No small talk
food for fish | encouragment
Pseudo Military Dream
0
Back in October I had a very strange dream that I was going to share on here, and well, sadly, I’ve once again neglected this little space of the Internet that I own. So, without further ado I’ll give a play-by-play account of this dream. Any dream interpreters out there?
ACT I
Now either this first part was a completely separate dream, or just a strange seemingly unrelated beginning…. it starts out with me, my daughter, and my bride at my parents house with the rest of my mom’s family for some kind of holiday get together, suddenly my Grandma says she needs to take care of some animals, Alexis volunteers to help her, and they take off.
ACT II
I get up and go, and am walking around with an ex-coworker (who at the time was a current coworker) at some kind of semi-festival, we watch watch as a group of pseudo military guys and girls in uniform do some kind of very rehearsed routine of choreographed exercises (like a cross between a high school color guard and dance team). They stop and we realize the group just learned these routines an hour or so before, and it’s some kind of competition.
My coworker talks me into doing this, and so I volunteer for the next round (knowing there wasn’t much time until the next round starts), while changing into the uniform I run out of time, but I wasn’t told there was a time limit, or missed the memo, I get yelled at by a drill Sargent kind of guy in public, who continues to humiliate me while I frantically change back into my regular clothes. I’m upset and embarrassed, and frustrated at myself.
ACT IV
After quickly changing back into my own clothes we appear to located right next to some kind of cafeteria, in this cafeteria we run into Alexis (my bride), a friend of hers, and some other friend of my coworker. Also in the cafeteria is an old family member who Alexis and I haven’t had a lot of contact with due to some relational upheaval in recent years, this causes us to say our hellos and “miss ya” then be on our way.
ACT V
We all (minus the old family member) decide to leave, and apparently the only way “out” is on a ferry boat, a passenger only ferry. As we are waiting in line, Alexis and her friend are talking and having fun, not paying much attention (nor even really near me and the guys). I’m beginning to get sexually advanced on by my coworker (who, in no way, in real life ever even hinted at such a thing) and his friend (also male, but unknown to me) – they are serious about talking me into a threesome… immediately I think about stuff from my youth, and decide this isn’t going to happen again.
As the ferry approaches, we all begin to board, and I decide to run and get as far away from these guys as possible. As I run aboard the ship, I run for the bow (we boarded at the stern), turns out there’s a five-star restaurant at the front, and I must sit down NOW, or else by kicked out. So I sit down, soon I learn all the patrons are AIDS victims from all over the world (probably about 50 people). I order a meal, eat it, then excuse myself and find my wife and her friend in another section of the boat, sit down and tell them about the AIDS victims, we pray (I don’t remember what the prayer was about), then I wake up.
Tweets for the past week
0- @united I would love to see WiFi on every aircraft, including regional jets of flights over 90 minutes (or less if possible). #
- The world has many messages, good, bad, & indifferent. We have the choice to let the messages define us, or be who we are truly meant to be. #
Tweets for the past week
0- Planes, trains, and automobiles… assuming this MAX gets on its way… of all days… a day I choose to take it to the airport. #
- PDX >> SEA : in Bellevue for the day then .. SEA >> PDX and home by 8pm… gotta love day trips. #
- Homeward…. SEA >> PDX x Gresham – http://t.co/6aRgmcO8 #
- Why do #PDX taxi drivers always confused when I say "downtown Gresham" and then continue to ask directions after I give them my address? #
- One word for today = slammed. I like being busy though so… no complaints. As long as I don't hit any roadblocks! #
- @TriMet the real time displays at Civic DR are out.. and transit tracker seems to be wrong this morning. #
- @TriMet http://t.co/hffLYVJT it has said between 4 min and "due" for about 8 min now. Finally at 7:30 a train came, the 7:18 one? #
- @trimet cool – curious, why don't the MAX trains use GPS like the buses? #
- @trimet so TriMet was smart and resourceful & used what already existed
– any plans to use GPS on trains in the future? # - Maybe I need self-imposed deadlines for blog posts… it seems to work for study guides, instructions, research, and everything else… #
- Dang, I missed 11/11/11 @ 11:11am – gotta shoot for 11:11pm. #
- Had an amazingly full day with Alexis and many other missions minded friends and new friends, crazy awesome. #
Tweets for the past week
0- God is Like a Person: Shared by Carly
Don blogged an excerpt from "Searching for God Knows What" this morning… http://t.co/PeraIT2b #
- Absolutely great article for the American Church to surrender on gay marriage: http://t.co/TKye86h4 thanks @KurtWillems (the Pangea Blog). #
- @aaron_n_hanson dude, that looks amazing! #
- @ledub13 I have never had a great experience with super shuttle or any of those shuttle places… #
- @ledub13 worst of all they normally have GPS and I think super shuttle even has iPads to coordinate the shuttles at the airport – so close. #
- @ledub13 yup #fail #
- One moment at time, one moment at a time. Anything beyond that & I feel the stress. One moment at a time & I feel the love. #
Tweets for the past week
0- A clip about why many support #OccupyWallStreet and why many want to silence it ( #ows ): Shared by TravisM
- I want one! http://t.co/lbGFDibk #
- Amazing! Also it's time for a scarf, it's cold! – http://t.co/1HtKpesw #
- @fox12oregon MT Hood from Gresham this morning. – http://t.co/1HtKpesw #
- @fox12oregon Yes of course. #
- Um ok, I seriously need to travel somewhere, travel bug is super strong, and many people going places makes it worse. #needtotravelNOW #
- Shane Claiborne: A Devotion for Wall Street: A reporter recently asked me, “As a Christian leader, does your fai… http://t.co/ED6KcVVj #
- Waiting at Civic DR Mon Oct 25, 2011 Morning MAX going east – http://t.co/EvzG3Tj2 #
- Civic DR Mon Oct 25, 2011 Morning – http://t.co/ax5N2cTq #
- I hate shaving! It's just annoying. #
- @romanmir exactly …. #firstworldproblems #
- @doctor_jeff me too! 1time sm1 told me "why bother? U look lk sm1 who pays their taxes" I said "guess I'm saving a few $s for us all then!" #
- Sometimes my most peaceful part of the day is emptying myself in a locked bathroom… in more ways than one. #reallife #
- @boostpower that's my story almost every day… except usually just an 1.5 not 2. #
- Wow, my neck just popped and I didn't even know how stiff it was until now, so loose it's almost wrong feeling… :/ #
- Going on a date with Emma to Cold Stone then Starbucks! #
- @mheternal I agree! Treat her up! #
- Date with Emma, she gets Chocolate ice cream fom Cold stone, I get a hazlenut latè – http://t.co/HDoVWq3k #
- @jimmydouglas I've never had in-n-out I think I need to get my butt to someplace with one and make it so! #
- @jimmydouglas now just gotta find a legit way of getting that accomplished on company time. #
- It's amazing how easy Emma goes to bed after some one on one time – #OccupyLove #
- @jimmydouglas Yeah no doubt, I've got family in Austin so I'd be all over that in and more. #
Tweets for the past week
0- Emma, a rock, and a fall day – http://t.co/09UYiTKD #
- Mommy & Daddy this one! – http://t.co/4s9MAL5g #
- This one Mommy & Daddy! – http://t.co/mjwyhVMp #
- Skye Jethani: Recipe for Church-365 (Part 4): Read parts one, two, and three of "Recipe for Church365".
Ingredi… http://t.co/TESwa7hS #
- Wow, just sold my old phone on ebay, posted it at 8:15, sold at 8:37 (had a buy it now option on)! Shoulda had a higher price! #
- @patrickweed already using it
# - @patrickweed yeah, I use CyanogenMod and there is one built in just hold power button. It's great. http://t.co/S8DRgy3O #
- Of course I miss the train somehow even though Transit Tracker said I had enough time
on the first day of the East wind blowing #trimet # - A short chapter dedicated to blessing the family, may I remember and pray this regularly. http://t.co/73lWIUCK #
- From earlier, before the train, at least it's beautiful out! – http://t.co/BnKoEVaO #
- 8 Thoughts for My 8 Year Old: Shared by TravisM
I have to admit, this wrecked me in fantastic and awesome way… http://t.co/Rmv1GEvY #
- Walking by the food carts everyday to & from the office to use MAX makes me hungry, so far I've kept the temptation at bay. #pdx #trimet #
- @TriMet might want a clean up crew on the westbound platform at Civic Dr looks like someone broke a glass bottle on the platform. #
- We Should Pay: Free Ride Advocates Miss the Point: Shared by TravisM
Story from a Seattle transit blog on int… http://t.co/tanHbxBF #
- @patrickweed What are you looking for? #
- @patrickweed ouch good luck you may need to go online to find that kind of aged technology… #
- @patrickweed Newegg.com always, always, always find what I want for a good price… after that amazon/ebay #
- Resourcing Missional Entrepreneurs (without creating charity cases): Prague. Yesterday I spoke to a group of Chr… http://t.co/rerpMgFs #
- Video chatting with Emma (and Alexis) – http://t.co/on1WqKq3 #
- @patrickweed yup it's awesome, clean, works great! Including video chat in gtalk. Recommend using ROM manager + clockwork to install. #
- @patrickweed oh yes #
- @patrickweed too laggy?? Tell me more… haven't noticed.. maybe I don't know! Lol #
Titles….
03 months ago
I respect people, and I respect what people do, their choices, what they’ve accomplished, and what they’ve “earned” – all great. However, that doesn’t, in my opinion, belong in the Church. It’s fine outside, where it is useful to know the title of a person because it describes and defines what that person is responsible for.
But in the Kingdom, also known as the Church, I have a hard time with titles. Mostly because, unlike outside the Church, people attach so much “esteem” and “authority” to the people with titles. Most of these ideas behind the “titles” are completely void of biblical character, it’s simply a mimic of the rest of the world around us. Even using “earned” titles in the Church, is a bit bothersome to me – like “Dr. Bob” – while, yes, you may be a doctor – does that title really mean anything, does it mean I should listen more? Should I take your words more seriously over my brother’s? Shouldn’t I test the doctor’s words w/ the spirit’s? - YES.
Yes, the Bible describes certain roles, and we absolutely should understand as individuals what role we play in the Church – these are the gifts to the Church Paul describes in Ephesians (the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers). Each of these roles are servant roles, not positions to obtain and gain authority, but positions which are prescribed by God and confirmed through relationship. We’ve been so trained to be sheep and remain “just” sheep, rather than be sheep with a purpose and personal ministry.
Our culture puts far too much weight (in responsibility, in authority, and praise) on titles in and out of the Church. However, in the Church we should all be servants, regardless of title, if we can’t serve one another, how will we serve the world? Thankfully many churches have began to realize this, and have downgraded the old school titles into appropriate helping verbs or descriptions… and instead of introducing the pastor as “Hello my name is Pastor Joe” we’re hearing “Hi, my name is Joe, one of your lead pastors”.
Just like the rest of us, our titles are not who we are – we are children of God, not Pastors, Prophets, Teachers… we are all children - who have special callings.
I’ve got a travel bug!
03 months ago
I have a huge travel bug right now, I really just want to go somewhere outside of the Pacific Northwest – if we had the money, we would be heading to Poland for a wedding on November 5th, but unfortunately we are shy of the $2,500 needed for airfare to get our family there – not to mention other travel expenses. It makes us sad we can’t go… really sad.
I’ve had a couple of work-related trip opportunities but turned them down due to other scheduling issues, I’m hoping to have at least a few more before the end of the year – most so I can move up to the next mileage program status! But also, because I have a huge itch to just go somewhere, explore something new, see and taste new things. I love traveling, even when it gets all messed up. Please God, send me somewhere… dare I saw “anywhere!”?
The picture above was from our visit to Poland just after our Honeymoon in 2006. Wizzair is a no-frills budget airline that operates flights to/from Eastern Europe, this photo was taken as we were about to board our flight to Frankfurt after a couple of weeks in Poland.
The dream place
1
The picture above may not look like much to you, but it’s part of the dream I (and my wife, Alexis) have. It’s part of the dream given to us years ago by God to be missionaries to Poland (to learn more what our missions is visit REACH Polska). The dream for us is focused around people, and that apartment building pictured above is a tangible representation of the mission. From time to time Alexis and I look at possible places to live in Krakow, for that final day where we are launched into the promise land. On our last trip there as a family, we went to different neighborhoods in Krakow, and that apartment building above is from one of the places we visited.
As with every marriage, there’s a number of things that Alexis and I have our disagreements over… but one of the areas where we are in line with each other, is the kind of place we want to live. Because our mission is people focused, we want to live where the people are. In Poland, and especially in large cities like Kraków, the people live in apartments, quite nice ones – these are not your standard cookie-cutter American sub-burban apartment complexes. These apartments are really more what we call condominiums, they are built to own.
And because we also believe in being sustainable Christians, stewards of of what we have been given, we will be living car-less, which is quite possible in Kraków. When needed we’ll rent a car, or join a car-sharing program (if one exists), but we’ll mostly get around by foot, bike (Kraków does have a bike-sharing program), and transit. We are very excited about this kind of lifestyle, and know that it will open up opportunities to meet our neighbors, and others, and build new friendships quickly and naturally.
There’s a few requirements our little place in the city will need, one a balcony, and hopefully a fairly large one, we like balconies, and we like plants, so a balcony is a must. Second, we need to be near a park – Poles like parks, and especially in a city we know we’ll meet people there on a regular basis, and of course Emma and our other future children will love it too. Thirdly, a spare room, we know we’ll be hosting people, and having a spare room (which will double as a meeting/office space as well) is a must in providing the ultimate in Polish hospitality. Even if we don’t have all these things at once, we know that our city living will be exciting and beneficial for expanding the Kingdom in new and different ways.
Tweets for the past week
0- @trimet why has there not been "real time" info for MAX on TransitTracker the past week or so? #
- Sidewalks Alone Can’t Solve the Suburban Megaschools’ Walking Problem: There may be no more striking symbol of t… http://t.co/wGT6rwE4 #
- Alan Chambers Says “It Gets Better” – Some Further Thoughts on Suicide Intervention: Alan Chambers
From Alan’s O… http://t.co/awMMDr59 # - Oh Monday…. where can I find your beauty? On the faces of my fellow MAX patrons? No. In their hearts? Maybe so. #lovehumanity #trimet #
- Emma sings Jesus loves me. – http://t.co/KJW62ln8 #
- Portland! (test pic) – http://t.co/Um527KE3 #
- Moon peaking from behind moving clouds while I wait for MAX. @doctor_jeff #trimet – http://t.co/3iBlpVq4 #
- Being 4 stops from end of Blue line in Gresham usually means seats, today's early train, standing room only. #WhyIDontGoWithTheFlow #trimet #
- Will today be average or super average? That's my choice…. tell ya later. #liveSuper #NotOnMyOwn #
- More wet and Sunny! – http://t.co/YlfiWzIp #
- Very wet, welcome fall! – http://t.co/JEaw9Dah #
- Pipe test – http://t.co/VDjsKfS3 #
- Photo Tour of ANA’s Second Boeing 787 Dreamliner – JA802A: During ANA’s delivery events, media was invited to ta… http://t.co/wzrd7HNn #
- When Leaders Disappoint: Yesterday I got a good bit of blogging in … today, not so much. But this is a lon… http://t.co/DklgjCwj #
- I love it when the music is a perfect sound track to the world around me! #trimet @bebonorman Here Goes #
- Today is a day where I'm glad I'm not defined by what I do. #
- Most of the Chilean miners are still off work: TweetIt’s a sad story.
But today Mr. Sánchez, like many of the 33… http://t.co/2FyoZ63p # - This morning's theme/claim song is @tobymac "City On Our Knees". I wish @Pandora would let me repeat a song! #
- Listening to 80's dance music – YES. Bring it on @pandora! #
- @trimet YAHOO! #
- @trimet No real time data http://t.co/wkIVOmnu #
- @trimet sorry my bad! I forgot how it looked on the page, I normally use an app my phone, & sure enough the app is reporting estimated time! #
- @trimet yup, I use Portland Transit on Android, & it does a good job of being accurate & specifies "scheduled" data vs "estimated/real time" #
- A must read // RT @komonews The perfect bedtime story: @WSDOT workers find lost memento, mend girl's broken heart http://t.co/ic8NuZul #
- A note for all spouses, the mobile phone was invented to be mobile, carried with you, so people, such as your spouse, can contact you. #
- And in other more important news… life is good. #
- Little girl, a little younger than Emma yelling on MAX "I need to go pee, I need to go pee" good thing this isn't a bus. #trimet #
