digdoug DOT org

As I drank from my Starbucks on Sunday, I shared that Starbucks is an image of a Sabbath rest, otherwise known as “viennefesh” to me. Now at Suncrest, we have quite a few Dunkin Heads, which is a completely different image. Starbucks is about experience. Dunkin is about getting your coffee and getting on with your day. That’s why I love Starbucks. Okay, I do really like the taste. Some don’t…with weaker taste buds. 🙂 But my point is, I don’t want something else in my life encouraging me to hurry up. Get in, get out. I like it that there is a place, a coffee place even, that reminds me to slow down…stop…and reflect. Hmmm…I sure hope our church does that.

A great resource for Sabbath is Mark Buchanan‘s book, “The Rest of God.” Mark masterfully writes about the need for Sabbath and how to actually practice it. Here are some highlights for me:

“The truly purposeful have an ironic secret: they manage time less and pay attention more (78).”

Quoting Henry Nowen: “My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted until I discovered the interruptions were my work (79).”

“Those who sanctify time and who give time away-who treat time as gift and not a possession-have time in abundance (83).”

“God loves to make his power perfect in our weakness, to show up in splendor when we show up in faithfulness, obedient but inadequate, trusting but inept, with nothing in our hands but our need for him (169.”

Pick it up. You won’t regret it.

And just for some fun, I’m not the only one who thinks Starbuck’s rocks. You can click here to read about it even though stinkin’ Consumer Reports gave props to McDonalds. What???

If you missed the message you can get the audio or notes here.

I’m guessing that most from Suncrest do not want to hear the word “viennefesh” one more time after Sunday, but I have to use it at least one more time. Not only do I like saying it, but it stresses an important principle for our life: We need to create space for God in our life. We need a rhythm in our life that allows us to connect with our Creator on a daily, weekly and even yearly basis. God is not always heard in the storm or in the rush of our life. That’s why we desperately need to STOP and listen.
There’s a great story in 1 Kings 18 and 19 about the prophet Elijah. It is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. In 18, Elijah challenges false prophets to prove their god is real. They don’t, but God does prove himself and Elijah is shown to be a true prophet. After this episode, his life is threatened and what does he do after this great victory? He runs for his life with his robe tucked between his legs. In 19, we read that he basically is so spent that he begs God to take his life. I think that he was so emotionally and physically drained from the events of chapter 18 that he thinks God has left him. After he is reassured by a visiting angel, he is told to travel on to Mount Horeb to meet God. He does so and this is what happens:

“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13)

God was not in the wind nor the earthquake nor the fire. Where was he? He was in the gentle whisper. Now my point is just this: sometimes, a lot of the time, we have to slow down long enough we can quiet down so we can hear God.

Tomorrow I want to recommend a book that helps in the practical realm of how to do this.

Here’s a preview of a video I made for the weekend. I’m so excited because our band is going to cover the Snow Patrol song “Chasing Cars.” This will play on the screens while they play. Talking about Rest this weekend. Note: This version of the video is not the final version. In fact, I have a quote in there twice. Ooops. Had to correct that.

Greg made the big time on Jon Ferguson’s blog. He was at a gathering of Lead Pastor’s who are a part of the New Thing Network.

Here’s my 3 year old riding a bike! I can’t believe it. Some friends gave us this bike and I thought it would be great for like next year. Oh no, she hopped on and away she went.

Jerry Falwell’s funeral is being held today and it makes me wonder about his legacy…and mine for that matter. I have recently heard more about his life, but before that I didn’t think that well of him. In my eyes it seemed that he did more to undermine a positive image of Christ followers then many. And yet, when I think about what he accomplished through planting a church and starting a college, I see that a lot of good has come out of his life. My opinion comes mostly from some of the bonehead statements he has made on TV. Some of the highlights are his comments on teletubbies promoting homosexuality and 9/11 being caused by homosexuality and abortionists. I mean, come on!

And yet, listening to people who knew him I see a side of him that he didn’t promote very well…and I wish he had. Listening to former students of Liberty University, I heard of a man who was full of fun and friendliness. A man who would joke with the university students and attend as many sporting events as he could. Larry Flynt, founder of Penthouse and apparent friend, commented on LarryKing that while he disagreed with his views, he knew Falwell to be a man of character and a friend. Wow! That’s some pretty good stuff to be said about you. I would love to have that said of me by people who don’t even know Jesus.

It makes me wonder though what goes into a legacy. How could Jerry have acted differently so that most of the world would know him as a man of character…a man who loved deeply? I will never know what it’s like to live in the spotlight like he has, what’s it like to have every word you utter scrutinized, to speak before you think on national TV, but I do know that people are watching and listening. I think Falwell would be one of the top people that many would point to when talking about having a problem with Christians. There are a couple books coming out that speak to the fact that a lot of people don’t like Christians, but do not have a problem with Jesus. Are we not supposed to be reflections of Him? Are we not supposed to be “little Christs?” May the words of my mouth reflect Jesus’ words. May I get out of the way so others can see Jesus. More than just thinking before I speak I want my life to be so consumed by Jesus that I even if I do speak before I think it will be reflective of that relationship with Christ, not about my agenda.

So I have been filling out these assessment forms for a leadership assessment conference I will be at in June and it has fried my brain. I have answered more questions about my psyche, personality, giftedness, habits, traits, family, finances and everything else under the sun that I don’t think there is a question I haven’t been asked.

The psyche profile was just funny. Some of my favorite questions:
-T or F – I flew over the atlantic 30 times last year. Ummm…T.
-T or F – I have not seen a car in over 10 years. ONce again, T.
-T or F – When I am alone, I get the distinct feeling that some is watching me. Of course, but I even get that feeling when I am preaching…Oh wait…yeah.

All worth it in the end. I will share some about the reason for the assessment later, but for now, my brain hurts. Good thing there I have a whole hour of The Office tonight! Just in case you need a recap in order to enjoy tonight’s episode:

Get great free widgets at Widgetbox!

Here’s some shots from our day at the dunes. I know, I am obsessed with the dunes. And no it wasn’t a day for swimming. It was a day for digging and exploring and climbing and hiking.

I am thinking about marketing a new fitness video. It’s called Dune climb your way to a better body in 3o days. What a great workout.

We managed to find this nice little spot up in the dunes that sheltered us from the wind. Great for playing and posing.

Oh yeah, she likes to pose.

In no particular order:

• Not having to say “venti coffee of the day with room for cream please” because they have it ready for me by the time I get to the counter I my regular spot…Starbucks in the Radisson, Merrillville.
• Live performance from Dustin Kensrue, lead singer of Thrice on Relevant Magazine’s podcast. He takes a decidedly different direction on his solo album Please Come Home. Think heavy influence of Johnny Cash. Dustin, a Christian, has always let his faith shine through his music without sacrificing art.
• Watching my kids sleep.
• And this quote from a Lead Pastor who will remain nameless: