I Steal, I Don't Kill

I stole this from my friend brad hauge's blog. At around 12:30 a.m. on December 17, 2005, I peed my pants a little when I saw this.

Churches. Can't We All Just Get Along?!?

why is it that there is a separations amongst churches? THere is a guy who would like to play at my church, but he goes to another church. His heart is to build a community and friendship amongst churches, but I was told that I couldn't let him play because he plays at another church. There is a term that I like to use which is "church gigging". THis is a term for people who play at multiple churches so that they can get more play time. This guy who plays at another church wants to play with me to support our outreach into the neighborhood and support a community that he has a desire and longing for. So is it wierd that I want him to come to my church to play?

I guess you have to choose a church eventually, but when you are using your gifts to bless a community is this a bad thing? It seems that there are these walls built up and sometimes need to be broken down. I spoke to this guy, and told him to speak to his pastor about this to let him know that we are not stealing him at all, but instead are sharing his gifts, and also that this is his choice and not my influence. I will also speak to his pastor after he does, but this is just wierd to me. I knkow that this is the mature thing to do, but I think that this is the shitty part of being a "pastor". My heart still lies in the thought of building a network of musicians who have a passion for playing for God. If churches can hire musicians out of a studio, is there a difference in this?

I had to battle with my bosses for this, and it is cool because they trust me with this and my decision, but then I am also scared, because what if I screw it up and they never let me do this ever again. crap.

ron

I'd Hate to Jump On Board...

but I went to see Narnia today, and it was probably the most amazing story I've ever seen/heard. Knowing that it was a movie, and not a book, I am inspired to read the series. I didn't really jump on board with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but this one I may became a fairweather friend.
I think what intrigued me was the theological ties running rampant throughout the movie. If the movie was somewhat true to the book, I like a lot of CS Lewis' theology. THough he is selfproclaimed "not a theologian", Lewis' story is so rich with the stuff it was impossible as a christian not to be moved by this movie. One question though: what the heck was Santa doing there?
I was also moved by this movie, because I've been going through this "dry period" in my spirituality. Not so much a doubting of God, but a doubting of the church. This movie, and the story of Christ and his mission, helped me realize that people matter so much more than my feelings of what the church should be like.

thoughts?
ron

oh those asians...they so crazay!

Stole this from my friend knox. It's very interesting and funny.

gotta go, saved by the bell college years is on.

ron

Matisyahu

I'd talked about listening to this guy earlier, but the more I listen to him, the more I like him. The thing about him is that he is Jewish who does dancehall reggae music. As I listen to him, I keep hearing all of these stories and lyrics that sound familiar, and I realize he's singing right out of Old Testament Theology and Israelite history. It is very interesting to hear, but there is one song in which he cries over and over wanting longing for the messiah. It is such a strange disconnect that I have when I hear this. I like to think of the Jewish faith as our distant cousins, almost like that cousin that nobody talks good about, but most of the family knows that you are related. The family just doesn't talk about this cousin because of his wierd beliefs. But what if we are the wierd cousins that everybody is talking about. ***side note: I am at TWU and I just saw this couple make out in the "student center" as I am writing this - get a dorm room, seriously.***

anyshoe, I'm finishing up a paper on Merton.

peace in the middle east
rizz

Heading Into the Home Stretch

Just a few more finals and then I will drop dead...well, not really but I will be glad it is all over. My plans? I will probably read, write some new songs, work out old songs, and record some songs with some friends of mine. I am also planning out what I want to do for my next record even though I haven't one ready to listen to now. I think for my new album I will do a "concept" album telling the stories of people that I minister to and fellowship with. It will be their stories, only they won't really know it - very bruce springsteen or lionel richie in theory, you decide which one. This is just a thought ponging around in my head right now.

what am I reading? Study notes...boo.
what am I listening too? A mix of songs that I made that I named, "Music to Make Love To: Volume III".

ron

Another One Bites the Dust!

Knocked out another paper. This one was on the interpretation of Isaiah 7:14, and the thought of Isaiah talking to Ahaz and Israel or predicting the coming of the Messiah.

So far I've written:
*A 10 page paper on "Jesus made in the Image of Man"
*A 10 Page paper on "The Social Gospel and its Impact on American Religion and Society"
*A 6 Page exegetical paper on "Isaiah 7:14"

In the next week I will write:
A 10 Page paper on Benedictine Monks
A 10 page reflection on Writings of Thomas Merton
An 8 Page paper about architecture used in christian worship.

All this while studying for finals.

Shoot me now.

Random Snow Day Thoughts

I sit here watching "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" and laughing as I watch outside with anticipation for the next dumping of snow. It probably won't snow again, but "anything can happen on a snow day" ("Snowday" one of the best snow movies ever). I'm debating whether I should work on papers or see how Zach's crazy shenanigans end up. Is it me, or did A.C. rock the same mullet through high school and college?
I was thinking the other day about family traditions. Cynthia and I go to get a Christmas tree the day after thanksgiving every year with our friends the Westons. What are some of your traditions? Really, I'd like to know.
What are your churches doing for Christmas? ANything different? For the next four weeks leading into christmas, we will be doing some different liturgies (prayers, calls and response, and candles. WE are so Post modern) and celebrating the season of expectation. I didn't grow up in a church, so this will be fun and different for me. I've had some people come and tell me that they thought that advent was just a word in front of a calendar that they could buy at Costco.

enough of that. Saved by the Bell is finishing and I have papers to write. Enjoy your day.

ron

A Step in the Right Direction for the Church

This is what we should have been doing since the eighties.

My time this weekend

I've been writing lots of papers as you may or may not know, and that is how I spent this last weekend. I did however get to attend Christ the King Bellingham so that I could work on a paper for my worship studies class. This paper will tell whether CTK is a pedagogical church or revivalist church, or does it deal with the mind or the heart.
I loved going to this church, because my friend/mentor/hero leads there, and seeing the way that he leads the congregation is a beautiful thing. He is able to capture and direct the attention of the congregation deeper than the singing of the songs, but more so draw unconciously attention to the meaning of the songs. He also started the service with a very simple greeting saying that we are worshipping our God with song which is just one of many ways to worship this God that is so worthy of praise. I'll be honest, I'm going to steal that because I truly believe that people need to hear and know this when they are worshipping through song. It was very refreshing to be led in worship rather than lead. Thank you sam

ron

listening to: Buckethead "Colma". A guitar prodigy who toured with Axl (they were NOT Guns and Roses) on his last tour. He plays with a white mask on (like the guy from the Halloween movies)and a KFC bucket on his head - need I say more?

And Challenging for Nerd of the Year is...

Nerd of the Year Contender

Negative Christians

At Trinity Western University, I am a Christianity and Culture major, which looks at Christianity and its history and theology. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the more I learn, the more I question about my place in the church and though I question, I've met people who are more extreme than I am. My fellow C & C majors wonder the same as me, but they threaten to leave the protestant church and instead move to the orthodox church. This used to be attractive to me, until I came to this thought: the church is the bride of Christ, and the we are basically calling the bride all of the names and thoughts that we have of it (i.e. a whore). When we call the church these names, the groom is going to find out and punch us in the face. Martin Luther quote from Monkey's blog: the church is a whore, but I love her. Did Luther get punched in the face?

If we are so negative and so quick to leave the church, how will it ever find out what Jesus intended for it to be in the first place.

ron

listening to: Christmas mix - Christina Aguilera, Neil Diamond, Greg Otterholt, Adam Sandler, Tracy CHapman, and many others.

Worship Conference

This past weekend, I was given the opportunity to attend a Worship leaders conference down in Kirkland with other worhship leaders from our church. Here are my likes and dislikes:

Likes:
I was able to get to know people that I serve with a little better. I was able to learn different and new approaches to the guitar. I saw music done in different styles and with different approaches. I got out of town for the weekend. I saw favorite artists such as Lincoln Brewster, Chris Tomlin, and Matt Redman. The classes I took were very informative, and well taught by professional musicians and teachers.

Dislikes:
Wherein lies the difference between the Worship set and Christian Concert? I found myself waiting to hear my favorite leaders to play their hits. I watched more than "worshipped". Though I got to see them play, I left in the middle of their...set? I don't think that I was the only one who thought this - I hope not - because it was aggravating to hear people say, "I love this song". I'm not self righteous and I'm not THE worship leader either. In fact, throughout this conference, I fell into the trap of wishing I could show some of my chops to people. When you stick a bunch of musicians in a room together, there is no breathing room because our heads swell up and fill teh room itself. It is a sad thing really, because as leaders our humility should be prevalant, but even during the musical worship sets you hear it. When the leader is singing, all that you can hear throughout the congregation are the harmonies of the song and no melody.

oh well, my stank still stinks like everybody else.

ron
Listening to: the new David Crowder Band CD. I love his music because he sounds like David Crowder and not compared to any other people (Secular or Not). Favorite track is the remake of Hank Williams/Johnny Cash's "I Saw the Light" and "Oh God, Where are You Now? (In Pickerel Lake? Pidgeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)"

Is This a Joke?

Really quick add to the last-
cruising around and found this job description for an "Extreme Worship Pastor" in a Pomo/GenX church. Read on and be baffled or amazed or just plain filled with laughter.


Job Description:
Main Event Church is seeking an exceptional leader to be our Pastor of Extreme Worship Arts. We believe the right person will be a unique fit for for such a time as this.

This person serve under the Senior Pastor, and will oversee all areas of worship. Candidates must embrace the Senior Pastor’s vision of aligning all people of all denominations under the same vision. The person must also meet these requirements:

Ability to infuse the TULIP doctrine in all worship sets

Postmodern, Visionary, Missional leader capable of creating an ethos and apostolitic movement

Willing to find some songs written from a premillenial dispensationalist theological tradition

Desires to develop an emerging handbell choir

Some snake handling may be appropriate (for our believers service only)

Agree that the Lord is to be worshiped through magnificent attire and appropriate versions of the Bible

Demonstrate proof of a second blessing... Tongue speaking in various accents is a major plus as we are a multicultural church.

Exegetically establish a movement of fluidity in the Extreme Worship Ministry

We realize that many of these requirements are personal preferences and not biblical mandates. Therefore, each candidate must be aligned with roughly 3/4 of all our requirements.

God Bless America and Nobody Else!

I'm reading, "the american Jesus" by Steven Prothero. A recommended read to any american who believes that we are the chosen nation...we are aren't we? This book gives a history of how we came to worship Jesus instead of God the father like the New World Puritans who "founded" america. It is such an interesting thought how our belief in Jesus is so different than that of the founding fathers of the good ol' US of A. According to Prothero, we began distorting the face of Jesus and his agenda when Jefferson took a razor and glue to the gospels to build the "Jefferson Bible" and give us what he feels are teh essentials of the Gospels. Only in America....Only in America.

ron

Listening to: Matisyahu-Shake off the Dust...Arise. This is a Hassidic Jew who mixes his chants and beliefs with Dancehall Reggae music. Definitely worth a shake of the tuchas.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This past weekend I was up in Beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia on saturday night and sunday morning. It was really quick, but painful. I was up to participate in a liturgical service where I helped lead some of teh embodied prayer or praying with the whole self. Really what I'm doing is churching up the phrase "interpretive dance". Yes, that's right, I was doing a little bit of interpretive dancing this weekend. Here's a question for you: What has two thumbs and hates interpretive dance? Answer: this guy right here.
It was an interesting night and really cool in some parts. The worship music was done by a Jazz Combo and all that we did that night, Cynthia and I experienced when we went to an Anglican Church service at St. Johns (shaugnessy). It was a really neat experience in a beautiful church. If you are ever in the area, really you should check it out because it was just an over all different experience. See, I come from an adrenaline driven church experience, so tradition is something taht I don't have a lot of experience in. I really enjoyed it, and took communion from a Community Cup- that was different. It was real wine too. I'm not of a fan of wine, so it made me think a little differently of actually ingesting the blood of Christ as a bitter experience and the way that Jesus died.
This next weekend I get to go to the Christian Music Summit and learn about worship leading, guitar playing, etc.. Sometimes I am very saddened by these things, because they offer classes like, "How to have a Cool Choir" - no joke, this is an actual class - and it makes me embarrassed. Some of the peole who are at this thing are some of the bigger names in Christian music such as Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin...it makes me wonder what they think of classes like this.

ron

Listening to: Right now I love this guy named Monte Montgomery, an acoustic player from Austin Texas. Also I listen to Pantera while running.

...Somebody Kill Me Please!!!

In the next month I will be writing paper after paper after paper...after paper. I didn't realize I would have to waste this many trees. Here is my schedule of Papers:

A paper on Jonah-Looking at the Fish as a symbol of Hell, but it is a Hell that God gave to Jonah out of his grace. 6 Pages Due November 2

A paper on Jesus in the image of man. 10 pages Due November 17

A paper on the Jefferson Bible and his deist agenda. 10 pages due November 29

A paper on the Desert Fathers in the early church. 10 pages due December 6

A paper on the Architecture of the medieval church in worship 10 pages Due December 5

A paper due on an Old testament Theme that I haven't even begin to think about. 6 Pages due on December 7.

Also, a couple of 1-3 pagers detailing services at different churches that I will visit.

God help me please.

ron

Lived To Tell The Story...

Well, my weekend is over and now I have officially spoken for the first time. It was actually really fun. It was a stretch for me, but in teh end it all came together. I realized that God works in wierd ways (realized yet again) when I was driving home thinking about how I don't think any kids got anything out of what I gave them this weekend, but I think that this weekend was just a way for God to tell me that I can do it. I often wondered if I could, but was never given the chance. That's my friend Monkey for ya! Always looking out for the little man and giving me a chance. I think my biggest fear this weekend was that I didn't let him down and that people would see me as a serious talk giver guy. Sometimes during the talk time, I would see kids staring off into space and I'd think that it was normal, but there was also a leader who sat in the front and would frown the whole time-not very encouraging to say the least. Oh well, God pushed me through it and I lived to tell you about it. THat's all that really matters.

ron

listening to: I got an MP3 player this weekend. So cool. Decided against the iPod for financial reasons, but also because it is very discouraging that you can only use their stuff. Boo. Soory <---canadian for sorry--- to my friend Paul, because I know that he works with Macstuff.

I'm an Uncle!!! This is my nephew Kale Evan Pai. He was even born on my birthday! (October 14th...its not too late to send a present) 

Ron the Speaker?

This weekend I get the priviledge and opportunity to speak to high schoolers about worship. As much as I would love to discuss different aspects and styles of worship, I decided to tell these kids about some of the personalities of the triune God that we as christians worship. In my head I thought that it would be better instead of learning about "embodied prayer" or different postures of worship that it may benefit them better to learn about the different parts of the trinity and hopefully make them think about why we worship them.

please pray for this talk as it comes to fruition...I'm still not finished with it.

ron

listening to: Travis Tritt: Greatest Hits. I don't know why, but I like his voice. The thing that I love the most is his guitar playing.