Really!?!

Jesus asked a lot of questions to those who followed him. One question, in particular, has always fascinated and, at the same time, irked me quite a bit. The question is: “Do you love me?”

Linguists and theologians and scholars all have great interpretations and perspectives on that question, but my initial reaction (as a leader of artists) is not tied to any of those interpretations and perspectives. No, my initial reaction is, if I could borrow a Weekend Update (SNL) line, Really!?!

I am quite shocked Jesus would ask this question; think about it: the first followers of Jesus left their homes, became unpopular, were considered national threats, and, in the end were all the victims of capital punishment (and John was the only one not of them that wasn’t executed, but he was boiled and exiled, that lucky dog). With the knowledge of what these people sacrificed, and with the knowledge of their impending doom, Jesus has the audacity to ask, “Do you love me?”

Why didn’t Jesus ask, “How many people are taking you seriously as you follow me?” Or, “How much are you going to accomplish”, or “Can you show me some results?” As a person that leads a community of artists, my questions are usually based around the end result (success or failure) of what our community is doing.

The thing about this question that is haunting and beautiful, is that Jesus continually points out the one thing needed as we follow: love for God. Loving Jesus shows our world of loneliness and despair the need for the heart of God, both in action and reflection. Henri Nouwen says, that there is an enormous need for people to know the heart of God, a heart that forgives, that cares, that reaches out and wants to heal. Jesus knows that, and he is constantly asking the question: Do you love me?

Maundy

Today is Maundy Thursday. On this day in Holy Week, we are reminded of the washing of the disciples' feet, the mystery of the Eucharist, the tragic prayers and emotion of the Gethsemane prayers, and Jesus' arrest.

So, what do we do in response? Let me encourage a few acts:
-Serve someone with humility (maybe even symbolically wash someone's feet or do the task of a minimum wage worker for someone)
-Remember and have your own Lord's Supper (heck, buy a bottle of wine and do it with some friends)
-Spend some time in prayer and thanks for the agony of Christ

Just a thought to do something different and experience Holy Week on your own...

Taking risks,
n

London and the G20 mixed with American Idol

Right now, as I write this, anarchists and protesters are gathered outside the Bank of England and RBS in London. They are demonstrating something, but no one on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, Headline, and other cable news reporters have any idea what they are protesting. They interviewed one guy and asked him "What exactly are you protesting?" This guy had a tent in the streets, a big "NO" shirt, and he answered: "The fangs of capitalism."

What does that mean?

It seems as though many people want to send a message but they don't exactly have a great idea of what they are standing for, other than being against something. One other person was interviewed as saying she wanted the world governments to do more about global warming. So, anti-capitalism enthusiasts and climate change venturists are now holding hands at the same rally? And they breech security at RBS and climb in windows...

It seems a bit counter productive. You have to love the mob mentality.

Kind of reminds me of American Idol.

Take a risk,
N

home from the TN shindig

so, me and shauna went on vacation last week. it was rather odd...we went to our "safe" bet vacation spot in Gatlinburg, TN...and we, seriously, can't understand what has attracted us there in the past.

dont get me wrong...banjos and Dolly have their place...but we really are done with it for (I think) quite a long time.

here's a few highlights:
-our friends Dave and Traybabymomma and their new kid Drew came and hung out with us for a couple of days. it was cool to just chill and eat good food with them and laugh.
-Blue Moose Mango Habanero Wings
-Pics taken up in the hills of TN (must be Shauna's FB friend to see these) this was just goofy fun
-Cracker Barrel on the way home...one of the funniest experiences of the trip...the server brought me one biscuit and one small butter when i asked for bread before the meal...AND she hated me
-ALC weekend service went over really well and I wasn't there for any of it...this may sound weird, but it is a relief and a joy to leave and trust very capable and strong leaders (shout outs to DJ, Aaron, Tom, and Jenn...oh, and Dan...he brought it all together with the teaching...go watch the drama here, the dance here, and the March 7/8 message here...btw, Aaron plays a great Amazing Grace at the end)
- I visited a church while on vacation...and i wanted to go and visit! It was a pretty cool growing church, and I learned from them. They're moving to a new building soon...
-we avoided DC traffic coming back and saved time...

all in all, it was a fun time...i just think my next vacation might include a little more of this, and lot less of this

take a risk...
n

coming up on FIVE

this coming Saturday (Feb 21) will be mine and Shauna's five year wedding anniversary. so i have decided to list some things that i have either learned, or learned about myself, or changed in the past five years. firstly, let me say i have a very graceful and loving beautiful woman as a wife. she constantly affirms and loves me, and no card or gift i can buy will ever express my relief and surprise for how much she loves me. it really makes no sense...oh, and i love her a lot, too.

ok, so here goes (in no particular order):
1. i have more compasison than i let on: shauna has consistently made me to be a better person than i make myself out to be. i try to come across like a Hells Angels biker attitude sometimes, and she just melts that to reality. in essence, she has ruined my secret, and made me more girly in the process...

2. i am lazy. ok, i already knew this, but shauna is really always thinking and moving and cleaning and doing and awesome at thinking of others before herself. i (and i think this is mostly a guy thing) need to chill...EVERYDAY. we really balance each other out, but i never noticed how much "down time" i really took until we were married.

3. i am too busy. oxymoron, contradiction, whatever...sometimes, i cant turn my brain off...and in return, i fail to think of the more important things. this is something i have learned about myself. i dont disengage well sometimes, mentally at least.

4. i really don't need an iphone.

5. GPS devices lie...

6. Our wedding, although it may be forever dubbed "the silent film", was wonderful. my wife has a gift that she uses every week in our family...the gift of thrifty. we had the most cost effective green wedding on the face of the planet...yup, i'll challenge any vice president on that one. also, i like to spend a lot of money, so in the end it is a great thing that i didnt make many calls about our wedding...other than selecting all of the music and being doped up on pain meds the entire time (car wreck the day before).

7. The way I feel love changes...I am much different now than I was five years ago.

8. I am still younger than my wife...mentally and physically (although the weight AND the beard may make some think otherwise).

9. I am not as fast to react or talk instantly when I need to respond. Shauna has helped me understand that words hurt, looks are mean, and tone of voice really communicates much more than what is being said. I think it must suck sometimes to live in my learning laboratory.

10. I still shouldnt do the grocery shopping. Even with a list I am dangerous.

11. I still dont like talking on the phone...

12. I have gotten much better at around the house fix it projects...I installed my first toilet last year with the help of encouragement and cheerleading from shauna (granted she saw the $200 in labor we were saving but it grew me nonetheless)

13. There are some things Shauna and I should not do together (like going to bed bath and beyond; or maybe even golfing). We love each other, but we have learned some healthy boundaries.

14. Shauna is a horrible liar...that makes it challenging to include her in my practical jokes at times.

15. My wife has a much more convincing anger than me...that is why I made her handle our recent "phone" confrontation with a repair co. Guess what...she killed them and it was vicious...it was such a turn on

There are many more things I am sure I could write. But at this moment, this is all that is coming to mind: God has richly blessed me with a beautiful woman who is way (WAY) out of my league...the past five years have made me feel that life has just begun. I dont even remember or want to think about life without her.

What a risk...I am glad I (and she) took it,
n

(photos courtesy of dbimages)

a question...

so, here's an online discussion i had with a buddy of mine recently:

Buddy: Do you think it is "wrong" to be involved in two churches at the same time?

If you had someone that was faithful to your church (good attendance, serves, tithes) would you tell them that they couldn't serve anymore because they go to another church to participate in a mid week service that your church doesn't offer?

nate drye

Today at 9:35am

personally, i don't see the big deal; and if people in my community were pursuing their faith outside of our "services" i would be encouraged. however, if pursuing faith means they are just going to another "service" instead of actively doing something with their faith, i see that as a maturity issue.

there are a lot of schools of thought on this: the dogmatic "you get what you invest in", the "come one come all", etc. i don't know if there is a right approach to this other than allowing people to be normal. when i put my own insecurities (not allowing my "sheep" to explore) in the forefront of ministry, there will be danger...it has suddenly become about me.

and so now i ask you:
what do you think? is it "wrong" or "sinful" to be involved with two churches at the same time?

oh youtube

how addicting is youtube? really??
i just posted a few videos. one that is very cool and dear to me is the Kenya Mission Trip Memoir we put together back in 2007. Here it is below. Enjoy: