"Getting Away From It All" in the Great White North

Memorial Day Weekend 2005

As many Americans do, my Memorial Day Weekend celebration this year consisted of a personal time of reflection and gratitude for those who paid the ultimate price for the freedom that I enjoy. Then, I enjoyed that freedom by "getting away from it all"!

This year I joined some friends at St. Croix State Park, which is about 1.5 hours North of the Twin Cities for a few days of "primitive camping".

Some of you that know me are either laughing uncontrollably or you're wondering if I have a twin that enjoys camping 'cause ya know I don't...' Well, as they say, "sometimes you can teach an old dog a new trick".

My camp mates were Matt Henry, Adam Walker, and Tim Watkins from my church. As usual, we represented a very "diverse group" in life experiences, age, religious and political beliefs, and camping skill levels. Guess who the newbie was? Amazingly, our backgrounds led to some great conversations as we hiked, fished, cooked, ate like hogs, and struggled to make our REI camping equipment work the way it was supposed to. Maggie also got to use her outdoor survival training and superior sense of smell to get into everything imaginable. It must be a gift...

These are some of the learnings from the weekend for me:

• Ticks are vicious and have a death wish for YOUR blood supply. You can only win a war when you recognize that you are in one. This is a war!
• Mosquito's are here early this year. The rumors are true!
• Everything taste better swimming in grease on the grill.
• Matt will have a horse within a year. You can see the chemistry already. Do people have showers to get horse stuff?
• You can play Texas Hold'em with sunflower seeds as chips. We proved it.
• A Frisbee works as a cutting board if the need arises.
• If I ever need to see a urologist, Adam will be my doctor.
• Victor's Christmas List Item #1: A French Press coffee pot!
• I need to learn the 3 guitar jazz chords that Tim knows. It could be the key that unleashes my currently undiscovered musical talent!
• Maggie is just as much fun in the middle of a state park as she is in the middle of my living room.
• As with most things, there is the pleasure and the pain of eating the durian fruit.
• Sipping Jameson and smoking cigars on a star filled night in MN with friends is almost as much fun as laying on South Beach feeling the ocean breeze in your face -- Almost.

Most importantly, I realized the need to "get away from it all" more often. There's got to be a balance between enjoying life and having a satisfying career. This weekend I got closer to finding it. Thanks to all my friends that participated -- Mission Accomplished!

The Dream Team

If you're a sports junkie like me, you may remember when professional basketball players were first allowed to play in the Olympics. The US Team was called "The Dream Team". The reason is because it contained the best players (at the time) in the NBA (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, etc.). When it comes to friends, Bruce and Clyde (pictured left to right) are part of my Dream Team...

With my 4 month kitchen remodel project just completing, the timing could not have been more perfect for friends to come up to help! At least that's how I saw it.

They thought they were on vacation...

We had a great time eating, working, and sight-seeing. Maggie also enjoyed our house guests. As you know, one human just can't provide enough love and attention for a black lab. I try, but in Maggie's world, "more is more!"

Did I mention how fortunate I was to have great friends?

My Friend Derek

Some of you may have met my friend Derek. He lives in Kansas City and (like many other friends of mine) has ventured to this Canadian suburb called Minneapolis to visit during our summerfest.

Our weekend consisted of spending money at REI, IKEA, and many fine restaurants in the Twin Cities. Derek also visited my church and had a great time.

Being new to the area, one of the things that I miss the most are my friends that I have built history with. These friends know me so well that they can finish my sentences, call me out when I exaggerate the truth, and order for me when I'm not at the table. In short, they know me. Derek is that kind of friend.

Hopefully throughout the years, we will continue to encourage and challenge each other "as iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17). When I think of life's blessings, my friends are at the top of the list!

Back in the Day...

Remember when people would reminisce about "the good ole days"? They would say that things were "so much simpler and less complicated back then"? Before agreeing, I thought about it for a minute or so and I'm not so sure that I buy into that. For instance:

• Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there is no way that I could have the job that I have today.
• Before the discovery of penicillin, this nasty two week old sinus infection (that I've been medicating with prescription drugs) could be life threatening.
• Inter-racial dating and marriage for me in many states would have been illegal.
• My female co-workers would not have a legal right to equal pay for equal work.
• My education would have occurred at segregated schools.
• I would have never been able to watch the talent of Tiger Woods, because he would have never been allowed to play golf on a course.

I realize that this post might be more than a little self-serving and dramatic, but I write it to remind myself more than anyone else how blessed I am to live at this point in history. For all of the remaining -- and there are a lot of remaining -- social injustices, issues of religious intolerance, and situations of cultural turmoil, I'm very grateful to say that we're "here in the day". God help us so that 30 years from now no one wants to go back to 2005 as the best year in humanity. Hopefully, our best years are in front of us!

What is Community?

Recently, I was trying to explain to someone why the value of "community" at my church (Solomon's Porch) was so important. Unfortunately, all of my explanations fell short.

Later on, as I thought about it more, several images came to mind of when I "felt" like I was engaged as part of the community at the Porch. These were some of those times...

• Slouching on a sofa with a stranger, drinking Dunn Bro's coffee, and listening to the weekly message.
• Holding Josh & Michelle's son (Toby) and playing "telephone" with him during the service.
• Going back for seconds of bread during communion because I was hungry -- and not being the only one in line twice!
• Having a person that I don't know walk up and say "May the Life of Jesus Be in You", and mean it!
• Getting a chair massage from the resident therapist (Marlene) during the service.
• Grabbing a burito after the service with Pastor Doug and hearing about his week.
• Viewing comments from me and others projected on the screen from our Tuesday evening Bible Discussion Group.
• Having the keyboard guy from the Worship Team (Cory) come sit by me during a song break and invite me to his next gig.
• Grabbing half price appetizers and beer after church with people from the Porch and connecting with them through meaningful conversations.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think community is about connecting. It's about enjoying and tolerating, celebrating and mourning, but mostly about sharing you life with others.

Our church isn't perfect, because people aren't perfect. But, everytime someone reaches their hand out to me to hold as we sing the benediction, I realize that this is a strong symbol. We are connecting our hands, our hearts, our families, our dreams, and our lives with something larger than ourselves. For me, that connection creates a community -- and community is a very good thing!

A Prayer for Unselfishness

The following is a prayer from my heart for God to make me less selfish.

Lord, I want what I want, and I want it now
I want to be comfortable
And I want to be happy
I sometimes act like it's all about me
I like my independence
But I love my freedom
Even so, I know that You have more for me...

Teach me to care about the needs of others
To notice how I can share
Give me companionship to celebrate my successes,
A listening ear to hear my struggles,
And a friendly hand to pick me up when I fail

Remind me that my agenda isn't yours
That interruptions are often hidden blessings
Open my eyes, my hands, and my heart
Show me how to live with people that are not like me
In short, show me how to live as a member of your Kingdom.

I'm In...

On Sunday I joined Solomon's Porch as my home church. What was amazing was how it just felt like the next logical step. There was not a lot of deep soul searching or doubt, just a sense that it was the logical progression based upon my involvement, interests, and newly formed relationships. Listed below are the requirements to be a "Covenant Participant" (read: new member) at "The Porch":

1. Be one who seeks to live life with God in the way of Jesus.
2. Seek to live life consistent with the generous orthodoxy, ancient creeds, and Scriptures of the church.
3. Stay reconciled with the people of the Solomon's Porch community.
4. Involvement in the life of Solomon's Porch including prayer, participation, and finances.
5. Invest in the ministry and dreams of Solomon's Porch.

As basic as these things sound, it's amazing what they don't say. I think that they will deeply challenge my paradigms regarding optional church involvement, my right to sit in judgment of church leadership, and my option to selective fellowship with others. It's amazing how five things so simply stated can be so hard to do.

Stay tuned to my blog to see how it turns out...

Sunday Morning Humor... (Author Unknown)

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names with small American flags mounted on either side of it.

The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, "Good morning Alex." "Good morning Pastor," he replied , still focused on the plaque. "Pastor, what is this?" he asked. The pastor said, "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."

Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear, asked, "Which service, the 8:00 or the 10:30?