have 56 min. 58 sec. to spare? are you a guest… or a host?

i can’t promise you wealth nor power nor fame (at least not until you send me a money order or payment of $995)…
but if you take some time to listen to PE’s message on colossians 3:12-17 titled “things that build community” i can promise you a great message that will challenge and speak God’s words that you just might need to hear.

i know it was for me.

are we getting too comfortable at church and stuck in a “gimme gimme” mentality as we sit in the pews, fancy brown cushion-y chair (or whatever you sit on) and sucking dry a church and getting what we want/need from it and then claiming it lacks this or lacks that… or pointing out this fault or that to justify the need to move on to another church in hopes of satiating an insatiable desire? and if we keep doing this, won’t we eventually end up in a loop and back at the starting church? because what church will ever meet all of our lofty ideals?

don’t get me wrong there will be some drop-dead theological issues that might be a deal-breaker… and if so, fine. then move on to a place where you can embrace the teaching and find connection to the church body.

but if we would simply roll up our sleeves, take more ownership and actually care for the church/community we call “home/family” and are willing to acknowledge its flaws (that all churches have) and commit to being a host church would be the coolest place to be.

can you spare a brutha 56 min. 58 sec… ?

click here for the audio: things that build community or see below for the video (thanks randall!)

The 10 contextual points PE shared:

Christ is risen…

He is risen indeed!

Lord, forgive me…  
as i reflect on this day the lengths You went for me:

   i am disgusted by my mediocrity,
   i am humbled by Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness
   i praise You for defeating death and the grave!
   i desire to experience constant and continual change,
   i commit to living for You (but will unfortunately fail… a lot).

thank you, Lord.

was blessed to be a part of quest’s joint easter service.  
it felt weird not being involved w/ the logistical planning of this off-site service after all these years, but equally relaxing to come/participate and be free to worship, engage and fellowship.
and to look around and see our church come together for one combined service was a bit surreal… having 500+ folks inside the school gymnasium.  
worship was outstanding… a big hi-five to the ministry and the team for ushering such beautiful and melodic sounds to those in attendance!

and now that lent is over, i am considering making “beer-ola-fee” a permanent fast…

myanmar: devastation. are we numb to the number…?

[UPDATE: 05.13.2008 @ 03.30pm (PST)]: we will be hosting a benefit fundraiser/concert at q cafe this coming saturday, 05.17.2008 @ 7pm.
if you’re available, please come, pray, donate, help…

* great post from pastor leah, click here. our world truly doesn’t seem as big as it once was… what a reminder that we are called to reach out and help/heal one another.

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(c) photo courtesty of Khin Maung Win/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

when reports first broke about a cyclone hitting myanmar, i remember thinking to myself… ‘oh no, not another disaster in that region of the world!‘. then i remember thinking, ‘wait a sec… what is a cyclone‘? (though, wikipedia has an entry on cyclone, i’m not sure i completely understand what it really is. if you’re a good teacher and have loads of patience, hit me up and explain this to me. coffee on me!)
all i do know for sure? the devastation the cyclone has done to region of myanmar.
reports early on gave the death toll and it continued and continues to grow and i fear it will never be accurately tallied… (i was honestly thinking it was going to be like part 2 of the terrible 2004 tsunami, where a quarter of a million people lost their lives.)

100+
364+
1,000+
10,000+
20,000+…
…more?

worship setlist @ Q – 2008.02.24

due to a last minute change-up in the roster, worship was led by sarah perez this past week… and was AMAZING!
thus, i played drums… again!
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welcome/opening set:
- come, just as you are [key of E] by joe sabolick
- i could sing of Your love forever [key of E] by martin smith
- how great Thou art [key of A] by stuart klein

invitation/eucharist:
- this is my desire (Lord, i give You my heart) [key of G] by reuban morgan

offertory/closing song:
- let my words be few [key of G] by beth and matt redman

Really? Jackie? I look like Jackie?

= ???

i am still a little upset, shocked, confused, saddened and everything in between…
why you ask? let me explain what took place between me and a new security guard at my work place yesterday:

front desk security guard: ‘hey, you know who you look like?‘
me: ‘nope…‘
(hoping beyond hope he wouldn’t say a random asian public celebrity, especially a martial artist – considering i don’t know any martial arts! but sadly… knowing it would be a martial artist!!! :T).