Lesson Posted on eSnips

You can find lesson 12 from Another World Is Possible here.

shalom, matt

Free Hugs

This reminds me of Dave Matthews' video for Everyday. If you haven't seen it you should look it up on Youtube.

This guy has made it his mission to hug people. Note how it starts to spread like a virus. Remember: Love Wins!

Enchanted World

The world is drenched in God. What is so unfortunate is that many followers of Jesus (so-called or actual) fail to see this fact. So many times our discussions and presentations of the Story of God and Man begin with the Fall of man, how all things are screwed up and sinful, how we, as part of that Fall are a complete mess, and how the world is jacked up in so many ways that we just want God to come and take us away from it all. The problem with that way of seeing things is that it isn't biblical. Not by a long shot. You see, the Story begins in Genesis 1, with a loving God creating a beautiful, engaging world and populating it with all manner of rhythm and life and shalom. He gives humanity charge over it, to care for, tend and protect. That is where the story begins: with all things being pronounced "good." This is the vision of the kingdom. This is the hope of the gospel, that we are all created with the God-image stamped in us and no one has lost that image, no matter how far it may have sank underneath our sinfulness. It is our Father's world, an enchanted world full of life and beauty, hope and peace, and picture after picture of the kingdom coming to light.

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world! The battle is not done;
Jesus who died, shall be satisfied, and earth and heav'n be one!
This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!

shalom, matt

Songs from Mars Hill

As some of you may know I spent a couple days up at Mars Hill, the church Rob Bell teaches at, for a conference called "Isn't She Beautiful." During the course of the conference there were a couple of occasions for corporate worship. One song that we sang really moved me and gave me a new language with which to talk about the mystery of God and his world. I'll share the lyrics with you here. You can hear the song, and others from their new worship c.d. at musicatmars.com. The song is called Enchanted.

This world is enchanted
Lean closer to see it
This world is enchanted
Dare to breathe it in
Dare to breathe it in

O God! Give us new eyes to see
Give us new skin to feel
Give us new lungs to breathe the wonder underneath
The faith of a mustard seed
A holy naievate'
To swim in Your mystery we need to be free
Free to breathe it in
Free to breathe it in
Born and born again

This world is transcendent
Lean closely to see it.
This world is resplendent
Dare to breathe it in.
Dare to breathe it in.
(C) 2005 AARONieq Music

Beautiful isn't it? Later on I'm going to share a quote from G.K. Chesterton that was read during the middle of the song that really opens this song up and breathes life into the soul, a rich warm breath, that fills and satisfies and creates a longing to be borne into this mystery.

shalom, matt

Catching Up With Old Invisible Friends

I know, I know. It's been too long. I've had a distinct lack of anything useful to say around here, plus I've been out of town/state recently. Throw in my wife and son's birthdays (27th and 28th) and here we are, like, 10 days later with no posts of any sort. I actually do have some stuff to share, I just need to get my thoughts together and make it vaguely coherent. So, check back today or tomorrow and I'll have something worthwhile posted.

shalom, matt

Message Posted on Myspace

The audio is up for last night's message. You can get it here. As an aside, this message was hard to write but came out better than I thought. It isn't easy to listen to or deal with...for me in particular. Just a heads up.

shalom, matt

Lesson Posted at eSnips

Lesson 11 is posted on eSnips. You can find it here.

shalom, matt

AICM Journal Entry #6

1.5.07

This has been an extraordinary week, a life and kingdom affirming week, full of laughter and smiling faces.

I've been listening to Tom Waits this week, and am, in fact, listening to him right now as I write. He has a song called Hold On where he sings

Inside your head there's a record that's playing a song called, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Baby, gotta hold on
Take my hand
Standing right here
You gotta hold on.

It seems to be the message that best fits the children we minister to: hold on. Hold on through abuse and neglect, trial and temptation, loneliness and isolation, alcoholism and drug addiction. Come to think of it, this is the message that best fits my life, too. "Hold on, Matt. Hold on. I'm coming soon to make it right and to take you home. Hold on." The biblical, million dollar word for this is persevere. Hang on.

Holding on is one of the transforming gifts I've received here, among others. I've found a renewed sense of awe at the power and depth of the written Word and a renewed dedication to be more disciplined in attending to it with my mind AND my heart. Not only this but also disciplining myself to more diligent in contemplative prayer and learning the art of praying ceaselessly. Of all places for this desire to surface it came through my reading of Salinger's book Franny and Zooey. It was a combination of that and being in a place where the entirety of your being is focused on God and community of Christ. As always I take many photos with me, both on my camera and in my memory. Sounds and sights that cameras can't capture, and even if they could, it would be a massive disappointment, because some photos can't capture all the eye can take in.

Of all I take with me though the greatest gift is my continual formation in living a missional life back home, in my home and ministry and within my community, full of souls who haven't yet found the joy of living in the way of Jesus.

shalom, matt

AICM Journal Entry #5

1.3.07

Tonight was one of the more fun times I've participated in on the bus ministry in the four times I've been out here. It was great to hear our favorite phrase again--you know it by now--"Can I get on your back?" I thought about something while I was spinning one of the kids around, namely, how starved they are for attention. I've waxed on this before, so I won't go into great detail here. But I realized that we are providing a much needed meal of attention. The kids are ravenous, like a homeless man who hasn't eaten in four or five days. The kids get their fill and then come back for seconds and thirds. "Do it again!" Spin me again!" is a constant refrain in our ears while we are out on the bus with them. It's like they know that it may be the only meal they get for the next month, until Gene and Sherry can get back to them again. Exhausting as it may be we are more than happy oblige them and fill them up to overflowing with the love and attention that they so deserve as children of God.

shalom, matt

Audio Message Posted on Myspace

Michael has lovingly posted the message from last night (a new world record for the two of us getting it posted) at myspace. Notes are there under lyrics. You can find them at the eSnips site as well.

shalom, matt

AICM Journal Entry #4

1.2.07

We've painted a lot in a short amount of time. We painted the girl's dorm--two rooms and two hallways--in two days. It feels good to do a lot of physical work, to be exhausted and wanting nothing more than to be sitting down with a Dr. Thunder and a book. At the same time we're so anxious to head out on the bus and play with the kids, an exhausting prospect to even think about.
________

Just got back from the rez. It was everything that it has always been in the past: fun, exhausting, full of joy and love. We were overjoyed to hear our favorite question before the bus had even stopped: "Can I get on your back?" Who could look into their dark, doe-eyed, snot-dripping faces and say no? As opposed to the first time we met Apache children, which was awkward and nerve-wracking, this time was just automatic. You start playing as soon as they step on the bus. We just love it and long to keep doing it. Going home hurts. shalom, matt

Lesson 10 Posted on eSnips

We're back in business, folks! My notes from lesson ten are posted on eSnips. You can find it and all the other lessons, here.

shalom, matt

Kim's AICM Pictures

Finally, I got them all posted. I had to sift through them there were so many and eliminate a good 30% of them. There's is still a bunch and they may replicate some of what I have, but they are good nonetheless. You can find them here.

shalom, matt

AICM Journal Entry #3

1.1.07

It felt good to get some physical work done today. We painted today, washed some walls prior to aforementioned painting, and cleaned the floors in the science lab and in the modular so they could seal them with wax. Pretty lowkey, low-brain-usage kind of day. Tomorrow we head down to the rez on the Blue Bus. It'll be nice to connect with the kids. I find them hopelessly beautiful, even the dirtiest kid. Their eyes, dark and deep, suck you in and tell a story full of dreams, both alive and dead; innocence bruised but straining to breathe again; joy that blooms with the slightest rain. It is a story that is still being written, in which we can write a small sentence here and there, and, perhaps with that sentence, forever alter their story and work it more seemlessly into the fabric of God's continuing story.

shalom, matt

AICM Journal Entry #2

12.31.06

In spending time worshipping with the Navajo on the reservation I have the following observations:

1. It was a long drive but totally worth it if for no other reason than to see the land, the wide open spaces (cue cowboy music now), dotted with buttes, a million miles between everything. so much space that your eye can't take in the vastness. It swallows your vision up and leaves you, mouth hanging open, astounded that anything could make you feel so small in comparison. The scale of everything is just enormous. If you've ever seen an infant taking in the world around it, eyes darting back and forth as fast as they can move them, trying in vain to take in every little bit of stimuli that presents itself then you understand the experience of driving up into the Navajo reservation.

2. Singing "Victory in Jesus" in English while everyone around me sang in Navajo reminded me of St. John saying in Revelation that every people, tribe, tongue and nation will stand before the throne in heaven, worshipping Christ together as one voice. I got a glimpse of that today. I couldn't get it out of my mind that what I was looking at was none other than the partial, yet nonetheless beautiful, fulfillment of John's prophecy. It was happening right before my eyes, with the lifting up of song in one voice and two languages.

3. White people or somewhat of a novelty on the rez. But our hosts were gracious and hospitable in a beautiful way, sharing their food and celebration of Christmas and New Year's with us. The Body of Christ was one in the communion that comes through one meal and the fellowship of the saints.

I was thinking about the landscape out here and one word came to mind: violent. Open spaces broken suddenly, violently, by a ridge, a mountain peak, a butte. Canyons dropping off suddenly into oblivion beyond the reach of the eye and the senses. Violent, sudden dramatic and able to dwarf the biggest ego, reducing it to quivering humility at the realization of just how small we are in the scope and space of creation.

shalom, matt

AICM Pictures (Matt's pics)

All of these pictures I've posted to this point are from my camera alone. I'll be posting some from Kim, Donald, and Joel when I get a chance. There are bunch of pics so it might take you awhile to get through them. Totally worth it though. You can find my pictures here.

shalom, matt

AICM Journal Entry #1

12.30.06

I've been thinking about my son, not an unusual occurrence, but I've been thinking about him and his relationship to the college students. He loves them. My son is very outgoing, extroverted I suppose, and he will talk to anyone with a pulse that shows him attention. He's very much like his mother in that regard. The amazing and beautiful thing is to watch how they interact with him. They love him. And not in an I-have-to-love-him-because-he's-the-PK way either. They genuinely love him. How astounding is that? College kids loving a 4-year-old that they aren't related to, playing with him when he asks (cars, puzzles, books...you name it), laughing at his "jokes" (Beefstew!), and being part of his growth as a Christian. They have become an intricate part of his life in a way I couldn't have even begun to anticipate. That puts a new spin on my job, and on these mission trips, as well. You see, their growth as disciples, as followers of the Way, ultimately has implications for HIS growth as a disciple. I've never thought about it in those terms before. How they act and think and relate to each other is being carefully scrutinized by the almost-four-year-old residing in my home. He is learning. Whether he realizes it or not, he is learning how to treat others, how to love and encourage. These are the most formative years for him and so he is a giant vacuum cleaner, sucking in everything he sees and hears, and these things are forming who he will be for the rest of his life.

That's why it's so important for them to take seriously the call of Christ, to take seriously this mission trip: little eyes are watching and learning.

shalom, matt

Back in the U.S. of A. (or, Not That I Ever Left)

So, I'm back from Arizona and I'm sure you were, with bated breath, awaiting the return of Matt ben Michael (that's "Matt son of Michael" in case you don't speak Hebrew). Arizona was a blast and I'll be posting my journals on this very blog, the first installment to follow shortly after this post. I hope your New Year's celebration was Newyearriffic and all. As far as the journal entries go for the trip, I'll be posting one a day (if I can) until I'm done with them. I'll also be posting a butt-load of pictures on the eSnips sight (I haven't forgotten you eSnips. I know it's been awhile, but hang in there, buddy!). I'll get those posted sometime in the next week or so. I've got to sift through them as there are about 2400 pictures between 4 cameras. Needless to say, I'm not posting all of them. Check back often and I'll post a link to the eSnips sight when I get the pictures up.

One last thing: we'll be resuming our kingdom series this week on Wednesday nights, so I'll be posting the outlines on eSnips and the audio on Myspace. I'll link to it when we get it up and posted.

shalom, matt