From Memory

This is John Piper reciting the entire book of Philippians from memory. It takes him 17 minutes to complete. It is awesome. While I understand we are making a transition in communication, I still believe that the oral tradition is deeply seated in the human mind and soul. Scripture was meant to be read aloud and memorized. There is power in hearing Scripture and poetry read aloud because it connects us to some of our deepest human roots. Piper models it for us here.

Media and Laziness

A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation on the online lives of teens resulted in these stats:

“Eight-to-eighteen-year-olds spend more time with media than in any other activity besides (maybe) sleeping—an average of more than 7 1/2 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Justin Taylor adds: "The report goes on to say that due to multi-tasking, the average kid actually consumes 11 hours of media in that 7.5 hour time frame."

Here's the typical Christian response: OH NO. I'M UNPLUGGING MY COMPUTER AND SMASHING LITTLE JOHNNY'S XBOX INTO TINY LITTLE PIECES SO HE CAN'T EVEN DREAM OF PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER. MEDIA IS EVIL AND I WILL NEVER ALLOW IT IN MY HOUSE! THAT YOUTH GROUP BETTER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! NOW!

But you know what, if this is true, there's really only one solution. Go play with your kid. This is not the media's fault, they're doing their job. This is your fault.

While we live in the busiest age, where people constantly complain about their full schedules, I believe we actually live in the laziest society in history. In all actuality, being super busy is really being lazy.

Think about it: if your schedule is filled every week with meeting after meeting and scheduled event after scheduled event, you're not really working too hard but you're just letting other people and events dictate your schedule. Then, you spend all of your time hopping from one person or event to the other without thinking about much. You can fill your time by just jumping from appointment to appointment. That doesn't sound like there's too much effort there.

But you come home after a "busy day" and playing with your kid is just "too much." You just watch the tube with him, or you go up and lay down while your kid is occupied with a screen.

I know for me, it is an easy week if the week before I just filled it up with meetings. I just look at my phone, and drive where I need to be and say what I need to say after that. It really isn't too challenging.

You know what's challenging? Leaving pockets of time (large pockets) for prayer or for spontaneous things to come up. For you to be free. For you to rest.

Man, if you're a parent, it could be for time with your kids. So then, when you come home from work, you don't just let your kid surf the internet or be entertained by the multiple mediums that are available to him/her, but instead you have time and you are rested. You can clean. You can help others who are too busy.

That's the type of people that other people need.

If you are a Christian, this is how you are different. Don't just be another busy person. People do not need another person with a hectic lifestyle, they are surrounded by those. People (and your kids especially) need people who are centered.

"For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies."

I Can't Wait to Tell You About the Time I Met Tower of Power

Tonight is my buddy Jerrad's bachelor party. Because Jerrad's dad is connected (and black), he knows some guys from Tower of Power, one of the greatest bands of all time (ALL TIME, Kanye). We got the bass player's cell phone number and a pretty open invitation to chill with the band. Judging by their music and this picture, I think we'll have a great night.

What is hip?

We Have A Strong City

"Then the king said to me, 'What are you requesting?' So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said to the king..."
-Nehemiah 2:4

There is way too much to say about Nehemiah. I first studied this book under Pastor Mark Driscoll up at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. During my time in the book, it became an instant favorite.

For multiple reasons, God is putting that book back in to my life as my mentor, Joel Dombrow, is teaching through this book at Willamette Christian Church. Also, I know that my friends at Solid Rock just finished going through this amazing book.

Certainly God works through people, and he works even stronger when those people congregate. We often believe this to be churches, which is true, but it is biblically accurate to notice that God works through cities perhaps even more than "churches." I love taking inventory of where God is bringing my city, Portland, and who is in tune to it all.

As I look back on the past three or four years, it becomes apparent that God has been raising up churches and young leaders to rebuild the city of Portland. I see Portland like Nehemiah sees Jerusalem: laid in ruins. It is a beautiful city, but it is a broken city.

It is such a privilege to not just watch, but be a part of God's plan to rebuild Portland. We are JUST getting started.

ANYWAYS...another entry perhaps.

I place this verse at the top to remind us of the prayerful demeanor of Nehemiah. If you don't know the story, I'm not going to type a summary, just read the book. But in 2:4 he is asked a question by the king, which every visionary desires:

"What do you want?"

Before Nehemiah goes into his vision, he prays. It must have been a quick prayer, but it was enough.

St. Paul, when writing to one of the churches he looked after, reminds them to "pray without ceasing." What we lose in the English translation is that St. Paul is actually using a medical term to describe "without ceasing." He's not saying, "Pray 24 hours a day and seven days a week." If we did that, we wouldn't ever put any prayer into action. The Greek medical term he uses is to describe a scratch in the back of your throat that you have to constantly itch or clear. In other words, pray as if it's the only thing that will bring your life comfort. As if it's something that will bring you clarity in your system, or deeper even, your soul. Also, don't be surprised if you continue in spiritual discomfort when you're not in prayer.

All that is said of Nehemiah's prayer to the king is just one part of a sentence. He didn't get on his knees, he didn't light a candle, and he didn't hold anyone's hand. There absolutely are times for such things, but they are not law when approaching the Creator. Prayers do not have to be long winded, they do not have to be on your knees, they just need to be honest and often. You don't even have to close your eyes and fold your hands.

This little prayer by Nehemiah changes the history of Jerusalem, and in turn, the world. Prayer is our most powerful asset as the people of God, and often our prayers reveal our shallow faith. In other words, when we pray just to find the keys or for a parking spot, we really are creating a very small god. Nehemiah was a man who prayed for his city to be renewed and people to turn back to God is droves. He knew not only of God's love, mercy, and passion, but he knew about God's supreme power.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..."

My friends, pray bigger.

Plugs

It's normally a little awkward when that friend gives you their piece of art and they say that daunting comment: "Let me know what you think!" You smile halfway and force out the enthusiastic, "Yeah, OK!"

I realized this at the dawn of the MySpace Music pandemonium that apparently is still going on. "Check out my MySpace page and let me know what you think!"

I won't!

Luckily, however, I've been overwhelmed by the amount of talent that is in my life. That, for the vast majority of my creative friends, there is a direct contradiction to that common situation of having to fake the enjoyment of someone's pathetic and terrible work of art.

My friends are stupidly talented, and if none of them get famous or in some way recognized, I will be eternally confused.

Two of my very good friends recently released some amazing creative material.

John Finnerty is my roommate, and in my opinion, a remarkable graphic designer. I've learned a lot living with him - more than just how much he sucks at Halo 2. He recently opened THEYEARTWOTHOUSAND, which is an exploration of design with naive mediums. It is showing in the lobby of Pacific Northwest College of Art.

He also designed the album cover for my old buddy Mitchell Sumner, who released a truly terrific album, "Jip Opus." Only a couple times before have I kept listening to a friend's record over and over and over. "Jip Opus" is not leaving my car, not even to load on to my iTunes. It is beyond worth the $7 you can pay on CDbaby.com.

So buy some local music and visit a local art show because these people are freaking talented and I get the pleasure of knowing them.