Two Villians and a Hero

Earlier this week, I had the honor of celebrating my Grandpa’s life with my family; a life spent in the Word, seeking to glorify God and further His kingdom in this world. It was a very somber yet uplifting time as his sons, my uncles and my Dad, each spoke about his imprint on their lives.

It was also earlier this week that I heard news of Osama bin Laden’s death. It struck me soundly the difference between these deaths. One a loss to us but gain to him, the other a gain to us but loss to him. On the one hand, a man who sought to serve, and on the other a man who sought to slaughter. Both deaths were celebrated, both with tears and cheers but for very different reasons. Both deaths were celebrated with a feeling of fulfillment, both deaths brought news of a bit of peace, but again for very different reasons. One we celebrated as his just reward brought him before the Lord to reside with Him in heaven, the other we celebrated as his just reward brought him to hell.

If you are wondering about the second villain, it was Hitler.  My Grandpa was 30 when Hitler committed suicide, if April 30 1945 is the correct date, and was 95 the year Osama died. Hitler died at age 56, Osama at age 54. Both died ingloriously. If these were the world’s dark book ends to my Grandpa’s life, they only helped to reveal the luminous presence of Christ in him.

I know all three of these men have influence that will stretch far beyond their years here, but I rest in the confidence that the Light will prevail. I am grateful for my Grandpa and the work that the Lord did in his life, the presence of Christ has spread from his life to the rest of us, glory be to God.

Brian

Thoughts by the River

I got the chance to enjoy a nice quiet moment while Betsy gave the trips a bath. I was out listening to the evening sounds when the songs of birds give over to the chirps of frogs. When the sun’s last light fades from the blue and takes with it her color. I began to share thoughts with my Creator by the river Grand.

I will always be impressed with those who strive to be more than they are, more than what their circumstances would permit, more than what life in this world tries to make of them. This evening, my hat went off to all those who struggle. My heart went out to brothers of mine who face issues in common yet daily take up their cross in pursuit of becoming more. Then it went out to all who face weaknesses of all kinds in their own character, in their own mind, heart, and body.

To the faithful and unbeliever, God bless you. May your striving produce fruit to give you strength for your journey. In your steps, one after another, you follow the One who paved this way whether you know Him or not. May His grace invite you to lay down that which you cannot change by yourself, may His strength encourage you to walk in higher steps than in an endless cycle of failure and regret, and may His love surround you with the confidence that He will bring you through.

Again God bless you, and Christ be with you, may His Spirit guide you in a direction that leads beyond this life from all that entangles. And in the words of Bono, “walk on”.

Peace,
Brian

Concert at South Lansing Christian Church

It was a great time tonight with all those who came out to hear us. It especially was an honor because I knew most of the people there. Thank you all so much. I was going to claim the right to take a bathroom break at any time during the show but I held together pretty well so it was a good night. 🙂 Plus you guys were so much fun, this concert has ranked as one of the best ones we’ve done.

Wally Lowman, the worship guy at SLCC was an incredible help. He did our sound and made us sound great. Thanks man, you rock. Frank, SLCC’s senior minister, was there too which was cool. Most of the time, the church leaders take the night off when I come in, but not Frank. He was there trading stories of Rich Mullins and other memories. Lots of fun, plus he drove the bus which brought in the GLCC students. Thanks Frank.

Thanks to Megan Kidd who ran the merch table. She did a great job and the T-shirts she made were very fun.

And thanks to Susie Finkbeiner, she came and represented Better Way Imports- a company devoted to helping those freed from sex slavery. She gave an encouraging message of how we can get involved to change what is going on around the world to free those enslaved in such a demoralizing practice.

Thanks again to everyone who came out, you made it a blessing to us. God be with you.

Brian

The Tale of Two Tales

The power of story is easily seen from the Garden to the Final Day throughout Scripture. Somehow it is usually split between the two tales of “can” and “can’t”. The tale of these two that is impressed on me today is the one of the 10 and the 2. The 10 told the tale of “can’t” and they were so convincing God’s people were halted. The power of the tale of “can’t” prevented them from entering what was to be theirs.

The 2 told the story of “can” which was later to be fulfilled by Jesus Himself.  What He did forever opened the door to “can”.  May you be persuaded by the power of “can”.

The Church of Greater Lansing Food Drop

Today was a day of days for me, an experience I won’t soon forget. It was a mix of feelings, one that we were changing the shape of Lansing, and another that all we did was a drop in the bucket. But for those people in the bucket that we were dropping on, we were a much needed blessing indeed.

I came solo so I got teamed up with a pastor from Penway Church of God, Doug Irving and his son Jaxon. After a very spirited rally of worship and encouraging words from a team of pastors from the Greater Lansing Area, and a special appearance from Mayor Virg Benero himself, we were sent out with a load of boxes containing food for families in need in the region. We started off from Holt High School, where we met at and celebrated Jesus together, then we got our boxes and headed out with a map to the specified sites. The boxes, purchased by offerings given by 30+ churches, contained food enough to supply a family for two weeks.

The first family Doug, Jaxon, and I arrived at was an older lady named Maurice (I think). We delivered her box and offered to pray for her. She was an older lady dealing with some sort of auto immune deficiency. Doug offered her a prayer of healing and encouragement that seemed to unlock emotions that were bottled up upon our arrival. By the time we left she was crying and praising Jesus.

At another site, we met with an older man named Charles (again, I think). He had a major heart condition and in the combination of the food drop, Doug’s prayer of healing, and our successful/semi-hazardous attempt at pushing a neighbor’s car out of a ditch, I think God’s heart condition for Charles and his neighbor was communicated.

The person I had called and tried to arrange as a partner in this event canceled on me, but told me to do my good deed for the community anyway. I wish I would have had the words to tell him this wasn’t about doing some sort of deed that makes you feel good about yourself. For me, it was about someone much greater than I reaching out through His children to those in need of something much greater than a box of food. This fellowship of believers set out to minister to those in need with the love of God and in doing so, were a Spirit inspired response to Jesus’ prayer in John 17.

“…to let the world know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.”

God bless you Lansing, may His Spirit dwell richly within your people.

Brian

When I consider Your heavens, Part 2

The sky rose up above my head, distant stars shining with such presence I felt I could gather them in my fingers. But like sand they escape my grasp. My spirit lifted me that I may take my place among them. Everything in motion, the light they shine passes through me. I am somehow less firm in the company of the stars. I see myself as crude matter next to their glorious bodies.

But this is not so. For though I’m fallen creation I live in the crucible of free will. The stars continue in their purpose, there is no rebellion there. But I have to discover mine and submit to it.

Such a delicate dance, so effortless for them to obey. And yet for me, I am at war to keep my pace in step with His. Each foot I put in front of the other is a battle. And yet I learn from the stars, their fluid motion, their twinkling brilliance, their order with creation that all may exist. For such things to be there must be obedience.

When I consider Your heavens, Part 1

O sometimes I envy the stars, they only ever shine, it is their nature. But I, in my freedom sometimes shine, sometimes not. I understand that when I am faithful my light shines greater than all the stars in heaven, but sometimes I would trade my freedom that I would actually be one.

And yet, I know that Jesus paid the price for my freedom and that I should be grateful, but at times, its almost blasphemous to think, I still envy the stars.

Worship like a Tree

A tree knowing where its source of life comes from and turning its leaves to get more is worship. Growing branches that strain to get as much as it can, sometimes even recklessly upraised and unbalanced. Roots digging through the earth passed rocks and clay in search of water drinking as deeply as they can.

A tree knows that it can live off nothing less, so it grows and reaches and becomes a blessing to others providing homes for birds, squirrels, and many other creatures and providing shade and fruit for the traveler.

Living worship is more than a thought on a page, more than acts of kindness to a stranger. It is greater than the fellowship of community, and more powerful than the martyr’s sacrifice. It is everyday giving glory to the One who is all with each and every breath, in and out, each and every thought and action, each and every movement and stillness. Reaching toward our source of life with everything we are and growing to be a blessing, bearing fruit filled with thoughts, acts of kindness, communal fellowship, and sacrifice.

Peace to you on our snow day.

Brian

Band Retreat 2011

I just got back from a time of good food, good folks, and good fun, that sounds familiar… As a band, we all took a retreat together at a cabin on Gun Lake. Geno and Grace Harris, Brad Fortuna, and I rehearsed old songs, explored new ones, and critiqued future potentials. It was hard work at times, and I can’t say enough about these guys and their dedication to the music, to praising God through the gifts He’s given them, and to be willing to do this stuff with me.

Betsy made us a Chicken Pot Pie for the first night and in Geno’s words, “We’re off to a good start!” It was delicious. Grace made us Lasagna for lunch the next day. I swear there was a 1/2 inch of cheese on the top, plus it had whole garlic cloves in it, outrageous. I mention the food because it takes the right amount of ingredients to make a good meal. It takes cooperation, it takes the right fit of flavors, and it takes the right amount of time to bake. Band fellowship, to me, is very similar to that, and somehow I was blessed with people who take the simple ingredients I’ve used in writing the songs and make them taste wonderful.

Plus we found a game called Bass Fisherman Monopoly. Everyone hated it even before we opened it up and played it, but none of us could resist giving it a try. Geno demolished the rest of us, which was surprising because he was jail-bait for the majority of the game. Fortuna kept landing on the “draw a card” space, and I rolled doubles consistently, but not enough to enact the “three doubles in a row jail time” rule. I lost first because I have no business sense and I knew Brad was about to quit so I kept giving him all my properties. If you’ve even read this far, you may be wondering why I’m typing this and why you are wasting your time reading about 1 hour and 1/2 of our pain through a terrible game. Well, I’ll tell you… For some reason, its experiences like that which create memories. I video taped and recorded most of the retreat because I’m still amazed that they enjoy doing music with me. Fortuna and I were music brothers all the way back in High School, and Geno has been with me these last 6 years. Grace has been a great addition for probably the last 2-3 years. I’m really excited for the stuff we have worked out and for the songs that are still being formed.

More than the music, the food, and even the fellowship, what unites us as a band, is our belief and desire to give glory and honor to our God and to celebrate Jesus in our lives, and that is where the retreat centered. It was a blessing to be with them and I had to share that with everyone who will give this a read.

I want to thank the Meunier family for letting us use their cabin, it is such a great place to hang out for a while, thank you. I also want to thank Betsy and Jen for letting Brad and I take a night off and do music together. You guys rock!

As a band, we’ll see what doors God opens, and we’ll see what roads we’ll travel, and in the mean time I know I’ll enjoy the memories created and experiences shared. Enjoy life everyone.

Brian

The Ritual of Fire Part 2

Let me begin with a warning, fire is dangerous when not handled safely. Do not try anything with it without an adult present and perhaps a functional extinguisher and a cell phone with 911 on speed dial.

I was introduced to the dramatic flash and flame of Coffeemate Creamer powder when I was in Junior High, back in the 80’s. A friend of mine poured a little single packet over a lit match, and I was hooked. After that I experimented with many other flammable sources but I always came back to Coffeemate. I would take a handful and toss it over a well lit camp fire and FLASH, it would light up the night sky.

In my always and ever concern to include others in all things freaking awesome, I developed what began to be called, “The Community Fireball”. Basically I would take a canister of generic creamer powder and hand out handfuls to people who formed a half-circle around the fire- with the wind at their backs! (Oh the lessons learned when giving a metaphor to 30+ willing participants at a Freshman Orientation Retreat)

I would then begin with a devotional thought about what we can accomplish on our own in comparison to when we pour our resources in with others, a basic truth discovered back during the building of the tower of Babel, but when applied to Christians taps into the advancement of the Kingdom of God as Jesus prayed for in John 17. I know to think this way pulls at the fabric of many churches, and it should because I’ve seen flames stretch up 20+ feet in the air, reminiscent of the pillar of fire God used to guide His people with by night.

The highest I’ve gotten on my own is maybe 6 feet of flame. Jesus calls us the “light of the world”, and He prayed for us to be “one” just as He and His Father are One, so that, and here’s the kicker- “to let the world know that You have sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.” So by being unified as Jesus prayed for, we are evangelizing to the world.

There’s a group called COGL (Churches of Greater Lansing) who are planning a food drop this February for families in need. I believe it is a group of more than 30 churches and I’m very excited to see the influence and effect this act of love will have on the surrounding communities. Who knows, it might just change the city as Jesus’ followers reach out in love to those in need. I betcha this flame will be so big it will be seen from Heaven.

Go ahead, grab a handful and come along. Let’s all throw in to that great consuming Fire and see how far the Light will shine.

-Brian