main cow pic

04.29.10

Jonsi show

Filed under: creativity,music — 10:18 am

They say that “talking about music is like dancing about architecture.” Well, I’m about to do something worse: blog about a multi-media, pop-avant-garde, performance art experience. (A.k.a. The Jonsi concert tuesday night). I had high expectations, and they were blown out of the water. A couple highlights…

First, Jonsi is a stunning singer. He began the show alone on stage, acoustic guitar in hand, sing/whispering a haunting, heart-stopping song. The sold-out Vic Theater sat on pins and needles, holding our breath in honor of such sublime beauty. And even as the show ebbed and flowed in dynamics and energy, his voice soared over it all…intensely fragile and powered by a deep ache.

Second, it was truly a multimedia, multisensory feast. The images, songs, noises, videos, stage set, art, etc…all mingled together into something that transcended a mere concert. I can’t describe it, but can’t stop thinking about it. (the video below gives a taste)

Third, I was deeply inspired by his display of gratuitous creativity. Art for art’s sake. So much of what I create is “functional art” – music made for some kind of purpose. This isn’t always bad, but a steady life of functional art can easily skid into a life of poor art. Or at worst, it merely becomes marketing propaganda. But Jonsi seems to be completely following his deepest muse in big and small ways. I want to be more like him.

Fourth, the last five minutes of the show were the most intense performance I’ve ever seen. Ever. It built and built and expanded and exploded and took me farther than I thought I could go. With weak knees and glazed eyes, we all staggered back to our cars…ears ringing and hearts pounding…exhausted but ignited.

If you don’t have his CD “Go”, please check it out. Or if you have never heard his band “Sigur Ros”, may today be the day!

04.27.10

a week of art and ideas

Filed under: creativity,music — 1:08 pm

Jonsi

I couldn’t be more excited about this week!

Tonight, a group of us (mostly from our Willow band, affectionately named “The Izzys”), are going to see Jonsi at the Vic.  As lead singer of Sigur Ros, and now a solo artist, he is one of the most gratuitously creative people on earth.  I’m counting down the minutes until 7:30.

Civic Opera

And then tomorrow, 30 of us from Willow are going to the Q conference at the Civic Opera House.  This three day event is all about culture and church and what the future might hold.  25 presenters will have 18 minutes or less to share the most compelling idea they can.  Nothing (maybe not even Jonsi!) is more inspiring to me than phenomenal, gutsy, fresh thinking about “what could be.”  I’m bringing a notebook with TONS of blank pages!

Reviews and pictures and questions and new ideas coming soon…

04.25.10

Celebration of Hope: “Hard Times”

Filed under: creativity,God's movement,willow,worship — 5:42 pm

We wrapped up “Celebration of Hope” today with an offering to be completely given away.  But before we gave, these nine members of the community shared their voices to help us stand in solidarity with the poor and oppressed.  Or as the great spiritual “Hard Times” says:  “Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears / while we all sup sorrow with the poor.” (By the way, if you’re interested in this song or the recording that inspired it, check out BiFrost Arts.  Amazing music.  Watch another arrangement of theirs, “Jesus Saviour Pilot Me”, here.)

04.24.10

A great place to begin

Filed under: books,Palestine / Israel — 10:53 am

Blood Brothers

The first book I ever read about the Palestinian/Israeli struggle is “Blood Brothers” by Elias Chacour.  This incredible memoir remains my favorite – and a GREAT way for anyone to begin learning – for two reasons. 

First, Fr. Chacour is simply telling his story.  He shared many dates and details about the conflict, which was SO helpful for me, but it’s all based in his actual experience of being a Palestinian Christian in these last 60 years.  He reminds us that this whole conflict is, above all, about real people, not just beliefs or policies.  Second, it is abundantly clear that Fr. Chacour wants peace and reconciliation more than justice and revenge.  In spite of the terrible things done to his family, he is not an angry man.  In fact, when a few of my friends went to visit him in February, he told them: 

“If you’ve come to side with us, the Palestinians, go home in peace, don’t leave us in pieces. But if you will listen to and care for all people in this land—Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and unbelievers alike—you are welcome.”

Click HERE to learn more about this incredible man of peace.  And if you read (or have read) his book, I’d love to hear what you think!

04.23.10

So inspiring…

Filed under: God's movement,life,quotes — 5:47 pm

“I want to be remembered as someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for justice and freedom … I want to be remembered as one who tried.”

Dorothy Height, who died Tuesday, a founding matriarch of the American civil rights movement.

04.21.10

Israel and Palestine: can these maps really be true?

Filed under: Palestine / Israel — 8:34 pm

Many people have been asking about next steps in understanding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and since I’m still a beginner on this journey, all I can do is pass on what I’ve seen and heard.  Nearly everyone we learned from in the middle east began with the same question:  “Have you seen the four maps?”

The four maps

“Are you joking?  Can this really be true?”  (we asked).  But the pained look on their faces let us know that this was absolutely real.  One older Palestinian man mentioned quietly…in almost a whisper… “They’ve split up our land like Swiss Cheese. And Irsrael gets the cheese, while we get the holes”.

04.19.10

to bless Palestine is to bless Israel

Filed under: God's movement,Palestine / Israel — 9:09 pm

the wailing wall

Last night and this morning were the two most inspiring, moving, and challenging gatherings I’ve been a part of since returning from the Middle East.  My mother-in-law invited a handful of brilliant and passionate workers for peace to come and share their experience with about 75 of us.  We crammed into the living room…hung on every word…learned things we’ve never heard…and dreamed about the kind of world God dreams of.  We heard from a theologian, a Wheaton prof, a Jewish author for justice, an Arab Christian, two men deeply involved with the State Department at the highest levels, a mega-church pastor, and a prominent Christian writer/thinker.  (They even asked me to share a bit about my recent journey, which was terrifying!)

the separation wall

This Israeli / Palestinian conflict is one of the most complicated, emotionally-charged, and important issues on earth.  (HERE is a great overview). The pain and fear on both sides is overwhelming, and we Americans are more deeply tied to the problem – and potential solution! – than most of us realize.

In my short time in the holy land, the actual reality was SO MUCH DIFFERENT (worse) than anything I’d ever heard, and I came home with a spinning head and aching heart.  How can this really be true?  Why don’t any of us know about it?  And is there something we can do to help bring peace?

But after the last few months of reflecting, reading, learning, and praying – and especially after the last 24 hours of conversation – I’m absolutely sure of just a few things…

(1) I am 100% pro-Israel and want to do everything to fight for their equality, dignity, and security.

(2) I am 100% pro-Palestine and want to do everything to fight for their equality, dignity, and security.

(3) I have SOOOOO much to learn.

Jean Zaru, heroic worker for peace in Palestine, told us “If you hope for something, you must work for it.  Be bringers of hope, not just speakers of hope.”

(4) I want to be a bringer of hope.

04.15.10

One of the best things i’ve ever seen

Filed under: creativity — 6:59 pm

About a year and a half ago, Shauna suggested that I watch this Ted talk about genius and creativity.  Because I’m a typical dummy who doesn’t listen to his wife, it took me until last night to watch this video.  And I was blown away.  Profoundly moved.  This talk is one of the best things I’ve ever seen.  You may have watched it many times, but in case you haven’t…

04.14.10

Why I returned the iPad

Filed under: creativity,life — 3:47 pm

Holding a work of art

I broke down and bought an iPad the day it went on sale.  And let me just say how truly “magical” it is.  This glorious piece of technological art dazzles at every function, makes simple tasks (like checking the news) feel inspiring, and stops conversation in every room it dares to show itself.  Steve Jobs and co have wildly exceeded expectations.  There’s only one, small problem:  the iPad is entirely unnecessary.  And for $600, that’s a real problem.

As much as I love the user experience, it isn’t enough computer to replace my MacBook, and isn’t portable enough to replace my iPhone.  So basically, for me, the overlap in functionality is too great for my conscience.  Did I mention it was 600 bucks?!?

But to play games, check the weather, flip through pictures, or let Henry watch Spongebob in the car, the iPad is one of the coolest things on earth.  It took me 12 of my 14 day return policy to actually work up the nerve to return it.  Maybe generation two…

What about you?  Do you have one?  Any thoughts for what Apple is hoping to do with their newest creation?

04.13.10

Celebration of Hope

Filed under: God's movement,willow,worship — 5:03 pm

This weekend the Willow community began a three week adventure called “Celebration of Hope”, where we join together in God’s love for the poor, forgotten, and oppressed.  We (1) spend 5 days eating a subsistence diet in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world, (2) pack 2.5 million seed packets to help feed 500,000 families in our partner community in Zimbabwe, and (3) give our money to help fund solutions to hunger, thirst, and sickness.  I’m never more proud to be a Christian than during these three weeks.  You can learn more and be a part HERE.

To begin the experience, after singing “Here Are My Hands”, we spent some time praying about God’s love for the world and opening ourselves to however God would want to use us to bring hope.  Please join us!

04.10.10

Review: Good Friday

Filed under: God's movement,willow,worship — 1:16 pm

Good Friday 2010

The Good Friday services this year may have been my favorite experience at Willow yet.  From the first meeting with a fantastic team (Greg, Holly, Blaine, and Rhianna), to the last note of the final song, it was a holy, moving, exciting journey.  The central idea was:

“As we remember Christ’s death, we claim our own deaths to make room for new life.”

Largely inspired by Ronald Rolheiser‘s writings on “The Paschal Mystery”, we wanted to explore the idea that Jesus’s death was not just something to remember, but something to emulate.  He wasn’t exclusively doing something FOR us, he was also teaching us how to live.  Life only comes out of death.  And if we’re unwilling to die, we’re unable to fully live.  This is an enormous challenge to me personally.  I love the life part, daydream about resurrection, and do everything I can to skip over any kind of dying or letting go.  But I’m learning – through lots of pain – that it doesn’t work that way.  The pattern is life….death…and then resurrection.

And so we, along with our community at both the 5:30 and 7:30 services, wrestled through the questions:  “Is it possible that I’m clinging to something small instead of letting God give me so much more?  Well, how do I let it go?  Really?!?  What do I need to die to on this Good Friday to make new life possible on Sunday?”

Creatively, we sang a number of hymns and spirituals, played two different Sigur Ros songs to accompany the prayers, read from the scriptures, experienced the most moving monologue (Blaine) that I’ve ever seen, were pastored by Darren, took communion together, and did everything we could to open ourselves to the Living God.  Here is one moment (sorry that the audio and video isn’t perfectly lined up yet…I’m working on it)…

04.07.10

A soul-expanding idea

Filed under: God's movement — 9:02 am

This quote blew me away today. It’s such a simply profound idea – especially the second half – that has HUGE implications for how we actually live…

“We cannot achieve our inherent dignity—our divine sonship and our divine daughterhood. All we can do is awaken to it and start drawing upon it, appreciating it, reveling in it. We live with an inherent dignity by reason of our creation, a dignity that no one has given to us and no one can take from us.

And it has nothing to do with our race or religion. Hindus have it and Buddhists have it and pagans in Africa have it. They are just as much children of God as we are. Objectively. Theologically. Eternally. Where else do you think they came from? Did some other god create them, except THE GOD? Their divine DNA is the same as ours. We deny our supposed monotheism if we believe anything else.” (Richard Rohr)

04.06.10

great music about God, life, and Redemption

Filed under: creativity,music,worship — 9:16 am

For the last two weeks, nearly every moment driving has been spent with the album “Beautiful Things” by Gungor. Michael Gungor (writer/singer/guitarist) and I got to be friends when we both lived in Grand Rapids – sharing a love for music and Indian food – but we lost touch for a couple years. However, after stumbling upon a hilariously subversive video of his (here), I decided to check out his most recent music. It blew me away.

These songs are both soulful and expansive…somehow rock, pop, and indie all rolled into one…weaving a number of styles and feels into a very coherent sound. Gungor is a great, gutsy band that isn’t afraid to try stuff. But as good as the music is, Michael’s lyrics are as fresh as anything out there. Two songs, in particular, stand out to me: “Beautiful Things” and “Cannot Keep You”. The first is an epic, rock soundtrack that’ll make you cry, and the second speaks of God in a way that makes me want to be a Christian. If you haven’t heard these songs, please click here and check them out…

04.05.10

a few things I’m into right now…

Filed under: books,life,willow — 10:05 am
richard

Richard

(1) “Lost” – other than all the excitement of finding and exploring “the hatch”, this is the most exited I’ve ever been about our loveable, over-hyped island friends.  The last few tuesdays (Richard 1867 episode, in particular) have been some of the most exciting tv I’ve ever seen.  But how in the world are they going to wrap it all up?

(2) “24” – on the other hand, 24 has completely lost it’s way.  I’m glad this is their last season.

(3) “Good Friday” – Our GF service last week may have been the most moving experience I’ve ever been a part at Willow.  Dark and holy and beautiful and challenging…and I can’t stop thinking about it.  More thoughts (and videos) coming soon.

The uncrossable isle

(4) “American politics” – Watching hyper-partisan,  cartoon children in politician suits lob insults back and forth – not realizing that our whole country pays – makes me really sad.  I’m having a hard time not being cynical.  The thought of this current system bringing forth actual, altruistic good feels less and less likely.

(5) “Game Change” – speaking of politics, have you read this fascinating book about the 2008 election, as told by the people involved?  Even though I know how the story ends, I can’t put it down!  Check out more about it here or here or here.

(6) “Shauna and Henry” – Again, I must end this list with Shauna and Henry.  They are the BEST part of my life.  These days, we’re doing a lot of crazy dancing in the living room (to a funny part of “Chicken Little”, or Hen’s favorite song “All the Single Ladies”).  Get ready to be inspired by some killer dance moves…