The Fettered Heart

“I” emerges to “We”: Get the Lead Out Folks are Dying.
My heart aches at the news of what terrible thing has happened to a 15 year old girl and the community of Richmond, California last week.  A brutal, savage sexual attack took place on prom night right there behind the school as the dance took place.  All of this happened under the gazing eyes of 10-2- people doing nothing to stop this brutal assault. It is in moments like this that I have to fight for my faith in an all-loving God.  I must exercise a critical discipline in order to remain a follower of Jesus the Christ.  It conjures up the arguments against a living God, as this kind of violence enters the public consciousness. I mourn for the loss that this

Santiago the Monkey: The Wild Heart of Gods Creation
This story from Moth reminds me of why I love God and why I have hope for the church that emerges from people like this fella. I offer that Ari encounters the same heart breaking sorrow upon witnessing the brokenness of the wild inside of Santiago that God encounters upon our departure from paradise and entering in to the sin of toil. As we seek to be people of reconciliation and filters of grace and holders of hope we must witness this world and al

Resources from Mission Celebration 2009
Here is the resources list from the workshop “Engaging Young Adults Through Mission.” Books Bosch, David.  Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission Claiborne, Shane.  The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical Guder, Darrell.  Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America Hesse, Herman.  Siddartha Merritt, Carol Howard.  Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation Moore, Christopher.  Lamb Niffenegger, Audrey.  The Time Traveler’s Wife Tickle,

“Whip It” [review]
“Whip It” I am not sure where to begin with this film. I get all apeshit over roller derby. I remember the first time I was exposed to roller derby outside of my youthful memories of the Los Angeles T-Birds and everyone’s favorite puggy little Mexican, Ralphie Valladares!  It was during my last stint at Cal State Northridge and I was taking a cultural history class with a prof. named “Flannery”.  She was cool as hell.  She grew up in Austin and when I showed interest in Burlesque she challenged me to find the similarities between burlesque and the emerging world of women’s roller derby. She pointed me towards the likes of the Texas Rollergirls and

Guilty Feet Have Got No Rhythm [sermon 09/27/09]
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”  But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.  Whoever is not against us is for us.  For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.  “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into t