Checking out some new duds at Old Navy, while sporting the fabulous Geneva School uniform. 

Train up a child in the way that she should go and when she is old, she will not depart from it 

Bill's on fire

Go check out Bill's post on revolution. Good stuff. Here here. Can I get a witness?

Warning: Explicit Language

This post involves use of a word not generally spoken in a chapel. If you are easily offended, you might not want to proceed with this one.

So, this past Sunday, I was preaching on grace and in doing research for the sermon, came across an idea employed by Max Lucado, that involves offering a dollar at the end of my sermon. As Lucado describes, it took a minute, but eventually someone came up to take the dollar. I then went into the application asking why others didn't take it. The obvious application is that grace is also a free gift that many will not accept. I got typical responses, many direct quotes from In the Grip of Grace. Then a guy at the back gave a different answer (not covered in the book) about why he didn't go up.

We'll call him Joseph (because that's his name) and he said, "Because it takes balls to go up there."

While I translated back that it takes "courage" to come to the front, something in me was pleased that Joseph answered as he had. When we arrived at this corps (church), one of the most important tasks in front of us was returning dignity and integrity to the worship services, but it was also to return, I think, a sense of a community of worship--that this was not just another place to get a free meal in the city, but that we were about worshiping God together regardless of our background. That Joseph wanted to contribute to the discussion and felt comfortable to comment in his own, honest way was far more important to me in the moment than the fact that he let a word slip that "wasn't a church word." He was sincere and meant no harm.

Sometimes, I think we get hung up on standards for behavior and the ways of worship to an extent that we can lose sight of what an honest heart speaking honestly to the community is really worth.

But it also raises a question for me. What crosses the line for you? What "can't happen in the chapel?" I had an interesting discussion with my How-to-do-church class at Project 1:17 on this yesterday. A dollar for your thoughts.

Plan B Morning After Pill

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is looking to put tax money toward the Plan B morning after pill. The full story is in the Daily News today. He is the first political figure to put tax money toward this and he is doing it in the name of reducing the number of abortions in the city.

This quote blew me away: "The mayor said that of the estimated 215,000 pregnancies in the city last year, 130,000 were unintended - and 90,000 of those were terminated."

He's saying more than half of the pregnancies were unintended and 40% resulted in abortions.

The morning after pill that he's advocating is not like RU486 which essentially causes an egg attached to the uterus to be aborted. This one is like a more powerful version of birth control that a woman can take within up to 3 days.

Another quote: "'It would be nice to see the City of New York talk about abstinence,' said Conservative Party leader Mike Long, 'and not send a signal to all our citizens - especially young people - that you can be irresponsible.'"

Right to life? Government-funded? Medicaid-covered? In God We Trust?

Beautiful in the Bronx

Shea on Friday night, Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. Due to April special promotions, I paid $14 for 4 tickets in 5 days. Yes, the Yankees were playing the Devil Rays, but Randy Johnson was on the hill and just as my friend Shawn, also a lifelong Red Sox fan, and I would have hoped, he looked awful. He gave up two HRs to Eduardo Perez who had not hit a single home run in a year's time before Tuesday and 5 earned runs overall. Then Tom "Where is the Flash?" Gordon came in and gave up some more big hits.

Perfect night for baseball, a summer night really in mid-April. As we sat in the upper tier, closer to the action than in box seats at some of the ugly 70s stadiums, we both agreed that the Yankees do not need a new stadium. I hate the team, but I can appreciate a good place to watch a game and there's nothing lacking in the Bronx, particularly when one figures in the value of history.

So for $4 less than the cheapest single seat at the Fens, I got to see two results I wanted (a Mets win and a Yankee loss) with my sister and one of my best friends. Who says everything is overpriced in the Big Apple?

Moriah, Golgotha & Paradise

Moriah, Golgotha & Paradise words and music by Phil Laeger,
© 2003 Phil Laeger
If I look in the mirror, I don't see me
Nor in Your eyesHeavenward or straight out, nothing comes to mind
So, who am I?I'd rather die than not have wings to fly...

I know You're more than just a backdrop
I, an actor on this stage
But could You make my costume deep red,
rather than this beige
And would You mind
Tellin' me the lines to say and just which part am I?

All I want
Is all You are
All You give is Your life

So much truth, it's delicious. What a gift. How does this kid write like this? Go visit him. Click on the PHILosopher link or go to www.phillaeger.com.

Shea Hey

I went to Shea Stadium last night for the first time, got tickets for $2. That's about what I'd want to pay for the Mets. Can't remember the last time I went to a baseball stadium for the first time. Shea's a weird stadium, being in the city, but away from anything really. You can get there on the subway, but I can't imagine many people walk there. It's not the kind of place, like the Fleet Center or Madison Square Garden, where you might meet someone for dinner before a game and then head to the stadium. You might meet a guy about doing bodywork on your late-model car, but not dinner.

As are so many stadiums contemporary to Shea, it is ugly and without character. The only saving grace is that it's not a complete ring and you can actually see water from the stands. Other than that, it's kind of a who cares place. Light crowd, so we moved down a level and got much better seats. The game itself was decently entertaining as Aaron Heilmann pitched a complete game one-hitter and the Mets won 4-0.

The only other amusement came from the idiot community college types behind us. One of them, in very typical guy fashion (I don't know a single woman who does this) chose a phrase and repeated it over and over again. Anytime something would happen on the field or someone in the stands would attempt to lead a cheer or get people to do the wave, he would yell out in a game show announcer voice "That's the way you do it. That's it." Being male, I laughed. If you ask my sister who was with me at the game what the guy said every two minutes, she probably could not tell you.

For those who care to comment on blogs, why does this work for guys and not for women? What is your favorite oft-repeated phrase, by a buddy of yours or within your circle of fella friends?

Back to the Blog

So, I've gotten two comments about my bloggio silence.

I'm back and here's why I've been silent. My family is in transition again. The New York experiment has run its course. The city for Jen, as a mom and a person who grew up in the poster child for small town America, has been overwhelming. The job, for me, with its various distinct simultaneous pressures has been overwhelming. Riley had a tough transition to the city, but has really come along showing surprising ability to identify midtown geography. Funny from yesterday, we were heading up the FDR to go out of the city and Ri was looking across the river and told us that she saw the "Curious George Washington Bridge." Awesome.

Anyway, we're moving on at the end of June, but our plans have recently become more in flux than we thought they were and we've really been through a tough time of examination of ourselves and our situation the last 3 weeks. I'd love to say it's been all prayer and patience and peace, but in our struggles, don't you know we regress into our humanity and into complaining and being hurt and wondering if we can really trust? But I would say now that following some kicking and screaming on our part, we do find of course that God is good and we do have peace even though we really feel like there's a lot of suspense about where we'll be in just under 3 months time. We're trying to ascribe to the Kenny Rogers/Wyclef Philosophy as described in the recent remake of The Gambler: "You've got to count your dumplins before you touch the turntable/Cause if you run out of big dreams, that means your sound is done." You know what I'm sayin?

Covet your prayers and any job openings you might know of. "Maverick, do you remember the name of that truck-driving school we saw on the way up here? I might need that right about now."

Psalm 138

7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.
8The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD , endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.

Sydney's tshirt says it all 

Riley with her Easter Bunny visor on 

NY Daily News: What's in your iPod?

The daily news has caught on to my iPodda Have It blog. On p. 12 today, there's an interview on the street column asking people what's in their iPod. They really are everywhere on the subway.

Some interesting answers: a jogging real estate broker on the upper west side, now playing "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera and also on the playlist: The DaVinci Code, Eminem, and comedians Chris Rock and Lewis Black.

A SoHo construction worker, now playing "New York, New York" by Frank and also on playlist: 50 Cent, Jay-Z , Frankie Valli and Motley Crue. [Talk about eclectic taste.]

The most prominently featured person is a direct marketing account manager from the Bronx listening to "Crossroads" by Deitrick Haddon and she says of the rest of her playlist: "It's all gospel and praise and worship music." [Your iPod could be a tool for evangelism]

So come on, if the Daily News is interested, so are we. Answer one of the music related questions today!

William Booth on Stupidity

"It is against stupidity in every shape and form that we have to wage our eternal battle. But how can we wonder at the want of sense on the part of those who have had no advantages, when we see such plentiful absence of that commodity on the part of those who have had all the advantages?"

William Booth founded The Salvation Army with his wife Catherine in 1865.

Desert Island Discs or IPodda Have It

In an effort to inspire discussion and lighten things up a little bit, I've decided to put a challenge out there that I always enjoyed in my college's weekly newspaper. It was called Desert Island Discs and the idea was to choose the 10 CD's you would want with you if you were on a deserted island. They would ask popular professors and other campus luminaries to answer the question. I do realize, though that CD's are on their way out and it's all about the mp3 player, so if you'd rather, answer this IPodda Have It question: What are the first 10 songs you did or would or wish you could put on that now universal handheld status symbol--the IPod? Answer either question or both. Just answer!

Here are my answers:

Desert Island Discs (in no particular order)
1. Illuminate -- David Crowder Band
2. Send the Fire -- TYI
3. Hello Nasty -- Beastie Boys
4. Forrest Gump Soundtrack -- Various
5. Beautiful Girls Soudntrack -- Various
6. Derelicts of Dialect -- 3rd Bass
7. Matrix Soundtrack -- Various
8. Access: D -- Deliriou5
9. Offerings -- Third Day
10. Jesus Christ Superstar Soundtrack (from the movie) -- Cast

IPodda Have It (I don't even have an Ipod, but I just figured out the mp3 feature on my new PDA. Now all I need are some white head phones and I can be an IFraud.)

1. O Praise Him -- David Crowder Band
2. Blessed Be Your Name -- Matt Redman
3. Let Me Clear My Throat -- DJ Kool
4. You Always Do -- Phil Laeger
5. Riley's Song -- Phil Laeger
6. Intergalactic Planetary -- Beastie Boys
7. Walk This Way -- Aerosmith/Run DMC Version
8. Let the Sunshine In/Age of Aquarius -- Fifth Dimension
9. Sweet Home Alabama -- Lynrd Skynrd
10. It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right -- Rob Bass and DJ EZ Rock

What is Emerging?

"Perhaps we forget that when we talk about 'the' reformation, there have been many reformations in the Christian church, and it's nature is self-reflexive and committed to correction and renewal."
Chuck Smith, Jr. What is Emerging? Worship Leader Mar/Apr 05


Maybe it's unfair to quote only this line out of this article. I realize this doesn't cover everything Smith says about the emergent movement in his piece, but it was good enough to be the pull quote in the magazine. He also goes on to say that change comes so naturally to the church that "it's in our DNA."

I'd like to think that he's right, and in the ideal world, in the world that Brian McLaren and others are trying to encourage and bring about, this would describe the church, but come on. The church in my experience has been one of the most fiercely self-preserving bodies in existence and change comes painfully slow even when we decide it's time for a change.

I think one of two things is going on. Either, Smith doesn't have an appreciation for the size of the shift that is involved in the emerging church conversation (some people are calling for the complete dsimantling of the church as we know it and a return to the NT expression) and puts it to the side as a minor tweak in "business as usual" or he is ignoring the seismic shifts that have taken place in world culture already and that continues to progress at blistering speed--he is ignoring the need for any change at all.

Emergent is a big deal because it could impact the church and the world as much as "the " reformation, it could be a shift of 'biblical proportions.'

Sally Morganthaler quote

"If we can't live the sacred journey with Christ daily and are not actively drawing others into that journey - way outside the worship center or sanctuary and outside our stained-glass or silk-plant ghettos - we can't expect to do it in an hour on Sunday morning or Wednesday night."

Time and space

Went to the Met yesterday for the first time since I've lived in the city. I had an odd feeling being there--that I was sort of a residential tourist. Yes, I only had to walk out my front door and get on a 6 train for about 4 stops to wind up at 82nd and 5th. And I had no backpack, no video camera, no accent from Omaha or Osaka. But even after seven months, I still feel like a guy from Boston walking around in New York. That got me thinking about the odd way that time and space have of playing with our minds. As someone who spent the early part of his life, moving from place to place about every 3 years, I find that it is hard for me to gauge time accurately in a given place any longer. Maybe it's the necessary characteristic of the chameleon that I took on when growing up in order to survive that gives me this wierd sense that wherever I am, I've always been. It doesn't feel like seven months. It feels much longer. And yet, particularly in a place like New York, where you don't earn your stripes and the right to actually call yourself a new yorker until you've been here for 15-20 years, I don't feel like I've been here for very long at all. Maybe it's the New York State of Mind.

And then there's also the ongoing march of adulthood that makes everything seem to go by with mind-numbing speed. As a kid, 7 months could be an eternity. 7 months was the difference between being an elementary school student and a middle schooler, between an eighth grader and a freshman, etc. 7 months was a very serious relationship. 7 months was veteran status on any job.

Now 7 months is a layover at the airport. It's 7 months closer to the empty nest. It's 7 months that I haven't been in school. It's 7 months that I've been moving so quickly and learning so much that I feel like I've gone nowhere and learned nothing.

But 7 months is the difference between being the parent of one to being the parent of 2. Life now seems to be blowing by. I don't want to slow it down, or maybe I simply acknowledge that I can not. I just want to make sure that I'm not missing it, not whittling it away watching meaningless television, not blogging while I should be working...

You get the point.

When I'm found in the desert place...

I'm trying to figure out what's going on with so many Christians I know. I don't know if we are experiencing a greater freedom to talk about it, discovering new honesty like that described in Spencer Burke's chapter, Hero to Human, but it feels like I know a lot of people of faith who would describe themselves as going through a valley, or a desert place. It seems like it takes all kinds of forms from financial pressure to depression to questioning whether they are in God's will in a new situation to family issues to health issues. It runs the gamut. I'm trying to make sense of what we're all going through.

I know that we are constantly under the enemy's attack and he can be cruel and merciless in his endeavors to take us off our course so that we do not remain faithful. I recognize that Christ never promised it would be easy. In fact the opposite is clearly the case if we read scripture. Trials are promised.

I guess something that the Lord has laid on my heart is this idea of the promised abundant life (John 10:10). It doesn't say trial-free, but it does say abundant. I think for me there's a tension between honesty, particularly with Christian brothers and sisters. I think we have all the reason in the world to let people we trust know what's happening with us. Probably, as Christians, we don't do too well at this. I guess in some ways, it makes me happy that within Christian circles, I feel like there's some improvement here. I feel like people are looking at people of faith to be a community of support when the valley times come. That's a good thing. But on the other side, aren't we called to respond differently to troubles when reflected against non-believers. Sometimes, I think we're far too quick to lose our joy, to have a negative outlook, to take our eyes off the Savior and allow our fears and anxieties to take over and like Peter, we sink immediately and the Savior says to us, "You of little faith, why did you not believe?"

I guess all I'm trying to say is that, although it should never be fake or forced, we, as children of God, should respond differently with a peace, a comfort, a joy that the world doesn't have, but would find attractive. I think about John 16:

32“But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Take heart, brothers and sisters in the desert place, he has overcome the world.

Manic Monday

ok, blog number 2. Mondays are very different now that I'm pastoring a congregation. I've been heavily involved with worship on Sundays for several years now, but being the person "in charge" of it all. Maybe, more like "charged" with it all leaves me zapped on mondays. I've been sick as well, so by the end of every day I'm tired.

Today was good, though. I spent an hour and a half trying to fold origami shapes because I want to a brochure for the corps (salvation army-ese for church) but I am tired beyond words of the old 3-fold brochure. So, with a student from our youth ministry and mission school, we googled our way through the incredibly complicated world of origami. Do you that origami has its own lexicon--the folds have names and the steps one takes to complete the shapes have names. Long story short, we've settled on a slightly-adjusted version of ... a 3-fold brochure.

After that, we went around to visit some of the spots where my congregation (marginalized and homeless) hang out during the day. There were 2 places I knew about and I discovered a third--the Sony building on Madison Ave. These spots all have atriums that are open to the public during the day and some (Sony) until 11pm. I saw about 5 members of the congregation and spoke with 2. One, I'll call him C, a regular we haven't seen in a while, the other, a new guy who wasn't much interested in talking. C was pleased to see me and we had a good conversation. The funny thing is, I had no idea what to say to begin with other than the fact that we hadn't seen him and was everything ok. The talk was not earth-shattering, but at the end, in his upfront and kind way, he said, "I like what you're doing here." All I was doing was talking and most of the time, in this ministry, I don't feel particularly like I know what I'm doing. But it works for C and I guess it works for me too.

So now it's the end of the day and I didn't "accomplish" much, but I'm tired anyway.

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