Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Welcome back to chaos . . .

I got back yesterday from a quick trip up to Seattle to see Michelle, our new house, and the friends that she's been staying with. It went by very quickly, but it was a good trip. Obviously, seeing Michelle is never a bad thing for me, but it was refreshing in some other ways, too.

I spent a couple of hours with some folks from a small church that's close to where we'll be living - they are looking for a bi-vocational pastor. We're kind of in a getting to know each other phase to see if there's a good fit. Stylistically, it would be out of our comfort zone, but there are some other aspects about it that make it attractive.

Michelle and I went to a worship gathering at Harambee Church, south of Seattle. We had met their pastor, Mike, a couple of years ago at a church planting bootcamp - super smart, good guy. The church did some awesome Advent readings and creative expressions. The Christmas carols that the band played were artistic and clearly heartfelt.

Alas, I have returned to this place, and the many tasks awaiting me. It's looking like my landscape project will finally be finished by the end of the week. That's probably wishful thinking, but I know I'll have a lawn and some plants to enjoy. Pretty exciting stuff.

posted by Steve at 8:51 AM
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Thursday, December 02, 2004

So I just heard part of a public radio interview with a couple of guys who made a film about the politics of evangelicals in America. I had already been contemplating whether or not I would fall into the category of evangelicals, and I think this may have tipped the scale. While I may hold a majority of the same doctrinal and/or socio-political positions, it seems that I am increasingly out of step. For one thing, I'm not Republican. I know, I know, Jimmy Carter isn't either. For another thing, I don't believe that the best approach to "being salt and light" is through political campaigning and power grabbing. Also, I struggle with the degree to which the category's definition seems to change depending on who's got the microphone. There are times when I hear someone speaking in very simple terms, and I think, "Yeah, that's me. I guess I am evangelical after all." Then there are other times when I hear one of the major voices of evangelicalism in the media, and I just shake my head and walk away.

More than anything, the label lacks value. Again, simplicity in following Jesus will do far more good than trying to define myself or anyone else for that matter.

posted by Steve at 2:18 PM
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Cool, very cool. I was able to book a flight up to Seattle to see Michelle and our new house for next week. It's an unexpected pleasure - it was hoped for, but didn't look realistic. The best part is, thanks to some travel points on the credit card, we don't even have to pay for it.

posted by Steve at 2:15 PM
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Wednesday, December 01, 2004

O.k., time for a very quick update. We had a good Thanksgiving. Michelle came home and we got to hang out a bit, which I guess is saying something, given the commotion of family gatherings and gettings things in order to move. Heck, we even chiseled out some time to see a movie. Sadly, I had to put her on an airplane on Monday morning.

That's especially sad given that yesterday was our 8th wedding anniversary. I'm pretty sure that the marriage manual says something about spending anniversaries together. That was hard. We went out to a nice restaurant last Saturday to celebrate, which was good . . . but somehow hanging out with the dog didn't measure up yesterday.

Our house purchase seems to be going along smoothly. We came to terms with the sellers on the list of repairs. Now we just need a loan.

I'm learning how money oriented my thinking still is. It's too easy to think I don't rely on it when there's enough to go around.

posted by Steve at 8:57 AM
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spirit farmer data

I'm Steve Lewis. This used to be my blogging home. My online home is now at SpiritFarmer.com. When this blog was my active online home, I lived in Seattle. Now I live in London, UK. I follow Jesus (poorly most of the time), worship simply, read a lot, watch culture, go to school, listen to music, write, enjoy art, and drink a lot of coffee.
e-mail me: spiritfarmer@gmail.com
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seattle spots

victrola coffee
zoka coffee
university of washington
church of the apostles
quest church
sanctuary church
shoreline vineyard


sites i visit

off the map
theooze
next-wave
metacritic
nt wright



a few of the blogs in the feedreader

tallskinnykiwi
jason evans
joe boyd
kevin rains
alan creech
chris marshall
bill bean
eugene cho
jordon cooper
dwight friesen
john chandler
amy palmer
ryan bolger
rudy carrasco
ryan sharp
sings in the sunshine
rick bennett
scot mcknight
karen ward
alan hirsch
dan kimball
petey crowder



i'm reading it

colossians remixed
africa unchained



i finished reading it - 2007

generation me
jesus and the restoration of israel
god's continent
glocalization
globalizing theology
gustavo gutierrez: essential writings
jesus and the eyewitnesses
garlands of grace
twenty poems to nourish your soul
the black swan
dancing in the streets
made to stick
signs in contemporary culture
hit the bullseye
revolution
the politics of jesus
readings in christian ethics
toward old testament ethics
the kite runner
principles of conduct
velvet elvis
the irresistable revolution
they like jesus, but not the church
the great omission
ishmael
charisma: the gift of grace, and how it has been taken from us
the starfish and the spider
a perfect mess
the world cafe
the new faces of christianity
leaving church
journeying in faith
the creed
creators
transforming mission
metaphors we live by
foolishness to the greeks
personal knowledge



states i've spent time: 2007

washington
texas
british columbia
oregon
california
georgia
oh yeah, denmark, too



i wrote it

managing conflict in the 'new world'
music review: over the rhine
film review: bonhoeffer
music review: fighting jacks
film review: the passion of the christ
how reality tv changes lives
the best tv article you've ever read
corks & caps: a wine lover's story of change
america's idols
random, disorganized thoughts about life after the katrina disaster
missional . . . plain and simple
on becoming post-gnostic



i blogged it

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