Dream Awakener

I bought the first version of the kindle and it has been a gem, especially when traveling to places near and far.  As a person who enjoys reading, I always find it difficult to choose which books to bring with me on trips.  So the kindle has been a lifesaver, because I can bring many books with me.

Now the kindle is available for mac computers as well. Yeah!  Now  I can read my books on my computer as well as my kindle.  I like having this option.  I’m guessing that Amazon is working on a device for the ipad as well.  That’s cool, cause I was wondering if I ended up getting an ipad if I would be able to access my books on the ipad as well.  I’m a fan of amazon and Ppple, as far as quality and delivery.  It will be interesting to see how this might affect the new Apple bookstore.  I’m sure that Amazon would like a little of that action.

So are you getting an ipad or not?  Have you ordered one already, or are you waiting for a later version?  I’m thinking about it.  If anyone wants to gift me one, let me know.

I wanted to give this public service announcement today, because I was elected and served on the first East Hollywood Neighoborhood Council and I care deeply about my neighborhood.  Though I’m a bit biased, I think we have one of the best neighborhood councils in the city of LA.  What can I say, I love my neighborhood.

Anyone 16 years or older who is a stakeholder of East Hollywood (lives, works, owns property, attends school, is a member of a faith-based organization (church, synagogue, temple, ministry group), is a staff or board member of a non-profit organization serving East Hollywood or has a vested interest in the community) is eligible to vote in the election.

The 2010 election of the EHNC Governing Board will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Faculty and Staff Center, Los Angeles City College, 855 N. Vermont Ave. Click here for more information and details about this Saturday’s election.  Here is the candidates for this years board and I’ve put an asterisk mark the candidates of my choice, though all candidates running are great people. (more…)

If you have just recently started a church, or are in the process of starting a church or thinking about starting a church, I want to tell you about a church planters training time that you don’t want to miss.

The name of this training time is called Aggelos – meaning one who is sent, a messenger from God and it is hosted by the Ecclesia Network. Ben Sternke, who attended last year, mentioned a lot of what I like about this training on his blog recently.  Here is the list:

• There is a great balance between theological and practical training
• Everyone stays in the same place (including the equippers/teachers), and there is room for a lot of informal conversation, like at meals and in the evening
• It takes place in an ecumenical monastery where we participate in their prayer rhythms during the day
• There are many teachers, each of the practitioners, sharing their perspectives, stories and life

This year’s training promises to be the best yet, because the quality of those helping to teach this year is rich. The equippers this year include Jon Tyson, Dave Fitch, Bob Hyatt, JR Briggs, Winn Collier, Brian Hopper and myself.  The training time is May 17 – 21 in Richmond, Virginia.  May 1st is the deadline to sign up, but I would sign up as soon as you are able.

You can learn more about the training and download a brochure at the Ecclesia Network site.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Proverbs 17:22 NLT

A Clip from the Marriage Ref with Madonna, Ricky Gervais, Larry David

rush hour

Originally uploaded by crater

Lord, life’s a whirlpool.
So much to do.
I rush around, faster and faster,
intent on today,
this moment.
Never looking beyond the immediate.
More good intentions,
wet and waterlogged,
slide down the plug hole.
Gone.

Out there,
on the blurred edge of vision,
people stand, beckon, call.
I don’t see them,
except to myself.
But I rush on.
No time.
Scattering, perhaps,
a little largesse on the way.
Greasing the palm of charity.
My once bright conscious dulled
with tarnished generosity.
Encrusted rust, self-damaging.
My own collecting boxes
full of good intentions,
never cashed.
(more…)

A minute and a half of creative inspiration.

The Hush Sound — Lions Roar from Mig Reyes on Vimeo.

Tall Waterfall

Sunset at Mauna Kea

Although the table is a place for intimacy, we all know how easily it can become a place of distance, hostility, and even hatred. Precisely because the table is meant to be an intimate place, it easily becomes the place we experience the absence of intimacy. The table reveals the tensions among us. When husband and wife don’t talk to each other, when a child refuses to eat, when brothers and sisters bicker, when there are tense silences, then the table becomes hell, the place we least want to be.

The table is the barometer of family and community life. Let’s do everything possible to make the table the place to celebrate intimacy. – Henri Nouwen

I went to the ArtCycle last year and it was a blast.  A few thousand people came out to celebrate all forms of art.  This year it will probably be even better.  There is live music, dancing, and a strong bike culture.  It’s a great time to meet up with other people living in the East Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles.  But of course if you live in another neighborhood, you are still very welcome.  It’s open for all.

This year it is happening at the intersection of Santa Monica and Madison from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.   It’s a free event.  If you want to learn more details about the event, check out our webpage,  the press release for the event, or follow the ArtCycle tweets.  I hope to see you there!

Follow Me as I follow Christ - Photo by Firefigher with a Camera

Here are a string of posts about what it means to follow Jesus in today’s world. In this series, I share a brief summary of each of the chapters of Dallas Willard’s – The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship – followed by my personal reflection on each chapter.

I trust that as you work your way through this series of posts, you will grow in your understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ as well as how you can make disciples of Jesus.

Discipleship Part I: Preface and Introduction
Discipleship Part II: Discipleship
Discipleship Part III: Why Bother with Discipleship?
Discipleship Part IV: Who is Your Teacher?
Discipleship Part V: Looking Like Jesus
Discipleship Part VI: The Key to the Keys of the Kingdom
Discipleship Part VII: Spiritual Formation for the Whole Life & the Whole Person
Discipleship Part VIII: Spiritual Formation in Christ
Discipleship Part IX: The Spirit is Willing, But…
Discipleship Part X: Living in the Vision of God
Discipleship Part XI: Idaho Springs Inquires Concerning Spiritual Formation
Discipleship Part XII: Personal Soul Care
Discipleship Part XIII: Spiritual Disciplines, Formation & the Restoration of the Soul
Discipleship Part XIV: Christ-Centered Piety

More to come this week.