Chronicles of Bridging Transatlanticism

New Pictures

2007-07-12T22:39:00.002-04:00

I figured there is no sense trying to capture in words what has gone on in the Zigler household the past 4 months so here's a bunch of pictures (with a little explanation)!

In April EllaAnne and I flew to New York to visit friends.

Somehow all these stuffed animals ended up on top of her during her nap.

Canada Vacation

Trip to Toronto

Getting Ready for football season!

Fun in the Snow

2007-02-25T23:23:00.000-05:00

David has been gone since last Tuesday. He is hiking in the Paria Canyon with a group of guys from church. So EllaAnne and I were on our own this week. We made sure to keep busy and the time has actually gone by quickly. She has spent the week saying "Da-da-da-da" CONTSTANTLY! I've read that those are often the first sounds they make but I like to think she just really missed him. Maybe if I took a trip she would start saying "Mama!" Anyway, we had a good snow storm a couple weeks ago and discovered that EllaAnne enjoys the cold weather just like her dad.

A Tiny Colt's Fan

2007-02-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! This is Laura, and this is my first attempt at updating our blog. David has always done it in the past, and as much as he enjoys it I decided to join in. This way, those of you who are interested, can keep updated on EllaAnne. Anyway, she turned 6 months last week. And as I'm sure every mom says, "I can't believe how quickly time flies." She is such a happy baby, and I think she has David's social personality because she loves to be with people and refuses to sleep when she knows we have company! As you can see, we are doing our best to instill our enjoyment of football in EllaAnne. I know it might sound funny, but when I found out I was pregnant one of the first things I got excited about was being able to watch football with our son or daughter. And it has been fun (and the fact that we won the Super Bowl was a bonus)! Each week we watched the Colt's games with a big group from church. EllaAnne wore her cheerleading outfit and was always passed from person to person, looking very concerned when we yelled and screamed at the TV! But all football watching aside, I think the best part of the last 6 months as been watching as others invest in EllaAnne. I feel very blessed because of the people we are surrounded by and not just those who are involved in our lives here in Indianapolis but so many of you love us and EllaAnne from far away. Thank you for taking this journey with us.

Transatlanticism

2006-11-24T22:01:00.000-05:00

So, it's been nearly two years since the conception of this blog...and when i originally created it, the BIG IDEA was to bridge distances with loved ones that seemed oceans away cleverly or uncleverly based on Death Cab for Cutie's album Transatlanticism).

Well, sometimes these notions come full circle as they did last week when a group of my friends and i went to see DCFC live at the Murat Theatre here in Indy.
Here's my reflections from the night:
I miss. I hurt.
Distance - a powerful reality...
Too often clutter, noise, and the constancy of "the current" hinder relationships of past (and even present)...and confuse memories of old...and disconnect us people from being people.
I have new friends here in Indy who have in some sense "filled" the former roles of those wonderful souls in Pulaski...and my dear friends in Pulaski replaced what seemed like irreplacable relationships from Indiana Wesleyan University glory days.
Somewhere along the way i forgot to remember my people...or more made decisions not to remember. To stir up those waters would only stimulate tears and clouded memories of "better days".
All this feathery talk to say that i hurt from the separation. Friendships shouldn't be severed. Life simply does not "GO ON"...at least like it did back then.
The pausing of those colorful songs or the closing of those cherished chapters has a profoundly seeping effect on the rest of the story -- it changes the rythym of the record.
Tonight I am deeply saddened at the altering or complete silence of many impactful relationships.
I guess a phone conversation from my good buddy Wes a few days back, after uncommunicating for many months, brought me directly face-to-face with transatlanticism.
Maybe one of the most powerful components of quality musicianship is the way a particular track/album/live performance tempts the listener to become bare to emotions, to profoundly remember, or to actually listen.
DCFC's show last night allowed me to reach a state of clearness that I've been forsaking for quite a desperate length of time.
Feeling. Memory. The magical way of going back to some distant enchanted place, event, conversation, trip, or way of being with a group of close friends. -- Humanity.
Good lyrics/Good music should draw us closer to raw humanity.
Tonight for several minutes I entered that mystical wardrobe. I was back places I hadn't been for a fortnight with people who I had been fond of and was time traveling back to great moments of accomplishment.
Yes! I am emotional! Good music catches its listener (in this case me) off guard. DCFC's melodic atmosphere evoked demons and butterflies within my core and so I wanted to cry and still am thinking about allowing a few tears to flow due to transatlanticism.

Finally, a new post :)!!!

2006-09-22T16:18:00.000-04:00

Updated pics of EllaAnne:
O.K. enough of you have mentioned how we need to not be so lazy in posting. So here we go...

The Arrival

2006-08-04T10:42:00.000-04:00

One week ago today...a tiny human being emerged into the world and into our lives.
She is so small. Her beauty remarkable - like that of her mother's glow.
EllaAnne Elizabeth Zigler:

How does one so tiny alter, hault, and yet, thrust life into a deeper reality? I may not know how but Ella has shifted my view of the world...the more I know, I don't know anything.
She's here = unfathomable!!! - not simply because of the unknown future we hold together but largely untouchable in the same way that the expanse of the mountains are magnanamous when climbing them. The landscape of EllaAnne is easy to embrace but utterly hard to comprehend her grandness.

Tired

2006-07-09T20:48:00.000-04:00

So, I have wanted to blog for a couple months now but have found myself exhausted by the demands (and unfortunately the nonessentials as well) of life. Unable to conjure up even the shortest of entries.

Honestly I am jealous at the fact that so many of my friends have the wit, energy, and time to be able to share facets of the everyday within this network. I enjoy writing/opening myself up in this small way but, how in the world are you all able to continually post your thoughts, feelings, joys?

Here on the streets of Indianapolis I am confronted with the struggles of entering a new phase of life (fatherhood)...Laura and I are both blessed/cursed by the opportunity of opening our home to the mostly neglected neighborhood kids = we have nearly a dozen 9-12 yr. old boys playing pool, football, frisbee, eating popsicles, knocking down our fences, or simply chatting with us on the front porch as soon as we get out of our car from a long day of fostering/mentoring/admonishing/encouraging/ equipping/being within the framework of city/church relationships...

I am just plain tired. Tired from lack of sleep from Laura's tossing and turning. Tired of lack of space. Indy has been a difficult scene for me to find sanctuary. Fellowship has been remarkable but completely draining as of late. I'm not trying to complain as I am finding my place here but I'm in need of some stillness.

Anyway, I needed this forum tonight just to process "out loud" what's been going on lately.

Baby Girl Zig

2006-03-31T11:57:00.000-05:00

Baby Zig may still be mysterious but the wait to find out the sex comes to a distinct close. Yesterday, through the technology of a sonogram-wand-thingy gliding over Laura's large tummy, we found out that I will be a father who must fend off the enormous crowds of boys scampering after our lovely daughter.

Little Baby Zig Girl will enter this world in fleshly form around August 15, give or take a few days. We are still trying to adjust to the concept that we are having a girl. Before yesterday, we simply were having a baby, and now, this baby has a particular lens in which the world will be viewed/discovered/lived out due to her sex.

One area already streaming through my mind are the discipleship/life implications of a father to his daughter. These implications are beyond my grasp. She will have many questions about her role in the world. She'll ask, "Am I really pretty daddy?" or "Do you think he likes me?" or "Does God truly cherish me?" I am already pondering how I can answer these while injecting her with the reassurance of her value to me, the world/Kingdom, and ultimately her King. The crucial role and responsibility of a dad to his girl must constantly be nurtured. Nurtured through the small stuff of life that spills over into the large. Of course this remains true if we were to have a boy but the context changes dramatically. This unique blend of holistic formation for our daughter will be of grand importance for Laura and me.

Luckily we have incredible parents, siblings, and friends to help with the implications of having Baby Girl Zig. We shall see how each of you impact her becoming...

As for her name, here are our top options (in no particular order):
Ella (Anne)
Emma (???)
Riley (Hope)

Simply Small Adventures

2006-03-20T22:04:00.000-05:00

So...Last week I found myself emerged in small adventures with good friends:

Arriving at the Fancy's home exhausted @ 4AM only to wrestle with the boys and then continuously annoy Magee as he fidgets into the tiny bed where he and Brandon will share space ... Breathing in the air rushing in from stormy Lake Ontario ... NCAA Basketball games with old friends in the parsonage living room ... Air hockey in Bud's basement ... Playing "house" with Taylor in her room, caught off guard by her zeal for LIFE in the innocence of little things -- like being enamored by a glow-in-the-dark-sucker-ring. (Also recognizing even more the magnitude of having a child of my own).

Enormous amounts of pizza (with hot chicken wings..."Tommy like wingy") at a small mom and pop joint in Pulaski after snow ball fights and gorge climbing at Salmon River Falls ... Bottle rockets shot off by the infamous Zach Fancy while in the back seat of my Mazda creating black clouds of puffy smoke combined with deafening blows to our ears...

The Old Toad Pub in Rochester, NY where Brandon and Magee viscously dueled in a battle royale of darts. Brandon won. ... Visiting wineries for the vivid smells and luscious tastes offered by the Finger Lakes Region ... Feasting on Boar's Head lunch meat at a small deli/cafe in Watkins Glen followed by exploring the state park that was closed due to weather but reopened due to the luster of Brandon...

Frequent stops along the way to play boyish games with a small squishy football (one of those physical therapy-type foamy balls) or wrestling in "the ball section" at McDonalds...

Ahhhhhhh. Those are the days.
Good laughs. The open highway. Music. Conversation. Beauty. Pilgrimage (the art of roadtrip or maybe the essence of discipleship).

Drive

2006-03-07T17:49:00.000-05:00

I like living in Indianapolis. Most days. The past few have been tough to swallow though. Its not as if the days have been horrible, just lacking some spunk, some zeal, some sort of spark for a quest "outside".

People have told me that I live my life like its an adventure and to a certain amount, I agree. Adventure happens by living into the large/small opportunities that are presented to us each day. But on days like today, that seems like a bunch of crap. This town may be great but they don't call it "naptown" for nothing. I'm in need of a legitimate adventure whereby I leave the walls of Indianapolis for the open space of upstate New York.

On the morrow 3 brothers and i will head for Letchworth state park, the Finger Lakes, and Lake Ontario. My traveling partners are well suited for this task. Brandon Schenck, Chris Magee, Josh Cantey, and I were made to travel together. To enjoy the wind through our hair, listening to good music, and sliding down some snowy hill that we never should have climbed in the first place.

Adventure is certainly what we make out of a given day, yet, sometimes adventure must be intentionally created by the road we take. So, what could have been a blah trip by myself to Rochester, NY for a district board meeting (to keep my pastoral licensing with the Wesleyan Church) has turned into a space for creativity to flourish via the personalities of my co-travelers.

I am ready for a break from Indy for a few days.

Meetings. Emails. Planning Sessions. Chores. The weight of responsibility. These can take a back seat while we collectively enjoy the art of the road trip - short though it may be - a road trip nonetheless.

The Mobility & Baby Zig

2006-02-06T08:41:00.000-05:00

As I sit here typing these words the realization has hit me: The last time I submitted a thought-out post was nearly two months ago.

Life (this paradoxical, metaphysical, spiritual span of time and space) can quickly become all the more sweet while taking on the weight of complexity in a short eight week span, during which time Laura and I learned we would become parents around August 17, 2006. We are currently 3+ months along in the pregnancy...

Excited? Yes. Scared? Not really. My current disposition has me quite reluctant to the fact that we are having a baby. Now, please hear the full scope of what I will try to convey...I (we) are speechless with anticipation...This is a monumental occasion ushering in a new stage of life that we will certainly embrace with passion...But that's just it: passion requires sacrifice. Repeated sacrifice (which, of course, is all the more costly). Less of self, more love for another. Hard stuff. The essence of Christ's Christianity.

The difficulty for me has been letting go of this current permutation of existence where most formation has been about Laura and me. Just the two of us. I have so enjoyed being married to my wife for the past 5 and a half years. For pity sake, I am just learning what it means to truly love the Woman - a woman - my woman. Suddenly, I will have to learn how to love a child and relearn how to love my wife in the midst of parenting. Frightfully fun, huh?

Maybe another sphere of difficulty for me (us) has been losing our bent to mobility. Here's what I mean by mobility: We've been able to travel many miles and with many faces to many magical lands...We've basked in the moments of sleeping in on Saturday mornings with little responsibility in which to be encumbered... We've hosted many events at our house until the wee hours of the morning chatting about films, God, sports, and the uncatchable enigma of life.
Basically we have been completely flexible like a spider web to go and do whatever we would like at any time we would like...

And now we are posed with the unexpected life-force we have termed as "Baby Zig". Honestly, I do not want to die. I am least looking forward to dying to this current expression of my humanity. Being the two of us has set well with my soul. Our marriage and outside relationships will never be the same again - both in the enhancement of and the negation of current aspects. Baby Zig will recreate us.

The dying process over the past 3 months has come with both much sorrow and beauty (Dang, my wife is fine!!!). Once again, dying to self is freakin difficult.

I am the least bit worried about being a "good" father for I know my heart will be given to this child with much ease. I am however worried about losing a lifestyle which I have grown quite adept to = mobility. Sure Laura and I have planned to be parents who travel with their kids; parents who create a culture of adaptation; parents who roll with the punches of ministry relationships; parents who won't allow schedules to rule our marriage/lives. We have plotted, discussed, and decided these ideas but we all know a baby, child, pre-teen, teen will completely ratify the way we go about our day-to-day.

So, for these reasons compiled with many more I have found myself unable to press computer keys that would provide any meaningful insight into the Zigler family.

Rocking the LifeBoat Theory : Part of Christ & Part of Each Other

2006-01-23T23:09:00.000-05:00

After a week of complete relaxation, hearty eating, and much needed processing in the Rivendale-like land of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, I was assigned the task of preaching/teaching the "husbands/wives" passage from Ephesians 5:21-6:9. With many strong female personalities in the midst of our small church congregation, needless to say, I was a bit nervous about dealing with terms such as "submission" and "head".

Somehow I was able to articulate the beautiful imagery Paul set up about how Christ treats the church in a gentle-yet-straight-forward-sort-of-manner.

Here are a few draft notes and thoughts for your comments:
***The BIG Idea: Part of Christ and Part of Each Other:
Principalities and Powers and societies and institutions seek to dominate or to lord over others (creating status, class, rankings) by dividing relationships whereas Christ ushered in (and continues to usher and pursue and re-inject himself) a new type of society/kingdom/dream where we become part of Himself/part of His Body. The way of Jesus is marked by several ripe fruits of the Spirit: mutual submission, Love, and Obedience (which are really the same ingredient). In this type of Upside Structure “head/leader” comes to mean responsibility rather than control. The head pampers and supports and nurtures the rest of the Body for the sake of the Body. And this is an illustration of Christ’s love his church.

Intro: Brian Regan – “Dinner Party/Me Monster” sketch (I Walked on the Moon DVD - www.brianregan.com)…
Donald Miller – The Life Boat Theory (Searching for God knows What - www.bluelikejazz.com )
Society sends signals that declare our relative value and tell us where we fit in the hierarchy, but this text gives a different system of valuing. The hierarchy does not exist. We all have roles and tasks, but they do not make one person more or less valuable.

We, as followers of Christ, must recognize these drastic differences (LIFEBOAT THEORY) that have come to be blurred throughout the ages and fight against their rule, not against race or sex, but against the principalities and powers. We begin to crush this dark reign by heeding the instruction of Paul in common, everyday relationships.

The focus of this passage is the beautiful imagery of Christ sacrificing for us with an unblemished love and then continually pursuing us with a love that purifies us and causes us to do the same for others. Or as Stott phrases it, “What stands out in Paul’s development of the theme is the sacrificial steadfastness of the heavenly Bridegroom’s covenant-love for his bride.”

People led by the Spirit submit to one another. All Christians are to mutually submit to each other. Submission is nothing more than a decision about the relative worth of another person, a manner of dying and raising with Christ, and a way to respect and love other people. In fact, for Christians, authority and submission are one in the same thing. - Snodgrass (NIV Application Ephesians)

Submission by its very definition is out of fashion in today’s individualistic, consumeristic, “me monster” society. Freedom and stair steps are the rage.
Think dark powers at work when we go to work .
Think Beauty and the Geek = girls who would never talk to a certain segment of guys because of their ranking in the Life Boat and the exploitation of "the geek" to greater expand the gap between social stratus

Mutual submission is illogical…but that’s where Christ comes in…somehow as if it were a deep mystery he reveals a way that doesn’t seem to make sense but in actuality is the best way. According to the gospel, submission is freedom. Submission is nothing more than a decision about the relative worth of others. With mutual submission, we give up rights and support each other. Mutual submission is love in action.

Set-up of the degradation of women in the ancient world (different apartments; veiled faces; little public and social scene; easily divorced; exist only for the care of legitimate children; and much more)
The daily Jewish prayer of men and how they admit to God that they are glad not to be women…

v.23 – Does not focus on authority, but on the self-giving love of both Christ and the husband. “Head” in this context suggests “responsibility for.” The husband has a leadership role, though not to boss his wife or use his position as privilege. Just as Jesus redefined greatness as being a servant, Paul redefines being head as having responsibility to love, to give oneself, and to nurture. A priority is placed on the husband, but, contrary to ancient society, it is for the benefit of the wife. The biblical concept of authority is not tyranny but responsibility.
Both headship and equality must be given their due. The truth lies in the tension of the text. - Snodgrass
“The new creation in Christ frees us from the distortion of relations between the sexes caused by the Fall, but it establishes the original intention of the creation.”

Of course the sexes are equal (in that each mirror attributes of God), but this does not mean that they are identical. God has made and makes men and women different, and one of their basic differences lies in the ‘headship’ which he has given to man.

Submission/headship would have been easier concepts for women in ancient times to grapple with (due to the oppressive nature already present in society)…the looming question for women today who are gaining authority/power/influence in 2006’s social structure is: “Will you give up your desire to control your own destiny?”
And this question first and foremost has nothing to do with the Man or marriage but with the person of Jesus Christ. “Will you submit to His Headship/His Role in your life and as a result or byproduct submit to the role of a husband?”

And maybe a correct counter question for us men is: “Will we strap on the responsibility of sacrificing ourselves for the sake of a woman/the Woman and thereby act as Christ did/does?” or “Will we intentionally give up our rights as the ‘dominant’ sex in order to nurture the Body of Christ rather than our quest for superiority?”

v.25 – gave himself up = The Cross as the measuring stick…Creating a new society, new man, new fidelity
Illustration: Grampie Mitchell & the way he unselfishly sacrificed for Grammie who had MS and Polio – 2 analogies of a husband’s love for his wife in sacrifice and care
v.26 – Gave himself up and injected some of himself in her in order to present her as worthy to God…but also allows her to be who she truly is
v.28 – love thy neighbor as thyself = not many of us love ourselves in the proper way…
v.29 -- The Head as the responsible unit for pampering/nurturing the rest of the body.
***vv.30/31/32 = He has incorporated Himself into us, made us part of an undissolvable union…Paul uses the Body, the Building, the Bride throughout Ephesians to display the unity with God and each other.
Members of His Body will always cause difficulty to understand yet Christ has revealed the way for us to enter true Life and it is a wonderful perplexity to enter.
v.33 – the Bridegroom sacrifices for the wife so she can become what she is supposed to be – the Bride. = Beautiful. This is the 3rd time Paul mentions how a husband should love his wife. Why wouldn’t she want to submit if her treatment was in this manner?

6: 1-4: Places importance on instructing children both for parents and the church. The warning: Idolatry. “Children are not the goal of life, but a context for living out life in Christ.” – Snodgrass

6: 5-9: The most important realization of this text is that we are all slaves unto Christ. This should help us redefine our social structure.

The Wild Kingdom of Narnia

2005-12-15T21:34:00.000-05:00

Saturday afternoons when its slightly snowing are a great time to make the trek to a cinema for viewing an epic of marvelous proportions. The occasion becomes especially magical when its ripe with family and good friends. This double bonus took place a few short days ago as many of my favorite people were present at Republic Theatres for the first instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia.

I'm not going to review the movie as I normally would do due to the ridiculous amount of scrutiny its taking. So please view without much further critical readings making an adequate ruling yourself.

My few small pieces of advice would be to separate this film from the Lord of the Rings trilogy = They are uncomparable!!! Secondly, allow the movie to be a creative work of art distinct from the masterfully written book.
Last observation: Try to appreciate the incredible casting = I was highly impressed with the White Witch's (Tilda Swinton) glasslike motion as well as her piercing glares accomplished through her forceful eyes. She also was beautiful, mysterious, elusive, evil, and an all around perfect White Witch. Father Christmas' character was a delightful treat, not to mention the stellar costuming and acting of Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy). I also thought most of the performance by the children went far beyond my limited expectations. And maybe the most underappreciated cast member, the Professor, whose short humerous scenes provided quirky, brilliant texture to the story.

Instead of my typical review I'll include an excerpt from my favorite sequence in the book:
“They say Aslan is on the move—perhaps has already landed.”
And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don’t understand but in the dream it feels as if it had some enormous meaning—either a terrifying one which turns the whole dream into a nightmare or else a lovely meaning too lovely to put into words, which makes the dream so beautiful that you remember it all your life and are always wishing you could get into that dream again. It was like that now. At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer. – C.S. Lewis – The LionThe Witchand The Wardrobe

Tree Selection

2005-12-04T22:58:00.000-05:00

The Christmas Season offers an array of enchanting activities. One of those traditional happenings comes with the scrutinizing selection of a perfect tree. And since no glowing-blemish-free tree has ever existed, we simply pick the one that feels best for our family or until our hands and the women we come with get to cold to care anymore.
After living in a country town for the past four years and never cutting our own tree down we thought it best to venture to the outskirts of Indianapolis near the small town of Sheridan where we could properly cut and cart our very own Christmas tree.

The day was perfect as the clouds spit out a small amount of snow and the temperatures were in the 20s. Perfect tree hunting weather!
Not only was it inexpensive but it generated much anticipation and cultivated a fresh tradition.

The Sanctuary of Selkirk

2005-11-25T22:23:00.000-05:00

Back home again in Mexico, NY. Sitting by an electric, toasty fire after seeing nearly a foot of snow fall to the chilled earth. A few hours earlier I bundled myself up in my Marmot fleece and gloves and slid on a warm hat to endure the blustery wind until I came upon on old friend -- the healing waters of Lake Ontario. I cleared off the layers of white gold and sat on a frozen wooden bench where the shoreline of Selkirk State Park was close at hand. There I could hear the swirling breeze dropping crystalized pellets of snow.
It feels comfortable to be back here -- easy, homey, relaxing. Snow so intrigues me, making me truly still inside. Its ingredients of water and atmosphere and heaven fit together in a frozen format that beckon me to you Creator. Thank you tremendously for all the stages provided by each of the grand seasons. Blankets of snow are delightful to my soul.

As I sat on that bench for what seemed like many hours I began to pray...I prayed something like this, "Father, open my eyes/ears/heart to the reality of spiritual existence. Please make me sensitive to pain, anger, deceit, pride, and falsity -- Enable me to call out the pseudo in people. Please provide Laura and I with vision as we walk with the people of Indianapolis so we may help release the prisoners from gloom...
I am so scared of what my new role with Trinity may entail...the water I must wade into...the escaladed intensity of what full time status may mean for the duration of our stay in Indy. I know I am now forced to face the urgency all around our broken city, and you Father, are begging of me to trust you like never before...to more readily embrace the economy of the Kingdom."

And so once again the sanctuary of Selkirk provided rest and rekindled fire locked within my bones.

Book Readings

2005-11-04T01:31:00.000-05:00

Have you ever read a book and wondered what the author might sound like as he/she read their own material? Well, often I try to create/recreate the voice of the author in my mind so my imagination will be intrigued. I enjoy listening to other people read, so I think its a way for me as I am reading an author's work to "hear" how they would speak emphasizing certain phrases or whisper at times to draw me closer into the story.

The past two years during the Christmas season our family (Laura, Aram and I) usually find ourselves driving dozens of hours to the winterwonderland of Nova Scotia Canada for a visit with Ed/Janet. While taking in the soothing scenery we would also read from Donald Miller's books, Blue Like Jazz & Searching for God Knows What. It was delightful to soak in the words to our squishy little minds to mull over the articulate and thoughtful flow of Miller's voice. These two books have had a tremendous amount of impact on how we perceive the gospel. Donald has allowed us to step back and review the story of the gospel with a tweeked set of lenses.

Anyway, all of this to say that last night Laura and I went with some friends from Trinity to hear Donald Miller read segments from his yet-to-be-released book To Own A Dragon and his latest release Through Painted Deserts (which is a remake of Prayer & the Art of Volkswagon Maintenance for those who haven't just recently jumped on the DM bandwagon). He read exactly like I imagined in my mind. Somewhat bland but highly captivating in an articulate sort of way -- very writeresque.
Donald even looks like you might imagine him to look like = tall, stocky leaning toward bulky, reserved yet cheery.

Jimi, B-Blev, Kendall, Hannah, Andy, Laura and I waited around discussing our views of Donald's material only to find ourselves the last people to be in the building besides Don and the staff. We all chatted with him by making light conversation about the Houston Astros, why he rewrote Prayer & the Art of VW Maintenance, and if he still liked Blue Like Jazz after 2/3 years. He was quite accommodating to our group and generous with his humorous replies and quotations which he deposited in the front of each of our books.

Aram: Just to let you know, we told him you said hello from Scotland. We also told him you were adventuring similarly to how he and Paul did in Prayer & the Art of VW Maintenance. You would have enjoyed the readings tremendously. I could see you creating a reading forum mirroring last night's atmosphere.

Here's a pic from tonight with Jeff, Meredith, Amanda, Don, and myself. A group of us went to hear DM in a compact coffeeshop in Marion, Indiana. The atmosphere was energetic yet stuffy as I felt that most of the college folk who attended were only there for the trendy, cool thing to do. Still, it was worthwhile to be part of a group of people who are seeking the vibrance of a timeless gospel.

Kendall and B-Blev came along again bringing a fresh new group (including my sis Trisha) who were introduced to the art of book reading. Also joining us were my dear friends Wes & Ellen Pate who are in town visiting for the weekend. Several other Indy folk flooded the scene, including one Josh Garrels who opened up the evening with a few magnetic song selections from his hippie-like-chill album Stone Tree.

Once again great conversation filled the airways as we visited a nearby Steak n' Shake where we laughed while sipping on chocolate shakes, listening to the banter of theological dialogue, and enjoying the company of our large, diverse group.

In Response

2005-11-02T17:48:00.000-05:00

After reading the comments on my last post regarding the Nano, I have made my decision...Late last Friday afternoon, I entered the Apple store to discover the new video IPOD. The decision was relatively easy since my educator discount could be applied to this ingenious device. I was able to purchase the video IPOD for only $40 more than what I paid for the Nano. 30 Gig and video capability -- sexy and sleek -- oh yes!!! As my friend Geoff Wybrow said, the only thing he has held in his hands that is more sexy is his wife. I would agree! (Not that I have held his wife in my arms but I have held mine :)

Thank you to my friends who responded with supreme knowledge and insight.

The Nano

2005-10-26T19:50:00.000-05:00

So, just a week ago someone who attends my church sent me an anonymous note which read, "David please buy a Nano. Love God" -- complete with a sketchy drawing of me jamming out to the tunes.
Inside was a generous amount of funds to put toward the mp3 file king known as the Apple IPOD (www.ipod.com). Without the permission granted from this note (and God), I surely would not have allowed myself to think about owning such a novelty item (especially after posting an entry like my previous one).
After much deliberation, last Saturday evening I purchased this small portable device in hopes of creating a more simple way to enjoy the arena of music. Too often I have been known for lugging around my bulky CD wallet but now...slim, compact nanolisciousness.
Thanks God ;)

I still haven't opened the package as I am heavy in debate about swapping for a 20gig IPOD where I could store most of my collection, minimizing the clutter of CD cases. So, what do you think?

Control or the Embrace of Release

2005-10-25T22:09:00.000-05:00

An advertisement fitting to our bland, matrix-enticed system of Americanism. This sign along Binford Avenue here on the streets of Indianapolis has both boggled my mind and embarrassed/concerned me.

What a tragedy to be caught up in a society where we crave control so incessantly that we paste it to those silly billboards on the side of the road next to our master-planned neighborhoods. Unfortunately most of us who claim to be followers of Christ cling to this master maybe even more than our "unsaved"/pagan neighbors. We may not say we believe the motto, "More means better", but our actions, attitudes, and ultimately, our lifestyle only accentuates the desire for MORE temporary control & material.

God forgive us for our arrogance, ignorance, and the constant batting of our eyes at the poor/oppressed/marginalized...for the sake of this greedy, oily idol we think is $ but in actually is CONTROL. Or at least the illusion of control (It seems to me that the quest for more ends up controlling us).

God rescue us!!! You designed us to want MORE than lies and illusions. Open our eyes so that we may truly SEE the Kingdom you embrace = a Kingdom of RELEASE where we surrender to a majestic/mysterious/loyal King who offers us a new society based on sacrifice, conscience, sharing, love, and awareness beyond our stuff.

Purposeful Aimlessness

2005-10-24T16:29:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday we took our little brother Aram to the Chicago airport where he departed for the rich, earthy Scotland. He anxiously arrived in Dublin, Ireland last Thursday where he spent the day celebrating the birth of his sweetheart Lauren (who just happens to be studying abroad through Taylor University). Traveling around with Lauren's group, he was able to take in the sights, sounds, experiences offered by Romance on the shores of the grainy beaches.

After reading several reflective emails from A-to-the-Ram, it seems as though his spirits match the typical Aramesque features we have all come to know/love/admire -- a seeker full of questions, wonder, and hope. Keep seeking my eager brother.

Just today, after several days of hiking he has found the comfort of a cozy bed at the Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh.

The most difficult aspect in Aram's departure for Laura and I has been the way in which he offered stability/tranquility/simplicity to our fast-paced/often fractured Indianapolis existence. For sure, his presence will be missed by many, especially us.

As for his adventures, may they be full of purposeful aimlessness. (To check in on Aram's trek, visit http://aramgorn.blogspot.com)

I am positive that in spite of his absence we will learn how to Live equally as adventerous as Aram during the daily grind here in Indy.

God inspire us!!!

Two Months of Grandeur

2005-10-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

As I gaze at my calendar in a state of shock, I realize that October grows to a close. We have barely shared any happenings from September or October. This entry will try to communicate some of our thoughts, feelings, happenings over the past 2 months...

+++ My MOTHER (thru marriage) and a good family friend, ASHLEY (Ashley is training to be a pilot in the Royal Canadian Army plus she's freakin' cool to talk to and could kick any guy's butt), came to visit us in the beginning of September. We ate mostly at Einstein bagels = one of our favorite places to eat when Janet comes to town. Heck, its one of our favorite places when she's not in town (Mason I got the everything bagel with cream cheese just for you ;) Of course the girls were super busy rearranging the house and repainting the entry way room. Janet and Laura have a knack for creating beautifully elegant spaces for cheap. Aram and I took some high school kids camping and watched Star Wars at the dollar theatre while the ladies do their thang.
+++ BARN BASH - Laura, Aram, and I traveled back to Pulaski, NY to be part of the event we helped inspire (which was inspired by an event our college ministry created along with our dreams of connecting communities with the platforms of music/art/food) . It was tremendous to, not only see everyone, but to be reminded that we helped steer the ethos of our former church through living this into existence. This one day in the life of Pulaski Wesleyan Church has been one of the most clear images of the way Church should live out its mission.
The images most visible to us: Various churches of many denominations working together. Music piercing the hearts of both young and old. An energy of hope, warmth, and Life. A ragamuffin group of skaters influencing the marginalized teens of a small community. Volunteers cleaning up trash not because they were told but because they wanted to be part of a Story much larger than themselves. Hundreds of conversations bleeding into ONE over warm apple cider or steaming chili. The Kingdom being sparked through laughter in the 3 acre corn maze.
Being a part of this atmosphere truly made me miss being a full-time youth pastor.

+++ BRIAN REGAN -- This man offers some of the best medicine (www.brianregan.com) . The elixir of laughter. What a beautiful night with friends (Nate Hershey and Marta) and Aram. Laura and I treated our little brother to a wonderful feast at a great restaurant (the Rathskellar) in downtown Indy and then we headed over to the Murat Temple for 2 + hours of comedy.

+++ NAZARENE PASTORS -- Larry and I have been spending a fair amount of time nurturing a group of pastors struggling with their identity, the established church, etc. Each of these 4/5 guys want out of their denomination but we have been pushing them to picture what it could like like if they hold firm in their current position and infect others with their life-giving attitudes. We'll see what the future holds for these creative forces who feel like they are being help back by the corporation-type church.

+++ INDY PASTORING = I have been trying to uncover the facets of my identity/place/position with Trinity - a city church. I had been wrestling with the notion of even being a "pastor" but after much prayer/contemplation/reading under the old oak tree in the park across the street from my house, God has allowed me to firmly grasp ahold of the concept that who I am is a pastor.

Recently, a group of people from our church have been broken into several times. Last Tuesday, Beth had her car stolen for the second time -- the same car stolen for the second time. A group of us went over and ate together while praying for this war-torn area. It was exciting to be with a group of people who actually prayed instead of complained about where they lived or their missing stuff.

Trinity-Type-Highlight: Laura and I have started meeting a teen couple who have asked us to be their mentors. This felt right and whole. For the first time since we've moved here Laura has been able to tangibly be involved in some ministry.

+++ THE COLTS = Sunday afternoons during football season have traditionally been a time for complete relaxation -- maybe one of the only times when I can turn off my mind. Needless to say, we have been watching the Colts play with grit, passion, and smarts.
Finally our team has some defense!!! Let's hope they can maintain the consistency. Peyton is playing with confidence/patience, not trying to force plays like in years past.
Football is brilliant. Monday Night Football = genius

+++ David the HANDYMAN = I am laughing as I type these words for the simple yet plain truth that I am the furthest from being a handyman. For my wife's sake, I am desperately trying to become at least knowledgeable in this department. A few weeks ago Sween and I spent a massive amount of time installing a new storm door in our porch entry area. A project which should have only taken a few hours tops turned into a phenomenon of 8 (EIGTH) grueling hours. I'm thinking now that the $59 installation would have paid for itself. Anyway, you live and learn. I am well on my way to becoming a handyman.

+++ THE SICK NIN = Lexi, our beautiful, fat cat has been taken over by infection. A generous amount of time has been spent cleaning up the products of an unhealthy cat. We took her to the vet to find out she really isn't that fat but she indeed was sick. The freakin formula they gave us has to be shot into her mouth with one of those syringe-type deals. Lexi hates medicine! It took Aram wrapping her in a towel...me holding her head, prying her jaws open...and Laura to quickly inject the pitiful liquid into her mouth. She also "caught" pink-eye so we spent several minutes everyday holding her down to put those drops in her eye. Fathering a cat is tough work.

+++ ARAM TIME = We have been spending huge amounts of time picnicking, watching movies, playing card games, and talking on the front porch with our soon to be foreign brother. Aram and I started a neighborhood football revolution by simply playing pass in the park right arcoss the street from our house. Before we knew it what seemed like dozens of kids were fired up about playing two hand touch. Most of these kids don't have parents who would take the time to do much of anything with them. Aram and I had a blast teaching these boys how to properly throw a ball. It was certainly a memorable experience.

Larry, Aram and I also spent a night in the Indiana Wilderness known as Morgan-Monroe. For Indiana it was extremely wild. Aram taught me the best way to make a fire, especially if you only have one match. During our firemaking we were stung by many ground bees and forced to move to an even more magical spot where we could stare at the magical moon. Our conversations focused on our fears, expectations, dreams for the next stage of life. We read a chapter from Rob Bell's new book Velvet Elvis as well as visioned for the future of Worn Soles (our family pilgrimage trip venture).

Another Aram Highlight: We went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for the first time. Of course the only way we could ever afford this was if we had a gift certificate. And we did! Prime Rib = yummy!!! Our family enjoys eating together and I am glad. This was our going away party for Aram.

Aram is already missed...before he has even exited the hemisphere.

Other images from Barn Bash:
Zig sharing a message of simplicity during one of the coffeehouse sessions.
Laura visiting with her friend Jamie.

Stombaugh and Trisha enchanting us with their delicate melodies.

Jake Burns of the skate team Enemy Opposition(www.enemyopposition.com) announcing each move and sharing Life through humor and hope, and amazing 360 kickflips.

Dave Pelsue of Kids in the Way energetically challenging us with his lyrics and his bold statements of becoming the Church God has always dreamed for us.

The car bash was amazing to watch. The smallest of people taking out their aggression on this poor inanimate object. 1500 people floating about the Stooks' property, enjoying the music of KITW, food, and hayrides.

Front Porch Sittin

2005-09-29T01:13:00.000-05:00

Late into this eerie Wednesday evening which has now become a howling, early Thursday morning...And in the midst of a dreary/windy yet comforting cold front...I find my heart warm with the tinge of encouragement offered by my brothers (James Moore, Aram Mitchell, Ben Blevins and Laurence Mitchell) in the Faith who are dealing with the same core issues. Despair also exists in my heart but glistening hope prevails tonight.

...I long to "feel Alive" like days of old. I want to hug those ancient memories of what I thought was "Life to the Full".

...As we scratched to embrace the front porch atmosphere -- the change of warm summer air to blustery fall tones as well as the brotherhood generated by textured conversation along with the soothing act of pipe smoking -- we generously found ourselves processing the conclusion of our honeymoon phase with "Life to the Full"/John 10:10. That is the ending of fluffy quotes and mostly hollow everyday living...

The wind of awareness penetrated us there on those clanky wooden slates of 3906 Ruckle. Here's what the whispery wind said at least to me, "You have officially entered the phase of being 'life to the full'." Our conversation with each other and the weather allowed us to peel back the onion to find a deeper layer which requires much more of our hearts. = It requires more initiation on our behalf to be involved in the hassle-filled lives of those around us; a gritty wrestling with faith; creating more intentional spaces of listening to God's Spirit rather than feeding our sense of security.

In a world which clings to skepticism/pessimism, I still believe in the more real reality of being Fully Alive, especially after our front porch sittin'.

A Striking Question

2005-08-30T22:39:00.000-05:00

In the past few days I have been spending a bit of time reading a variety of blogs, trying to gain some perspective on God/the church/music/tastes/etc. Coming across two entries, one by a fellow named Kevin Rains whom i've never met and the other by an acquaintence who I am hoping to get to know a bit better since he and his family have returned to the States from Thailand -- His name is Joel Vestell, a missionary linked with an intriguing group called ServeLife (Joel has become friends with my friend/co-pastor of Trinity = Todd Fisher...they are heading to India/Thailand to work with ServeLife and some local pastors). Anyway, these two posts stopped me in my place, internally dwelling on the ramifications of the question posed. The question, "What comes first -- mission or community?"

Here are the posts:

"Gordon Cosby said something a few years back that haunts me. He said that in all his years of service he has never (and he emphasized 'never') seen a group go from community to mission. Rather, he said one should organize around mission and community will follow. I'm paraphrasing but that is the basic idea. This haunts becasue most things I have done over the past 10 years have been attempts to create community that will eventually be on mission together. We (VC, Community House, my west Norwood transplant homies) have done a decent job - and sometimes even better than decent - at creating community. But our tasking has been spotty at best. Of course I need to define mission before others begin to pick this apart... for us mission has been tied to being an incarnational presence in west Norwood, loving, serving, being present, healing, mercy, and justice. Now, it's not that we haven't 'done outreaches.' We have. It's not that we don't love our neighbors. We do. In theory more than reality, in abstraction more than in sacrifice. Some have done better than others. I applaud their efforts. Oh, and this not a " WE NEED TO DO MORE... MORE MORE MORE.... MORE IS BETTER... IF YOU REALLY LOVE JESUS YOU"D BE DOING MORE" post. It's an honest attempt for me (me me me)(us us us)(VC VC VC)(Brownhouse brownhouse brownhouse) to not make the same mistake again. You see, we're once again starting to think about things like a 9 month training program... but wrestling with the question "To what end?" becasue that question determines where we start. So, we're starting to go back to the beginning to find the future... we're asking why we came in the first place. We're retelling the old stories of Dave and Jody and their young kids moving into the neighborhood and talking about what it might look like to see lives transformed by Christ via a church that is bought in for the long haul. We're starting to remember that this has more to do with precious, beloved souls that line our streets and not so much to do with us or the conversations we are a part of or notional (oops... i meant 'national'.... or did I ) movements.

+++ Lord, have mercy on us! We commited for a lifetime and now we're seeing that it might just take us that long to figure out the basics! Speed our learning so we can work intelligently and wisely and fruitfully with you for the years we have left. Do something really small and beautiful among us. We long to know you and love our neighbor. Show us the way again. In your mercy Lord. +++" - Kevin Rains
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"What comes first? Community or Mission?
Thank you Kevin Rains for stimulating the question and thought that has been on the forefront of my mind these days. Kevin pointed out that he heard Gordon Cosby say one time that he has NEVER seen community produce or lead to mission but that you should always rally/organize around mission and then community will follow. I know Henri Nouwen writes more or less the opposite about the model of Jesus was"solitude, community, then mission/ministry" - Perhaps it is not an "either/or" but "both/and" simultaneously - Always longing, searching, wanting more of each. It is true indeed that when we rally solely on "community" we get introverted and isolated from culture and the those who do not know God. We want our 'Christian country club or elitist society' - We must always have people in our hearts and minds that are "the lost coin" - Jesus came to bring them also and so should we. The primary purpose of the church is both community and mission. It is 2 sides of the same coin...However I would say that if one were to error on one side, let us error on the side of making more of mission and moving out into our communities, work places, and the streets of the world to bring hope, peace, and love. "

So, what do you think?

Death Cab "Plans" Review

2005-08-30T18:18:00.000-05:00

The anticipated release of Death Cab for Cutie's new album "Plans" finally comes to an end. Today I purchased one of the greatest former indie rock band's major-record-label-release (say that sentence 3 times fast). To be honest, in my initial 2 listening sessions, it hasn't quite reached the foundational quality of their former records. (Quality = both lyrically & the crisp musical atmosphere they create with the gelling together of instruments, romanticism, and simplicity) Not that the record will be a major disappointment upon futher listening but the mediocre lyrical content mixed with the overuse of synth makes for a more sterilized sound than expected.

Tracks #1 "Marching Bands of Manhattan" & #2 "Soul Meets Body" had me on the edge of my heels with the same emotional rawness of Transatlanticism/ previous albums while rest of the album, especially the second half of the disc sort of blends together with a tepid texture.

Death Cab has quickly become one of those bands who influence a crop of younger musicians and indie rock listeners. I am no musician but this band certainly have been on the top of my play list for the past few years. In no way do I believe they have sold out by switching from Barsuk records to Atlantic, as their songs still resemble the stylistic focus of the band = they haven't changed their sound to sell more records. On the other hand, it doesn't feel as though their creative potential was maximized in the production of "Plans."

Maybe after continual listening my ears will hear differently...

A Challenging Mission

2005-08-26T18:11:00.000-05:00

This week some startling yet exciting news came my way:
Startling due to the magnitude of the mission; exciting due to the magnitude of the mission...

I will be embarking to South Africa in November with a few folks from our small faith community in Indianapolis. We don't have all the facts, figures, information to share as of now...

What we do know now: we'll be on a mission to observe the AIDS epedimic and how we can involve our church in ACTION to fight its deadly consequences. Along with that daunting task, we will learn how to share our resources, both human and financial with local groups, further linking the hands of churches for the sake of God's Kingdom on earth.

Misadventures of Zig & the Weinkton

2005-08-16T18:32:00.000-05:00

Whenever Zach Fancy gets together with the Zig, chaos soon will prevail. -- The kind of chaos which entails concerts, the game of pool, thriller-type movies, disc golf, bike rides, and conversations filled with faith mixed with analysis of the 2005 NFL season.

One of those glorious, chaotic nights Laura hooked us up with tickets for Switchfoot at the Indiana State Fair. After seeing these guys perform the previous year in Charlotte with a dismal effort, I wasn't sure what to expect. Luckily the both of us were blown away by their on-stage antics and quality of their sound.

These SoCal boys put on one heck of a show!!! I had just seen Coldplay a few nights before so I was already a bit skeptical but Switchfoot's lead rocker Jon Foreman dazzled us with his climbing ability (this pic above was taken after he had exited the main stage area, climbed up the scaffolding and entered the pavilion where we were sitting) , not to mention power-rock-n-roll ballads full of reflective lyrics. I read recently that Jon considers himself a ruthless idealist, vowing he will remain so until he "sees things match up with the way they should be." Relevant magazine recently reported that his lifestyle actually live up to his lyrics. = The band frequently performs benefit concerts for Sudanese refugees...and are part of events that support Care House (an organization aiding at-risk teens and single mothers)...and are involved in activism groups such as DATA (Debt, Aids, Trade for America).

Switchfoot incorporated a great blend of fun, creativity, humor, intensity, mission (thinking beyond themselves), and passionate music. All in all, an instant memory for Zach and me to hold onto for years to come.

I'd say this evening was the highlight of our adventurous time together.

Pleased by Simple Sounds

2005-08-12T02:50:00.000-05:00

Coldplay...An amazing musical show filled with humor, creativity, simplicity yet grandeur, Mission, and Love.
Coldplay knows how to inform others about something deeper and richer than themselves while entertaining.

This show could quite possibly have been the best live performance I have seen in my short years. And I've witnessed some amazing acts like: pearl jam; dave matthews band; ben harper; ben folds; counting crows; foo fighters; green day; live; mxpx; etc. Only two shows in my mind that could top Coldplay and that's a performance by michael jackson in the 80s and U2.

The atmosphere of intrigue, mystery, and bigness created by this band was absolutely phenomenal. Honestly, I figured it would be a technical performance with the band being straight-laced, diverging little from their studio sound. Luckily I was proven wrong as Chris Martin and friends added unique contributions, improvs, and elements throughout the evening.

These guys know how to draw others into, not only their music, but their mission to help the oppressed by making trade fair (www.maketradefair.com ..."Beforeyou've finished your breakfast this morning, you'll have relied on half the world" - Martin Luther King
An interesting thought. And a depressing one, when you realize that those people you've relied on for your coffee and muesli are almost certainly being exploited and oppressed by the unfair power balance in world trade.
But what can you do? Surely it's beyond your control? Wrong. You can buy Fair Trade products. And you can add your voice to the Big Noise.
Fair Trade is a growing, international movement which ensures that producers in poor countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods (one that covers the cost of production and guarantees a living income), long-term contracts which provide real security; and for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales.). Before the show even began, on all the Verizon Wireless (Deer Creek) screens played a video teaching us how we can become involved in small, active ways. Then the guys blasted off with a countdown (featured on a huge screen stationed just behind them) into the first track from their new album X&Y...merging into "Politik", which happens to be one of my favorite of their tracks. This song featured an incredible array of flashing lights, sure to fix people's attention on their simple yet zesty talent while Chris Martin also added some impromptu lyrics, "This is a concert you cannot miss, it's Coldplay in Indianapolis.".

The rest of the evening was one where the mind was able to relax, enjoying the hazy sky and good company.

1000 Island Sights

2005-08-09T21:03:00.000-05:00

The Thousand Islands are one of the most beautiful places in the entire world --literally known for its many shapes and sizes of islands oddly places amidst the St.Lawrence seaway. For the past FIVE years Laura and I have been treated by our close mentors/friends, Stan & Marci Groman, to a several day boat trip to this glorious spot. It seems each new year we add a islandmate or two until it has grown to the Groman family, the Zigler family, some of the Mitchell family, the Cantey family, Sarah Saraceno, and this year Steve. We have encountered many interesting people (such as Island Dave mentioned in the previous blog)...take in several marvelous sunsets...the boys have enjoyed twilight conversations over a stogey or two...sang many a song...enjoyed lush meals of Deb Cantey's mac n'cheese and other creative foods...jumped off cliffs/towers/rocks...read a few interesting books...smelled sweet summer blowing in from the breeze...meditated on God's Mission and the mystery offered by the water...been part of a fabulous, growing faith community...plus more height/depth/breadth than words could ever express
Our cast and crew with whom we have forged a wonderful August tradition of visiting Sparrow Island.
A view of Boldt Castle from the front of the Groman's boat.
Laura's favorite little island.
Josh Cantey and I took to the cliff area just one island over. Josh felt a bit more courageous than many on this day as he decided to jump off a light tower into the swirling, mysterious waters.
Man! I love watching these mammoth boats churn through the sea.
When our boat pulled away from the Brockville boat launch, we were enamored with a fleet of sail boats.
Another liner!!!
The past 3 years this island has been more than a literal place for our boat to dock, it has been a place of refuge, relaxation, and renewal. One day i found a new cove in which to read/journal while watching the huge liners carve through the crystal clear waters.

The Mystique of Island Dave

2005-08-08T17:23:00.000-05:00

Recently Laura and i took a trip to the 1000 islands (Northern NY & Ontario, Canada on the St. Lawrence seaway) where we encountered one of my favorite charachters that i have ever come across in my lifetime...

Let me introduce to you "Island Dave" = a hippie-type man who rides a jet ski to perform his job on the various islands owned by the town of Brockville, Ontario, Canada:
Why don't more of us in the world engage life like this guy does? He has learned to interact with culture, grasping at simplicity, living in such a way that he exhibits more freedom than most "good", evangelical Christians.

Upon observing Island Dave go about doing his job tasks such as collecting money from boaters and collecting sprawled pieces others' litter, i noticed that he actually enjoyed the assignments that most would think dull, boring, or dirty. Eating, drinking, swimming, picking up trash to him was all part of an incredible existence which he was joyful to be a part. His attitude was never that of simply eeking by, but rather, each new morning provided fresh adventure.

Some would say he hasn't "accepted Christ as His Savior" or is not "following Christ" or whatever handy phrase they would want to use to label him a nonbeliever...and yet his lifestyle, attitudes, and actions would prove otherwise. Let me explain by saying, once again, Dave lives with so much intentionality, depth, and integrity.

After seeing him around our boat site several times, we struck up a conversation, finding out that he only consumes around $20 per week in order to provide children in Ecuador with food, shelter, clothing, and education. Evidently he vacationed with a friend who lived in an area ravaged by poverty. After realizing the enormous amount of blessing he had by being part of North America, he quickly came to the conclusion that he could inhabit the earth consuming far less. To me this seems to be the message of God's Kingdom. Dave's sacrifice seems whole, pure, and the right way to live.

Island Dave has seen need...proceded by ACTION at the expense of self. Most individuals in our society would consider this long-haired, fu-manchu, camping out, jet-skiing guy a complete failure. I view him as a saint. He is a hero who has embraced the true essence of humanity. We are not islands unto ourselves...we must extend bridges to others who are drifting into a sea of swallowing darkness/pain/greed/poverty/want...We must be about living for the sake of God and others...

This man who collects under $15,000 from his yearly paychecks contributes more to the Kingdom, extending far beyond the comprehension of our finite minds...
To go along with his quiet financial blessings, he purposefully passes the joy he has been delivered through the rise of the morning sun on to others as he enforces island policies while picking up our pathetic amounts of trash.

"I follow the sun." Dave replied when our group asked, "What do you do?" Maybe this island dweller is unaware of how true and in how many ways he is Living into the Way of the Son. His words, example, and heart have enlivened our group today. Island Dave has become one of my favorite characters.

Romance...Love...a Mexican Wedding

2005-07-25T17:10:00.000-05:00

The lovely Shawna enjoying a beautiful reception that she and Travis worked so hard to put together. Mexico Point, literally a few miles from my former front porch, was where this festive event was to be held.
It truly was a superb feast as much of the meal elements had the zesty flare of both the Learned clan and Subway. MMM...Subway chocolate chip cookies!

I think Travis had something else on his mind at this point in the afternoon :)
Anyway, the day was perfectly sunny, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the bride and groom united their souls. All in all, a dang good day!!!

The best man toast. An honor and privilege that was all mine. It was easy and odd giving a speech to these two since they had already been living into so much of what marriage is all about. They deeply understand how to sacrifice for each other. They listen to each other well. They have offered their lives to the benefiting the Kingdom of God with their gifts.

As Laura and I returned to our former New York home and were part of Travis & Shawna's wedding celebration, I was trying to approach the aura/commotion surrounding the ceremony in a different light. Nothing came to mind until a few days after when I stumbled across these words:

"The love that is affirmed at a wedding is not just a condition of the heart but an act of the will, and the promise that love makes is to will the other's good even at the expense sometimes of its own good--and that is quite a promise...

...matrimony is called holy because this brave and fateful promise of a man and a woman to love and honor and serve each other through thick and thin looks beyond itself to more fateful promises still and speaks mightily of what human life at its most human and its most alive and most holy must always be...

...every wedding is a dream, and every word that is spoken there means more than it says, and every gesture--the clasping of hands, the giving of rings-is rich with mystery."

- Frederick Buechner -

Review: Kingdom of Heaven

2005-07-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

Ah! the dollar theatre, a marvelous idea for a rainy friday evening...
Last night my wife and i sat through a struggle of a film. Kingdom of Heaven was an epic but one with a much harsher reality than i realized before viewing. It was filled with what seemed like completely purposeless warfare at the abuse of God's name. so much freedom was stolen from innocent folks. so much starvation, heartache, and false guilt heaped upon marginalized people. the standard line from the mouth of just about every crusader was, "in the name of God". in the name of God we plunder, rape, kill, destroy, break the peace.

most of the time i leave epics with a sense of peace as the "good" guys triumph over the "bad" guys and even though the lead character will probably die, its for freedom or the greater good of those less fortunate. i usually depart the movie complex with a sense of hope. this film certainly had a medely of those elements but we were left with no winners or losers, only brokenness.

Balian (the main character and a few of his sidekicks) was the only noble and virtuous person. It sometimes feels as though only one in a million folks actually cares about living in a couragous way that actually advances peace and the Kingdom of God.

i left with much burden..and a sprig of hope...

this movie has some incredibly rich characters (whether they are good or bad), hearty diaglogue, and intense story-line but i left with much anguish in my heart. maybe that's exactly what i needed. i needed to be watered with urgency at the root of my emotions...

Here's some of the plot:
It is the time of the Crusades during the Dark Ages - the world shaping 200-year collision between Europe and the East. A blacksmith named Balian has lost his family and nearly his faith. The religious wars raging in the far-off Holy Land seem remote to him, yet he is pulled into that immense drama. Amid the pageantry and intrigues of medieval Jerusalem he falls in love, grows into a leader, and ultimately uses all his courage and skill to defend the city against staggering odds. Destiny comes seeking Balian in the form of a great knight, Godfrey of Ibelin, a Crusader briefly home to France from fighting in the East. Revealing himself as Balian's father, Godfrey shows him the true meaning of knighthood and takes him on a journey across continents to the fabled Holy City. In Jerusalem at that moment--between the Second and Third Crusades--a fragile peace prevails, through the efforts of its enlightened Christian king, Baldwin IV, aided by his advisor Tiberias, and the military restraint of the legendary Muslim leader Saladin. But Baldwin's days are numbered, and strains of fanaticism, greed, and jealousy among the Crusaders threaten to shatter the truce. King Baldwin's vision of peace--a kingdom of heaven--is shared by a handful of knights, including Godfrey of Ibelin, who swear to uphold it with their lives and honor. As Godfrey passes his sword to his son, he also passes on that sacred oath: to protect the helpless, safeguard the peace, and work toward harmony between religions and cultures, so that a kingdom of heaven can flourish on earth. Balian takes the sword and steps into history. (plot outline taken from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320661/plotsummary )

i know next to nothing about the crusades, but to witness through the lens of Kingdom of Heaven the personal agenda of power, acquisition of land, and man-made titles behind the banner of God's name brought about such feelings of anger/disgust/remorse. i unfortunately believe a majority of us have bought into this same notion today. we do so much harm "in the name of God". let's just think about the way we treat one another in our churches = we gossip, lie, and barely share our deepest self. then let's take it a step further..how do we treat those who don't agree with our "party-line"? = we hurl insults like, "queer, fag, liberal, stupid arab pagan", etc. pushing them further from the Kingdom Jesus initiated for His followers.

one of the religious groups in this movie have taken on the role of executing all who don't line up with their philosophy of Christianity. How do we metaphorically do this to our neighbors (in the ghettos, gay bars, coffeeshops, clubs, offices, or our overseas counterparts) today???

possibly one of the most disheartening moments comes when Tiberias, the advisor to King Baldwin (the king who actually tried to create peace) decides to leave Balian & the helpless in Jerusalem after Baldwin dies and the kingdom is led astray by Guy (the evil crusader who wants nothing but his own personal glory and the heads of his enemies). Tiberias basically says, "i know what's courageous and right but i've already done my duty." How many of us decent Christians imply this indifference by our actions (or lack-there-of) ?

i must apologize to my neighbors (here and abroad) for i have taken part of this same type of religiosity for years. God's Spirit has truly convicted me of my actions and this movie only pushes me to want to help make others aware of how we treat those who are different than us. sometimes it seems as though i am busting on the Church hardcore (and maybe i do too much) but its only because i believe so freakin much in what we were called to do and who we are called to be. we are to be agents of Christ, drawing people closer to Him and each other. i desire to be part of the cure instead of the disease. i long to bring about reconciliation not division.

Laura and i left the theatre with the urgency of that oath taken by Balian, "to protect the helpless, safeguard the peace, and work toward harmony between religions and cultures, so that a kingdom of heaven can flourish on earth." i entered the humid indiana air from the crisp air conditioned movies 8 cineplex with great burden. i was also struck with tragedy. Why do so few of us who claim to be followers of Christ take this oath seriously?

Where are the Balians of the world? i believe in them. i desperately hope they will come forward out of the shadows...

The Gaze of Indifference

2005-07-13T18:20:00.000-05:00

This is a simple quote from a trip i recently took to Toronto:

"most people gaze neither into the past nor the future;
they explore neither truth nor lies. They gaze into the television."
- Radiohead (from a t-shirt)

Life "on the outside"

2005-07-01T18:26:00.000-05:00

Back to rules, regulations, times, dates, appointments, cell phones with their accompanying messages to return, and the complication of our american social structure filled with maddening busyness.

i now see why one would not want to leave the canyon. the return to civilized perimeters creates a stifling atmosphere far greater than the heat of desert air.

today, however, has been worthwhile in the time spent telling stories to Laura while she conveyed her stories of the week past. we kissed, ate together, laughed and enjoyed the deep company of romantic friends...she's one of the great purposes of returning home...

still though, i desire to be "on the inside" reduced only to our primal nature of intimately depending upon God to provide, not part of a system of artificial faith mixed with the commotion of busy schedules...i know the canyon issues numerous physical hardships, but the reward was the fog/haze burned off my heart by the rich nature of simplicity.

Thirsty for More

2005-06-30T22:14:00.000-05:00

As many of you dear friends know, i recently traveled to the Paria Canyon (bordering southern utah crossing into arizona - near the grand canyon).
these are a handful of images which can only begin to describe the splendor and infinite span of texturized rock, vivid sky, and Faithful Creator:
And so the journey begins...Dropped into the wild for five days of simple, grand living. Our guide Laurence nearly knee deep in muck during the stint known as, "Buckskin" -- the longest slot canyon in the world.
Jeff Trotter keenly aware of his setting, soaking in the feelings, smells, sounds, etc. Jeff taught us all a bit about meditating, living in the PRESENT.
The moon was notorious for masking itself in the evenings but this morning we awoke to its fading glow.
Trotter, Zig, and Laurence atop a rock formation near Wrather Canyon. The perfect morning overlook to still the soul. Ah! The sacred nature of Big Spring -- a place where the terms "communion" and "grace" became more vibrant. One of a few sources of water along the intensely dry trail.
Laurence pausing to humor us with a story of intrigue. This flower's scape couldn't be passed up. Just look at its backdrop, what a story it paints of the nature of God's coloringbook.
Pilgrims. Seeking. Sharing stories while the Story shares with them.
Eye candy. These sorts of images filled my heart and mind, enabling me (us) to dream about the kind of God we live for/serve/seek to embrace.
My faithful trailmate Andy Chen and I as we were in the middle of dialogue regarding the mission of the Kingdom...or what food we were going to eat when we returned home...

The Canyon only invites more Inviting...it only asks of us more questions than we can bear...it silences the maddening voices...it has made me thirsty for MORE...

Early Tales of Summer Happenings

2005-06-17T08:52:00.000-05:00

Last week Aram and i spent about an hour creating a new post for this blog but after allowing the computer to sit for a while, somehow the document wouldn't post and, therefore, i have been angry for the past week, unable to write a new entry until NOW.

So, here goes...
We have been up to quite a bit:

*** Traveled to Pulaski, NY for one of my brother's wedding = Ken Isgar wed the lovely Julie Allport...it was a superb time to visit the old home including a few delicious swims/rock skipping moments @ Lake Ontario (ah! a refreshingly sturdy thinking place), not to mention the day of adventurous jet skiing with Zach Fancy, Josh Cantey, Aram, and Dakin...

(Zach & Dakin)
(Ah!!! I miss the antics of Z Fancy)

We engaged in rich conversation with Greg Dakin, Rupert & Seth Fancy, Josh Cantey, Sam Kiesinger, etc. about our futures...I also was able to share my "deconstruction" thoughts with my old youth group, Commonground Ministries, not to mention, we even got in a heated game of ultimate frisbee where i crushed the opponents (not really but my team did win)
Oh yeah, the wedding was beautiful even though it was over 90 degrees and i had to wear a tux for over six hours with no air conditioning (i sound like a whiner don't i?)
(Jules with Rupert and flower girl)
Visiting our Pulaski family felt "right" and full of warmth. Laura and I miss our family.
(Laura with the Tayinator)

*** As soon as we returned from Pulaski, two buddies from Houghton College (Daniel Fuller & Chuck Meeks) stayed at our place (we've had over a dozen different folks stay with us in our first six months here in Indy). We had some of the most amazingly intellectual conversations about the desires of our hearts and God's leading. Check out some of the details by visiting Daniel's blog (danielfuller.blogspot.com)

(Dan, Chuck, and Zig)

*** While the fellas were here Larry and I found ourselves enriched by being with several young people from the Indiana Central Nazarene Camp on the west side of Indy. Our workshops/seminars were: "The perplexity of Jesus" and "How to Engage the World in Godly Conversation". our main emphasis was in relation to the term "deconstruction" = the need for us to expose our institutions and rituals for what they are by processing their value or transformative nature...if they are only creating a hinderence between God and others maybe they are worth tearing down. Really when it came down to it, we shared the ideas of: 1.) Being deeply involved in the Mission of God, which is, the Kingdom of Heaven and how that is much different than focusing only on individual sins and getting our hindquarters into heaven...the Kingdom is much more about finding ourselves wrapped up in God's dream for this world HERE and NOW...how heaven entered the world to spread abundant Life while breaking the infection of self/injustice, not just to save us from sins to get us into heaven. 2.) Embracing Mystery = let's stop trying to fully understand who God is since He's too lofty to grasp, instead, let's allow Him to pierce our hearts with grace and allow Him to love us in order to love others better...It's OK to question God, Jesus, His Spirit...It's OK to have unresloved issues...It's OK to live in dynamic tension and not have everything in an orderly fashion. 3.) Battling Indifference = Why do we Americans feel like we have to drive Hummers? Why do we rank sins? Has most of our version of Christianity become a branch of Phariseeism? So much of our lifestyle has been about obtaining power or abusing power. The real question is, "How are we going to use our Voice/Power/Money/Prestige to bless others? especially the marginalized..." Jesus used the power language of hell to disempower the injustice of the powerful and to empower the disempowered to seek justice. For too long we have evaded the responsibility/weight of the Kingdom by seeking only after personal salvation that gets us into heaven. We have lived like the Pharisees whether we want to believe it or not by excluding, judging, enabling injustice.
We feel this last issue is of grave importance as our understanding of Scripture depicts a Jesus extremely concerned with the Kingdom of God which allowed women, the poor, abused, drunk, blind, slave, leper, prostitute to inherit blessing instead of the "good" guy who only worried about imposing rules that further bound the oppressed. Jesus ushered in an upside down way of living. The Upside Down Kingdom will be hard to understand in the land of power and consumerism, therefore we must Battle this Indifference.

We have been facilitating HomeChurch Leadership Meetings dealing with: "Authenticity = no B.S. zones"; "Thinking Outside of Ourselves"; "Conflict, Resolution, and Growth"; and "Living with the Spirit and Authority". These sessions were created to reinforce the values/mission/direction of Trinity as well as to refresh our leaders with strength and vigor. God has blessed our community with outside influences to help lead the dialogue in each of these sessions. This past Monday one of our Trinity members was dealing with a heap of stressful, emotional upheaval so we prayed. And prayer it was!!! Powerful prayer full of healing charisma. God worked through our people. We were no longer praying as individuals, but praying as ONE, experiencing the eyes/ears/Dream of God coming true. People were in harmony with His Will. God showed up in a remarkable way.

*** The Last Issue = I've been spending large chunks of time with My Brothers...

(Brandon Dangerous)

(We have too much time on our hands don't we Wes and Brandon???)

Many of my college/foundational brothers are moving away. Our times together have been glorious (full of picnics, brats, swimming, jet skiing, homerun derby, conversations and movies) but leave the taste of wanting more. Wanting more because I know the times together will be on the purest level "Church" but will be few and far between...

My closest friend in recent years, Wes Pate, just moved to Alabama where his wife and he will enter the uncharted waters of a Vineyard church plant.
Dave Mason resigned from College Wesleyan Church after six years of living in the trenches with junior highers, heading toward Michigan.
Tim Horsman leaves on Tuesday for Hawaii and my best listening friend Magee may follow him. Brandon "interviews" for a job that could direct his path toward the coldest place on Planet Earth -- Antarctica. His wild spirit will be greatly missed.
And last but not least, my faithful brother Aram will be heading to Scotland for nine months in October. I can't remember the last time I haven't spent at least a day per month living further into God's Kingdom with Aram. We share existence on a heart level where most people fear to tread. He and these others must go forward listening to God's call for their lives. Unfortunately, their call removes their immediate presence from the Indy area where i am habitating. They will contintue to shape me but their "constantcy" will be missed.

Not to take away from the deepness of my "newfound" brothers (Ken Isgar, Ryan Sween, Josh Cantey, Todd Fisher) who have helped guide me in recent days BUT losing the safety of my foundational brothers truly has been rocking my world. I am sure these guys are unaware of the impact they have had on me. I would not be as "mature" or sensitive or adventurous without them. Journey well my brothers until our paths converge again...

Check out more details, pics, folklore at www.brothersbyblood.com

Apparitions of Melody

2005-05-28T09:51:00.000-05:00

Dave Pelsue & Zig

Kids In The Way -- Marion, IN -- 25 May 2005

What a show...I have never seen a band create such raw, powerful yet completely melodic and beautiful music. The Kids in the Way put on one of the best live shows in a way that demonstrates intrigue, grace, and strength. I personally, as well as the Church, have much to learn about the way we put into Action the Voices God has given us.

Plus the guys did an amazing cover of U2's "With or Without You"

Anyway, this is a section from a journal entry written a year ago after a KITW show:
"Talking with the guys afterward only draws me closer to the Indy scene...I can't wait to get back and invest heart, soul, passion into the atmosphere of people there. God, please allow my stylistic interests to meet your Kingdom Dream which will ultimately help meet the needs of Indianapolis (and right now Pulaski). Keep me moving closer to You, O Lord, my Rock who is steadily providing harbor for me...
For KITW, may their music/shows/lives pierce the bowels of darkness, setting numerous prisoners free...guard these guys' hearts and keep them from the air of pride -- Fill their lungs with the rescuing power of your Glory...may they shine with their unique voice.
The students who ventured with me from Commonground Ministries(Seth Fancy, Shane, Brandy, Vicki, Beth, Mike, Dana, Andrew), Father, enable them to take the active energy passed back and forth at this show and return the value of it to their friends." (Entry 5.15.04)

I find it somewhat ironic that a year ago seeing these guys pumped vitality into my veins about the transition which was about to take place...and seeing their show tonight reminded me of the mission in which we are called to be part of here in Indy. That mission: Drawing others into the Kingdom through the Church of Indianapolis.

Nathan E. showing his mad guitar skills

Ryan (the newest member of the band) rippin' it up on the bass.

Eric with the new hairdo.

Dave creating raw emotional energy.

Lyrics from Apparitions of Melody relevant to this blog entry:
Can you feel the beat of a thousand marching feet /Searching for passion in a lifeless and dead-end street /They're breaking down the wall / They're knocking on the door / Searching for a soul that gives them more/ When the music dies, the apparitions of melody will rise / All that's said and done, will haunt us one by one / The spirit of the heart will carry on / Are you listening to the voices as they scream / Calling to the masses with the drone of sleepless dreams / They're coming to your house / They're crawling up the stairs / Searching for a saint who really cares / It's just below the skin, that it starts sinking in.

What's In Head On Heart

2005-05-10T22:12:00.000-05:00

After nearly a month of non-writing on this blogspot, here are some of the issues/images resurfacing in the course of living...

Hell = does our evangelical image of hell, and for that matter, end times truly match up with the manner in which Christ spoke??? Just started reading Brian McLaren's new book The Last Word and the Word after That. Been delving deep (no pun intended) into this issue with my comrads Larry, Andy Chen, and Jeff Trotter.

Fight Club

(viewing #2) = a gritty, grimy, painfully disgusting film about deconstruction ... A man disillusioned by what his life has become encounters an exciting stranger who introduces him to a new way of life... "...the things you own end up owning you."... Life isn't all its cracked up to be so we must be looking for more ... Creating community out of the lack ... Rather than using an underground boxing club to simply release pent-up rage, the two main characters start their own religion, an isolation from the fake world, and start to become more authentic. They even live like monks -- albeit violent and sexual monks. Boredom looms in the air of America ... Creating missional approaches to life out of the deconstruction of greed, consumerism, suffering

My Brother's College Graduation = I'm getting old...who will i play with since no one i know very well is in school?

Nature = Been hiking, running, living outside a ton more and am radically impressed by the slight ways God reveals Himself as well as the magnificient views of sky, gorges, and rivers. The places I have visited in recent days include: Shades State Park (The Devil's Punchbowl); Turkey Run; Letchworth State Park (beatiful rapids, steamy waterfalls in Western NY);

Grief = have been reading a bit about C.S. Lewis' life in his book A Grief Observed

Frisbee = Ultimate frisbee should be an Olympic sport

Kids = I am in the process of truly thinking about the possibility of children in the near future

Mothers = Blessed by the influence of my mothers ... we need their embrace and advice ... my mothers have provided so much grace and have pushed me back on issues causing me to process tough decisions

Conversations w/ Echo & Hannah = Am I condemned???...(back to the topic of hell and the nature of God) ...Todd and i have been having incredibly abundant chats with 2 women who are asking all sorts of great questions about God, life, the universe, Chirst, hell, sweat lodges and fire dances, movies, being in Christian community, etc.

FAITH

2005-05-10T21:39:00.000-05:00

Lord, shouldn't faith be a way through the chaos, something calling us forward into the chaos, not back into some safe zone behind it? Shouldn't faith give us courage to climb the mountains, event though the climb is hard? Faith should be a dynamic force in the midst of the turbulence. It beckons, calls, guides us through the turbulence, toward something ahead of us and above us, calling us higher up and deeper in and farther on into the ongoing adventure of life. Faith keeps us from turning back or digging in or giving up or breaking down. This is what your whole message seems to be about: a dynamic revolutionary force in history called "the Kingdom of God." It is always "at hand," always available, always coming to us from the future, always keeping us moving onward, straining forward, leaning, reaching, stretching ahead to touch it, receive it, enter it. So I face this chaos and seek to keep faith and climb. But tonight is hard, very hard. And hate is crouching in the shadows, stalking me. God help me.
-- Dan Poole (a fictitious character from Brian McLaren's new book The Last Word and the Word after That)

Words I wish were penned by me, for they crystalize the current nature of my spirituality/faith, etc.

Enticed by Indifference or Inspired to Action

2005-04-15T23:13:00.000-05:00

Having just watched 'Hotel Rwanda' and being made aware of something that occured 11 years ago, something which I was and have been entirely ignorant of, I am stirred and burdened by the autrocities that fellow men have inflicted upon others. I do not think it is our place to say whether we would or would not perform the same indescent acts in stripping humans of dignity and life. It is our place to recognize in what ways we are already doing just that. And it is our responsibility as those blessed with more security, more resources, more health than most all people the world over to recognize how we may contribute to the restoration of dignity and life - the realization of Life.

How? How? How? Oh God, how?
It is hard, family, to be encompassed by such material abundance and such a wealth of peace when there are others, who deserve these things no less than I, that are starving, being murdered, being torn from their families. It is hard. And I do not wish to rationalize with cute theological concotions or to get stuck in the slime of guilt - I want only to realize, to be aware, to be ready. As a white American newscaster was ushered on to the bus that would drive him to safety leaving hundereds behind to struggle for mere survival in the face of war and hatred and genocide he muttered words that were for me the most powerful of the film. It was raining, a black gentleman walked beside him holding an umbrella over his head, serving him inspite of all the injustice, the hopelessness. The white man said with tears as he got onto the bus and left, "Jesus Christ I am so ashamed." May we not be enticed by ignorance, caught by guilt, burdened with shame - may we not give in to the spirit of indifference that plagues our world and tempts our souls. May we be moved to action, awareness - given hearts that ache and hearts that hope. May the God who desires peace, not war, love, not hatred, life - may God strengthen us, equip us, inspire us, breathe into us. We are amongst the ranks of the Living God - let's live like it.
Aram

Shadows and the Glimmer :Where the Streets Have no Name:

2005-04-12T18:54:00.000-05:00

This past weekend a group of Houghton College students and some of my family members explored the vast culture of innercity Tornoto.

What I found was nothing extraordinary. What I saw wasn't breathtaking. What I encountered seemed like a typical weekend in one of the most diversified cities in the world. What I wasn't ready for was: ME. Me was a ball of insecure matter on the verge of settling for a pseudo-identity. Have you ever been so unsure of yourself that you try to take on the characteristics of someone else in hope to like yourself? Yes!!!

The most obvious outcome of this weekend's venture was revealed to me as I begrudgingly walked down Yonge & Church streets = I am trying too hard to fit into others' shoes = I am attempting to be someone other than myself. Through times of dark struggles with my role as a husband, pastor, friend, son, brother, etc. I have lost the essence of who I am and ultimately, the glory of God shining through me.

Why do we constantly compare ourselves with others? Deep down I know the answer = we are looking in others what only the pursuit of God and His pursuit of us can fill. This answer has a funny way of working out. This answer doesn't always make the lack of identity screech to a halt -- often times it intensifies.

This weekend was supposed to stabilize my story's plot (the most recent chapters being ones filled with clouds of doubt, confusion, and pain) and shock me into a masterfully confident guide who helps others "get on the right track". I feel like shit! Seriously, there's no other word descriptive enough in our English language to explain the dark blend of swirling emotions within, muting the sounds of Life & haulting the rhythm of forward motion.

"What do I have to offer humanity?" I can barely walk around the streets of Toronto for a few miles without complaining about my feet hurting...I have no confidence to share a story with the group for fear that they won't legitimize me...I am not an artsy photographer who crystallizes beautiful images for others to gain new perspectives...I know a whole two streets in Toronto before becoming a displaced pilgrim -- the majority of streets might as well have no name to me...I am unable to carve out articulate and immaculate journal entries that my family & friends applaud as if they were presented with pure gold...The bottom line: I am not Larry or Aram!!!

Internally competing with Aram and Larry for best storyteller, writer, thinker, poet, philosopher, romantic only breeds a whole mess of tension, pressure and heaps of nervous anxiety.

Frantically I try to present myself in such a way that people will legitimize me. I am a puppy for affirmation, seeking the smooth petting of others for my ego. What a tragedy. These were the waves rippling in my heart rather than the still small voice of God. What a tragedy that these idiosyncrasies tempted me to selfishly look within instead of allowing the streets to speak out.

As I sit here in this city park of gritty strangers penning these self-loathing notions, a disheveled elderly man with thin dark hair, a week's worth of stubble, and the smile of one who doesn't take for granted the opportunity of life, approaches me saying, "That looks like the next best seller." After a slight pause in his crooked walk, he scampers off in the distance. Slowly laying my pencil and paper to the side, I honestly believe if no one else was around, the amount of tears could not be contained by an entire box of tissues.

"One of the least of these" offers a streaming, gleaming ray of glory needed to fill the cracks of a prison wall created by months of hiding behind the frail shell of my manhood. The wound explicitly exposed = "Do I have what it takes?" No!!! I tried to formulate the answer to that equation by putting on the skin of Aram & Larry. Not that these guys aren't as fierce as lions or tough as nails or have heroic qualities I hope to copy BUT their skin doesn't quite add up. The answer is still a resounding NO!

I was trying to swap the pages from their book, unhappy with the unfolding of my own story. Glory, a funny term for the purpose of our lives. Glory has little to do with comparing myself to a formula of piousness or seeking the approval of men and more to do with accepting acceptance. Acceptance that life doesn't add up and we are not all that we are cracked up to be. Acceptance that even though I don't have what it takes God shines through the cracks of me and other people who don't have what it takes to unveil His image, His Story, His Mission, His Kingdom, His Answer...so that we will ultimately look like His people, His children, His bride.

Houghton Pilgrimage Images

2005-04-11T23:25:00.000-05:00

Happy chess guy -- playing for the love of the game.

Ah! The crowds of people drawn into a simple game of chess.

Laurence and Aram observing the quirky nature of city life. A pole with a bunch of insane writings. I think of it simply as a pole blog. We all found it quite amusing and took like 13 pictures of it.
Aram and the girls = What a stud!!!
Alexander the Russian guy hyped up on Scope who thought he was a chess master. He played one round against himself and won. One of my favorite characters of the weekend.
The Zig holding a nalgene bottle full of rice, soaking for our community meal.

Mischief, Movie & Brotherhood

2005-03-02T20:06:00.000-05:00

So...i went up to visit my friend Wes Pate the other day. Brandon and i took the two hour plunge to the furniture capital of Indiana -- Berne. we played oodles of ping-pong, which, of course, i destroyed everyone!!! i am awesome! seriously (for those of you who don't believe me), i took everyone down hardcore.

after handily whooping everyone's butt, we ordered some pizza and watched Collateral.

To be honest, i had mixed emotions about watching this film. in my mind, i was sure its was going to be dull and full of fluff. Fortunately my opinion was debunked. i was quite enamered by the buried treasure in the dialogue of Max (Jaime Foxx) and Vincent (Tom Cruise). For those of you who are unaware of the movie's plot: Vincent is a hitman assigned to assassinate a group of people who are about to testify against a narcotics guru (Vincent's employer). Max happens to be a cabbie at the wrong place and at the wrong time in the sense that he is forced to be a cheauffer for a night of sporatic killings.

Gleanings from Character Dialogue:

Father wounds haunt each us in our own unique ways. (We learn that Vincent's father was violent/abusive and scarcely appreciated him.) Relationship is the ultimate pusuit in life yet too many of us go throughout this existence without truly connecting -- disconnected relationship has a way of multiplying into the fibers of the daily grind. Life has become more about surviving brokenness than about investing, building, redeeming each others' humanity. The father wound tends to be the hardest, deepest, most mysterious nemesis to our modern world.
Fear (rejection, failure, identity/glory) leads to a cycle of downplaying our dreams and minimizing our risks (Max has huge ambitions to begin a "club/limo rental experience" but becomes dependant upon his taxi-driver vocation, making no forward progress in pursuing this venture. He has been in the business for 12 years but continually explains to others that in actuality, "its just a temporary gig.")
Indifference plagues our society (We hate our lives to be interrupted by others' lives so we intentionally and unintentionally blind ourselves from having compassion and acting with courage. Few have the heart/soul to stand up against the status quo. -- Vincent talks about how no one will really notice these people being gone after he targets them for execution. He recalls the story of a man left dead on a subway for many hours and tours of the city before anyone even becomes aware of his unfortunate passing.)
Tiny, Little Blips or Common Heroes. Most people view themselves as incredibly insignificant in the large scope of the world (Vincent uses this type of language throughout the film as a way to justify his acts of killing). Max doesn't really believe that the power of one can change the tide of circumstances. Ironically its Vincent who pushes mild-mannered Max to leave the cab and become a man who lives with courage.

Shortly after a delightful viewing of this film, we decided to embark to Decatur Indiana where Wes is the worship pastor at The Bridge Community Church. As we drove the blustery, snow-bound roads our conversations were thick with thoughts about the perception of pastors and some of the unfortunate hieracrchical structures we have resurrected to place the leaders of our churches upon. All of this spawned by a heated talk about a group of pastors who meet at a pub to share in community enhancement and ministry networking. We wrestled with the arguments of appearances to the flock (what would people think if they saw their pastor walking out of a pub with a group of pastors?) ; the views of our perspective denominations (some whole-heartedly accept alcohol in moderation while many are completely opposed); The skewed paradigm of alcohol in America (the abuse of alcohol to medicate, sedate, relieve, entertain. Why can't we Christians put a healthy spin on alcohol? Why can't we redeem this corrupted system and show people how to properly enjoy drink?) ; And the overemphasizing of certain issues i.e. alcohol as "sin" but overeating or wasting/consuming or gossip or "over-caffeinating" at Starbucks or overplaying Halo 2 on Playstation as justifiable acts (i think this is detestable and far overlooked in our church circles. Why? Because most of us have allowed ourselves to fall victim to these vices/idols/gods and we really don't want to give them up.) ...Of course we came to no conclusion with many good questions posed...

Upon arrival, we rounded up some pellet guns and proceded to run around the building (an old K-mart which has been renovated) shooting each other in the arms, torso, and legs. Sounds like fun, huh? Of course, most of the time Wes and I tried to devise several plans that would contain and trap the wily Brandon. What a night!!! Reminiscient of the good-ole' college days...

Thanks boys for the adventerous evening of mischief and brotherhood.

Father of a Warrior-Poet

2005-02-22T23:37:00.000-05:00

He Lived to tell a Tale...
To walk a walk in the Walk...
Hands loosely tied behind back...
Intrigued by the Sea and seas of people...
Boyish grin on face -- full of Love and Grace...
Forward motion -- harsh-encouraging emotion...
Enjoying, clasping, grasping Life in Abundance...
Eager to share and be shared...
Ice cream. card games. phone clicking. dustbusting. left foot braking...
Laughter. fresh air. tender care...
Warm heart. warm house. warm heritage...
A warrior's will -- stubborn with resolve...
Resolve and Purpose -- Gritty commitment and mission...
Knicked with the humerous quirks of humanity...
Charmed with Glory and Divinity...
All marks of loyal, faitful, generous pilgrim and husband...
Armed with the luster to adventure as Gladiator...
Simply known as Grampy...
An inspiring Character -- no! A real-life Hero...
Fit only for the Storybook...
He Lived to tell a Tale and walk a Walk

Ron Eugene Mitchell (aka Grampy)
1930-2005

the philosophy of ben

2005-02-13T05:32:00.000-05:00

Ben Folds & ben kweller @ wabash college -- feb. 12, 2005
www.benfolds.com

one heck of a show!!! a two hour set. entertainment. pure genius.
insanity. insecurity. the roar of chatter underneath prevailing drum beats & the rythym of bass.
mischevious. graceful. raw. the haunt of pain masked by beautifully textured noise.
brokenness held together by warm beats, riffs, and the chanting crowd bent on every word of their wounded captain...

every time i'm at a show of this magnitude, i think to myself, "Self, this electric atmosphere is more conducive for a display of the Gospel than the majority of churches in america." people are dancing -- filled with happiness and hope (though its usually temporary) from disenchanted lyrics. most folks are hanging on to every word, eager to belt out the next line to a chorus or verse (even if their vocals resemble the sound of a shrieking zombie). Why are most good Christians so solemn or void of joy when they sing songs of Christ's all encompassing Love?

i would write songs with the same depressive, angry tone if i were in ben folds' shoes...which anyone could be and why so many relate to his music -- its more than music you know -- its attitude, atmosphere, and a lifestyle of boredom with a wish/hope for more...people want MORE so they buy ben's albums in search for Something he will be unable to offer them...me, i listen because he's freakin' amazing...seriously, he may be one of the best entertainers i've ever seen live (and i think eddie vedder, dave matthews, bono, dave pelsue of kids in the way, and dave grohl of the foo fighters are some of the best)...

music is special -- it breaks down racial, cultural barriers -- almost as much or more so than eating a meal together. the communication theory from chords to vocals helps us clumsily grasp at the uncapturable segments of life that are too lofty for modern vowels and consants and overconsumed words -- once again, music is more than notes, its attitude & atmosphere along with the relationship of heart and soul...

the eye of the beholder

2005-02-11T22:16:00.000-05:00

Last friday evening i was amazed by the intricately simple nature of art to communicate a concept too big for speech... my wife and i visited a group show where a couple of my college buddies were able to introduce their mad skills to the indianapolis public...

scott troyer and chris magee (along with the many talented artists) helped me grasp a bit more about the style and texture of communication. the quest of relationship reside at the heart of humanity. this point was wonderfully illustrated through the gesso paint and abstract drawings indicitive of this grand notion of "love" (for that was the theme of the show) inherent in relationships...These masterpieces didn't spell out word for word what it meant to love or how it practically looks to love but they embodied the deep sorrow and tremendous joy of exposing oneself to the possibility of love.

sometimes something as grandiose as love should not be jumbled by words...sometimes we need to stand back and be flattered by the thought that love just is what it is...love fractures all reason and splinters the processes of the mind...love mingles its way into our hearts and sometimes the only way we frail human beings can express this IDEA is through the form we have come to know as art -- somehow it seems less encumbered by paleness that way...

a view to miss

2005-02-04T17:23:00.000-05:00

oh how we miss you lovely pulaski...
the laughing people with warm houses backed by the spacious view of snow
we felt needed, wanted, and supported
good friends -- great friends

this week has been "good" in many senses but hellacious in just as many. we had an amazing time of openness and connectedness in our home church the other night = reminisciant of those memorable moments at eric and cherie stooks' place where we had no real agenda except involving our lives with those around us (along with those hugely wonderful and tasty chicken tacos made by the generous hands of cherie)...

so you can gain a picture of the upside...we enjoy the people here -- they are brutally honest (which in some ways we find refreshing yet in others its remarkable difficult to deal with)...

the downside as a husband has been the pain felt by my wife. Laura has surely had a stinging time of adjusting!!! she had made significant strides in letting go of some of the family/personal wounds she has been infected by over the years...BUT...now that she was able to muster up the courage, unzip her emotions and bear her soul to the people at PulaskiWesleyanChurch (after the course of almost 4 years), she feels ALONE. not because of the people here but the sheer amount of spirit and energy that it takes to allow someone to bear one's burdens...i think Laura had found several sources to deeply share with (the likes of Irene, Deb Dakin, Deb Cantey, Cherie Stooks, Jaime F, etc.)...each one of these people she was able to outlet with in different ways and they helped lead her to some pools of Healing & Realization. For her it feels as though they are not gone but buried.

Here's the Scoop about what i've been up to:
-- Meeting with various people within our TrinityChurch family for times of coffee, food, laughter, questions, etc.
-- Meeting with incredible pastors who are more concerned with the expansion of God's Kingdom in the Indy area than in simply pastoring their own churches = its amazing to sit in a pub with over a dozen pastors who are sharing...about the dark side of ministry; feelings of pain, frustration, and betrayal; feelings of relief and hope; how to better connect ourselves with the vision/mission of God's Spirit for Indy
-- Praying with other ministries in the local area on a weekly basis
-- Strategizing with Todd (co-pastor) about our home churches, church gatherings, and our lives in general
-- Networking with local ministries/organizations for service-type projects
-- Being part of a weekly home church
-- Preparing for classes & Teaching on Mondays & Thursdays at village classes (a home-school co-op)
-- Meeting with Larry & Todd for creative/heart-to-heart dialogue and spiritual mentoring
-- Meeting with Larry and 3 Nazarene pastors who are struggling with their church environment (hopefully helping shape and balance some of their theological and spiritual scope)
-- Hangin' out with Laura and watching blissful episodes of Friends

the Color of monday

2005-01-24T19:13:00.000-05:00

Monday...and to top it all off, its supposedly the most depressing day of the year...

today some friends of mine ventured into conversation about truth...
we began to speak of relativity and Absolute truth...
further into the talk we mentioned the respective terms of seeing life through a scope of black and white...and then of course the concept of gray blurted its way into the discussion...we spoke in some of the trivial ways about how some moral/ethical issues are indeed black and white while most of life seems to be lived in the gray, splotchy matter...all of a sudden my new-found-friend Aaron abruptly declared, "in saying you believe in gray you are ultimately presenting the case for absolute truth with that statement = you are proclaiming not everyone will see a topic/issue in the same way so, in reality, that is an absolute statement" ...

i, of course, shouted a somewhat cliched statement that we shouldn't worry about blacks n' whites or grays and simply follow Jesus (not the ideas of the Bible being absolute truth but the nature and image of Jesus)...i am such an optimist...anyway, on my way home the memory of this lively conversation was playing out in the depths of my heart...a couple of scenes from Return of the King popped onto my radar screen:

Scene #1.) in the extended edition, sam and frodo were disenchanted about the sky and how it was constantly dark but just then a ray of crystal clear blue pierced the blanket of black and white and gray...maybe i am an optimist but shouldn't we believe that God in the person of Christ did indeed come to offer us a life no longer lodged in the notions of black, white, and gray but rather, he artfully painted a new reality, a new type of Kingdom filled with deep purples and orangy orange along with lush greens...

Life in the context of Christ no longer relies on an infastructure of blandness but on His catalytic, dynamic essence...He is the light piercing (Matthew 4:16&17 -- "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'" )...He is color...He is truth

Scene #2.) the pale white tree of Gondor has become brittle with a plague of black and gray despair yet, as the camera panned across the screen...barely noticeable was a neon-like flower blooming in the midst of lifeless discolor...Hope was around the corner waiting to catch the characters of middle earth off guard...the color of Hope has caught me off guard...

my life in the past few weeks was perfectly encapsuled by these two clips and an off-the-cuff conversation...blah drat blah drat blah...just existing...merely eeking my way through, oozing with staleness...content with moderation...while Christ's Spirit has been engaging me and those around me with extreme amounts of progressive color mixed with shocking light to infuse and invigorate us...to reclaim our image to that of His likeness...may my (our) eyes never again be attuned to the uncolor...

God...thanks for both subtle reminders and intense color

the pain of decisions

2004-12-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

i know i must sound like a junior high girl who changes her mind every two minutes about what she is going to wear to school in order to impress the blonde, studly quaterback...

anyway, yesterday i couldn't wait to move to indy where laura, larry, ken, jules, aram, todd, etc and i would dream together and forge "a church unlike any other church".
today, i am sad. unsure. weary. waiting. today, i want to stay in pulaski. i feel safe here and it snows all the time. the other day we randomly received 8 inches of pure mana. (i enjoy snow especially if its like it was last year here = 300+ inches).

-- Have we (and by we i mean laura along with myself) made the best decision for the future of our lives (will we be able to have children in the near future? what about living further from our family in Canada? how will we afford our house, etc? what about our friends here? what about all of our outdoor interests here? what about Commonground Student Ministries?) ? --

Decision Background & Reflections:
we graduated from indiana wesleyan university with a narrow mindset about God, life, and community. i had no idea how to really live. days were about climbing up the church leadership ladder and ultimately, being a consumer of faith along with the world around me. oh yeah, and if time permitted, maybe, we would have a family.

i was born and raised in indianapolis where, like most big cities (and even small towns), a majority of people have bought into the idea of "freedom" (unalienable rights...the pursuit of happiness) as having huge car payments, an alarm system to guard their house full of cabinents overflowing with perscription drugs, and credit cards to drown out the pain of a caged system of being.

to be honest, i had merged with this line of thinking/acting/becoming. Life had little to do with other people -- it was a story all about ME. self-preservation and self-centerdness were sprouting roots deep into my heart. the more clothes from GAP, the better. the more CDs, the more glorious the days would be...i wanted to go to a church to be powerful, successful, have a nice house equipped with perfectly scented candles, and have 4 evenings free a week to do whatever i wanted. that sounded like real living -- what God hopes for each of us...

luck/destiny/Spirit struck us...we then moved to a small community in Central New York, full of beauty, inrigue, and warmth...The terrain is inexpressably beautiful and we have made such joyous friendships with many people, not to mention: the boating, fishing, eating, swimming, card playing, etc. has been enjoyable...

This place is where Christ healed deep wounds and taught us how to be prepared for the Enemy's attacks. Our hearts became aware of our selfishness and lack of interest in Mission/Kingdom = and our crucial our role is in the Story. We became ALIVE for the first time ever. We learned how to wildly love and be loved. Mystery and imagination became respected friends instead of allys. And a calling was confirmed to be part of a venture that would demand are all in all!!!

anyway, this place, pulaski, is so refreshing & comfortable. its a place only fit for dreams. really, i couldn't have asked to be "dropped" into a better place with better people...

It has taken on the characteristics of a Good life but not FULL...maybe these past 3 1/2 years have taught me that good may not always be what we are called to partake in (which i have most definitely had the honor of receiving with this hearty group of people). FULL happens to be a more complexly simple way, which sometimes means sacrifice. i hate writing that word since i have not yet really discovered anything remotely close to this in my 25 years on planet Earth. just maybe, leaving our home in Pulaski is the first BIG sacrifice i have ever had to make (some would say that marriage = sacrifice..and it perpetually is one that i choose to embrace, but i wanted to get married to Laura...I am unsure if i want to leave my home).

Today I am assured that we don't have to leave Pulaski...

Realistically, i don't want to go back to indy where most people are trapped into a regiment similar to "the Matrix" -- an existence where people don't even realize that they are told what to eat, wear, smoke, drive, etc. i don't want to be part of a herd who watches the news to tell us the problems of the world only to sit in our lazyboy chairs flipping the remote control, thinking they are making a difference in the world by watching CNN or FOX and then, voting for some politician who promises them false hope. i don't want to be surrounded by corn fields, malls, suburbs, and snots who drink way too much overpriced coffee.

i honestly believe God would smile upon our decision if we stayed here...He would smile just as much by us leaving for indy. Not speaking for Laura, this decision may simply be forsaking the GOOD life for the FULL life...and by Full, i am not speaking of flowery passion and dreams, no, i am talking about following Christ on a journey full of sacrifice mixed with good times, rainy times, snowy times, etc.

writing these thoughts wells up emotions that i didn't know could exist within a person's heart -- ones that, in a future time, may be described only in fragmented forms of fear, doubt, frustration, and struggle but are ultimately deeper than those common phrases...

BUT...

by staying in pulaski, maybe i would end up just like everybody else = content on scraping through. sure, i would enjoy the enormous amounts of snow, hanging out with some of the greatest friends known to man, occasionally fishing, and oh yeah, being a part of Pulaski Wesleyan Church...but would i really be doing what Christ has beckoned me to? would i really be concerned with my neighbors? with the Kingdom (i would say that i would be but, would i?

we must move forward by REMEMBERING pulaski's Beauty...

Why are decisions so freakin' hard???

An attempt to Unreduce

2004-12-09T21:32:00.000-05:00

Where is God
Where is Sky
No longer up but down
All around
Who am I
Who are we
We are frail
We are but sheep
But even sheep bare a name -- have a plane
Where is God
All know but don't know how
Where to find Him
All around
Where is God
In me
In us
Above Beyond Beneath
_______________________
tonight is our thursday evening youth gathering called IMPROV...we are about to explore the subject of being poetic/mystical in an upoetic/prose/rational world...its Christmas time but what does that really mean to us? it seems more habit than awe. more glitter than intrigue and imagination. as i began to reflect on this subject, i realized how much we try to explain away our faith into thin slices of reduced religiosity...This Season i want to be prepared for God to blow my mind...and so maybe i need to try to express the unexpressable nature of God in words other than prose, in a form of something that resembles poetry.

and so i have done it already by writing this paragraph underneath my attempt to be poetic, i have tried to package an essence that can never be contained...

thank you Lord for embracing these thoughts none-the-less...

our first house

2004-12-01T16:13:00.000-05:00

well, we are still in negotiation for a piece of property on Haverford Ave in downtown Indianapolis...it has been a long, stinkin process, one where i can't wait til its over...and i'll tell you what: these past few weeks, making these type of pivotal decisions has been the most incredibly difficult times in the midst of my short life...

to be honest, it's been tough to think about leaving our home (even though we grew up in Indy and lived there a majority of our lives, pulaski is now our home), people, land (i absolutely love the terrain = the lakes, country, four-wheeling territory, mountains closeby, and just the mentality) ...in some ways i had been hoping our house wouldn't go through so we would be forced to stay longer... i have never even prayed for a "sign" from God until two days ago -- i asked God to "prove" for real if we should stay or go (which of course Laura and i have prayed about for the past year or so but we had never really asked for a fleece)...and of course, wouldn't you know it, we find out the house was being looked at by other people...so, in my mind, i began to think, "maybe we really shouldn't go" but then God's voice kind of shattered my selfish notions and said something soothing like this, "don't do anything rash. simply sit back and relax, I'm part of this equation."

so here we are. the rubber meets the road. we have dreamed a dream and now its time to walk the walk. that's where i am weak but luckily, where i am weak, He is strong and so too my wife...We are at a Crux -- a crossroads. Crossroads suck!!! But we must go forward. Forward is the only Way. Forward fortunately and unfortunately (that means we are leaving our home and family friends) leads us to 4632 N. Haverford Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46250, the spot of our first house.

the heart of transatlanticism

2004-11-30T20:55:00.000-05:00

The purpose of this online-journal-type-info-board-thingy (otherwise known as a "blog") is to bridge the gap of transatlanticism (distances so vast and daunting - such as a body of water creates between people - that they seem impossible to breach -- concept from Death Cab for Cutie album Transatlanticism) ...

Laura and I have people who are so very dear to us that will be physically unable to take part in our ventures so this blog is an attempt (however incomplete or complete the glimpse may be) to give you (our most cherished family & friends) a portal/window into our daily, weekly, and yearly lives...And as a result, hopefully this will help minimize the distance we may indeed feel at times, not to mention, give you a chance to pray for us/reflect with us/challenge us ... We deeply desire to interact with you...so please respond via email, phone, mail, or posting a note to this site ...

We will keep you briefed about our joys, struggles, failures, aspirations, and other miscellaneous/humorous happenings.

So may our virtual-blog journey begin...

Strength, Honor, Love,
David & Laura

2004-11-30T12:40:00.000-05:00