Epic Rantings

Epic Rantings 2.0

2009-09-30T16:55:25-07:00

So I've been getting a little well-deserved flack about Epic Rantings. As in, "more posts!!". I'm currently migrating my blog to another service and completely redesigning the interface. So please hold-tight. Epic Rantings 2.0 is on the way. And rest assured, I will return to my normal pattern of writing soon...

DAVID CROWDER BAND: "Church Music"

2009-09-22T09:33:40-07:00

Today, the David Crowder Band released their 6th full-length studio album entitled "Church Music". This is not including their various album remixes, singles or EP's. Now I'm going to admit right off the bat, it is extremely difficult for me to remain unbiased in this review.

This is a band that has a special place in my life and in my ministry narrative. DCB is not the most post-modern band. Neither does a majority of their music produced contain the repetition and choruses needed for worship leaders on a Sunday morning (w/ some exceptions of course). They find themselves somewhere in the middle, in a category that doesn't fill arenas or make their chord charts highly downloaded.

Nevertheless, they continue to produce music that is creative, exciting, reverent and beautiful. I love this band. They continue to remind me that not all artists have given their lives to the "Christian marketing machine".

"Church Music" is 17-track album with sounds ranging from electronica to ballads to contemporary dance. Did I mention 17-tracks? “It’s our stimulus package,” the frontman player jokes. “We’re doing our part.” The band hopes this album serves as a reminder of the continual evolvement of music within the Church. Their recording of "How He Loves Us" is beautiful to the pallet. Tracks like "SMS (Shine)" are a familiar DCB sound with just a touch of sampling.

A lot of "musicians" don't like the DCB. That's ok. The DCB is trying to write a worship album that reflects their particular brand of creativity. Not theirs.

EPIC FAITH

2009-09-03T20:07:30-07:00

So for about the last month, I haven't been doing much writing. I've been caught up in the seasonal changes and demands of my new ministry.

Christian Church of San Rafael is no more. I'm not really attached to the name and still grieve it's dissolution. I can't imagine how those must feel who have known their home community by that name for decades.

However, saying goodbye to the old is a courageous way to make room for the new. And the reason we make room for the new is sometimes not out of joy or excitement. For example, I LOVE to buy a new car. I love the experience, the strategy, the smell and my usual victory over the salesman. I hardly grieve in seeing my old car wheeled away when I'm enjoying the new one in front of me. But not everything is like this. I hate moving. I don't care how exciting a new place is. I value stability and familiarity for my family. But I do it...not because of joy...not because of excitement....I do it for the same reason so many are on board with this new season of ministry: obedience.

Obedience is the ultimate form of trust:

We obey our parents when they say "don't play in the street" -- and trust it leads to safety.
We obey the doctor when he says one more girl scout cookie could result in heart surgery -- and trust it leads to health.
We obey the cop who flashes his lights at us to pull over -- and trust it leads to freedom.

Likewise, our obedience to seasonal changes, allows us to experience God more fully. It allows to experience His plan, His purpose and His involvement at deeper dimension. Think of it like baseball game. Not a Giants game. That would be wrong. Maybe another team, one with more class. Maybe one that wears blue. Anyways...that besides the point. Back to my analogy. I love watching a ballgame on TV. Granted, sometimes it's a little slow, but I grew up on the sport so it doesn't bother me so much. But as much as I enjoy the game on TV, its nothing like the experience of going to the actual ballgame. There is something about the stadium itself. The crowd. The dodger dog...errr....I mean hot dog. The empty peanut shells at your feet. The sound of the wood making contact with a ball heading for the upper deck. If your lucky, the look in your son's eyes at the massiveness of it all. You're involvement in the game has taken on a new dimension. You are experiencing the game more fully than at home watching TV. Then, the players themselves, are participating in a dimension that some can only dream of. They experience the game at the deepest possible level.

Do you see where I'm going with this? This is what God wants for us. To experience community with Him at the deepest possible level.

When you say "I trust God", you experience one dimension of the relationship. But when you actually make decisions that support that idealism, you experience Him on another dimension that others don't. A deeper level. And as hard as our obedience is sometimes, you very RARELY regret the decision on the back end. I've yet to meet the person who said "I really shouldn't have trusted God". Or "I regret letting God lead me in that decision". More often that not, I hear "I wish I would have trusted Him". "I regret not having more faith.".

EPIC

noun

a story or narrative, usually surrounding a hero as its central theme.

adjective

heroic, grand, monumental

FAITH

noun

trust, belief, confidence, conviction

antonym

mistrust

Our Epic Faith is the trust, the conviction and the confidence in the heroic story that our Father intends for us.

And disobedience is anything that falls short of that...

What if I hadn't said yes?

2009-08-12T15:21:35-07:00

There have been a few times in my life when I look back and clearly think, “Wow, I am so glad I listened to God’s crazy plan, and not my own logical one.” This summer is one of them. Last spring when the opportunity came up to work at Christian Church of San Rafael for the summer, I wasn’t quite sure. I mean, I want to be a traveling nurse and missionary, how exactly does admin work fit into that? However, I really felt like this was where God wanted me this summer, and so I thought to myself “Why not? Let’s trust the God of the universe on this one; I bet he knows a little better than me.” It wasn’t the easy choice. It wasn’t the comfortable choice. It wasn’t the logical choice. But I know now that it was 100% the right choice.

There are countless things that I have learned this summer, I can’t even begin to list them all. Some of them as silly as: I will avoid Kinkos at all costs, because every time I walk in there, they are incompetent and I just get angry. Most of them are more serious, like: God has a plan and I can either be on board with it and get to experience an epic life, or I can ignore it and he will use someone else. Most of these things I never expected to learn at this little church in San Rafael, CA. I didn’t expect this church and their mission to work their way into my heart like they have.

I looked at Allen last weekend and I said, “I’m really going to miss it here. I didn’t expect that when I came.” However, God is doing something big here through Epic Faith Church. God is at work here in Marin. And I have caught the bug. I have gotten a little taste of what God is doing. I have gotten to be part of starting a movement that I know God is going to take far. And I can’t believe I considered following my own plan. I can’t believe all the things I would have missed out on by ignoring his plan. Epic Faith would still be going places. God would still be doing crazy things in Marin. However, if I hadn’t listened to that little whisper that said “Come see what I’m up to in San Rafael,” I would have missed out on being a part of it all.

So as I say goodbye to Epic Faith for now, its going to hurt for a little while. Saying goodbye always hurts. As my mom told me last week, “If you are going to love, you’re going to hurt. That’s a sign of good loving happening.” And she is so right. There is good loving happening in this place; and I’m going to miss it a lot, but I am so glad I got to be a part of it while I did. God’s got a mission for this church, and I am so excited to see what he does here through them. I am so thankful I got to play the part I did here this summer. I have thanked God each day that he brought me here to play a part in the story of Epic Faith Church.

And Epic Faith, thank you for embracing me, loving me, and letting me play a part in the story God’s given you. God has a plan for Marin, and you guys are getting to play an Epic part of it. I can’t wait to hear where he takes you next.

-Becky

MERIMNAO

2009-07-28T10:56:32-07:00

Merimnao.

It's a little Greek word found in the book of Philippians. What it means, we'll get to in a minute.

I'm sitting in the hospital waiting room after just having watched Tyler wheeled away. There is nothing that makes you feel more vulnerable and helpless like watching one of your kids go into surgery. You're placing their life, health, security and safety in the hands of strangers. Compounding the issue is Tyler's inability to understand the event. As a dad, it goes against my nature to place his protection in another's hands. It makes me angry. It makes me cranky. I begin to drink coffee like it's oxygen. I essentially take on the characteristics of a government employee.

Why? Isn't it obvious? I worry. I worry about the anesthesia. I worry about Tyler's comfort. I worry about his recovery. I worry about the effectiveness of the procedure. I worry because no one loves Tyler like his mother and I.

Wait...that is no one except....God.

Now I want you to really think about this. It's easy to understand that conceptually. But practically? The need to protect, guide and care for our kids is so hard-wired into our DNA, it's impossible to think someone else knows best. Much less the seemingly intangible deity, ywvh.

Now, back to merimnao. Check out
This excerpt from Paul's letter to Philippi:

"The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Now, my wife is next me, so I dont want to spend the whole time exegeting this passage. But I do want to point out something that has helped me when things seem like they're escaping my control. And perhaps, it will help you too.

Paul starts out by saying don't be "anxious". Or don't "worry" in other translations. This is the greek word merimnao that I spoke of.

In the English, we have many words that describe this state of being. Worry, anxiety, nervous, etc. However, the Greeks would say that is all the same state of being..."merimnao". That you're emotions have become untethered and unachored from something stable. From something secure. That when your trust and hope is in men, circumstance, jobs, substances, doctors, lawyers...you're ability to avoid "merimnao" is nearly impossible. Why? Because none of those things are permanent. They are not big enough. Or as Solomon would say "they are meaningless".

But if God loves Tyler more than I do...His love is bigger. If God controls the circumstance, His plan is more stable. If God knows the end, His understanding is more far reaching.

To be clear...He is anchorable. He is secure. He is not "merimnao".

From this pastor's subjective perspective, words like worry and anxiety don't do this word justice. But there is another word in the English languange that means "not anchored". That speaks "not tethered".

Insecure.

With that in mind, read Paul's words again:

"The Lord is at hand; do not be INSECURE about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Don't be insecure. About the surgery. About that job. About the economy. About your marriage. About your kids. About your relationship. Paul says about ANYTHING.

The rest of the passage essentially says but anchor yourself to God. And He'll take care of your heart.

Just like He's taking care of mine this morning.

Tea tree

2009-07-24T15:40:27-07:00

Tea tree
Originally uploaded by epicflickr

Kaelyn gets a close up view of the remodel.

2009-07-24T00:30:30-07:00

Kaelyn gets a close up view of the remodel.
Originally uploaded by epicflickr

Pershishable

2009-07-23T12:14:29-07:00

In the new testament, you find Jesus hanging around with what seems like a bunch of guys who "just don't get it".

He's asked "who is the greatest". Needing to clarify status.

He's told they "tried to stop" other proclaimers of the gospel. Needing to clarify unity.

The list goes on. You think, at times, Jesus couldn't have selected a more dense group of followers. That is, until you look around.

I've been part of four different ministries in four cities and two states. And the same thing is true for us as it was for the disciples.

VISION IS PERISHABLE.

Hang with me for a moment: In John 15, we are told to go and bear fruit. It's interesting that this analogy is used, because fruit is indeed perishable. Furthermore, the passage seems to imply that we CONTINUE to bear fruit. As an ongoing part of our lives and ministry. This makes sense as anythings that bears fruit needs ongoing to care to do so. Water, sunlight, healthy soil, etc.

What Jesus was doing with the disciples was casting vision. Constantly, regularly and with great intent. He often revealed to them more of the Father through His ministry. He knew, what all good leaders know, if you stop casting vision...people go off and do stupid things. Like arguing over the particular brand of coffee you've chosen to serve on Sunday. Vision keeps them focused on the mission.

The vision will ultimately fade, be forgotten or perish if we don't regularly remind those around us of the mission. And, ultimately, we'll stop bearing fruit. The scripture, itself, is a way in which the believer reminds him/herself about the mission. That's one of the reasons why God's word regularly being part of your discipline is important.

The second thing about casting vision, is it will be rejected. Vision casting doesn'tjust kick start the growth of healthy fruit....but it prunes unhealthy ones. Judas' betrayal is evidence of this through Jesus' vision casting. Ultimately, it will force those who were never on par with the vision in the first place to surface. Usually in the form of opposition or dissension. This will give you a chance to cast vision on a personal level and win them to the mission. But more often than not, we will ultimately send them on their way because they will inevitably, and often unintentionally, damage the vision. Leaders know when to cut off perishing fruit. It allows healthy fruit to grow in its place.

At CCSR, we have started a series entitled EPIC. The purpose of this series is to tell the stories of our past and cast the vision of our future. We pray that new and healthy fruit will begin to hang on the vine of our mission again. We pray that Jesus will reign in this culture through what He is doing through our community. We pray that the unconvinced will become convinced about Jesus.

And like in John 15, that we pray that we would produce fruit that would "abide". Or in other words, fruit that won't perish.

Americans Well-Being Continues to Edge Upward

2009-07-09T13:00:29-07:00

Americans Well-Being Continues to Edge Upward Shared via AddThis

Re: "The Shack"

2009-06-30T17:47:38-07:00

Allen Coleman