intersections

What type are you?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has been done to death, I know, but there is something about it that really intrigues me. I ran across an application for Facebook the other day and here's how I came out

ENFP - The Inspirer

Check out some excerpts from the explanation of my type below the fold...

If you're on Facebook, click here to take the test and compare your type with your friends. If you're not on Facebook...what's the matter with you?!

If you don't know about Myers-Briggs Type Indicator the Facebook App has very detailed explanations. If you really get into it and want a book-length explanation, you should pick up a copy of Please Understand Me II.

Catching up

It's been quite some time since I've posted regularly. I don't know whether to apologize to people for not having more new content here. I don't pretend that there are thousands of disappointed visitors each day, but I know some of you who check in regularly and have written asking if I'm okay. I am okay, but my life has been very interesting since January.

Ministry is a unique sort of calling and not all events in the life of a local church are blog-worthy and so there hasn't been a lot for me to write about recently. The process of "becoming" is a painful one. When you think of the various stages of life that we all go through - infant, toddler, teens/adolescence, adulthood, parenthood, retirement, old age - these transition are not easy. I don't know what stage of life the Hollywood church is at, but we are definitely in a time of transition. And this transition is painful. But we are growing and maturing.

There comes a time in the life of a church when the loss of an old world becomes apparent to a majority of people. The longing to "go back" to a time when everything worked, is natural and unavoidable. Some of our members are in this place (this is not a criticism). Others are thrilled that they have found a congregation that is experimenting with different ways of being the church. People all along this spectrum are attempting to live together as we ponder what it means to be the people of God in this time and this place. This not an easy thing to do, but I am convinced it is the right thing to do.

So, this learning and processing is what we've been doing and it has been time consuming enough to not permit very much blogging.

We have had some high points:

• Two baptisms on Easter Sabbath, which was the culmination of six weeks of Bible studies during Lent. Both of these young ladies have been a part of our church for about two years before being baptized.
• We held a Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, which I blogged about here and here.
• A group from our church attended One Voice to End Slavery on March 25th.
• About 20 from our church just participated in the Arthritis Walk this past Sunday. We raised close to $2000 for arthritis research and support of those who suffer with a "life sentence of pain."
• I traveled to Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh in early March. In Washington I participated in the PICO National Network's Faith and Families Summit. I spent two days with a delegation from our PICO affiliate, LA Voice, speaking to members of Congress about the urgent need to reauthorize the S-CHIP program. Read more here. In Pittsburgh I consulted with Andy and Mayda Clark and their team for a couple of days. They are developing an amazing community-based ministry in the town of Carnegie, just outside Pittsburgh. I met many of their good friends and partners in ministry in Carnegie.
• And...I have had the privilege of taking in a Switchfoot concert and the Broadway musical, Wicked, at the Pantages Theater.

This has been one of the most (if not the most) challenging period of pastoral ministry in my 13 years. But the Lord has been good and I have learned more than I have ever learned in 13 years of ministry.

It's good to be back in the blogosphere....

Too HOT!

Why haven't I posted in over two weeks? I suppose I could offer a complex variety of reasons. Instead I will blame it on the one thing that has been responsible for all problems in the past two weeks: the heat! Last year California broke all the records for rainfall. The year we blew through the records for heat. It was 119 degrees in Woodland Hills, people. Even Lancaster didn't get that hot. Even Las Vegas wasn't that hot on that day. Around the country I'm sure you're heard about our little heat wave.

So, anyway, we don't have central air in our apartment - just a small window unit in our living room. No A/C in the bedrooms. This is literally the first night in almost two weeks I haven't sat in my apartment in minimal clothing and just sweat! I think we only hit 91 today in the city. It actually felt cool compared with 101. So, that's my excuse, and I'm stickin' to it!

My Sabbath morning

This is what I was greeted with as I was getting dressed for church this morning. Exciting stuff. We live on a very busy road and the fender-benders abound. This time, a pickup truck tried to avoid hitting someone who slowed suddenly. After skidding for about 50 feet, he slammed into the back of my car. My car then hit the car in front of me. Who knows where this will end up, but I was definitely late this morning. Totally missed the class I teach on Sabbath morning.

Walmart's Ongoing Saga

There was another article about Wal-mart in the New York Times today. You can read it here. I also received a free copy of a new book by Anthony Bianco entitled, The Bully of Bentonville: How the High Cost of Wal-Mart's Everyday Low Prices is Hurting America. I haven't read it and probably won't get to anytime soon, but it is just one more indication that this issue is getting the attention it needs. Often these books are one-sided and a bit over simplified. The author has been a senior writer for Business Week for 20 years, so he's not just an angry muckraker.

If anyone gets the chance to read it, please let me know what you think.

Seriously Greasy Food!

Today for lunch we ate at this really cool little hamburger join called Yankee Doodle. The first and third guy here are friends of my from Philadelphia that are also here at Yale for this theological conversation with Miroslav Volf. The guy pictured below cooking the food is the thrid generation from his family to own and operate this New Haven landmark. He grandfather started the place. They still mix their own sodas. Really unbelievable!

If you're ever in New Haven, CT you've got to come to this little restaurant (what you see in this picture is the whole place!).

Saw the Flyers last night

My friend Steven, who I stayed with here in Philadelphia, had tickets to see the Flyers last night. We had great seats, as you can see from this photo. The Flyers lost pretty badly...in fact, Steven said it was the worst game they played all season, but it was fun nonetheless. Good cheesesteak, too! Okay, there are some things I miss about Philadelphia.

My January travels

Wow, January is shaping up to be a wild ride. I really enjoy living a full life, but January may be a bit too full, even for me. Nevertheless, it should be fun. Here's where I'll be and when. Of course, I'll try to share some posts from these events to let you in on the fun.

• January 9-20 - Doctor of Ministry class at Fuller. At least I don't have to travel across the country for this anymore. I'll be in class from 8-4 every day with two of the sharpest minds in the church today, Alan Roxburgh and Mark Lau Branson. This is always a stretching time and I have benefited so much from this program at Fuller. If you're a pastor you should check it out.
• January 23-26 - Consultation for North American Division. A group of about 9 pastors are meeting with Paul Richardson of the Center for Creative Ministry and Monte Sahlin to work on developing a discipleship curriculum for the North American Division. The finished product will be a Web based series of units (material, ideas and activities that can be done in one to four hours) with PowerPoint slides and video clips that a pastor or church leader can use in a seminar, Sabbath School class, or other setting to mentor and/or train the congregation to reach the unchurched and engage members in becoming disciplers.
  • As a fringe benefit of this trip I'm running up to Philly to see friends for a day. Should be fun!
• January 28 - Peace Conference at La Sierra. Back in the Southland this time, this is day that you shouldn't miss. The two peace organizations (Adventist Peace Fellowship & Adventist Women for Peace) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will be holding a one day conference at La Sierra. You can learn more about it here. My wife and I will be attending the afternoon portion, so let us know if you want to go along.

2006

Well, everyone is posting about the new year. I have a few New Year goals (and milestones) myself:

1. Run another marathon (Big Sur or Long Beach)
2. My 10 year wedding anniversary on August 25 - I'm planning now to take my wife somewhere amazing for our anniversary. I figure if I save $20 a week starting today I can afford to drive to Sacramento! Woo hoo!
3. Lead the Hollywood church to a clear sense of vision that will unify our community and drive us into mission. I'll be posting over the next few months about this and I invite you to chime in, whether you are from  Hollywood, or around the country or world. We need your help.
4. Write my first book. It makes me nervous just to type this, but it also feels good. It's been bouncing around in my head for a while. Time to get it out!

How about you? What are your plans for 2006?

New friends

One of the things I love about my job is the opportunities I have to meet new people over coffee. I often attend events for the express purpose of seeing what kinds of connections God will make. I recently attended a breakfast fellowship of Jewish Rabbis and Christian pastors at Fuller Seminary. It was a wonderfully rich time of fellowship and sharing our common scripture.

One of the side benefits was that I met a wonderful person named Eric Jacbosen. He is the author of a book called Sidewalks in the Kingdom (it's the first book in my book list to the right). Today we had coffee in the Fuller bookstore and talked for over an hour. It's just great to meet new people and share our journeys. His book helped put words to things I've been feeling, especially since moving to Hollywood. I highly recommend it.