camel crossing

It all started as a simple blog to help me process my walk.  After a little bit of time it began to evolve.  It became a crazy combination of posts about my walk, culture, issues….the good bad and ugly.  Over the last 7 months my numbers have continued to increase quite significantly each month.  But…..there’s always a but.

Over the last month I’ve grown discontent with my blogging here.  I’ve tried to resolve it by redoing the design and organization of content.  The problem….I’m just not into it right now.  I’m in a different place in ministry than I was in the late fall/early spring.  And honestly….I’m busier than I was before.  So….

I’m going to take a few weeks off and see what happens.  I’ll be back at the crossing on August 1…see you then….

I remember the first time I heard them.  I was working at a Christian bookstore when Live and in the can showed up in a box.  I had heard a little about Delirious? and the packaging (actually in a tin can) tempted me and I had to give it a listen.  That was all it took…I was hooked.  The album was a collection of live worship songs with incredible times of worship/improv scattered in between.

The next year I was blessed to see them live at Atlanta Fest.  At the time they were an up and coming band in the Christian world….they actually played in the late afternoon as opposed to the night time when the big boys play.  At that point they were still a new band and had really just decided to actually be a band outside of youth events in England.

Since Live and in the can I’ve bought/downloaded every album they’ve put out along with their live dvd’s.  They’re one of a few Christian bands I listen to.  In my opinion they’re one of the only real Christian bands out there.  They’re not fluffy “Jesus…love…woohoo” poptart music and they’re not the run of the mill “modern” worship stuff either (consistently redoing the same 15-20 worship songs).  They easily fit into the catergory of monster band with my other favorites, U2, DMB and Coldplay.

The end of 2009 will bring with it the end of Delirious?  and with that will create a huge void in the world of Christian music. It’s a sad reality.

click here for the official press release

Each Wednesday I write a post about arts/culture.  These posts are part of a Watercooler Wednesday, which is facilitated on Randy Elrod’s blog.  Check it out for links to other articles.

Tags: eCreativity, WCW

We do alot of story telling in our country.  Much of our population is illiterate and they rely on story telling for much of their information.  They also mix in religion with most conversations so…telling stories concerning faith is very natural.  We’ve been challenged to come up with our top five, know them in English, memorize in local arabic and be prepared to tell them.  So as I sit and think I wonder what I should learn.  I know a few off the top:

• The creation story::: I’m starting to work with more photographers and creative types so this story would have special meaning….we do serve an incredibly creative God who longs to walk and talk with man.
• The tower of babel::: Not a day goes by that I don’t butcher the language.  Me studying arabic comes up almost every day.  This is a great story to bring up the failure associated with man trying to reach God on his own terms and in his own strength.
• Peter walking on water::: I told this one last week.  It’s a great story because Jesus calls a man to do something seemingly impossible and he does it.  He then faces fears, sinks and Jesus rescues him.  This is a great story for people that most certainly face persecution and hard times when they respond to Jesus’ call to do the impossible.

I’ve still got to come up with two more and then start memorizing.  Do you have some favorites?  Do you tell stories?

Tags: eFaith, eWork

::: I saw this post on David Phillips blog and I had to post it.  Does your organization promote or stifle creativity?  How about your team or staff?  If not….celebrate.  If so, How do you work around it? 

From David:::

I saw this from a lifehack post entitled How to stifle your creativity in 10 easy steps and I thought, “hmm…I’m seeing this from folks in my denomination and from those in denominational leadership.” So I’m posting a few relevant ones for you.

1. Always try to fit in. Be much more than a good team player-be the person who never, ever rocks the boat. Whatever seems to be the majority opinion, go with it. People who have ideas of their own can face suspicion or-horror of horrors-criticism and dislike by the majority. Don’t risk being on the wrong side. The minute that it’s clear what the majority (or the most powerful players) want, that’s where your opinions and thoughts must be.
2. Stick to what you know. Tried and true is what’s right for you. Change and novelty involve risk, and risks can go wrong. If you give in to entertaining innovative thoughts, you may find that what you’ve been doing all these years isn’t as good as you thought. That would upset you and maybe force you to do something risky, like altering your habits or changing your viewpoint. So don’t be rash. Caution must be your watchword at all times. Whatever that new idea is, let it wait a while-say a decade or so-before considering it seriously. You’ll be surprised how many will go away in far less time than that.
3. Always defer to authority. The people in charge must know what they are doing, or they wouldn’t hold the positions that they do. It would be presumptuous to inject any of your own ideas, when they clearly have all the answers. Rules exist to be obeyed, not challenged. If you always do exactly as you are told, you won’t ever risk disapproval from your betters.
4. Don’t ask stupid questions. Best of all, don’t ask any questions. They only get people into trouble. Folk who develop the nasty habit of questioning things may upset the status quo, and that simply causes trouble and disruption. Things are as they are. There’s no point wasting time or effort wondering whether they ought to be different in some way. Only dissidents and weirdoes don’t understand that simple fact
5. Leave thinking to the experts. There’s no point in bothering them with with your pathetic notions or observations. If it was an idea worth having, the experts would already have thought about it. They have all kinds of qualifications and can use long words too. If you think that some change might be needed (and you can’t simply ignore such a disruptive idea), hire expensive, expert consultants to do the thinking. They’ll quickly tell you whatever you want to hear, then add what others are doing, so you can copy them. Best of all, if it goes wrong, you can first of all say that what you did was follow industry best practice (whatever that means); and, if that doesn’t disarm any criticism, you can blame the consultants.

 From David :::When denominations (or churches or families) do this, they are sure to create proper inbreeding, which in theology and practice, as in marriage, produces mutants. It’s also a good way to get rid of your creative types and ensure conformity. Of course, this will leave the denomination, church, organization, or family with stagnant thought and ideology, but who cares, right?

From the Crossing :::  Well said David.  I think we’re seeing proof of this reality in attendance at the conventions.  Stetzer has reported that the number of under 40’s attending the convention is rapidly decreasing.  Until we feel free to innovate and think outside the lines we’re going to continue to miss an entire generation of ideas and new ways of doing and being.

(HT: PastorHacks)

Tags: eWork

There she is in all of her beauty.  Ok, well she’s actually smaller than I thought…and kind of hard to see from such a distance…behind glass.  She would be Mona Lisa atthe Louvre in Paris.  Indeed she was beautiful, but there were so many others to enjoy….some I preferred over her.  Equally as fun was watching all of the people trying to get their photos with her in the background.  I swam upstream and choose to photo the lookers instead of the looked at. 

Tags: eCreativity, Features

A major part of most movies is the soundtrack.  A good soundtrack works hand in hand with the movie itself to create a set of emotions.  How many of us can instantly think of several songs from Forrest Gump?  Why?  Because the songs are memorable and they were paired with memorable moments in the movie.

So in your life over the last few weeks…what would your soundtrack be?  If a film maker was making a movie of your life…as is…would there be a song of two that would capture the feeling and emotions?

Mine would be Strawberry Swing by Coldplay.  Here are a few lyrics:::

They were sitting
They were sitting on the strawberry swing
Every moment was so precious
People moving all the time
Inside a perfectly straight line
Don’t you wanna curve away?
When it’s such…
It’s such a perfect day
It’s such a perfect day

Now the sky could be blue
I don’t mind
Without you it’s a waste of time

Could be blue
I don’t mind
Without you it’s a waste of time

Could be blue,
could be grey
without you I’m just miles away

The last few weeks have been a really sweet time with my family.  We’ve been spending alot more quality time together doing fun things.  The other day we just took off the afternoon and sat in our bed (it was over 100f outside and our room has a/c) reading books, feeling the baby move, and playing.  It was a perfect day.  God has blessed the last few weeks with alot of sweet moments. Could be blue, I don’t mind, without you it’s a waste of time…

Each Wednesday I write a post about arts/culture.  These posts are part of a Watercooler Wednesday, which is facilitated on Randy Elrod’s blog.  Check it out for links to other articles.

Tags: eCreativity, Features

 What would I have become
If you’d never stopped to pull me through
What would this life had done
If you’d never whispered liberty
I heard you sing so sweetly a song of love

Jesus how sweet the name
The name that saves
Jesus how sweet the sound
The sound of grace
The sound of praise
The sound that saves

So many songs I’ve sung
But there’s none more beautiful than you
And here I’ve found myself
So I’m happy to be lost in you
I hear you sing so sweetly, a song called love

This is a tune on Delirious’ new album and it’s amazing.  As I’ve been listening to this album over the last few days this song has hit me over and over again.  A few lines in particular hit me dead on…

What would I have become
If you’d never stopped to pull me through
What would this life had done
If you’d never whispered liberty

What kind of husband would I be without Christ in my life?  Would I remain faithful?  Would I cheat on her?  Would we still be married?  What kind of dad would I be?  Would I be abusive?  Would I make them cry because of my anger?  What would this life had done?  How much damage would I have caused?

So many songs I’ve sung
But there’s none more beautiful than you

I’ve sung in French, German, Italian, and Spanish….I’ve led worship for over 15 years….lots of songs.  But when all of the junk is stripped away….the bands….the music….the hype…all of this pales in comparison with You.  I just can’t get over it.  I don’t deserve the life, the relationships, the hope, the peace.  Thanks!

Jesus how sweet the name
The name that saves
Jesus how sweet the sound
The sound of grace
The sound of praise
The sound that saves

Tags: eFaith, Features

The longer I follow after Christ the more I realize….I don’t see it all or understand it all.  My view of things is immediate…and limited.  The last few weeks I’ve been reading through the life of Joseph (Genesis).  Wow, what a powerful story with amazing application to my own life.  The amazing beauty of this story is two main things::: Joseph’s response and God’s faithfulness.

I don’t want to unpack the entire story in a few lines…it doesn’t due it justice.  What I do want to approach is the initial part of the story.  Joesph is being faithful to God….he has a dream and shares it.  Ok, so maybe Joseph is a little cocky and maybe shouldn’ve figured out a better way to tell his brothers about the dream.  But, he simply tells the bro’s about what God told him.  We all know the reaction…they sell him out.  His big brother could’ve stopped it but didn’t.  Reuben thought about intervening but backed down…and next thing we know…Joseph is heading down a path he didn’t expect to go down.

Joseph responds by staying faithful to God.  He was wronged by his brothers but he stayed faithful.  I don’t know if he struggled through the emotions…I can imagine he did.  He may have struggled a lot but in the end remained faithful.  Think about how you would have responded. Maybe you’ve gone through something like this….I have.  My initial response…anger, hurt, disappointment (with God, myself and others.)  But He’s helped me to turn a corner and embrace joy and to once again be focused.

A good friend that was recently healed of cancer sent me this verse.  He was retired but has sensed that God healed him for a new set of good works, so he’s returning to ministry.  He found great strength in this verse and thought I would as well…and I did.

“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.  The One who called you is completely dependable.  If he said it, he will do it.” (1 Thes. 5:23-24; The Message)

Tags: eFaith, Features

There’s nothing more relaxing than throwing on the iPod and listening loud.  At this point I don’t own some killer system such as a Bose so earbuds (not the standard ones…ouch) are the prefered listening device.  So here are a few favorite albums from the last month:::

:::Jason Mraz We sing, we dance, we steal things.  Wow, what a great album.  Jason is an amazing song writer and a great musician.  The extra versions from the various sessions are amazing and truly highlight his ablilities.

:::Dave Matthews Band Live at Piedmont Park. This is one of the best DMB live albums.  It contains the standards but also a few new standards such as….Cornbread.  The lyrics are kind of rough but what a killer song.  I have two versions of this song and they’re both totally different….worth the listen.

:::Coldplay Viva la Vida or Death and all of his friends. This is a great album.  I must admit for a while I dismissed Coldplay as melancholy Starbucks soundtrack but I recently downloaded their catalog and wow…I way underestimated them as a band.  This new work is amazing and continues to provide me with some great stuff to listen to.

What are you listening to?

Each Wednesday I write a post about arts/culture.  These posts are part of a Watercooler Wednesday, which is facilitated on Randy Elrod’s blog.  Check it out for links to other articles.

Tags: eCreativity, Features