A Powerful Blessing

I recently came across this blessing that was written by Larry Hem. These words are quite compelling and might be useful as a blessing and benediction for worship services. Enjoy.

"May all your expectations be frustrated. May all your plans be thwarted. May all your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child and sing and dance in the love of God who is Father, Son and Spirit."

Let Hysterical Laughter Commence

While I do watch a decent amount of television, it is mostly in the form of sports. There are few TV shows that I watch weekly, but one that I never miss is The Office. Tomorrow night marks the beginning of season 6 and I couldn't be more excited for the insane humor that awaits. Here is a brief preview of the season premier.

The Immaculate Deflection

As a life-long, die-hard Denver Bronco fan, I was crushed to not be able to watch the Broncos first game of the season yesterday. Mandy and I are serving in music ministry at a small church about 45 minutes from our home so I could not watch any of the morning football. That means that I missed seeing the end Bronco's miraculous game. As we were blocks away from our house my friends were texting me in unbelief about the amazing catch in the video below that won the game for the Broncos.

I am well-aware that the Broncos are very lucky to leave week 1 with a victory, but that's alright because we are going to need plenty of luck this year. After a terrible offseason, the Broncos are in the midst of a rebuilding year, so I will take all the luck we can get all year long. Enjoy this video of an incredible 87 yard catch by Brandon Stokely to take the lead with 11 seconds left in the game.

The Return of Football

Thursday night marked the beginning of the NFL football season as the Pittsburgh Steelers, the reigning Superbowl champions, defeated the Tennessee Titans in overtime. The commencement of the season also brings the beginning of the fantasy football season. I have played fantasy football for the past 2 years and it has become quite an obsession for me. This year I am even playing in 2 different leagues, one with a group of guys from Sioux Falls and one with a group from Seattle. I had both drafts over the past week, so I thought I would share my teams with you. I am much more pleased with my Sioux Falls team, but that is probably for the best since we each ante up $100 to join that league.

Sioux Falls Team

Starters
QB: Carson Palmer, Bengals
RB: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
RB: Steven Jackson, Rams
WR: Reggie Wayne, Colts
WR: Marques Colston, Saints
RB/WR: Braylon Edwards, Browns
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
DST: Chicago Bears
K: Robbie Gould, Bears

Bench
QB: Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
RB: Marshawn Lynch, Bills
WR: Santana Moss, Redskins
TE: John Carlson, Seahawks
DST: Miami Dolphins
K: Josh Brown, Rams

Seattle Team

Starters
QB: Tony Romo, Cowboys
RB: Matt Forte, Bears
RB: Pierre Thomas, Saints
WR: Calvin Johnson, Lions
WR: Eddie Royal, Broncos
RB/WR: Torry Holt, Rams
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys
DST: San Diego Chargers
K: Mason Crosby, Packers

Bench
QB: Jake Delhomme, Panthers
RB: Mike Bell, Saints
RB: Jamal Lewis, Browns
RB: Derek Ward, Bucs
WR: Braylon Edwards, Browns
WR: Steve Breaston, Cardinals

The Importance of Community

My friend David Von Stroh is at an Emergent Village Conference in Chicago right now where theologian Jurgen Moltmann is the featured speaker. He has been adding quotes from Moltmann to his Facebook status all morning and I especially liked this one:

"The contrary of poverty is not property. The contrary of both poverty and property is community."

A Much Anticipated Book Release

For years I have been an avid supporter of the writer Donald Miller. He became famous for penning "Blue Like Jazz," but his other writing is just as good, if not better. His book "Searching for God Knows What" was a phenomenal read and was transformational in my life. I've been waiting for quite some time for his newest release, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years," but it is finally being release this coming week. I can't wait to once again be inspired by Miller's words and I hope you will check out his new book as well. He has made the first 30 pages of the book available prior to the release, so I thought I would include those with this post. Enjoy!

A Million Miles In A Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Approaching Theology with Humility

As I was reading Augustine's words on the doctrine of the Trinity this evening for my Theology I class, I was once again reminded of the necessity of a humble spirit when attempting to speak about God.

For if you have been able to fully comprehend what you would say, it is not God. If you have been able to comprehend it, you have comprehended something else instead of God. If you have been able to comprehend him as you think, by so thinking you have deceived yourself. ~Augustine of Hippo

We must continue to speak about God and strive to understand who God is, but we must do so with great humility, treading lightly as we embark on such a daunting task. As Peter Rollins says, we worship an 'un/known God.' While there are plenty of things that we can come to know about God, we must always realize that when we attempt to explain and describe the God of Creation, the ruler of the universe, with our feeble, human language, we will always come far short of capturing God's true essence.

An Epic Rob Bell Pic

Rob Bell twittered this picture of himself recently. I would guess he is in middle school or early high school at this point. Its hard to believe that this boy will grow up to be my hero. Hard to believe this boy will one day inspire and encourage and challenge thousands with the strong, beautiful, compelling message of Jesus. Its hard to believe they would actually require kids to wear those shorts. Wow!

HT: Rob Bell's Twitter

Fairly Accurate...Unfortunately

HT: Clint Walker

What is Truth?

My friend Matt has been quoting these words to me for the last few weeks, so I thought I would share them with you. They really are intriguing and challenging thoughts to those who seek truth, and more importantly, seek to follow the 'Truth.'

Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself.
~Iraneus (I think)

HT: Matt Allen