j-lou's smiles

i smiled becuz i decided to google j-lou's confusion. i was wandering how far down the list i will be, but the reason i am smiling.

take a look ... i made it to the top. i am actually the top three. stupid and probably nothing but it broght a smile to j-lou's face and hopefully will encourage me to read and blog more. but i have not decided what book to read next. so please give me some ideas, so i will have more ideas to read about.

let's what you come up with... peace.

how to run and jump over a wall

i stumbled across this on the internet. it is "how to run and jump over a wall" and good information that i definitely could have used in high school. this technique would be great for a number of my high school issues:

• i walked into the wrong neighborhood and young mexicans with shaved heads were chasing me
  
• the person whose rims or stereo i was in the process of borrowing came out of the house
• the police raid a party and the only way out is over the 8 foot wall in the backyard
• the obstacle course at the local playground would have been so much easier

this is extremely useful information, but i have not recently needed to attempt this feat.

A Little Behind

i am only like a few months behind on blogging on this issue, but i read this quote awhile back and loved it. It is a discussion with Brian McClaren about the relaease of the movie and the book, the Davinci Code by Larry Brown.

Do you think the (the Davinci Code) contains any significantly detrimental distortions of the Christian faith?

McLaren: The book is fiction and it's filled with a lot of fiction about a lot of things that a lot of people have already debunked. But frankly, I don't think it has more harmful ideas in it than the Left Behind novels. And in a certain way, what the Left Behind novels do, the way they twist scripture toward a certain theological and political end, I think Brown is twisting scripture, just to other political ends. But at the end of the day, the difference is I don't think Brown really cares that much about theology. He just wanted to write a page-turner and he was very successful at that.

here is a link to the rest of the article in soujourners. i really like a few of the positions that he takes into why the book has really caught an audience with all kinds of people. it has made me continue to re-think what stumbling blocks we have set up in following jesus that makes people turn to a fiction book as more credible than the bible. what is that telling us?

Parable of the Fishing Net

my group gets the opportunity to create the dialogue tonite at the gathering, our faith community here in alhambra. i have been intrigued by this parable for awhile and finally get to throw it out for some more input. the parable is found in matthew 13: 47 - 50.

47 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that is thrown into the water and gathers fish of every kind. 48 When the net is full, they drag it up onto the shore, sit down, sort the good fish into crates, and throw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly, 50 throwing the wicked into the fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Do you understand?" "Yes," they said, "we do."


in the past, i think my eyes and my brain would have gravitiated to the last portion of the verse that talks about, "throwing the wicked into the fire". but as i have been analyzing and processing this verse these days i think i have been misguided. probably out of my fear of hell as a child or my condemning and judgmental mindset that is still hard to shake sometimes. as i read this passage the throwing of the wicked into the fire is not my job and should not be my concern. my concern and focus is to live a life after the kingdom value of the fishing net. the fishing net is cast wide and far to gather all people and give them the opportunity to become a part of the kingdom of god. the sorting of the good and bad fish is left to the angels. i am suppose to focus on casting the net.

as i pondered this parable. i think i have been selective over the years of who i think is worthy to be giving an opportunity to be a part of the kingdom. i am willing to cast the net toward those that may seem hopeful of taking the kingdom message and living by it, but those that i feel are hopeless. i may have not even been willing to cast the net out toward them. this is probably the purpose of the parable by jesus, to help his jewish followers to understand that the kingdom of god is not just for the cultural jew who is circumcised and worships in a certain way, but is open for gentiles of all kinds. i think the message is as relevant today as it was in the days of jesus.

how can i be more intentional with my life in casting the net to gather those that others are not willing to gather? so they can here the message of the kingdom. a message of hope. a message of resurection. a message for everyone. who have you NOT been willing to cast the net to, because of your prejudices or issues?

Kade Catches Evan on the Attack!

kade borrowed my camera on father's day to go outside and snap some pictures. he came back in with this classic picutre of evan. we all were laughing. hope you enjoy!

Read My "T-Shirt"

Kade and Evan Talent Show!

kade had a great performance to a latin jam. i am not sure of the title but he was swinging the hips with his asian honey. it was not as difficult as his performance, but i think he dances circles around his dad. i think next year, he will be ready for a solo appearance. a number of kids do a solo performance and kades martial arts / break dancing act he does in the living room would put them all to shame. so we will start practicing for next year.

evan made it in the show. i spoke with his teacher the morning of the program and he had been cut from being on stage, because of his tendency to push kids out of thier spots and the potential of launching himslef off stage into the crowd as if he was at punk rock show. but to my delight, as his class took the stage, evan was in the mix. he did not really dance, but circled the group at least twice taking a good look at the props to the back of the stage and even stuck his head between a couple of people. but for the most part he behaved and did not disrupt the show and got a few chuckles from the crowd. dad left with a smile.

the kingdom of god is like yeast...

i have heard this parable (a story that illustrates a lesson) so many times over the years, but if you missed the general session on Saturday morning of the 9th annual urban youth workers institute. you should download it, because alise and jeffrey nailed it. it was great.

they talked about how god's kingdom is active and at work in so many places that we would never think. he is working and cannot be seen. the yeast is invisible to the eye, but is powerful and what appears is the affect of the yeast. the illustration is perfect for the kingdom of god. god is active and moving and what we many times miss is the affect, because we have chosen not to look and believe that god can work outside of our ministry or outside the staus quo. i think god loves to be invisible in his work. the message of the kingdom of god is hidden from so many, but so powerful. those that find the message, it becomes invaluable. if you have ever made bread... i think you know yeast is invaluable to the process.

i like to personalize stuff... so what does the parable of the yeast say to me in my life. how do i begin to remember that god loves to work behind the scenes? i need to really be aware of god's kingdom and look for ways to partner with him in allowing what is invisible to become visible to those around me. i need to slow down and appreciate the kingdom that is active.

Evan and His Lunch Box

Evan's creativity amazes me!

J-Lou is Back!

I have been out of the office and this morning at 9:30 am was my first time to open my laptop since, Thursday June 1. It was a good break from the madness that we call UYWI. I hope everyone enjoyed this years experience at APU. We have heard many comments that it was the best ever. Which is good and bad, since now we have raised the bar for next year once again.

I got to hang out with a lot of friends over the last week and of course got to have lots of fun with kade and evan. i have caught up on sleep and am ready to prepare for our RELOAD season that will hit in september, but much work to do before than.

I have missed blogging and reading blogs, but know i will see what i can fin d to be confused about and have some fun reading all the other blogs.

Peace.