Worldly Holiness

Wenona, originally uploaded by papalars.

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to be at the launch of my pastor, Eugene Cho, and his wife’s non profit called, One Days Wages. The event was hosted by the Q Cafe, included some live jazz music, Hors D Oeuvres, and important conversation with the guests about global poverty. One Days Wages is an international grassroots movement dedicated to ending extreme global poverty [www.onedayswages.org ]. We were reminded during the evening that nearly 3 billion people live on less than US$2/day. About 1.4 billion live in extreme poverty = less than US$1.25/day.

ODW exists to promote awareness, invite simple giving, and support sustainable relief through partnerships, especially with smaller organizations in developing regions. ODW believes that the collaboration of technology, social media, and human relationships is one way to invite people around the world to join in the fight against extreme global poverty, simply by donating 0.4% of their annual salaries, otherwise known as their One Day’s Wages.

ODW invests 100% of all public donations in grassroots organizations around the world that are already fighting extreme global poverty in alignment with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. Of his family’s decision to donate their entire 2009 salary to help start the organization, Cho says: “We want to communicate to people that they don’t have to be a rock star, a millionaire, or on Hollywood’s A-List to make an impact in the world. If everyone does their part, we can end extreme global poverty in our lifetime.” ODW is inviting both the Seattle and global community to join the movement in some of these practical ways:

1. Visiting http://www.onedayswages.org and donating their One Day’s Wages.
2. Following One Day’s Wages on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/onedayswages), joining the Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/onedayswages), and spreading the word to family, friends, colleagues, and beyond.

I think sometimes in western evangelicalism we use the words of Jesus to discourage ourselves from thinking we can really make an impact on the issue of global poverty. “The poor you will always have with you” came from the mouth of Christ we say[Matthew 26:11]. We must remember, however, that this same Jesus just a chapter earlier said the following, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me…” [Matthew 25:35]. This should keep us alert to what Jesus calls us to do. I highly recommend partnering with One Days Wages. It is a great way to do something about the poor.

On my way to the event last Saturday night I stopped by the Ballard marina to grab this picture of the boat above. I was struck again by all the interesting names people put on their boats. This evening I noticed Joy, Four Winds, Heidi and Charity and this one, Wenona. There is a story I’m sure behind each name.

Enjoy my slideshow of select photos from the trip to the Pastor’s and Spouse retreat in Banff. You can buy prints by clicking the link or slideshow below. Have a great weekend!

It’s been awhile since I posted a photo on my Friday Fotos feature. It might have something to do with the fact that we bought a house in May and have been occupied with the ins and outs of finishing it. Not that we are doing all the work. As someone said to me recently, you want certain jobs done by a professional. I would be dangerous with a plumbers wrench, let alone a back hoe. Put a camera in my hand and I will claim some level of expertise however.

This series of pictures was taken when I was at a Pastors’ and Spouse retreat in Banff Canada 2 weeks ago. I was there to network, tell the story of what God is doing with our project and some of the things I offer local churches. It was a great time to connect with over 80 leaders from our Covenant churches across Canada. The hard part of this trip was the Canadian Rockies. This fits into the category of “suffering for Jesus,” a regular bullit point on my job description. Just kidding.

Anyway, I was able to get up to Lake Louise before the meetings started for sunrise. Turned out I got lucky. I hit the only sunny day of the week which yielded some beautiful views and colors of the sky, the wild turquoise water, the jagged mountains and incredible reflections on the water. This was an amazing day and it was very serene before the rush of people showed up.

I think my favorite picture in this series is the one I entitled “dynamic serenity.” I got this wild idea to produce ripples in the lake with a snowball. To me true solitude is bringing the movement and activity of one’s life to the quiet place where we can appropriately reflect on it in God’s presence. If the quiet moments are totally void of any of the stuff of life, it seems empty to me. Yet if all of life is merely full of ripples we have another kind of empty…a life of action void of meaning, purpose and anchors that give some kind of orientation to life.

Prayer and solitude are critical to my journey with God and with others. It grounds my action and relationships with purpose and meaning. I need both and the back and forth creates a rhythm to my life and walk with God. By the way, this photo already has over 350 views on my flickr account. Check it out. You can buy this or other prints in the series on my SmugMug account now too.

Jogging on Lake Shore trail, originally uploaded by papalars.

What a full and fun week in Chicago I just completed. Last weekend I was a guest at Libertyville which was fun and a little wild too. I rolled in late on Saturday night just as the rain storm was changing to snow. By the time I hit the door at Chuy and Judy Garcia’s it was a full blown storm. Chuy and Judy, by the way are good friends from our days in Mexico. Chuy was involved in our 2 church plants, was a neighbor, good friend, and someone I spent several years discipling. We drank a lot of coffee together at VIPS restaurant. That all seems so long ago.

Anyway, by Sunday morning last week there was 4-6 inches of fresh yet heavy snow on the ground. When I got to Libertyville church the electricity was out. They set up for an impromptu worship and Sunday School hour in which I taught and preached, followed by a normal service back in the sanctuary with full blown lights back on.

After a Sunday blitz at Libertyville I headed down into the city for meetings and some other activities, some with my daughter who is at North Park and then finishing off the week with my son, Kjel who was through town on his way to Europe to spend some time with my other son, Erick who is studying French in France…..good place to be studying French, right.

Yesterday, I had a wonderful visit with Scot McKnight who teaches at North Park. This is the famous Scot McKnight of Jesus Creed. He was generous with his time and very kind in his comments about an idea I have to write a book on “Worldly Holiness” the name of this blog. He liked my ideas and even said he would give me his assessment of a proposal before I try to submit it to a publisher. That was kind of fun to get his thoughts and feedback.

Today I got on a plane again and made my way up to Thief River Falls, Minnesota where I have a weekend of activity with the churches up here. Should be fun. The people here are very nice. I feel like I want to say they are all above average. I’ve already had an evening meal with several couples from church and heard some amazing stories of faith and courage in the midst of life’s challenges. This should be a great weekend. Sorry if this post is a little too much like a travel log. I wanted to give a quick update and post my Friday Foto before we jumped over to Saturday. Would appreciate your prayers this weekend as I share what God is doing among focus people and how he is teaching us of his amazing goodness.

Lift-off, originally uploaded by papalars.

I’ve got a few weeks of travel just ahead of me, with two weekends speaking in the Mid-West and this picture made me think of the trip. Before I fly I always like to methodically plan out what I need, gathering all “my stuff” and putting it in it’s place. There are many pieces and I like to be efficient but fear that I always take too much. Visions of my father getting ready for a camping trip are somehow coming to me right now. Maybe I’m a little like this bird. My cookie is too big so it takes a little longer to get airborne. Maybe a little like the hand in the cookie jar phenomenon too.

This trip I have two weekends in a row full of preaching and teaching with meetings in between and more networking in Chicago. For the teaching part, I usually like to have handouts and tools for people to keep using after I leave. Anyway, that requires a little more organization. I examine each talk I give, really, and try to adapt and add to my stories from what I keep learning from visits to the mosque, relationships I’m building, etc. I enjoy this aspect of my ministry immensely but it takes some planning and organizing. I suppose my tendency also is to want to deliver a 9 course meal when something more like a snack is what is needed. Every once in a while, however, I do find people who want the full meal deal, and more. That is cool when that happens. Another part of getting ready involves the creative side, the stuff that keeps my imagination alive. I like to add pictures to my PowerPoints so keep looking for the best way to communicate a concept visually. Isn’t it true that a good picture paints a 1000 words?

On another note, today I received both good and bad news. First, let me tell you the bad. Not real bad, just a bit of a downer. We found a house this last week that looked just perfect for us. Had enough space, great location, nicely refurbished and ready to have friends over. Carol even awoke this morning and said we need to make an offer before I leave town. Then we got the call from our Realtor. “Our house” just came off the market this morning! How could that be? Someone else got in line in front of us. Darn, that was a bummer. We’ve been on this journey most of the year, doing research and watching the market to try to time a purchase when prices and interest rates are low. It may seem trivial, but today it feels anything but.

The good news came just the day before and I’m still enjoying this one. My Imam friend accepted my invitation to join me for a class I am teaching at a church later in May. He is willing, let alone brave, to step into a church to share with my class about Islam. I plan to roll out the red carpet and be as hospitable as he has been to me but I wonder if everyone at this church will behave. I’m praying that it will be so and that our time together will be good. Very good. Won’t you join me in that prayer?

If you’d like to know more about the whereabouts of that event or have questions or comments, leave me a comment. I’m here for you and want to build a bigger team.

Lookout, originally uploaded by papalars.

It occurred to me recently that the current economic situation is much like hiking through the woods for me. Well, not totally, but let me explain just how they are similar enough for me to draw the comparison. It is not hard to know that I like to hike from the flow of my pictures and stories on this blog. Sometimes I like to take a trek by myself, sometimes with others, but in all cases I find myself refreshed spiritually if perhaps spent physically.

As I was standing recently at this lookout near Wallace Falls, close to Gold Bar on Highway 2, I was once again struck by how nature so many times comes to the rescue for me. Mother Nature, which we so often abuse, overuse or otherwise ignore continues to be so generous to us.

On this particular day when I took this photo, God used nature to help me get perspective! On many things. Watching the markets and trying to figure out when we are going to hit bottom has been a bit unsettling, for some very traumatic. I can’t imagine the trap some must feel at the prospect of losing their job or their house and then needing to find a new job or home in a down economy. I was talking with someone recently who told me they cried every day this past year over the prospect of needing to declare bankruptcy. The burden of the ripple effect through their family, the sense of failure added to the fact that starting over in the hole in midlife is not easy. Wow.

On the trail I sometimes wonder if my body is up to the task I have chosen for that day. In the lowlands, among the trees I’m constantly wondering how much further I need to go before I stop. Can I really make it? I’m checking my watch and looking for signposts that will indicate I’m well on the way or close to my destination. But among the trees, it is sometimes hard to get perspective and know where you are. Distances can be hard to estimate. You can’t see that far ahead. One tree looks just like the last one and one following. Amongst the trees in fact it is so easy to lose perspective! Hmmm, sounds like the expression “losing the forest for the trees!” Actually, sometime you can even get lost among the trees. The mind starts to play tricks on the body and the longing of the heart is to finish. The feet are sore, leg muscles aching, mouth is parched and my body is craving to just park the derriere for a long pause. Getting disoriented or even lost does happen. Hey I like the journey as much as the destination, in life just like in hiking. But truth be told, I like the lookouts up high on the trail where I can see and appreciate a grand view! And rest. Renewal and the awe that strike my heart from the view restores and get me ready to keep going.

It is all about perspective. I need to let God be God, in my life and the uncertainties that come my way. In down times or up. When I regain perspective, I begin to trust God again and move forward somehow, someway, knowing that the lookout is not far ahead! Psalm 19 makes the correlation better than me. I grew up hearing this Psalm in church, but also on the trail with my dad. It has given me a window on how God’s handiwork can help us all get perspective in difficult times:

1The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.