General

It's been a while since my last post but it's not due (completely) to laziness. Over the last 2 weeks we've held our final worship service at LifePoint, sent the kids to camp, packed most of our earthly belongings in a rolling tin can, and driven from San Diego to Highlands Ranch. We slept Saturday night in our old house and last night in our new house. Moving is a great time to purge. While the kids were at camp, Tonya and I made executive decisions about what to keep and what to give away. We gave stuff to the Salvation Army (if for no other reason than to help fund their incredible "Amazing Grace" video) -- but most of the stuff was given away on Craigslist. As much as possible, we believe in re-circulating stuff. It is interesting to see what people will take when it's free. We had…

While walking to lunch today I passed a group of PETA folks protesting animals in the circus. One lady was painted like a tiger and hunched over in a cage. After eating a few beef tacos for lunch, I started thinking about PETA and fair trade coffee (I was sitting at Starbucks). I personally like animals. I've had pets throughout the years -- rest in peace, Skittle. I also enjoy the circus, own leather shoes, and like my steaks well-done. My issue with groups like PETA isn't their opposition to animal cruelty but their elevation of animals to the same level as humans. Animals aren't human; that's why they're called animals. This is where the fair-trade part of the subject line comes in. Fair-trade products/companies seek to pay workers in developing countries a fair wage, rather than taking advantage of them for the companies gain. It elevates humans to the…

Working downtown for the last two-plus years has been quite interesting. Just five minutes ago, a man in a top hat and long coat strolled by as I enjoyed my coffee. Most everyone else is in a short-sleeve and shorts. Then there are the "shirtless boxer" sightings: a big-chested man who walks around topless and flexes for people. He even has a Facebook group dedicated to him. I snapped a picture once. Of course, downtown has the usual homeless characters, mostly beneign folks. A few are quite entertaining. A few are quite scary. Just down the street from my office is the Church of Steel, a tattoo and body piercing joint. Pastor Pain and the Deacons of Destruction hang outside on the sidewalk. I enjoy walking to Starbucks, especially the one with a loft on 5th Avenue. They know I want a tall coffee, no room for cream. Nine out…

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" John 11:40, TNIV

"Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." John 4:38, MSG