Revolt Towards

...Except You Ravish Me.

Ever since meeting John Donne in high school, I have always been in love with his poetry and particular, his poetic reflections on God. Below is his Holy Sonnet XIV:

HOLY SONNETS. by John Donne XIV.

Batter my heart, three-person'd God; for you
As yet but knock; breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

I was sharing with my friend Maggie on Saturday how sometimes, we get so in love with Jesus because we know he is right there, interacting me us and it's easy! But other times, those feelings need to be chased after, sought after and fought for. Like any relationship, there are ebbs and flows. Sometimes you feel close; intimate. Other times, disconnected and far away.

The Song of Songs gives us a glimpse of this. The beloved waits for the Lover to come, only to find that He was gone...But a pursuit ensues.

I arose to open for my lover, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock.

I opened for my lover, but my lover had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you— if you find my lover, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.

What we see here is that it is the beloved that must also take action and go after the Lover. I looked but did not find him. If you find my lover...Tell him I am faint with love. We have to be active in our pursuit because He wants to be chased too. Maybe some of you are like myself, where you know you love God and will never stop that belief, but you also know that isn't enough. You need something more. You need more than biblical theologies. You need more than a good who lives in a book. You need more than philosophies and fairy tales. You need Someone real.

So invite Him in. If He feels absent from your life and you feel absent from Him, invite Him into whatever you have going on in your life. I have invited Him into my times of song writing and simply said, "God, I don't know how all this works, but I want you here with me as I try to write these lyrics." Maybe your a mother or father—invite Him into your parenting. Maybe you are at work and have a problem to solve—invite Him in. Tell Him He's welcome into your circumstances! Just like anyone boy or girl being wooed, He too gets excited and giddy when we include Him into our lives.

Thing is—He will never force Himself on us. That is not love. Just invite Him in. Just say today "Would you come?" Because as Donne wrote so long ago with the same cry:

Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I, 
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

Burial...

 
 

"He that loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39)

On Sunday before heading down to Culver City to lead worship at Expression58, I was in prayer and while in meditation, I saw the word "Burial". I've been reflecting on a lot concerning where I am with my creative entrepreneurial firm Engage, after a client pulled out of a contract worth over $5k last week and wondering if there is more there than meets the natural eye. So to see the word "Burial" was as much about my spiritual life as it is (or could be) about the life of my business, my ideas and my future.

 Romans 6:3-5
"...Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."
 

As I ponder and reflect on the burial of things, I also anticipate what might be resurrected from such a burial. Even a seed planted in the ground must die before it can sprout with the newness of life. Below is an excerpt that I recently read from the devotional book, "Springs in the Valley": 

In my early life I entered into a partnership with a friend in the wholesale ice business. For two seasons in succession our ice was swept away by winter freshets. In the winter of which I speak, things had come to a serious pass and it seemed very necessary that we should have ice. The weather became cold; the ice formed and grew thicker and thicker until it was fit to gather. Then there came an order for thousands of tons of ice which would lift us entirely from our financial stress. 

Not long before this, God has showed me that it was His will that I should commit my business to Him and trust Him with it absolutely. I never dreamed what testing was coming. At midnight there came an ominous sound - that of rain. By noon the storm was raging in all it's violence; by afternoon I had come into a great spiritual crisis in my life. 

By mid-afternoon of that day I had come face to face with the tremendous fact that down deep in my heart was a spirit of rebellion against God. And that rebelliousness seemed to develop in a suggestion to my heart like this: "You gave all to God. This is the way He repays you." Then another voice: "My child, did you mean it when you said you would trust me? Would I suffer anything to come into your life which will not work out good for you?" And then the other voice: "But it is hard! Why should He take your business when it is clean and honest?" 

At the end of two hours (during which waged one of the greatest spiritual battles of my life) by the grace of God I was able to cry out, "Take the business; take the ice; take everything; only give me the supreme blessing of a will absolutely submitted to Thee." And then came peace! 

By midnight there came another sound - that of wind. By morning the mercury had fallen to zero, and in a few days we were harvesting the finest ice we ever had. He gave back the ice; He blessed the business; and He led me on and out, until He guided me from it entirely into the place He had for me from the beginning - that of a teacher of His Word 
 
- James H. McConkey.

"Give your life to God, and God will give you back your life!"

Catalysts

The other day I was driving to Pasadena and thinking through my life and all the things that I do versus all the things I don't do. Something of the things I do are design print and web media for clients around Southern California, drive to the LA region at least twice a week and lately I have been doing worship at least once a week. And up until last week, my Thursdays were spent leading Theology On Tap at Garman's Pub. But here is a list of some of the things I don't do or wish I was doing: writing more songs; actively pursuing more of my ideas; working on my book and actually, dare I say, attempt to write a chapter; write the business plan for Jumla, the coffee/communi/tea house I want to open one day; and last, but surely not least, work on a new idea I have to get musicians putting out music in vinyl and downloadable formats with a portion of the proceeds going to non-profit organizations.

So that leads me to the question:
What made me step up to the plate and keep on designing for clients, answering phone calls and going to new meetings about new projects, but neglecting my other passions?

The answer? I had a catalyst.

Just a few minutes ago I received a call from a potential client, who saw an existing site and wants to know what it would cost for something similar. I will return the phone, give them an estimate, probably meet with them and then after the estimate is hopefully approved, I will get my first down-payment to begin their project. This will inadvertently mean my bills can be paid, I have gas and I can eat.

But I want to stress, money is not the only catalyst in this mix. It is also the simple fact that this is a business. There is a professional I must uphold and keep. In that mix, there is also having pride in the business and the experience I provide, even if that means I end up not working with the potential client. All of these things are catalysts that keep me accountable and yet, unfortunately, doing things I need to do and not doing the things I really, really want to do.
 

Creating the Catalysts

All of life is but a series of colliding catalysts. A poet lives their day experiencing life and it is these experiences that provide the words and language to convey what is in the poet's heart. Two people find themselves in a city, bumping into each other on accident while at a café and the next thing you know, they are getting dinner together and then, many months later, planning their marriage and a life full of children.

Catalysts are all around us. But there is an unfortunate reality: many of us need catalysts that don't exist yet. That is why I want to encourage you like I've encouraged myself this past week. Make daily and monthly to-do lists. Set deadlines. Arrange times of intentional collaboration with friends and like-minded people.

Imagine what would happen if we were all pursuing the ideas we've tucked away for so long in our hearts. What if they weren't tucked away anymore? What would the world look like if a group of committed friends stood by one another in accountability and friendship to go for the things they only hope to do? 

May we be those kinds of friends and family members. May we be the catalyst in our world, creating more catalysts for opportunity, creativity and dream making. The world is waiting on us!

A Public Prayer of Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving

As many of us sit down today to reflect, be thankful and eat a ton of food, this historic proclamation of “A Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer” was supposedly issued by George Washington during his first year as President:

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their Joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be--That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions--to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us--and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington

My Prayer in this Week of Thanksgiving

Hello friends. Today I tried looking up a liturgy relating to Thanksgiving week and while I found some very good writings, I thought it would be best to simply go to Scripture. I have been reflecting in my own mediations recently on the book of Ephesians, in particular with the first chapter as Paul thanks them. It is my prayer of thanksgiving this week to all who read his words and thanksgiving for all the friends and people close to my life:

Ephesians 1:15-23

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

It is my heart's prayer that God may give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray the eyes of your heart are open to know the hope of His will for your life, especially as we all enter soon into 2009. This has been a rough year of "new beginnings" for many, myself included, but I also know that God has been faithful this year and I have grown closer to knowing Him than ever before. In this season of thanksgiving, may we remember His goodness and His love for us all, the world over.

City Spaces

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So I'm praying about getting a space in downtown Ventura. It has been a dream of mine since I was 13 or 14 to open up a coffee house and concert venue. This dream has now transitioned into something more refined: a coffee/communi/tea house, retail space, library, office space and gallery. Really, it is just a great excuse to get people to meet and gather in our downtown area. Not sure if the one pictured above is it, though it is a great space. It also comes in at a hefty $2.8m, but it is two spaces totaling 6,250 sq. ft. 

I wanted to send this out to you all just to say pray with me as I figure out what the Spirit is leading me into in these next 12-18 months. Thanks so much and please let me know if Creator speaks to any of you about anything pertaining to this.

Be Not Afraid

In the final days of this election campaign, a new message has emerged. For the entire political year, the overriding theme has been change—with each candidate competing to be the real champion for a new direction. With 80 percent of Americans unhappy with our country’s current direction, it seemed that no other theme could break through. 

A new message has, and it is this: “Be Afraid—Be Very Afraid.”...

Regardless of whether one favors Obama or McCain, this development should be of concern to all Americans, and especially people of faith. There is now a new spiritual dimension to this election, and it is decidedly evil. Christians believe that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear...” (1 John 4:18.) There are, of course, good and decent motivations to vote either way in this election. Strong people of faith will be marking different boxes on Election Day, but for people of faith there will be a spiritual decision to be made as well. Will we put our trust in the power of fear or Jesus? 

Fear has always been the dark side of American politics, and we are seeing its resurgence in the campaign’s final days. Demagoguery has come from both the right and the left in America, and the most dependable sign of it is the appeal to fear over hope. Facts don’t matter when fear takes over. Fear covers over the debate on a candidate’s tax plans, the wisdom of their foreign policies, their experience and judgment to handle the economic crisis. Fear attacks character and lies with false prophecies of what a candidate would do if they are elected. 

Some of the worst fear-mongering has sadly come from leaders of the Religious Right who are worried about losing their control over the votes of the evangelical and Catholic communities, especially a new generation of believers. Their apocalyptic rhetoric has been among the worst and most irresponsible. When religious leaders sound so desperate and seek to stoke fear and hate, they have lost their theological perspective by putting too much of their hope in having political power. It is that loss of power and control which seems to be motivating the current campaign of desperation and fear now being waged by so many conservatives. 

Instead, scripture points to a better way: 

For "Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:10-15, emphasis added) 

With that reminder that Christ is our ultimate hope, let us pray that, on November 4, the need for change will finally prevail over the appeals to fear. Pray that the voters will choose either Barack Obama or John McCain as the best agent of change, rather than submit to the tyranny of fear. It is always better to live (and to vote) in the light of hope than in the darkness of fear. It is always an act of faith to believe that, in the end, hope will prevail over fear. So pray, and vote.

---

This is an excerpt from the Sojourners email I received today. 

Written by Jim Wallis.

God Loves His Children...

I had the lucky chance of going to see Radiohead for the second time in my life and while I have no recollection of the previous show, this show in particular was amazing. Their performance was completely perfect. The humanity of the band and of Mr. Thom Yorke really showed when he messed up only once in the night and they had to start the song over after he forgot the lyrics.

As amazing as it was, there was something deeper that resounded for me there last night. When I saw Radiohead back in 2003, surrounded by alcoholic reflexes and the smell of weed in the air, I asked God a simple question: How could He touch such an audience if it were so His desire? I remember seeing the venue, which can hold over 18,000 bodies and the knowing that the heart of Heaven is to meet every one of those hearts in that space. 

So could Heaven use me? What would that look like? I know for sure it would not be through tracts, me standing on the wooden bench and telling everyone to turn to Jesus and I think that not even Thom Yorke could convince them if he himself had been like a modern Paul in their midst without getting booed and shut out. But, I asked myself, what if there was but one person God wanted me to encounter? One person to interact with? One heart to speak into?

I entered the Hollywood Bowl last night with my friend Amanda after dinner at Alcove, totally forgetting all of this had happened years before. It wasn't until the first encore (yes, there were two!), that they began to play Paranoid Android, a personal fav of mine. It was in this moment that it suddenly became holy and I closed my eyes as I naturally began to pray and intercede. Then the flood of memories came back to my mind; memories of my questions and my learning so many years ago now. Eyes closed and swaying to the Android's beat, I smiled, swept away in a moment that only God himself could have orchestrated. As the song began to near it's end, I opened my eyes and began to sing along...

Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height... height...
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height... height...
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me

...
God loves his children, God loves his children

God loves His children. Each and every one. The ending of the song had become, unbeknownst to everyone including the band, a living, breathing prayer last night. It was living and breathing because it was my prayer, yes, but it was also the prayer of Heaven that they know His love. It became my prayer that, even if I were the only one prayerful last night, each of those 18,000 people would know His love for them this week as His children, whom He calls each by name.

In the Presence Is Where Our Dreams Come Alive...

This weekend, I had the priviledge of speaking to the young people from New Hope South Bay. There were about twenty or so of them as well as the leaders. As it so happened, my friend Dave was supposed to lead them, but this plan changed pretty last minute. And, as it so happened, I was at Expression58 a few weeks ago and heard God tell me to "prepare two messages". Of course, I thought I heard wrong knowing that Dave was coming to speak as well. It wasn't until the following day, I got the shock to hear that Daniel Iwao asked me to speak for the two evenings.

I ended up speaking to the young people about the presence of God, with the first night focused on the presence of God for their personal life, and then on the second night, showing them how when they are in the presence of God, it affects their place in the world.

So at the beginning of the second night, I had each student write down what their dreams were. Dan, their fearless leader, made sure to yell out that they shouldn't put they want to be a basketball star. But to Dan's dismay, it was exactly those dreams I was wanting them to write down. You would have been amazed like I was to hear what their dreams were:

To be an FBI Agent. To be a dancer. To be a pro-golfer. To publish a book. To find a cure for AIDS. To start high-end, 5-Star hotels around the world. To be rich. To be a doctor. To be successful and have a good family. To start orphanages. To be a singer. And to be in the NBA!

So many good things! I even shared with them how my brother wanted to play basketball, but the odds were against him. You have 30 basketball teams with a minimum of 14 players each. That means only 420 chances out of the 300 million people living in the world that you will be on an of the NBA's teams.

But I shared with them the reality is that God is outside of reality. God is not confined to statistics and figures. When we read in 1 Samuel, Jonathan wanted to take on the whole Philistine army with his armor bearer. That was the Jonathan's dream in that moment and he wasn't worried about the statistics. This is why he said his words in verse 6:

"Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

He wasn't concerned with the odds, the many or the few. His armor bearer responds to him in verse 7:

"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."

Jonathan rested in the reality of the presence of God. He could see what not many could see. But he would have gone no where if not for the man at his side. There is something when we, who have dreams (and we all do) can be encouraged when we open and share those dreams with others around us. We are all Jonathan's, but we also all need to become armor-bearers, carrying the dreams of our friends. I even told them not to make fun of those who wanted to be rich and wealthy, because maybe it would be them who would be able to pay for the research so the others could find cures for AIDS, end poverty or rescue trafficking victims.

It was encouraging to hear some of the stories back from the kids. Here are some reports:

"Thanks for coming out to camp with us you rocked." - Josh

"Just wanted to say thanks for coming out and talking to us, especially me with your friends.
you definitely encouraged me rethink about my future and my dreams. Thanks again!" - Michael

"Really enjoyed you at camp by the way. Thanks for speaking to us!" - Jason

"You did a great job at our camp. The kids really enjoyed ur message last night! they told me. - Myong

"After you talked to us about how you approached random people because you felt like God was pushing you. I felt like that was what God was trying to do with me. I prayed about it, and I was able to confront one of my former best friends. I think I helped her because she seemed better, but it might be for the time being. She was going through alot and I felt like I should talk to her about it instead of cooing her and telling her stuff that would make her feel better...We have a pretty strong bond. I suggested she talk to God about it because I know that he listens even though it doesnt seem like it at first. I felt alot better after I talked to her about it. Hopefully it helped her too. I want god to give me more of these pushes now." - Hope

Thanks to Seth, Anna, Aimee, Ray and my parents for helping me out on Friday night. The kids were blessed by that and the above words show it.

Charismatic Chaos or (Holy) Spirited Deconstruction?

This is part of a post taken from Soliton friend Mike Morrell's blog.

What in the name of Pete & Kester is going on? Avant-garde “Holy Ghost house parties” filled with dancing, drinking shots of blessed holy water, and getting “stoned in the Spirit.” Pop cultural references - both muted and obvious - to Cheech & Chong, and Talladega Nights from the pulpit…er, the dance floor in which the speakers convert staid sanctuaries into the threshing floor for something quite different.

So what am I describing? A bleeding-edge European emerging church, like iKon or Moot or Vaux? An alt.worship collective? Perhaps the postmodern-revivalist Church Basement Road Show?

Nope.

It’s John Crowder, occasionally joined by his friend Ben Dunn, provoking their native charismatic milieu and (it would seem) making more than a few emerging types squirm while they’re at it...

To continue reading the article from Mike Morrell's ZoeCarnate blog, go here. It's a great read from a guy who describes himself as having:

...a genuine affection for the charismatic church of my youth. And I long to see a de-cultured,  re-cultured (post)charismatic expression firmly situated in the web of emergent spirituality. I care very little for the culture,  but along with Jamie Smith I love the core theopraxis assertion: That God the Spirit is integrally involved in all reality,  and is intimately stirring in our midst,  here and now,  in each unfolding moment. I think that even as we are entering a milieu beyond classical theism and its untenable dictates,  we are simultaneously plunged into the powers of God’s new covenant world, spiritual enablings that the first-century sign-gifts were but a foretaste of.