A poem I wrot e for Wil's 5th grade Class

I find it interesting that we live in a time where there is soooo much knowledge available and soooo much boredom. This I believe is the natural result of what happens when knowledge is disconnected from personhood and purpose. Children need an expanding answer to the question

"Why"

I go into Wil's 5th grade class to help them understand why we are asking them to work so hard at learning. To get them to own it. Helping people make sense and make meaning out of their lives is part of ministry. Part of the journey of people connecting with God's call on their lives.

I saw a parent wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "DON'T JUST DO IT".

Recover for your heart's sake the wonder in the question why that ultimately is only satisfied in God.

A poem for Wil's 5th Grade class:

Learning is for me
I am going to learn
Everything I need to learn...
So I can be free
Free to be me.

jaw1

Up late and sending a quick note out.

Well... Friday i had the privelege of teaching at Wil's fifth grade class. I have developed a motivational piece for kids to encourage them to own the learning process.

Saturday Valerie and Raymond got married. They are both committed to Victory outreach and are a witness to their families. It is a privelege to witness this.

Friday Pm some of the members of LA St. prod had a last minute carne assada.

Thursday we got help from John stokes about a lot of our Technicle computor questions.

There are many details I have missed these last few days... i hope to say more...

from a song that I love that haunts me in a good way.

"No one gets a second chance to be the friend they meant to be."
(Mark Heard)

Gratitude

I wrote this while reflecting on Luke 4 with our InnerChange community.

It is a gift to taste of heaven
It is a gift to taste of hell
It is a gift to taste
of life -- to exist.

It is a gift to taste and witness
--- Our time
--- Our place

It is a gift to give thanks
and not take what is, for granted.

(by Jaw1)

"Some taste of heaven
Some taste of hell
some lose their taste and cannot tell"

(Mark Heard)

The MTA is Back

At least for now the MTA is back. This has hampered the life of soo many in LA including myself. Here is a cry from the little people of LA... Work it out and help us survive... Be reliable so we can keep in touch with our families, our schools, and our jobs. We do not handle desparation very well in LA land.

Streaming Mo Leverett Today.

My wife went to the CCDA conference this Nov. in New Orleans. Mo was a speaker there and shared a talk on redemptive suffing that I had to share and discuss. Good fodder for the fire. He is also a good singer. So between the heat sweat tears and stories of Desire street ministies we are going to rock this show. Take up the cross... for the joy of it... and if you can't for the joy of it... then go learn more of what it is about. Learn what it really means to give and recieve love. Ther is no way to do this without sharing in suffering and resurection life.

Staind Concert and other Ramblings

Well I went last night to the Hollywood Palladium to see Staind with a young friend in the neighborhood who invited me to go with him. I will be reflecting on the over all experience for some time.

Some came to the concert in every day dress... quite plainly in fact... normal Joe's and JoAnna's out to see a show...

Others were dressed in the Black attire uniform of non-conformity...
Others were dressed to impress...

There were a few T-shirt Quotes worth sharing:

Do Not Hate the Player
HATE THE GAME!!!!"

Everyone Has Issues

I was struck by the range of ages at this concert... mid-teens to late forties...

I did not like the opening bands much at all...

Stained on the other hand ... their music is about the human condition and the pain in simply trying to live life. Authentically shared and artistically delivered (if you like melodic metal/thrash as a style of music). There are moments when I felt like this was the closest some of these folks have ever experienced something like church in a good sense. A kind of confession to each other about life... missing the prayer for healing part though... maybe missing the hope for healing part.

There was also a deep sadness in the air. Many people seemed to have come to the concert hoping to feel alive for a few hours before retreating back into their various forms and levels of depression. Staind does not sing "happy fun or silly playful kind of music". It is all about looking hard at the condition of the soul.

I think some of their material could be used to stimulate deeper dialogue if we would take the time to listen and then talk to each other. If you have a friend who is already a fan... try it out... ask them to play their favorite tune for you and then to talk... honestly about it...

My Friend Freddy Loved the concert and the Mosh Pit dancing. He worked hard to get as close to the front as possible. I enjoyed watching the crowd as much as the show.

Freddy reminded me that I said I would help him learn to write poetry. We had a great time of sharing after the concert at Denny's.

Two souls were brought a lot closer together as friends through this concert and I woke up wanting to pray more, reflect on life more, and to do more of my own art... I also woke up more determined than ever to share the hope and joy I have been gifted with in this life... and to share it's source...

God Bless,
JTW

Sharing the journey...

There is an emerging housing crisis for the poor in LA. i have witnessed the seperation of families, the eviction of other families, and the overwhelmed state of those trying to serve those who might become homeless.

I know people who are now homeless.

I have a friends about to come out of jail in a few months who will need work and a place to live.

I have another friend who needs help moving her stuff into storage.

We will be getting new neighbors... The new Rampart Police Station is going to be built accross the street from where Jude and I live.

I wish I was more gifted at working with and through systems. My gifts are more creative and interpersonal.

I do not pretend to have the answers.

I will share the journey... and what we need is a lot more affordable housing and those with the vision and the skills to make this kind of thing happen.

This is a cry and a prayer in the LA Urban Jungle...
Mercy, Lord have Mercy on us..
peace out,
John TW

This Past Weekend

This weekend feels like a blur because so many realities happened. Most significant for me was a prayer meeting for the persecuted church around the world. I lead the prayer time for Latin America.

We prayed for those who have paid the price for being peace makers when so many divisions have been sown among the people.

We prayed for those who have paid the price for not compromising the truth as part of exercising their faith.

We prayed for those who have found the strength to forgive. And for others who wish they had the strength to forgive.

In prayer we found common ground in the midst of our differences of political views... this too was grace.

Sunday eve. I took a friend to pick up his car. My life is often filled with a lot of little helpful tasks and trying to share the love of God all along the way.

Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning was about helping my friends Tonya and Walter move. A Job promotion and the lack of safe parking in our neighborhood is what made the move inevitable for them. They need a palce of rest to come home to when the day is done. I think they have found a better home for themselves.

We lose more potential leaders in our neighborhood to a better quality of life and opportunities elsewhere far too often. We have a friend who wants to plant a church in this neighborhood in part to work on healthy Christian Leadership of the Community for the Community. He was hoping that Tonya and Walter would be part of this... Yet they really do need to do what they need to do to survive and grow. Pray for us as we seek to partner with Alberto's efforts in this reguard.

Friday evening I got to hang with Boy, Laura and boy's two brothers. We went to the new matrix movie... and then Boy, Luara, and I hung out at I Hop on 6th St. and talked about Life. This is what friendship is about... growing together.

Went to the new Matrix Movie

Chris and I went opening night to the new Matrix movie. Brave ending in my opinion. I liked it and will see it again.

What is more important is the conversation that Chris and I had before and after the movie. We talked about values and truth and life. We are determined in and through our lives to love God and People while learning the appropriate place for things. Friends help each other in keeping their priorities right. We agreed that we would support each other in being faithful to our wives... This is the real stuff of life.

2 hours at the movies... this dream landscape provided a reference point for conversation to unfold. Now if we could only have the same level of open conversation over the scriptures... we might find not just inspiration, but God given guidance.

I am greatful for a movie that makes it clear that winning isn't everything. Do we need a common enemy before we can make peace???

I am not a big fan of Hegel... and the series is true to Hegel's categories of...

Matrix 1: Thesis
Matrix 2: Anti-thesis
Matrix 3: Synthesis

What is concerning to me is the lack of prayer and reflection that is going on when people consume media. Everything we witness, real and unreal impacts us at some level. To be aware of what is going on in our souls takes intentional time and space. See my link to "Space for God", and try the "Online Prayer Guide".

Media is a given in our current culture. What I find young people want from adults is not so much rules about what is good and bad in it. But the tools to understand it and the means to understand how it is effecting them. Often if they can get beyound the addictive elements of our own culture... they will begin to self select a healthy diet. Model this... Don't just consume media... reflect on it... deconstruct it... and build tools for insight... Don't just tell the kids... show them!!!!

Both Chris and I have cut down our TV consumption a lot. I watch less than 4 hours of TV a month now including the news. Take a fast from some of these things and let your soul breathe... maybe even pray a little bit more.

Chris and I went early to the theator and we felt abused by the manipulative advertisements before the movie started. I will have to figure out a strategy of skipping the hype before movies... find my own exit out of "the Matrix" "To see it for what it really is".

(Their is a little book by Soren Kierkagaard that I really like... called "This Present Age" where he explores the necessity of a religious stance that is necessary for us to become fully ourselves... I have heard that C.S. Lewis explored a similar theme in his novel "Till We Have Faces".)

Be the fingerprint in this world and history that God intended you to be.

Ramblings about today and other stuff

Well you probably noticed that my feedback link is out of commission. I found a statement that my feedback service is supposed to be moving to another server. so we will see if it comes back in a little bit. If you have something you really want up with my stuff... email it to me and I will consider it.

Well after the war with Iraq started... my Financial support for what I do here in LA has gone down a lot. I will either need to raise more funds or will need to become tri-vocational... One of my mentors from CRM, Steve Hoke, thinks that my time with people is worth investing in. I think so too. I have never done the asking for money thing very well. I guess I will have to start learning. Questions about this are welcome...

On my 2 hour internet radio show I played Stained and Barry Taylor. Stained is interesting because they are a group that is quite honest about their own emotional pain... something very important to understanding youth these days. I have started borrowing a CD a week to listen to from my neighbors. Music resonates deep within the soul and often gives insight to realities that we might otherwise miss. Have you ever thought about sharing CD's as a way of sharing with a friend some special part of your life story??? Have you ever thought of it as another kind of listening to others???

I met with steve Hoke today and we are working on learning to pace myself for the long haul. I have already cut out all TV after 10 PM. Now the computor is to be shut down after 10:30 on week days. For a stimulation addict... these are big adjustments. You can hold me to them.

Peace Out,
John TW

Dear John,
I have to reply to this.

See Tues. Oct. 28th Post

You sound so much better. I'm appreciating
what you have to say much more because you sound healthier, your
spelling and grammar and contextualization are so much more readable
and your light side is shining through. (example- kind of shuts up your
mouth) I love the part about being "thrust into a history of God's
making". (That's where you and Sunday came from, a history of God's
making.)

And AMBER Too!!! (see below)

I was thinking I needed to send you a book called "Margins"
about avoiding overload but now I don't think it's necessary. Love, Mom

Mom I think I could still use that book on Margins ; ) I still got to learn about not over packing my life... there is soo much to do and sooo much wonder in it alllll !!!

I find myself speachless today. Today I held a little newborn baby in my arms. It gave me pause for thought and more perspective about life than a book with a thousand words. Her name is Amber and she is the child of Joe (Cisco) and Daniela. Life goes on... Are we ready for the generations to come?

I can only imagine the joy that our friends the Rundles are also feeling... They wrote:

Dear friends,

We wanted to send you the announcement that our daughter, Zoe Galloway Rundle, arrived into our expectant arms on Friday October 17th at 12:56pm. She weighed 8lbs.7oz. and was 21 3/4" long.

The birth was a beautiful experience, very hard work for Catherine but she did amazingly well - tribute in a large part to the birthing method we chose which allowed Alastair to take a very large role in the labor, encouraging and supporting her. Zoe came out alert and happy, long enough for us to say "Hi" then promptly went to sleep and gave us chance to eat a big meal to recharge ourselves.

Her Apgar results were 9 after 1min and 10 after 5min!

Our birthing team was amazing, Melanie, our mid-wife and Diana our nurse were just wonderful.

A thumbs up all around.

Well done Catherine, well done Zoe.

Life is Huge!!!

I want to recomend the musings of my friend Darren Darren's Blog. We all need an awareness of our roots and the process of changes that come over time.

Wednesday is usually our day off. After sleeping over and in a friends house in Santa Monica and having coffee in bed (Thanks!!!)... going out for an early dinner at Koo Koo Roo... and walking the Santa Monica Promenade with Jude... I tried to have an extended devotional time at a coffee shop. It felt at first rather dry and forced.

The whole of InnerChange goes through the book of Luke with any apprentices as part of our community life. Tomorrow we will reflect on Luke 2 together. (I find Luke 2 life affirming because all these people on the margins of their current society get the privilege of first hand revelation).

Since Luke didn't hit pay dirt very deeply I turned to the Journal of Francis Asbury. I've been reading through his journal slowly for the last 10 years. I also try to read any scripture that he refers to. This usually challenges my laziness. It also gets me out of the temptation of reading the passages I like to read. Today's journal entry said that he preached on I Peter 1 to about 30 people... that he felt that he wasn't very inspired today... and that latter that day he read the books Philippians, and Colossians. Nothing at first hit pay dirt. Then I realized that Philippians is a letter of gratitude Phil. 4:10-20.

I have been feeling gratitude to many in my life, but some of you wouldn't know it. That extra step of saying thanks has been missing... both in my relationships with friends and family and in my relationships with God. Insight... fuel for the soul... and so it goes...

Thanks for visiting my blog ;)
Peace and Grace
John TW

Our friend Mona treated Jude and I to an amazing theator presentation of poetry called Def Poetry Jam . What I see in this is that there is a very deep search for inspiration. The world is turning to the easthetics of language and to easthetics in general to try to work out what reason seems to leave incomplete. The show was a wow. Maybe a taste of the best of what hiphop has to offer.

Jesus offers something quite radically more and different. More than most of us don't really want it (cause we like our self-centered worlds). I am glad that grace is larger than our ego's. The road to Emmaus in Luke 24 has become a parable for me. What is it like to be ripped out of our self-centered worlds and to be thrust into a world of God's design. Like Zachariah I find myself wanting a family and instead God wants to thrust me into Eternal History that matters from God's perspective. (I may never get to have "my own" children.)

A poet speaks from their soul to ours. I like this I am a poet too. This if done with authenticity is an amazing wow of a gift of communication.

A Prophet, a preacher, a pastor, a "servant of God" is called to speak something of the heart of God to those who will hear it.

Poetry is nice. It wows me.

Revelation is necessary. This keeps me on my knees.

Today I am spinning a KRS One Mix. I think that there is a lot to learn from his journey. Both his criticism of the church and his willingness to work with the church. He is a significant voice in HipHop culture which has gone world wide. If you had a chance to talk with him and share your faith and life journey with him what would you say??? What could you learn from him??? What would Jesus Do??? and would you walk away if he asked, "What the f@#$^^% is Jesus doing???"

It is going to take demonstration of life to be a witness in our times.
"Don't just tell me, Show me."

Jesus' teaching style could be described as show and tell. I am all for that... demonstration of life.

Peace out,
JAW1

Christy of Dry Bones posted on her blog:

I got to see three friends from Chicago yesterday who were in town, as well as two LA people. I went to the City of Angels Film Festival, and saw Pulp Fiction for the first time. (Nope, hadn't seen it before - or any of Tarantino's other films.) I had hours of conversation yesterday about many topics. Now my brain is full and I can't decide which of the following topics to think about and write about first:
Pulp Fiction
The detrimental effect of feminism on black men
The feminine nature of the Holy Spirit
Why TV is just one big advertisement
New clients for Wedgies for Jesus
The interconnectedness of joy and grief

I must go muse on these things for a while. So, Ann & Brian - great to see you. And to the other Brian, Rikkell, and John - thanks for being the kind of people who make me think. And John - Not many people say things I haven't heard before. Even fewer will start freestyling at 2 am in the middle of Denny's. I need to know more people who do that sort of thing.


My Response to her Blog

It is a joy to hang with a sisters and brothers who can dialogue with such a wide range of realities quite easily. It is interesting what we remember... I could add:

The organic nature of Character/ fruit of the Spirit and the bankrupt nature of any institution the teaches love only as a command verses nurturing Love and other Positive Character traits as a fruit,

Following "Jesus" means following a person which implies communication... which many saints of the past declared that God is always speaking...and we are not use to really listening... also all those other people who get to have a relationship with GOD... but now I am supposed to settle for only ink on a page??? "And lo I will be with you always even to the end of the age...",

the theme of blood that ran through the evening -- no bloodless cross for me -- the danger of over sanitizing the Christian faith,

Sex /images/ Fear & repression, sexual scripts, intimate ties that transcend shallow scripts, and collage as a tool to regain power over images and what they mean -- the need for a more wholistic approach to human sexuality, physicality, and holiness.

West Hollywood Denny's as a fassion runway in the late night PM... with extreme fashions out for the show,

Institutions becoming disyfuncktioNaL over time when they simply try to repeat old successes over and over again ie. no need for God's guidance or the Holy Spirit... just do it like we always have,

Freestlying and learning to speak directly from the heart,

beoming the one unique creation God meant for us to be rather than a social xerox copy,

and more... I say we had a rich evening of conversation and it was a gift to share it with all.

I had the privelege of hanging out with Dr. Gibbony's house last night with a group of health care professionals. We are dreaming and praying that God might lead us into how to best use our skills (including health care skills) to best glorify God in this city. There is certainly room for a Christian clinic in this city if all the details would come together. This would be a dream fullfilled for Kathy Henry. We all want to move with integrity... let us pray.

Dear Friends,

Let me know if I in my Imperfections have let you down.

Conviction from God is a good thing. It does not produce shame, but rather a new level of awareness. God has been pointing out to me the number of promises that I have made to friends that I have yet to come through on. They were all made with good intentions, but some have remained outstanding – some of them for years. Yesterday, for example, I took to the printers the set of collectable trading cards that LA Street Productions has sought to make on an annual basis. I am a year over due on this.

The call of the Holy Spirit is clear. God wants us to be a people of our word -- to keep our promises. Ever so gently God has told me to shut my mouth... to either come through on the promises made, or to apologize for not being able to come through on those promises. It is also clear that my memory is incomplete so I decided to share this with you. God is faithful and kind... he longs for us to be the same.

Yes there are reasons why my energies broke down for a while. It mostly has to do with learning about walking through grief and sorrow rather than around it. (reading Jerry Sittser’s book: A Grace Disguised.) God in his gentleness waited until I could see the other side of this before deeply impressing this new insight of truth on my heart and mind — to speak more slowly and to keep my word more faithfully. Except when God is seeking to get us to humble ourselves and submit ourselves to God’s love and care; God generally does not seek to overwhelm us with our human condition.



Some random notes on how to know the difference of the voice of God and other voices...

God will press us towards insight, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom (Luke 24:13-49 is a great example of this).

Accusation that puts us on the spot and causes shame is usually not from God. In Rev. 12:10&11. Satan is called the accuser.

God will usually provide guidance with conviction. That is a positive steps towards growth in character -- who we truly are on the inside grows.

The voices of socialization seek to control us from the outside in and usually have a fear element to them. Mom, dad, or some else will be angry or not pleased with me if I do this. Socialization is necessary for groups to function, but rarely do groups have the insight to transform themselves. Ultimately in following Christ we have to learn when and how to rise above the voices of socialization, because conformity buries our uniqueness as God intended us to be.

God will speak to us in line with the history of revelation that has already been passed on to us through the scriptures -- both Old and New Testament.

The quality of our relationships usually will improve as we respond to what God reveals to us. (I John 1:5-10).

I could say more but that is a good start for reflection for now.

Peace and Grace,
JohnTW

This post was inspired by an Oct. 22nd post of "Dry Bones"

I have a friend who told me that God has only spoken to him directly 2 or 3 times. The last 2 times were several years ago when he was told to "Go visit prisoners in jail" "Pray more". It took him several years to do the prison thing... but when he did it changed his life. He says it may take him more time to pray more... but at this point he expects that only good will come of it.

God guides me in the weirdest ways. I am so book oriented that I had to read a book to accept the process of learning a new way to hear God. It is as if God keeps changing languages on me every 2 to 3 months... (this is the same God that gave me the "Gift of Toungues"... which I am reading a book about to better understand it cause I am stuck in the hyper analytical heritage of the town I grew up in... Princeton NJ.)

I will take out for dinner anyone willing to come to our LA neighborhood and willing to read the book, "The Transforming Momment: a study of convictional Knowldge" by Dr. James Loder

The book on Toungues is written by Morton Kelsey ... I forget the title...

My favorite Devotional right now is "Space for God" by Don Postema

My life is soooo different than it would have been if I had not run into the realities of God speaking to me personally.

I probably will never be rich... but I am free to learn to love... my wife, my neighbors, myself, mi Barrio, and my God. And so it goes....

During the The Hyperesthesia Show I hope to share a little from my reflections on Ps 23 that I had the privelege of preaching on this past Sunday. Thank you for all prayers. My voice lasted through both services and The Spirit of God encouraged the people greatly... I also felt an affirmation of my calling in a way that I have not felt for a long time.

1. Track 20 5:39 KRS ONE
2. All the Lonely People 2:38 Aretha Franklin Best of Aretha Franklin
3. Big Brother 4:12 AD - SEG
4. Resplendent5:02 Vigilantes of Love Audible Sigh
5. Fatherless Child 5:44 MysticCuts for Love Scars for Freedom
6. Track 01 4:02 Out of the Grey
7. Stand to the Glory 3:49 Ruth Naomi Floyd With New Eyes
8. Track 04 4:32 Blackalicious Arrow
9. So Free 4:51 Barry Taylor Love Songs for Underdogs
10. 920 5:53 Cauzin' Effekt Famlee Afair
11. Like a Tree 4:33 Beth Meres Tree
12. Chris Key And Friends 8:50
13. Track 14 5:27 Mahalia Jackson The Greatest Gospel singer In the World

Fragments from today:

Natalie, the beautician who cuts my hair, said, "I know that God loves me because he keeps sending me people like you to me." Melanie, Rikkell, and I had an impromtu prayer time with Natalie along with two other friends of hers.

Someone lets me know that a relative of a friend of mine got stabbed today.

A young person asks me to listen to some Hiphop by Tupac. I try to explain that a thug life is not as good of a life as it is made out to be... KRS ONE and his Album "Spiritual Minded" helps some in making my point. Need more Good hiphop music folks...

I tell a young person that I am preaching tomorrow. He says "Cool"... meaning that is cool for you... even though I wouldn't think of going myself... I tell him maybe next time... and he considers it... maybe next time...

Cooked Omlets for the IC team this morning.

Loaning out games to neighbors decreases the boredom factor in the neighborhod... and we know that kids do stupid stuff when they are bored.

Joe gives a shout out to all those suffering because of the MTA strike. Got to work today and I have to struggle for tommorrow. I am trying to get from point A to point B... even though I have to committ myself to go to work... I hope the madness of this strike ends very soon... Joe's thought for the Day :) From black to white and black again... here is another containment unit I have to stuggle against.

This Sunday I will be preaching at both morning services, the 8:30am and the 11:00am at Central City Community Church of the Nazarene this Sunday. All are welcome to join us if you would like. Mere is a Map to the Church located at 419 E. 6th Street, LA CA 90013. Pray that I share the Word of God Boldly and Faithfully as I should. Also pray that my voice holds out for both services.

Dear Friends,


City of Angels Film Festival

I am interested in this annual film festival because of the conversation that is going on about film, media, Values, Pop Culture and the church.

Realistically this year I will only be able to attend one or two movies. The cost to go to just one showing is $8.00 ($6.00 for students). Seating is limited. I am most interested in seeing and hearing the discussion on the movie “Pulp Fiction” (rated R) On Saturday Evening at 9:15PM. Anyone else Interested???

PM of the MTA strike. A friend of mine just got a job 15 miles from where we live. With no car and very little family support he will probably loose a job that he would have been able to keep if our public transportation system was up and running. He got stranded today... so I picked him up.

If you have a van and want to make some cash... I bet at least in theory one could drive some of the bus routes and start your own temporary replacement of the MTA. And so it goes

Well I got caught by the MTA strike. The ride I got out to the Kill Radio Station turned out to be a oneway ride... and so it goes... I get to hike from Vermont & beverly... I wonder how many mile this will be????

I obviously did not get my play list up. I have been sick for almost a week. I am strong enough to work inspite of not feeling good. I have this gift called life to work out. I am greatful for today.

Yesterday some of the younger guys were flipping cards with me after dinner. It was nice to have some company after spending so much time cooped up. Jude teaches on Monday evenings this quarter... so it's a neighborhood game night at my house most of these Mondays...

Rikkell came by needing the computor... seeing the guests she almost caused a riot by her kindness. Heating up water and serving up Hot Chocolate for all of us. Small acts of kindness are big here and greatly appreciated -- thanks.

Kathy Henry organized a social gathering for Steve Scharf on Sunday Night. Over 20 people came out to hear how life has been for him ...and how the work in Venezuela is doing... good from what I heard... but I had to cut out early cause I have been sick.

(Won't make it to Luna Tierra Sol Tonight either.)

A lot of folks came through. Kathy Gable told me her Church -- Passadena Mennonite -- is planning an alternative Christmas sale on Nov. 16th. I hope to sell some of the good made by the women of House of Hope in Cambodia to support heir struggle through Hands of Hope. (See Link).

It was good to see Boy & Laura who are working towards getting married next year -- Lord willing. They have that Lovers glow about them... which is a good thing.

It was good to see Chris and Roxanna... Joe and Daniela... Glen, Lupita, and Carmen... Miguel and his sister... Norma Zelaya...Rikkell and others.

A Big Shout Out to Kathy Henry -- Thank you for your generous hospitality!!!.

And a Big Shout Out to Steve Scharf... We in LA miss you... KEEP THE FAITH!

My cough is keeping me up tonight. Strangely I feel happy otherwise. I guess it has been my contemplations on Psalm 23. I don't get why we so often read this at funerals. It is kind of like reading someone else’s testimony (David's in this case) to a bunch of grieving people who need to wrestle with life in front of them. Yes the God part of the testimony is comforting. Job would have written it differently... so would have Jacob, Paul, or John the Baptist.

I am going to preach on Psalm 23 at Central City Community Church on Sunday -- if I have the strength God provides. I am not going to tell them that if they turn to God everything will be immediately OK. I trust the Character of God. I know the Character of "Sheep"... that going astray part and going our own way part... (Isaiah 53 kinda costly part). Rather, what do we need to do in order to allow God to reorder our lives so that we have a testimony too? I like Zachariah's Testimony in Luke 1... Kinda shut's up the mouth a bit after so many years of struggling with faithfulness only to find oneself thrust into a history of God's making rather than your own. David anointed King -- for many years a fugitive -- was just that kind of person... so was many of my hero's of faith:

Desmond Tutu, Keith Green, Amy Carmichael, Juan Carlos Ortiz, Oscar Romero, Soren Kierkegaard, John Perkins, Dr. Martin Luther King, John Wesley, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. James Loder, Toyohiko Kagawa of Japan... and many others...

Reality has to go through a being turned inside out process... Who is in control of "my reality"... Like the Emmaus road in Luke 24... human pride has to hit the skids big time and fail... (facing this is what the best of the 12 Steps of AA and NA are all about).

So you want to be anointed like King David??? Psalm 23... Live into this: "The least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist" (Jesus). Cry out to God... We need the Spirit's anointing oil poured out on us... But don't think for a Momment that personal comfort is the end point to the journey. Only the very sick are comfortable with the brokeness of the world as it is... Ministry, Mission, Love Sweat and Tears awaits us all.