Friday, February 27, 2009

Russian Mythology

I've been reading some history of Russian Orthodoxy and am amazed at how many myths have been developed through the ages in Russia. They are very creative storytellers and it is difficult to tell fact from fiction many times. They had a tendency to raise questions and if no one had a good answer, they would simply fill in the blanks. This is one of those stories! (which is NOT one of the stories where it is hard to tell whether it is fact or fiction...)

"A legend arose that Adam made a crown or garland from branches and twigs of the tree of life while he still resided in paradise. At his death, Adam was buried wearing the garland. As time passed, an immense tree grew out of the garland and the roots embedded themselves in the coffin of Adam. After many centuries the entire tree was dug up-roots and coffin included-and brought to Solomon for use in building his temple. The tree was rejected by the builders and was replanted on the hill of Golgotha, including the roots and Adam's coffin. Later, the tree was hewn down and used to make the very cross that Christ was crucified on. When the blood of Christ flowed from his body, it seeped into the ground and into the coffin, and dripped upon the preserved head of Adam. This incident absolved Adam of his sins and provided him redemption." from A History of Russian Christianity by Daniel Shubin

You've got to give them points for creativity! That's a great story!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Some Music Recs

I believe these are better than that last list I gave you...

Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
This is obviously from a few years ago so I'm a little behind on this one. I've heard people talk about Beirut but hadn't spent much time listening to them. That changed when I saw their performance on Letterman a few weeks ago. I've watched it about 10 times on Tivo now and can't get enough of their "A Sunday Smile" performance. It's beautiful and one of the best things I've heard in music for a while. Check it out.




Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Seven-Mile Island

Never been a big Drive-By Truckers fan but I enjoy this. Check out Cigarettes and Wine on his Myspace to fill the Alt-Country hole in your heart (as Chris Leo would say).





Strand of Oaks - Leave Ruin

Don't know anything about these guys. But check out End in Flames at their Myspace.






Peter Adams - I Woke With Planets In My Face

Multi-instrumentalist whom apparently performs every instrument himself for his recording. This is surely a talented musician. I enjoyed the record and found it very interesting, kind of reminds me of Jeremy Enigk in places but at other spots I feel a little like I'm in a Tim Burton film. Pretty cool. Check out some mp3's here.



Dan Auerbach (from the Black Keys) - Keep It Hid


Monday, February 23, 2009

Mark Driscoll













...just trying to increase my blog hits.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

RIP CITY


A friend of mine Chip Mabry has been working on a project about Portland Skaters.

A good review and a trailer of it here.

You should check it out!

Dream Criticism

Last night I had a strange dream in which John Johnson (a professor at Western Seminary and pastor of Village Baptist Church) was giving me feedback on my sermons. He said, “I’ve never seen someone take so long to get to each point before. Not sure what to make of that.

He also said, “It seems like all of your sermons are written last minute. Huh, not sure that was a compliment either! Dream John did bring up a good point here however. I would like to spend more time in preparing by prayer and meditation.

He did actually give one compliment but of course I can't remember it.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Demotivational


I love these things.

Can't get enough.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

February Music Recs


The Deep Dark Woods












Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band













Phosphorescent















The Republic Tigers














Pale Young Gentlemen












The Submarines













The Good Players
















Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
















Calhoun
















Jolie Holland
















Eulogies

Full Sail Black Gold

I bought a bottle of this for my birthday a few weeks ago. It was a limited release that I was able to snag a bottle at Belmont Station. It's a Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Stout. Dark like the night, with a small tan head, you can taste some vanilla essence from the barrels and has a fairly strong bourbon taste and aroma to it.

You can read more about it here.

I wish I would have grabbed a second bottle to age! Dang.

Monday, February 16, 2009

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sunday, February 15, 2009

J.P. Morelands' Three Angels

Ok, so here's the story in full. Last year on a theological panel J.P. Moreland said something to the effect of, "I am more sure that there are three angels surrounding me than I am sure that George W. Bush is President." But then he didn't really follow that up with anything and left me hanging for the last year wondering what he was talking about.

One of my goals for this year at the National Pastors Convention was to get the change to ask him what he meant by that and sure enough Chip and I bumped into him last week and got to talking. I asked him about it and this is what he said.

He said that he was preaching in Seattle some time ago now when after the service a woman came up to him and hesitantly told him that while he was preaching she saw that there were three angels surrounding him. One to his left, one to his right, and one behind him who was taller than the rest. He immediately thought that maybe this woman needed attention or was a little nuts so he asked the pastor about her. It turns out that this woman was a very godly lady who was a leader in their church. He still remained skeptical and didn't think much of it for the time being.

He said a while later he was really going through a difficult time in life and was praying. In light of the challenges in his life he prayed a prayer he said he had never prayed before. He asked God that if these angels were real that He would bring them back to help him and that he would receive confirmation that they were there for him.

A few weeks later, about three days after teaching a class on metaphysics he received an email from a credible Grad student who said he felt silly emailing this but had talked to three other grad students to make sure he wasn't crazy. He stated in the email that he hoped Moreland wouldn't find him nuts and that he even rubbed his eyes several times to make sure he wasn't imagining something or hallucinating. But during that class he said he saw three angels with J.P., one on each side, and one that was taller behind him just as the woman had said in Seattle. The student even sketched out what he saw which Moreland still has at home.

Moreland was kind of dumbstruck sense he had never told anyone about the angel incident in Seattle, nor about his prayer. With all three of these things coming together he said it was beyond a reasonable doubt that these angels were real and were really present with him at times. He said he's never experienced the angels in any way but was encouraged to know that God had confirmed that He was with him.

I have no reason to disbelieve J.P. Moreland and with two unrelated eye-witnesses and a prayer asking for confirmation it's fairly convincing. I believe angels are real but are much different than the Hallmark angels. Plus it can get kind of dangerous when we start seeking out angels when we should be seeking God, but here you have it! After a year my brain can finally rest!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

NPC Day 4

Not a lot going on during Friday. I went and really enjoyed Christopher Wright's bible study. The room was sparse and I felt bad for him since what he had to say was so good. He's not as engaging as most of the other speakers and by the end of the week most people didn't have the energy to put in that much effort. I wish they would have scheduled him earlier in the week when we still had a lot of energy to engage with what he was saying because he had some very helpful ideas. Along with a complete recap of the conversation with J.P. Moreland I will recap Wright's thoughts on suffering as well. Very helpful framework!

After that we skipped the final session and had a big breakfast instead with a surprise 50 dollar room credit. And then hung out at the mall for what seemed like an eternity before our flight left. I wasn't a fan of flying the day after the plane crash in Buffalo. Very sad situation there, but I suppose the odds were with us as it is unlikely that it would happen two days in a row! I've flown a lot in the past 8 years and I've always hated the propeller planes. There were a few times where I felt like we were going down on those things as they are blown around quite a bit. If I could, i would never fly again. Not just out of fear, but out of how uncomfortable the entire process is. I hate it.

There is a lot to process from the week. It's too much for any mind to take in, in that amount of time. But more than anything I just had fun hanging out and joking around with the guys. That time away is more valuable than anything you learn from the conference.

It's always good to get away but I'm thankful to be back home in Portland.

What I've Been Waiting For

This is the excerpt from the brewers blog.

"What do you get when you blend Organic beer and Organic coffee? Well, to quote a candy commercial from my childhood- simply "Two great tastes that taste great together."

Espresso stout labelOrganic Portland Roast Espresso Stout is a collaboration between the our brewery andPortland Roasting- a fantastic local coffee producer. The beer features a blend of Ethiopian and Sumatran coffees specially selected by myself and the roasters at Portland Roasting. The Organic and farm friendly coffees blend nicely with their smooth and mellow organic stout. The roasted character of the this beer is nicely complimented by the coffee flavor and aroma.

We're bottling Portland Roast in 22s on Tuesday the 17th. And despite what you may have read elsewhere, it will be on draft at 51st and Sandy on Wednesday. Sorry for the confusion- the overwhelming nature of the coffee and beer combination have put my head in the clouds."

Is this a dream???

Friday, February 13, 2009

NPC Day 3

Another good day, but starting to get conference weary. Best things...

1. Chip and I had a nice chat with J.P. Moreland and after a year of living in wonder and curiosity J.P. was kind enough to expound on what he said last year, "I am more confident that I have three angels surrounding me than that George W. Bush is our current president." Seems like a strange comment for one of the foremost Christian philosophers in the country to say. I'll type up the story in full soon. It's very interesting.

2. Good discussion at the on-site pub last night after the conference. I loved that the bartender Ron, had a button on his shirt that said "Welcome National Pastors Convention." Very fitting.

3. Christopher Wright after a long week was difficult to listen to after hearing the likes of Bell, Hybels, Willamon and others but it was worth it as he said a few things that have stuck with me and I will think about again such as when Paul talks about the gospel he starts with what it is doing in creation and then invites us into what is happening. It doesn't start with us and leave us wondering what will happen to everything else.

4. Skipped the panel discussion yesterday to go shopping with the boys at the mall. Seriously.

5. Bible study yesterday morning with Ben Patterson. He recited the first three Psalms from memory and told us how they ground the book of Psalms and inform our prayers.

6. Ruth Haley Barton spoke of the loneliness of the leader. A LOT of content so I was tuning in and out at times but what I received was important to think and pray through. I really appreciated what she had to say and am excited to read her book, "Strengthening the Soul of the Leader."

About ready to head to early morning bible study with Christopher Wright....

Thursday, February 12, 2009

NPC Day 2

A good day...

1. Starting the day with bible study by Gordon Fee from Revelation (mostly his commentary notes, but still good). I love hearing guys who have been studying scripture at the most intense level for this many years but still have a clear love for God. Gordon Fee is to me what Phyllis Tickle is to Chris Leonardo.

2. Getting a phantom photo with Rob Bell. Rob Bell fanboys were out in numbers yesterday during his session. There was a line to talk to him and many things signed. Will never understand the Christian celebrity thing.

3. The nerdiest shirt I've ever seen: I heart hermeneutics. Yeah, I really saw it. I think it was another Rob Bell fanboy.

4. Cigars and 8 dollar beers down at the Gaslamp District.

5. Will Willamon's quirky, hilarious, and memorable sermon.

6. A 10-minute chair massage. Brought tears to my eyes it was so painful but i feel great now.

7. The band Sons of Korah from Australia. By far the best music of the conference so far.

8. Chris punched me in the back of the head while sleeping.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

NPC Day 1

Yesterday started off kind of shaky and left me wondering, "Maybe we should go somewhere else next year" (Because I'm an optimist). But then Efrem Smith got up and preached Ezekiel 37 to us. I think Chris or Chip described it as listening to Metallica before a wrestling match. Great stuff.

Shane Claiborne was pretty good. It was a good challenge assessing the role and power of money in our lives. I think Bob described it well:

"I'm looking forward to hearing Shane in 20 years when idealism, the wisdom of experience and 2 more decades of following Jesus like he is all meet to make him even more rad."

One of my favorite parts of the day was a seminar with Don Everts who wrote Jesus with Dirty Feet which I read and loved about ten years ago. He was speaking of what he has experienced about people's journey's to faith under the framework of five thresholds that people generally cross to get there. It made a lot of sense to me and I'll share it in more detail later.

Also got to have a quick chat with Michael Jr. last night, the comedian I opened for in Philadelphia. Surprisingly he recognized me and came over to talk. I wouldn't have imagined with as many shows as he does that he would actually remember me so that was cool. And what he said next made my night: "Are you going on tonight?" He actually thought that I was one of the comedians for the event last night. Nothing like a good ego stroke before bedtime!

Alright, well i'm off for early morning bible study with Gordon Fee! He's the man!

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Headed to the NPC

Once again this year we're headed down to the National Pastors Convention in San Diego. This year I'm more committed to blogging while I'm there but we'll see what happens.

Some of whom I'm excited to hear include:
A.J. Jacobs
Andy Crouch
Don Everts
Christopher Wright
Will Willmon
William Webb
and several others...

One of my goals this year is also to ask J.P. Moreland what the heck he was talking about when he said, "I have more proof that three angels surround me at all times than I do that JFK lived." Or something to that effect. I didn't even have to embellish that but I probably didn't get the exact quote. Still don't know what he was talking about. We'll see!

Also, the comedian I opened for in Philadelphia in November, Michael Jr. is going to be doing comedy for the main session one night. That will be interesting to see.

I'm also excited for all the nutballs to blog about how this pastors convention is leading people astray from the "truth" and we're all going to burn in hell. You wouldn't think you'd read those kind of things while you're at a pastors convention but you'd be surprised! Go Ingrid!