Michael Jackson, continued…

In memory of Michael Jackson, here’s a re-post of the toast from my brother, Jonathan’s, wedding from a year ago this past December.

Reflections on One Year in Baltimore

[written on July 1; published after midnight, hence July 2]

Today marks one year since Jess and I moved our family into Baltimore City.  In many ways it has flown by, in others it feels as if we’ve lived here all our lives.  One year ago Joe Service, Brian Saathoff, Kevin Gleockler and a few others helped us load up and move, and we were up to our eyeballs in unpacking.  I was full of optimism and idealism.

Brian McLaren told me about a year and a half ago that we would, during our first year, see our optimism crushed (though, he said, optimism isn’t bad, you’ll need every bit of it you can muster). Throughout the first year we will have moments of emotional spiral and confusion.  We will hit rock bottom and then, finally, after about a year, come out of the spiral and really have a grasp on things and know what to do.  I think, in many ways, Brian was right. 

We have had our moments of spiral and confusion and, though we don’t  have it all figured out, I believe we’ve gone through the refiner’s fire and have a better grasp on the reality of urban church planting and what we need to do.  It’s been hard; very, very hard; harder than I ever imagined, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

As I look back on this past year, here are a few reflections and thoughts:

• I have never known and become friends with as many people in any neighborhood I’ve ever lived in as I have here.  God has truly blessed us allowing us to get to know and love our neighbors.
• I did not expect that we would have as many relationships with community leaders as we do now after one year.
• Most Christians have trouble understanding what we’re doing but people who are not Christians seem to get it a little quicker.
• I love that fact that The Garden has grown diverse to include Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic and we have friends of nearly every race, economic, and faith background.
• We began a team development phase tonight and had a great crowd.
• It takes a lot longer to start a church when you are not starting with a large team.
• If someone says, “Yeah, I’ll be there,” it means, “I probably won’t be there but I don’t want to actually tell you that right now.”
• I love our neighborhood and the fact that we live in the tension between two very different neighborhoods, both of which we embrace as “ours.”
• We’ve had relatively few crime-related problems. I’ve only had my bike stolen twice, been attacked once and had my tires slashed only once.
• I’ve been frisked.
• We’ve served the police and fire fighters crabs.
• XS on Charles St. has wonderful chocolate chip pancakes.
• Hanging out with the kids at the rec. center has become a highlight of each week.
• I’ve met with more people than ever before in every setting imagined: from rowhomes to alleys to bars to coffee houses to jails; and I’ve loved every opportunity.
• I could keep on going but I’m sure you’re going to stop reading somewhere about now.

Michael Jackson

My first experience of Michael Jackson was at my neighbor’s house when I was maybe 9 or 10.  My neighbor had cable (and color tv) and cable was not something that was pumping through our black and white old-school dial-style television (and my parents wouldn’t have let me watch Michael even if we did have cable).  So at my neighbor Stephen’s house, I watched my first Michael video.  All I remember was a lot of dancing, his voice, and his crotch grabs (from what I remember he made the sign of the cross on his crotch).

From there on I had a fascination with the mystery that was Michael Jackson.  From the music video to catching a few songs on the radio. Maybe a year or so later I heard an MJ slow song and caught his quick vibrato and trills – loved it.  From the radio to the Free Willie video, nothing like bigs fans blowing on silk shirts – slick.

I said recently that I didn’t think it would be long before we hear that Michael Jackson was found dead somewhere.  He had more talent than possibly anyone in the business, yet his life was sad in many ways.  I do hope that he found the peace of Jesus.

I’ve always been a Michael fan.  Dispite his shortcomings and accusations, his contribution to music, dance, and even social issues like racial reconciliation stand alone.  The man virtually created a style of music and dance.  We’ll be talking about MJ for a hundred years.

Here’s to the king of pop.

Brian Jamming Out…

…well, not really. It’s more of a Fernando Ortega; but a pretty song and a nice reflection: I am blessed indeed.

(Brian’s blog)

Morning Coffee with Ellis

Enjoyed breakfast  this morning with fellow church planter, Ellis Prince.  Ellis is doing a great work planting The Gallery Church in east Baltimore.  Ellis recently returned from a 10-day trip to Egypt and had a fascinating experience. At one point he visited a Monastery which has existed since 300AD.  Imagine that! Shortly before Rome became a “Christian” nation this monastic community was founded in the deserts of Egypt. I would love to have conversations with the founding and early monks regarding their thoughts on the state of so called “Christian” Rome/Crusades, etc.  Anyways, here is what Ellis wrote about the monastery on his blog. Check out his blog, Together Baltimore, for his Egypt journals.

This monastery dates back to 300 AD and is a tribute (I believe) to the Disciple turned Gospel writer, Mark.  He inspired Egyptians to trust in Jesus and that trust led to a Coptic Monastic movement that birthed this amazing place.  I know I’m in Egypt and I should use Arabic, but I’m tired and not really very smart (I fake it) so I will use a Hebrew word for this place… “Shalom.”   This word encompasses the peace of Creation before sin entered it.  The peace of God to Man, Man to Creation, and Creation to God – not just peace in war, but a harmony that is played when things are the way they were intended.

Twilight, I Want My Wife Back

About six months ago my sister, Heidi, told me that my wife should read the Twilight series.

I relayed the message to my wife and she ignored me.

A little over a month ago or so I rented the Twilight movie.

And then it all began. 

Within days my sister-in-law, Brittany, had put the first two Twilight books in the mail addressed for Jess heading towards Baltimore. 

And my wife began to read…and read…and read.

She read the first book.

She began the second.

Before she finished ‘Book 2,’ New Moon,  she frantically made a last minute trip to Target to buy the next two books.  I was to meet my workout partner at the gym at 6:00 and it was 5:59 – but she had to get these next two books in case she finished New Moon while on the stair-stepper and, “of course,” she would need book three with her to finish her workout.  Looking back I don’t know why I gave her such a hard time – of course she would need the next book; gosh, what would she do if she’d have to stop reading for 45 minutes!

So, long story short, 1.5 weeks and three (now almost four) books later, I’m currently watching her lay on the couch with her knees propped up, book 4 in her lap, and to quote Don Miller, the bulk of the pages are in her left hand and only a few pages in her right, she’s nearing the end the fourth and final book - I’ll have my wife back. 

Unless Stephanie Meyer writes a fifth.

Stephanie, four is sufficient.

Nature in the City

In hopes of bringing a little bit of nature into our little part of the city and giving Jadyn and Eden a little education, the girls and I bought a bird feeder last week and, finally, the rain has ceased (at least for today) and we’ve been able to see a bird or two.

The feeder is definitely the nicest bird feeder I’ve ever seen.  When we asked at our local hardware store (Belle Hardware) if they sold any, they only had one – for $62!!  I told them that I want to feed the birds but not for $62.  Out of generosity and a deep desire to open up some shelf space, they happily sold me the bird feeder at their cost – $22!  Still more then I’d typically pay for a feeder but, as you can see in the pic, it’s beautiful.

So far we have seen a few cardinals and a few sparrows.  Hoping to see an oriole.

We hung the feeder in a tree off our back roof right next to “the farm,” my six potted plants (basil, oregano, cilantro, asain mix lettuce and green mix lettuce).

Life and Jazz

While listening to my friend, Wendell, play jazz trumpet this afternoon I couldn’t help but think of life as music (previous post). 

I recently introduced Wendell to the owner of a newly established coffee shop/cafe/deli I frequent, Zachi’s Cafe on Read St. here in Baltimore. It’s a great place to chill and an even better place when Wendell decides to begin playing lunches.  So today I walked to Zachi’s with Wendell and listened while he and his percussionist, Rodney, played some sweet tunes; Miles Davis, Loius Armstrong, and others.

I had with me Scot McKnight’s The Blue Parakeet, so I pulled it out and read…and stayed much longer than I intended; but it was beautiful.  Jazz music on a rainy afternoon. It doesn’t get any better than that.

As I listened I enjoyed.  And that, going back to the reference to life, is what it’s about.  Enjoying it along the way, each note, each new movement.  Some notes are dark and dreary while others are light and happy.  And we enjoy it for what it is. At some points there are unexpected stops and turns, followed by then a drastic drop in tempo, and it is in those moments you question and wonder where this song is going. But when it is all played out, when the song is finished, we will look back and say, “Ah, I couldn’t have composed it any better myself.”

Trail of Tears Liturgy

Brian posted our Trail of Tears Liturgy on his blog here if you’d like to read it.

Story

Tonight at our House Community we began a new discussion series on stories; specifically our story of life, faith and spirituality. Each week one of us will take a turn sharing our story and tonight Jess graciously broke the ice.

My wife is a great speaker.  She speaks with clarity, excellent poise and in a way in which draws individuals into her words. She needs to preach some Sunday; quite stellar!  She spoke of family, childhood, the Bahamas, Bible college, boyfriends (especially one), criticisms from very conservative church folks when she was a youth pastor’s wife for five years, her calling to Baltimore, and the trials and joys of being the wife of a dude starting a church.  I enjoyed it and can say I might have even learned a thing or two. When she was finished we discussed her story.

One woman in our community expressed her gratitude in this new discussion series as she has had friends for years of whom she hardly knew - because she didn’t know their story.  The point of this topic is just that, that we will get to know one another and be encouraged in our own story and spiritual growth.  Using an illustration I’ve heard recently from a few different people regarding a few different topics; our story is like a piece of music.  At what point do you enjoy the song? It is in the midst of it.  As soon as the note hits it is gone and it is in that brief moment we enjoy. We do not rush the piece or wish it would arrive at the end; we enjoy each note of the music as it is played. And such it is with life; we enjoy our story each note of the way.  We do not rush it or wish it would end because we realize that it is not in the arrival which we find beauty but as it is played.  So we play our songs and we live our stories.