SPOILERS from the Hobbit (no, not really)

I didn't see the Hobbit this past weekend.

It's the type of thing I'd normally do with friends who enjoy going to see epic movies at midnight. Given the past week of life and more, I just couldn't swing it.

What I was able to do was to post some tongue-in-cheek "spoilers" from the Hobbit on my Twitter account throughout the three hours the movie premiered. I'm not sure if I was able to influence anyone to actually believe these were true, but since I lost three Twitter followers that night I do believe my purpose was achieved.

(For the record, I gained 10 others).

Here is a chance for you to enjoy the updates in the order I posted them.

From https://twitter.com/tonymyles 

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Gandalf doesn't end up with Hermione.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Orlando Bloom returns as a slightly more mannish Keira Knightley.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Orlando Bloom returns as a slightly more mannish Keira Knightley.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Elrond wears Agent Smith style Matrix glasses.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : It already won a bunch of obscure Academy Awards for costumes... blah blah blah, something artistic, I think.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The movie happens in real time. Keifer Sutherland's character Jack Bauer somehow stays awake for 24 hours.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : John Rhys-Davies brought back for one scene for #Sliders fans where he looks at camera and says, "Mr Mallory!"

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Musical scene with Beyonce' where she plays a temptress singing about how you shoulda putta ring on it.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The "orc" costumes resemble what Robin Williams wore when he landed in Colorado in the 70's.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Will Ferrell plays a character simply known as "Elf" who is passionate about Christmas.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The phrase "there and back again" refers to a craving errand Bilbo's pregnant Hobbit wife sends him on.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The traditional hat worn by Gandalf has been replaced by a red metal helmet resistant to telepathic attacks.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : There are, in fact, 16 fade-to-black endings.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The ring is a Krispy Kream donut... the hot kind, not the cold kind.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The Elves have a foreign language they sometimes speak. This is actually just their attempt at German.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The different nations have political tension with each other, which is an ancient metaphor for #GoogleMaps

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The last name "Baggins" is revealed to be an acronym for "Boy Another Great Gain In Nerd Sales" (guilty!)

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : CeeLo Green plays a Hobbit who plays an Elf who plays a Troll who plays an Orc... with a cat.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Andy Serkis does the voice of Morgan Freeman, and Morgan Freeman does the voice of Andy Serkis.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Ian McKellen and Ian Holm wear matching "Ian" tennis bracelets. Gollum, naturally, wants one.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : One person in every theater nationwide memorized a map of all the lands and actually understands the route.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Hobbits all bummed Sean Astin didn't make it into movie. Each lays down his ears; chants "Rudy" repeatedly.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : "Middle Earth" got its name by being in a love triangle with good guy "Upper Earth" and bad boy "Lower Earth"

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The "Shire" scenes are bootleg videos stolen from the movie Avatar.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The Winklevoss Elves are all played by the same guy.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The Dwarves don't talk about it much, but each one with a beard has killed an Ewok.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The treasure everyone's trying to reclaim are stock shares from "The Facebook" Timberlake's character swiped.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : Smaug, the dragon, isn't actually that smug. Most people overlook the "a" and he's "sick of all the haters."

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The Lonely Mountain symbolizes Mount Rushmore... only with actor Mickey Rourke's face in all four spots.

SPOILER ALERT for #TheHobbit : The characters Fili and Kili have a brother played by Ben Affleck you only see in the deleted scenes - Gigli.

how I'll be approaching today

I've been asked by several people how I'll approach today. If you don't know why, no worries... my answer is the same - illustrated through these two pictures.

are you a ninja?

Are you a Ninja?

• Kitchen Ninja: Trying to complete tasks before the microwave hits 00:00 like your life depends on it.
  
• Bathroom Ninja: Attempting to flush before you're done, but finishing before the water completely is done flushing.
  
• Nighttime Ninja: Turning off all the lights and running up the stairs super fast before the monsters get you, but then daring to turn and completely stare into the darkness behind you as if you say, "You're ain't so bad, sucka!"

Got any more?

heaven is...

Heaven is a realm where Jesus isn't pious/tame but unleashing "AWESOME!" to the Nth degree, all the time, without ceasing.

There is no sitting on clouds with harps for us... nor is it anything close to the absence of actual pleasure. We're in the midst of the whole version of the broken stuff we chase after.... including each other. True relational transparency is the norm, for the real you is revealed and emerges - not the fractured version you keep wanting to prove and justify to the world, but the Original You that is buried like a diamond under the dirt of this life.  The Lord Himself meets you with love and restoration and invites you into a feast! A party! It's an unending, unfractured journey of "THIS IS BEYOND WORDS!!!" that all are invited into through Jesus Christ but not many choose to enter.

Never forget: God isn't just "the man upstairs" or merely a presence in the universe, but He is completely thick in the thin parts of your life even now. (read that again) This VIP experience likewise isn't merely the after-party to this life but the Life He meant for you to be experience right now. He can give you glimpses of it if you trust Him today. So follow Christ...  believe, receive and call upon His Name... deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.

Are you in?

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." (Revelation 21:3)

guest blogger: rick lawrence - on being shrewd and learning from serpents

I'm deeply thankful for a friendship with Rick Lawrence, a humble Yoda/Miyagi to many in the world of youth ministry. His new book "Shrewd" unearths more of what many of us miss in Christianity, so make sure you snag it. I'm thankful to share his thoughts below - enjoy!

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Five-or-so years ago I was locked in what felt like an all-out war over a dream that was in danger of dying, because a man who was much shrewder than me was bent on stopping it.

One day, in my grief and fear and anger over what was about to happen, I felt God sort of “sit me down” and challenge me—it was clear that my “frontal” way of dealing with this situation was not going to work, and He was asking me if I was going to have the courage to move more shrewdly. In the nicey-nice Christian culture that is promoted and perpetuated in most churches, shrewdness is anathema—worse, it’s entirely off the radar as a spiritual practice.

So, in an uncharacteristic spirit of desperation, I asked God to teach me what I needed to know about shrewdness—and He (of course) brought me to Jesus, the source of all good things. The point of Jesus’ “Parable of the Shrewd Manager” (Luke 16:1-8) is specifically to highlight the behavior of a lazy, lying, good-for-nothing servant who has no qualities we’d want to emulate except for one: his shrewd way of saving himself from the consequences of his terrible behavior. Jesus highlights this anti-role-model for one purpose: “The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.”

Later, in preparation for sending out His disciples on their first ministry journey without Him, He tells them to take nothing with them (no clothing, money, or “insurance” of any kind)—instead, He tells them they need just two things:

1. Be as shrewd as a serpent, and


2. Be as innocent as a dove.

The word He uses here for “serpent” is the same one He uses for Satan. And the word He uses here for “dove” is the same the Bible uses to describe the Holy Spirit. Jesus is telling His disciples to be as shrewd as Satan is, but as innocent as the Holy Spirit is. Shrewdness, then, is a way of living and relating that Jesus first modeled for us, then commanded us to do likewise.

In Shrewd: Daring to Obey the Startling Command of Jesus, I describe “shrewd” as a way of thinking and acting that Jesus long ago urged His followers to use in their uprising against the powers and ‘spiritual forces of wickedness’ of this world. Shrewd people—and Jesus is the Exemplar—first study how things work, and then leverage that knowledge to tip the balance in a favored direction. Shrewdness is the expert application of leverage—“the right force at the right time in the right place”—as The Way Things Work author David Macaulay observes. Jesus is perpetually taking what His enemies intend for evil and morphing it into good—He uses their destructive momentum against them, like a martial artist. Most Christians have a negative reaction to the word “shrewd,” but Jesus not only exemplified this way of relating to others in His redemptive mission on earth, He gave us a mandate to grow much, much more adept in our practice of it.

Because I’ve had scores of conversations with people, both young and old, about the mechanics of “innocent shrewdness,” I know people of all ages have experienced repeated failure in their frontal, conventional approaches to problems and challenges in their life. They’re frustrated and lost. And when I simply walk them through a Jesus-centered process of thinking and acting more shrewdly, it’s like Dorothy in The Wizard of

Oz moving from her flat, black-and-white world into the 3-D colors of Oz. The process, simply, looks like this:

• Answer the question: “What do I really want?” Jesus habitually asked an irritating question of people with obvious needs who approached Him for help: “What do you want?” (e.g., Matt. 20:32; Mark 6:22; Mark 10:36; Mark 10:51; Luke 18:41). We must know what we really want before we can truly ask in faith.
  
  
• Answer the question: “Is my ‘want’ born out of innocence? Would I feel just fine asking Jesus for this ‘want’ if I was face-to-face with Him?”
  
  
• Answer the question: “How does this (person, organization, or process) work?” Shrewd living always starts with understanding how things work—so spend five minutes brainstorming (either alone or with someone you trust) an answer to this question.
  
  
  
• Based on your understanding of how things work, spend five minutes brainstorming a point of leverage to go after with a “sideways” approach. Sideways means the leverage comes from an unexpected direction—you find “sideways” by experimenting with approaches that carry the force to move the situation.
  
  
• Now, try one of your options and debrief the results with someone you trust. Decide whether to continue with that option or whether to try a new approach.
  
  
  
• Repeat steps #3, #4, and #5 in a continuous loop—until you’ve landed on “the right force at the right time in the right place.”

Rick Lawrence is the author of dozens of books, including Shrewd: Daring to Obey the Startling Command of Jesus and Sifted: God’s Scandalous Response to Satan’s Outrageous Demand (shrewdbook.com and siftedbook.com). He’s has been editor of Group Magazine for 25 years and is the co-leader of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference. Rick is a church leader, consultant to national research organizations and a frequent conference and workshop speaker. He and his family live in Colorado.

book review: 21 Day Dad's Challenge

I've been sorting through some great books lately. One of them is the 21 Day Dad's Challenge, a book that reminds fathers that we can't let life get in the way of being intentional in our parenting. Contributors include Tony Dungy, Chip Ingram, Josh McDowell, Randy Alcorn, Carey Casey, Jim Daly, and more.

A handful of thoughts:

• The 21 day challenge is "do-able." It involves a short reading each day, including a challenge at the end of each chapter.
• The tone of the book is motivational and not condemning. Most dads know they fall short - this one paints a picture of what they're capable of.
• An assortment of QR codes make it possible to scan content as you read and watch complementary videos.
• Everything is based on biblical principles that release a clearer common sense in how one parents. For that reason even non-Christian dads will get a lot out of this.
• The book is best read in community, such as a men's group where guys can hold each other accountable.

I'd also add that moms can get a lot out of this material, too, but it does feel distinctly written to men. Snag a copy and rock a kid's world - I got mine through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review.

casual Christianity doesn't eat it

Casual Christianity (aka saying you're a Christian without backing it up) is like starting to eat an amazing steak but stopping short of a real bite half-way between the plate and your mouth, and telling everyone you know what it tastes like.

It's common to occasionally go to church or tell people you have one (that you don't really attend), but the question is have you made a defining step of receiving the forgiveness of Jesus and letting Him become the Lord over every area of your life?

You won't do this perfectly at any time you're on this earth, which is why His grace is so amazing... but you can do it relationally and intentionally. Again, don't presume you've really eaten, until you've really eaten. And then - don't miss out on the chance to "eat" with others at every opportunity.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8)


"In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always." (John 6:57-58, The Message)


"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

homeboy or God?

I spent some time in the Ten Commandments recently and was reminded that we often want to make our relationship with God more casual than it is intended to be. I'm all for grace, and yet I'm all for reverence, too. It's perhaps why I've never been a huge fan of the "Jesus is my homeboy" shirt - while anything can be used to bring people closer to God, I'm not sure we need to lose our most direct access point.

If you just can't open up your Bible, though, let me help. Based (loosely) on Exodus 20, here are ten signs that you got this whole thing right by making sure God is your God vs your homeboy:

1. You have priorities in that honor Him, vs Him flashing the peace sign at what you already do.
2. You let nothing else busy you from putting Him first, vs He gets what left, not what's right.
3. You think about who He is, vs you give Him a casual nickname based on who you want Him.
4. You daily/weekly invest into that relationship, vs thinking the world runs on your charisma.
5. You let your family see Him in you, vs telling Him "He's there, but I'm not perfect, so chill."
6. You let the Life He put in you bring Life into the world, vs killing others with criticism/hate.
7. You give God your urges and follow His lead, vs you say, "I can't help it. I do what I feel."
8. You let Him help you become content, vs you take what you want that He didn't give you.
9. You prioritize truth over comfort, vs you say what keeps you out of trouble - "God understands."
10. You prioritize people over things, vs you drool at what's cool & demand the Lord be your stool.

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." (Matthew 6:9b)

an observation from watching years of TV: slow motion

Perhaps slow-motion effects on television first caught my attention with the Six Million Dollar Man. Back in the day they used to slow down Lee Majors so that we'd  visualize him running faster than we could imagine.

Um... nice try.

Then again, maybe I've spent too many years watching too many TV shows to count. Either way, here are some observations on the use of slow-motion effects in general when it comes to the small screen:

Celebrity walking in slow motion on Entertainment Tonight/Access Hollywood/Extra = they had something tragic happen to them in real life or recently went a little coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs on camera.
Celebrity walking in slow motion in a feature movie = they're about to save the world.
Celebrity walking in slow motion down a hallway in a high school or down a staircase = the cool kid, or the kid who didn't used to be cool but now apparently is after getting a quick makeover (i.e. no longer wearing glasses).
Celebrity walking in slow motion in a commercial = they used to be famous for something else and now are selling you beauty products.
Celebrity walking in slow motion in a primetime program = their character is about to be written out of the show.
Celebrity walking in slow motion in any other TV show = they are Donald Trump, a part of his family or a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice.

a word to my friends

If we're friends, there's a chance you might hear this as it applies to your life. It's not something I copied and pasted - it's written from my heart to yours.

Simply put, be careful. When your life feels like darkness, you may mistake a grey-option for a colorful one. Keep in mind, that option is still very much grey - and while on some level you know this, your eyes have stared into what feels like a black hole long enough that even what is dull seems like Light... especially if you keep telling yourself it is.

You'll tell yourself that grey mush is a yellow smiley face.

So again, be careful. The knight in shining armor may actually be a court jester who will use you for a laugh. The woman who makes you feel good by agreeing with your perspective on life may keep you from hearing what you need to hear most. Your new BFF may set off some TNT when your IQ doesn't sense it coming.

Sure... maybe none of that will happen.

But then again, there's a reason I'm writing this. I know too many people who thought that counsel wasn't for them, yet ended up in a backward situation they never saw coming. So again, if we're friends... I'm not writing this to tell you I told you so. Instead, I'd like to catch you on the front end and help you see from the outside looking in what it may be hard to see with your nose that close to what you think you want. Write me a note if you're interested. I'm obviously not perfect, but I am your friend.

"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14)

the non-miracle of Good Friday

The most noticeable miracle of Good Friday is there was no noticeable miracle.

Legions of angels stood by and watched
as the Son took our place...

instead of rescuing Him,
they let Him rescue us.

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8)

the thing about truth, and/or some other things...

When you add an "and/or" where truth puts a period to legitimize your own philosophy, you become a hypocrite.

When you reveal an actual "and/or" of truth to a philosophy that has put a period, you become a prophet.

When you realize that all truth stems from a reality beyond what you can understand, you become a student.

When you realize there is a truth about God that exists whether or not you like it, you become honest.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

your next 40 days

I received a great email today from someone who is looking to make the most of the 40 days that lead up to remembering the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are others they work with who were wondering how to make the most of it, and I was asked if I had any Bible verses that could be sort of a daily reading around the office.

I love it! What an awesome way to make the most of this season.

So here's a response to that via some Bible verses that just may help. Also, take a peek an another article I wrote last year for some added tips: http://www.ehow.com/how_8049745_celebrate-lent-new-ways.html

• Ash Wednesday Even Now (Joel 2:12-13) Image: ashes – as in the sign we receive on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday
• 2nd Day of Lent (Thursday) Original sin (Genesis 3:1-20) Image: an apple, or a small plastic snake
• 3rd Day (Friday) Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-12) Image: two men, one standing with his fist raised
• 4th Day (Saturday) Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:5-13, 9:8-11) Image: picture of Noah’s ark
• 5th Day (Monday) Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18) Image: a lamb
• 6th Day (Tuesday) Jesus and Abraham (John 8:31-40) Image: a chain – symbol of the slavery Christ frees us from
• 7th Day (Wednesday) Moses and the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21) Image: picture of the two tablets
• 8th Day (Thursday) The Covenant with Abraham and Moses (Jeremiah 31:31-33) Image: an outstretched hand
• 9th Day (Friday) A New Covenant (Luke 22:15-20) Image: two hands clasped together
• 10th Day (Saturday) 2 Great Commandments (Matthew 22:34-40)Image: notice of the two great commandments
• 11th Day (Monday) Forty Years in the Desert (Numbers 14:2-4, 10-112, 17-19, 33-34) Image: small piece of bread to represent manna
• 12th Day (Tuesday) Forty Days in the Desert (Luke 4:1-13) Image: a stone/picture of a city to represent Satan’s temptation
• 13th Day (Wednesday) The Day of the Lord (Joel 2:10-16) Image: a trumpet
• 14th Day (Thursday) Jonas and the Whale (Jonah 1:1 – 4:11) Image: a plastic whale or fish, a picture of a large whale
• 15th Day (Friday)Whom Shall I send? (Isaiah 6:8-10) Image: a red coal
• 16th Day (Saturday) Trust and Rescue (Psalm 22) Image: a small globe
• 17th Day (Monday) Prophetic Role of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1: 4-8, 3:12-15) Image: a shepherd’s staff
• 18th Day (Tuesday)Story of Elijah (2 Kings 2:9-12) Image: a chariot and horses
• 19th Day (Wednesday) Story of Elisha (2 Kings 4:38-44) Image: basket of bread and fishes
• 20th Day (Thursday) Loaves and Fishes (Mark 6:34-44) Image: basket of bread and fish
• 21th Day (Friday) Gabriel and the Anointed One (Daniel 9:15-24)Image: a picture of the angel Gabriel
• 22nd Day (Saturday) Anointing of David (1Sam. 16:1-13) Image: a horn or jug of oil
• 23rd Day (Monday) Anointing at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13) Image: vial of perfume
• 24th Day (Tuesday) John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17, 80) Image: pitcher of water
• 25th Day (Wednesday) Prophecy of New Order (Micah 4:1-7) Image: a sword and a pruning hook
• 26th Day (Thursday) Fulfillment of all Prophecies (Luke 24:44-48)Image: picture of a book, the Scriptures
• 27th Day (Friday) Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) Image: a tent
• 28th Day (Saturday) Entrance Into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-9) Image: small plastic donkey or piece of palm
• 29th Day (Monday) Zeal for your house consumes me (Psalms. 69:6-25) Image: a musical instrument
• 30th Day (Tuesday) Driving the moneylenders from the temple (John 2:13-25) Image: a knotted piece of rope
• 31st Day (Wednesday) Judas (Matthew 26:14-25) Image: silver coins – to represent Judas’ 30 pieces of silver
• 32nd Day (Thursday) The Innocent Victim (Isaiah 53:1-12) Image: a white lamb
• 33rd Day (Friday) Last Supper (Luke 22:14- 20) Image: cup and plate
• 34th Day (Saturday)Agony in Garden (Matthew 26:36-46) Image: olives – from the garden of Gethsemane
• 35th Day (Monday) Denial of Jesus (Mark 14:29-31 and 14:66-72)Image: small plastic rooster
• 36th Day (Tuesday) Crown of Thorns (Matt. 27:27 – Matt. 27:31)Image: a twig bent in a circle – the crown of thorns
• 37th Day (Wednesday) Scourging at the Pillar Image: a leather strip – the thongs of the whip used when Jesus was scourged
• 38th Day (Holy Thursday)The Two Thieves (Luke 23:32 – 43) Image: a row of three crosses
• 39th Day (Good Friday) On the Cross Image: a single die, a piece of sponge and a blue strip of cloth
• 40th Day (Holy Saturday) Death Of Jesus (Matthew 27: 45-54)Image: small stones/gravel/dirt – reminder of the earthquake

party rock is in the house tonight - literally

Party rock is in the house tonight.

Literally.

Apparently this whole video was made with MS Paint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNr_M3kbWQA&feature=player_embedded

a baby who doesn't look like God... yet

When Jesus came, He was first presented to shepherds as a helpless baby lying in the manger… they were told He would be the Savior.

The baby name is Jesus – and He is the Christ.

Only… he doesn’t look like it.

“He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, although strong and healthy, is a piercing and helpless cry for He is absolutely dependent upon Mary for His well being.

He is majesty in the midst of the mundane. He is holiness the midst of sheep manure and sweat. He enters the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager & in the presence of a carpenter.”

– Max Lucado

This baby had once overlooked the entire universe.
Now He overlooks straw.

He left His golden throne room in heaven.
Now He sits in a feeding trough in a dirty sheep’s den.

Angels were singing His praises because they couldn’t get enough of Him.
Now he is overlooked by a world who wouldn’t make room for His birth.


Its what Jesus did for us... and what He does for us.

That is, if we don't leave the Greatest Gift unwrapped to concentrate on all the other ones.

Merry Christmas.

"A Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11b)

an open letter to my facebook friends

So after a week off Facebook (on vacation), I've concluded a handful of things. Here is an open letter to my online friends:

1) If we're friends, let's hang out. In real life... not merely electronically. I mean this, whether we live close by or occasionally make it into each other's geography. Let me know if you're interested.

2) If we once were friends and something happened, can we sit down and work it out instead of playing some sort of evasive game with half-smiles? My "door" is always open and my heart is to reconcile - which leaves the ball in your court. Be of courage, and not cowardice on this.

3) If we're not friends and I am merely a number on your growing network so you can network your network into a network of networks, drop me.

4) If you're being a jerk and don't see it or don't care to, I will be that guy who will show you. For the context of this statement, consider that I just cycled through a week's worth of posts to see what I missed on FB. Wow... we should all do this on our own posts - what many of us consider to be fun ribbing or harmless venting comes off as destructive. So whether you're grumbling about people, politics or whatever, if we're friends I will hear you out and likewise encourage you to pay attention to your patterns even if no one else will - please do the same for me.

5) If we have some sort of relationship, I will be inviting you to experience Christmas unlike ever before... be it joining us at Connection Church this month or you finding your own home church. Jesus Christ is more than a baby in a manger... He is your Savior, and if you've settled for spirituality or mere religious traditions, you are missing out. Because I care about you, I will be as authentic as I can in inviting you and challenging you to not miss out.

6) If you made it this far, reread #1.

why pray?

As best as I can, I try to keep up with different conversations happening around the world through friendships and networking online. One caught my attention recently:

"Please tell me why you pray."

This wasn't asked by someone who isn't familiar with Christianity, but by someone I know who asks thought-provoking questions to make sure we aren't becoming robotic in our expressions of worship. Perhaps that's why the question made me chuckle, not because it isn't a good one but because I likely would have answered it different ways over the years. When I was younger I may have said "Because we're supposed to," and as I entered into a season of agnosticism in my early teens I probably would have arrogantly spewed, "Because it's a goofy tradition." As I grew in my faith, I might have replied, "It helps me connect with God better." Perhaps I may have even stated 5 to 10 years ago, "Jesus commanded it - right there in the Sermon on the Mount."

I'm not sure how I'll answer that question in the future, but here was my confident reply this week:

"My only answer to the question 'Why pray?' is simply 'Why breathe?'"

Although that made perfect sense to me, I received a reply via Twitter:

"Tony, with all due respect, that statement makes no sense."

First off, I appreciate the "all due respect" part. Sometimes we fail to honor responses and replies that don't fit within our scheme of how we see the world, or are trying to make a point at the world. To return the favor, I'm writing this blog post since Twitter only allows 140 characters of thought or pushback. If I had more space to communicate my thought, I would add the following:

"Sure it does, but maybe not with your initial glance. Consider what each has in common with the other.

Breathing is the unconscious pathway to life that can be at times a conscious decision, such as taking a deep breath or holding your breath. Even with such actions, you eventually will lapse into it being an unconscious activity because sleep takes over or you become weary of being so intentional; however, there are times where holding your breath makes sense to avoid injecting harmful fluids or gas, and other times where a deep breath brings nourishment and relaxation to your body.

Prayer is the activity of 'breathing' for the Christ-follower: it is something a spiritually restored person does to unconsciously stay alive with God (Matthew 6), and this is assisted by the Holy Spirit through even our groans (Romans 8:26). We can also take the action of 'holding our prayers' when we begin to babble unnecessarily and cross a line Jesus warned against; similarly, we can also 'Selah' and pause to find our rest and renewal by intentionally and slowly exhaling our burdens and inhaling the realities of God... something we're encouraged to do continually, or without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

So I apologize for writing something in the form of a question that is full of such detail... but prayer is as unconscious as breathing, and in this way everything we do can be a form of it. Likewise, we don't need to fear it taking on a conventional form at times because we don't want to look like simpleton Christians, but it is more than those conventional forms people turn it into. For all we may want to criticize them, sometimes our drive to appear unconventional keeps us from missing the Trinity in the ceiling fan, if you know what I mean."

I hope that helps clarify, and blesses others on the journey of being neither conventional nor unconventional... but simply open to and interactive with the Lord.

some serious ripples for Jesus Christ

So I'm in speechless awe... apparently Connection Church, missionary Cathy E Perman, 13-year old Hannah Christian, Brenda Ingram-Christian, Lawrence Owino Omondi and Medina, Ohio made some big ripples for Jesus locally, regionally, nationally and internationally by going hungry. To God be the glory for the ripples:

- Front page of the Akron-Beacon Journal: http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/experiencing-taste-of-poverty-local-congregation-accepts-rice-and-bean-challenge-1.245303

- ABC Action News: http://www.13abc.com/story/16027764/ohio-congregation-goes-hungry-raises-money

- Dayton Daily News: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/ohio-congregation-goes-hungry-raises-money-1283898.html

- Cincinnati Fox 19: http://www.fox19.com/story/16027764/ohio-congregation-goes-hungry-raises-money

- ABC Columbus: http://www.abc6onyourside.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.oh/3cb6853e-www.abc6onyourside.com.shtml

- Newark News: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/usatoday/article/37931525?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp

- Kenya News (yeah, KENYA): http://www.kenyanews24.com/news/experiencing-taste-of-poverty-local-congregation-accepts-rice-and-bean-challenge-akron-beacon-journal

- India Times (yeah, INDIA): http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/02037xF5wc1Oe?q=Ohio

- Middle East North Africa Financial Network (yeah, a whole lot of AFRICA): http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B22cbf2cd-9aa1-4b26-be9e-c2087fb150a7%7D

me at the mall tonight with the kids

It's always interesting when I get to the mall with the kids. Within moments of walking in the door, we were almost run over by a train that randomly drives around the mall. My oldest son turned to me and asked, "Did we just become a part of a Bugs Bunny cartoon?"

Pretty good one-liner... made me laugh out loud. Here are a few of mine that popped out of me throughout the night:

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Kiosk Salesperson #1: "Excuse me, sir?" (as I'm walking along) "What phone do you use?" (she's obviously trying to get me to tell her the wrong answer because she's selling the right answer)

Me: "The one in my pocket." (I keep walking)

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Kiosk Salesperson #2: "Hey there! Didn't you guys just walk by?" (I had to double back to look for my daughter's shoe)

Me: "Yes. God is running out of extras. We're pulling a double shift for you tonight."

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Food court vendors:

#1: Free chicken on a toothpick?

#2: Free chicken on a toothpick?

#3: Free chicken on a toothpick?

#4: Free chicken sandwich on a toothpick?

#5: Free frozen yogurt sample?

Me: Sure. Sure. Sure. Sure. Sure.

By the way, this yogurt place blasts techno music mixed with 80's songs while you pick from among a couple dozen flavors that you pump out yourself. Pretty cool sample.

my son's prayer today

I just overheard my youngest son's breakfast prayer:

"Dear God, thank You that I got to stay up late last night, and thank You for this delicious-looking donut!. And please help the Murphy's to have what they need to help the children of Africa. Thanks that Joshua got to go to Eli's diner, and please help me to have a good legacy today. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

book review: muscular faith

Everybody who considers themselves "spiritual" or "somewhat religious" tries to have a good faith... not everybody trains for it.

I recently dug into the book "Muscular Faith" by Ben Patterson. It covers what a lot of us find out after we've taken hold of a genuine faith in Jesus Christ: faith is quite difficult and will challenge you from every angle. Those who spend the time developing the muscles of faith by exercising and training it on easier days will find what they need to stand up during the weighty seasons of life.

Picture Patterson like a personal trainer:
(1) Part one is him showing you where you're at and could be.
(2) Part two is him sharing with you what your workout could look like.
(3) Part three is him sharing with you the temptations and obstacles you'll face toward reaching your goal.
(4) Part four is him giving you words of encouragement for the short-term and long-term challenges of your faith journey.

Patterson does well with articulating his ideas, although it seems as if I've heard some of the concepts before in other books. It's a great read if you haven't dug into much of this kind of thinking before, but could frustrate those looking for something new.

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for the free copy of this book.

jersey shore and reading material

hakuna matata

Apparently, Timon and Pumba are real.

i will sing... sing a new song

I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.


He also brought me up
out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.


He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.

- Psalm 40:1-3, to the Chief Musician

the joy of tech

Given all the complaining happening this week with the new Facebook layout, I thought I'd post this timely cartoon for your enjoyment.

three days in denver

For three days this week I enjoyed hanging out in Denver, Colorado with the good folks at Group Publishing and Simply Youth Ministry. I kept a running log of my adventures through some strategic pictures. Here's a quick glimpse at my trip.

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DAY ONE

The phrase "LIVE ANIMALS" is never a good thing to see in the overhead bin of your airplane.

Something I don't imagine I will ever do in my life: The airport shoe shine.

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when you realize your luggage isn't lost.

I was told to bring sunglasses because Denver is bright everywhere. You be the judge... but just so you know, this is a picture of a closet inside a basement, under a mountain.

Apparently this guy used to be in the cast for Spiderman on Broadway.

Simply breathtaking landscape.

I determined not to be the first one to grab a nametag.

Free snacks - I truly enjoyed the yogurt pretzels.

Thom & Joani Shultz - two people who changed the landscape of youth ministry.

Standing behind Shane and Shane as they lead backyard worship.

Another view, behind Andy Brazelton and Jon Acuff. (pic by Tim Schmoyer)

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DAY TWO

When you wake up and have unlimited access to bacon, it's going to be a fun day.

Morning worship. Good times. Great perspective.

Box lunches? Where are we going?

Our outdoor lunch location... and a prayer walk that Rick Lawrence put together.

Rocky mountain high. Wait... oh... NOW I more clearly understand the career of John Denver.

Seriously, this food was amazing. I can't believe how well they took care of us.

Hanging out at Thom and Joani Shultz's house for some tasty desserts.

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DAY THREE

The infamous talking moose at Group Publishing.

Yes, we actually were there for a purpose... to breathe in and breathe out whatever God was sifting in us, and fold it into the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in March 2012.

There was no shortage of savory cookies.

This chair proves that creative people walk this earth. Is it a desk? Useful for disciplining kids? An art major's ottoman?

See ya, Group! Thanks for your incredible heart for God and His Church!

Security check, anyone?

Somehow I not only scored the exit row, but I was blessed to have it all to myself. Ask me sometime about the people I sat next to on the flight to Denver (it was like a Seinfeld episode). But for now, I'll end on this high note.