Hiatus

I've been posting pretty consistently here at UnResolved Tensions for 2 1/2 years, but I am finding myself stretching for material at this point. With a draining chaplaincy job and the grand task of writing a book, I do not have the energy and motivation to post anything of substance here. So I'm going to take a hiatus. This is not the end of UnResolved Tensions, just a sabbatical from it. I'm going to take a break until September, after I have sent in my book draft to my publisher on July 31st and spent August recovering. Until September, I will continue to post regularly over at Introverted Church, which is my blog dedicated to my book topic, introverts in the church. I would direct you over there. Peace out!

Best Website Ever

I found this website this morning, called Stuff White People Like. It's pretty self-explanatory. And hilarious. And not a little thought provoking.

I'm so tired of red phones

Who would you most want to pickup the 3AM red phone call in the White House?

a. Hilary Clinton
b. John McCain
c. Barack Obama
d. Just let it go to voice mail

Preaching inspiration

I'm preaching tomorrow, and there are two quotes which I always have nearby when working on a sermon:

The first is what Frank Laubach said to his congregation:

"I am very sensitive and know whether you are praying for me. If one of you lets me down, I feel it. When you are praying for me, I feel a strange power. When every person in a congregation prays intensely while the pastor is preaching, a miracle happens."

The second is from Jonathan Edwards:

"The more you have of a rational knowledge of divine things, the more opportunity will there be, when the Spirit shall be breathed into your heart, to see the excellence of these things, and to taste the awareness of them."

Super Bowl Winners

You know how before the game, the NFL prints winning t-shirts and hats for both teams that play in the Super Bowl? That's the only way they can ensure that the winning team is sporting championship labels as the celebration begins. Recently, I learned what happens to the gear for the losing team. World Vision, my lovely wife's company, is responsible for sending it each year to a developing country in Africa. So somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa there is some kid wearing the t-shirt I wish I had been wearing in 2005, the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champions t-shirt.

Here is an article from the NY Times about this great tradition.

Speaking gigs

It seems that the last year of my ministry has been about refining my pastoring/listening skills, whereas the previous three years were mostly about developing my preaching and teaching abilities. While I am grateful for the opportunities to walk with people in crisis, my heart still tends towards preaching. So I was excited to receive two invitations to preach this month. I'll be speaking at the Veritas service at Irvine Presbyterian Church on February 24th, on the topic of discipleship based on Acts 2.42-43. And then I'm quite excited to speak at the weekly chapel service at World Vision International on February 27th, on the topic of "Shalom."

Get psyched mix

Though I'll never be an elite athlete, I treat everything in my life like a huge sporting event. Anything that's worth doing in this life needs an emotional build-up and an appropriate soundtrack. These days, writing my book is my sport and my desk is my venue. Before I start working, I always pump up a song that gets the adrenaline flowing. Here are my current favorites:

1. "The Final Countdown" by Europe. This song is over 20 years old, but it still ROCKS. If you aren't familiar with it, think of the music that plays behind GOB's magic acts in "Arrested Development."

2. "The Pretender" by Foo Fighters.

3. "Long Road to Ruin" by Foo Fighters.

4. "All Around Me" by Flyleaf.

5. "Cornbread" by Dave Matthews Band, from Live at Piedmont Park. "It's a little bit o' heaven and a little bit o' hell yeah!!"

6. "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi. Classic. Straight from Barney's Stinson's "Get Psyched Mix" in "How I Met Your Mother"

7. "Vertigo" by U2.

8. "Lazy Eye" by Silver Sun Pickups. Not a classic get fired up song, but it builds so slowly to this awesome climax that by the time it hits it you're psyched.

9. "Bleed it Out" by Linkin Park.

10. "Song 2" by Blur. Think "Woo hoo."