Best Chapel of My Regent Time

Today Micah 6:8 Community Group organized  the chapel service for Regent.

Michelle Miller spoke from REED.  It came together so beautifully.

The picture below are just some of the participants that made the service so powerful.

James, Nomi, and Jonathan all lead the community in prayer.  It was well done.

Michelle reminded us of the smallness and vulnerability of the Kingdom and how we need to seek out the Kingdom.  Although we don’t know all about the Kingdom of God we do know that it is for the most vulnerable.

In the end we handed out  chalk for the community to write their laments on the sidewalks around Regent.

This Friday Night is an all night of prayer at Regent. Come on out.

Happy Birthday

to my friend and beloved (my wife) Lisa!

Currently Listening to

The Brand New Heavies.

They got some smooth grooves.

Check out their profile.

Lend List

If you haven’t register yet you got to go to Lend List.
It is a cool new way of lending your material things or lending others.
It is an effort to cut down on consumerism.
Check out the Lend List blog
Lisa and I went to the kick-off party for the web site. It was our web site kick off party. Unfortunately, we arrived late because we were at Missions Fest with kids from church. We were there for the last 30 mins. of the festivities. I am so excited about this site. Start your lend list today.

Common and Will.I.Am

Common is one of my favorite artist. Here is a video called I Have A Dream

Good Quote

I didn’t get to hear my friend Shane Claiborne speak at TWU, but I heard a great quote today from a friend, Jenny, who got to hear him. She told me a qutoe that is paraphrased:
“If we don’t believe that terrorist can be converted then we do not believe in the New Testament because most of it was written by a terrorist, Paul.”

Studying the Christian Imagination

This semester I am taking a class called The Christian Imagination. We have been thinking about a theology of art. As a result of the class I have gained a new appreciation for art. One memorable art piece we looked at was Simon Rodia’s Spires of Watts.

Rodia’s art is so amazing because he just built the spires later in life, he fininished when he was 75.  It took him 33 years.  He created the spires with recycled stuff.

It was a piece of art that is misunderstood.

Around 1954, Rodia had had enough of Watts. Lack of respect and misunderstanding led to vandalism of his Towers. His construction was, in the politically and racially charged 1930s and ‘40s, viewed with suspicion. During World War II, rumors spread that Rodia’s towers transmitted secrets to the Japanese. Later on, it was feared they were relaying secrets to the Communists. What had begun as an inspired vision became, for Rodia, a burden. He deeded his property to his neighbor, Louis H. Saucedo, and disappeared.

He built the spires and walked away from it.  He said he was going away to die. He gave his home to a neighbor and was never seen again.

One child that grew up in his neighborhood was inspired to create art as well. Betye Saar also became an artist later in life. She is most famous for a piece called The Liberation of Aunt Jemimah. She was featured on NPR. It was cool to listen to how Rodia, an Italian immigrant inspired her to create art.

Monday, Feb. 19

Rudy Carrasco is coming to Seattle.  Nate Bradford and I are going down to Seattle to check him out.  Let us know if you want to tag along.

Check out details by clicking here.

7 Tips on how to win a debate

This blogger has some good thoughts on how to win a debate. My favorite one was number one, posted below.

How to Win Any Debate… Even if You’re Less Intelligent, Less Prepared, and Less Attractive than Your Opponent « Meditations on Meaning
1. Winning Isn’t Really Winning
Many people think that a debate is about choosing a position and holding steadfastly to that position until, perhaps, an opponent breaks. But this is a very limiting view of winning, because it doesn’t allow for the kind of discussion that creates better options and better decisions. Winning isn’t about forcing our opinions down others’ throats with whatever rhetoric we can muster… it’s about creating an atmosphere for collaboration and change.

My opponent believed that winning meant arguing his position with “greater aplomb and dexterity”. He was right… provided that the guys in suits and ties were the only judges around. But there were a thousand people in the audience – none of whom knew the formal rules of debate – who decided on the de facto winner that afternoon. And, like me, they didn’t care what the suit-and-tie guys thought!

Late Notice

Tomorrow is an Amnesty International Event in Vancouver.  Check it out:

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
CLOSE GUANTANAMO - DAY OF ACTION IN VANCOUVER
Thursday, January 25

Public walk and vigil

Itinerary:  meet at AI Pacific Regional Office (#430-319 West Pender, between Homer and Hamilton) at 11 am- leave office at 11:15 am
arrive at Library Square at 11:30 am for 10-minute vigil walk to Robson Square/Vancouver Art Gallery for another 10-minute vigil- walk to US Consulate (1095 West Pender) for final 10-minute vigil
Join us to carry our big “Close Guantanamo” banner, hand out postcards, and collect signatures on petitions!

Six bright orange jumpsuits available! Everyone welcome! Let’s show

Vancouver that human rights are for all - no exceptions!
Please note this is a single-message action.
Further information at: www.amnesty.ca