An Important Conversation

If you find yourself with some free time I'd recommend you surf on over to HarvestBoston.net

Steve is a great thinker--I've yet to find anything he's said that I fundamentally disagree with.

Over the past few days there's been a conversation on his blog with an agnostic questioner. I've yet to read the whole conversation, but I know we all should take to time to go through it. I'm going to read it today during my 1.5 hour commute (today is graduate orientation at Tufts).

What do you agree with/disagree with? I'd love to talk.

We're Not Alone

How encouraging to not have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I'm all the time tempted to think that God and/or the world truly needs me in order to function. Would that be called an Atlas complex? God has always claimed personal responsibility for the ultimate outcome of the world. Jesus promises that he will personally build his church. Is it not the height of arrogance for me to think that without me he won't be able to do it. Like Mordici told Esther:

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"¹

All I have to do is open my eyes and look around me to see that God is not neglecting Boston. God has something big planed here and I'm privileged to be a small part of it. Almost every week we find out about another group, couple, team, or traditional church that is already here and doing good for God. I'll tell you about a few, but as I discover them I will add their website links to my blog sidebar. ----->

Steve and Crissy are an amazing couple from ACU. Thanks to a mutual friend in Texas Steve and I started talking almost 2 years ago. It didn't take long before we discovered we have practically the same vision for Boston. They moved to Boston proper about 3 weeks before our caravan arrived in Quincy (just south of Boston). I'm eager to see what God does with this couple--it will be truly amazing.

Oasis is a house church that meets in a suburb just north of Boston. Many from our team worship with them regularly. They are part of a larger organization called the CCPC--the Collegiate Church Planting Community. Oasis' leader, Brent, and I have really become good friends. On a side note, he and his wife are expecting a new baby later this week, so I'm sure prayers would be coveted.

On Sunday (27th) four of us (Jen, Plotts, me) visited a very neat Presbyterian Church that's close by. I wish I could tell you more about it, but I'm running late for work. Here it is quick: wonderful people, great worship, very thoughtful sermon, extremely welcoming, established young married small group ministry that has already multiplied, outreach focused--the local community is this years primary focus. There's much more. I'm excited to get involved with this church to see what they're doing and what has and hasn't worked in Quincy for them. I think we'll learn quite a bit.

Whenever you feel overwhelmed by responsibilities and pressures, remember that you are important², but the world existed before you and will likely continue after you. God is eager to use you as a tool, but he doesn't want you to break. Take some time and rediscover Sabbath--God made us and knows how we operate best (with rest).

You are very important, but you're not God. I find that thought comforting.


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1. Esther 4:14 NIV
2. Never doubt your importance either. The infinite creator of all that is personally emptied himself of his glory in order to make it possible for you to coexist eternally with him. Now that's value.

How Would You Change the World?

I was talking with Jay (my coworker at the college bookstore) a few days ago when I asked him how he'd go about enlightening people if he had the ability to view time like we do the other dimensions.

We use dimensions to locate, i.e. on earth we use latitude, longitude, and elevation to pinpoint any specific place on our globe. Time locates as well. If you want to locate a person or object then the three spatial diminutions are inadequate. At 2 this morning I was located in a very different place then I was at 2am 6 months ago. I think you get the picture.

Time is commonly understood as the forth dimension, but perhaps it would be better to think of it as a half dimension since we we are limited to one direction at a constant speed. With the other three dimensions we can move around at will--changing direction and velocity whenever we want to--but time doesn't allow us that luxury.

Back to the question I asked Jay, "What would you do if you had a full view of time? How would you enlighten people?"

"I'd ride bikes," he said.

Bikes . . . I like it. The answer supprised me, but perhaps it's a good plan. It's hard to not get involved with the people you're riding bikes with; usually you all share a common goal. Community forms. Bike riding people can be led and encouraged, but they can't be forced to follow. It's a good way to do life together.

He told me about a group that rides bikes for social change in Boston. Unfortunately I can't remember the name or I'd link to them, but I'll try to remember to ask him.

In the meantime I think I'll go for a ride.

Jobs and Houses

As much as I like talking about theory and theology I know some of you would far prefer to hear about what's gone on since we arrived up here. This is for you.

Bob from 3AApartments.com found us and the Plotts apartments before we even left the south. He found gems. We're the entire second floor of the pictured house (if you click on the picture you can see other views of our place inside and out). A interesting turn of events was that after both our families agreed to the places Bob found for us (with no more than words and pictures), Bob offered Meghan a part time job. Truly a blessing.

Jennie's been working at Vistacare Hospice. Next week she'll start out on her own with her own set of patients to care for. Her heart is amazing--such love and caring for people. Watching her interact with people truly helps me understand the depths of God's love better. I'm so proud of her.

Jen's job was also a Godsend. At the interview (which her manager had completely forgotten about) she was offered the job on the spot. She had never really enjoyed working at the hospital (especially not the night schedule), but last week her boss offered her a day off and she didn't even take advantage of it. I love seeing her happy.

I'm working a great temp job at Quincy College Bookstore. They needed help for the back to school rush and somehow had my resume laying around. It's a small place with only 4 full time employees (that's including the two managers) and really feels like a family. Jay, one of the employees there, is a very smart and enjoyable liberal. We have hours long conversations each day (today included dimensionality, black matter, string theory . . . .). He definitely keeps me thinking and questioning--two of my favorite things.

In a couple weeks I'll be starting the Master's program for Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University. For those who have been asking, here's a definition for bioengineering. I've sure enjoyed this past year without serious classes, but I suppose I can survive a couple more years. I'll let you know how it goes.

In Pursuit of a Jewish Worldview

Lately I've been occasionally seeing /hearing¹ /reading² /thinking about how the pre-Jesus Jews understood their world. I think they had it down much better than we do with our Hellenized Christianity. Take for instance God's involvement in our world: Hellenistic Christianity tends toward Gnosticism (a complete division of that which is spiritual and thereby inherently good from that which is physical and thereby inherently evil). The Hebraic view says that God is active and involved in every detail of this world and our lives.

If we are to be a truly biblical people then we must affirm that God is here with us and has always been. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty in the horrors of human freedom that is called history.³

Or notice their insatiable love for life (L'chaim--"to life!") and ability to endure innumerable and indescribable hardships and still thrive.

The real trigger--what really got me thinking today--is that I think I finally experienced something I thought I understood.

Sabbath.
Yesterday.

A true day of rest. A day where I truly enjoyed God, people, and myself. Time to worship; time to pray; time to read and study and discuss; time to be still, silent, meditative; time to exist in a way I never have before--in a way I'm certain God wants me to experience regularly.

God spoke to Moses: "Tell the Israelites, 'Above all, keep my Sabbaths, the sign between me and you, generation after generation, to keep the knowledge alive that I am the God who makes you holy. Keep the Sabbath; it's holy to you. Whoever profanes it will most certainly be put to death. Whoever works on it will be excommunicated from the people. There are six days for work but the seventh day is Sabbath, pure rest, holy to God. Anyone who works on the Sabbath will most certainly be put to death. The Israelites will keep the Sabbath, observe Sabbath-keeping down through the generations, as a standing covenant. It's a fixed sign between me and the Israelites. Yes, because in six days God made the Heavens and the Earth and on the seventh day he stopped and took a long, deep breath.'"⁴

It seems that perhaps God is more serious about us taking a break than we are. It also seems logical to me that we should do what He says. If for no other reason than He created us and knows what we need to do to truly thrive. It's no wonder the Pharisees took Shabbat extremely seriously--"Whoever profanes it will most certainly be put to death" is strong language.

I suppose that begs the question, "what, exactly, profanes the Sabbath?" Would not attending a church service on Sunday do that? I hope not--we didn't attend one.

We actually stayed home, slept in, cleaned up, had breakfast, played nerts, read and discussed God Is Closer Thank You Think⁵ together, ate lunch together, spent some time in worship then alone with God. Afterword we went up to Medford to the Oasis house church to enjoy their company and discuss spiritual gifts and personality (DiSC) profiles (if you know me, then you know I enjoyed that). We then went on to the Plott's (if you don't know them then you're missing out--fun people!) for some good conversation, bagels, and Pride and Prejudice. Home and bed rounded out the day.

Now I don't intend to frequently tell you every detail of my day (how boring would that get?), but this once I think it's appropriate. In a way that I can't describe I feel more energized and able to engage the world around me. I feel fully present in each moment. I feel like God is actually walking beside me and nudging me this way or that. I want more of this.

Perhaps I even experienced a little bit more of what church--true church--is.


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1. I had the privilege of attending Rob Bell's Everything Is Spiritual tour a few weeks ago. I do appreciate the way Rob interprets and discusses ancient and not-so-ancient thoughts. He's hit on how to connect with this postmodern generation.
2. The Shaping of Things to Come by by Michael Frost, Alan Hirsch (specifically chapter 7); Velvet Elvis & NOOMA by Rob Bell; and Jesus and the Gospels by Craig Blomberg have all played a part in this . They are also all resources I highly recommend. You'll find I will probably highly recommend quite a few books in this blog.
3. The Shaping of Things to Come. p. 123
4. God telling Moses one more way for his people to be culturally distinct from the surrounding nations. Exodus 31:12-17 MSG
5. Another excellent book. This one by John Ortberg. "Read anything of his you can get your hands on," I was once told by my mentor at the time.

Thoughts On Insomnia

It's early, 5:45, and I've been up since about 1:00. I can't sleep and the sun is starting to rise. I've never really had a problem with insomnia before, but I'm glad I've experienced it. I can see why it's such a predicament for people. I must say I've enjoyed it though--but I am ready to sleep now. So here I sit with some tea1 and my thoughts. "Perhaps writing them out will help," I thought, so here I am. I'd appreciate some feedback on what I'm about to say though (if I say crazy things then I blame sleep deprivation).

Over the last few hours my mind has had a chance to roam without all the normal distractions--like light. Now that I again have light I see that the notes I made aren't going to do me much good. Moving on.

Here's my question: "On the New Earth will we sleep?"
I don't think we will.

Here's why:

• On the new earth there will no longer be night. With the time for sleep removed it seems that sleep might go along with it. [Revelation 21:25, Revelation 22:5]
• Sleep seems to be a shadow (perhaps an echo) of death, and thereby a result of the fall. Genesis 2 seems to imply that perhaps Adam hadn't slept until "the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep." [if you'd like to read it yourself]
• While we sleep we dream. Dreams (both the fun and the horrifying) are constructions of our mind of alternate reality. Once we've entered into true reality then there will be no reason for our minds to construct other options. (Don't read that I think imagination will be abolished along with sleep--imagination is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and I seem no reason we won't continue to use it in the world to come.)
• Sleep is a non-productive time. Nothing is accomplished either for good or ill aside from allowing our bodies to rest and recuperate (regenerate?). With death and decay no longer around will we need whatever happens while we sleep2? We'll be working on the new earth and I believe we'll experience joy beyond what is available in this world while doing it and praising God. Sleep would seem like a curse if it removed us from that. [Revelation 22:3-5 again--we "will serve him" and "we will reign"]

What do you think?

Well, the sun is up and the birds are singing. I think I'm going to have a hard time making it through today. I think a nap will be in order.

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1. I've never really made tea for myself before. I did enjoy tea time while I was at the villa in Florence a couple years ago. I wanted a warm drink (and I don't drink coffee) so I thought I'd try some of Jennie's tea. I made it too strong. Perhaps I'll get it next time.

2. It seems we still don't know.

Second Anniversary

Last week Jen and I celebrated our second anniversary (7 Aug). On 5 Aug. we went down to Cape Cod and drove along scenic highway 6A up to the tip (Provincetown). There we boarded the Dolphin VII whale watching ship. It was an amazing time. Three different humpbacks breached within sight of the ship. Evidently this is a very rare activity since it takes a lot of energy to propel a 50 ton animal completely out of the water. The humpbacks migrate up here to eat during the summer and then spend the winter down in the Caribbean to mate, but the downside to spending the summer in such a nice tropical place is that there's no food for them to eat, hence the normal lack of breaching. [Note, I unfortunately didn't capture a single picture of a breach so the top side photo isn't mine.] It was a great 3+ hour trip to sea and a great Saturday anniversary activity.

This past Sunday we spent the afternoon at Revere Beach. A gorgeous day. We both got quite a bit of sun but nothing too bad. We both just sat on the beach, listened to the waves, got our feet wet, read, and talked. I think that qualifies as a productive afternoon, don't you?

Overall it was a very nice anniversary week.

To Start a Blog

It seems about time that I started to blog. With people asking me what's happening in my life (and those of the rest of the team) , it seams that a blog is ideal. So here I am joining the rest of the ever-expanding world of blogging. I hope that you're appetite for what's going on in my life is satisfied. Just let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll do my best to fill you in.