Dreams Unlocked

I have been reading God's Politics and am about halfway through it. Jim Wallis heads up the organization Sojourners , which is a moderate voice on social issues and politics in the U.S. I was talking with one of our pastors who grew up in America during the 60's. She told me that Wallis used to be "the man" back then. It seems that there is a bit of a Jim Wallis revival right now. Interest in Wallis is spurred by growing discontent of the co-opting of evangelicalism by the Religious Right and by the persistent prophetic voices of people like Tony Campolo. What used to be on the margins is now entering center stage among evangelicals. Things like the environment and just financial practices are all being discussed now. A big aid to the conversation has also been of course Bono. Bono has done an amazing job of courting evangelicals to the Aids crisis in Africa - It is no doubt that both Rick Warren and Bill Hybels joined the crusade due to Bono's persuasions. I woul...

Os Guiness - Missionsfest Speaker Well, as life gets busy, you can see that the blog posting begins to suffer. My favourite comment of all time was on the last post - Josh making plans to meet. He didn't have my e-mail or cel #, so he posted on here! Luckily I saw it in time and managed to meet him. This weekend is one of my favourite all year in Vancouver: Missionsfest. This is a huge conference focused on overseas missions. They always get really good speakers. This year featured the critical thinker Os Guiness. Guiness was a contemporary of Francis Schaeffer. Some of his more influential books include The Dust of Death and The Gravedigger Files. Guiness spoke on Globalization, calling and whether or not the West can be won back to Christianity. Bruce Milne also spoke. Milne was the previous pastor of First Baptist and also a dynamic speaker. And I think I saw Jim wallis there - I'm not kidding - I'm pretty sure I walked right past him, or at least a guy who looked identi...

My pick - Best Picture I am halfway through God's Politics by Jim Wallis. I have wanted to read this book for quite some time. I got it for Christmas and have just started it now. Wallis is the head of an organization called Sojourners . They represent a moderate evangelical voice, in contrast to the Religious Right. I am liking this book - although the first 2 parts do not really say anything too new. His chapter on the Iraq war is excellent. Wallis needs a better editor - this book is way too repetitive. He repeats entire sentences word for word several times. So the Oscar nominations were announced this week. Here are my pics: Best supporting actor - Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine - although Eddie Murphy might surprise us here Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson steals Dreamgirls - but I am rooting for Abigail Breslin (who used to go to my church!) Best Actor - Forest Whitaker - locked in - he's one almost every other award this year Best Actress - Helen Mirren in...

Joni Mitchell Julie (see sidebar for link) posted about her friends that have met celebrities. I have somehow managed to meet a few famous people. So I thought I would talk about a few I have met over the next few days. I am going to try to do it in chronographical order from earliest to most recent 1983 - Prime Minister Brian Mulroney spoke at Midtown Plaza. He walked through the crowd. When he got to my family, he knelt down and kissed Asha on the cheek! He then shook my hand and smiled, saying nothing. early 80's - Ravi Zacharias came to our place for indian food. He was doing some meetings at Circle Drive Alliance. 1988 - Joni Mitchell did a press conference at the Bessborough. Me and 2 other Bowman students snuck in. She came over to us after and talked with us. I presented her with a beanie and a penant from her old high-school. That short clip ended up on CBC's national and local news as well. I relished my 15 seconds of fame.

The Robert Pickton trial started today. Pickton is accused of killing 46 women - he has been charged with 6 murders. All the women were from the downtown eastside. Drug addicted prostitutes are the most damaged, vulnerable people in our society. When Jesus spoke of "the least of these" I'm sure he thought of these women. As the crown presented their case, I started to feel sick. Pickton is accused of dismembering the women. Last night at first@night I prayed for the families of the victims during the coming weeks and months. I then took the bold step to pray for Pickton and his family. This reminded me of a time when I led prayer at Regent's chapel service a couple of years ago. I was supossed to pray for peace, - in the prayer I included a request the peace would reign in the heart of Osama Bin Laden. I remember pausing when I came to his name, but I still prayed for him. I remember James Dobson speaking about his encounter with serial killer Ted Bundy in prison. Do...

Thursday - Southside Interns was good. Friday - Meeting with Cam Roxburgh - church planter extrordinaire - he is helping me with a strategic 2 yr. plan for first@night. Also Friday night we had a few people who are new to FBC and first@night. One of them actually lives in our building! So getting to first@night, should not be a problem for her! Today we bought Adam a bed shaped like a racing car, which he will probably like. He is moving out of the crib and into a "toddler" bed. Tonight Felicia and I went to a restaurant for dinner. Every year a bunch of restaurants put on this thing called "Dine Out Vancouver". They offer a 3 course menu for 15, 25 or 35 $. You get an appetizer, main and desert. It's a pretty good deal, because the main courses in most of these places run between 30 and 40. It was a fun date. It's good to date your wife. Matt - I remember busting a gut listening to Song of Songs being read in the most montone voice ever!!! It still ranks a...

Crucifixion by Emil Nolde 1912 Oil on canvas Emil Nolde added a special, mystical dimension to German Expressionism, and his career illustrates a number of the moral dilemmas which faced German Modernists of the first generation, since his instincts were nationalist and conservative even though his art was regarded as experimental. Nolde was a bit of a xenophobe and anti-semitic, before the Nazi's ever showed up. Most of his art was labelled degenerate by the Nazi's and he was outlawed from painting for some time. He was heavily influenced by Nietzche. Because I live in the city center of Vancouver and because of my job, I end up eating in a lot of restaurants. As a family and as a couple we don't eat out that much because it can get quite expensive. But as a pastor, the only time I can meet with most people is over their lunch break, which means eating somewhere. As a consequenceI have developed a philosophy of tipping and here it is: I start off at 15% right off the b...

"Healthcare in the heart of Yaletown - if you can afford it" For the past 6 years I have had the same physician: Dr. Brian Montgomery. We are quite close and I call him Brian. He knows me inside and out (literally). This is the longest period of time I have had the same doctor. We have quite a good relationship. I've invited he and his partner over to our place, but we've never been able to sync our schedules up. Well, I am sad to say our professional relationship is over. Brian will no longer be my doctor. I made the decision earlier this evening. As I was watching the news, Brian's face all of a sudden popped up - His clinc - the Mainland Clinic - is now going to start charging its patients to make appointments. The fees are going to be $30/appt. or $75 for the year to become a "member" of the clinic. The only motivation I can see is obviosuly money. The physcians obviously decided that the amounts they were billing the government was not enough. I hol...

firstatnight has found a home. After looking high and low, the perfect location was right under our noses - our building's meeting room. It has everything - environment, location and its cheap. Welcome home. Nice service tonight. All the regulars minus one. Felicia has now officially started our children's ministry with Haley, Adam and Olivia. They go up to our apartment and do crafts, have a snack and listen to a Bible story. I spoke tonight on Job - I think I talked about it before so I'll spare you the details. 24 started tonight. Man oh man. Jack's back and he is kicking butt. This guy is no nonsense. Chloe is still there, chewing on her bottom lip and looking miserable. Cameo Alert - Steven Merchant, one of the co-creators of the British version of the Office appears in the first 5-10 minutes of the first episode. He is working at CTU and he accepts a file from the woman who appears to be in charge. He appears on screen from maybe 3 seconds. The Ricky Gervais Podca...

There was a memorial service for one of my former Regent friends: Maureen Morley. Maureen was beautiful in every sense of that word. Her husband Steve was a fantastic guy. I love them both. I had planned on going to the service. But a flurry of personal things prevented me from doing so, filling me with regret. Maureen was first diagnosed with breast cancer. It was treated. Later the cancer was discovered in her bones, which of course is terminal. It can be treated, but after awhile Maureen chose to forego treatment and to accept the inevitable. (Note - I am not entirely sure on all these details, please correct me and I will edit this). She was an amazing writer. Her blog is still live here . It does not note her passing. But you can read some of her writing there. It is interesting that I will be sharing on suffering tomorrow night. Particularly in the context of our buddy Job. I read Job twice to prepare for tomorrow. What stuck me this time was that Job held on to a worldview in wh...

Aerial view of Stanley Park in better days. Stanley Park is closed, B.C. Place is falling down - what the heck. This city is being blown apart by gale force winds. Saskatoon had one of the worst blizzards yesterday. I don't know what to make of all this. It was cold today - like Saskatchewan, toque, mitts and scarf cold. Mother Nature is getting her revenge for our abuse of her. Yesterday I plunked a question in the middle of my blog which I later edited out, because it had nothing to do with what came before and after it. Here it is again: How do we start a missional counter-culture community in the midst of the gross affluence that exists in Yaletown? The answer --> You start one like you would in any other community. Find where the needs are and start serving? What are the needs in Yaletown? Loneliness, meaninglesness, .....? So that's a start. By the way - the weight loss thing is going well. 13 pds. in 9 days - is that normal? That sounds like way too much. I've ju...

ADAM CAN SEE YOU. I recommend you check out my friend John Santic's site - Toward Hope . John and I had lunch today. He works for this big software company headquartered across from our apartment. John has one of those amazing miracle type testimonies that those of us who grew up in the faith are always jealous of - somehow my 5 yr. old conversion through the Vacation Bible School power evangelists seems pale in comparison. John is a thoughtful blogger - again check him out. Every once in awhile we run into one of those days where we are less then fully productive. Today was my turn. I had a fitful sleep and ended up sleep walking through the day. Sitting at my desk I would find myself spacing out, gazing off at .... nothing. I did manage to do some work, but I'm guessing my output was around 70% of what it should have been. Iphone - go to apple.com and check out the video presentation of Steve jobs unveiling that thing. Those mac geeks are having a religious experience!!! I...

Today felt like the first real normal day back to work. (I was in class all last week). had staff prayer and then the pastors meeting. I came home and worked at home. I kinda feel guilty when Adam is playing around at my feet or trying to climb on me - and my attention is on a phone call or something on the computer. I am oblivious to the little guy. A girl from first@night was mugged on Christmas Eve as she walked home from the 11:00 Christmas Eve service. Merry Christmas urban dweller. Paperback Porn - That should have grabbed your attention. Whenever I go on vacation I tend to buy a mass trade paperback (think Grisham, Clancy or Sue Grafton). So this past Christmas I had a Grisham novel all ready to go and..... I couldn't do it. I felt kinda dirty or guilty every time I cracked it open (like it was porn). I don't know if this comes from some subconscious academic snobbery (MDiv from Regent - whoah!!!) or what. But I always felt like I should be reading one of the dozens of ...

Bodyworlds is an exhibition of human bodies that have been preserved through a process known as plastination. There are three exhibits that tour the world at major museums and galleries. Vancouver's Science Center managed to nab the 3rd of the exhibitions for a few months. We went this afternoon. It was absolutely amazing. If it comes to a city near you, you should definitely check it out. It is even worth a special trip by plane or car. Psalm 8 is printed out in big letters on one wall. There is a body of a man kneeling, praying in front of a cross. The accompanying explanantion says that Christianity made anatomy possible, because of a decree made by a pope at some time. My 2 favourite exhibits were a human brain, with the entire nervous system attached and a body that was completely covered in all the veins that we have. As I wandered through the exhibits I wondered how people could deny there was an intelligent creator behind the complex designs of creation. I guess it could ...

Mira and Adam go on a walk. I'm on a diet because I'm fat. I've been pretty good so far. But then today Felicia said she wanted to go to Memphis Blues Barb-b-q . You can not be on a diet in that place. Fatty ribs, pulled pork, cornbread - that is not diet food. Well, my wife is pregnant, so to be a good husband we went there. And..... I fell off the wagon. I'll just work out for 5 hours tomorrow and it should all even out. Holed up at home today, finishing up my sermon. My brain is fried - I think cuz of all that fatty food.

BC Place w. a hole in it. Our class ended today. I was sick on Wednesday, but feel (almost) fine today. It was a good class - especially the latter part as we looked at the missional/emergent church. Will post some of the stuff we discussed later on. The roof of BC Place ripped apart today. I walked by it today on my way back from the Skytrain station and didn't notice anything. We live a block away from it, so I'm going to go tomorrow and take some pics of it. We might be going to Edmonton at the end of the month. A vehicle we are interested in buying is there - we had planned on going earlier just for a holiday at the mall. We had wanted to stay in the Fantysyland Hotel which is right in the mall - but the prices are outrageous! Between $250 and 350 - this is January! This is Edmonton! Sheesh. Felicia rented na movie tonight called " House of Sand ". It is stunningly boring. I watched an hour of it - Felicia is still watching it. Tomorrow - finish off message for S...

Jesus is laid in the Holy Sepulcher - artist unkown Well, holidays are over. Felicia took down the tree and decorations yesterday which I thought was kinda early. I'm taking a class this week called "Practise and Piety". It's in conjunction with the Southside Interns program that I am a part of. It is taught by Bob Roxburgh. Bob and his brother Alan are sort of a 1-2 punch when it comes to talking about Christianity engaging contemporary culture. Bob was (still is?) on staff at Southside. Alan is an international consultant and speaker for churches and businesses. I gotta tell you - this class is gold! I was reluctant to go at first because I had previous commitments this week and still have to prepare for Sunday. But, Cam (lead pastor of Southside and director of the interns program) e-mailed me the syllabus, and I knew I had to go. It's pretty intense - 9-3:30 everyday with extra reading at night. But is is good stuff. Right now we are studying the history of ...

Gone, baby gone. It is 2007. We had a few people over last night to welcome in the new year. i greeted it with a slight cold. I am almost finished Peterson's book (see side). I am convinced he is writing some of his best stuff ever right now. Here's a taste: " Idols are non-gods and as such are much more congenial to us than God, for we not only have the pleasure of making them, using our wonderful imaginations and skills in creative ways, but also of controlling them. They are gods with all the God taken out of them so that we can continue to be our own gods. There are innumerable ways which we can make idols for ourselves. The possibilities are endless, ranging from the skies above to the earth around us to the sea beneath us. It is no wonder that idol-making and idol-worshipping have alwasy been the most popular religious game in town." - 254.