Trip

1. I can’t believe how flat it is in SE Missouri.
2. I am thankful for being raised in SE Missouri.
3. Knox’s still has the best Cherry Coke in the world.
4. My Grannies could still bend me over and spank the crap out of me.
5. My Grannies are thoughtful women.
6. Ted Drew’s is the best custard in the world.
7. Ted Drew’s would make me weigh 300 pounds if I lived in STL.
8. I love Forest Park.
9. There is nothing like a dirt road in a corn or cotton field.
10. I still like to drive down Ward Ave. listening to Hair Bands.
11. I wish I had spent more time with certain folks in HS and less with others.
12. I wish I still had my Thriller jacket from grade school.
13. My Granny Culver takes good care of my Grandfather’s grave.
14. They should alphabetize graveyards.
15. I can’t believe I rode in a circle so many times. Long live the “loop.”
16. Mountain Music is special.
17. Mountain Music folks are also special.
18. Good friends are all around, great friends are few.
19. In a demented way I miss country music and pick up trucks.
20. Arkansas lakes are glorious.
21. I have three talkative kids.
22. I have a wonderful wife.
23. I like catfish.
24. I like clover.
25. I miss bugs that light up.
26. C-Ville looks naked since the twister.
27. I miss dirt tracks and race cars.
28. The mid-south had the most amazing BBQ hands down.
29. Memphis is a magical place.
30. There is nothing like a cold RC, lunchmeat sandwich and chips.

Schools Out

My kids wrap up the school year this week. My hope is that learning continues. Much like when we get out of Sunday gathered we should continue in God's Word, prayer and fellowship. Here are some pics from the year.

Boxer

We have a dog named Max. He is a fantastic dog. Max's most noticeable trait would be his elongated tongue. It is always, and I mean always, hanging out of his mouth. He also has a disdain for water. This is so weird. We had a lab mix before Max. You could not keep her out of the water. Max comes along and you would think he was the Wicked Witch of the West. You can almost hear him say as water comes near, "I'm melting, I'm melting." This weekend I had the privilege to throw his butt in the swimming pool. There is nothing like the tormenting of our pets to bring out the kid in each of us. It was awesome. He would run, I would pursue, he would succumb to my command. He would look at me with his cute puppy dog eyes and I would let him fly, "SPLASH." He would frantically swim to the nearest piece of dry land. I would laugh, the kids would laugh, the other dog would laugh (thinking that's funny, it wouldn't be funny if it was me). Max would climb out, shake and wag his tail. He would take off to my wife to protect him from the mean man with the big bathtub. He is an awesome dog.

Loneliness

Philip Slater in "The Pursuit of Loneliness" suggests three desires that are deeply and uniquely frustrated by American culture.

1. The Desire for community-the wish to live in trust, cooperation, and friendship with those around one.

2. The Desire for engagement-the wish to come directly to grips with one's social and physical environment.

3. The Desire for dependence-the wish to share responsibility for the control of one's impulses and the direction of one's life.

Slater wrote the book in the 70's, in a time of funky clothes and less media. I was born in the 70's and until recently have not entered many conversations acknowledging these frustrations. Slater goes on to point out that we are active in creating these frustrations for ourselves and others. I don't agree with all Slater's thoughts but concede these three frustrations and our own work to create the barriers. Imagine, one of the few things that can strengthen us as people, we frustrate. Its like starving and choosing a candy bar instead of a nutritious meal. What seems so good, "self", actually frustrates one of the things we need most, "community." This past week we continued through our series in Nehemiah. I am constantly challenged by their hunger for community. The thing is, they remove the things that frustrate their lives. As they renew their faith, their families, their culture, and their city many destructive patterns are erased. We all need community, engagement, dependence. I spur the reader on to consider three things in the days to come.

1. Learn to trust. Lead an open and honest life. As we learn to share the real us, no matter how frightening, others will share the real them, no matter how frightening. I put forth that if we all live more openly, we all feel less crazy. This honesty will develop deeper friendships and more authentic community. No more Stepford wives welcome. Current Christian community in particular struggles to be its messy self. Lets learn to confess our struggles to each other. Lets learn to work together, not just with those like us, but those different from us.

2. Learn to enjoy Creation and Humanity. Despite the horrific images on the news. Despite the fall. We live in a world fashioned by an Artist. All around us there are signs of beauty, hope and truth. We must each come to terms with the struggle of our age, yet we must work to create the world that ought to be. We have all been given the task to fight back the thorns. We all must strive to create. There is something about hard work, the Arts, healing wounds, that helps us come to terms with the broken element of our world. These things bring out the wellspring of hope. So go today and work hard, create beauty and help heal the hurting. Things as facile as doing a simple task with excellence, writing down a thought, or helping the least of these can help us fight back the thorns and enjoy this beautiful planet and all its inhabitants.

3. Ask for help. In America people are often "frontier people." We will conquer, we will control, the man is always out to get us, big brother trying to look over our shoulder. Our rugged independence, mixed with our paranoia often leads to an anti-dependent community. I long for the day to both bare and share my struggles. Who among us hasn't had a time when we need the other. Someone to listen, to help. But let's go further. Let's not just consume the help when it is most needed. Lets learn to really live in community. Sharing responsibilities, holding one another in check. What if we really experienced bold love. Someone to say, "don't buy that new SUV." Someone to say, "Don't have that next drink." Someone to say, "Treat the children with dignity." We all need help. I have a suspicion that we are created for community. We are created to be dependent and provide help for each other. Try this day, this week, this month to ask and give help.

Loneliness comes in many forms and fashions. It sits at the bar stool as the life of the party, it parades through the mall with a fake tan and botox, it sits unbathed and begs for food, it shoots its neighbor, it struggles to find significance and purpose. The erosion of loneliness will not come from the government, the pope, or the local self help guru. It will come from true community. It will come as we become open and honest, engaging one another and allowing for common dependence.

Mercy

I am always challenged by the Gospel to show mercy. My typical choice is "kingdom of self" over "kingdom of God." But the Gospel refutes my choice. Our community Sojourn Lakeview goes out every month to share food and conversation with the homeless. When we share our lives with those less fortunate it is a reminder of the Gospel. It reminds us that:

1. We are spiritually poor-We are more broken than we can imagine. We need someone to heal our sins. To bring us to life, to the joy of creation.

2. We are spiritually starving-We are so hungry, lost in a life of wrong choices. We need Christ to give us the bread of life.

3. We are wondering far from home-We are so far from God's creation. The beauty of Eden is so distant. We all need Christ to bring us into His kingdom and give us a place in Him.

This all leads us to confess our real God, our self. It is so easy to look down on the poor of this earth. Not realizing just how poor we are without God. Once we realize how broken we are and how loved and accepted in Christ we are, we should run to the poor and fight for dignity. As long as we can place ourselves above any group of people we shame the Gospel. It is only when we confess, as the scriptures do, that we are ALL sinners, all broken fragile people, that we can accept those not like us. We can receive the saint and the sinner. Jesus had a unique way of hanging out with people most Christians would turn from. I wonder, if you walked into your church facility this Sunday and found a homeless person, a corrupt politician, a lady of the night, what would be your response? Would you welcome them, sit down beside them? Jesus would take it a step further, He would have them over for lunch. As we cry "Lord have Mercy on us" shouldn't we try to show some? I have been spurred by the life and teaching of Jesus this week. Do I love people? Do I show it? Do I soak up mercy and than show none to others. Let us show mercy as Christ has brought infinite worth to us by the Cross, let us proclaim that worth to the world. Humanity is shaped in the image of God and has infinite value.

City Park

This is the time of year you love being in New Orleans. Mardi Gras, Lent, Easter, Spring, Festival after Festival. The weather has been and will be amazing morning, noon and night. The rain is even nice. This past weekend we spent most daylight hours in City Park. The Park is a testament of our rebuilding. Here are some pictures.

The Bell and the Bones

It has been a productive and busy week. We have had two volunteer groups working with Sojourn Lakeview. They helped clean out some of the building and passed out cards for "Turning of the Bones." The Bones opened this weekend. It is both painful and hilarious. Jan is an amazing writer and really opens her inner thoughts in the play. We also visited the Dinner Bell in McComb, MS recently. It is Southern Country cooking served family style. Life is moving and I am keeping up.