LIfe in 2010 - My Agnostic Friend sends $1 to India

"I'll pay for you to come hang with me at the Gordon Avenue, Battle of the Bands show tonight." I wasn't desperate, just promoting! I shamelessly plug my son's amazing band (Try reading the words to perhaps, his most violent song - Gordon's blog is a must read - LINK UP right now).

My friend (the $1 guy) is a Salvador Dali of the English language when it comes to the art of writing. He's smart (way) and also very numb to the plastic religious rhetoric of our prehistoric voodo fears (lies wrapped up in King Jimmy colloquium) that make "Religion" evil. He's sarcasm and pessimism blended in a powerful juicy blend. I love this guy! Every time I think of my "$1" friend I'm reminded of Acts 17 and the hidden reality that "God is really much closer to us than we can imagine. (bga translation). I will always choose relationship over religion.

So, at the "you-could-catch-something" Satyricon I met my very sincere agnostic friend (he's a very loyal guy) and we caught up on the Foo Fighters and some really great movies that we hope to watch together this year. Without warning my friend reaches into his right pocket and deposits his $1 on the cement counter (CSI would have so much fun analyzing the past mayhem of this establishment ). "I don't believe in your God," his smile and twinkling eyes matched his enjoyment of the moment. "But I do," he continued, "believe in you, my friend." To which I whipped out my pen and promptly asked him to sign his dollar. I promised to carry his dollar to India and I also warned him that my Best friend-Creator-God can do big things with $1 agnostic, U.S. bills!

The show was the best Gordon Avenue has done (they won the evening competition and are now in the finals). Seeing fans sing along, and the great energy - it's so cool. My friend casually mentioned, before he left, that he reads my Pastor Dude-friend John's emails, blogs, and other communication (Pastor John we're team-wrestling this guy for God - pretty sure we'll win). S my friend is moved by the movement of somebody to DO SOMETHING! Hey what will you DO with your "one and only life." Who will you invest richly in? "We can't do everything, but we all can do something!" (Guess who said that these last few months?). Pray for that agnostic dollar (and the giver) - I'm very excited to see what the Best Being in all the Universe will do with this very significant move. Let me say it again, "Every $1 Laura and I take to India with us will make a forever difference in the life of someone who is NOW in darkness!" Keep checking in on the latest re. our trip (lhceast.com).

What you invest in, with all your passion will shape your values and dreams! Who should you spend more time with right now? "It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything." Proverbs 11:24

"But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice," Philippians 1:18

Absolutely fantastic Movie! State of the Avery Union Address - 2010

State of Our

A very Union in 2010

Falling in love again this a.m. with a fantastic movie – intense, bloody, incredible picture of love – for humanity and a woman! A movie that I forgot how much I loved – cinematography is more than WOW, the acting is killer and the young heroine is whoa!! Plus (bad way to start a sentence, Mrs. Stoops –right?), a lot of people say I look like Clive Owen, the lead actor).

And you can read about my first breakfast of pizza, potato pancakes, shortbread cookies, and great coffee with a filled-cupcake (one of Laura’s secret recipes) . . . the future of my two boys and our wonderful granddaughter (what Laura is doing on her new computer – hint: has to do with India and REI). Read me please! Happy New Years 2010!

We welcomed in the New Year by continuing to add to our sleep deprevation – up until 2:30 a.m. watching season 5 of LOST.

6 a.m. fell out of bed, without injury, and stumbled down the stairs without falling . . . finished sermon for cell-phone-India preaching (Dr. Kumar didn’t call – no response to my last two emails) . . . interesting way to remind me of my “control-freak nature” and God’s amazing grace (not mine) . . . glad I got up!

Started with Laura’s amazing filled-cupcakes (1^st made for trip to Mackinac Island, MI in 1985) . . . let us know if you want the recipe – very good tasting, very bad on my desired-six-back :) Pizza custom remodeled from New Years Eve. Wishing I had bought some Stumptown coffee. Praise #101 for 2010 – I was .4 lb lighter this a.m. that the 31^st! Thanks to Laura and Julian Michaels (Laura killed me for 50 min. via Ninja Workout queen – Julian angry workout queen; what a way to finish the Old Year!).

Marcus let us watch Elena (age 19 months) last night (to bed at 8 – she blew me kiss and said “night-night” in the world most heart-melting voice (It’s so good that she doesn’t know she could milk me of all my assets with her voice and those huge beautiful eyes . . . protect me Father, please!). She woke up at 9:05 for another hour go-around (not so happy this morning :)

The movie? King Arthur (Director’s Cut) – Jerry Bruckhheimer (I like CSI). The picture of how evil Religion is (especially when God’s name is attached) is so clearly seen in this movie. The concept of freedom in this rivals Braveheart. The accuracy of what Roman era Britain was like is very impressive for a film (one of the better portrayals would be Edward Rutherfurd’s Sarum – all of his books are fantastic – they are sociological portraits of a country over more than a thousand years – London and the Ireland saga’s are wow! They are historical novels at their best – great way to see how evil the dark-ages church really was!). Back to the movie. It’s an artistic marvel of color and shadows with sensuality, deep philosophy, and serious questions about psudo religion and people we think are far from God. This is one perfect movie for our big screen and creative thinking boys! This may be my favorite movie (with a few others also being my favorites)! There is so much room to see how God is using Living Hope in our current society (NOW you’ll really thing I’m crazy). I like this movie more than Braveheart and even more than Gladiator. Intellectually it bumps up against the Truman Show for intriguing insight into God’s gift of Free Will (choice) and the very cool way God reaches out to those who don’t have Scripture (see Acts 2 & 17:). Warning: lots of ketchup in this movie (bloody) and very real questions about voodoo-fake religion. So re-fell in love with this movie – WOW, what a morning.

Following this sensory hors d’oeuvres, my main course was Oswald Chambers, Chapter one of Ecclesiastes (wow – so powerful after watching this film- I’ve got a bunch of notes on this chapter – will share in a future blog – perhaps this week) and re-reading chapter 3 (Read Dec. 30^th). I still have to read Proverbs one and my section in 2 Corinthians I’m reading.

Today – Finish the LOST finale, read more, give my wife a great massage on her very cool massage table, back Christmas stuff . . . more India Mission trip planning (visit this link!).

Elena talks so well . . . is so tall for her age, so physically coordinated . . . so, so beautiful (lifted my 7.5 lb dumbbell last night) . . . Tennis, golf, cycling scholarship are waiting for her, I’m sure!

Marcus – there is no better 21 year old father in the world! Seriously. He such a fun guy to hang out with!

Gordon – at work already with his Kid’s World Team (NO, nearly 25yr. old man is as disciplined, hardworking, and talented as him). His music will touch millions – I seriously have no doubt. I believe it’s God’s destiny for him. You should consider seeing his concert this Sunday in Portland (Link). You might consider subscribing to his blog (it’s a relationship building giant – very impressive).

“We can’t do everything, but ALL of us can do something!” For $1 you can make a forever-difference this year (Link)!

Fall in love with God (even more) in 2010!