DoxA

Linkin Blogs

Without Wax, is a reference to the Latin term sine (without) cera (wax), from which the word sincere could have derived. It is also the name of the blog by Pete Wilson, who is the pastor at Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Cross Point is a five year old fast growing church that is reaching nearly 2,000 people each weekend between their two campuses. He spends most of his day leading, vision casting and preparing to teach. He is also the founder of Refined Resources, a non-profit ministry organization developed to create cutting-edge culturally relevant media elements and resources. Refined specializes in video teaching segments that can be used in church services, small group discussions, personal growth and more. Pete has been married to Brandi for 11 years and they have three wild boys; Jett (7), Gage (4), and Brewer (2).

Many of the folks I've gotten to know back in Nashville attend Pete's church and speak highly of him as a pastor and as a person. I've enjoyed his blog posts revealing short tidbits on life, the church and about what goes on in his life personally... I can relate. His blog is a reflection of momentary life experiences and I feel like there's a guy out there who's sharing the journey with me. I also have to mention for a pastor his blog is personal and highly read. His church community is connected to him through his blog and gives me hope for what social networking can do to help develop deeper community for Christ followers.

So get a little more sincere by adding some "Without Wax" to your day.

What You See Is What I Want

A couple of days ago I asked what interesting topic would you like for me to address here on this blog. Between this guy and this guy's responses I will now attempt to not so exhaustively if not obnoxiously address the issue of when enough is enough! Keeping in mind, there is a certain esprit de corps when blogging, it has the uncanny ability to make one bolder in opinion then they would be in person. Two thoughts as to why that is: First, Putting your thoughts out on a blog is empowering. You are stating, "Here's what I think and it matters." Of course you get feedback. Sometimes not so kind. Most of the time fairly benign and usually the agreement of like minded, colleagues and sometimes your mom or favorite aunt who really don't care what you have to say they just like the fact, that as an adult, they still have something to display on the proverbial refrigerator door. Second thought, is the blogger is safe. Sticks and stones will break bones, but the names you call be easily deleted on a moderated blog. I liken it to the angry driver. Take two people have them accidentally bump into each other on the sidewalk and they'll politely excuse themselves with a smile and a nod. But put them in cars on the adjacent street with one cutting the other off at the intersection and fingers fly and swearing erupts! So the blogger feels powerful and safe... this can be good, but like firearms, if misused carelessly or purposefully it can be harmful.

When I decide what I'm going to write about in a blog I take a few things into consideration. First, would I be able to defend this position/opinion in a verbal debate? Second, what is my source or basis for my position/opinion? Third, if I have only personal observations as a basis for a topic are those observations shared by many, a few or just me? Forth, will it inspire or provoke? And Fifth, are my opinions genuine or have they been "fancied up" to make my readers think something other than who I am and what I truly think?

Mind you not all posts require this kind of scrutiny. There's another purpose for blogging beside spouting platitudes and contriving original content. There's the personal, "get-to-know-me" side of blogging. Some fear this can be anti-productive and produce unwanted affects. Again, what you would reveal in your blog should be that which you would reveal in person. Character reveals the person at the keyboard. Who you are will come out and who you are will determine whether it's a good thing or not. I know there are those who will read my blog and wonder what kind of a pastor is he? He drinks wine, reads controversial books, supports liberal-social organizations and writes more about triathlon than church growth... and after all the stuff he's written about "church" I don't know what he believes the church is supposed to be. Although some would say this type of vulnerability could hurt my effectiveness  on the work front I would argue it has an equal if not greater affect with those who are looking for authenticity in a pastor.

So, on the issues of politics, religion, my personal life, how I manage a church, and my opinions on culture... What you see is what you get! Unfortunately, it may be like another car analogy... the one where people somehow think that picking their nose in a car is a private affair... People It's not! Just because you think you're alone and safe... We can see in your car.

Viewer discretion is advised.

What Should I Address?

I just finished reading through about 100 blog posts on my reader. Yeaahhhh... I was behind. And reading that many blogs and different posts made me think; we, like that old analogy states, have opinions like belly buttons... Everyone has one!

So, not to give one more opinion about something I think is important... Let me ask you. What should I address, or what do you think is important? Please leave a comment and let me know. Let me say that again... PLEASE leave a COMMENT and please don't email me! I'm still amazed how many emails I get regarding blog posts. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate them, I do, but it's better to have those thoughts in the body of the main thought. It's part of the conversation.

Have a great Whatever Friday!

Triathlon... a laughing matter!

I still laugh every time I see this. To truly appreciate the "inside joke" you would have to have experienced the joy of a triathlon swim start... my favorite part is getting hit before the horn goes off.

To all of you super eager, narcissistic, center of the world types... I have feelings for you. But I'm a pastor and I have to keep those feelings to myself. And in case you're wondering... those feelings are for harm and not for good, plans to take away your future which is my hope!

Just kidding. Triathlon is a cordial sport. But add water and it becomes something else!

No Longer Pre Posterous

For those of you following my adventures into the Social Networking scene... here's my latest addiction. It's called Posterous. Thanks to friend and fellow pastor2.0 type Jon Talbert, I have a quick and easy way to post pics, video, music, thoughts, which can update several applications simultaneously. It will even take your podcasts (pastors... hint, hint) and and link it to iTunes for your friends and followers to subscribe.

It's simple to set up. Easy to manage and it's FREE!

I'll be exploring this more in days to come... you on the other hand, can explore what's happening around the Watercooler today over at Randy Elrod's blog ETHOS and jump in on the various discussions of Art and Culture and add your two cents... maybe by posting "Posterously."

Linkin Blogs

Andrew Jones, otherwise known in the blogosphere as Tall Skinny Kiwi, is not only having a big impact on the emerging church through asking and developing community on line, he's also using old fashioned methods of connecting a face to face community through traveling and participating in conversations like the one I was part of last night.

Knowing for a couple of weeks now that we were going to gather a bunch of Silicon Valley tech geeks and missional minded ministers I was looking forward to this gathering at "Toyland" which is the home of Netscape instigator Michael Toy. My friend and developer of Planning Center, Jeff Berg flew up from Southern California to attend the causal gathering on the date of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins birthday making this a night of homage to the Lord of the Rings. I also felt if I was going to join in a conversation with one of the church's top bloggers I should be reading his blog. I discovered Andrew is well read and connected and can help me understand the role of emerging technologies for the purpose of emerging ministries.

Last night Andrew mentioned that we are in a time where people will write more than they read calling this Generation Text. I'm curious by this because although it may forward creativity it could create avenues leading nowhere. At the same time we are in a time where online nonsense can be easily exposed and corrected.

I feel good to be part of a community of bloggers who's message truly has value and that we're talking about what it can lead to. May our medium follow, as someone said last night, the effective means by which the world is brought humbly down to size as the individual gains his voice in an playing field that is truly level for anyone staring into the 10/24 window.

Blog on!

Return Department

I am generally amused by the experience of returning merchandise to a store. Some stores want to know why the product is being brought back while others just have you sign for the return and hand back your money... or most recently a gift card. I'm not amused by that.

We used to do a sketch back in my ol' JP (Jeremiah People) days called the "Return Department" where a man walks up to the counter and tries to return his Christianity. This store clerk was interested in why the "customer" wanted to give back his faith. The reason... "It's just not cracked up to be what it promised to do." So, with that in mind I hear another old song my mother used to have playing around the house when I was growing up...

I beg your pardon,
I never promised you a rose garden.
Along with the sunshine,
there's got to be a little rain sometime.

Far too often I see people walking up to the celestial return counter trying to exchange what they have for what they want. Got a difficult boss... "God, I want a new one!" Got a problem child... "God, I want a different one!" or "Can you just take this one back?" Got a lazy husband or inattentive wife? "God, don't look but I'm gonna just get me a new one that I can use instead." Ironically, I know some other folks who have cancer, lost a loved one and raising a down-syndrome child and these wouldn't trade in their faith for anything. If you were to ask, they would say... "Take anything else you see I have but don't take away the one thing that gives me hope."

We "customers," like the different types of stores, either don't ask questions and just hand it over or we try to find out what the problem is and fix it.

Time and time again, prior to the arrival of Jesus, the people of God experienced God's mercy and kindness but turn their backs on Him.

“I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’" Malachi 3:6-7

• When was the last time you thought "My faith's just not working?"
• When or did it ever start again?
• What was the problem or cause and how did it get better?
• Why doesn't obedience seem to "fit?"
• Did your faith have great appeal when you first got it? Did it lose it's shine over time?
• Why did Jesus say "Return to the works you did at first" in Rev.2:5?
• What aspects of your faith do you feel like returning? What would an Upgrade look like instead?

Time and time again since the days of Jesus, the people of God turn their backs on Him and go on selfish, personal pursuits of pleasure and power making our faith less desirable and unusable. Instead of turning away from God and returning what was given to us simply because it doesn't fit like it used to, we should be retuning for more! Walking by the "return counter" and right up to the shelves of new faith, refills of obedience and boxes of love, compassion and selfless service. These things never go out of style and are easy to check out, give away and return for more. There's a never ending supply; not only because the inventory is vast but there's usually someone standing at the return department wanting to turn theirs in.

Pacific Grove: A Week Ago Today

The Race really starts the day before by having to drive over to the race venue pick up your packet and scope out the course. From my house the drive to Monterey is about an hour and 15 minutes. A month prior I contacted Chris Anderson at FCA-Endurance (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and mentioned I could race on Saturday since the start was at 7:15 in the morning and it being an Olympic distance race, meaning about two and a half hours of racing, I could work the expo booth the day before the race. He had sent an email to the west coast team members asking for help. So we made arrangements so I could pick up the expo booth tent from fellow FCA-Er Troy Soares.

I met Troy for breakfast in San Jose and then drove to the expo with the "pop up" in my trunk. I had already started to regret making this commitment because the day prior I had gone on line to check the wave starts. Each age group gets it's own start at the race eliminating congestion unlike, mass start, Ironman races. "Zikes!" I learned my AG didn't start until 8:15! Why was this a problem? Well I had already  and honorably accepted to begin the wedding ceremony of two dear people at our church (check out this Linkin Blogs post) and the wedding was at 1pm. That meant start at 8:15,race 21/2 hours, gather my gear and bike walk out to my parking spot leave PG and drive back to San Jose, all taking about an  hour and a half, shower and be at the church by 12:40! Do the math.

When the booth was up, I met up with Patrick who came up from Orange County to work the expo and race Sunday's sprint race. Next to us was Patty with WetsuitRentals.com. Along with other race and vendor personnel we found the whole expo day relaxing, delightful and cold. I needed to roll out about 4pm to get to San Jose for the wedding rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and to collect all my race gear, bike, and prepare for the morning ritual. I went to bed at 12:30 am.

Morning Ritual: Alarm goes off at 3:35am. I cautiously toss and turn for about 5 minutes waking myself up. After nearly falling out of bed I grab my race shorts... BodyGlide up (reduces friction on the sensitive parts!) strap on Heart Rate Monitor (HRM), timing chip around my ankle and FCA race jersey. Pull on sweats, beenie cap and out the door I go, loading up the bike on the car bike racks. I pulled out  of the driveway with a thermos of coffee, two bananas, a half loaf of banana bread and two bottles of water.

I drove over the hill into Santa Cruz to pick up Bobby Marchessault, a buddy of mine who was doing his first Olympic race and second triathlon period. Bobby was nerrrrrvous! But we chatted all the way into Pacific Grove and got there in good time and found a great parking spot (faster exit, I immediately thought). We grabbed our gear. I showed Bobby a few tricks and got us both set up in transition. Bobby's wave was the first at 7:15 so I had plenty of time to pep-talk him and return to my car for about a 20 minute nap. Returning to transition the place was a-buzz. Music was pumping, announcers cheering the crowd the national anthem being sung at 7am. Bobby was in his Orca Wetsuit that Patty set him up with the day before and comp'd the $40 fee. I grabbed his camera and went to the sea wall about the swim start and videoed the beginning of his day. Then his wife Rachel showed up with their son Caleb and I was off to get ready for my race. Pulling everything out of my transition bag I double checked placement lubed up my shoes, calves, ankles, neck, underarms and my timing chip with BodyGlide. Pulled on my BlueSeventy Helix, headed down to the water and with 8 minutes to spare before start I jumped in the 58 degree ocean and headed out toward the first buoy.

Swim: The race is known for the kelp in the shallow waters off the Monterey Bay Coast. Just a mile down the road is the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium where divers explore these kelp beds for sea life. primarily the cute as a button, sea otters! When the gun went off, so did the largest group of any wave start that day. I lined up at the front on the inside because the kelp seemed less a problem on the inside lane. I got clear water from the start and didn't discover much kelp till about 100 meters from the first turn. Then it got thick. They call it the "Kelp Krawl" and at times you do just that; crawl on top of thick, brownish green, leafy stuff. You can try to pull on it but that doesn't really help, it just breaks up your stroke and you have to stay relaxed to glide through it. The way in was less "kelpy" and brought me into shore for the get out and run around a rock then jump back in portion of the two loop swim. My time was 13:30 a lot slower than I hoped but then again the kelp had to be slowing me down. On the second loop it actually stopped me as a strand of kelp got tangled around my neck and held me in place. I had to pull up and unwrap myself! After that it was a second helping of the same. Coming out of the water I was at 27:04 nearly a even split. Running into transition was uneventful except for the gravel in my feet but I was pretty casual about my transition then I remembered it's an Oly. distance race and we don't do transitions at IM pace. So I kicked it up a bit and off I went.

Bike: Its a 4 loop out and back along the coast heading south and turning around at the Inn at Spanish Bay. Normally I tape a air cartridge and extra tube under my saddle but this time I just opted to throw it in my jersey pocket. Wrong decision. after about a mile on the bumpy section at the lighthouse I jettisoned to the side of the road. I did my best to keep and even pace and not push my legs to fatigue. I had normally done 40K bike legs in Olympic distance races around the 1:01-1:03 mark in the past. But that was a couple of years ago and I've not been riding like I used to. My biggest fear was going too hard at the beginning and blowing up on the last lap so I just stayed within myself. On the third loop I saw Bobby up ahead and decided to give him a good "pat" on the butt as I passed by. I have always loved doing that to my friends in a friendly gesture of competition. But after the good smack I was hoping it wasn't too startling for my newbie friend and wished I hadn't done it so hard. Once in T2 with a 1:07, for the life of me, I couldn't find my gels that I had set out before the race. I think they may have been taken and that would be a first! But finally giving up on the calories, I just said, "Go!"

Run: For an Olympic distance race there were a fair amount of spectators. Coming out of T2 one of the first things you do is run by the expo and our FCA-E booth was right there on the course and the only one along with Patty's to actually face the runners. So, as I ran by it was easy for Patrick to spot me in my bright yellow FCA jersey and cheer me on! I felt really good. Choosing to run in my race flats (ultra light running shoes) seemed to be the right decision but not having worn them in a while made my feet numb for the first mile. But then everything started to click. After getting on the sea wall path I just started passing folks. One guy I went by said, "Dude! good pace!" I thanked him and kept on going.
Going out on the two mile loops was slightly downhill while coming up really presented no challenge. My second loop I was worried I had gone out too hard and dialed it back by heart rate. I was racing at about 155 on the first and dropped to 150 on the second. For the final loop it was give it what you got left in the tank time and I just pushed it back to 155 and then 160 for the final mile (that's blow up time for me!). But I just kept breathing and thinking it'll be over soon. Checking my watch and imagining what my mile pace was I realized I would come in around 2:22 well above my hope. I was shooting for a 2:25 but over 2:30 would have been disappointing. after the final turn I notice local coaching legend Muddy Waters in the street checking his athletes, I said "Hey Muddy." and he turned to tell me I was looking strong which I took to the line in a 2:21:07 finish. Coming in 9th in my Age Group and 43rd overall. My run was a personal record (PR) for an Olympic distance 10K with a 41:50, or 6:43 mile pace.

Finally, after grabbing my stuff and walking back to say goodbye to Patrick and Patty, I saw Bobby who looked at me with puppy dog eyes and said, "Dude, I did the biggest bonehead move ever." After assuring him it wasn't the biggest ever (please sometime check out Bobby's video race report HERE and find out what the bonehead move was) I began to walk to the car. Looking back at our bright yellow and black booth I read the words, "Why Do You Race?" And I began to think of Paula and the inspiration of a day she would hope to soon forget that I will never forget and I thought of Tom and wondered what it would have been like if he had been there for me seven years ago, on my first race, like I was for Bobby today. And then I thought about all the people I met that weekend, prayed with, encouraged, shared my faith with and reminded myself, some of these folks out here... I may be the only Jesus they'll ever see. So, I race because God put people in my life to inspire me to do something I would never have done myself. That's why now... I race for my Lord. I race for His loved ones.

I race for His glory.

Oh, BTW - I made it to the church on time!

Context for the Race Report: Pacific Grove Triathlon - Part 2

I am a long distance triathlete. I prefer the longer, moderately paced events with huge crowds and ceremony. Ironman races are the best... the Ironman World Championship in Kona is, well, it's in a league of its own. I remember when I first qualified for Kona one of my training partners exclaimed, "Your going to the 'Big Dance.!" Yeah, it's Ironman kicked up a few notches but I never saw a dance floor. No, just super fit athletes, the best of the best with an "I can do anything" mindset.

When a friend of mine told me she knew an Ironman triathlete who was dying of cancer and could I drop by his house to pray for him? I didn't hesitate. I called Tom's house, spoke with his wife Carol and dropped by around 2 that afternoon. When Carol walked me back to the bedroom I noticed the framed plaque, photo of Tom ,on the bike smiling to the camera, and his Ironman race medal but when I walked into the bedroom I found a small, frail, drugged and propped up man in a teeshirt and baseball-cap. We chatted casually, about the weather, the church I pastored, family stuff but what was eating at me was that photo in the hallway. I finally, took a breath and asked the burning question in my mind... "Tom, you did the Ironman. You were at the height of personal fitness, a physically fine-tuned machine, and now this cancer has eaten your body away. How do you muster up the courage to face another day as this body you mastered now has control over you?" I still remember the look and determination in his eyes to sober up enough through the pain meds to say it exactly the way he wanted it... "Dan, without a doubt, as long as I live. I will stand on the top of this roof and shout it to the top of my lungs..." and taking the one good arm he had, pounding into the pillow in front of him, "It is my faith in Jesus Christ. My faith in Jesus Christ!" Tears still well up in my eyes every time I think of this; writing this now is no exception. I committed that day to swing by Tom's every other afternoon or so to check in, read scripture, encourage and pray for Tom. Oddly, I was the one always walking away with the encouragement. A couple of weeks later I got a call that Tom was rushed to the hospital. I quickly made my way to Desert Regional and found Tom with Carol at this side in very labored breathing; the kind that sounds like fear and pain. Carol and I began to pray and Tom started to calm down to a quiet slump. Now unable to talk he just stared forward and occasionally nodded. The next day another phone call that Tom left the body and his family was on their way. When I arrived at the hospital Tom's slumped over shell was accompanied by his radiant wife, Carol.

"Dan, you're not going to believe what happened." Carol still holding Tom's hand. "Remember last night how he was breathing?" I nodded. "He started doing it again. So I tried praying but it was getting worse so I panicked and ran to the nurses station but there wasn't anyone there so as I ran back to the room I could hear the Roy Rogers, Dale Evans TV show playing." What you need to know here is most of the days I spent with Tom was spent talking about Roy, Hopalong Cassidy and old western cowboy stuff. Tom was a fan in the sense of fanatic! "So, I followed the sound till I came to the room to ask what channel it was on, then I came in here and turned it up as loud as I could. Soon he started to calm down and it was really getting to him. I could tell he was listening. So I just sat here, stroking his hair and holding his hand and we just watched the TV show together. Then they started singing, "Come On Home, Little Doggy" and sometime during the song I realized Tom wasn't breathing. It was if God was saying to Tom...  It's okay to come home now. So he did." Both of us sat there with tears in our eyes but happy for Tom there was no more pain.

A couple days later I conducted the memorial service for Tom. People from all over southern California came; many triathletes and runners. During the service I recalled my first time watching the Ironman and watching Paula Newby-Fraser just 500 meters from the finish collapse and get up and cross the finish line. For Tom, like Paula the end wasn't what was imagined along the way. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't right, it wasn't what anyone expected. But with dignity and grace, step by step crossed the finish into the arms of the ones waiting on the other side.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. "Text edition"--Spine. (2nd ed.) (2 Ti 4:7-8). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

In this life, what some of the writers of the New Testament refer to as a race, there are many things that can... and will go wrong. Our ability to adjust and keep our eye on the finish is crucial to the outcome. We set goals, we plan, we strive to these ends and this makes it "ours"; different for you and different for me. For everyone who crosses the line there will be a tale; a story of how the race went. If you listen carefully you will hear the echoes of life itself.

Why Do You Race?

Context for the Race Report: Pacific Grove Triathlon - Part 1

The last time I competed in an Olympic distance race was April 2004. Before that it was July 2002 right before my first Ironman. It was a race I'll not forget. I had a friend who told me Paula Newby-Fraser, known as the Queen of Kona - the most successful Ironman triathlete of all time, was going to be racing that day. My friend was the husband of one of Paula's close personal friends and knew a significant impetuous of my racing was Paula herself.

I began my race that morning in the last wave start of the men. The next wave was men's relays and then elite women. there were 3 minutes between wave starts. Paula would start six minutes behind me in a 1500 meter swim. I remember thinking about mile 4 of the bike... that's Paula! Yes, she had swam through me by six, plus minutes; enough to get a several minute lead on me to catch her at mile 4! Note: I said catch. When I went by her I said, "Great Job Paula!" and passed by her like the wind. Later, as I was doing my best to hold 7 minute mile pace on the 10K run. I heard the patter of footsteps behind me. Looking to my left shoulder I notice Paula. Knowing Stuart told me he was going to tell her about me, ... "Hi Paula... I'm Stuart and Gina's friend." "Oh, right..." she said, "You're Don." I lost the rhythm of a few steps... "Dan... Yeah. Hey maybe we can talk after this..." She didn't break stride, "Sure." And off she went, uh, like the wind! When I got to the finish line she was there waiting for me. I couldn't believe it; we talked and I shared with her how much the worst race of her professional career changed my life.

Here's what Julie Cart wrote in the LA Times about that "worst" race. "Newby-Fraser, a native of Zimbabwe and resident of Encinitas, has never needed to. In her career, she has never done anything less than rush triumphantly across the finish line of the Ironman, a race she has won seven times. This year's race, held at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Oct. 7, was to be Newby-Fraser's last competitive Ironman. At age 33, Newby-Fraser wanted to scale back and let other competitors guide the sport she helped build into a new era. Odd the way things work. Newby-Fraser's farewell performance was strangely similar to [Julie] Moss' infamous race. While she held the strongest of leads, Newby-Fraser's body shut down only 500 feet from the finish line. She went into convulsions. An ambulance was called. She sat by the side of the road for 20 minutes with her body retching and rebelling in every possible way. Then she tentatively got to her feet and walked across the finish line. Newby-Fraser and Karen Smyers came out of the water together. It was the last time Smyers saw Newby-Fraser for several hours. Newby-Fraser had a 12-minute lead after the transition from the bike to the run. It was nearly an impossible gap to make up. Or lose."...

 That was 1995. I sat on the edge of my bed watching the NBC coverage of the Ironman thinking, "What if." I was so moved by this scene I wondered what it would be like to actually DO the Ironman. I eventually did and in 2005, qualified and raced the course I watched in 95 and emotionally ran passed that spot on Ali'i Drive where Paula collapsed. I remembered looking at that spot I had memorized watching years later again on video and with tears in my eyes looking to the sky and pointing for Tom.

When I talked to Paula that, San Diego day, she denied any good in the collapse. She told me, several times, she was a professional and pros don't make the mistakes she did that October day in 1995. But I asked what really mattered, her personal accomplishment or helping change a life for the better? I was surprised how she looked at me with unabashed focus and replied that her job wasn't to change lives but win races!

I will eventually get to this race report but I felt you should understand the context... More to come.