Alex’s new book, Making The World Human Again, is due to come out soon, and Zondervan has put out this cool video to promote the upcoming release. Check it out. I read Alex’s manuscript earlier in the year and I think the book rocks. If you want to pre-oder your copy, click here.
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Why does it always feel like summers just fly by so fast, and winters drag on and on….
Beth & I got away for an extended week of vacation last week. We hauled the camper all the way up to Copper Harbor, MI (about 10 hours). Copper Harbor is one of our favorite places. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it has one of the best restaurants we’ve ever been to (Harbor Haus), and best of all–we get no cell signal or Internet. It can be difficult to cut the cell phone umbilical cord, but after a day or so, it is very freeing.
It was also nice to spend a few days with my parents who also hauled their camper up, and our daughter Caroline, who was part of a music festival in the Upper Peninsula for that week. This was Caroline’s first visit to the UP, and we gave it our best effort to give her a good Yooper experience.
We also stayed at a campground in Mackinaw for a couple of days where we sat on a bench near the water’s edge and watched one of the nicest sunsets over the Mackinaw bridge. The week flew by very quickly, but Beth & I enjoyed getting away together.
The writer’s strike may have shelved a lot of my favorite TV shows this spring, but all is not lost. One TV show, that in my opinion hasn’t gotten a lot of press, piqued my interest when I found myself channel surfing–Eli Stone. After the first episode I was hooked. Hooked so much that i’ll go out on a limb and say Eli Stone may be the best show on TV this spring.
If you’re interested in catching Eli Stone, make sure you go back and watch it from the pilot episode.
What’s on TV that you like?
This week is considered to be a holy week for many people who embrace the way of the cross. It represents that week in history when Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time in His brief human life on this planet. Ironically, His brutal beatings would shortly follow His triumphal parade through the city gates. This week in His life was the pinnacle of His mission. Jesus, the Living God, was about to lay down His life to release the curse brought on by Adam & Eve. Human history would now revolve around this central event. His death, burial, and resurrection would become the nucleus of the Gospel message that would bring hope and healing to humanity. With this in mind, let us enter this weekend with our eyes fixed on Jesus, who was, and is, and is to come!
I’m attaching an article from Harvester’s International Missions about the current crisis in Kenya. This is having a huge impact on the entire country, and reaching all the way to the Pokot. Please pray for these heroes!
“The last month has been extremely difficult in Kenya. Accusations of vote rigging in the December 27th presidential election has spurred riots, killings and the explosion of tribal animosity between two of Kenya’s largest and most influential tribes. Mwai Kibaki, the incumbent president, is a member of the Kikuyu tribe while Raila Odinga is a member of the Luo tribe.
Kenya, a bastion of stability in east Africa, has been brought to the edge of chaos. More than 700 people have lost their lives, buildings have been burnt with people inside and bandits have snatched people out of their cars on major roads.
Fear and anger has brought life in Kenya to a halt. Food and fuel are in short supply as shipments have all but ceased due to the danger present on the roads, making the supplies that are available increasingly expensive. As the international community seeks an amicable solution to the situation, the violence continues.
The political unrest in Kenya has affected the ministry of Harvesters partners in Kenya. Thankfully, no one associated with Pokot Outreach Ministries (POM) or Grace Outreach Mission (GOM) has been hurt. We praise the Lord for this and ask for your prayers that they would remain so.
Much of the violence is occurring around the Kisumu area. GOM is located about two hours south of Kisumu and depends on supplies and communication from this area. GOM was in the process of bringing children back to the orphanage when the violence began. As a result of the situation, only ten children have returned to the home.
Food and fuel shortages have also affected POM. Located in the East and West Pokot Districts of Kenya, POM and its ministry activities have not seen increased violence in the region, but major supply routes have been extremely dangerous.
Usually very optimistic, Harvester representatives in Nairobi are beginning to sound discouraged and feel that the situation will become worse before it improves. Despite the situation, ministry activities continue with increased purpose. Pastors and evangelists continue to share the Gospel and children are ministered to and cared for. “
At my men’s group last night, I read through John 3 and we discussed the implications of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. It occurred to me that what is recorded in these 15 verses is merely the highlights of what was no doubt a lengthier conversation that perhaps went long into the night. Jesus was communicating to Nicodemus that a new kingdom had begun. Not a kingdom exclusive to any one religion, but a kingdom carried by the Spirit (wind) to all humanity. Jesus went further and described this new kingdom not only being carried by the Spirit, but also birthed by the Spirit. In other words, those who entered into this new kingdom would need to experience a spiritual rebirth. In essence, a transformation into something new, made possible by God’s divine Spirit.
I wonder if, in our effort to carry the gospel message to others, we are translating the gospel into a language all humans can understand?
I just returned from an incredible 10 day leadership & soul experience involving a 7 Day Immersion, Humana 2.08, and a World Music Jam–all under the new banner– VOXTROPOLIS.
It seemed the leadership was trying out a variety of new taglines for Voxtropolis–tossing them out into the crowd as it were–hoping to see which ones the crowd resonated with. Its unclear at this point if they have narrowed it down, so I thought I would help by throwing out the top contenders. Choose the one you think works best:
a) Making Humanity A Better Place
b) Making Humanity A Sandwich
c) Heroes Wanted: Assimilation Is Futile
d) Unzipping A Better Sandwich For Humanity’s Future
I don’t know….they all sound good to me. What do you think?
Sitting at the Orlando airport with a delayed and overbooked flight. In spite of an offer for a $300 flight voucher and another night in a hotel here, I want to go home. Beth is flying out for CA tomorrow and I’d like to see her before she leaves. Hopefully they won’t call my name…
The IMN 7 Day Immersion, Humana 2.08, and the Voxtropolis World Music Jam are now over. Everyone is now heading back to their parts of the world after a convergence few will forget. The last 10 days were amazing! Typical for me after experiences like this will be days of internal processing. I’m thankful for a faith community who values these kinds of missional experiences for me. Though I’m leaving sunny 80 degree weather and heading to below zero weather, I long to be with the people committed with me to living out this mission of making the world a better place.
This week I was sharing with someone what The Journey is about, and I used the phrase we identify ourselves by, “a community of faith, hope, and love.” Not that this phrase is exclusive to us—we borrowed it from a 1st century group of Jesus-followers living in the city of Thessalonica. But, it’s our ideal. We strive to be this kind of community. Sometimes I wonder, however, if I truly grasp the full power of these 3 words—faith, hope, love. I’ve prayed with several families this week who are really struggling through life right now. I encourage them to have hope in God, to put their faith in Him, and hopefully, they’ll sense my words and encouragement are born out of love. But, when the world seems heavy on your shoulders, it can be difficult to embrace these values. I know because I’ve been there myself. For these moments, I believe God ministers to us in special ways if we are open to listening. I was reading these scriptures the other day, and they ministered to me. Perhaps God will minister through them to you as well.
Isaiah 40
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
I’m challenging myself and my faith community to read through the Bible in 2008. Here’s a great online link that not only gives you the daily reading schedule, but also gives you the option of choosing from a variety of modern translations to read from in a click of the mouse.
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/index.html?version=51
Anyone up for the challenge?
The arctic blast that blew through Michigan this past weekend kept many people indoors, but it wasn’t enough to keep a few barbarians from invading a local nursing home with God’s love and hope.
Bearing Christmas gifts and delicious goodies, the Journey celebrated Christmas with some very special residents at the Clarkston Specialty Center on Saturday.
What I love the most about our little faith community is how we’ve embraced the missional heartbeat of God both locally and around the globe. Other missional adventures in the works include trekking down to Mississippi in January to build the first Heavenly Home house, another summer trip to Mississippi to continue rebuilding efforts, a fall medical trip to Kenya, and a variety of local opportunities to get involved in.
OK, someone said this one’s been around, but i never saw it until today. i don’t get choked up too easily, but this one got me… Who said there’s no such thing as a hero? Take a look.
I’ve been thinking about Kenya today. Most days, i take time to pray for pastor Samson (our church planter in Kapilakin), his family, the people (especially the children) of Kapilakin, and i also pray for Julius Murgor. These are people i feel very connected to even though the ocean divides us. Ed Hirshman called me a few days ago, and we spoke about the progress of the well we’re digging in Kapilakin. He said the engine on the drilling rig cracked a head, and they were taking the parts into town to get fixed. Now, here in the US, taking parts into town to get fixed is an afternoon project. There in the Pokot region, it may be a 6 month project if the parts can be fixed at all. This old drilling rig is past its prime. The ministry is looking at ways to get a new rig, but there are many challenges.
The other night i watched the movie Sahara, and i was struck by one of the lines in the movie. “After all, this is Africa. No one cares about Africa.” Perhaps to some this may seem true, but there are those who do care.
My hope is to return to Kenya in 2008, but funds are going to be a challenge. Its good that my God loves challenges.
Beth walks in last night and says, “so anything exciting happen today?” Anything exciting??…on a Monday??
I typically take Monday’s off, and after a busy week that escalates into a busier weekend–i often find myself crashing on Mondays. Lately, I’ve tried to manage my crashes with some much needed yard work. Yesterday, I kept myself pretty busy with all of that. Not very exciting stuff really….
…but something pretty exciting did happen yesterday. Around dinner time, one of the high school students at The Journey called me and wanted to see if i had some time to meet him after school today. Seems he’s been studying the Bible more and has some questions.
I’ll take that!
I”ve been meditating recently on the act of trusting God. Why is faith such a difficult thing for us? I can relate so well to the Scriptures where Paul confesses his struggle with old nature vs. the new nature—desiring to follow and trust God while at the same time being sucked into the world’s grasp of following and trusting in yourself. This is the cosmic battle of the universe. We are not yet fully transformed, but we have in our relationship with Jesus the taste of what that full transformation will be. We are in process…or what I like to refer to as “being on a journey.” Our journey takes us along bumpy roads at times, and its during those times when our faith is put to the test. I’m feeling the pressure of that part of the journey right now. I wake up every morning uttering the words, “God, I want to trust you today. Lead me on that journey.” But acting on those words is the challenge. I’m encouraged, however, that I am not alone on this journey. I am fortunate to belong to a faith community who lock arms during the challenging times. I was moved to tears this past Sunday night as I watched people kneeling next to their seats in prayer, writing their commitments on the art paper, and passing hugs around the room. We are most definitely a band of brothers & sisters, and we walk together on this road of faith. May God increase our faith in Him as we journey together!
Well, I’m home now, but my mind continues to wonder back to Montana, where the mountains loom majestic next to the rushing waters of the famous Madison river. If you’re into fly fishing, this place is one step away from heaven.
I landed this 17″ Rainbow after nearly a 20 minute fight. Just when I thought he was tired out, he jumped straight up out of the water, did two complete summersaults, and took off like a race horse again into the deep waters. AMAZING! And, in case you’re wondering, just after this photo, I let this guy swim away in hopes of adding a smile to another lucky angler someday.
I enjoyed my trip on many levels. Of course, experiencing this with my dad was incredible. But, I also needed to get away and clear my head. I enjoyed many conversations with God–who in my mind is right at home in a pair of waders, casting a #12 Adams, and causing a trout to rise.
My dad & I have enjoyed hunting and fishing trips together since I was 12 ( and legal to hunt), but I can’t remember a trip I’ve looked forward to as much as this trip to Montana. We planned this trip a year ago, and I thought it would never arrive. We left Sunday and drove for nearly 1000 miles before we stopped to sleep for a few hours, then pressed on until we arrived in Big Timber, MT. Some friends of Beth’s bought a fly fishing RV camp a year ago, and it is absolutely beautiful. Our site is right on the Boulder River. As i’m writing this, dad & I are sitting next to our campfire listening to the sounds of rushing water. We caught our first Rainbows this afternoon, and cooked them up for dinner (Yummy!!)
We head to Yellowstone tomorrow morning. Can’t wait…
50+ people from The Journey loaded a bus, and/or flew or drove Sunday & Monday to Lakeshore, MS to aid in the continuing relief from Katrina. For those of you who are following our adventure, we arrived and we’re having a great time serving the good people of this community.
The weather is hot and humid, but the Journey team is hanging tough! I’m proud to be a part of this great missional bunch.
More later.
On Sunday, over 50 people will load a bus and make the 16+ hours ride to Lakeshore, Mississippi, where we will partner with our friends from Lakeshore Baptist Church in rebuilding Lakeshore after the devastation of Katrina. Beth put this video together to encourage people from The Journey to go with us. At the time, I thought if we had 20 people commit to the trip I’d be happy.  My faith was so small. What a blast its going to be to head down with 50 of my great friends to serve a group of people we’ve never met.
This morning, Beth & I sat on our deck, sipped on coffee, and chatted about many things–one of which was about how to change the world. (Yes, this is often casual conversation around the Harris homestead). We spoke of various people who are trying to change the culture, and made commentary on their methods and approaches. During the conversation, I realized that many who are trying to change the world are doing so because they are FANATICS, while others are doing so because they are LOVERS.
What’s the difference?
Fanatics are passionate, zealous, believers, and fully committed people.
Lovers are passionate, zealous, believers, and fully committed people.
The defining difference between the two is how each gives room to hatred.
Fanaticism gives you the right to hate anyone that is opposed to your cause.
Love never justifies the right to hate–regardless of the opposition to your cause.
This world throughout history has seen more than its share of fanatics. Those, who in the name of their religion, or there political beliefs, or their passion–zealously crusade to change the world. However, the kind of change they bring always leaves destroyed or damaged lives in their wake. What this world really needs is more people who are fueled by genuine and passionate love, who can bring the kind of change that never justifies hatred or destroyed lives in the wake of change.
This is Kristen.  On Friday night, our youngest daughter marched across the stage to receive her high school diploma and emerged on the other side an official adult. As i watched her walk across the stage, images flashed in my mind of a little girl with more energy than any of us knew what to do with. Kristen always has had the ability to make us laugh–even when we were trying to be serious. She is full of life and love. She cares deeply about people, and is tuned in to what other people are feeling. I couldn’t be more proud of the young woman she is becoming! And i can’t wait to see the woman she becomes! She heas off to Oakland University in the fall to begin her studies toward being a Teacher.
Congratulations Kristen Marie! (now…go get a job!!! …. just kidding…. but… seriously… get a job.)
I’ve been thinking more and more lately about the Gospel. Did Jesus die and rise from the grave just so people could go to heaven when they die? Or, did His death and resurrection mean more? Did Jesus suffer the cross just so people could sin a little less than what they did before they started going to church? Or, was His suffering meant for something more?ÂÂ
Do average people without God in their lives look all that different from people who go to church today? Do these people without God look in on us as we go to church and think to themselvesâ€â€?“there’s really nothing compelling to make me want to go to churchâ€??ÂÂ
These are questions I’ve been wrestling with lately as I ponder my own life. I’m discovering more and more that Jesus died and rose from the grave to give us something far greater than just the ability to sin a little less than the next guy. I’m discovering that what Jesus died to give us is the power to change the worldâ€â€?to make the world a better placeâ€â€?to be salt and light wherever we walk on this planet.ÂÂ
Is this the journey you are on?
I’m on a new quest, prompted by two statements Jesus made: “Love your neighbor,” and “You are the light of the world.”
i’ve read thru the Bible many times in my lifetime, and for the most part thought i was doing a pretty good job of following the way of Jesus. But three years ago i did something that has changed my life forever–i went to Africa. For the first time in my 40+ years of living, i saw with my own eyes a level of poverty and human need that shattered my heart into pieces. For a brief period of time, i traveled and lived with the Pokot people, a nomadic tribe who live in the barren northwest border of Kenya. In the last five years, these people have experienced a severe drought that experts compare to the drought in Ethiopia in the 1970’s. Experiencing less than 3 inches of rainfall has resulted in over a million people suffering from disease, hunger, and human suffering.
After this experience, i read these words of Jesus with different eyes. I discovered how small this world really is, and questions began to burned into my soul–who is my neighbor?–what would it look like to love my Pokot neighbors?–Does the way i live my life, and the things i do provide LIGHT to the world i live in?
In the spring of 2006, God spoke to me one morning as i was praying and said, “Go back to Kenya, and I will show you a village. In that village, i want you to dig a well which will provide physical water that will lead those who drink it to my living water for their souls. Like Abraham, i was led to step out in faith to let God’s spirit lead me through an unfamiliar land, believing He would show me the way. In October, 2006, i journeyed back to Kenya on this quest, and God made good on his promise.
After traveling hundreds of miles through what i can only describe as pages out of National Geographic, one of the villages we stopped in was known as Kapilakin. Immediately i knew in my spirit this was the village where God wanted me to dig the well. I will post more about this village and how i was specifically led there, and about two very inspirational men i met at another time.
I returned home on a mission to raise the necessary $20,000 (yes, an expensive rascal, but if you saw this land you’d realize how inexpensive this really is). I had no idea where the funds would come from, i just knew i was suppose to do it.
Since November, i’ve shared this story with as many people who would listen, and little by little…as of last weekend… all $20,000 has now been raised!
I woke up this morning to a thought that makes me dance and cry at the same time–by the end of June, this new well should be in and pumping fresh clean water to approx 1000-1500 people…my neighbors. In my prayers this morning, i asked for the hope that a glimmer of light will radiate from this personal quest.
*Personal note of gratitude: There are many people who i want to thank for partnering with me in this quest. I want to thank my wife and best friend Beth, who has always believed in me. My daughters, Caroline & Kristen, whom i long to leave a legacy worthy of imitating. My good friend Dean Sharp, who has embraced this dream with me, and helped me come up with the new name for the organization–”Jirani” (which is Swahili for “neighbor”). My friend and mentor Alex McManus, who continuously inspires me to become the man God has called me to become. The leadership team, and people at The Journey, who have embraced this dream with me. Most of all, i want to thank Jesus for believing in me and transforming my heart to want to make a difference in this world. All that i am and ever hope to become is because He chose to love me.
i changed my flight home from LA so that i could take in the premiere showing of Spider Man 3 in Hollywood last week. The spider “buzz” was thick as LA LA land prepared to celebrate at the opening of this movie at midnight.
My thoughts after seeing it: Two Thumbs Up! (Even though a few of the people i saw it with thought it was just OK… movie snobs….). Look, its a comic book fictional story. Things blow up, people get chased, the bad guys get caught, and the girl gets kissed. What more do you want from a story like this? Maybe i’m easy to please, but i liked it, and will see it again. The special affects are probably some of the best i’ve ever seen, and its a fun time. Seeing it on opening night in Hollywood made it even more special for me.
The tragic events on the campus of Virginia Tech have once again left a bruise on our nation. Yet as hearts hung low at a somber memorial service yesterday, one woman’s carefully crafted and passionately delivered words offered hope with a power that lifted everyone to their feet in a standing ovation.
Read more about Nikki Giovanni here.
Having a great time in Aspen. This picture is at the peak (11,000 ft) of Snowmass. The weather has been fabulous, sunny and in the 40’s-50’s.  Today, the men (Matt, Craig, Bob & me) decided to give our legs a rest and went into the city of Aspen for the day. After lunch, we found a cigar shop, and smoked cigars at the base of Aspen Mountain. Nice day. The boys (Billy & Jeremy) decided to board again today–younger bodies with more energy. Tomorrow we all hit the slopes again hard. It’s supposed to be the nicest day yet.
The last couple of weeks I’ve been dug in heavy at The Journey. Lots going on. New people checking us out every week. Ryan & I met John Gnotek for coffee today. John & his family are 4th time returnees at our weekend gatherings, and they’re digging it. I’m meeting so many new people lately, I’m having a hard time remembering the names. Fun times.
I finally broke down and bought an Avalanche. Yep. I’ve wanted one for years. I’ve been driving my daughter’s car for the last couple of months, but she’s coming home from college in a few weeks (don’t worry Caroline, I’ll have your car clean and spiffy), so I needed to find me a set of wheels. Got a great deal on a 2003. Only problem is, I’m still waiting to drive it. Waiting for the title to clear, and the Secretary of State is having no compassion. It’s going to be great though, and Beth & I are already planning our next camping trip to take it on.
Saturday the BOYZ head to Colorado for a week of skiing at Vail. Can’t wait. This year, we’ve added Bob Bosquez and Craig Collins to the group. Craig’s been hitting the gym hard and heavy because he’s getting so old, he knows he’s going to have a hard time keeping up with me….. Maybe i better hit the bike again the next few days….
Tim finishes up our series on Essence this Sunday, with a message on Hope. Should be great. Tim always does an awesome job.
The last two days have been near 80 here! It feels like summer, and i’m not complaining. Feels great–hope it’s here to stay.
Today at 12:30 p.m. we will bury my gramma, who in her 89 years on this earth, experienced a life I can only hope to live. She was progressive before the word became popular. She fought for the rights of people and social injustice before it was hip, and when you were criticized for doing so. She defended and protected the environment before it became marketable. And she courageously followed Jesus all her days.
I will miss her. She has always been an inspiration to me, and has marked my life in ways I’m still discovering.
Beth wrote an incredible tribute, which I’ve included below:
I Wish You Would Have Known Her When
I don’t know how many times Mike’s family has made that statement about his grandmother, Evelyn Harris. When I met her, she was a different lady. Her mind wasn’t as sharp as it had been. She was almost 70 then. But it didn’t take long to know a lot about her.
Evelyn Harris was a strong woman. She fiercely loved her family - sisters, cousins, husband, children, grandchildren - all were welcomed in her home and felt wrapped in her love. Holidays were not holidays unless time was spent at her house. Even on a limited income, she made sure there was something for people to enjoy, often sacrificing her own needs. But her family took care of her.
When I met her, I felt a bit like an outsider. The family bond was so strong, that it seemed impossible to be an active part of the gatherings. I watched as she asked questions and paid attention to every one of her family. She had cards, pictures, and mementos of their lives all over her house. Grandma Harris was a professional photographer, so there were pictures everywhere.
It didn’t take long to be included, and I fondly recall how she would always call me Elizabeth, never Beth
I know it was hard for her family to watch her slowly slip away from them. Even though she was still living, her memories of her family were distant, and she often didn’t recognize people as they came to visit her. Seeing her like this, knowing she was once a vibrant, active woman who mowed her own lawn well into her 70’s and drove the hippest of cars, was difficult for me, and I hadn’t shared a lifetime with her.
There is more I could say about Evelyn, but I’ll stop by saying this. I didn’t have to know her “when” to know that she was a wonderful woman. All I had to do was listen to the stories, look at the loving way she recorded every moment of her family’s journey, and see the love that surrounded her at every gathering to know that she was special. I know her through all of her family, and I know that as much as she loved each of them, she was loved in return.
She will be missed.
Jay Cost (Yahoo News) offers the following critical response to last night’s Discovery Channel special on The Jesus Family Tomb:
In 1980 an ancient tomb was found in Talpiot, a Jerusalem neighborhood. It contained 10 ossuaries (bone boxes) dated roughly to the time of Jesus of Nazareth. One was inscribed “Jesus son of Joseph,” two were inscribed with slightly different versions of “Mary,” one with a slightly different version of “Joseph,” one with “Matthew,” and one with “Judah son of Jesus.” Four bore no inscriptions and which went missing. Last night , Simcha Jacobovici, Charles Pellegrino, and James Cameron presented a Discovery Channel documentary that argues that this tomb belongs to Jesus of Nazareth (henceforth just Jesus), whom Christians believe is the resurrected Son of God.
The documentarians’ claim is not valid. The Cameron-sponsored Jesus Family Tomb proffers a specious claim based upon bad theory, bad statistics, and bad history. A careful examination of their evidence demands that their claim be rejected.
Read more of Jay’s article HERE.
Also– go to BenWitherington’s blog for his response.ÂÂ
Not long on the tails of The Davinci Code, comes another story that mixes fact and fiction, and has a hard time getting the facts accurate. James Cameron recently announced that he has found the tomb that housed Jesus, along with Mary, and other family members, and plans to prove it by testing the DNA. I came across a great blog article by Ben Witherington in response:
(This picture of the Talpiot tomb courtesy of the Discovery Channel via the Toronto Star article).
THE JESUS TOMB? ‘TITANIC’ TALPIOT TOMB THEORY SUNK FROM THE START
Remember the tale of the Titanic? How it was supposed to be impregnable, and nothing could poke holes in it? How it would never be sunk? Well all I can say is that human hubris knows no bounds, and that hasn’t changed in the last century. On April 15th 1912 the supposedly leak proof Titanic rammed into an iceberg and sank�sank like a giant stone. Sank quickly, with great loss of life.
Why do I bring this up? Because in one of the interesting ironies in recent memory, James Cameron the movie director who made the enormously successful film “Titanic�, on the night after the Oscars, will give an Oscar winning performance at a news conference along with Simcha Jacobovici who have now produced a Discovery Channel special on the discovery of Jesus’ tomb, ossuary, bones, and that of his mother, brothers, wife, and his child Jude as well! Who knew! The show will air on March 4th. In addition we are now regaled with a book by Simcha and Charles Pellegrino entitled The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History just released today by Harper-Collins timed to co-ordinate with their news conference and the Discovery Channel special. Why should we be skeptical about this entire enterprise?
First of all, I have worked with Simcha. He is a practicing Jew, indeed he is an orthodox Jew so far as I can tell. He was the producer of the Discovery Channel special on the James ossuary which I was involved with. He is a good film maker, and he knows a good sensational story when he sees one. This is such a story. Unfortunately it is a story full of holes, conjectures, and problems. It will make good TV and involves a bad critical reading of history. Basically this is old news with a new interpretation. We have known about this tomb since it was discovered in 1980. There are all sorts of reasons to see this as much ado about nothing much:
1) The statistical analysis is of course only as good as the numbers that were provided to the statistician. He couldn’t run numbers he did not have. And when you try to run numbers on a combination name such as ‘Jesus son of Joseph’ you decrease the statistical sample dramatically. In fact, in the case of ‘Jesus son of Joseph’ you decrease it to a statistically insignificant number! Furthermore, so far as we can tell, the earliest followers of Jesus never called Jesus ‘son of Joseph’. It was outsiders who mistakenly called him that! Would the family members such as James who remained in Jerusalem really put that name on Jesus’ tomb when they knew otherwise? This is highly improbable. My friend Richard Bauckham provides me with the following statistics:
Out of a total number of 2625 males, these are the figures for the ten most popular male names among Palestinioan Jews. the first figure is the total number of occurrences (from this number, with 2625 as the total for all names, you could calculate percentages), while the second is the number of occurrences specifically on ossuraies.
1 Simon/Simeon 243 59
2 Joseph 218 45
3 Eleazar 166 29
4 Judah 164 44
5 John/Yohanan 122 25
6 Jesus 99 22
7 Hananiah 82 18
8 Jonathan 71 14
9 Matthew 62 17
10 Manaen/Menahem 42 4
For women, we have a total of 328 occurrences (women’s names are much less often recorded than men’s), and figures for the 4 most popular names are thus:
Mary/Mariamne 70 42
Salome 58 41
Shelamzion 24 19
Martha 20 17
You can see at once that all the names you’re interested were extremely popular. 21% of Jewish women were called Mariamne (Mary). The chances of the people in the ossuaries being the Jesus and Mary Magdalene of the New Testament must be very small indeed.
By the way, ‘Mara’ in this context does not mean Master. It is an abbreviated form of Martha. probably the ossuary contained two women called Mary and Martha (Mariamne and Mara).
There are so many flaws in the analysis of the statistics themselves, that one must assume the statistician did not have the right or sufficient data to work with.
2) there is no independent DNA control sample to compare to what was garnered from the bones in this tomb. By this I mean that the most the DNA evidence can show is that several of these folks are inter-related. Big deal. We would need an independent control sample from some member of Jesus’ family to confirm that these were members of Jesus’ family. We do not have that at all. In addition mitacondrial DNA does not reveal genetic coding or XY chromosome make up anyway. They would need nuclear DNA for that in any case. So the DNA stuff is probably thrown in to make this look more like a real scientific fact. Not so much.
(Click HERE for more of Ben’s article)
For those who gathered with us in Orlando for Humana 2.0, we would love to hear some of your “Take Aways” from the event. Please respond below.
Today, at 9:00 a.m. (EST) a ripple in the time / space continuum occurred as futurist leaders gathered at what is already becoming “the experience” that will redefine leadership conferences.
The buzz has begun…
The future is here…
Everything has changed…
Day 4 of the7 DayImmersion brought us Brian Russell, Professor at Asbury Seminary, who led the cohort in a discussion on a missiological reading of the Bible. I heard Brian give this talk last year, and thought it was outstanding then. It was even better the second time around. Thanks Brian. You can read more of Brian’s thoughts here.
Alex finished out the day leading us in discussing the synchronization effect of the gospel in culture specifically focusing on micro practices. Great stuff.
Today, Gerardo Marti spends the day with us leading us in a discussion on Leadership and Social Change. Should be awesome.
Tomorrow, Humana 2.0 kicks off. Still time to register.
Quote of the day: “People are hired based on credentials, but fired based on character.” (Greg Borchert, 1st Year IMN member)
Me… i’m doing laundry this morning…
One of our traditions at the 7 Day IMN Immersion is to take the gang out to a Churrascaria, which if you haven’t ever been is a meat eaters paradise. Last night, we took everyone to a chain we hadn’t been to yet called Texas De Brazil. The one in Orlando is located right in the middle of the tourist area, and on a Saturday night in February, we had about an hour and a half wait–but let me tell you, it was worth every minute. Having been to several of these types of restaurants, I’ve always enjoyed the experience, but Texas De Brazil took my experience to a whole new level. It was by far the best Churrascaria I’ve ever been to. The food, atmosphere, and service was excellent, actually beyond excellent. At most of these, the meats they bring out are all good, and maybe one will be superb. At Texas De Brazil, every piece of meat they brought out last night was one of the best I’ve ever eaten. What a great night!
Today, Joe Dworak joins the IMN to take us through Strengths training.
Octavio flies in today.
Ryan flies in tonight.
Tonight we will be taking the gang on an experiential outing.
Back home, The Journey launches a new series which is going to rock!
More later.
We’re now two days into the 7 Day IMN Immersion. We’ve survived the tornadoes and storms, and i wish i brought more warm clothes… Alex is in his zone like i’ve never seen him before. Great stuff. Sam Radford is sick. I think it might have been the Indian food last night…
My favorite statement of the day:
“Given the way the world is, its not enough for me to be something–i have to do something. And what i do needs to flow out of what i’m becoming, as I’m being influenced by the mission of God in the universe.”
more to come…
Making final prep here in Orlando for the 7 DayIMN Immersion and Humana 2.0. My great buddies Alex, Dean, and new cohort member David Bart are all here, and we’re working our tails off getting ready. The new cohort members will be arriving throughout the day today, and tomorrow morning at 9:00 it all kicks into high gear!
We almost had a minor emergency last night though. Dean, David & I (after a long and stressful day) decided to soak in the hot tub out by the pool. Well, evidently they had just treated it (and they must’ve dumped a months worth of chlorine in). Before we knew it, our eyes were burning, we could barely breathe, David was growing even whiter, and we were all about to cough our cookies… but we stayed in… because we’re superheroes… and men… and I’ll just stop there…
Sending out props to my baby in Vegas! Hope you’re having a great time hun. Wish you were here.
Still time to register for the hottest conference experience in 2007! Click here for more info.
2006 was a long and challenging year for The Journey as we searched for a stable location from which to operate our ministry. I personally want to thank you for all your prayers and encouragement to stay committed to the vision God has given us. I’m excited to announce that in November, we located a remarkable building and began an extensive build-out to make it our new home. Last Sunday, we met in our new location for the first time, and it was amazing!
I would like to invite you to a special Grand Opening Celebration worship experience we are throwing this Sunday, January 28th, at 11:00 a.m. I am inviting everyone who has ever attended or prayed for The Journey to join me in thanking and praising God for His matchless provision and leadership. Will you come? I would love to see you and worship with you at this special occasion!
The address to our new gathering location is 1400 E. Davisburg Road, Holly, MI 48442. You can also go to our website for a map. Plan to arrive a few minutes early as we are anticipating a full crowd.
Thank you again, and I hope to see you this Sunday.
What am i so excited about? If you’re part of The Journey, you might think I’m referring to moving into our new gathering location next week, and you’d be mostly right. If you’re part of the IMN cohort, you might think I’m referring to the 7 Day Immersion and Humana Conference that happens in a few days, and you’d be mostly right.
But, what am I really excited about?
The 2 night 4 hour season premiere of the greatest show TV has produced! No, I’m not talking about “Touched By An Angel.” (please no). I’m talking about 24! That’s right– Jack is back, and season 6 rolls out Sunday and Monday night. Get ready to buckle your seatbelts once again, as Fox takes us on one of the most unpredictable adventures in TV broadcasting!
Response to Sunday Night’s Premiere: I have yet to be blown away by 24’s season premiere, and last night was no exception. SO much has happened in 2 years. Wow! I won’t give things away to those who haven’t seen it yet (Niza), but VERY GOOD TV! Can’t wait for tonight.
Response to Monday Night’s Premiere: The creators of this show are brilliant! They dance on the edge of fantasy and reality, and weave together a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The surprises they threw at us on Monday were breathtaking! (That’s all I’ll say Niza..) Jack Bauer is one of the coolest pop culture icons to emerge within the last decade. He’s a man’s man who selflessly serves the good of humanity. I read one of the coolest quotes about Jack recently (sorry i can’t remember where or I’d give credit):
“Jack Bauer is so cool, Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.”
Heroes register HERE. Safe return doubtful…
Let me tell you a story of the person you were meant to become.
The story begins with the original ancestor of your tribe. He was given the special gift of the glory of God upon him. He was perfect and righteous in every way�a man fully alive! His spouse was the same. They were good�through and through.
Then, one day, they were beguiled by a slithery snake. They were told they could TRADE their glory for knowledge that would give them the ability to be equal (maybe even replace) the God of glory. The magical enchantment this snake possessed was convincing and they conceded to the trade.
But they were deceived.
The snake took their glory and the full life that came with it, and in his deceit led their empty broken hearts away to be imprisoned by the lies he would continue to deceive them by. And one by one, every descendent of this original tribesman, has been led down the same slithery path of lies. Every heart, locked away from the glory of God.
That fatal day, God’s heart broke. The fate of this tribe was doomed. Or so it would appear. Something would need to be done to break this wicked spell, this curse from the pits of darkness.
And then, it happened. In the fullness of time, it happened. God’s glory was born into this world through a Second Tribesman. Through the first tribesman, sin and the removal of God’s glory came upon the tribe. But through the Second Tribesman, the tribe would be reconciled once again to God. Yet not without a cost. To secure this noble reclamation, the Second Tribesman would need to lay down his life in exchange for the slithery curse to be broken. The sinless Second Tribesman would die.
In this exchange, the Second Tribesman would descend into the depths of the imprisoning place to rescue and set free the hearts that had been held captive for so long. But, a discovery was to be made. These hearts that had been deceived and held captive had long withered away, and turned to stone. How could new life enter such old decrepit withered away hearts?
With ordinary tribesmen, this is impossible, but not with the Second Tribesman for He is a Master Tribesman. He created a new enchantment to come against the old slithery enchantment of the snake. Through this new enchantment, He mystically cut away old withered hearts, and replaced them with NEW hearts. It is a mysterious process He refers to as being “born again.�
And in this rebirth, a wonderful thing happened�the hearts of the tribes-people were re-created into something new. Something GLORIOUSLY NEW! A New Creation! Old things were gone, and all things became new!
But the snake, that slithery despicable creature, would not stand by and just watch his evil magic fall to naught. In his treachery, he dreamed up another diabolical enchantment. One that would cast a veil over those whose hearts had been rescued and re-created. Another lie that would deceive the new noble tribes-people to falsely believe that their new hearts were not really good at all, but still steeped in sin and treachery. This new enchantment would once again form a prison around the hearts of God’s tribe, and bind them from the full glory and transformation that awaited them.
Hence the opening: “Let me tell you a story of the person you were meant to become�
Is it possible to cast off the veil that has so deceived us? To claim hold of our new hearts, and choose to live as the new noble tribe we were meant to be? To no longer believe the ancient lies told to our ancestors, and used to restrain the Master’s reclamation? Are we more than conquerors through our new Master Tribesman? Can we do all things through Him?
The enemy would like you to believe the negative. For if we would believe, he would surely be defeated, and this world would be a different place.
This is the person you were meant to become. A person fully alive and brimming with the glory of God. A person fully capable of accomplishing all the dreams of the heart.
If only we believed….
My family surprised me this year with one of the coolest Christmas gifts I’ve received in a long time. The all new Garmin Nuvi 360! Ok, the truth is, I’m directionally challenged. I admit it. My family teases me about it all time. And I’m at my worst when trying to navigate in a large city. Well–all that’s solved now with my new Garmin Nuvi. I just type in the address where I want to go, and voila! Nuvi guides me with visual and voice cues every step of the way. I can even choose which type of voice talks to me. Currently, I have it set with a neat Australian female voice. “Throw another shrimp on the barbie, and turn left mate.” (Ok, she didn’t actually say that, but I do love the accent)
The Nuvi 360 is packed with tons of great features. First, the size. Nuvi fits in the palm of my hand. I can even set it to walking mode, and it will direct me around town on foot. Set it to bike mode, and pedal your way around the city with confidence. I intend to get a mount for my motorcycle, which will eliminate my old habit of taping Mapquest directions to my gas tank. Nuvi comes complete with current north American road maps, but there are many other maps that are easily downloaded (for a fee). Planning a trip to Europe. No problem. Just download all of Europe’s roads. Boom–ready to go! What about a hiking trip in the Rockies? No sweat. For about $100, I can download all the US trail maps. Nuvi can even navigate out on the open waters. How cool is that?
Here’s another great feature. Say I’m in an unfamiliar city, and I need gas. There’s a menu option that allows me to find all the nearest gas stations, and it tells me how many miles each one is away. Choose one, and Nuvi leads me right to the pump. Hungry? Nuvi looks up all the restaurants in your vicinity. Click one, and my Aussie accented friend tells me how to get there. How about if I run into a traffic jam? No problem. Just tell Nuvi to create a detour route, and I’m on my way. Nuvi–where’ve you been all my life?! (Oh sorry. My wife has to keep reminding me that Nuvi is not a person)
And there’s lots more. Nuvi is an MP3 player, a photo viewer, a language translator, a currency exchanger, and since it has Bluetooth, I can even use it for hands-free calling with my Bluetooth phone. You can even download reading books to Nuvi. Have I said how much I like this thing? Thanks fam!
- An artificial Christmas tree last up to six years in a home
- In 1747, the first American mention of the Christmas tree occurred. However, it was a not a tree but instead a pyramid made out of wood and decorated with apples and evergreen boughs.
- The abbreviation Xmas for the word Christmas is of Greek origin. Since the word for Christ in the Greek language is Xristos, which starts with the letter “X,” they started putting the X in place of Christ and came up with the short form for the word Christmas.
- The biggest selling Christmas single of all time is Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”
- The famous Christmas song “Jingle Bells” was written for a Thanksgiving program in 1857 by James Pierpont. At the time, the song was called “The One-Horse Open Sleigh.”
- Ukrainian people celebrate Christmas on January 7th, which is the Orthodox Christmas Day.
- German immigrant, Louis Prang was the first to bring Christmas cards to America.
- The name Santa Claus came from Saint Nicholas who was a bishop in the town of Myra, and was known to be very nice to children.
- Franklin Pierce was the first U.S. President to have a Christmas tree in the White House
- In Italy, Santa Claus is known by the name Babbo Natale.
- In New Mexico, over eleven thousand people have visited a tortilla chip that appeared to have the face of Jesus Christ burned into it. (OK, this one doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas, but wow….) (Discover more interesting facts from www.amusingfacts.com )
As fun as random Christmas trivia can be, here’s something even better. Christmas is our time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and the good news He brought into the world. This week may feel rushed and hectic, but let’s not lose sight of the true essence of this holiday. Take the time this weekend to take a deep breath and remember the One we celebrate.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Sagebrush Cantina in downtown Lake Orion finally re-opened this month after the fire in 2004 shut down the BEST Mexican (Tex/Mex) Restaurant in North America (IMHO). I realize I’m going to offend all my Texas friends, but it won’t be the first time…nor the last I’m sure. I say its the best because when Beth & I visited Texas a few years ago, our friends took us to what they described as “the BEST Mexican restaurant in Texas.” Of course, to Texans everything in Texas is the best. I just smile and humor them. After dining at “Texas’ best,” Beth & I looked at each other and said, “not bad, but it doesn’t hold a candle to our little Sagebrush Cantina.” mmm mmm!
Last night, we decided to check out the newly remodeled Sagebrush. Being experienced “Sagebrushers,” we called ahead to put our name on the list. Only a 45 minute wait. Not bad for a Monday night. Before the fire, it was common to have 2 hour waits most every night. By the time we arrived at 5:30 p.m., the place was packed, and the wait was over an hour. (Always call ahead) The owner bought the building next door and expanded the restaurant over nicely. The place is beautiful, and we smiled as the familiar Sagebrush aromas filled our senses once again.
Beth ordered the tamale, Kristen ordered a combo platter, and I ordered the suprema Fajitas. Everything was awesome as usual, including the service. Two big thumbs up! ÂÂ
Sorry Texas, if you want the BEST, you’re going to have to drive to Lake Orion, MI.
Register before the end of the year and save!
Anyone else feeling stressed right now? What is it about the Christmas season that stress levels are off the charts? I’ve discovered I have a built in stress gauge�my back. Whenever my stress levels are up my lower back wigs out. The past two weeks I’ve been feeling it.
This morning, I decided to reflect on a passage in Scripture that has helped me deal with stress in the past.
Philippians 4:4-7, TNIV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Check out the word “guard� in the last sentence. This is a word that refers to the action of a military garrison that is stationed inside the walls of a city to forcefully guard against any attack from an enemy. So, if you think about what the Apostle Paul is driving at, he’s saying:
“Look, no matter what circumstances you’re in, either good or bad, develop the perspective and attitude of rejoicing. If life is closing in on you, if people at work are dimwits, if people cut you off on the highway, or if someone runs in front of you and grabs the last fruitcake, let your gentleness be evident to all. And stop fretting. Instead, stop and pray right there. Spend a moment or two talking to God. Because if you choose to live this way, the results are that God will flood your life with an inner sense of contentment and peace that will stand like a garrison over your heart and mind.�
Maybe you’ve never thought about it, but I believe the enemy uses stress as a weapon to rob us of the true meaning of Christmas. God, on the other hand, desires peace for our lives, and offers it to those who choose His way.
Ahhh, my back is feeling better already! How about yours?
At The Journey, we’re working through a series on the Questions of Jesus. I have to admit that this is turning out to be one of my favorite series. These questions Jesus asked are just as powerful today than they were the moment they left his lips 2000 years ago. As I’m studying these questions, I’m gaining new insights and perspective on things I hadn’t really thought much about. Jesus was definitely a master at the art of asking penetrating questions.
A few weeks ago, I needed to travel to New York over the weekend and wasn’t able to be at our weekend worship gatherings, and my wife and soulmate Beth (aka Revzwife) gave the talk in my place. She spoke on perhaps the toughest of all the questions in the series, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”
I just finished listening to her message online, and I had to write this post to say, “you have to listen to this message.” If you’ve ever questioned God’s presence, love, or promises, then you’ll be gripped by what Beth has to say. I’ve always said Beth is by far the better communicator of the two of us. She truly nailed it on this one. Way to go, babe!
Here’s the link to listen.
“Do you suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused? Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women?”
– Martin Luther
“Mmmm . . . beer.” - Homer Simpson
Historically, God’s people have greatly enjoyed alcohol. In the European world one of the most Christian drinks was beer. Saint Gall was a missionary to the Celts and renowned brewer. After Charlemagne’s reign the church because Europe’s exclusive brewer. When a young woman was to marry her church made special bridal ale for her, from which we derive our word bridal. Pastor John Calvin’s annual salary package included upwards of 250 gallons of wine to be enjoyed by he and his guests. Martin Luther explained the entire reformation as “…while I sat still and drank beer with Philip and Amsdorf, God dealt the papacy a mighty blow.� Luther’s wife Catherine was a skilled brewer and his love letters to her when they were apart lamented his inability to drink her beer. When the Puritan’s landed on Plymouth Rock the first permanent building they erected was the brewery.
As feminism grew in America during the turn of the 20th century the women’s suffrage and prohibition movements were the practical results of a feminine piety that came to also dominate the church as more women became pastors and the church became more feminine. Some denominations began to condemn alcohol as sinful and the Methodist pastor Dr. Thomas Welch created the very “Christian� Welch’s grape juice to replace communion wine in 1869. The marriage of Christianity and feminism helped to create a dry nation that put out of business all but the largest brewers who were able to survive on near beer and root beer which explains why today American beer is largely mass produced, watered down, light on calories, and feminine in comparison to rich and dark European beers. The resurgence of micro-brews is helping to overcome the great loss and resurrect the art of brewing.
Lastly, some Christians foolishly argue that such terms as new wine and mixed wine in the Bible speak of non-alcoholic wine. But, new wine can still intoxicate according to Scripture (Isaiah 24:7; Hosea 4:11; Joel 1:5), and mixed wine refers to special wines where various wines are mixed together and/or mixed with spices and does not refer to wine cut with water (Psalm 75:8; Song of Songs 8:2). God refers to pouring out the wine of His mixed wine on His enemies which does not mean He will dilute justice (Psalm 75:8). The only time such a practice is mentioned in the Bible is in regards to merchants who cut wine with to rob customers (Isaiah 1:22). The Bible speaks of grape juice (Numbers 6:3) and if God meant to speak of non-alcoholic wine he would have used that word to avoid confusion.
(HT: Mark Driscol of Mars Hill Church) Read more here.
Journey members pick up hammers, drills, and various other he-man power tools and go to work on our new gathering location on Davisburg Road. Check it out!
The biggest rivalry game of the year is about to get underway. Who will come out on top this year? (does my subliminal imaging clue you on who I’m pulling for?)
and here’s to one of the greatest coaches of all time!
We’ve been following the journey of Jackson Riley McLear, and praying for miracles. Tim, Jack’s grandpa, called me on Friday to update me, and to let me know that Jack was fading. The doctors said it would be a matter of hours. I asked Tim how I could help them through this crisis, and he asked, “Would you fly out here to NY to be with us?”
“Absolultely. I’m on my way.”
A few hours later, I had my flight reservation for early on Saturday morning. That night, around 2:00 a.m., Tim called and said Jack had passed. I flew out, took my first NY cab ride to Penn Station, and rode the train to Long Island.
As a pastor, I get called upon regularly to be with people during crises like this, but I never feel like I know what to say. I just know they want me to be with them, and in those types of moments I want to be with them too. So, we just wade through all the mess together, and try to look for bright spots.
Death is part of life. We all know this, and we learn to deal with it at some level. But when a child dies, it always feels more “sucky.” The most spiritual of people find themselves questioning God, and fighting feelings of anger. And the truth is, there are no easy answers, and I try not offer any.
Personally, I’ve been praying for little Jack for the duration of this 6 month journey he’s been on. I’ve prayed, like many, for a miracle. Yesterday morning, I was reflecting on my prayers and asking God why he didn’t provide a miracle for us. And then, it dawned on me. Maybe God did provide a miracle. Maybe we just needed the eyes to see it. Maybe Jackson was the miracle. Maybe his brief life with us was meant to teach us all something that otherwise we woudn’t have learned without him.
I don’t know. A little bright spot perhaps. Still a lot more questions than answers, and so the wading continues.
You can read more about Jack’s journey through this life and beyond here.
People are already asking me about what I think about yesterday’s election results. Here’s my .02 (for what its worth).
- did you vote? If not, don’t complain, in fact�it’d be best if you just didn’t say anything at all.
- I drove all day y