CARRY THE WEIGHT
What if ministry means being human? Compassion, love, care, small sacrifices for the well-being of others? These things aren't too hard to ask for, right? To care, to walk alongside, to carry the weight of someone else's burden for a while...
Denison Witmer came out with a new album just a few days ago, and the album is called "Carry the Weight". Such a beautiful song in its simplicity. Here are the lyrics:

Carry the weight of your brother
Carry the weight of your sister
I'm not afraid to say I don't know

Carry the weight of your father
Carry the weight of your mother
I'm not afraid to say I don't know anymore

Carry the weight of your neighbor
Carry the weight of a stranger
I'm not afraid to say I don't know what to do
And so I carry the weight, carry the weight, carry the weight

Carry the weight of each other
Carry the weight of another
I'm not afraid to say I don't know

It describes these beautiful relationships of walking alongside. It starts out with people we know, right - brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers. But what about the neighbors and strangers? Situations become more vague with these kind of people, but he admits that he really doesn't know what to do except carry the weight for a while. Oh what a marvelous commission! I have a feeling this is what it means to be a cup of cold water to the lost and weary...
The song ends in a beautiful a Capella, and that last verse rings out in your ears with conviction.
Sometimes, ministry isn't about answers, but instead saying "I don't know, but I'm here to help..."

...AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE...

So I have avoided getting involved in the political action so far, mainly because I had not educated myself on the candidates, their platforms, and the current political system. Now that I have, I am confident who I am going to vote for.
So, risking the political sound-off to await rocks being thrown my way, I will not be voting for either one of the big two party representatives. I will be voting Green.
Green? (you say). Green (that's me).
I believe that the Green party most accurately and directly addresses the problems we face in America - Health Care, Education, Foreign Policy, Economics, Environmental Sustainability, Equality, and right at the heart of it all - Big Government.
I am not against government in general, but I believe this government is so wrapped up in partisanship, the markets, corporations, and the well-being of themselves (compared to the well-being of the people) that it no longer can really be considered government. It is corruption at its worst.
I don't want to simply give up on government, however. I hope (there's that buzz word) we can reform it, restore it, and make it about the people once again.
Now, no political party will ever be perfect, but I feel obligated to vote for the party that most directly represents my views. This time around, it's the Green Party. They may not win, but I can't bring myself to like either Barack or John. Sorry guys.

BRILLIANT!

if you enjoy music at all, you will appreciate this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMrqBldlqzA


ENJOY!

IT FELT... WEIRD.

I drove up to the building, and waited in my car - I was 2 minutes early. I had a bag full of prepared material, and the deoderant was freshly applied before leaving the house.

I made my way to the front of the room, familiarizing myself with the computer and projection equipment - I was prepared.

I hung newspapers up around the room, making sure the most dramatic headlines were in the most visible places - where's the tape... crap... well, I thought I was prepared.

The young people start coming in, and, despite the awkward hellos to these youngsters I barely know, the attitude I display is that of confidence.

Soon, we are diving in, and now I am on the other end of the discussion, knowing what it feels like when discussion questions hit blank stares.

And then it happens - participation - oh! breakthrough! I've still got work to do, don't get distracted...

Thoughts rush to my head - communicate truth, what is that scripture I memorized, what's that kid doing with his pen (no kid, don't do that...), focus, relax, do something funny, don't do something stupid...

And soon the night was over - things were getting packed up again, and sticky notes are falling from the wall.

It was weird, and felt foreign, but also, it felt good. It was my baptism by fire, and my ass is toasty, but I learned.

AT THE END OF A WEDDING SEASON...

Song

I saw thee on they bridal day--
When a burning blush came o'er thee,
Though happiness around thee lay,
The world all love before thee:

And in thine eye a kindling light
(Whatever it might be)
Was all on Earth my aching sight
Of Loveliness could see.

That blush, perhaps, was maiden shame--
As such it well may pass--
Though its glow hath raised a fiercer flame
In the breast of him, alas!

Who saw thee on that bridal day,
When that deep blush would come o'er thee,
Though happiness around thee lay,
The world all love before thee.
--Edgar Allan Poe

A beautiful poem describing a beautiful day in so many of our friend's lives. This wedding season is coming to a close, but we anticipate another happy season soon!
Prost friends! Here's to you and many more happy moments!

... AND THE PENDULUM SWINGS...
what does our relationship with God actually look like? There are many who would claim that God is a distant being who loves us, yet is quite removed from our immediate world. There are still others who would claim that God is so close, we can only really recognize Him by engaging our neighbor. The pendulum swings between these two extremes.
Example: Last night I was at P&W, considering what I had just read from my 20th Century Theology book and the conversations from Gen 300, and I considered this God/human relationship. Around here, it is understood that if you are a good Christian, you will go to P&W, Gift, Church, and sing along with the songs. Being obedient is no more than showing up and singing mindlessly. Singing is good, don't get me wrong, but it's become more of the same, lacking zeal. But anyway, back to my experience at P&W -- We were singing, and two people in front of me were talking throughout the whole worship time. At first this bothered me, but I came to appreciate what was happening. They were enjoying fellowship and experiencing worship through their conversation. I watched the smiles on their faces as they told stories and joked about the events of their day.
I witnessed the joy that I thought was now gone from our worship times, and saw it in something other than singing... I saw it in 'something you're not supposed to do at P&W'.
What if God was near, and he was distant? We could experience that joy and show our respect for the God of the universe.
I think the pendulum is slowing down, getting closer and closer to hanging out in the middle. And when that day comes, we will see His glory here.

It has been too long friends.
The summer is making it's slow retreat. If you listen closely, you can hear it leaving - it's trying to sneak away, but it's leaving makes me sad. Although autumn is another favorite season, the warmth of summer carries comfort on it's wings. I'm still holding on to the hope that these dog days of summer will roll over, and we'll get another shot at this beautiful season.

Accomplishments:
-Mexico
-Family Vacations
-Hanging out/Boating with Friends
-Almost made it to three of the five Great Lakes
-Made Beer (what a delicious endeavor)
-Weddings

Those things we missed:
-Camping
-Fishing
-Seeing those distant friends
-Concerts

...But who's counting?

"Purpaleanie!"

I had only seen pictures of airplanes.
Once one that was lost
flew over our pasture
when you and I were
herding cows toward
the barn. They ran
away, frightened.
I was frightened
too, not that it
would hurt us,
but that we
wouldn't
live up
to the
event.
"May I
cal to it, Pa?"
"Go ahead."
So I called louder
than I knew I could:
"Purpaleanie!"
When I had
proclaimed the sum of wisdom --
a fitting response to any visitor from
heaven -- I was not frightened any more.

Calvinist Farming

Our Calvinist fathers wore neckties with their bib-overalls
and straw hats, a touch of glory with their humility. They rode
their horse-drawn corn planters like chariots, planting the corn
in straight rows, each hill of three stalks three feet from each hill
around it, up and over the rises. A field-length wire with a metal knot
every three feet ran through the planter and clicked off three kernels
at each knot.

Excerpt from Sietze Buning's, Purpaleanie and other Permutations

The movie is called THE NINES

A wonderful, thought-provoking movie that offers a different perspective for those who have faith in God. I appreciate these films; creatively worked and intricately pieced together to make a challenging watch followed by great conversation. In short, the film documented three stories of the same man in a somewhat haunting and thrilling puzzle that worked them together. I really came to appreciate how the director and writer used the final conversations to express the beauty of the Creator:

"You don't have to explain or apologize. Everything that is is because of you. And if that's all there is, that's enough."

It is a comment that says, 'It's not about me, this world exists because of You and for You'. A statement of wonderful theological significance which caused me great joy. This movie is a great watch, but be warned: it's labeled thriller for a reason.

MEXICO
The swarm of gulls just off shore with the warm sunshine and the salty sea-breeze air. The sails of a boat, a pie shaped fin on the back of the ocean breaks the horizon. Honeymooners wade out while the old folk lay back. They don't know it yet, but they will be back for another season. Sunbathers and wave waders make the best of the afternoon sun. The vendors get their exercise and and make their slow escape wit ha polite "no-thank-you". The cowboy marionette with a smile on his face and we speak the same language for a moment, then we talk. Drink in hand the sunburned vacationer give a cheer to the "Bandito" singing his song. But the song was first started by the bird in the tree as they called to each other - to love or to mock I am not sure. My love falls asleep under the blanket of the sun keeping her warm. But her beauty, even as she sleeps, radiates leagues brighter than that which warms her.

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

When I was younger, I hated the smell of the retirement home or the hospital that my great-grandmother lived in. I only went because I had to go, but it seemed to be that every time I went I had fun. We played games and talked mostly small talk, but it was fun because we seemed to be quite similar: we both cheated in the game, and it was the middle-aged folks that got all upset about our cheating; we both had a love for animals, and I learned a lot from that woman – she always had something wise to say. We were much alike despite our obvious age and physical condition. We were lighthearted, awkward at times, and loved to tell the same joke over and over again to all of our friends. But I wouldn’t have ever noticed this if I weren’t made to go to the retirement home. Week after week we went, and my parents and grandparents were relentless. I hated going mostly because of the smell, and told myself to make the best of it by playing a game or something. It is in retrospect that I see the wonderful similarities and how I really did enjoy myself despite my disposition to going.
The young and old are wonderfully complimentary, and I think this is something that is far too often overlooked in our communities and churches. Refusing to give up on the young people and connecting them with the larger body of believers is something I feel is vital to a youth ministry.

BIG WHEEL

It hangs there now, in the garage but also in my mind, quickly reminding me of the sweaty kids we once were on those humid summer nights. Rebels on our speed machines, racing and wrecking as the sun set at nine o'clock. A hole in my 'Big' front wheel prevents me from my foll potential of racing and wrecking. I am far too big for the toy, but I will not let that chase my childhood away. My knees hit the handle bars, I make the sweeping turn and feel the burn in my legs. My cheeks flush as evening fades. It's getting cooler, bedtime getting closer, but it's nothing we mind - we are carefree and in the moment. I spin my brother around, and I too am quickly spun. My vision blurs as sweeping green meets the orange sunset. I snap back in an instant and my lop-sided wheel makes a labored turn. Bliss.

I've never been good at living a simple life, but simply having her seems more than enough for me. The love I have for her overwhelms me sometimes, comes crashing over me like a wave. It's a complex feeling, one that I have a hard time explaining - you'll know it when you feel it.

Making my life complex seems to be my way of feeling fulfilled, my sense of accomplishing something. To keep myself so busy that I can't even take time to think of anything else - it was more of a distraction than anything. I am putting on the brakes, screeching to a halt (well almost). I am saying no to some great opportunities at Dordt, but that doesn't make me less of a person. Having time for myself, for God, for my wife and this family that we make up, that isn't a bad selfish anymore, but a needed selfish. It's simplifying my life some, allowing for a healthy self, a productive and joyful me.

Jana, to you I say thanks. This complex love has helped slow me down, has helped simplify. To the people I hold as close friends, I thank you for your patience and constant support. I have just what I need with what I have, I no longer need multiple events to make me feel whole. I have the love of God, the love of my beautiful wife, the love of friends. I think I'm finding my feet and beginning to walk on my own, that is without the crutches of these structures.

Who knew that something so complex could make my life simple once again. I am a 5 year old at heart once again. Saying no has never been so freeing.

IMAGINATION IS A BEAUTIFUL THING!

I remember the days of tree forts and hidden basement hideaways where magical kingdoms seemed to exist. The ordinary became extraordinary, and we were somehow greater than ourselves. Sorry pooch, you were always the bad guy...

Closer to the Sun

Closer to the sun
Out in the open farm
To the reason of this growing I will come
And you will be near
And I am not old
When we are close together, we are young

Far from everyone
Down where the river runs
To the reason for this valley I will come
And wash myself there
Of all of my cares
Through mystery and water there is love
There is love

There is love... this song by Denison Witmer contains beauty and truth.
told you i was on a lyrics kick...

to you, Jana, i dedicate this song ;-)

A Great Motion Picture

yesterday jana and i watched a wonderful movie - it's called "Once". It tells the story of a "broken hearted hoover fixer sucker guy" and a young Czech woman who loves music on their journey into relationship. it gives a genuine picture of relationship in a beautiful and musical "ballad" if you will. it was a wonderful story told through their music-making together. though their relationship looked like it would become romantic, it remained a deep friendship - something this culture is unable to fathom in it's infatuistic ways. Their lives came together, trading melodies and harmonies, bringing clarity and resolve to both of their stories. I highly recommend this movie!

There is so much more

there is so much more in this world than me... it's hard to see sometimes, but a nice reminder from brett dennen in his song, "there is so much more"

I wonder how so many can be in so much pain,
While others don't seem to feel a thing
Then I curse my whiteness,
and I get so damn depressed,
In a world with suffering,
Why should I be so blessed?

Sometimes my trouble gets so thick
I can't see how I'm gonna get through it
but then I'd rather be stuck up in a tree
Then be tied to it

There is so much more...

I don't feel comfortable with the way my clothes fit
I cant get used to my body's limits
I got some fancy shoes to try and giggle away these blues
They cost a lot of money but they aren't worth a thing
I wanna free my feet from the broken glass and concrete
I need to get out of this city
Lay upon the ground, stare a hole in the sky
Wondering where I go when I die
When I die.

In context with the world's problems, my homework and sleep deprivation seem minimal. What are we doing to confront the more important struggles in the world? What can be done to stop the dying that we so comfortably remove ourselves from? Why "kill" ourselves over petty problems? Why are we so narrow minded?

I don't mean to be a minimalist, but sometimes we are too pluralistic in our culture, too busy multitasking and worrying about multitudes of things that we miss the point.

Take some time, lay on the ground and stare a hole in the sky.

Mother Theresa attends the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington
D.C. She comes as the speaker for the morning. As president Bill Clinton is there, so
is Hillary and Al Gore. Nation prayer breakfasts are bipartisan events where it’s pretty
much understood that whoever does the speaking will avoid truly controversial topics.
It’s supposed to be a kind of feel good morning, everyone praying together. Apparently
Mother Teresa didn’t get the memo. Here’s part of her speech. "America needs no
words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great
nation.... It has portrayed the greatest of gifts -- a child -- as a competitor, an
intrusion, and an inconvenience.... The right to life does not depend, and must
not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a
parent or a sovereign.... Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the
people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the
greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion. " Quite the words to say in front
of the man who supports abortion and is the leader of the free world. Those in almost
any setting would be fighting words. But in this setting something Clinton stood up and said, “It is hard to argue with a life well lived.”

My first and last philosophy, that which I believe in with unbroken certainty, I learnt in the nursery...The things I believed most then, the things I believe most now, are the things called fairy tales. They seem to me to be the entirely reasonable things. They are not fantasies: compared with them other things are fantastic. Compared with them religion and rationalism are both abnormal, though religion is abnormally right and rationalism abnormally wrong...Granted, then, that certain transformations do happen, it is essential that we should regard them in the philosophic manner of fairy tales, not in the unphilosophic manner of science and the "Laws of Nature." When we are asked why eggs turn to birds or fruits fall in autumn, we must answer exactly as the fairy godmother would answer if Cinderella asked her why mice turned to horses or her clothes fell from her at twelve o'clock. We must answer that it is magic. It is not a "law," for we do not understand its general formula. It is not a necessity, for thought we can count on it happening practically, we have no right to say that it must always happen. It is no argument for unalterable law that we count on the ordinary course of things. -- G.K. Chesterton

Why not let the mysteries of "magic" simply mystify us for a while, rather than attempt to explain them away? Science becomes the security blanket of the rational. Then can the statement of "Ignorance is bliss" contain truth?

ok, so i'm still on the lyrics kick, but these are a different kind of lyric, more like comedic lyrics... i hope you enjoy them as much as i did.

“I think that when you get dressed in the morning, sometimes you’re really making a decision about your behavior for the day. Like if you put on flipflops, you’re saying: ‘Hope I don’t get chased today.’ ‘Be nice to people in sneakers.’”

“I wanna make a jigsaw puzzle that’s 40,000 pieces. And when you finish it, it says ‘go outside.’”

“I like parties, but I don’t like piñatas because the pinata promotes violence against flamboyant animals. Hey, there’s a donkey with some pizzazz. Let’s kick its ass. What I’m trying to say is, don’t make the same Halloween costume mistake that I did.”

“Some jokes are short and elegant, like a mathematical proof or a midget in a ballgown.”

“One of my friends has a stutter and a lot of people think that’s a bad thing, but to me that’s just like starting certain words with a drum roll. That’s not an impediment, that’s suspense! What’s he going to say? Car?? …or Carnival?? …Carburetor!?!? Man…"

“I went into a deli and got an egg sandwich and a hot chocolate. And then I went outside and I had to get a cab, so I had to put up one of my hands. But I already started eating my sandwich; I took it out of the bag, I was impatient. So my choice was hold up an egg sandwich or hold up a hot chocolate to get a car. So I chose the hot chocolate. And I put it up there and no cab stopped and I realized it was because I looked like I was toasting traffic. Standing on the street, ‘Here’s to you guys, to everybody heading west, I just wanna say I like what you do… but one of you needs to stop, pick me up.’”

“A drunk driver is very dangerous. So is a drunk backseat driver if he’s persuasive. ‘Dude make a left.’ ‘Those are trees…’ ‘Trust me.’

“I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I’m good at everything.”

“I was making pancakes the other day and a fly flew into the kitchen. And that’s when I realized that a spatula is a lot like a fly-swatter. And a crushed fly is a lot like a blueberry. And a roommate is a lot like a fly eater.”

"If you have a pear shaped body, you should not wear pear colored clothes, or act juicy."

My friend had a burrito. The next day he said, “That burrito did not agree with me.” I was like, “Was the disagreement over whether or not you’d have diarrhea? Let me guess who won.” “I tried to reason with it, I insisted, you know. I was like, ‘I wanna go outside, I like these pants, but the burrito had his way.’”

I was on the street. This guy waved to me, and he came up to me and said, “I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.” And I said, “I am.”


These quotes come from the hilarious Demetri Martin. I hope you got a good laugh out of your time spent here.

i'm on a lyrics kick... here's a good one -

"I Will Follow You Into The Dark"

Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son fear is the heart of love"
So I never went back

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
Cause we'll hold each other soon
The blackest of rooms

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark

I like this song for various reasons. it speaks of the beauty of spending a lifetime (life and death) with the one you love. beautiful.

i also enjoy this song if understood allegorically. we are talking about relational ministry in my practical issues class, and this song embodies the "walking alongside" the other through their personal hells. perhaps a stretch?

just some thoughts... expect more interesting lyrics soon. shalom

oh, it's good to be back. jana told me that i am saying that a lot, but i guess that testifies to the truth of the statement. it really is good to be back - to be able to see friends, family, a familiar face in the grocery store. and to be able to walk to school - what a joy!

there are definitely things that still cause me minor frustrations here, like this constant consciousness of what everyone else is thinking about you. but i hate to dwell on the bad, so i will not go further.

although life in small town sioux county can be stinky and sometimes frustrating, we feel very much at home here. spending time here carries a lot of good things with it too - the greatest of these is feeling a genuine love. i can't see us living here for the rest of our lives, but for the time being, it's the best place for us. so, at risk of being told again... it's good to be back.