DoxA

DoxA What is it?

I got to thinking this morning while I was out on a run... it's when I do my best thinking, that Randy was on to something starting Watercooler Wednesdays. It's a theme day. I like that. I sometimes wonder what to write on this blog other than what I purpose to do by asking discussion questions after the weekend message. So, keeping that in mind, here's what I think I will personally do to stay on theme and thereby keep me writing.

Sunday... Uhhhh, I'll be busy. Probably nothing will post on Sundays.

Monday... Monday Morning Quarterbacking: Reflection and Discussion about the previous day's message @ Twin Oaks Church.

Tuesday... Deep Thought Tuesdays: Devotional "thought for the day" based on Life Journal reading through the Bible in a year.

Wednesday... Watercooler Wednesdays: A discussion forum for art and culture.

Thursday... Triathlon Thursdays: Current thoughts on training, triathlon and whatever else I'm doing Physically.

Friday... Whatever Fridays! Could be anything or nothing at all.

Saturday... Satisfaction Saturdays: Thoughts of the good life; travel, entertainment, food, wine, etc.

So, if that sounds okay to you, well... it really doesn't matter what you think it's my blog and I'll write if I want to... I'll start with Whatever Fridays and I choose the name of this blog. What's with DoxA?

The word doxa is a Greek word for glory. I reference 1 Corinthians 10:31 that states, "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (NLT) For me in art, thought, action and discipline all should be done to glorify God. But beyond that there is a hidden message about DoxA.

I've chosen to capitalize both the first and last letters because God is alpha and omega; first and last. He encompasses all things; meaning in Him we move and live and have our being. Again, He is Alpha and Omega, but A for alpha is at the end while the o for Omega is before it because God is omnipresent and is not bound by chronology. D or dei; latin for God and x a symbol used by the early church for Christ continue to make the word all about God. In other words, no matter how you break it down, doxa... is God. And as Johann Sebastian Bach penned at the end of each composition, Soli deo gloria - all the glory is God's, we must see it too. All of the glory, doxa, is and for God.

As for Nude Descending a Staircase... you need to figure that one out!

Getting Outside

I took this photograph this morning on my bike ride. The contrast of the bright pink of the cherry tree against the yellow carpet of mustard stopped me in my tracks.

One of the things I've been personally struggling with here in San Jose is the inability to be outside as much as I'm used to. Coming from the Palm Springs area, where the desert offers unbroken (albeit hot several months out of the year) days of blue skies for an outdoor enthusiasts pleasure, I've missed my crystal clear, long rides in the mornings preparing me for a successful triathlon season.

For me, riding my bike is the anchor to triathlon. For one thing; it's what I do best. On the other hand, it is what I enjoy most. Swimming is fun when you're together with a bunch of other folks who you race to the wall but other than that it's pretty much a lonely, quiet sport. Running, well, that's a grind (period) Biking, offers hours of discovery, pain and competition. There is something about climbing up a two mile stretch of road at 12% grade that puts you in tune with your physical limitations like nothing else, while on the way down you discover whole new meanings to the concept of moderation... A little bit of speed is good but too much, can kill you!

San Jose is hilly. Not like the desert. San Jose is green. Definitely not like the desert! I'm getting a late start to my training but I think my late season will be better than ever since I won't have to give up early due to heat exhaustion, another one of the "down sides" to the desert.

Generally, in the past I've kept my triathlon adventures on another page but have decided to keep everything here this year. Sometimes it's exciting... sometimes it's just routine. And yes, sometimes it's in the rain. But for now. It's nice to get started and finally; get outside!

quarterlife x2

It's Watercooler Wednesday... boy did I feel old doing this...

Oh, Do We Have it Easy

Joseph's words still echo in my ears today, "To those who have much, much is required... if you have a lot of time and If you don't work five jobs like the people in Iran then you have enough time to pray... if you have been given financial blessings, most who have more than the people in Iran, then you can give to missionaries who work there." Of course he was speaking of the words of Jesus, "To whom much is given, much is required." But put in the context of his family's personal suffering and loss by seeing and hearing the story of his father's brutal murder in Iran, his emphasis brought a conviction to the heart of every person in our church.

Haik Hovsepian, an Assemblies of God minister in Iran was a spiritual and social agent in modern day Babylonia. He became the protestant church leader in Iran until he challenged the Iranian government during the mid 90's when political and religious intolerance started to gain traction. He peacefully but firmly demanded religious equality in a country that claimed to allow such freedoms. He successfully pressured the release of a prisoner who who had been held for 10 years with a death sentence simply for converting to Christianity. Three days later Haik was missing and it was several days later his eldest son, Joseph, identified the badly beaten and stabbed, 27 times in the heart, body of his father.

We talk a lot about the cost of our salvation... that it comes through the death of a man willing to lay down his life for a friend and we see this as what Christ did for us. But the cost of our salvation may very well be our own lives. Remember the counsel of Jesus to his disciples.

I have told you these things so you won't abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never know the Father or me. Yes, I'm telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn't tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer. John 16:1-4 (NLT)

The church is being persecuted. It's happening right now in North Korea, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the list goes on. It's happening in small ways here as we are seeing violence and vandalism rise on church property. Take New Life Church in Colorado Springs for instance, as if they didn't have enough problems with challenging leadership issues they became the focal point for a shooting this past year. There are numerous churches in the south that have been victim to arsonists and religious bigotry. But abroad the problem is much bigger. The silent tragedies that are currently happening in India are shocking when you consider the affect this persecution will have on it's own country. Fearing proselytizing among Hindus, extremists are brutally attacking Christians.

In reality, out of 1.2 billion Indians, Christians of all confessions make up little more than 2 percent. And they are not expanding, but slowly declining: from 2.6 percent in 1971 to 2.3 percent in 2001. But at the same time, Christians run one of every five elementary schools in India, one of every four houses for widows and orphans, and one out of three houses for lepers and AIDS patients. And even though Mother Teresa of Calcutta is the nation's pride, except among fanatical Hinduists, this past Christmas their compound in Orissa was attacked.  (source: Voice of the Martyrs - Stacy L. Harp)

Christians are a life preserving force but often that force is nurtured if not sustained by persecution. Brother Andrew of Open Door Ministries spoke at Haik's memorial service stating persecution is a vital part of the advancement of the gospel and quoting Jesus from Luke 12:24, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies... it can bear no fruit." This was true in the first church (see Acts 8) and it is true for the church today.

For your small group, as you sit around on comfortable couches, eating cake and drinking coffee and talking bout the latest worship tunes you loaded on your iPod, ask these questions... What is my salvation worth? and What are you willing to spend to make it worthy?

ch-ch-ch-changes

If you've been following along on DoxA for a the past year, you've known the blog was primarily a means to get questions out to the small groups from Twin Oaks Church; the San Jose, CA church I pastor. Generally this meant getting a single post out a week. But this past week I've been a fliver (I don't know. I heard it somewhere and I'm told it means what it sounds like) about blogging. I've been reading blogs, studying blogs, learning more about how to blog. All that to say; I'm a bit blog-logged. A lot of this has to do with the conference I attended a few weeks back in Nashville.

Several years ago Randy and Chris Elrod decided to develop a gathering for artists within the church culture to network and glean from each other for the purpose of actively affecting our world culture. These artists, worship leaders and techno-heads are truly advancing creativity in the church to new levels in hopes of making a world of difference. I came out of this Worship Arts world before becoming a lead pastor and I am beginning to think my continued attendance at cre:ate will be like a 32 year old showing up to high school with a skateboard wanting to chill with his peeps! But it was at this conference I began blogging and it was this year's conference that I started to understand the power of the blogosphere in a personal way. I have to admit I am still a bit intimidated by the thought my thoughts would matter to anyone other than my mom and a few close friends who humor me, put up with me and do their best to encourage me. But then again, I have been reading a lot of blogs lately and have been humored, put up and encouraged by their thoughts!

So, each day I'm trying to improve this blog; adding new features as I learn more. I hope you'll be patient and go along for the ride. Again, I encourage you to leave comments and encourage others to visit this site: Blog reading isn't reserved only for blog writers. But you can do it too! It will change you, it can help change others; just take a look below at how many people have been inspired by Randy...

Including me.

What's Art - Who's Art?

Before I felt I could really comment on culture, creativity and the community of artists I wanted to ask the Watercooler Wednesday crowd a heady question regarding... art.

One of the most provocative questions I enjoy asking is, "What is art?" Often you'll get the usual... "It's a sculpture." or "It's a painting..." these from people who spend little time thinking about or appreciating art but when challenged their minds open up and a whole new world of creativity and expression is explored.

More specifically, when teaching acting workshops for well-behaved, Christian folks, in light of my definition of art (which I'll leave out for purpose of furthering this discussion but you might be able to deduce in this question) I would ask; do Christian artists have a responsibility to see the world in its artistic expressions as it is or as they wish it to be?

Daniel Barenboim said, "Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and one toward the future, toward eternity." So, which is it? What is art... to you? Which face do you look upon? Where does it cause you to then look?

Art; beauty... disturbing... personal... it must have many faces.

Yours - mine - whose

They Ain't Heavy

As we are in the midst of our missions month at Twin Oaks Church and already have seen the results of hearts being challenged toward understanding, giving and compassion. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned every person should be able to make an immediate impact, a continual impact and a collective impact. Focusing in our desire to have a continual impact, I want to challenge everyone to consider sponsoring a child in Uganda through Compassion International.

Last week I mentioned a group of people went to Uganda to use the power of the internet to raise awareness and see first hand the need of this impoverished and AIDS ridden area. The response has been encouraging. People are realizing with the cost of just a little over a dollar a day you can make a huge difference in the life of a child. I encourage you to consider sponsoring a child if you don't and even if you already do.   I'm pleased to say Twin Oaks Church sponsors a lot of children... but we're still short of having 100% participation. I would hope every family could sponsor a child. Better yet, every DoxA reader to sponsor a child.

My friend Randy Elrod, a cultural influencer extraordinaire, who was part of the gang in Uganda is willing to make you a heck of a deal... While he was in Uganda decided to offer a limited signed watercolor print to anyone who sponsors a child. Here's what he says...

If you will join me and sponsor a child from Uganda for only $32. per month, I will send you free a signed print of this picture, or if you have already sponsored a child and would like either of the prints I have offered, put a comment HERE and let me know which one you would like.

What could be easier? Sponsor a child. Joy and I did. His name is Umaru and we know his life has opportunity now because someone cared enough to sacrifice a cup of coffee a few days a month... it's easy to do. What are you waiting for. Click on the link above that says "sponsor a child from Uganda."      

The Swing of Things

I've spent a good part of my morning and afternoon with my jet-lagged butt parked on the couch catching up on reading blogs about our time in Europe and our friends who traveled with Compassion International over to Uganda. Both groups, the Uganda team and Tom, Mario and I, arrived back in the US yesterday. The votes are in and consensus is we have way too much in light of real need and poverty seen in much of the world. Ironically, the spiritual and social uniquenesses of the two regions we visited are vastly contrasted but our reports created the same sense of embarrassment or humility when imagined in the abundance and comfort of our homeland. Don't get me wrong... I'm grateful, as is everyone I read this morning about their return home, to have a life in this great country. What I am saying is we are having a difficult time digesting what we experienced and returning to a life "that is" differently than a life "that was."  In other words, going about business as usual without compromising our experience's desire to change us will not be easy. But then again, it just might be too easy.

What is making this journey melancholy and inspirational at the same time is knowing people we've met back there will be doing the same thing we're hoping for here: Something different. As we ponder how to get back into the swing of things without letting the flame that was ignited through a hug, smile, gift, conversation, poignant image, statement or plea for help become extinguished by our routine they too are desiring for their routine to be interrupted. However, it is going to take something from someone somehow to continue this action. But the words of Charles, the psychiatrist in Croatia, ring in my ear... "Don't make a promise like all the others." His reasons were clear: It breeds hope and creates greater disappointments for people who are already beyond the point of being disappointed.

We Americans... we do that a lot you know. We think we're helping by showing up, doing our time and sprucing the place up a bit but really we leave an even bigger hole when we leave by the vacuum that is created in our wake. If we are willing to go we must be willing to go back or better yet - stay. But because that is most unlikely to be practical; we need to leave something behind.

James put it this way... "Suppose you see a brother or sister without any food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?" James 2:15,16

So, here are the questions... and not just for your small group or Christian friends... ask everyone!

• what does it mean to care for others?
• how can a person who needs help themselves give help to others?
• would you say Jesus was a model of helping and caring for people?
• how did Jesus show his care?
• what is your typical thought when seeing a need: do you consider how it will affect you OR do you  consider how it will affect them?
• how can you make awareness of others a practice in your daily lives?
• what can you do today to make a difference and leave something behind?

Just because we're home now doesn't mean we're off to the next thing... or another thing. No, this is the thing. You can still sponsor a child. You can start to connect with one of our new friends in Europe, you can begin to consider going somewhere yourself. What you can't do is just sit there... like me, on this couch. But then again my body's telling me it's the middle of the night. What's your excuse?

Batter up!

Definitely Not in Kalifornias Anymore

Today we headed off for Croatia huddled in tight quarters in an old Soviet issue train on tracks that crossed through Serbia desperately needing repair and experiencing boarder crossings that truly had an ominous feel. We picked up burek in Laci's (pronounced; Lotsee's) home town in order to enjoy breakfast with his parent's in their five room house to hear news of an impending Kosovo independence from Serbia... the boarders will most likely be closed tomorrow. We kept our American voices low in the bakery  as we realized it was our country that was bombing theirs less than a decade ago.

At the second boarder crossing from Serbia over the Danube into Croatia Mario, snapped a picture inviting a boarder guard to our car asking Mario in Russ/slavic tones something that meant, "Come with me!" He disappeared behind the door of the boarder shack in front of the well armed, blue suited man holding Mario's passport. Laci offered to go to "translate." We thought it was a good idea. Tom and I looked at each other wondering what this could mean... a minute later Mario popped out with a smile on his face, as usual, and Laci declared, "He was gracious."

It was only a short ride now to Vukovar the setting for the movie Harrison's Flowers released in 2000; a place where the Serbian Army first invaded Croatia in 1991. Now here, we have toured the war-scared and beaten city. Ironically, there are restorations next to ruins leaving a sense that things are most likely getting better... but if you look deep into the cistern of their social isolationism you will see things are not better. Tonight we had dinner with Charles a psychiatrist who specializes in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He is an American with Dutch citizenship who has lost his national identity trying to understand indigenousness struggles of the heart with a people who have lost their ability to trust anyone.

War sucks!

Tom asked me earlier today as we were leaving a mass grave site memorial where hundreds were slaughtered in a single afternoon; men, women and children -- "How are you doing with all this?" All I could say is, "I hate war." I know how it happens. I just don't know why it happens. These people are sad and still affected after nearly two decades from a war which took three days to destroy a city which can be rebuilt brick upon brick but lives that will never stand again.

Tomorrow is Sunday, we are going to Laci's church. Tom's speaking and Mario will sing a song after the message... it will be a day where we will share the fellowship of his suffering; a verse that now takes on new meaning.

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him...We are in this struggle together. Philippians 1:29,30a

Many of us are war-torn and spiritually destroyed needing others to come alongside, encourage and lend a shoulder to cry on or hands to wipe away tears or speak peace to broken hearts. We can share... it is a privilege; it has been a privilege to be here.

Tomorrow is Sunday, we will be heading home. On our way we'll have one final stop; back in Budapest to call home (Skype home) and share with all the Twin Oaks Family what God is doing here... what He's doing through us here... We are going to the ends of the earth; making disciples... teaching them and baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ.

Being Hungary

Today I was desperately hoping to find an Internet connection to begin telling the story of what has happened in Hungary since we arrived and viola! Success. First let me tell you about jet lag. For those who've not traveled across multiple time zones let me tell you this  stuff messes with your head... literally, it does crazy things to you. Like spinning, sound alters and you actually think you're dreaming when you're clearly awake. Okay, enough of the personal stuff.

Before I get going I need to thank Tom Foley and his daughter Joanna for being gracious hosts to us thus far. To get another perspective of this trip check out his blog http://kingdomtravelin.blogspot.com

This place is definitely not the United States but ironically it wants to be. Everywhere you turn the cultural influence of the media is present. The  Hungarian people are proud but beaten down. They have had centuries of occupation and defeat and the result is a national low-self esteem. This place needs hope because the people, land, heritage and potential is magnificent! However, they could stand to broil and grill a bit more than bread and fry (you know what I mean)!

We have enjoyed meeting with the local missionaries who are becoming my new heroes. They exist among difficult circumstances and make huge efforts for small rewards. They love the Hungarian people, who for everything they've experienced in past generations, should receive them with aggressive caution. This is a land where foreigners have made habit of entering their culture demanding sociological change and cultural strip-mining. Yet the Hungarian nationals we've met have been affable, generous and generally interested in what we have to say and whether they think it or not, outwardly uninterested in our motives for being there.

Our first night we met Doug and Lea /Coppage and their delightful daughter Karen in a small town outside Budapest called Vác pronounced Vatz. We walked along the Danube and ate in a small restaurant where we ate traditional goulash. The highlight of the evening for me was when I asked them if they felt alone, away from home and friends and would it mean something to them to just get an email or a letter from people back home... Eyes welling, in a soft voice their answer in unison was, "Yes." It was several seconds, the kind that seem like minutes, before anyone spoke again. For more info on the Coppages go to http://www.coppages.org/

The following day we met Christof (I'm sure I've butchered the spelling of his name) an intelligent university student who gave us a brief presentation of Hungarian history and a personal tour of the Hungarian Parliament. He is a friend of Mark Newell, a Christian Educator's Outreach partner who is working with college students in Budapest. Last night we got to sit in on the English Club he has organized for Hungarian students wanting to know how to speak better English... I had a great time with some with some people who could easily be Sara or Aubrey's best friends if they were to ever meet. And if you want to meet Mark and his wife Laura check out his blog at http://www.utazni.com 

Today it's been an even greater adventure down to Szeged (the z is silent... Budapest; the s is "sh" - Budapesht). The train ride was something out of the movies (I couldn't help but think of dozens of cold war films depicting the Iron Curtain as villainous, as the scenery truly hasn't changed since 1989, yet the people we have met has belied that former notion). Szeged is a beautiful picturesque town with remarkable architecture everywhere including a 13th century structure sitting in a university square before one of the most beautiful churches I've ever scene... we drank cappuccino and ate pastry and enjoyed Hungary's version of gelato... I'm telling you, to dispel some stereotypes, being a missionary ain't that bad!

We are staying with Rob and Donna George and their sweet daughters Sarah, who LOVES Miley Cirus and Hannah who would frown if I joked about Montana but has the best smile I've seen in weeks! Donna treated us to homemade beef stew with cornbread muffins and I couldn't believe how much in such a short while I had already missed the food from home. Rob and I are talking blogs and facebook... please check them out at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=608544582

Okay... the night is over and while it's 2:50 in the afternoon back in California, it's almost midnight here and I still have to shower to get Tom and Mario a chance to shower at decent time before we leave the house at 6:15 am OUR time.

Blessings, to you all back home... Keep praying for us and our new friends. Our mission and their ministry.

Soli deo gloria! or "only God gets the DoxA!"