Getting Ready for Lent Season

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I grieve that in my tradition (I grew up American Baptist (CAM International), then Methodist, Pentecostal, Disciples of Christ and now Conservative Baptist), we don't celebrate Lent, Ash Wednesday, etc. It's not part of our liturgy. We're missing out on something very profound. But I'm introducing some elements on Sundays to help that. Last week, we read the whole text of Romans 5:1-11 outloud as a community. It was something new (and old) that we hardly ever do, that is the people reading the Scriptures together.

Last year on Ash Wednesday, I walked over to our neighorhood Catholic Church and went to their Ash Wednesday service, put ashes on my forehead, the whole bit. First time in my life, and it was good. Our children kept asking, "what's that on your forehead papi...?"

I'm getting ready for Good Friday and Easter 2006 (the production), but my spirit is more important than the production. Or let me put it this way, if my soul is at rest and meditating upon the Cross and the Resurrection, the production will follow.

Here are some good video Good Friday/Easter resources. You can show these live, or use them as ideas for a live 'stations of the cross', etc. at your next event. Similar to Highway Video, called The Work of the People. In case you hadn't heard of them yet.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Images of My Life

NOTE: I'm trying to get my comments section straightened out. I want to move from Haloscan to Blogger's comments but I can't get the code to work. Thanks for the help.

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In my life I have experienced many images that have stuck with me for a life time. Today, I was driving home after dropping off our little ones at school (my wife works Fridays) and as I drove by, I saw an elderly lady with her walker, bent down, walking slowly up her driveway into her home.

I thought, wow, I have been there.

There are many things we have not experienced up close. I have never surfed a big wave, I have never danced ballet in a theater, I have never closed a big money business deal. I have seen those things done, and could tell you how they look, but physically and emotionally, I have not been there.

We all have things that we've never experienced. I am amazed at how many of my friends now in their mid 30's and 40's have never experienced love for their own child (because they don't have children), have never experienced legal status issues of worry and fear, the death of a parent or husband or wife, have never experienced living with an elderly person.

When I saw that lady on the walker, I thanked God that I have been there. My abuelita who died a year ago, lived in our home and was on a walker for about 3 months. She fought it, hated it, thought it was too 'old' for her...funny.

I lived with that every day. The pace, the pain, the noises from her room, my own pain of seeing my dear grandmother suffer. Then the gains, the recuperation, the scar healing, the bags around her leg after her knee surgery when she took a 'leg shower'. I experienced the discomfort, the nuisance, the humanity of her pain, her struggle and her life and it made me a better human being.

* * *

I remember after her surgery, she had to stay in a recovery home for 2 weeks, because of Medi-Cal issues. The first night we left her there, she cried. I cried all the way home. Every night, she would cry, and I cried every time on my way home. Two weeks later, I brought her back to our home.

I know friends that have experienced the serious illness of their child, divorce, a broken marriage. I am thankful I have not experienced those things. Well, when our 4 year old had her tonselectomy a year ago, that was pretty bad, but not life threatening.

Pain is an important part of life. Discomfort and dark times are necessary for the soul to expand. We can live our lives secluded from such things (not sure how...) but some try. Or we can welcome them, struggle through them and grow in our trust in God, in Jesus' power to overcome evil in this world.

* * *

When I saw that lady, I thought of my dear abuelita, and I thanked God that I had the chance to experience first hand her pain and her recovery and eventually her death. I was there during the last 15mns. of her life.

I am not glad those things happened, but I'm thankful for the character and shaping they've done in my heart. And one day, when I am in a walker, or at the end of my life, I can have greater assurance and confidence that Jesus Christ, my King and Savior is with me.

What is the image in your life you're seeing pass before your eyes? Are you running from the image, from the walker and the pain of it all? Are you giving into it and losing the battle? Are you running towards it or away from it, trying to find a way out that does not include surrender.

Don't run from pain, don't worry because your life is imperfect. Welcome that, it's a part of our human experience. Allow it to envelope you, to in some ways overwhelm you, because there you will experience the nearness of Jesus, His grace and His kiss of comfort. I have felt that.

Amen.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Long Beach Emergent

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At the Long Beach Emergent 40 under 30 lunch with Rudy Carrasco a few weeks ago. Put on by Eric Marsh and Brad Fieldhouse from Hope for Long Beach (Grace Long Beach) and Kingdom Causes. Great job guys.

And Rudy rocked. I need to hang out more with that guy.

Some pictures.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Don't Eat the Stuff-McDonald's sued over french fry ingredients

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You know by now I'm into fitness and healthy eating. I lift weights, run, do abs, eat tuna, protein, chicken, drink whey protein, eat oatmeal and lots of power bars. Water, at least 10 liters a day.

So when McDonald's announces that their fries "contain a third more fat than previously known..." most people will say, "I can't believe it! They should be sued..."

STOP EATING FRENCH FRIES. That will actually help. People that eat the stuff, end up looking like the stuff. I know, not very user-friendly, but remember, I've been there. Just two years ago, I was overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, in my mid-30's.

Get out there and run, eat less fats, eat less cookies and soda, in fact, cut the stuff out 6 days a week, and give yourself 1 "free day."

Want to get started? Feel overwhelmed? Feel like you can do it? Try ("Body-for-Life"). I found the free day very useful, and working out 6x a week and following their eating plan for a commitment of 12 weeks got me off the ground.

Key Word: CONSISTENCY.

Perhaps you've been into fitness and you've stopped, you've slowed down. Too busy, not motivated, discouraged, I need more time in the day. The time is there, you just need a plan to follow.

Even with a concussion (now going on three months), I've kept at it. Yes, I've made adaptations, you have to. Right now I lift 2-3x/week instead of 4x/week, run 3x/week versus 5x/week, and do abs 3x/week versus every day. That's during my concussion and I think I'm almost ready to push again. And my eating, I've followed my eating plan 90-91% of the time, versus the usual 97-98% of the time.

In two years these are my stats: 5'11", Male, mid-30's

BEFORE (Picture taken '03, compare to blog picture,'05)

Size 39
Blood pressure - 140/90
Cholesterol - going up (i forget the #'s)
Weight - 225lb.
Muscle tone - none
Chest - none
Arms - none
Back - none
Abs - Uni-Ab : )

AFTER (Current, 2 years in and now a life long commitment):
Size 32-33
Blood pressure - 110/70
Weight - 185lb.
Muscle tone - muscle layer
Chest - nice
Arms - bigger
Back - strong
Abs - tight, close to a 6-pack

You can do it, but you need the motivation. What motivates you? The mirror is a good place to start. Take pictures of yourself, compare it to a few years ago. At first it may be hard, but soon you'll look back at the progess. Second, get a physical, or ask your doctor about your blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Third, do it for greatness. If you want to be great and better serve in the Kingdom, take care of your body, be healthy, incorporate healthy eating and exercise into your lifestyle. Yes we will still die, but you will develop the character and results of a healthy lifestyle that will make a difference every day.

So what's your reason for not getting started? What are your obstacles?

How much will it cost?
How much time will it take?
What sacrifices will I have to make?

Good questions, I can help. For me, fitness and healthy eating are things I live with, it's a part of my life. The power bar in my pocket, the string cheese in my bag, the eaten apple core on my table, the water bottles on the back of the truck. But I see results, in my health, sex life (did I just wake some of you up?), drive, energy. It's true. And flexing in front of the mirror is fun too.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Nothing Interesting

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SAMPLE IMAGES: #1 Recent bleeding (subdural hematoma) in an injured patient is seen as a bright mass that is pushing the brain to the other side. #2 CT-scan equipment. #3 Normal brain scan (not my own).

My doctor Dr. Nath called me today and he said the CT-scan was normal, "nothing interesting" were his actual words. No tumor, no bleed, no swelling, nothing of interest. Wow.

I feel so relieved, thankful to God in Heaven and to all who are praying for me. I feel 10lbs. lighter, I actually got the phone call while at counseling. My counselor Laura was happy together with me. My doctor, who is younger than me, has been with me since my father's death 5 years ago. He's seen me through anti-depressants, colonoscopy, anxiety, panick attacks, TMJ, ultrasounds, concussions and now these exams, he's like a friend.

So what's wrong? Why do I feel dizzy? My doctor said it's my concussion, that it takes time, that I have to partition my time. If I push one day, the next I should rest. He said he understands I need to push to get better, but to rest. He said, "You have a concussion man, rest, partition your time..."

At least I know it's not my eyes, my eyes are fine, it's not my brain, it's basically down to the anxiety and stress of grieving my abuelita's death 1 year ago and my body feeling that through all kinds of symptoms. What's at the root of these emotions, this grieving and anxiety? My counselor and I are working that through on Wed. nights.

I'm so relieved there's nothing physically wrong or life threatening. Wow.

The journey now moves from physical issues to emotional. The root of my symptoms once again is emotional and dealing with the major issues in my life - death, loss, mortality, greatness.

At the end of my session tonight, after crying, talking to my doctor, finding out I'm physically OK, I told Laura my counselor, "one more thing you should now...as I deal with these issues and the dark side of my soul, I know one thing...I was created for greatness." She smiled and said she can't wait to talk more about that. Me too.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Jesus and Homosexuality

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Someday, I know this will be very useful to me, especially here in Long Beach. With that said, yesterday I walked out (after the first 'love scene') of "Brokeback Mountain." I guess I'm not as progressive as I thought I was.

Jesus and Homosexuality.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Just Waiting

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CT-scan is done, I'll get the results tomorrow. It was about 6mns. long, very quick. Only my head was in the tube (it was a brain scan), they didn't need to do the dye. I had to take off my earings (x-rays), then closed my eyes as the bed underneath rocked back and forth. It was a bit unnerving. The tech said, "if the results were life threatening, we wouldn't let you go..." As I walked out the door I thought, "that was almost comforting..."

All day I felt in the hands of God, trusting Him into the exam, through it and out of it.

Oh, and I got a nasty email about music issues. It happens...will deal with it this week.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Insult to Injury

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Medical report: Dealing with some dizzyness and some anxiety but better. Wednesdays, going to counseling to talk through grief, physical and emotional issues. Thursday I had my vision examined, nothing, my eyes are fine. Friday, while doing deadlifts I tweaked my back. It hurts to stand up. Monday, CAT-scan. I'm a little nervous about it, but trusting God all is well. Sometimes I still get this pain/sensation in the area of my concussion. In other news, our seven year old has a stomach bug, okay, she threw up last night. Now all 4 (except for me), have hurled (what a terrible word), in the last two weeks.

Spiritual report: Trusting God, mustard seed like faith, reading Matt. 17 almost every day. I have felt challenged by these physical challenges, but tomorrow I lead worship for the first time in a month and am praying I'll feel strong enough physically to do it. I feel ready to serve the Body. What update will I give the congregation on how I've been? Very minimal, I will allude to things like "physical challenges like we all go through...", but I will mostly focus on God and His strength and to personalize it, how I've been challenged to grow in faith and to see these mountains moved.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

I Saw COLDPLAY Last Night

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On the floor (106) of the Pond in Anaheim, there they were, COLDPLAY. Chris Martin was amazing, even though forgetting a few words and missing a few notes. But the guys is a genius and the band was nearly flawless. This was my first Coldplay concert.

"Yellow", "Fix You", an acoustic/impromptu version of "Trouble", the classic "Clocks" and "Scientist", as well as the newer "Speed of Sound" and "Talk to You", all were unbelievable. The late arriving crowd (we got there early and sat through Fiona Apple, strange lady) filled the Pond to capacity, the room was loud and filled with anticipation and energy. At one point, as I stood there singing/yelling/crying along to "Fix You", my mouth just opened and I stared. I couldn't believe the moment, it was perfect, magical, emotional.

COLDPLAY is the greatest band in the world, their songs are beautiful, their sound is polished yet passionate, their lyrics and melodies are meaningful and sensitive, they engage my soul. The four of us friends that went had a magical night.

Here's the review from the Orange County Register. Pretty accurate. I fall more in between the 20 year old and the 40 year old's response.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Worship--What We've Learned

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If you have the time, listen to "The Last Thirty Years: What We've Learned Along the Way" as part of the Worship Institute, with Brian McLaren, Nancy Beach (Willow Creek), Eugene Petersen ("The Message") and others gathered to examine worship (in North American Christianity).

Worship themes covered were:
1. Cultural Insights
2. Theological Insights
3. The Next 30 Years

Morning: Introducing the Topic and Each Other

• How has worship changed:
a) for your congregation and denomination?
b) for congregations nationally and ecumenically?

• How has our North American cultural context provided the habitat for this change?
-How has worship changed to embrace dynamics of culture?
-How has worship changed to resist dynamics of culture?

Afternoon: Theological Insight and the Way Forward

Theological Insights:

What have we learned about biblical worship that we didn't see as clearly 30 years ago? What aspects of God's character have been re-emphasized in worship practices?

What aspects of biblical vision for worship have been obscured or grown more opaque? What aspects of God's character have been de-emphasized in worship practices?

As we prepare for the next 30 years:

• What virtues and attitudes are especially crucial?
• What theological convictions would you stress?
• What countercultural or crosscultural insight or habit of mind or heart would you stress?
• What resources (books, websites) would you recommend?

"Aymer said that while he sometimes tells his students, "you all conduct worship as if worship started last week," overall, meaningful and historically faithful liturgical renewal has taken place in the last three decades."

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT