Our Country Renewed

There has been a lot of talk concerning change from both political camps. Some are saying "yes we can" and looking positively toward the possible changes that might be coming our way and some are saying "no way Jose" and are fearful of those same changes.

During my study for next week's ONE80 message I came across this passage in Isaiah 58 that struck a chord in my heart. It describes a people who have been fasting for God to move, people who have been praying for what is "right" and for God to bring good decisions. Then when the day comes people feel as if God has not noticed; that during that prayer and fasting they were not showing love or seeking justice and compassion.

And then God says, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" (vv. 6-7)

Then God tells us the results of this kind of fast, a fast of action, of love for the poor and of compassion. "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." (vv. 8-12)

That we would be a people who don't just pray and politic but act in love and compassion. That we would care more about the love and compassion we are showing than being "right" and forcing others into our view of "right" instead being the people God has called us to be. Then our light will rise in the darkness, then our needs will be satisfied in a sun-scorched land and we will be like a well-watered garden. Not through principle, not through words, or showing people they are wrong, but by showing them what is right and what is good. And this is what God says is good, "To act JUSTLY, to LOVE MERCY and to WALK HUMBLY with your God."

Have we been living out this kind of fast? Have we been doing what is truly good?

California Election Results

For all of us in California

Election Results

Just because I'll be following them all day I figured I'd add this in case you were too.

Halloween Day O' Fun!

Here are a few pictures of Peyton at our churches Harvest Festival.



The Festival entry was this huge pumpkin that you could walk through that lead into a corn maze inside. Peyton was a little scared of the maze. There was the cutest little petting zoo that Peyton must have gone in at least 10 times.

They had Trunk or Treating where members of the church decorated the trunks of their cars and the kids went from car to car to get candy. Peyton learned to say "Trick or Treat" and went to every car at least twice.She got her face painted...
Of course her favorite candy was the lollie Pop. After her third one of the night I had to take it away from her and lets just say Peyton did not appreciate this. She threw a huge tantrum the whole time yelling "but trick or treat...but trick or treat!"
Peyton with buddy Caleb dressed like a Pirate. Petyon got to ride a pony. She loved it and was saying "1..2...3..Go!" the whole time. When we got home she tried to ride one of her fisher price horses.
Peyton with pastor Ed. They are buddies!
The night ended with a hay ride through the neighborhood. unfortunately it started pouring rain while we were on the ride and we got soaked. All and all the night was a huge success. Here is a video of Peyton dancing and enjoying her lollipop.

Harvest Festivals Renewed

I have often made fun of harvest festivals in the past. I saw them as a typical Christian enclave event birthed out of fear of the world instead of engaging it. It always reminds me of the Air1 motto that bugs me so much every time I hear it, "safe for the whole family." I also made fun of the name because who besides Christians talks about harvests on October 31 (which I still think is a highly outdated name especially in an urban city in California).
All that said, I took part in my first harvest festival this Friday night and had a blast. A good number of people were there from the community that may or may not have been followers of Jesus. It was a good time to party. I got to connect with a number my student's families who do not all come on Sunday morning but were willing to come to this event. Most of the neighbors that I talked to thought that it was great we doing it for the community. Because so many of our people were working the festival, it wasn't really for "our" families who wanted an "alternative" for Halloween, but was truly a community outreach event. All that besides being freezing cold and raining during clean-up made it a great night and my view of church harvest festival renewed...slightly.
p.s. i hope to post some pics soon.

Barack better for choice for pro-life???

I ran across this article by Brian McLaren concerning why he feels that Barack Obama's policies concerning abortion are a better option for Christian pro-lifers than the traditional arguments given to support the Republican Party and "overturning" abortion. It is part of a 5 part post on why he has chosen to vote for Barack Obama. I share it, not to persuade anyone one way or the other, or even because I agree with it all (particularly post 2 which seems to be based on a few presuppositions and and false presises) but more out of my love for sincere dissenting opinions especially among Christians on political and social issues.