Big Dave on being hands and feet

Have I mentioned I love my friend Dave. "We feed more than food". It's awesome to hear him say "in a few years you might have one of these guys on the next video". Dave is so aware of God's grace in his life. He is an inspiration.

Breakfast for the Hungry in Portland from Union Gospel Mission on Vimeo.

I am a broken man

Inspired by my good friend Josh Rosenthal I am attempting to cultivate my own creative/expressive side. I wrote these lines some time ago, but felt like posting them today.

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I am a broken man,
Can’t seem to save myself.

I try and try but I can’t fill this void.

I am a fallen man
Can’t seem to lift my head

I fall and rise and fall

Oh my God,
Can you rescue me again?
Can I taste your grace again, everyday.
Your blood is what I need
To cover my sin filled life
I need you to fill me up
For I’m empty
For I’m empty.

Money and Power and Fame
Always leave me thirsty.

I drink and drink but still I’m dry

Why do I forget you,
Why don’t I drink of living water

That I might never thirst again

Oh my God,
Can you rescue me again?
Can I taste your grace again, everyday.
Your blood is what I need
To cover my sin filled life
I need you to fill me up
For I’m thirsty
For I’m thirsty.

Oh my God,
Why did you take off your crown?
Why did you come from heaven down?

Was it to save me?
Was it to save me?

And there is nothing I can do,
But receive this gift from you.

Sex and Worship

Here is a response I posted to Richard Dahlstrom's blog on Sexual Freedom I've expressed the sentiments on freedom before on this blog, but the idea of the way I pervert sex and the way I pervert worship overlap considerably.



I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways we (I) abuse sex and these ways are often the ways we (I) abuse worship.

I have struggled with Sex addiction and pornography. Of course this greatly affects my sex life once married. After salvation and much healing the sex with my wife is vastly different.

I’ve noticed really good sex is about giving. It feels the more I am concerned with and in tune with my wife's needs and desires, the more she reciprocates. My intention is not the reciprocation, but the reciprocation drives me to focus even more intently on her. This has become sex for us. Before, as an addict, sex was about me and my needs. If something changed from what I expected it could derail the whole experience for me. It was all about me. Part of redeeming sex was being forgiven by my wife. She accepts me and loves me knowing full well who I am and what I have done. I can now give and accept love during sex. Before I would always wonder, “would she really be here if she knew.”

In worship I have noticed how easy it is to turn the focus on me. “How do I look with hands up (or down)”, “Did I stand at the table long enough after taking communion”… It goes on and on. It sounds ridiculous to vocalize these thoughts, but they are there. I can make the worship of God about me really quickly. Times when I am most aware of grace, I feel I can pour my heart out. Whether I am singing, or speaking, or giving… I can do these things with great joy. Jesus knows me inside and out, and He still wants me to be there with him. By giving myself up in worship, by focusing on his glory I feel like he gives me joy and peace. That’s not my motivation going in, but it increases my ability to give myself over to him.

I recognize it’s a metaphor and has its limitations. I love the words you chose to describe freedom. I have been frustrated many a July 4th to hear freedom described as “I can do what ever I want”. Being an addict whom Christ set free, I feel very grateful that God has empowered me to say “no” to things that once owned me.

My muslim brother?

An oldie but a goodie

I've taken the time to listen to some old Shane Claiborne clips lately. I need the shot of adrenline and passion his words seem to give me. Anyways I came across one of my favorite discussions...

Three Degrees of Separation from Being on Vimeo.

My Friend Dave

Dave has been a very good friend for the last 3 years. We have met every Friday during this time, and it has been a true privilege to know him. He is unbelievably compassionate and authentic.

Yea though I walk...

Thanks to DK @ http://perpetualanticipation.blogspot.com/ for helping spread this.

Off of Carlos' blog:

"If you listen carefully at the end you hear me saying this to Danny.
“Keep trying to make it man.”
He looked me square in the eye…cocked his head sideways with a confused look on his face…and said,
“Trying to make it? No man. I ain’t trying to make it…I’m making it. Jah puts His soldiers everywhere. Jah says, Yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… So He places some of us, in that valley.”"