God is with the poor.

Critical Mass

Tonight my friend Marty and I rode critical mass. The last Friday of every month, in nearly every major western city in the world there is a critical mass bike ride. Critical mass is where large groups of people meet on bikes in a central place and claim the streets to bring bicycle awareness and also alternative means of transportation. Tonight some people rode to remember the cyclist who was hit and killed by a truck in Seattle just a couple of weeks ago.

There were approx. 400 people riding tonight. We rode for 1 1/2 hours from downtown. We went west on 15th to Ballard, then up Leary to Freemont. From there we went up Stone to Revena and down Revena to University Ave. Finally we headed over to Gas Works Park to end. It was a great night. It was fun to ride with all those people. It was good to see my friend Bubba and all the friends he has made in the bike community and it was fun to ride with Marty.

Thanks Seattle.

Forgetting What is behind...

Phllipians 3:12-14Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one think I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus.

Yesterday I was sitting in church and out of no where this verse came into my head. Mark, the pastor was not even talking about it, but there it was. For the last 10+ day's I have been doing somewhat of a Ramadan fast, praying for specific things in my life as well as some friends who are working with Muslims in India and Canada. Since doing it I feel that my mind has gotten clearer and things in my life that I have been desiring for a while now are happening.

I have realized that there are some things and circumstances in my life that are broken and beyond repair. For the last while I have spent my energy trying to repair these things, but I cannot. A few of these things are my dad and the situation of my mom and his divorce, some friendships that have been broken and even things with YWAM. The realization that I had on Sunday was that instead of trying to fix unfixable things I need to let them die and in doing see new life come. The paradox of death as taught by Christ is that when things die, a grain of wheat, there comes life.

I cannot fix the brokenness of my parents divorce, but I can hope for a future and live for that. I can't fix the broken relationship's that I have with my friends, but I can forget about the past and look to them in hope for the future. I can't fix the brokenness that has taken place in YWAM Seattle, but I can let the old YWAM, which has been waiting to die for some time now die and look to the new life that God has.

This has been a heavy, but good week for me. I thank God for revealing this to me, not out of anything in me, but out of His infinite mercy and understanding.

Amen.

The Farmers Marked and Crab

On Saturday the girls and I went down to the U-District Farmers Market to get some produce. I love the Farmers Market. It is just this cool place where people of all kinds are congregating at the same place to get good, fresh, local grown fruit, vegetables and everything else. We picked up some asparagus, some strawberries, squeaky cheese and Amy’s favorite, carrots straight out of the garden.

After that we drove 30 miles N. to Marysville as I was speaking and hanging out with a group of college students. They had rented this sweet retreat house overlooking the Pueget Sound. After we were done they asked if I wanted any crab as they had caught a bunch earlier in the day. So we had fresh, free crab for dinner on Saturday night with our friends Gordon and Deborah. I was a little disappointed that they didn't scream when I dropped them in the boiling water, maybe that is just lobster. Anyway, it was a great day and a good weekend. I hope yours was a blessing as well.

Free Hugs

Ramadan

Yesterday was the first day of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. It runs through October 12 and is a time of prayer (5 times a day), cleansing, inside and out, and fasting from early morning till sun set. Please remember the Muslim people during this time and pray that the Almight would reveal himself to them. To read more or go through a 30 day prayer focus for Muslims check out
30 day's. Here is a short story from today's prayer focus.

For Friday, 14 September, Ramadan 2007. "Loving Muslims Through Prayer"

Outside, the muezzin finishes his call to prayer over the loud speaker. Instead of going to the mosque, a young man decides to pray at home. But first he does the ritual cleansing. In his cramped bathroom he begins by declaring his intention to cleanse himself and pray by saying "Bismillah" (In the name of God). He then washes his hands up to the wrists, three times. He rinses out his mouth with water three times and cleans his nostrils by sniffing water into them, three times. He proceeds to wash his whole face three times with both hands from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his chin and from ear to ear. Finally he washes his arms three times up to the elbow and ends by washing his ears and both feet.

Then the young man remembers the previous night. He was near the bars of Gemmayzeh, an eastern Beirut "Christian" neighbourhood. So many pretty young women were there. The young Muslim had really desired to enter a bar himself, however he had no money. His anger rose a he thought of the conflict with Israel and conflicts with Christians. No job, little money. No peace.

Then he unrolled his prayer rug.

Good Morning

This morning I woke up grateful.
-Grateful that my 2 girls stayed in their beds all night and Amy and I had our first full undisturbed nights sleep in a while.
-Grateful for our roommate Sam
-Grateful for coffee
-Grateful for a sunny day in Seattle
-Grateful that God hears our prayer
-Grateful that Emma gets to go to school in 25 min.
-Grateful for my friend Lars who encouraged and helped me get my i-Phone
-Grateful for my i-Phone
-Grateful that after I drop Emma off for school Amy Abby and I are going to a cool cafe to work on stuff together for Mission Adventures
-Grateful that my children are safe and well. We watched Blood Diamond last night, so I am very grateful for the safety and protection of my kids.
Grateful to Jesus who gives us new hope each day.

I pray that on the day's when I do not wake up grateful because I was up all night with the girls and it is raining, possibly tomorrow, that I would remember that Jesus is still faithful and there are always reasons to be grateful.

First Day Of School

Today was Emma's first day of school. Here is how it went down.
7:30am wake up
8:00am have breakfast
8:20am Get dressed and pack lunch and back pack
8:30am Watch PBS Kids as Courious George is on
9:00am Load up the kids in the van
9:05am Leave for Olympic View School
9:15am Take Emma to her kindergarten class
1:30pm Pick her up and go for ice cream at Dicks.

Man, what a cool day for her and us. We all have been waiting for this for years now. With it comes a grown up little girl, Saddness and joy, and much responsibility. I dread the call from the teaching at 1:45pm asking me why I have not picked up Emma from school, Jesus help me. Anyway, good times and we willl do it again tomorrow and for the next 12 years.

Competitors in the World Beard and Moustache Championship

I was reading on the BBC the other day about the World Beard and Moustache Championship. Here are the BBC's top picks and one of mine. Enjoy. Oh and by the way, two of the pictures are of people living in Seattle, any guesses?

Freed South Koreans return home

Finally after five weeks the remaining Korean hostage are freed to go home from Afghanistan. Thank you to those of you who were praying for them. I am not sure of all that went down to get them home, probably some good things and probably some bad, but that is not the issue right now, the issue is that these innocent men and women are home safely with their families. I hope and pray that the rest can get sorted out quickly so that things like this never happen again.

Please do not forget that there are two families who did not get their loved ones home as they were executed. We want to grieve and mourn with those who grieve and mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.

Freed South Koreans return home