Back to Blogging

So, I've been married for 10 days. You might expect me to write about marriage, but I'm not going to. Not yet. I think I'm still too close to it - too overwhelmed still with the grandeur and beauty of it all. There's too much to say - my heart is too full.

But I do want to get back to blogging. Whenever I'm away from sentences for too long, I start missing them, like some people miss their Pilates or their pets. And there's more to write about than ever. We live in an endlessly interesting time. There is change all around us, and there is need for alertness and courage, for the Church's responsibility to interact with culture in a sanctified and meaningful way is still the same.

So in my spare time between kisses, I'll once again be contributing my trademark blend of sagacity and simplemindedness to the bloated bucket of nonsense we call the blogosphere. Stay tuned.

Me? Getting Married?

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." - Proverbs 18:22

In one week, I'm getting married.

In some ways it still seems unreal, like I'm somehow disembodied and observing my life as a spectator. In other ways I feel more alive than ever before. Either way, it's really happening. It's really her - it's really me.

I won't bore you with all the planning and preparation details. As you know, a wedding is kind of a big deal, and it takes a lot of work. Sometimes it's difficult to keep the sacramental immensity of marriage in view amidst all the activity. It's so much more than rings and vows and candles and champagne - it's the highest institution of mortal love that we will ever experience.

This is not a drill. This is for life.

God has shown his faithfulness countless times over the last few months, even through my failures and clumsiness. For years I wondered how I would "know" who I'm supposed to marry, but I understand now the certainty that borders on awe. "This is the way, walk ye in it." Thank you, Lord.

Our plan is to build a small cottage here on my folks' property over the summer. While we build, we'll be living in a twenty-eight foot travel trailer, which Jessica has been making into a wonderful home with her remarkable womanly touch. (I know some of you are skeptical that anyone will ever be able to civilise me, but if anyone can do it, she can.)

We'll be leaving for a short honeymoon after the wedding. For the "real" honeymoon, we're planning to take a longer trip sometime later this year to England and Ireland, to celebrate history, literature, and the color green. If you've visited the British Isles, we'd love to hear any advice you have to share.

There's lots of things I've been wanting to write about. Right now I simply don't have enough time or concentration to spare. Hopefully I can return to the blog in a few weeks after some of the dust settles.

Thanks for reading and thanks for praying. Soli Deo Gloria.

Image courtesy of mississippifamilylawblog.com

Something Beautiful

Last Thursday, I took Jessica to the beach for the afternoon. We had a nice drive across the valley, talking, eating french fries, and reading A Bear Called Paddington. In Templeton, we picked up some feed for Leah's goats and enjoyed a wonderful lunch with the Welch's.

Our destination was the W. R. Hearst State Beach in San Simeon. It was a beautiful day on the coast - warm with high clouds and a light breeze. Once Jessica had a chance to put her toes in the water, we walked down the beach and picked up a trail along the bluff through the Eucalyptus trees.

After stopping to climb some trees, we found a path back down to the water and explored some of the tide pools, looking at the crabs and starfish, watching the pelicans and gulls gliding above the water, and just enjoying being together.

It was 4:30 in the afternoon. I suggested we start heading back to the beach, and we turned around. We walked in silence, listening to the rustling wind and the rhythm of the surf. Beauty. Youth. Peace.

Love.

We got back to the main beach and explored some more tide pools. Anemones, barnacles, and more starfish. The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon, and a full moon was rising over the hills behind us, glowing soft in the evening mist.

"It's all enchanted and wild / Just like my heart said it was gonna be..."

-Nickel Creek, Nickel Creek, "Out Of The Woods"

There was a long pier extending over the water, and I asked her if we could walk out on it before we left. We stood at the end, looking out over the water, listening to the bells on the buoys and watching the pelicans diving in search of food.

After a few minutes we went over to a bench and sat on the backrest with our feet on the seat so we could see over the rail of the pier better.

I told her some poetry that I'd written and memorized as a preface to my proposal. Then I got down on my knee on the bench seat, took her hands in mine, and told her that I loved her - desperately, with everything I am. I told her I was ready to commit the rest of my life to loving her, caring for her, protecting her, sheltering her. And then I asked her if she would be my wife.

She said yes.

Four times.

Giddy, I unzipped my coat pocket and retrieved the ring. I slipped it on her finger, and we embraced hard - still having trouble believing we weren't dreaming. I was choking back sobs, but mostly we were too amazed to cry.

The sky was crisscrossed with brilliant color. We sat on the bench with our arms around each other, both in awe of what had just taken place. I said "It's us now, in everything," and she said "Yes..." and sighed happily. We prayed together about the future, fully conscious of the holiness of the moment.

"We don't know / And we won't know / What we're in for / But it's something beautiful..."

-Alex Mejias, Alex Mejias, "Something Beautiful"

I never dreamed.

We walked back down the pier, hand in hand for the first time. On the way to the restaurant, we called our families and told them the news. The celebration spread like electricity.

Looking at each other across the table at the restaurant, we still couldn't believe it. We ordered and tried to eat, and after the meal I gave her a Bible. Then it was time to drive home.

A piece of advice for the guys: get an automatic transmission. It makes holding hands a lot easier.

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him.

-1 Corinthians 2:9

I Can't Write

Tomorrow morning I drive to San Francisco to pick up Jessica. It's been 47 days since I've seen her, and I feel like one of those little wind-up cars feels when you pull it all the way back and hold it there. I'm exhausted, excited, twitterpated, and several other things. But I can't write. At all. I tried.

After tomorrow I should be myself again.

"When love has got you in its throes / even the summer's heat just freezes your soul / and the sweetest song - it just clanks along / and the morning dew just says goodnight and leaves your heart undone..."

Image courtesy of robinsdocksideshop.com

Of Thirsty Souls, Far Countries, and Good News

Disclaimer: There are certain times in our lives when we are confronted with the simultaneous necessity and impossibility of conveying something with words. This is one of those times.

After an unprecedented month-and-a-half hiatus, I am returning to Sojourner's Song. You may be wondering what reasons I can give for my extended absence, especially if you've been missing my erudite literary analysis, profound social commentary, and penetrating spiritual insights, as I'm sure you have. Well, I have a very good reason - in fact, I can't think of a better one.

I've been chasing a girl.

Her name is Jessica. She's 22, thoroughly beautiful, deeply intelligent, and overflowing with love for God and life. She's well-read, well-traveled (India, Thailand, New Zealand, and all over the States,) and... well, adjectives have their limits.

In August, I discovered her blog: The Scribbles of a Sojourner. I was immediately struck by the quality and maturity of her writing, and sent her a short message saying so. She responded, and thus began an ongoing conversation that has been growing deeper and more delightful ever since.

Though she's originally from central Idaho, she's currently living in New Zealand, so at the end of September I boarded a plane in San Francisco to go meet her. I was there for a week and half, and it was wonderful. We enjoyed some long walks, many deep conversations, and a beautiful date at a local restaurant, after a lovely time exploring Queen's Park and taking a long stroll down the beach.

So, much has changed. I'm ready to get back to writing, and I'm excited about sharing the sojourn again. (Psalm 45:1) As usual, there's much to see and discover, and much to learn and understand. At least, if I have a lot to say over the next few months about a four-letter word beginning with "L", you'll know why.

It's a wild ride, and sometimes I don't feel very brave. But God's mercy is an amazing thing, and if we can learn to stand under it, nothing is impossible.

"You came in without notice / and settled all around my heart / took up residence in the places / that were vacant and dark / I wish I could tell you / but I just can't find the words..."

-Sandra McCracken, "Springtime Indiana"

Note: This is a courtship, not an engagement. Please gossip responsibly.

Image courtesy of Jessica

An Intermission

As you may have noticed, I haven't been blogging much lately. Besides being generally busy with work, family, and Church, there have been some other matters consuming most of my time, thought, and writing impetus.

Accordingly, I'm announcing an indefinite intermission here at Sojourner's Song. I plan to return as soon as I can, because I really feel the journey is worth sharing.

As always, thanks for reading. There's still plenty of new things to explore and talk about, and I'm certainly looking forward to picking up the discussion again. To steal a line from Steve Brown Etc. - "Like Jesus, I'm coming back!"

Down and Out of Time

As you can probably guess from the lack of activity here on the blog, my summer has been quite full. Between working, backpacking, planning surprise parties, going on Search & Rescue missions, and getting sick, time for reading and writing has been scarce.

Spiritually I feel like I'm at a very ambiguous place, disoriented, dried up, and possibly a little jaded. However, as long as faith lasts, it is not an aimless ambiguity, but rather a pregnant ambiguity, like that of a darkroom. Discipleship, like development, takes time. Weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning. "But tension is to be loved / when it is like a passing note / to a beautiful, beautiful chord"

Anyway, in the absence of anything more substantial, I'll throw out some random stuff from the last couple of weeks.

• Peter recently introduced me to the late Christian folk group Silers Bald. Their album Real Life is the best I've heard in awhile: creative, intelligent, and encouraging. Definitely worth a listen.
• I just finished C. S. Lewis's On Stories, which I actually found slightly boring. I think I'm getting to where I'd rather read stories than read about them.
  
• I have a new toothbrush that is extremely painful. I like hard brushes, but these bristles are so hard and so wide that it's impossible to brush without lacerating your gums. Anyway, just stay away from TopCare.
• There was a book sale at the library this morning, and I found several titles I've been watching for, among them Sheldon Vanauken's A Severe Mercy and Jon Meacham's American Gospel. I also picked up a copy of Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz.
• Lately I've been enjoying several excellent podcasts: Steve Brown Etc., Internet Monk Radio, and The God Journey. I may have time to say more about these podcasts later - for now I'll just say that these are guys who are thinking beyond the cookie cutters and clichés and asking the tough questions. Good stuff.
• I'm becoming increasingly interested in rethinking the answers to basic questions we take for granted about who God is, why life matters, and what it means to be a Christian. Expect some ruminations along these lines sometime in the future.
  

As always, thanks for reading, and God bless you.

Take my broken offering and make it whole / set my feet upon the road that leads me home / let me walk as one fixed upon the goal / even though I got a thousand miles to go

-Caedmon's Call

Photo credit: "The Dock" by Rick Coulby (interfacelift.com)

A Special Silver Celebration

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very flame of the Lord!

-Song of Solomon 8:6

The love shared between a man and a woman is one of the greatest gifts that we enjoy in life, and it is the nearest metaphor we have for the cosmic romance between Christ and the Church. As the verse above indicates, love is at the very center of who God is. Peter Kreeft writes:

Love is God's essence. Nowhere else does Scripture express God's essence in this way. Scripture says God is just and merciful, but it does not say that God is justice itself or mercy itself. It does say that God is love, not just a lover. Love is God's very essence. Everything else is a manifestation of this essence to us, a relationship between this essence and us. This is the absolute; everything else is relative to it.

We're dealing here with something that is straight out of heaven, and even though the perfection of creation has been marred and fragmented, the beauty of God's original intent remains, and it is fitting that we celebrate it.

On July 2nd, Mom and Dad marked 25 years of marriage. The beautiful thing about Mom and Dad's marriage is how they've shown that it's not about just hanging in there and putting up with your spouse. You can pretend to love by forcing yourself and gritting your teeth, but not for very long. Mom and Dad have exemplified loving through surrendering, and in this way have been more than conquerors - not just surviving in marriage, but thriving in it.

Mom and Dad are also a model of serving in marriage. In fact, they're so busy doing stuff for others that we have to catch them totally off guard if we want to do anything for them. So, this past weekend, that's exactly what we did. On Saturday, some friends distracted them with a little trip to Yosemite, and over a hundred friends and relatives showed up for a surprise party. The surprise was a slam dunk, and we all enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of blessing and honoring this special couple.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our dear friends and family who helped to make Saturday the special day that it was, by bringing gifts, pitching in to help, or simply by being there, in body or in spirit. We love and appreciate all of you more than words can say. Thank you.

And to Mom and Dad: Happy Anniversary!

Image courtesy of Callis Family Photography

Las Vegas and Zion

All the travel and busy schedule has left me hopelessly behind on blogging, but then again I've never met a blogger who wasn't hopelessly behind. It's wonderful to be safely home; maybe now I'll have a chance to catch up a little.

Sunday, March 30th, I attended the morning service at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Fresno and spent the afternoon catching up with Max. After a few short hours of encouraging fellowship, it was time for the 10-hour drive to Utah, the first leg of the journey.

I have never been to or driven through Las Vegas, but my route to Zion National Park takes me right through on I-15. The night has fallen, and I'm driving north opposite a glowing stream of liquid incandescence - thousands of cars headed back to southern California after a weekend of who-knows-what. As I approach the city, an unearthly orange glow begins to darken the outlines of the Nevada hills in front of me, exploding into a panorama of flashing lights as I come through the pass. A small multitude of planes or blimps hover over the city like mosquitoes, making it feel like some kind of battle zone.

Looking for a convenient station at which to refuel, I do my best to ignore the gaudy billboards. The ones advertising easy divorces - which appear to be Nevada's chief export - are the worst: smiling plastic men in suits and ties saying, in effect, "Let us help you tear apart your life!" I have to believe there is a special place in hell for divorce lawyers.

The city is indeed corrupt, but that hardly makes it unique. It simply happens to be more corrupt than most other places. As one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., Las Vegas represents what most cities would like to be, if they were honest about it. I change lanes and pass another billboard with a quote from Buddha: "With our thoughts we make the world." Yep. Hope you like it, because it's all you've got.

Around 1 AM I turn off the highway into a deserted parking lot in a small town outside Zion, clear some space in the rear of the truck, lay out my sleeping bag and go to sleep. I awake five hours later to a gray dawn, quickly change clothes, grab some breakfast from the food bin, and drive the last half-hour to the Park.

Zion Canyon, the central feature of the Park, is a large chasm cut by the Virgin River. The sandstone cliffs rise several thousand feet on both sides, blocking daylight from reaching the floor of the canyon during the morning and evening hours. After studying the hiking trails at the visitor center and talking to a ranger, I throw some gear in my daypack and ride the park shuttle up the canyon to the trailhead for Observation Point, an 8-mile round trip to the canyon rim that offers a panoramic view of the valley.

There is a storm breaking up, and the morning is cool, with clouds and mists shrouding the tops of the cliffs. I take off up the trail, thrilled to finally be hiking in Utah. The canyon walls tower above me, seemingly growing taller as I ascend. I take frequent pictures, drinking in the shapes and angles and textures as fast as I can, recklessly inquisitive.

The trail leads me through a small overhanging passage and then twists through a few turns before switchbacking up an east-facing ridge. After cresting the ridge, the trail traverses north, parallel to the canyon, and a wide vista opens up westward. I pass one or two other hikers coming back, but no one is there when I reach the overlook at the end of the trail.

As I survey the canyon I munch on a few snacks, thinking about what to do for the afternoon. There's another 5-mile trail up the other side of the canyon, but I'd like to hike into the backcountry tonight and I can't get a permit after 4 PM. I elect to hike down and skip the other trail so as not to risk finding the backcountry desk closed.

Talking to the ranger, I settled on hiking several miles into an open camping zone in the Southwest corner of the park. After finding the trailhead, I propped up my Osprey pack on the tailgate and loaded it for the night, starting up the Coal Pits Wash trail about 3:30 PM.

The terrain here is brushy and sandy, somewhat less dramatic than Zion Canyon itself. The afternoon sun is quite hot, although not uncomfortably so. I choose my route up the wash through the sand, cactus, and willows, making minor adjustments to the pack and thinking about nothing in particular.

I reach the confluence of Coal Pits Wash and Scoggins Wash around 5 o'clock, and decide to head to the right up Scoggins Wash and dry camp, which decision was mainly influenced by the irresistible view up the valley: who wouldn't want to explore what's up that canyon?

I fall into a rhythm, watching for where the trail switchbacks across the wash. Whenever an inconvenient obstacle appears on one side, the other side usually offers a good route. The trail is not always clear, but there are plenty of footprints and hoofprints.

Threading my way up the canyon, I stay alert to potential campsites, finally selecting one up the side of the wash that offers a nice view to the east and west and is also reasonably sheltered from any wind that might pick up during the night. There is a flat area beneath a large rock just large enough for my tiny tent, and a flat rock a few feet away just large enough for my tiny camp stove. After setting up the tent and rolling out my sleeping gear I turn my attention to dinner, removing the dry grasses around my cooking rock as a safety precaution before lighting the stove.

Following an excellent supper of freeze-dried spaghetti, I take the camera and made my way up to the top of the ridge. A lot of the sandstone in Zion is much too soft and crumbly for climbing, so one is obliged to look for routes that don't require rockcraft. The terrain is not particularly steep, so this is not difficult. Within a few minutes I reach the top and set about exploring the area, hopping around from rock to rock, taking pictures, and enjoying the freedom and the view. In some indescribable sense, the place becomes mine; not mine to possess, but mine to enjoy, which is much more meaningful.

The night passes uneventfully. I wake before the sun has crested the eastern ridge, and set about preparing breakfast - instant oatmeal and a cup of diced fruit. After pouring out a bottle of water around my cooking rock as a penance for uprooting the grasses, I begin the hike out, retracing my steps from the previous afternoon. The morning is sunny at first, giving way to an overcast sky after a half hour. Great hunks of sandstone lay in the wash, eroded and hollowed out like fantastic giant molds, with voids shaped for cannonballs, or keys to ogre's castles.

Being out on my own, I must be wholly reliant on my own skills and intuition: following vague routes, estimating distances, maintaining a sense of direction, taking care of my body and my gear, and staying alert to my surroundings. I feel equal to the challenge, prepared, equipped, experienced. I feel invigorated, and, in a sense, invincible. Still, it is the seasoned outdoorsman who has the deepest respect for nature. The more I learn, the more humbled I am, and the more keenly aware of my need for God's direction and protection.

I pass numerous junipers, laden with the hard pea-sized white berries peculiar to that tree. As I pluck one of the berries and prick it with my fingernail, memories of growing up in Sacramento came flooding back to me, of the summer afternoons my brothers and I spent waging elaborate wars with these little bullets, until we were too tired to throw anymore and lay on our backs on the front lawn watching the clouds float by. Good times. And now - what surprises life brings! How little I knew then of where I'd be now - how much has changed! We've seen it happen to so many others, and yet growing older never ceases to surprise us, as if we expected to be six years old and live on cheerios and PBJ sandwiches forever.

I return to my truck, having seen no one. As I pass through the entrance gate at the trailhead, there is another backpacker just heading out, with a white handkerchief tucked beneath his hat and draped over his neck, desert-style. He queries me about the trail, I offer a few pointers, and we go our separate ways. I find I've come to appreciate these chance, transitory encounters: 60 seconds of casual conversation, a few moments of genuine good will between human beings who are complete strangers and don't care. When once we realize that everything matters, life becomes an unceasing procession of small adventures and big smiles, and things are never the same.

California Dreamin'

Tomorrow morning I say goodbye to Georgia and begin the drive west. My time here has been full, rich, and very worthwhile, and I am greatly indebted to the saints here for their kindness, openness, and generous hospitality. The body of Christ is truly an amazing organism.

Lord willing I'll be home sometime next week, with pictures to share, stories to tell, and a lot of family time to catch up on. Be God's and keep doing the Kingdom!

Southwest Slalom

Over the past 8 days, I have taken over 900 pictures and hiked over 87 miles in 5 National Parks, most of that distance with a fully loaded overnight backpack. I visited Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park (both in Utah), Saguaro National Park (Arizona), and Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park (both in Texas). I saw wildlife, wildflowers, plenty of rocks and cactus, and ate a lot of ramen, LARABARS, and chocolate. As usual, I have grandiose plans for recording my experiences, sharing some of my best pictures, and writing about the flora, fauna, history, and character of each park. We'll see.

Pausing for photography slows my normal hiking pace a bit, but I find it to be a worthwhile endeavor. I have noticed my capacity and appreciation for beauty and detail, and beauty in detail, has been increasing over the last few years. Of course, I still have a long way to go. A very long way.

On the logistical side, I'm still getting used to carrying a larger camera around my neck. I haven't quite mastered hiking without it banging around all over my chest, which is uncomfortable and embarrassing. Unlike the National Senior RV Squad, I have no handily protruding stomach to rest said camera on. So I have no choice but to simply let it bounce where it will and try and keep my stride as even as possible.

This southwest fling has been a dream/personal goal of mine for some time, and I was thrilled to finally be able to do it. I am grateful to all of you for your support and prayer cover. It reaches farther than you know. Thank you.

March Miscellany

Time for a hurried and cursory summary of what I've been doing for the last few weeks (besides skiing). It's been a fantastic but very full month.

The grading here at the house went quite smoothly (pun intended) and is now substantially complete. We had to run the well off my small jobsite generator for a few days, until the new electrical line could be laid and connected. However, our new expanse of space was well worth the effort.

I purchased a dual-sport motorcycle back in February, and obtained my M-1 permit shortly thereafter. It's great for zipping down to town, and I've taken several extended rides with David. I think it's a good skill to have, and besides, it's a lot of fun.

In other news, I took and passed the Law and Trade exams for my Contractor's License on Wednesday. Once the License Board finalizes my application, I need only have a Livescan done and post a bond, and I will be a bona fide California General Contractor. [begin shameless bragging] It has taken a lot of sweat and persistence to get to this point, and I'm really proud of myself. This will open up a whole new set of opportunities for my business, and I'm excited about all the possibilities. [/end shameless bragging] Seriously, I really sensed the Lord's hand through the whole process, and I am immeasurably thankful for His blessing and guidance, and also for the support of my family, friends, and clients.

Despite the dearth of book reviews on the blog, I have been reading (as much as possible, anyway). Mostly G. K. Chesterton (Manalive, The Flying Inn, and The Napoleon of Notting Hill), but also some Peter Kreeft (How To Win The Culture War) and Edward Abbey (Desert Solitaire). My single-sentence book review for the last round of titles would consist of the following advice: beg, borrow, or steal a copy of Chesterton's Manalive and read it the first chance you get; it's a wonderful book and has become my favorite work by the venerable G. K.

Most of you know I will be taking an extended trip out to Georgia to spend some time working with a friend. I'm leaving this weekend, and will be gone for about a month. I'd appreciate your prayer cover for health, wisdom, and safe travel. Blogging will be touch-and-go, but with my trusty notepad and camera and not-so-trusty Vista laptop, I will do what I can to keep you abreast of my adventures.

Be God's and Do the Kingdom!

Image courtesy of amazon.com

Life as a Yo-Yo

Sometimes, despite your best laid plans, things just flop. It turns out David and I are not going to Redding yesterday after all, because the friends we were going to see are sick with the flu. Right now we're tentatively set to go next week.

We're disappointed, but this freed me up to do the Israel night this week that was canceled last month because of sickness. I suppose it all evens out in the end.

Happenings

For the gallant few who read this blog, here's a snapshot of what I've been doing lately. Things have been crazy, but it's been a good kind of crazy.

Last week I was busy digging trenches and running new water and electrical lines in preparation for a large grading project here at the house. This weekend, David and I attended the annual Search & Rescue snow training for the second time, shuttling trainees up and down the road on snowmobiles and sleeping in a snow cave at 8,000 ft. It was a blast.

Right now I'm packing for a week of finish carpentry and skiing up in Redding. David and I hope to leave in about an hour. I have yet to finish blogging the Israel trip, and I have a long list of other topics I want to explore and books I need to review.

As my Great-Grandfather used to say "Sleep when you die!"

A Bit of Miscellany

• We're going to be hosting the promised "Israel Night" tomorrow evening here at the house, so if you can make it please come. If you can't make it, the Parish family has generously opened their home Tuesday February 26th so I can share the pictures and stories a second time.
• After I dropped my camera early in the trip, my battery life kept getting worse and worse until the end of the trip when I was switching batteries several times a day. Suffice to say I'm currently in the market for a new camera, so if anyone has any recommendations, please send them my direction. I'm looking for something in the 5-8 megapixel range, with 12-18x optical zoom, fast USB data transfer, image stabilization, and good battery life, preferably for less than $400.
• If you know me at all, you know that I'm not much for television. However, on the flight home, when my eyes and brain were too tired to do anything else, I watched a video called Martian Child that was actually pretty good. It's about a widowed Science Fiction author who decides to adopt a troubled, reclusive young boy who thinks he's from Mars. I appreciated the video's redemptive theme and strong affirmation of the value of life. (Disclaimer: the in-flight version didn't contain any objectionable material but it had been "edited for content." So if you're going to see it, take the normal precautions.)
• Thanks to the persistence of my brothers, I ski now, and ride lifts and fall down and stuff. I'm not very good at it yet, but it's cool.

Going To Israel

I understand this a rather abrupt announcement, but I'm afraid it can't be helped, so I might as well get on with it.

I'm going to Israel. Tuesday.

Now before you write me off as a total lunatic, let me attempt to explain. Friday, my good friend Joseph Lindvall (of Yosemite Triple Crown fame) asked me if I'd like to go to Israel with him, his brother, and his brother's wife. After thinking and praying about it, I agreed to go.

So, we're going. We'll be there for about 2-1/2 weeks of sightseeing and adventure. I intend to post plenty of pictures for your viewing pleasure and liberally chronicle the experience for your cerebral exasperation, but this will depend on the availability of writing time and internet access. (I have most of the Freestyle Piano Series drafted, so I hope to be able to continue that without interruption.)

Please be in prayer for the safety and fruitfulness of the trip, and that I would recover quickly from the head cold I am currently fighting. Thank you.

Stay God's, and keep doing the Kingdom!

Image courtesy of design.flowingpens.com

A Day To Remember

Last Friday, something really special - and I mean special, not just nice - took place. That something was the beautiful wedding of my good friend Max Parish and his lovely bride Jenny McCracken. It was my privilege to be a part of the wedding as a groomsman, usher, and table-setter-upper.

The wedding was held at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fresno. While outside the rain danced and the wind howled, inside stillness reigned - the kind of stillness that comes from being dressed up in a church surrounded by a lot of history and stained glass.

The ceremony was rich and full: every note clear, every word like a petal in the aisle, every moment pulsing with the presence of God. Something about a proper wedding makes you think about the legacy of life, the tapestry of time, even the making of the world. Always there is the unmistakable feeling that whatever is happening here, it's much deeper than I'll ever understand.

I'll say one thing: it's very different watching a wedding from the chancel. The emotion is undiluted up there - you can't escape it, and none of us wanted to.

If you've never had the experience of losing yourself in someone else's joy, I highly recommend it. There is a fulfillment found in simply standing in solidarity with your brother that you can't find anywhere else. It is tonic to the soul. Living in Christian community and brotherhood is all about identification - "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." Sometimes, the rejoicing and weeping happen simultaneously.

Max and Jenny's courtship was exemplary all the way, and it was powerful to watch the sacramental culmination of many years of faithfulness. In the spirit of Philippians 4:8, it is a story I will treasure and share for a long time.

How long you have traveled in darkness weeping
No rest in language, no words to speak
But there in the wreckage beneath bricks and bindings
Love has come, love has come for you

Against the night sky of your waiting
Your face is like starlight when he walks in
Everything worth keeping comes through dying
Love has come, love has come for you

So lift up your heart now, to this unfolding
All that has been broken will be restored
Here runs deep waters for all who are thirsty
Love has come, love has come for you

Ten thousand angels will light your pathway
Until the day breaks fully in the East
They will surround you and make your way straight
Love has come, love has come for you

Love has come, love has come for you

God bless you Max and Jenny!

Stuff Worth Sharing

First, an apology. You may have noticed that I removed my recent post entitled "Bono and the 'Culture of Love.'" I felt that it was inappropriately judgmental, beyond my place, and not particularly edifying. I'm sorry.

Now, before we rush headlong into the glorious unknown that is 2008, if you're not completely burned out on the endless lists that plague the turning of the year, I'd like to share a few things I found meaningful in 2007 - some old, some new, some borrowed, some blue. I don't know if this will become a tradition or not: I just thought it would be fun. There should be something here for everyone.

Meaningful Books:

1. Seeing Is Believing - Greg Boyd [amazon]


2. The Space Trilogy - C. S. Lewis [amazon]


3. The Silmarillion - J. R. R. Tolkien [amazon]


4. The Philosophy of Tolkien - Peter Kreeft [amazon]


5. The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky [amazon]


Meaningful Albums:

1. I See Things Upside Down - Derek Webb


2. Gravity | Love - Sandra McCracken


3. 40 Acres - Caedmon's Call


4. The Day of Small Things - Alli Rogers


5. She Must And Shall Go Free - Derek Webb


Meaningful Blogs:

1. Cerulean Sanctum - Dan Edelen


2. Internet Monk - Michael Spencer


3. Random Reflections - Greg Boyd


4. Letters from Kamp Krusty - Brant Hansen


5. Ben Witherington III - Ben Witherington III



Meaningful Articles and Interviews:

1. The Primacy of the Imagination
2. Shop Class as Soulcraft
3. The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church
4. Derek Webb Interview
5. N. T. Wright Interview


(Mostly) Meaningful YouTube Videos:


1. Lifehouse - Everything



2. Eowyn - Sleeping Sun



3. Narnia - Breakaway



4. Nickelback - If Everyone Cared



5. Chip & Dale vs. Donald Duck



Best Blog Posts at Sojourner's Song:

1. Thinking About Art and Morality


2. The Problem of Pain


3. Tolkien On Fairy Stories


4. Big Family Survival Series


5. Are Trees Conscious?

God bless you and have a wonderful new year!