Picture Day

We have a busy weekend ahead – pictures this afternoon downtown Portland (candid, storytelling style with the kids, should be fun and stressful all at the same time – Aidan’s always good for a laugh as he gets into it, he’s the poser), church in the morning and the going away party on Sunday afternoon (I hope there’s a Kleenex truck there) – which you’re all cordially invited to.

Customer Service

If you know me you know I like shopping, fashion and creative stuff… so I’ve always admired the store Anthropologie. They have the most incredible window displays using everything from paper plates (though you’d never know they were paper plates) to newspapers, branches, leaves – you name it they paint it, twist it, glue it and make it into the most incredible display. We’ll I finally got my chance to go into the store (it’s a women’s clothing store and I don’t typically frequent women’s clothing stores on my own). Jennie had a gift card, so we took the girls downtown and went shopping. I got to tell you I was impressed. It was creative, vibrant and made you feel totally at home. Nice couches for the husband and kids, a super cool coloring book for the kids to use while mommy tries on stuff, sales staff that weren’t in a hurry, they were just there to hang out, help you, chat about your life and what was going on; and then the kicker, they would write the name of the lady trying on clothes on a little mirror on the door of the changing room. So guess what? Every time they came to check on my wife, they called her by name. It was probably one of the most incredibly personal shopping experiences I’ve ever had, and I wasn’t even shopping.

I wonder how we could personalize the church experience for people who don’t typically visit a church building? I was amazed at how intentional and personal the Anthropologie staff were with our family, they made us feel at home, comfortable and taken care of without getting weird or over the top. They called us by name and were interested in what was going on in our life. Sounds like a great approach for church (providing we’re genuine and not just using it as part of a strategy or process). On a side note, though somewhat related, I can’t wait to read The Nordstrom Way.

Simplicity, for this cause. Part 2

Continuing the thought from yesterday, how would “for this cause” impact how we look at church? Why do we do church the way we do? What would we do differently? Is church about what we do and when we meet? We could probably spend the rest of our life searching out answers to questions like these. Over the past couple of years I’ve had this resonating thought echo in my heart and mind concerning church.

When asked what was the most important commandment, Jesus boiled over 1600 rules and guidelines the Pharisees tried to adhere to down to two that were so intimately connected He said they were equal – Love God, love others. Is what we do as a community of faith leading us to know (experientially, not just intellectually) and love God better and causing us to live in such a way that we love other people inside and outside the context of our church community better? (On this point I love what Mike Servello’s doing with the Generation Conference this summer – taking that very message to the next generation).

I love a statement Paul Scanlon has made; it’s one I’m trying to better understand, own and live out, “The church isn’t here for you and I. We are the church and we’re here for the world.” (We here to make manifest (to use a Bible word) the power, presence and reality of God in a way that’s understandable to those we’re trying to connect and communicate with). When we lose sight of the fact that we, the church community, exist to love God, love and challenge each other to know Him better, and love and make known God and all His love, power and presence to those who don’t yet know Him, I think we begin to lose sight of the church’s “for this cause.”

Simplicity, for this cause.

Erik and I made it back in one piece. Exhausted, but back in Portcouver. What a trip! I’m so grateful to Erik for making the trek with me and taking time out of his busy schedule. It was an honor to get to know him better and hear his heart. I know with confidence God’s got some incredible things in store for him. That’s one focused guy!

This morning I’m going to spill a few unprocessed thoughts – things that God seems to be stirring in me. The day before I left on our trip across America three words kept swirling around in my spirit, “for this cause.” For what cause? Why are you and I here on planet earth sucking oxygen? (to quote my friend Marc Estes).

As I arrived at my in-laws house yesterday I realized in many respects life had become a whole lot simpler. I sleep on an aerobed, I have a few clothes in a suitcase (fewer choices), I only have a handful of books to pick from and read (though on a side note I’m going to Barnes & Nobles today to check out two new books – The Nordstrom Way and The Influentials). Anyhow the point of my rambling thought this morning is that because of a cause, life has in many respects been simplified (I’m not saying there are no difficulties but that the cause makes the next step clear and we can trust God to lead and provide).

It’s clear that the Bible is filled with characters who lived for a cause and that cause gave each one clarity and as a result simplicity in how they would then live their life. They knew what they needed to do and what they needed to steer clear of. So the question for all of us this morning is, for what cause are we living – it might simply be to love and know God and others, if so how does it influence our thoughts, actions and relationships? It might be as specific as building an orphanage in Africa or South America, if so how does it influence the way you live and the choices you make with your money and time?

It seems to me that “for this cause” is a statement we should all own and finish. In doing so it will give clarity and bring simplicity to life. I just drove across the country with a guy who knows his “for this cause” which has provided focus and clarity for the direction of his life (and God seems to be providing relationships and opportunities to make that cause a reality). So the question for all of us today is what’s your “for this cause”?

Worst Airport Experience Ever!

It’s now 5:40am (EST). We spent 8.5 hours in La Guardia, just waited 3 hours in line to check in for our flight to Portland, and now have a 3.5 hour wait before the plane takes off. We were promised a hotel once we arrived in Atlanta (which never materialized) so along with about 5000 other Delta customers we waited (without sleep – its been a little over 24 hours since I got together with sleep). The pictures where taken at approximately 3:30am (EST). Given this incredible experience here are some thoughts and gripes:

1. Why do airports charge for WIFI? I just don’t get it. Is it really that expense? And it would keep a whole lot of people entertained. (Props to Portland for it’s free WIFI service) (BTW I found a Starbucks (and T Mobile) thus the post – way to go Starbucks)
2. There are not enough outlets at airports. At least provide power stripes so people can charge their computers, phones etc. (Props to Cincinnati on this one – they actually have charge bars (though no free WIFI).
3. Why is it that you have an airport full of people and the restaurants start closing? It’s crazy both for the traveler and the restaurant owner – they stand to lose millions and that’s just in one terminal (you don’t believe me? Before closing I paid almost $5 for an ice cream and $3.50 for a bottle of water – do the math).

Anyway enough gripping. The funny thing is it took us 4 days to drive across the country and almost 2 days to fly back. Incredible

Another Guest Post from the Great White Viking

It’s time for another guest post from my partner in crime, E.Schweiss. Enjoy!

Here are a few of my experiences in the Big Apple;

1. China Town-The absolute rudest shop owners in NYC. We got removed from two shops in a span of 5 minutes and laughed all the way to the curb (I still want the Diesel cologne for $5 though).

2. Times Square-Known only to a select few, this area is actually not part of the city since its filled up with tourists and attention-deprived street kids. I’d love to see the electric bill on this place.

3. Wall Street-Truly the quietest place in the city. Hey, some say perspective is everything.

4. New York City Church-Phenomenal location and excited to see how God moves in the Financial District. Confident they will be secure there too since its surrounded with police with machine guns; and Ed has no worries with people not liking the sermons.

5. Patty-The absolute best tour guide and host not just because of her knowledge of the city, but because she will have someone killed for messing with us (She’s connected to the U.N. mafia as well as the darkest Irish woman I’ve ever met!).

6. NYC motto-Some say New York City leaves a mark on you; I say it leaves a smell. I’ve never had such sharp contrasting smells change instantly. One second your smelling Italian pasta, the next, raw sewage or human excrement.

7 . New Jersey-Don’t believe this place actually exists since people only talk of it in fables and myths.

8. Subways-Don’t get me started…

9. The Big Apple-Why do people call it this? Seriously!

First ever non-melting ice cream

We just had the worst ice cream we’ve ever tasted (though we’re questioning if it was actually ice cream). Check out the photograph (this is twelve minutes after we bought it) – the thing never melted. Perhaps it was a chemically manufactured ice cream for NASA?

Spent most of the day in Chinatown, Little Italy and downtown. Chinatown is just hilarious – I’ve never seen so much knocked of stuff. All the fake faux stuff was out front – if you want to see the real faux stuff just ask and you get taken back to a special room in the back of the store. Had a ton of fun bartering. We want to send our apologies to the Chinese lady who kicked us out of her store because we offered her a ridiculous price for cologne (got to admit it was pretty funny to watch her go off).

Enjoy the pictures from day two in NYC.