The gig starts around 7. Jay will be grilling around 6:15 if you want to bring food to be grilled along with drinks. Paul is head of Heart Connexion Ministries. He's a friend and frequent speaker and sojourner at DC and other conversations. Check out his blog here.
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Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Blessed Friction...Dos
"Have no fear
For giving in
Have no fear
For getting over
You better know that in the end
It's better to say too much
Then never to say what you need to say again
Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open... wide...
Say what you need to say."
-John Mayer "Say"
"Most birds were created to fly. Being grounded for them is a limitation within their ability to fly, not the other way around."
"You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around."
"Living unloved is like clipping a bird's wings and removing it's ability to fly. Not something I want for you." There's the rub Mack didn't feel particularly loved at the moment.
"Mack, pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly. And if left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place.
-from "The Shack" by William Young
*Tom could feel it building for years. It seemed that he has successfully masked the depths inside for much of his life. For whatever reasons lately, in the past 2 years, it was harder and harder. Maybe it was when his wife told him how "she didn't want to do life like that anymore". Maybe it was when he would find himself in his car crying on his way to work. Maybe it was the mask of indifference he wore everytime he saw a picture of his dad. If you could see Tom's life over a period of time...you could see it...you could feel it...building...building...friction...building...anger...building. The janitor at work had no idea that he would, unfortunately, provide the avenue for years of anger and frustration with 1 misplaced mopstroke. The real question was what would happen with Tom now. Would he dive into the why? Would he retreat and defend even more?
*Laura grew up in church, she knew the answer to the questions. The questions were bigger than the answers she knew though. In fact, the answers weren't suffice. Deep down, thought she wouldn't know to say it, there was a draw a "calling" if you will that there's a bigger story than what she'd been told. A bigger God. A bigger love. A bigger life. More real. More authentic. More human. More...faith. Everytime she went back to her home church she felt the friction. Everytime she heard certain songs or certain phrases by, likely, well-meaning people...friction. Almost, intrinsically, she knew what rang true with her soul and she knew what didn't. She knew the shame, fear, and hiding that what she grew up learning about God has led her too. She would never go there again. She didn't want anyone else to either. She happened across a few books that peaked her interest and she started having conversations with a couple of people who spoke like they had been through the exact season of faith friction she was in. It was really tough...good things were around the corner.
Beneath the religion. Beneath the tradition. Beneath the "because we always have". The friction is there. The questions are there. The road to life...real life...abundant life is there. It's okay to be afraid. Just know that no matter where you are. No matter what friction you're dealing with or have dealt with or will deal with in your life, you can be honest about it and walk through it because you are loved. Loved no matter what. Period. Talk with people about the friction in your life you've walked through. Your story. You never know the value others may find in it. Talk with people about the friction you are currently living with. You never know the value you may find in others story or perspective.
For giving in
Have no fear
For getting over
You better know that in the end
It's better to say too much
Then never to say what you need to say again
Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open... wide...
Say what you need to say."
-John Mayer "Say"
"Most birds were created to fly. Being grounded for them is a limitation within their ability to fly, not the other way around."
"You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around."
"Living unloved is like clipping a bird's wings and removing it's ability to fly. Not something I want for you." There's the rub Mack didn't feel particularly loved at the moment.
"Mack, pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly. And if left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place.
-from "The Shack" by William Young
*Tom could feel it building for years. It seemed that he has successfully masked the depths inside for much of his life. For whatever reasons lately, in the past 2 years, it was harder and harder. Maybe it was when his wife told him how "she didn't want to do life like that anymore". Maybe it was when he would find himself in his car crying on his way to work. Maybe it was the mask of indifference he wore everytime he saw a picture of his dad. If you could see Tom's life over a period of time...you could see it...you could feel it...building...building...friction...building...anger...building. The janitor at work had no idea that he would, unfortunately, provide the avenue for years of anger and frustration with 1 misplaced mopstroke. The real question was what would happen with Tom now. Would he dive into the why? Would he retreat and defend even more?
*Laura grew up in church, she knew the answer to the questions. The questions were bigger than the answers she knew though. In fact, the answers weren't suffice. Deep down, thought she wouldn't know to say it, there was a draw a "calling" if you will that there's a bigger story than what she'd been told. A bigger God. A bigger love. A bigger life. More real. More authentic. More human. More...faith. Everytime she went back to her home church she felt the friction. Everytime she heard certain songs or certain phrases by, likely, well-meaning people...friction. Almost, intrinsically, she knew what rang true with her soul and she knew what didn't. She knew the shame, fear, and hiding that what she grew up learning about God has led her too. She would never go there again. She didn't want anyone else to either. She happened across a few books that peaked her interest and she started having conversations with a couple of people who spoke like they had been through the exact season of faith friction she was in. It was really tough...good things were around the corner.
Beneath the religion. Beneath the tradition. Beneath the "because we always have". The friction is there. The questions are there. The road to life...real life...abundant life is there. It's okay to be afraid. Just know that no matter where you are. No matter what friction you're dealing with or have dealt with or will deal with in your life, you can be honest about it and walk through it because you are loved. Loved no matter what. Period. Talk with people about the friction in your life you've walked through. Your story. You never know the value others may find in it. Talk with people about the friction you are currently living with. You never know the value you may find in others story or perspective.
Great Interview with Robert Downey Jr.
"I think of myself as a shopkeeper or a beekeeper. I'm learning the business of building a life. Instead of getting instant gratification by getting high, I push my nose as far into the grindstone as I can. The honey, the reward, is the feeling of well-being, the continuity, the sense that I am walking toward a place I want to go."
http://news.yahoo.com/page/parade-rdj/rdj
http://news.yahoo.com/page/parade-rdj/rdj
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Lyrics...
Completely random stuff here. Everytime I hear this song it brings a smile. Incredibly creative lyrics. You "meet Virginia". Hard to beat "her confidence is tragic, but her intuition's magic". Great stuff. Feel free to post a comment on these lyrics or your faves.
"She doesn't own a dress
Her hair is always a mess,
You catch her stealin' she won't confess
She's Beautiful.
Smokes a pack a day, but wait,
That's me, but anyway
She doesn't care a thing
About that hair,
She thinks I'm beautiful
Meet Virginia
She never comprimises,
Loves babies and surprises,
wears high heels when
she exercises
Ain't it beautuiful
Meet Virginia
Well she wants to be the Queen
Then she thinks about her scene
Pulls her hair back as she screams
"I don't really wanna be the Queen"
Daddy wrestles alligators
Mama works on carborators
Her brother is a fine mediator
For the president
And here she is again on the phone
just like me hates to be alone
we just like to sit at home
and rip on the President
Meet Virginia, Mmmm...
Well she wants to live her life
Then she thinks about her life
Pulls her hair back, as she screams
"I don't really wanna live this life"
She only drinks coffee at midnight
When the moment is not right
Her timing is quite, unusual
You see her confidence is tragic, but her
Intuition magic And the shape of her body?
Unusual
Meet Virgina I can't wait to
Meet Virginia, yeah e yeah hey hey hey
Well she wants to be the queen and
then she thinks about her scene
Well she wants to live her life
then she thinks about her life
Pulls her hair back as she screams
"I don't really wanna be the queen"
I, I don't really wanna be the queen
I, I don't really wanna be the queen
I, I don't really wanna live this"
-"Meet Virginia" by Train
"She doesn't own a dress
Her hair is always a mess,
You catch her stealin' she won't confess
She's Beautiful.
Smokes a pack a day, but wait,
That's me, but anyway
She doesn't care a thing
About that hair,
She thinks I'm beautiful
Meet Virginia
She never comprimises,
Loves babies and surprises,
wears high heels when
she exercises
Ain't it beautuiful
Meet Virginia
Well she wants to be the Queen
Then she thinks about her scene
Pulls her hair back as she screams
"I don't really wanna be the Queen"
Daddy wrestles alligators
Mama works on carborators
Her brother is a fine mediator
For the president
And here she is again on the phone
just like me hates to be alone
we just like to sit at home
and rip on the President
Meet Virginia, Mmmm...
Well she wants to live her life
Then she thinks about her life
Pulls her hair back, as she screams
"I don't really wanna live this life"
She only drinks coffee at midnight
When the moment is not right
Her timing is quite, unusual
You see her confidence is tragic, but her
Intuition magic And the shape of her body?
Unusual
Meet Virgina I can't wait to
Meet Virginia, yeah e yeah hey hey hey
Well she wants to be the queen and
then she thinks about her scene
Well she wants to live her life
then she thinks about her life
Pulls her hair back as she screams
"I don't really wanna be the queen"
I, I don't really wanna be the queen
I, I don't really wanna be the queen
I, I don't really wanna live this"
-"Meet Virginia" by Train
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Blessed Friction and the Heart of the Matter
"And you are reaching
Something that is beating
I can't believe I never noticed my heart before
Over and again
Racing out of my skin
I can't believe I never noticed my heart before
Til I noticed you, yeah."
"Noticed" by Mute Math
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
-Jesus
We don't change until the friction of the present is greater than the fear of the future. Countries don't change until the friction of the present is greater than the fear of the future. People don't change until....Families don't change until...I don't change until the friction of the present if greater than the fear of the future. We each have stories rooted in this reality. We each have been in season or moments in our lives where the friction is building...we know it. Maybe we believe we can't acknowledge it. The friction doesn't have to be similar in people. In fact one person's friction can be another person's future. At the end of the day, if we're honest with ourselves...we know what is...and we know what isn't.
Jesus was amazing a bringing awareness to this in people. He knew and valued the reality of friction for change in lives. Sometimes he would simply state what was "obvious" in lives. Other times he initiated friction in people and governments and empires. It's not a matter of friction in our lives...the question is what do we do when the friction builds and builds. What do you do? Do you walk through it?
Some people spend their entire lives running from questions...from friction. Why are you so angry? What do you feel like you're losing in forgiving? Why do you continue to enable people to abuse you (physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.)? What are you afriad of? Why do you believe God believes that about you?
We can spend so much time talking about things that may not really be the things that really matter. The things that give life to us and others. The things that give freedom to us and others. It's been my experience that real life happens in the friction and the "life after walking through the friction" moments. If you've been through it...you know. Maybe you find yourself right there....right now. Maybe you found yourself there recently...a year ago...a month ago...2 years ago...and you know...you know. Maybe you have been angry or bitter or whatever for a long time...maybe you can't remember the last time that you experienced a season of life...a literal season...of...life....of love. But maybe deep down the thought that "I don't have to live like this" has not died. The fire still flickers.
Whatever the case we're diving in over the next 6-7 weeks at DC. Blessed friction and the heart of the matter is what we're calling the "dive". We'll look at these realities and more in our own lives. The hope is that life would happen. Love would happen. Awakening would happen. Hearts would beat. Hope would happen. I will be teaching most nights. Dr. Paul Fitzgerald (www.heartconnexion.org) will be teaching the last few nights in April. We're diving in. Details are below. Anyone is welcome.
DC
Series: "Blessed Friction and the Heart of the Matter"
When: Wednesday Nights (7-8:30 PM)
Where: Henry Home (14606 S. Alden)
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Something that is beating
I can't believe I never noticed my heart before
Over and again
Racing out of my skin
I can't believe I never noticed my heart before
Til I noticed you, yeah."
"Noticed" by Mute Math
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
-Jesus
We don't change until the friction of the present is greater than the fear of the future. Countries don't change until the friction of the present is greater than the fear of the future. People don't change until....Families don't change until...I don't change until the friction of the present if greater than the fear of the future. We each have stories rooted in this reality. We each have been in season or moments in our lives where the friction is building...we know it. Maybe we believe we can't acknowledge it. The friction doesn't have to be similar in people. In fact one person's friction can be another person's future. At the end of the day, if we're honest with ourselves...we know what is...and we know what isn't.
Jesus was amazing a bringing awareness to this in people. He knew and valued the reality of friction for change in lives. Sometimes he would simply state what was "obvious" in lives. Other times he initiated friction in people and governments and empires. It's not a matter of friction in our lives...the question is what do we do when the friction builds and builds. What do you do? Do you walk through it?
Some people spend their entire lives running from questions...from friction. Why are you so angry? What do you feel like you're losing in forgiving? Why do you continue to enable people to abuse you (physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.)? What are you afriad of? Why do you believe God believes that about you?
We can spend so much time talking about things that may not really be the things that really matter. The things that give life to us and others. The things that give freedom to us and others. It's been my experience that real life happens in the friction and the "life after walking through the friction" moments. If you've been through it...you know. Maybe you find yourself right there....right now. Maybe you found yourself there recently...a year ago...a month ago...2 years ago...and you know...you know. Maybe you have been angry or bitter or whatever for a long time...maybe you can't remember the last time that you experienced a season of life...a literal season...of...life....of love. But maybe deep down the thought that "I don't have to live like this" has not died. The fire still flickers.
Whatever the case we're diving in over the next 6-7 weeks at DC. Blessed friction and the heart of the matter is what we're calling the "dive". We'll look at these realities and more in our own lives. The hope is that life would happen. Love would happen. Awakening would happen. Hearts would beat. Hope would happen. I will be teaching most nights. Dr. Paul Fitzgerald (www.heartconnexion.org) will be teaching the last few nights in April. We're diving in. Details are below. Anyone is welcome.
DC
Series: "Blessed Friction and the Heart of the Matter"
When: Wednesday Nights (7-8:30 PM)
Where: Henry Home (14606 S. Alden)
View Larger Map
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
"Shack"ing Up
Beautiful quote for the day from "The Shack" by William Young (which currently holds the "best book I've ever read" title in my world)!
"If anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again."
Random videos for you!
"What in the name of me is going on in here!"
"'Tell me are you a Christian, child?'
I said, 'Mam, I am tonight.'"
Great Song.
Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis
"If anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again."
Random videos for you!
"What in the name of me is going on in here!"
"'Tell me are you a Christian, child?'
I said, 'Mam, I am tonight.'"
Great Song.
Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis
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