Peace in the Middle East?

Sitting here at the dealership waiting as my car is being worked on watching the latest pictures of Israel vs. Hezbollah and Israel vs. Palestinians and it just is not good. Everybody has their own opinions and everybody has their own theology of Israel and the middle east. Should the U.S. blindly support Israel? Should the American church blindly support Israel? Is the fighting birthpangs of end times? I'm sure as I type, books are being written w/ new prophecies and its a hot topic for several pulpits in America.

Call me a liberal, but I believe in the New Israel, which is not about land and nationhood, but now all the people of God building His Kingdom on earth. I don't have a prophetic (i.e. Israel mandate) nor a theological attachment for the nation of Israel (i.e. dispensational theology). They are not righteous and I don't suppport them. But in the same breath, I cannot support dehumanizing tactics of Hezbollah nor Hamas. What a mess. I'm for the people of the nations and for peace.

This fight is escalating and with Israel having killed 4 UN peacekeepers last night, it is not good internationally. US & Israel vs. UN & the World is not a good thing. It is all water under the bridge now, but I believe the forming of the nation of Israel in 1948 was unrighteous and forced by the hand of man, not governed by God. Of course, I live on land that was also taken by the hand of man from the native American. What a mess we all live in. Our world is broken. There is no one righteous, not even one.

God, may your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

peace in the middle east,

You Say You Want A Revolution

OFF THE MAP


This is going to be a serious party. I'm a huge fan of Off the Map and loved the times I spent investing into them when they were first getting going. One of my mentors, Jim Henderson, has gone global now and there's gonna be some good conversation happenin' there. I don't pimp much on my blog, but this one I will throw out there and say "be there" (if you can).

Rains and I are going to do a workshop on neo-monastic simple church stuff and spiritually reflecting on this past year as we see the Kingdom moving. As well, we're gonna talk back to Barna in an interview re: his book "Revolutionaries" and spout off the things we agree with and particularly the things we don't. In the words of William Wallace, "I'm goin' to pick a fight" (insert Scottish accent).

Some of my favorite peeps are goin' to be there: Bean the Large selling books, J-Evans representin' left coast, the Lloyds of Portland, B-Mac (Mclaren to book readers), Rich and Rose of Seattle and Jason Clark (beloved Mac fan) of the British Isle.

All said and done, it looks like a great party and I'm looking forward to being there.

peace,

Back to reality

We left Orlando at 6:00 a.m. and just got in safely after dropping off the rental car and picking up our homesick dog.

What were the highlights?

1) Getting a call at 7:30 this morning stating that our car that we left parked outside Nicki's aunt's house near the airport where we picked up our rental car had all 4 tires slashed in the night with about 15 other cars in the neighborhood. Spent a half hour on the road making insurance claims and arrangements for towing and 4 new tires all while driving in Florida. And . . . this just in . . . its also been keyed all down both sides of the car damaging numerous panels. Can you say "Center City Collision" (i.e. Rains Auto Body)? I can. Talk to you on Monday, Kevin, as soon as I talk to the insurance adjuster.

2) 17 hours on the road and we only made 1 1/2 hours in stops all day. My kids Rock!! It helped that we had 3 different screens for DVD players and Nicki and I had 3,000 songs on the iPod. Either way, no kids puked and no major meltdowns.

3) We visited the Bishops in Jupiter, Fla on Sunday and they took us out on Amber's Dad's boat for a bbq south florida style. We hung out on an island that is a park in the middle of the channel and Mike grilled up some incredibly tasty burgers (we're stealing the recipe) and the kids swam and played on the sandbar. We were surrounded by million dollar yachts and multi-million dollar estates on the bay. Always good to hang w/ the Bishops of Florida.

4) Universal Studios is always a great time if you get there when it opens and leave before the crowd comes. We road all the rides we wanted in 3-4 hours and left as the crowd was still rolling in. Ali and I were able to do 6 roller coasters by 9:30 a.m. which always left my stomach in an uneasy state. The heat was . . . well . . . hot. There was not enough water in florida to keep my less than svelte body hydrated.

5) Great family time. Memories made and quality and quantity time spent with the wife and kids. After our 4th year in a row to Orlando, we're ready for a new vacation spot. Any ideas?

peace,

we be outta here

vacation time w/ the wife and kids. peace out.

early morning

a neighbor's house alarm woke me up at 5:30 because apparently their cat set it off and they didn't know how to turn it off. yet another reason to dislike cats, i've never been a fan.

its Sunday morning and the TV preachers are all over the television. it all makes me nauseated. what a production. they come off as pompous and arrogant, i just don't get it. speaking in cliches, utilizing theatrics, more entertainment than substance. apparently in america, TV christianity has its own sub-culture of hollywood celebrities, movies and music. In the words of Bono, "I'm a Christian, but I feel very removed from Chrisitianity." I would say I'm embarassed because its a joke, but I don't even think we belong to the same faith.

we leave for vacation on Friday, I'm just counting the days.

peace and hope you got more sleep,