A Year in Review (In Ten Pictures or Less)

And it has been all about the people.

(clockwise from upper left) Tony, John, and I at Matthew's Wedding. Me in Colorado unaware that a blizzard was imminent. Me running an 8k in Chicago. Pearce and I at MSU. The Fantastic Four on New Year's Eve.

Mandi and I. (I look like a thug.) Charlie, Michael, and I at the Bresa. Ashley and I. Me at Clint's Wedding. My sisters and I on Mackinac Island.

Tony Campolo

This crazy sociologist just won't leave me alone. I just keep going back for more and more of his podcasts. Looks harmless enough right? Ha... yeah right. He has the nerve to actually ask us to do Jesus taught. Well, I'm hooked. And that's the Gospel truth. I'll add more later...

Mission Year Podcast 2: Tony Campolo - Getting Beyond the Kingdom of Ticky-Tack

This was a very important sermon for me to hear at just the right time in my life. The funniest thing about Tony is that he at first comes across as a classic Baptist preacher... but listen a bit longer and I guarantee you'll like what he has to say... though it is hard teaching.

My favorite quotes:
"I'm not hear to tell you about what Jesus can do for you. I'm here to tell you about how Jesus can make you to be the kind of person that really loves people."
"There is nothing more boring than this guy with his Porsche who is like 'I've got a jacuzzi.' Big deal..."
"You say, 'What? Do you want to turn us all into Mother Theresa?' Yeah. That's what I would like"
"I want you to go back to your home churches and have people say, 'We don't understand these kids anymore. They're weird.'"
"I know what you're saying. You're saying, 'Campolo, you're making Christianity too hard. I mean goodness, I was ok with this belief stuff but you're asking me to change the whole way in which I live.' Of course I do! That's what Christianity is all about. Changing the whole way you live."
"Oh, the world is so full of dead people..."

More to come...

The New Apartment

The view from Portage St. It's still a work in progress but you can see the multi-colored movie theater to the far left of the apartments.
The living room... furniture coming soon.
My bedroom, including my childhood bed. Who says you have to grow up?
The kitchen. We need more cabinet space but all the appliances are brand new.
The view upon entry from the hallway.

I think it's going to be a great year in Kalamazoo. I walk to work and never have to actually go outside between my apartment and my office building. (Skywalk!) Should be nice come winter time.

My roommate Kyle is just going to be a cool guy to get to know. I think we have a similar sense of humor and while we have a lot of common ground, our opinions will differ on a number of things as well. I'll appreciate his perspective on many things.

I miss this place....

Ministry

This is Goldsworth Valley 3 at Western Michigan University. The second year of Campus Crusade for Christ at WMU began this week and this is where I'll be helping out as a Cru volunteer. I'm really hoping God blesses our ministry and that the Spirit is preparing men in Valley 3 for our encounters with them. Western is ready for some truth...

15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2nd Timothy 2:15)

My prayer for the semester...

A fresh start

Because it's my blog...

The Colson-McLaren Conversation

Inspired by a conversation with Scott, I wanted to post easy links to these articles... Chuck Colson, a leader of the modern evangelical church and Brian McLaren, a generally accepted leader of the emerging movement/conversation wrote some articles and letters addressing each other a few years back.

The Postmodern Crackup - Chuck Colson (12/03)

An Open Letter to Chuck Colson - Brian McLaren

Chuck Colson's Response - Chuck Colson

Emerging Confusion - Chuck Colson (6/06)

I think both men have some excellent points. I think it is, however, reasonably clear that postmodernism is not on its way out in the culture. Who is "right"? I do not know but I have to respect intelligent reasoned discourse between two obviously deep thinkers...

Guster

Got the new Guster CD.... I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm reserving judgement until I listen through it a few more times. But I miss bongos and difficult-to-interpret lyrics about girls, high school, and hummingbirds. Still, I have to give these guys credit for staying strong more than a decade after they started. From Notre Dame in '99 when I first saw them, to Michigan State in '05, to today... they are my soundtrack of life.

First Post

June 24th, 2006 in Kalamazoo, MI. I'm starting this blog to help myself wrestle with thoughts on life, work, God, the church, and the future. I see it as a personal journal that I left open on a coffee shop table for all the world to see. Whether it goes anywhere beyond myself, I don't know.

All I know is, my life is nowhere near where I'd like it to be and yet, I have this strange hope deep inside that something great is coming. These thoughts started stirring within during the Crowder concert last weekend and they just keep building. It's funny how powerful hope can be.

So here goes, I'm plunging into life and this blog will (I hope) record part of the journey. So many potential amazing things may be ahead. Lean transformation at work, the search for fellowship in this city, learning to live out the Gospel day by day, and looking for where God is leading me next. Where will I be on June 24th, 2007?