Monday Brief – 4.10.10

What Was Enjoyable –
– Easter. Love its meaning, enjoy its celebration and am moved by the Lent preparation leading up to it. In a world marred by tragedy, evil, sin, despair, the meaning of Easter changes everything.
– Not as theologically and metaphysically profound but fun for me – our Florida vacation! Lol – It was great to spend a few days visiting with Susan’s family and catching up with other relatives and friends. There’s a lot I like about the area we get to live but it’s always good to be out of the zip code. Life always looks different.
– Really proud of my wife and boys. Grateful for such a fantastic family (Most of the time i am but wrestling with a two year old and stressing the importance of airplane safety by being buckled in during take-off and landings gets a bit frustrating. But it’s better than being annoyed by other people’s kids (Just kidding, “other people” ;-)
– Also grateful that my niece Lina was dedicated yesterday. My parents and brother got to fly out and be with my sister and brother-in-law.

What’s Going on in Seminary –
– While in FL, I realized again that this Mdiv is finished in June. Only a few papers and books left. Granted a lot is due tomorrow (a paper, a journal and a few chapters left in Andy Crouch’s excellent book, Culture Making) but the end of the tunnel is near. It’s been a really great experience but really looking forward to the break. Also, I’ve been very grateful for the support of my family and church.
– This last class has been on understanding culture. It’s been one of my favorites of the program.

What’ I’ve Been Reading –
Justification by NT Wright. And I just won a copy from Englewood Books.
Culture Marking by Andy Crouch – brilliant. I read most of it last year, and took it slower last week, and it’s absolutely fantastic.
Doing Local Theology by Clemens Sedmak. Excellent also. I really liked it – wanted to underline the whole thing. Working on my response paper. I liked it but there’s something that kept bugging me as I read. Ever read a book that you like but can’t place your finger on what is bothering you about it? Well until I can put my finger on it, my response paper is a bit boring.

What I’ve Been Watching –
LOST. As I saw on numerous Tweets, “I don’t know what’s going on but I like it.”
Missed 24 last week, but I’m pretty sure the opening seconds will bring me up to speed. Oh and I just saw that Simpsons episode that was like 24. Where Lisa is Chole, Bart is Jack and Homer is …, well he’s Homer.

What I Have Been Listening to –
Spoon’s Transference – very good, as you would expect Spoon to be.
Broken Bells – Everyone’s right – it’s excellent.
Just started Denison Witmer’s Carry the Weight. I like his voice, I like his poetry, I’m going to keep listening.
U2’s Artificial Horizon – It’s their technotronic versions to recent hits like City of Blinding Lights, Magnificent, if God Will Send His Angels … I like it, it’s fun but back when No Line on the Horizon was first released, I thought the followup album that they mentioned was going to be more B-sides then the “Move This” versions of their stadium anthems.
And a mix one of my friends made. I have no idea what’s on it. I think most of it is new except for a song by Dakota Motor Company (anyone remember them?).
The music is so indie that Shazam and SoundHound do not work. Well, I like tracks 6, 9, 13 … (I know you are reading brother, thanks again).
Finally finished Jim Belcher’s Deep Church. Enjoyed it. May one day blog about it but until then, I think it’s the fairest non-emergent book there is. For those who have questions/concerns about emerging church/emergent/etc, don’t bother with Why We’re Not Emergent …. If you want to try to understand, Belcher does a good job.
Homebrewed Christianity podcast when I’m feeling up for it.
The Relevant Magazine podcast when I’m in the mood for a laugh.

What’s Going on in Youth Ministry –
– I am really pleased that we are have 17 students signed up to go to New Orleans this summer. We’re working with the Gathering Church (which is actually in Chalmatte, St. Bernard Parish) and people we really miss like our friends Aaron and Lucas.
– Had a really good series baed on LifeChurch’s Practical Atheist. Good stuff, especially their media. You get it, customize/personalize your lesson, add your stories, illustrations – it saves a lot of time – thanks LifeChurch.
– Our Invisible Children Benefit concert that was cancelled because of snow is being held next weekend. We are all looking forward to it.

What’s Going on at the Montvale Church –
– We had a wonderful Easter week. I thought Sam preached a very excellent message and I was really blessed by the Emmaus Worshp Team. Homeboy Glenn and crew are so good – so good.
– We have had these monthly fellowship luncheons for the purpose of providing a space for newer people to connect and create further community amongst us. A wonderful family had this on their heart and they recruited other wonderful people to help and here we are. The ideas come but the execution of them is where the commitment and labor is and we as a church are blessed. We also had a missionary family that our church supports share during this time. They are a young couple serving in the United Kingdom and I’m a fan of what they do. I love it when they come back and share with us.
– Our next Second Mile Service is next Saturday, April 24th. Pastor Mark Allen from Pascack Bible Church is bringing the heat! Well, he’s not fire and brimstone but I’m sure it will be insightful and Spirit-led. More info here.

What I Am Looking Forward to –
NT Wright Conference in Wheaton this week! So excited. I’m going with a few friends and a NT Wright expert AND one of our best professors, Derek Cooper should be helpful as well ;-)
Also, looking forward in seeing a couple of our students who attend Wheaton.
Q Conference.
Staying home in May til our Vietnam/Cambodia Seminary trip.