Going West...

I will be leading a group of eleven people on a Mission's Trip to Oakland, CA. Please pray for us. I think the trip is going to stretch our teams in a lot of ways. Hanover is a small town and greatly lacks diversity. Oakland is the most diverse city in America. Many of these kids have had little or no exposure to non-white people. Hanover is a conversative town, the Bay Area isn't. Pray our team will be willing to listen to those who view life differently. Pray God would open their eyes up to the diverse cultures God has created to reflect who He is. In Oakland we will put on a Bible Camp on behalf of All Nations Presbyterian Church. Pray God would use this opportunity to help All Nations be the hands of Christ in the Oakland community. We will also spend time praying for All Nations and the various ministries they partner with in the Bay Area. Lastly, pray for me. I am leading the trip. I have put a lot of work into it. But, my fear of failure, the unknown and disappointing others has been powerful lately. I have been driven by fear and not by the knowledge that God will use me despite what will happen.

The Races

On Saturday I went with my next door neighbor to the "The Races." In Hanover, Lincolin Speedway is affectionally called "The Races." It's five hours of Sprint cars and Thunder cars going around a dirt track. It is church. People stand up and cheer for their favorite driver, while others stand up and boo the driver they hate. Rich, poor, professional and blue-collar worker come to forget about the problems of life for a while. People stop and visit with each other. People make and strengthen friendships at the track. For my neighbor it is one of the only times of his week that he is able to forget about the worries and stresses of life. I have to admit, I have never been in a situation quite like that.

London

I am really having a tough time with the London terror attacks. I have friends there and London has a special place in my heart. My wife and I spent the summer of 2002 in Southhall. I don't know what to say, it just makes me sad, frustrated and pissed off at the human race. But, I am also not surprised either. I know this is what life in a fallen world is like. I am praying that God will use this bring healing, renewal and repentance. I pray that people will hear the sweet call of Jesus in the midst of brokeness and suffering.

FYI

Wow! It has been almost a month since I have posted. Life has been busy with church stuff and life. Jodie, Ewan and myself got away last week. We had a great time being with each other. Ewan and I had fun playing in the Ocean and playing t-ball. I am so mad at my sister-in-law. She got him a Yankee's batting helmet for his birthday. Ewan loves it and thinks he is so cool. I feel like he is wearing Satan's crown when he puts it on around me. He does look cute though. I have been doing a lot of thinking about a lot of things. I don't know where to or how to start. So, I will start with one of my favorite subjects...music. I get a subscription to Spin Magazine. I love it! For the month of July they listed the 100 greatest albums from 1985-now. While I was on vacation I read ever caption on every album. Here's the list of the top 11 albums of the last 20 years:

1. Radio Head, Okay Computer - Great no. 1 in my opinion. Completely original and cutting edge when it came out in 1997. Of course I didn't enjoy it like I should have when it came out. I was in my fundamentalism stage - boycotting good music so I could feel good about listening to cheesy Christian music.

2. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - A totally awesome album. I heard it for the first time in high school. I would listen to the album on my Walkman(remember those things) cutting my neighbor's lawn. Believe it or not I loved rap in high school before it was about the "bling-bling." I loved PE , De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest. I learned about the plight and oppression of African-Americans through rap music. It was so eye opening for a surburban, upper middle class Christian boy to hear about suffering and oppression.

3. Nirvana, Nevermind - Okay album. I am not a huge Cobain fan. The song Smells Like Teen Spirit was the most overplayed video ever on MTV.

4. Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted - Great group. I wish I have more of their albums. I am indebted to Jeremy Phillips introducing me to them.

5. The Smiths, The Queen is Dead - Ahh....Morissey!!! Their is no man who is more emotionally tortutured and beautiful at the same time. The first time I heard The Smiths I was in middle school. I feel in love with them then and Morissey is dear to my heart now. I would die to own a Smith's t-shirt.

6. Pixies, Surfer Rosa - Not familiar with the Pixies.

7. De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising - Again, a great album. The song Me, Myself and I was the da bomb back then. I still bust the album out on occasion.

8. Prince, Sign 'o' the Times - I am not a Prince fan. Everytime I hear a Prince song all I think about is the song Raspberry Baire - "The kind you find in a second hand store."

9. PJ Harvey, Rid of Me - I haven't heard the album and don't care too. Spin loves PJ Harvey. They nominated three albums by Harvey to be in the top 100.

10. N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton - My mommy wouldn't let me buy this album. This album is for big boys only. The only song I remember from that album is "Respect Yourself." I am sure the album rocks. Even now, I just don't know if I am man enough to listen to it.

11. U2, Achtung Baby - One of the best albums ever by U2. Better then Joshua Tree but not as good as Zooroopa. This album revolutionized modern music and was totally originally. This is one band I hope to see in concert before they break up. I had a dream not too long ago that I met Bono and we hung out talked about the ONE organization and music. It was a great dream.


Here's my beef with the top 11. No Coldplay!!! If you like them or not, they have revolutionized music in the last five years. Also, I was so PO that Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot came in at 77. For crying out loud, Prince came in at no. 8.. Jeff Tweedy can kick Prince's booty anyday. Anyway, feel free to post your top 11.