My Worship Revolution

Some of you piano players out there might appreciate this one, well, except for the horribly out of tune piano anyway!

Last year, Rachel posted 28 pictures for my 28th birthday on her blog.  I thought I’d steal that idea and post a picture for each year of Caleb’s life on his birthday!

Wow…wasn’t that moving?
OK, so maybe not as impressive as 28 photos.

The first pic was taken the day we brought him home from the hospital.
The other one is from this morning while he ate his favorite breakfast, pancakes.

Two years ago this morning…
It was a Sunday morning.
It was a Chargers bye week. (Pathetic I know that, eh?)
It was exactly a week after his cousin Ryan was born.
Rachel was in labor for around 8 hours.
This bald little boy entered the world just after 6am.
My world was rocked and my life was changed forever.

No real deep thoughts on it today. Just to say, even when it’s tough, even when it’s frustrating, even when I want to throw him out the window, I wouldn’t change being his daddy for anything in the world.  I love this kid more than I ever thought I could love anything or anyone, and he has changed me.

And I better keep that all in mind cause now it’s time for the terrible twos!!  Which I actually think he got a head start on, by the way.
And tomorrow we find out if he’ll have a little sister or brother.
We’re blessed.

Happy Birthday Caleb Genesis!

And just for fun, a few of my favorite past posts about Caleb and fatherhood:

3-D Sonogram
He’s arrived!/Name Explanation
First Father’s Day
First Birthday

Here's the video we showed at church this morning from my trip down to Ensenada last week.
Check out what we'll be doing below.

There will be a few clips at the CLC blog this week also that I couldn't quite fit into this video.
Can't wait to go!

I mentioned on Tuesday that I would give a more detailed recap of the race.  So for those who are interested, here was my experience.

Swim.  37:51.
First of all, a huge thanks to Patty at wetsuitrental.com for hooking me up with a tri wetsuit.  We met up at the expo and she was not about to let me use my O’neil surf wetsuit!  I used to be a swimmer in high school and college, though I never claimed to be a real good one.  And if you’ve never experienced triathlon swimming, it’s a totally different experience!

I was able to jump in the water and take some strokes before it all started which helped acclimate my body to the 58 degree water.  Knowing that I wasn’t gonna be exactly competitive, as the wave started, I chose to swim on the outside and about 1/2 way back to avoid some of the congestion of being hit, kicked, clawed, scratched, swam over and across.  I still started out with plenty of legs and arms around me.  i think I may have been better off to jump in the thick of it and just go for it.  Might help my time a little.  We’ll see.

The kelp actually wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected.  And it was nearly as thick as the day I did the swim clinic a few weeks earlier.  There were a few times where I got a little caught up, not to mention the time I got a giant piece draped across my neck.  It slipped off slowly, rubbing nicely on the spot where my new wetsuit was chafing on the area I already had a rash from working out in my other wetsuit.

As I rounded the first buoy I realized the field had spread out a bit more.  It was hard to see behind me, but I started to get the feeling I was at the back of the pack.  Not gonna lie.  The swim was not horrible, but it was tough, and I can remember thinking once or twice that I might just want to call it a day.  But of course I wasn’t gonna do that.  I jumped out after one lap, rounded the rock, and hit lap 2.  In good news, I didn’t rinse my goggles really at all after spitting in them before the race, and this was the first time in quite a while that they didn’t really fog up at all.  Yay for that!  Coming in a few people from my wave were swimming back toward the wrong.  Although it made me second guess myself, I knew from the swim clinic to veer right toward the exit, which I’m sure helped a bit.  All in all, I could tell that swimming was the discipline I neglected the most during training.  I’ll have to fix that next time!

T1.  5:48.
I did a swim/bike “brick” workout the week before, but still I was surprised how difficult it was to jog onto the beach and up the hill to the transition area.  Not sure if that was the horizontal blood flow to the upright position, or if the swim just took a lot out of me.  I didn’t really rush through transition much.  Made sure I had everything ready to go for the bike, downed a Powebar gel, and caught my first glimpse of Rachel and Caleb.  Then it was off!

Bike.  1:39:01.

Now the 4 lap bike course was slightly more hilly than I had expected.  Nothing too major though.  I spent a fair bit of time biking during training, so while I wasn’t very fast, I was pretty confident in getting through this portion somewhat comfortably.  I have a bike computer that isn’t working to give me distance and speed, but it does keep time.  So I used that to check my time at each out and back and tried to at least stay consistent, if not get faster.  My times show that each lap did get faster, so I’d say that’s a good thing.

Being in the first wave, the course was pretty nice when I started.  Not many people out there.  But as the waves kept coming in, it got more and more congested.  It’s pretty amazing how fast I am not on the bike.  There were lots of people passing me with really nice bikes.  On my first lap, as I was pedaling in from my first loop, I rode by
Rachel and Caleb.  Rachel was whooping and hollering and it was awesome
seeing Caleb’s face mesmorized as daddy rode by with all the bikes.  On
the way back out Caleb joined Rachel to say, “Go Daddy!”  All of a
sudden, I seriously didn’t care how many people passed me.  I was just
enjoying the ride, giving it my best, and looking forward to finishing
for my kid.

I did manage to pass a few people though.  And then there was a guy from my wave that I kept trading places with for the last couple laps.  On lap four, about half way in, I get passed by a guy who taps me on the butt and shouts a quick word of encouragement.

T2.  3:44.
Actually, I was kinda surprised how short this transition was when I saw that.  I thought I took at least as long as the first one.  It should be a shorter transition, but again I wasn’t all that quick.  I downed some electrolyte pills I had along with another gel blast before the run.  And I couldn’t help but make a quick stop in the port-a-potty before going.  (1, not 2)  I thought it was maybe a bad idea for time, but I knew it would make the run a little more pleasant.

Run.  Umm…37:41…plus 17:00ish???
Yup, my royal screw up.  As I stared out, the run actually felt pretty good.  And when I look at the time for my first lap, I’m actually really happy with a 8:28/mile pace.  That’s better than some of my training runs without the swim and bike.  Frankly, that surprised me.  First lap was pretty good, with about 100 feet of walking to take advantage of the aid station at the turn around.

On lap two, it started to get a little bit more painful.  My legs started getting a little tighter, especially my IT bands with I was starting to feel in my knees just a little bit.  I decided to stop at one extra aid station on what I thought was my final lap.  Oops.

I think you know the rest of the story.  Couldn’t find my family at the finish line, so I got my phone from the transition area and made a call.  After realizing I hadn’t finished, and almost wanting to cry, I wasn’t sure what to do.  Finally, I decided I needed to finish for myself at least, and snuck back on the course for 1 final lap.  I looked as I went out and the clock said 3:20:–.  When I finished that lap and crossed the finish line (again) – where I spun my # to my back so the announcer wouldn’t say my name again – it said 3:37:–.  So I figure my time should have been right around 3 hours and 20 or 21 minutes.

Conclusion
I know.  Long post.  If you’re still reading, you’re either a triathlete, my mom, or I’m impressed!

So a few ending notes.  For one, I had a blast regardless of the screw up.  It was loads of fun to be out there, and fairly gratifying (minus the screw up) after training for essentially 6 months.  I’ve never been really the athletic guy, through school and what not, so it’s kinda crazy to think I finished some triathlons.  Especially since I’ve always hated running!  Not sure how many I’ll have to complete to feel comfortable calling myself a triathlete.  using the word athlete about me just doesn’t feel right, even though I’ve always wanted to.  That being said, I’m in for San Francisco!!  I gotta do it right this time.  So anyone else in?  Dan? James?  Eric?! You?

Also, I think it’s in my blood now.  I have trouble with any hobby or activity with just giving it a shot and then letting it go.  That’s why I’m still working on how I’m gonna get SCUBA certified someday.  I also love to challenge myslef and accomplish something I didn’t ever think I’d do.  And it’s great that this one keeps me healthy, too!  All that to say, I’m adding two more races to my bucket list.  Half Ironman, and yup, you got it, an Ironman!  Sounds insane to me, which is why I think it would be amazing to be able to say I did it.  So I guess I might as well throw a marathon on that list, too.  Half Ironman I hope to do next year, maybe the Big Kahuna here in Santa Cruz.  The Ironman…that may be at least a couple years.  Especially cuase I think it would be rad to Ironman New Zealand.  Two birds with one stone from the list!  And that will take some serious saving, planning, and getting rid of school loan debt!!

Slowly but surely, I promise, they are coming!

Let’s see…how how about we tackle the rest of Bet’s questions.

What is your theory on Lost?
Seriously, I’m not one who sits and really tries to come up with theories on it.  I just watch and enjoy, but of course I am trying to figure out what the heck is going on the whole time.
That being said, I do like to waste my time reading mindless drivel on the internet sometimes, and I am a big fan of this theory at this point in time.  Very clever, and seems to have good answers for most everything.

What makes 24 better than Lost?
Two words…Jack Bauer.
See last post below.
Next.

What is your predestination theology stance?
Yes.
Yes, we are chosen.  The Bible says so.
Yes, we have to choose.  The Bible says so.
How are they both true?  Not sure.  But I think it’s one of those things we can’t fully understand.  I used to swing way more to the “we choose” side, but I guess being stuck in a family with all these stinking reformers has got me warming up to Calvin.
Another one of those questions that when it really comes down to it, there are great theologians who I respect and admire from over the years that disagree on this one.  I’m just not arrogant enough to think I can be the one to figure it all out.  Close…but not quite.

Do you approve of women as senior pastors in churches? Why or why not?
Geez Bet.  Thanks a lot.
This is actually one that I keep coming back to and struggling with, and let me preface it by saying that I have not studied it nearly enough to make a solid conclusion yet.  The simple answer is no.  But it’s not that simple.  Let me explain.

I definitely came out of a background that is pretty heavy against the women leading thing, both from Calvary Chapel and Knott Avenue Christian.  So I’ve been recovering.  I’ve swung pretty far away from where I used to be as I’ve looked at the cultural context of certain passages as well as the practical realities.  But Lead Pastor is definitely a place I haven’t been able to move past yet.  On the flip side, while I would not currently attend a church with a female lead pastor, I also don’t condemn those who do or the women who are.  While I may not be all for it, I hardly think it is one of those issues that when we get to heaven, God is gonna be really ticked off about because the wrong gender was expanding the kingdom.

I really would like to be OK with it.  In fact, I think it would be beneficial to the Gospel if I could be.  Here’s my biggest hang up, though.  While I get that some of the passages commonly used are cultural, I also see Paul follow them up with a theological argument.  That’s where I get stuck.  The guy says things I would never say today!  And just for clarification, at this point for me it is definitely not an ability issue, rather it’s a role issue.

Also, as a sidenote, here are a couple of interesting posts regarding this theological issue and the newfound excitement in the Christian community for Sarah Palin.  Go check those out for some thought provoking reading.

So there you have it.  I stirred the pot a little and hopefully the backlash doesn’t get too ugly.
It’s definitely something I want to commit more time and study to in the near future.
How about you other Christ followers out there?
Where do you stand on the issue?  How did you get there?
Share if you dare.

I just cleared the meeting on my calendar.

So, I guess you could say I accomplished one of my goals in the Ragamuffin Top challenge with my second triathlon.  Well…kinda.  

P.S. – I love the half face shot of Dan in the video still above!  Very nice.

So, a lot of you probably saw this video here and/or here in the past couple days.  "A renewed mind is the key…"  Come on, sing along!  If you missed it go check it out.  Make sure you watch at 1:50 in when you get the dance break cross between John Travolta in Pulp Fiction and Michael Jackson…kinda.

Well, I found that there is one more video by the same group, so I thought I'd get that one to you as well.
Check it out:

HT: The House Of Hunt

I was trying to find out more about this group, and I confess I haven't found anything online yet, but it was interesting when I Googled The Way International.  If the lyrics seemed a bit odd to you Christ-followers out there, it my shed some light if they are part of the same The Way International as the religion/cult.

Looks like a group that kinda combines the beliefs of several, including Jehovah's witness and a whacked out Pentecostal.  The most important thing to note would be their belief that Jesus was not God, nor is the Holy Spirit.  Pretty interesting to read about.  Go check it out.

And if you can find any more about this performance group, let us know!
Maybe we can see them on tour nearby!!

On December 27th-January 3rd, we will be taking a group from our church to Baja with Baja Bound ministries.  We will be building a home for a single mom of 4 daughters as well as hosting a vacation Bible school for children in the migrant camp.

This past Monday I had the chance to roll south of the border with John Rose, who also happens to be my youth pastor from high school, to see the area we would be working and approve the house we would be building.  Here are some random pictures from the day of the area and of the people I met there.

I am way stoked on the opportunities we have to do ministry down there.  More to come in the next few weeks.  A little here, but mostly at the CLC blog.

For several months now, God has been laying on my heart the importance of prayer for me and my family.  I truly believe that God wants to use us in big ways.  As I think about someday planting a church, I believe God will use us far beyond our abilities.  As I look at where we are right now, I believe God wants to use us to create and transform culture right here in Santa Cruz.  And I am recognizing how much prayer is needed to do the things we’re called to do.

So I’ve had it on my heart to gather a team of people to partner in ministry with us by praying for us.  It’s something I originally remember Eric sharing with me that he did as he was helping plant at Life Church.  I want to find people who pray.  People who could really be intercessors on our behalf.
At first I felt a bit prideful in a way in asking this, but a friend pointed out that even Paul requested prayer from his partners in ministry, as shown in the verse above.

So this post is an unashamed request for those of you who would be willing to, to commit to praying for us and our ministry.  Ideally I’d like to gather at least 31 people to commit to pray for us.  Why 31?  I’d like to ask each of those people to commit to one day a month to pray over and with us.
That’s the plan.  It would be amazing to know that literally everyday there is someone praying for the work we are doing.  I have the first of each month covered already…only 30 more to go!

Then, each month I will send out an email to all of those people with specific prayer requests that we have for our lives and ministry.  And I’d also love to hear from those people as God reveals things to them as they work alongside us in that way.

So there you have it.  If you are a person who would be willing to pray with us and partner with us, I would be honored.  Please feel free to email me or to leave a comment, and then I will be sure to get back to you.
I believe God could use this in huge ways for us.  Thank you all so much for being a part of our lives.  I really believe God has great things in store for all of us.  You guys rock!