Archive for July, 2008
Sometimes I think bad thoughts about other people I don’t know…
Why do we judge each other?
Honestly, what do you think?
This weekend I was in “the wildwoods” and I was around a majority of people outside of my everyday context. People whom like Nascar, Bud Light, Marlboro Red, the NRA, among other things stereo typical of this demographic.
But wait, we all are apart of a demo graphic and to some extent we are all stereotypical.
Differentiating ourselves in a myth, we create an ego that pulls us outside the everyday reality of who we really are. It is in very brief moments of clarity that our nature is revealed.
Like when we are sick, or scared. The truth is we are HUMAN.
For some people, like myself, who have come out of a conservative Christian worldview this is a scary reality. Why, because God judges the wicked, evil man (HUMAN), and condemns them to death for their wickedness? (This is the philosophy I operated out of for most of my adolescense.)
I would be lying if I said, “I am gracious to myself”. I think the root of this judgment and poor thinking of others comes from a misguided “Christian” world-view.
Today I have been practically reminded of how this worldview of sin, death and judgment affects people in a negative way.
A buddy was talking to me tonight about a concerned friend who wants to make sure, my buddy, still believes the right stuff. Still believing the TRUTH.
The truth is we don’t Know.
The truths in the Gospels are simple. “Die so that you might live.”
*Jesus died is a hard argument to loose.
*Jesus rose again, that is a hard argument to win.
Why is it so important to win?
Jesus lost. His followers lost.
The most compelling part of the story of the Gospels from my reading is that Jesus rose again.
When we see Jesus, do we see a blond haired, blue eyed, white guy, or do we see the person smiling at us across from a craft food booth in Wildwood, (the Wildwoods), with a couple of browned teeth who is doing his best to love.
I want to follow Jesus…
Inspired by Jesus…
This weekend I had the joy of being apart of three very unique perspectives on Jesus.
I experienced them through three different peoples unique giftings.
1. Sam at www.dwelldeep.com is a friend who helps me see Jesus in the creative process. This weekend both her and her husband, Rus, visited my wife and I. We sang songs and looked at scetches on her website. She did a drawing a day during a time when her father passsed away. This was an amazing moving experience to wittness her process and expression.
2. Jared Byas who preached at www.branchcreek.org about the “Politics of Jesus”. I had a smile on my face the whole time. He was preaching in a mega church I used to work in on a subject that is not easy. He used language that was evengelical aproachable and I found the text used from Mathew and John inspiring. The words helped me reconnect to time when my faith was more passionate.
3. Bekah Decker from the Livingroom sang a Patty Griffin song “at the top of the world” with me tonight. When you have an oppertunity to experience music that connects to your soul at this depth you know it is a gift from God.
These three experiences led up to a conversation and prayer with my wife, Andrea tonight. This is something that has not taken place in our relationship for a long time. I am so thankful.
Thanks to God the father and Son for the gift of these peoples unique perspectives and amazing abilities.
I love you all very much.
Business, It’s just more fun…
Over the past couple of weeks I have been having this re-occuring thought about how business is more fun than my formor work in the church.
Here is what I find excitting/fun:
1. Creating Jobs: I still can not get over the thought that somehow creating a marketable good in the economy of Specialty Coffee, has given people a place to work. (I get at least one email or call a week for the past several months about job oppertunities. Thankfully it is not up to me or I would hire most people, because I enjoy giving people what they want.)
2. Being apart of Growth: It is a crazy thought that a year ago at this time we had four wholesale customers, now we have five times that. I do not know how good this is in the world of start ups, but according to our B-Plan we are doing well.
3. Something new: What we are doing at One Village Coffee is about building a business that supports Non-Profit work, or causes. This is not a new idea, but in the world of start up specialty coffee roasters it is unique. The fact that the wells we will build this year are connected to friends we have in Nigeria is tremendously fullfilling.
Well, for what it’s worth, that is why I think this Job is fun…
If you are interested in what is not fun about my job, you will have to ask.
