in Uganda that has displaced over 800,000 people and led to a generation of children being abducted and forcibly enlisted into a militia group. The film itself is heartbreaking, but I think what is even more heartbreaking is knowing that the resources are available to bring healing and resolution to this twenty year conflict.

I realize that a truly lasting peace does not come without Christ, but when I think about the resources and we have available here, I just know we can do some very tangible things here to make a lasting difference there.

That's why I wrote a letter to our senators. Here it is.

It is my distinct privilege, as well as my personal responsibility to write you about an issue of which I have recently become aware. On February 20th, I attended an event at West Virginia University partially sponsored by my church, Chestnut Ridge Church in Morgantown. I watched a film called Invisible Children. The film tells the tragic story of a 20 year civil war in Northern Uganda. Over 800,000 people have been displaced because of this conflict, and many more have suffered. A large number of these people have been children--little Ugandan boys and girls who have been denied safety and the freedom to play and truly be children. These people need our help, and we have the resources.
Senator Byrd, I implore you, for the sake of these people who were made in the image of God and for the sake of our conscience in this land of freedom and plenty, support the legislation now in congress to grant $25 million to re-integrate those displaced by the war and allow them to return to their homes and begin the process of rebuilding their lives and their nation. Further, continue to support lasting peace in this region by voting for legislation for a signed peace agreement in Uganda.
Thank you for your time and service,
Billy Willams

It's the first time I've ever written a letter like this. I took time last night, and typed up letters on my computer. Honestly, I can get a bit cynical about letter writing and really feel like it doesn't make a difference. I usually don't voice this thought, I just keep it to myself and choose not to participate. But you know something, these gestures DO make a difference. Even if my letters don't get read by the senators themselves--I have a responsibility as a voter and as a citizen to use my citizenship for the welfare of the world around me.

I encourage you to write your senator as well. I wish I had more links to describe what is happening, but I don't. If you have an opportunity to see the film, take advantage of it. It will be shown in the Gluck Theater at WVU March 4, 2008.

You and I, we get the privilege of making a difference in this world. It happens with small gestures though. Gestures like letters. Or events on college campuses. Or talking to friends and family. Or spending time in the areas of hurt. Sometimes it happens with all of those. Prayerfully consider where God wants you to enter into making a difference in His world.

International Justice Mission

Last night, we hosted our second event of the week as part of our Another World is Possible week of events. A band called, The War played a concert at sozo, our downtown coffeehouse last night, and a portion of the revenue from ticket sales went to support an organization called International Justice Mission.

When I watched this video the first time (and the second time) I was moved to tears. Sometimes I think its easy to forget when we live in a privileged part of the world, with privileged opportunities, just how much hurting and suffering is out there. It's funny (in a sad sort of pathetic way), just how easily we can get bent out of shape when we get stuck in traffic, or we have to wait a little longer for our food in a restaurant when there is suffering beyond our imagination happening every day. Don't get me wrong, it is frustrating to have to wait, or to be stuck in traffic, but sometimes I think I lack a little perspective on just how truly blessed I really am.

A few years ago, one of my old roommates found out about International Justice Mission, and it was this organization that led to God clarifying his call to pursue a law degree and work for the cause of justice in God's world. When I see a video like this, or hear about an organization like IJM, while I become sad about the state of our world, I also become hopeful and excited.

Why am I so sad? It's not just because problems like injustice exist. It's not simply because there is suffering and slavery and hurt and brokenness all over this planet. It's because it is so easy to feel completely helpless to do anything about problems of such scale.

But then I become hopeful. I become hopeful because I know that one day, all of these wrongs will one day be put to right. There will truly be justice one day when the great King of Kings returns to wipe away every tear from our eye.

I also get excited. I get excited because I realize that I'm not completely helpless. It's in my own confession and realization of my own personal helplessness that God can use me to do something about the hurting and suffering in this world. He can use me to be a sign of the hope that I have that one day He's going to make everything right. He can use me to be His hands and His feet until the day that I go to be with Him or the day He returns.

And you know what else? He can use YOU too! Will you take the time to consider how God may want you to take action to bring His healing to this broken world? And one step beyond thinking about it . . .will you take action?

You really do have a part to play in God's unfolding story on this earth. Will you be the hero you've been called to be?

Serve God, Save the Planet

Usually, I start the week with a truncated overview of sunday night's h2o message. But today is different. This week kicks off our Another World Is Possible series of events. So, it might be a little while before you see a blog about last nights h2o (not too long though).

Right now I would just like to pass some information along to you about an event happening on campus tonight. Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth, a former student at WVU as well as a former chief of staff and director of ER at a major hospital will be coming to Morgantown tonight to speak at Eiesland Hall. Dr. Sleeth also wrote a book in recent months called Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action, and it's a book I highly recommend.

Dr. Sleeth's story is a very interesting one. During his years at the hospital, he noticed an exponential increase in environmentally related illnesses. Illnesses like cancer and asthma were on the rise. Actually he said before 1880, there had never been a documented case of asthma. Can you believe that? He also noticed that his lifestyle was very out of tune with good stewardship of God's creation. So one of the first things he did was downsize his home. He, his wife, and two kids moved into a house the size of their garage. Before people get too shocked and concerned, he jokes about it and says, "Have you ever seen a doctor's garage?"

It was his conviction that God wanted him to help with root cause of many of the higher incidence of environmentally related illnesses, and that precipitated a career change for him. And now he's coming to wvu. He'll be in Eiesland tonight at 8PM, and it would be great if you could make it to the event. If you can't make it to the event, take a minute and pray for the folks who are coming, that God will use this event to bring the healing message of the gospel and God's concern for all of creation into the world.

Tiny Desert Flower

Tiny Desert Flower, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

This is yet another photo from Joshua Tree. This tiny flower is smaller than a penny, there was no visible stem. It was flush to the ground. I think that if I wasn't intentional about slowing down and observing while I was there, I would have easily walked by it, or worse yet, stepped on it and crushed it.

I'm currently at a conference for the ecclesia network, a church planting network started by a few of my friends in GCM and beyond.

Yesterday afternoon, a guy named Keith Matthews, who is a professor of spiritual formation at Azusa Pacific shared a devotional with us to start our time. He said, "We live in a culture that is moving at a speed that is very hazardous to our spiritual health. Hurry and Busyness appear to be the most dominant obstacle to our spiritual life"

The photo and his words reminded me of some words that the author Annie Dillard once wrote. Essentially she said that we spend our whole life rushing around on a search for grand treasures, but that our days are strewn with treasures that we hardly take notice of. Kind of like pennies on a sidewalk. She then said, it's a poor person indeed who can't stop to stoop for a penny.

When we rush around, not only are we missing out on treasures, but we are doing damage to our soul.

May you take time to slow down today, enjoy the treasures that are right in front of you, and do the important work of protecting your most important relationship.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

My brother shared this video with me recently, and I thought it would be worthwhile to share with you. To me, it contains many reminders about the important stuff in life. In the academic tradition, there's an idea called the "last lecture." Hypothetically, if you knew you were going to die, and had one lecture you could give, what would it be. This professor, Randy Pausch gave this lecture in a concise form on Oprah. And the irony is that it really will be among his last lectures. He has pancreatic cancer, and he is dying.

Just to preface the video, I'm personally not a huge fan of oprah. Also, for whatever reason, Dr. Pausch didn't speak on spirituality or religion during this talk. In spite of these critiques, I found the video chock full of life lessons, and I think it's worth sharing for the lessons he does share that are great reminders of the important things in life.

Over the last year, I've witnessed many events that have reminded me of the brevity and fragility of life. Just this week, my sister told me that her husband's brother was found dead in his house.

As I watched this video, and thought about my own life, I realized that there are a number of things that are real priorities in my life. Of course, my relationship with Christ, and the truth that He is the hope of the world is number one! But what I tell people about my relationship with Christ by the way He enables me to live is right up there too--I want Him to be made manifest not only in what I profess, but how I live. (I truly pray that people see those priorities too!) I think everyone who has put their faith in Jesus should have those priorities. I don't plan on dying anytime soon or anything like that and I hope you don't either. At the same time, I also understand our life on this earth is just a vapor--just a blip on the screen compared to eternity. I want this blip to count! I know that there is something amazing in store for me after this life, but I think that in light of eternity, we are to live this life very intentionally, taking time to be a sign and a reflection of the world to come.

In the spirit of reflection, take some time today to consider what you would share with your family and friends or even the world if you had one "last lecture" to give. Are there changes you want to make, or priorities you want to shift? Don't wait. Take action. Make the most of every moment. We have a limited number of days and hours. Don't waste them.

One Sabbath

One Sabbath, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

This week we finished our series called 168 at h2o by talking about the Sabbath. Really the talk was about more than Sabbath. It was about being intentional with our time and our efforts so that Christ might be more fully formed in each one of us.

You see, most of us, if we are honest, live life without any margins or spaces. We are running from event to event, meeting to meeting, and person to person without taking any time for rest or refreshment.

If we aren’t careful, our lives become more about what we do than who we are. That’s a big part of why God instituted the Sabbath. One day during the week, we can set apart to be refreshed and be particularly reminded that our identity doesn’t come from what we do.

It’s pretty funny, in a sad sort of way, the lengths we will go to justify not having a day that is marked as Sabbath—a day of rest. Many of us feel like we are too busy to take a Sabbath, and that there is too much work to be done to merit a break. And yet, keeping the Sabbath is one of the ten commandments.

Most of us would never dream of justifying murder, or deception, or covetousness, or even aldultery. But we regularly ignore this practice of Sabbath, and the saddest part of it is that Sabbath provides us the best opportunity to engage in many other spiritual disciplines so that our lives look more Christ-like.

Sabbath is a great day to fast, or to spend time in solitude or silence. It’s a great time to spend living more simply, because we aren’t trying to keep up with others. We aren’t trying to keep up with anything really.

To spend a day completely at rest—can you imagine it? Can you imagine what God would reveal to you about yourself if you could unbusy your life for one day, and spend it being intentional to listen, to rest, and to be refreshed?

At h2o, I left folks with a simple goal, and I want to give you the same challenge for the next month. So for the next month I’ve got a goal for you. I want you to try to practice a Sabbath. That means you’ve got a pick a day each week during which you won’t do work. You won’t do little projects to try to get ahead. Instead you will spend time doing things that refresh you. Maybe that’s hiking, or playing basketball, or going shopping, or going for a long drive. Part of the next month’s experiment will be determining what refreshes you and gives you rest. I would love to hear how this goes for you so feel free to email me with your stories about practicing Sabbath. The important thing though is that you take the time to practice it. Allow Sabbath to bring your life into rhythm so you can faithfully live out your calling and become more fully human.

Amsterdam Daze

Amsterdam Daze, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

And now for a slight change of pace.

Yesterday, while I was walking from one coffee shop to another in Morgantown for a meeting, I had this strange feeling like I wasn't in Morgantown exactly. I wouldn't call it déja vu, but it was like the weather, the air, the light, and the people were vaguely familiar.

As I was walking, I thought to myself, this feels like the city of Amsterdam has felt every time I've been there with a team for a mission trip. The skies were grey and overcast, and yet at the same time it was bright. The air had a crisp maritime winter bite to it, but Morgantown is not a maritime area. It looked and felt like it could rain or snow at any moment, but if it did either, it wouldn't be a downpour.

And then the people. People were bundled, and busy. Everyone was walking with a purpose. The street looked somehow a little taller and more narrow. I half-expected to see people whizz by me on bicycles. But, it didn't happen. I was in Morgantown and not Amsterdam. None-the-less, I took a snapshot of one of the main drags of Morgantown just a few moments after the feeling hit me, but like most photos, it doesn't fully convey what I was experiencing.

The time prompted me to pray for my friends in Amsterdam who have started a church right in the heart of the city. At least four of those friends, Eric, Todd, Sander, and a href="http://naomithoughts.blogspot.com/">Naomi keep blogs and help keep the rest of the world connected to their efforts.

I took the time God gave me yesterday, along with some time as I was writing this blog, to pray for my friends across the big water. Maybe you could do some of the same.

In the meantime, have you ever had an experience like that. You know you are in one place, but everything about the place feels like somewhere else you have been. Sometimes I think God uses little promptings like that to remind us just how small our world really is.

The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

About a month ago, I friend of mine I met at the Faithwalkers conference in Ridgecrest, NC sent me a link to this website. It is called, "The Story of Stuff." When you click the link, you will be given the option of playing a 20 minute highly informative video which walks you, the viewer, through the process that leads us to get all of the neat stuff we find at our local malls and stores, and then carries the story further toward how all of that stuff is disposed of.

When I see videos like this, I have to admit I am somewhat skeptical. But then, I often come to the conclusion that we truly need to change our habits, and any change really starts with me. As I consider a simpler life over lent, pray with me that I can make some sustained changes in my spending and consuming habits. And I pray that this video would provoke you similarly. One person left a comment about their commitment to not spend money on themselves during the next 40 days.

The Story of Stuff is getting a lot of views on the web, and it is also triggering many people to rethink their spending, consuming, and waste habits. I highly recommend the video, and I hope you can set aside 20 minutes of your day to watch it. Then, I would love it if you set aside an additional 2 minutes and told me what you thought about it, and how it provoked you to make changes to your lifestyle.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

I took this photo the last night I spent in the desert. Just as the sun was slipping over the horizon, I captured the evening glow. I wonder if Jesus saw something like this during His 40 days in the wilderness as he denied Himself and prepared Himself for His ministry.

Today starts the season of lent. Today people from all over the world will gather together to be reminded to turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel as ashes are placed on their foreheads. As the ashes go on, it gives them an opportunity to reflect on the way Jesus denied himself for 40 days in the wilderness.

I woke up this morning and I'm still unsure about specifics that I will be yielding for the lenten season. This is the conclusion I've come to so far. I want to lead a simpler life. This will involve periods of fasting and denial. It will also involve times of engagement through prayer and study.

Maybe it will mean less eating out. Maybe it will mean less time working online. Maybe it will mean less travel, or more travel via bike or public transit. Christians around the world have used lent as a time of examination, of denial, and of renewing their commitment to be like Jesus. In a couple of hours I am going to attend an Ash Wednesday service and during that time I am praying that God will give me clarity in my commitments.

As lent begins, whether you come from a tradition that celebrates lent or not, I encourage you to take time to examine your life. Let the light of Christ shine into your heart, and reveal area's where you desire to move toward being more like Jesus in word and thought and deed.

In our world, there are two things that are very true. Very few take the time to examine their lives period, and even fewer look for opportunities to practice self-denial in a culture that prides itself on being self-indulgent.

I invite you to journey into the desert with Jesus and to think about the renewal that He offers you every moment of every day. WIll you begin this season of denial and expectation and allow Christ to meet you in your wilderness as you journey to the grandest celebration in history, the resurrection of the Son of God?

Fat Tuesday, Fasting, and Lent

Lost Palms Oasis, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Well, it's that time of year again. Lent. But what's the time all about. Some would say, Fat Tuesday is your last chance to really party until Easter. Some would say that lent is the time of year that some Christians get ashes on their foreheads.

What's really going on over these days. What's Lent all about anyway? Lent comes from the latin word to lengthen and it is used in reference to the lengthening of daylight that happens as Spring approaches.

While I was in the desert, among other things that I did, I fasted for three days. During this time I only drank water. "Why would I do that to myself?" you might ask. The idea of fasting is to let go of good things that God gives you every day for the sake of growing more dependent on Him, and not getting so caught up in the abundance of gifts that we forget about the Giver. When we give up food, or TV, or music, or whatever non-sinful thing we enjoy for the sake of growing more connected with God, it allows a different kind of growth in our life. We deny good things for a period so that we can better enjoy God and so that we can be even more appreciative of those good things when we take them up again. Food tasted so good when we left our time in the desert. God is so generous and gracious!

So Fat Tuesday isn't supposed to be about beads and bedlam. It's supposed to be about a preparation for an extended fast during lent. You see lent also is about Jesus--it's a period of time each year that Christians of various denominations choose to intentionally identify with Jesus and His 40 day wilderness fast by either choosing to deny some good thing in their life or by choosing to add an act of devotion to their daily time with God.

What might this denial or addition look like? For some, it might mean getting rid of their ipod for 40 days so they can hear God better. For others, it might mean an extended fast from food, or from entertainment or even from the internet. It also might mean adding by making it a point to volunteer community service during this period. Or making a commitment to serve in the church, or maybe just committing to spending daily time in God's word. All of this so that you might identify in an ever so slight way with Christ's time in the wilderness.

And then, as you approach Easter, the anticipation and the celebration are even greater because during the forty days of lent, you have grown in your intimacy with Jesus, and more than likely, you have grown in appreciation of the Victory He has won in all of our lives through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross and His glorious resurrection.

So today, here's a thought for ya. Spend some time in prayer. Examine your life. Ask God for guidance. Then, as the evening approaches it's end, make a commitment and stick with it until easter. Be realistic and be faith-filled. If you've never gone without food for 40 days, that might be too big of an order. But it might not be too big of an order to deny yourself your favorite foods for lent.

If you feel like it might help you to have a degree of accountability, post your commitment as a comment on this blog--it just might encourage and inspire others!

May God richly bless you as you consider Him more richly during this season!

Desert Bloom

Desert Bloom, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Well, I am finally back to civilization. (Actually, I began my return Friday afternoon, but there was a lot of driving and flying thrown into the last couple of days--it takes a long time to get back to civilization!)

The desert was wonderful! There was so much going on in that place, I'm really not even sure how to begin to describe it. While I was away practicing solitude, silence, fasting, prayer, and simplicity (among other spiritual disciplines), I kept a journal though, and perhaps it might be good to share a bit from that.

First off, for the first 16 hours of my solitude, the Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree, and most of southern California received a record amount of rainfall. I believe in that little window of time they exceeded their annual rainfall. (And it's only january).

Among other things, what that rainfall means is blooms. Flowers that might not be seen for years finally get the strength to produce the most beautiful blooms. But the irony is that because the climate is so dry, the blooms only last a couple of days. I may be the only human being who sees the bloom featured above for a long time. What a rare treasure to find myself walking among these blooms in the middle of the desert on a cold winter day in southern california.

I found myself just reveling in the beauty and the fragility all around me in those blooms. And then I remembered this scripture.

"The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40.7-8)

Just like these flowers, we human beings are rare, fragile and beautiful people. Do we take time to fully appreciate that fragility as we walk through our day like I walked through the desert?

Furthermore, these flowers will be gone in a moment, but the word of our God endures forever. As I reflected on this scripture, I thought to myself, How much do I really treasure the scripture. What a beautiful gift! In the middle of a world of fragility God gives us something solid, and something enduring, and something even more beautiful than a desert bloom.

As you walk through your desert today, take time to consider the beauty and the fragility of the lives blooming all around you. Take time to consume the enduring words of God. And then, as you look upon this desert world around you, take time to share some of these enduring words of life to this fragile world.