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Pensees

• August 11, 2009
• 20:05

  Now on WordPress

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Blogging   [edit]

  I've switched to a new blog on WordPress set up by Jane Johnson (she's pretty amazing at this stuff).From now on head over to mypensees.com or simply kenwytsma.com.
• August 07, 2009
• 21:23

  Kip's Toyland

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Humor   [edit]

  Shot this picture of the girls in the Hollywood flea market a few days ago.Kip's Toyland belongs next to the other great "Kip" posts of years gone by :)(If you don't know who Kip is he is Antioch's High School Pastor and all around fun guy to joke with.  Just click on the "Kip" category and you'll see some great past pictures!!)
• August 04, 2009
• 9:57

  So Cal

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  vacations   [edit]

  Checked out of the blogosphere for a while...We're on vacation first in So Cal and then up to a week long camp at Mount Hermon.A few things I've learned in the last couple of days:1.  10 hours in the car is too long with 3 kids and a baby2.  In N Out Burger still tastes amazing3.  Napa Valley is pretty cool
• July 29, 2009
• 17:51

  NEXT on Vimeo

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Check out the World Relief NEXT videos on our new Vimeo account!! [www.vimeo.com]

  DR CONGO from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.

  
• July 27, 2009
• 12:08

  Esther's Birthday Breakfast

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Family   [edit]

  
• July 24, 2009
• 21:24

  Saturday Night!!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  The best spot to be Saturday night in Bend is the dinner / live music / silent auction fundraiser for Kilns College!!Just come anytime after 6:00 to the Kilns Bookstore in the Old Mill and enjoy catered food along with music by the Eric Tollefson Band and Avenue H.Other than the $10 for dinner, there is no need to buy anything or give any money - simply join us for a great evening out.The only thing better than joining us yourself, is to come and bring some friends!!Here are just a few of the organizations donating to the silent auction:Inn at the 7th Mountain; Exhale Face and Body Spa; Allyson's Kitchen; Baldy's; Ben Edwards Photography; The Old Mill Shops; Maya Moon Handbags; Nashelle’s Fine Jewelry; Regal Cinemas; Jones Fly Fishing; Starbucks; Ethni Photography; Tetherow; Tony's Deli; Cascade Flights; Mint Blossom; Cheryl Harris Pottery; Plethora Salon; The Lofts; Emerald City Smoothie and more!!
• 10:47

  Elly David Special Music

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Elly David, who is from Tanzania, joined us at Antioch last Sunday and shared this song.
  
• July 23, 2009
• 14:58

  Enough Project Finalist!!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  World Relief NEXT and Emote 360 teamed up to enter a video in the Enough Project's Congo Video Contest.We just found out this week that our video was chosen to be a finalist. The three celebrity judges that picked the finalists were Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling, actress Sonya Walger from ABC’s "Lost," and Oscar-nominated director Wim Wenders. The winning video is picked by public vote with the winner being flown down to see a viewing of the video at the Hollywood Film Festival.Please take the time to vote, help raise awareness for the Congo and support World Relief NEXT and Emote360.Click here to go to the contest home page, select "vote" and then cast your vote by clicking the thumbs up on our video. Our video is the one titled in all caps with a picture of Micah Bournes (one of Antioch's interns from Moody Bible in Chicago) in the video player.
• 10:38

  Too Tired to Desire God

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I've been thinking the last few days about when you're too tired to desire God.When this is the case, I think we usually focus on the desire part -- I don't desire, don't feel like I have it in me to desire, don't want to desire, am guilty that I don't desire etc.The funny thing about this is that the grammar of the initial sentence shows us that this is misplaced energy.Too tired to... implies that tired is the problem, not desire.We tend to focus on the output not the input. We tend to misdiagnose our problem as spiritual when its root is physical. We think that God is hard to keep up with instead of realizing sleep is hard to find.We hear failure... God says sabbath.
• July 22, 2009
• 17:52

  Peaches

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Family   [edit]

  The video says it all...
  
• July 21, 2009
• 10:00

  Stampedes

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I like the word stampede.Dan Leonardo (neighbor and friend) and I were talking this morning about life, money, raising kids, what really matters in life etc. etc.One insight was that wise decisions are usually the ones where you sit down and think them through. Wisdom doesn't get caught up in circumstances, but tries to understand choices and consequences. In short, wisdom doesn't follow the hysteria of crowds -- it doesn't get caught up in stampedes.So I'm sitting here wondering what stampedes are around me... what is the crowd doing that feels urgent, but might not be?What are the things we should be sitting down and thinking through?
• 9:17

  Affirmation

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  interns   [edit]

  We've been doing this little affirmation thing at the staff meetings for a couple of weeks with the interns.It's been amazing to hear people share thoughts and encouraging stories about one another. The surprising part for me is how much I've learned about everyone through the experience.It really goes to show that there are so many things that we can share that we usually don't share. Observations, insights and appreciation for others is a continuous part of our day, but rarely do the other people ever get to hear or know about the encouraging things we see.On the flip side, I firmly believe that we are all affirmation junkies and need a steady dose of encouragement and appreciation. Somehow, we need to build individual and corporate habits so that the things that can be said and ought to be said actually do get said.We need more affirmation.
• July 19, 2009
• 15:23

  Antioch Romania Trip

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  So there's actually a blog for the high school team that has been in Romania the last two weeks -- who knew!?!Click here to see some pics and read what they've been doing.
• July 16, 2009
• 19:02

  Collaboration

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Matt Smith asked me to write this little piece on collaboration for the World Relief NEXT website and e-newsletter. I thought I'd post it here as well!!**************Collaboration is simply a word. It stands for the act of working together.Collaboration, however, can also be a philosophy – a way of thinking, planning and doing. Likewise, it can be a theological term that speaks to the original working relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit – where difference in function doesn't diminish equality in worth. This theological aspect is also seen in the metaphor of a body that works together even though comprised of distinct parts.Words can have different types of meanings. They can have simple ones and they can have formal ones. Paul utilized the second type when he took the Greek word for church, ecclesia, which simply meant “a gathering”, and lifted it to a higher theological level.I believe, what we need today is to baptize the word collaboration much the same way Paul baptized the word church. Collaboration seems like a great choice for elevation to theological status. It isn’t overused. It has a positive motivational quality to it. And it already has the core theological principals inherent in its definition.Collaboration helps us understand the necessity of harmony, unity, partnering and encouraging while still maintaining individuality and distinctiveness. We don’t want uniformity – the absence of diversity, but unity – the joining of diverse parts. Collaboration doesn’t destroy the dignity of ownership; rather, it harnesses and maximizes it through common calling and purpose.What does collaboration look like? Collaboration is the diminishing of boundaries and the promotion of mutually beneficial relationships. It is the absence of direct competition and the building of win / win paradigms. Collaboration is solidarity.It is churches, organizations and individuals working together because of the commonality of their cause rather than the dictates of their job descriptions. It is the highlighting of the needy at the end rather than the institution in the middle. It is the spotlight on the widow receiving rather than on the CEO giving.Collaboration is the recognition of humility. It is the desire for greater good than personal gain. It is the understanding of our call to justice, the benefit of the poor through our cooperation and the joy of the orphan maximized through synergy. Collaboration is love in working clothes.Collaboration is the act of working together as philosophy and dogma.With Collaboration, 1 + 1 = 3.
• July 14, 2009
• 13:37

  Money

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Ministry takes money.  Often, ministry is money (see Acts 2 and the idea of charity and benevolence).I've always hated this.  Money has got to be my least favorite aspect of being a pastor and church planter.  I hate it so much that I more often get criticized for not talking about it than talking about it.  (Imagine that!)Anyway, money has gotten to be such a big headache and hindrance in my primary ministry areas of Antioch, Kilns College and World Relief NEXT that I thought I'd write about it.My thought was that there might be a millionaire out there (or even someone with 500 dollars) who is willing to help out.  If you woke up in the middle of last night feeling like giving to a worthwhile cause, let me know. If you'd like to help out or see a list of different needs that you can contribute to... e-mail me at ken@antiochchurch.org
• July 13, 2009
• 19:51

  Summer Swamp Plug

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Tamara showed me this video a little while ago... Sara singing a little diddy about Summer Swamp - the kids summer camp that started this morning at Blakely Park.I think it's hilarious!
• 17:28

  Better Every Time!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  It gets better every time I listen to it!!Justin, Conor and the others did an amazing job on the Antioch CD. (This isn't a sales pitch, so I won't tell you how to get one!!!)
• July 11, 2009
• 13:16

  Tape and Glue Required

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Matt Smith, Antioch's College Pastor, and I have been having a lot of discussions this week on the nature of community and the identity of the church. Far too often, we overlook community and focus only on the function of the church.However, doing comes out of being and function follows form. Being in deep relationship with other Christians is essential to our calling.Matt has some amazing insights on what that looks like and how the church can get there.This morning, however, I found myself thinking of the other side -- the side of disappointment and failed effort.

  What do you do with the hollow demoralizing feeling when others let you down?How do you keep giving when you begin to realize that others are just taking?How do we pursue lasting community when people often don't shoot straight and many times don't tell the truth (including ourselves?)Where do we get filled up when we continually get drained?

  I've got a bunch of thoughts on this, but I'll just put down a few.First, expectations... if we expect perfection or easy results then we are certain to get disappointed or frustrated. We paint because it is worth doing, not because we're Picasso's. Likewise, we live in community because it is worth doing, not because we'll do it perfectly.Second, forgiveness... if you have lots of kids you will inevitably need tape. Forgiveness is a kind of spiritual or relational tape. Without it we can't get over things. With it we can repair stuff and move on. Church is a glass house with lots of kids - tape and glue required.Third, fluid categories... if we are all different parts of a body, then we will all have different strengths and, correspondingly, different weaknesses. Extroverts will hurt you in a different way than introverts. Creative people will let you down in different ways than organized people. Laid back people will disappoint differently than strong ones. Be gracious where people are naturally weak so you can appreciate where they are naturally gifted. Don't spotlight the messiness of others the same way you don't want your junk magnified. Evaluate people according to how God made them... not according to your own values and priorities.Lastly, hang out with more people like Matt Smith... if we are going to grow into community, we have to have people we can learn from.
• July 10, 2009
• 18:39

  Sara's 4th

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  So Beth Fischer hooked us up with this pretty stellar keepsake. Here's Sara's 4th Birthday Party.
• July 09, 2009
• 19:40

  Thoughts

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  So a couple thoughts from today:

  1. Conflict often leads to clarity (that makes conflict a potentially good thing, who knew?)
  2. Restless Wrestling (a term Matt Smith gave to his spiritual musings... I like it!)
  3. Marriage riddle #86 - What do you do when one spouse wants to lounge around and the other is full of focused energy?
  4. The interns went white water rafting (I wish I was an intern...)
  5. Americans are ranked #26 in the world in health by the World Health Organization (I feel average, which means I'd be healthier if I lived in any of 25 different countries.)
  6. I don't like Twitter (please don't hate me.)
  7. I do like the Old Testament... Just in the mood these days for raw and authentic.

  
• July 08, 2009
• 9:59

  Conference Transcript

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief Next   [edit]

  I thought I'd post the transcript of the talk I gave at the conference this week. (Of course, it won't feel the same without Beth's video's playing before and after!!)***************One of the things you get to do when you start a church, as many of you might know, is rethink many things that we do and try to do them better than the church has done them in the past. (Of course, we've probably messed up more things than we've improved!)Anyway, as a church we wanted to be involved in a global cause and realized that there are two things that Christians have typically done in the area of missions and development that present problems.The first one is that we spread ourselves too thin. It’s like we hit twelve nails one time rather than hit one nail twelve times – and drive it in.The second is that we don’t realize the destructive potential of compassion.We can’t even get churches to collaborate with each other in a recreation spot like Bend, Oregon — how do we think we’re really going to change complex socio-political and religious issues half way around the world with two week trips once a year? And when we drop into these places with our money and our influence we often create jealousies, dependencies and rivalries that do more harm than good. I remember reading about the soldiers that liberated Concentration Camps after WWII. The first thing they did out of compassion was to give the starving survivors their food rations – not knowing that this would kill them due to the extreme nature of their starvation. As crazy as it sounds, compassion can kill.If you're driving along the streets of Burundi and throw an empty plastic water bottle to a five year old (they use them as toys) and then he gets immediately pummeled by three bigger kids - your compassion has done more harm than good. If your financial gifts to a pastor in a village are too extravagant for the context and you destabilize the economic and political equilibrium, create a celebrity, bring disunity and overshadow the spiritual focus of the gospel - your compassion (although rightly motivated) has done more harm than good.The problem isn't compassion, but how it is channeled.So as Antioch sought to get involved in global causes we wanted to both go deep and give smart.The problem we found was that the big organizations who have on the ground projects and do a really good job of missions and development, don’t have the time or energy to talk to small churches like us.And if we call our own number and go it alone, we ignore the complexities of cross cultural engagement and don’t benefit from the knowledge and experience of those working on the ground.So the options were either to sit on the bench or go it alone.Through a crazy series of circumstances, we started a collaborative effort with World Relief called World Relief NEXT designed to reach the next generation of believers and to harness the power of creativity and collaboration.World Relief gave us a platform to own a cause - to go deep and give smart. They gave away ownership, allowed creativity and began a dialogue on how to partner in different ways with the North American church. We gave away control and the desire to be at the center of engagement. In short, we committed to serve those who give their lives to serving in a third world context. When you come up on an accident scene, you don't push the EMT out of the way in your desire to help the victim. Rather, you offer to help the EMT or doctor - to get a bag out of the ambulance or keep the crowd back. Likewise, we should offer to serve instead of asking those on the ground in foreign countries to serve us. Meaning has become the new fashion statement. We all want to move from awareness of the world to direct engagement - hands on work. Passion, however, doesn't qualify someone to be a doctor. Passion, without education and capacity, also doesn't qualify someone as an expert in cross-cultural engagement. World Relief NEXT is designed for collaboration... for helping churches engage through the act of working together with missionaries, relief workers and African pastors and leaders already engaged in the Africa Great Lakes Region. It is about win / win solutions. It is about partnerships and creatively helping one another in our shared passion and God given calling to help the world's most vulnerable.There’s a card in your conference pack that you can fill out and bring by our table to either find out about owning a cause through World Relief or how you can become a World Relief NEXT partner church – we’d love to see this creative and collaborative venture grow to include and bless other churches.We’re going to show you a video of the Congo now, which is our cause.Many people don’t know that more people have died the last decade or so in the Congo from war related causes than anywhere in the world since WWII. 800,000 people died during the genocide in Rwanda and we vowed to never sit by silently again in the face of such horrible death, injustice and oppression. However, 5.4 million have died in the Congo since that time due to the aftermath of that genocide – Hutu and Tutsi rebel groups, as well as a dozen or more rebel groups fighting over the vast mineral wealth of Eastern Congo.We believe that the God who is big enough for us to give our lives to the cause of justice and the God who ought to be big enough for Christians to collaborate together, is also big enough to bring change and healing to the Congo.
• July 07, 2009
• 12:19

  Tired

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I figured I'd show you how tired we are waiting in the Grand Rapids Airport.(Don't tell Ann about this picture though -- she doesn't know I took it!)
• 11:38

  NEXT

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief Next   [edit]

  Here's a picture of the NEXT banner hung up at the DeVoss Performing Arts Center in Grand Rapids.We had the opportunity to present World Relief NEXT to 1,200 pastors yesterday and have been meeting and sharing the vision with hundreds of them since.There are some pretty cool church planters and pastors out there!!All in all a pretty amazing time.
• July 05, 2009
• 6:05

  PPP Conference

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Up at 3:30 am to make a 5:00 am flight to Portland en route to Grand Rapids.Shoot me now.
• June 30, 2009
• 21:51

  Enough Project

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Conflict mineral video for the Enough Project's video contest.A pretty amazing piece of work done in collaboration over the last several days.What's best... the people who worked on this video actually care about the Congo.

  ENOUGH FINAL ENTRY from emote360 on Vimeo.

  
• 13:57

  Poets, Preachers and Prophets

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief Next   [edit]

  Four of us from the World Relief NEXT team are headed to Grand Rapids this Sunday to take part in a pastors conference called Poets, Preachers and Prophets.We'll be sharing from the stage about World Relief NEXT and meeting with pastors throughout the conference at a NEXT table.It's been a ton of fun getting ready for the conference with videos, some new coffee mugs and posters and the shirts that Ann Mara ordered up for us all.We've also been able to collaborate on some cool stuff with WR Baltimore and a few new friends -- Check out the cover below of the take away piece designed by Jon Bell in Grand Rapids.
• June 29, 2009
• 21:24

  Becoming Servants

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Had a great time hanging with our college pastor Matt Smith this afternoon. It kicked up some old thoughts of mine.What would it look like for Christians and Churches to move beyond just service projects (programmed ways of giving) to becoming servants (programmed to give)?I guess that I'm wondering if we are fooling ourselves about our obedience to Christ in serving others by our moments of servitude when what Jesus was looking for was a mantle of servitude.Don't have the energy to go into it too deep, but just thinking that maybe we're not radical enough compared with Jesus' example?"... whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
• June 27, 2009
• 11:18

  Ed on Legalism

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  blogs   [edit]

  One of my good friends and mentors is Ed Underwood.Ed was an old Jesus Movement Christian out of the 70's who hasn't slowed down a bit.I check his blog every so often and loved his post on legalism.Click here and enjoy checking out Ed's blog!!
• June 25, 2009
• 16:12

  It's Here!!!!!!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  BIG BOXES of Antioch's new music CD just showed up!!!Some 20 or so artists and musicians collaborated to make this project happen. It's unbelievable the quality of talent around here!!So get your copy of "Called You By Name" and get ready for the most eclectic Christian CD you've heard in a while.Super fun!!
• June 24, 2009
• 13:14

  Family Camp 2009!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  If you're in Central Oregon, it's time to get your Family Camp signup on!!Click here to visit the online registration.Watch below for the teaser you can't refuse!!
• June 22, 2009
• 15:41

  Mercenary Rewards

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  One of the concepts that C.S. Lewis used regularly as a literary device was that of Mercenary Rewards.The mercenary, for Lewis, was the perfect symbol of someone who doesn't act for true love or desire for the thing itself, but for the reward he receives - much like mercenaries don't care about the cause of a war, only the spoils.One of the problems with how we tend to approach God is that we often embody the mercenary. Instead of realizing that God himself is our salvation, we ask for stuff we believe will save us. Instead of realizing that He is what we desire, we seek spoils. “A joy there is that is not granted to the godless," prays St. Augustine in his Confessions, "but to those only who worship you without looking for reward, because you yourself are their joy." He adds, "This is the happy life, and this alone: to rejoice in you, about you and because of you. This is the life of happiness, and it is not to be found anywhere else.”When we seek mercenary rewards from God, it betrays our nationality, our hypocrisy and our theology. When we love God truly, we will, as scripture exhorts, delight ourselves in the Lord and rejoice in the Lord - not as mercenaries, but with undivided hearts.Which do you desire more, God or what God can give?
• June 19, 2009
• 19:35

  Little Concert Promo

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns concerts   [edit]

  I told Justin I'd throw up a little promo for the Pawn Shop Kings Concert this Sunday night at the Kilns at 7 pm.If you've never heard these guys - they are brothers and have the most amazing harmonies and lyrics. Crazy unique!Should be a stellar time!!
• 11:15

  The Real Thing

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Here's the real thing.(much better than the embarrassing out-takes!)

  WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? from emote360 on Vimeo.

  
• June 18, 2009
• 10:47

  Augustine on Happiness

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Happiness   [edit]

  I'd love to use all these quotes in my message this Sunday, but don't know that I'll be able to get to them all. Posting them here is the second best option!!“Moreover, how can he give eternal life who cannot give happiness? For we mean by eternal life that life where there is endless happiness.” – City of God“A joy there is that is not granted to the godless, but to those only who worship you without looking for reward, because you yourself are their joy. This is the happy life, and this along: to rejoice in you, about you and because of you. This is the life of happiness, and it is not to be found anywhere else.” – Confessions“…it is you who are arousing their delight in these things; and anything that gives us joy through your Spirit gives you joy in us.” – Confessions“… no one is blessed who does not enjoy that which he loves.” – Confessions“… it is not without meaning that it is said that all sin is a life. For no sin is committed save by that desire or will by which we desire that it be well with us, and shrink from it being ill with us. That, therefore, is a lie which we do in order that it may be well with us, but which makes us more miserable than we were. And why is this, but because the source of man’s happiness lies only in God, whom he abandons when he sins, and not in himself, by living according to whom he sins?” – City of God
  
• June 17, 2009
• 15:23

  Big God

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Looking forward to this coming Sunday more than I look forward to most!Preaching a message that I've had in the back of my mind for a while called, "Big God" and also getting to hear the band do a bunch of songs on the new Antioch music CD that comes out the following week.All in all, pretty excited!!
• June 14, 2009
• 21:22

  Village Idiot

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  So Beth decided to put this little outtake together from some lines she wanted me to say for a World Relief NEXT video she's working on.Two words come to mind when I watch it: Village Idiot :)

  WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE OUT-TAKE from emote360 on Vimeo.

  
• June 10, 2009
• 9:36

  Intern Ministry Thoughts

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  interns   [edit]

  I'm pretty amped about the crew of interns who are here for the summer!!We just had six over for dinner last night, saw the Lakers lose and then watched Gran Turino afterward. Ton's of fun!I keep telling everyone that Bend is the coolest place in the summer, but the 3 inches of hail in 30 minutes yesterday afternoon didn't help me. The Chicago kids, especially, think that Oregon is just a "rainy place."Brandon Reynolds is heading up the intern program and I don't know how he's keeping all the balls in the air between the fun stuff and work stuff for all seventeen.Last Saturday, Kyle Beall helped introduce the interns to Smith Rock and rock climbing. It is the first of a full line up of intern outings -- Central Oregon style. Below are some pictures that Katy Fein sent me from the trip!!
• June 09, 2009
• 13:04

  Balloons over Bend

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Bend, Oregon is a pretty cool place to live.I could list a hundred little things that I love about it. Especially in the summer, it is as unique as anywhere else out there.For example, check out the hot air balloons that sailed over our offices on Sunday as part of the "Balloons Over Bend" festival.
• June 08, 2009
• 17:00

  World Relief Congo Video

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Check out the Congo piece about the work World Relief is doing in the DRC.P.S. In case you can't tell... Beth Fischer is a pretty amazing videographer!!
  
• June 04, 2009
• 0:54

  Intern Love

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  interns   [edit]

  If anyone has any intern love and would like to help us find part time employment for an Antioch Summer Intern or help sponsor an intern for Family Camp - contact either myself or Brandon Reynolds (brandon@antiochchurch.org).We'd love the help!
• June 02, 2009
• 14:49

  Congo Team Video

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Check out the video of the World Relief NEXT team that Antioch sent to Congo, Rwanda and Burundi last month.Ben Edwards put this one together to show the "lighter side" of the trip!!

  World Relief NEXT in Africa from Kip Jones on Vimeo.

  
• May 30, 2009
• 12:27

  Kilns Concert Tonight

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns concerts   [edit]

  
• May 27, 2009
• 13:26

  Busy Days

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Got a couple of busy days going on here.Here's the list:

  • Worship Night Tonight (Wednesday) at Summers Hardwood Flooring at 7 pm - anyone can come!
  • Apologetics Guild Lunch tomorrow (Thursday) at noon. Talking on Human Rights and enjoying the catered Baja Fresh. At the Kilns Bookstore - anyone can come!
  • Kilns College Breakfast this Saturday at 9:30 am to discuss the fall semester and the new Bible and Arts degree program. At the Kilns Bookstore and open to the public. E-mail Kim Hunt at kim@antiochchurch.org for more info.
  • Kilns Concert with Annie Bethancourt and Michael Watson of Above the Golden State this Saturday night at 7 pm. $10 cover at the Kilns Bookstore.
  • Congo Sunday at Antioch this Sunday morning at 10 am. In addition to video and stories from the Congo, there will be a benefit print sale before and after the service with pictures from the Congo taken by Benjamin Edwards.
  • Antioch Summer Intern program kicks off on Monday. Three of the 17 interns have already found their way to town and we're looking forward to the rest. Cool intern bits - we now have an "Antioch Intern Scooter" as well as a fleet of used cars and 4 bikes.

  Tons of fun!!
• 9:23

  Elk Lake

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Family   [edit]

  Here are some pictures of the family from Memorial Day.The Cascade Lakes Highway is now open so we headed up to Elk Lake. Burgers, the dock, amazing weather and still some snow banks -- the girls had an amazing time!! (The only mistake was bringing Peaches the killer poodle.)
  
• May 26, 2009
• 8:42

  In N Out Burger

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  So the Lavik's were on their way home from California yesterday and brought us In N Out Burgers to go.That's right... In N Out wraps them for distance and then you assemble them later. Justin showed up at our door around 11 pm and then 10 minutes in the broiler later and it was like the real thing.Don't be jealous!!
• May 21, 2009
• 15:36

  The Kilns Bookstore

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  the kilns   [edit]

  
  The Kilns just got a facelift!!
  
  The Kilns Bookstore is an initiative to help 3rd world businesses with sustainability and allow local consumers to "Shop with a purpose."
  
  The space is also utilized for missions lectures, concerts and art events.
  
  Make sure to stop by and check out the new arrangement and new merchandise!!
• May 16, 2009
• 10:32

  Officially Not a Fundamentalist Church

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  human rights   [edit]

  Here's a little blip from an e-mail I wrote to my friend Mike who's studying up in Canada right now - I thought it was funny.

  My friend Mike Caba wrote this letter on Torture and won “letter of the week” from the Source a week ago.Pretty funny for us folks to be making the Source of all publications — and on Human Rights of all subjects.I think we’re officially not a fundamentalist church ;)

  
• May 14, 2009
• 13:34

  Ben's Africa Footage

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  I asked Ben Edwards if I could post his video montage shot in the Africa Great Lakes region on this past World Relief NEXT / Antioch trip.Pretty amazing stuff!!
  

  Nikon D90 Shines in Africa from emote360 on Vimeo.

  
• May 12, 2009
• 11:20

  FOUR

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  four   [edit]

  This past Sunday we launched the second edition of FOUR - Antioch's attempt at a quarterly newsmagazine.Sorry, we don't have the contents online, but here's a look at the cover (current issue on the left and initial issue on the right)!!
  
• May 08, 2009
• 11:40

  Solidarity

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  The leadership at Antioch met Wednesday night for our monthly board meeting. It was one of the coolest meetings that I've ever attended.What carried the meaning for me was the lengthy discussion we had around the word "Solidarity."Solidarity, as a word, came out of French back in 1841 and means "mutual responsibility."At our board meeting we talked about being family... being a body that is distinct from a business. We committed ourselves to each other accordingly. If one member suffers, the whole body suffers. Instead of seeing the economic issues as a problem, we began to see them as an opportunity -- a defining moment in the history of Antioch in which we can be knitted into a much tighter community.If we are able to grow stronger together in these times we'll be able to look back years from now and see not only God's grace, but the strength of character possessed by leadership.Talk is cheap.The blessing of difficult times is that they create opportunities for action -- for real faith and real charity.It begins with our mutual responsibility with and to each other. It begins with thinking sacrificially rather than defensively. It begins with faith instead of anxiety. It begins with a big God rather than a small God. It begins with us, unity and togetherness.As far as team is concerned, it begins with solidarity.
• May 04, 2009
• 18:02

  Family Camp Teaser

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Getting the Family Camp vibe going!!Register at antiochchurch.org
• April 30, 2009
• 15:22

  Congo Matters

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  africa   [edit]

  
  So it's been a strange and meaningful day of different interactions around the Congo. After hearing the second amazing statement of the day, I started keeping track of some quotes.Here ya go, they speak for themselves:"Congo matters... but it is hard to explain why." - A conversation between Ann Mara and Don Golden about how hard it is to communicate to other people the depth of the need in Congo."If the world is Satan's playground, then Congo is his circus." - Ben Edwards"I've never seen such a web of destruction laid over such beauty. It's unmatched in both aspects." - Ben Edwards
• April 29, 2009
• 17:35

  Living with Fear

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Found this old blog post that I like:Have you ever been frustrated at something that seems to be all around you that you can't do anything about?
  
  That's how I feel about fear. You see, I keep running into so many people who are owned by fear. What dictates their decisions or course of action is fear. Fear of enemies, fear of the future, fear of health, fear of culture, fear caused by insecurities and fear of not being in control. They are simply held captive.
  
  Jesus spent so much of his time teaching us to not be afraid. He implored people to do the things that would vanquish fear -- such as blessing our enemies, forgiving people, asking forgiveness, praying to God about worries and concerns, ordering our priorities and much more. Salvation and redemption, if nothing else, speak to God's heart for setting captives free!
  
  The funny thing about fear is that it is a weak bully. When it is confronted it will usually disappear. If only we would value freedom and peace of mind enough to confront our fears, admit our faults, make peace with our enemies and trust that God actually is in control!
• April 28, 2009
• 16:28

  Quote

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Quotes   [edit]

  I love what Augustine says in the 22nd book of The City of God about heaven:"... but in that city all the citizens shall be immortal, men now for the first time enjoying what the holy angels never lost."
• April 24, 2009
• 17:51

  Missions Blog

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  We just went live this week with a Missions Blog to help communicate the heart of missions at Antioch as well as provide information, helpful links and ways for people to serve locally.Check it out and stop back regularly as we have a missions intern coming for the summer who will be expanding the site significantly.
  
• April 23, 2009
• 19:42

  Movie Recommendation

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  recommendations   [edit]

  Go rent "Boy with the Striped Pajamas."It's sad and super emotional, but it makes you think long and hard about justice and compassion and is well worth it.
• April 21, 2009
• 11:34

  We hit up the park last night ...

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Family   [edit]

  We hit up the park last night with a bucket of KFC to celebrate Ashlin's "half birthday."Half birthday's are kind of a family tradition with us (waiting a whole year is too long!). Not quite sure that at 6 months Ashlin knew what was going on, but Bend is at its best right now with 80 degree weather so we figured we'd celebrate!Here are some pics that Tamara took - the girls with their Grandma and baby Ashlin.
  
• April 20, 2009
• 8:28

  Watching Dora!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  This morning Sara came in and said, "What I love about Dora is watching Dora!"In philosophy we used to call that a "tautology" - saying the same thing over again.One thing I love about kids is their enthusiasm and sense of wonder. Since Sara doesn't know grammar yet, it makes all the sense in the world to add emphasis by needless repetition.Don't you wish that adults could sometimes let enthusiasm and wonder show without fear of breaking silly rules or looking stupid?What I love about 24 is watching 24!What I love about my family is my family!What I love about life is loving life!
• April 16, 2009
• 16:25

  Congo

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  congo   [edit]

  Click here to visit Ben Edward's blog and his post about the Antioch team's Congo experience.
• April 15, 2009
• 10:52

  Why Africa?

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I've been really focused for the last couple of years on Africa - its history and the many ongoing problems such as HIV/Aids, poverty, water, gender violence, political abuse, child soldiers and rebel violence etc.Lately, Antioch has really gotten involved in the Africa Great Lakes region - specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo.In all of it, I've started to run across something pretty strange... the question, "Why Africa?"At first, the question really caught me off guard. How could we not care about or be involved with our brothers and sisters in Africa? How can we not labor to help the vulnerable - the orphans and the widows?I've begun to realize, however, that the question is a fair one. There are hurting people around the world - why Africa? There are hurting people in our own backyard - why Africa? Can we really make a difference in a place so big with problems so deep - why Africa? It is so far away and not everyone in the congregation will be able to go or really wrap their arms around it - why Africa?My own answers are pretty simple:

  • when you come up on an accident you should naturally help the neediest cases first - likewise, when trying to get involved in the messiness of this world, we should seek the neediest people first - that's why Africa.
  • the Congo is arguably the worst place in the world to be a woman or a child. More people have died there unnecessarily than any other place in the world since WWII - that's why Africa.
  • we have great connections and opportunities in the Africa Great Lakes region to help make sure our energy and passion is a good investment - that's why Africa.
  • many of the key leaders at the core of Antioch have felt a calling to Africa since the very beginning of the church - that's why Africa.
  • and, most importantly, it is not an either / or situation - either Africa or our backyard. We can and should be involved both in our backyard and in the world beyond. Africa is an opportunity, not a liability - that's why Africa.

  I'm sure that more could be said, but the real answer is itself a set of questions:"Why would we not?" "How could we not?"
• April 14, 2009
• 19:29

  Book Recommendations

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  book recommendations   [edit]

  I just answered an e-mail asking for book recommendations on "peace."I thought I'd post my response in case there are any readers out thereBooks on peace..... Hmmmmm. I really like This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley, Experiencing God Through Prayer by Madam Guyon, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (a Puritan book that reads funny), The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, any book by Eugene Peterson (he’s the man on contentment and true spirituality), most works by Henri Nouwen (especially “Reaching Out”) and any book that deals with the subject of Sabbath or Solitude.Sorry I can’t narrow it down more, but you’ll probably get a sense of which one(s) are right for you :)
• April 11, 2009
• 17:49

  Antioch 2009 Summer Interns

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  This past Monday, Brandon Reynolds finalized the Antioch Summer Intern roster.There are 17 college and grad students coming from all over the country - and even one intern from Kenya.What's amazing is that we turned away over 15 applicants and still wound up with 5 more than we expected!!We're pretty stoked about playing, connecting and doing ministry with the crew starting June 1.Here's a little pic of the interns and where they're coming from.
  
• April 08, 2009
• 8:34

  Still funny!!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  I was watching this video that Justin Lavik and Conor Miller made again last night.It's still funny after 8 months!!
• April 04, 2009
• 15:46

  Pretty Remarkable

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  One of the coolest things that has happened over the last 2 1/2 years since we planted Antioch is the caliber of people that God has brought our way.Seriously, I get to be a part of the most amazing team and think about it almost daily.Along those lines, Ann Mara has to be one of the coolest stories - she's Irish, has a Master's in International Development, lived and worked in Tanzania for a few years, speaks three languages, happens to have amazing leadership and communication gifts, is a remarkable Christian and just so happens to live in Bend and head up the World Relief NEXT project.I thought about it again today when Ann copied me on an e-mail she sent to a Kenyan student at George Fox who will be interning at Antioch this summer.She wrote a bunch of it in Kiswahili and I couldn't read a lick of it...

  Napenda kuongea kwa kiswahili - na wewe pia?

  Nafuraha sana kufanya kazi nawe :)

  Mungu akubariki na karibu sana Antioch!

  Who else in Bend would bang out a little kiswahili in an email?

  
  

  Pretty remarkable!!

  
• April 03, 2009
• 11:01

  Ben's the man!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  congo   [edit]

  We got back the family portraits that Ben Edwards did as part of the "Photos for Change" fundraiser benefiting the Congo.They're amazing!!!And what's cooler than that is Ben's heart in donating so much time to help others. If you have any photography needs -- don't look anywhere else.benjaminimages.com
• March 31, 2009
• 14:26

  Genericide

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Ann Mara and I were in a meeting today with a trademark attorney as World Relief wanted us to pursue trademarking "World Relief NEXT."
  
  It turned out to be a really fun and engaging meeting as the lawyer took an interest in what NEXT is doing and also knew some of Ann's friends. As a result, we dialogued a lot about ideas and the whole trademarking arena.
  
  One of the things he taught us fascinated me.
  
  The idea is simply that if you have a trademark and the industry changes so much that the phrasing becomes commonplace and you lose distinctiveness - you can actually lose your trademark. The example he gave was of a company that had "e" in front of their name and then lost their trademarking when everyone started putting "e" in front of their name with the whole internet "e" revolution.
  
  This process of losing your trademark by becoming too generic or commonplace is called "Genericide."
  
  It made me think of my ongoing reflections on church culture and the need to reform it to look more like New Testament Christianity than American Cultural Christianity.
  
  In other words, if we spend too much time copying other churches or building too many programs to serve people rather than lead or teach people we lose distinctiveness. The uniqueness of each church should arise from focusing squarely on discipleship - equipping and empowering people according to our own unique God given style.
  
  If we lose focus or authenticity and become diluted, then we risk becoming too generic.
  
  We risk genericide.
• March 26, 2009
• 13:54

  The NEXT Generation

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch kids   [edit]

  Here's a fun little video that Kip Jones put together for our Child Dedication service at Antioch this past Sunday.
  
  The point of the video is that the next generation isn't something down the road... rather, the next generation is already here.
  
  An old Rush song (I think from the Fly By Night album) had the lyrics, "If you choose not to decide - you still have made a choice." I think the same is true with education and nurture. "The next generation is being learning - whether you're teaching them or not."
  
  If we love our kids then we'll see that the time for nurturing and loving on them is now - not later.
  
  Anyway, I thought the video was pretty fun!!
  
  
• March 22, 2009
• 16:36

  If it's broke... fix me

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the American Christian culture.
  
  The latest statistics (a landmark study just came out two weeks ago) continue to demonstrate that Christianity is shrinking rapidly and that "non religion" is the fastest growing religious category.
  
  Other statistics show the huge drop off (70 - 80% depending on the study) of Christian kids who walk away from the faith at university.
  
  Here's my issue: if your system is designed to give you exactly the results that you're getting... then based on the data our system or particular brand of Christian culture must be broke.
  
  And if the system is broke - it seems to me, either you try to identify what is wrong and fix it or you are stupid, lazy, afraid, disengaged, dispassionate or a combination of the above.
  
  So what is wrong with the system? What is wrong with how we do church? What is causing us to succumb to secularism at an alarming rate?
  
  I don't pretend to have the answer to such a complex problem, but here are some of my guiding thoughts:
  

  • Christianity should be seen as profound and respectable - it was for Jesus' followers and it seems to be viewed this way in Africa, Asia and South America where the church is growing. May our Christian gatherings be profound and not forgettable.
    
  • Maybe we shouldn't be afraid to deconstruct some of the cultural and church norms. If an engine is broken you usually take it apart and then rebuild it with integrity. I think there are plenty of routine things that we should probably hold up to the light of scripture and rethink, rebuild and reform.
    
  • The glue that holds people to God is a deep transforming experience of God. It is easy to walk away from a concept - much more difficult to walk away from a relationship. What are we doing in North American churches to help people or youth not simply be entertained, but experience God in a life changing relational manner?
    
  • I think we mistakenly try to be good Christians so that our children will become good Christians. Rather, we must be good Missionaries in order for our children to become good Christians. Bystanders rarely beget bystanders. Players, however, draw a crowd and inspire followers. Our kids need examples to follow, not others to congregate with. (I am defining "Christian" here as primarily cultural and focused on personal faith and morality. I contrast this with "Missionary," which assumes the same faith and morality, but adds the active component of working with God as well as seeing the adventure, potential and urgency of reaching out to a lost and dying world.)
  • Just me talking... but I think we lack faith. Our problems are bigger to us than our God. Our wants are bigger than our God. Our fears are bigger than our God. The threat of peer pressure is bigger than our God. Our own projects are bigger than God's call (see the book of Haggai).

  I think we all know that something is wrong with American Christianity - our Christianity.
  
  I think we all yearn for an authentic expression of Christianity and church - our faith and our church.
  
  I think we all know something is broke... and the question I'm asking myself is, "Do I have enough faith in my own life for God's call and presence to be bigger than the sum total of all my issues, insecurities and selfish desires?"
  
  ... praying that I can be fixed.
• 16:09

  700 Blog Posts

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Blogging   [edit]

  ... and counting :)
• March 19, 2009
• 17:09

  WR NEXT Blog

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  blogs   [edit]

  
  Check out the blog that Matt Smith is now keeping for World Relief NEXT!!
  
  (He and the team are also going to load up some stuff to the blog in April while they are in Rwanda, DR Congo and Burundi.)
• March 17, 2009
• 11:50

  Headaches

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I watched the movie "Religulous" the other day.
  
  It is an overtly anti-Christian / anti-religious documentary that seeks to point out the ridiculous nature of religion and religious people.
  
  The hard part for me -- I agreed with 90% of it.
  
  Why do Christians have to be so weird? If Bill Maher was making a documentary in Jesus' day he would have interviewed many of the religious leaders and Pharisees and come to some of the same conclusions that Jesus himself held.
  
  The most difficult part of my job as a church planter hasn't been working with non-religious, non-Christian or flat out pagan people... it has been interacting and working with Christians themselves.
  
  Many of the non-religious people that I know and talk to are actually more interested in real answers and authentic faith than a lot of Christians who are either legalistic or self absorbed.
  
  Don't get me wrong... not all Christians are weird, legalistic or self absorbed.
  
  The problem is that none of them should be.
  
  The problem is that those who are are usually blind to it.
  
  The problem is that those who are are usually the most vocal, time consuming and undiplomatic in the crowd.
  
  The problem is that there is too much truth in Bill Maher's documentary.
• March 16, 2009
• 16:51

  Congo Fundraiser

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  congo   [edit]

  I'm loving this little fundraiser idea that the World Relief NEXT Congo team put together to raise money for their upcoming trip in April -- a benefit photo shoot with Benjamin Edwards.
  
  Families, couples or individuals get a quick portrait photo session with all the proceeds going to the trip. They are calling it "Photos for Change."
  
  If you live in the Central Oregon area and would love to participate, contact Andrea Dunker at the info below to sign up for a day and time:
  
  541-633-6435
  andrea@aniaexperience.com
  
  
• March 14, 2009
• 13:00

  Mount Hermon

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  vacations   [edit]

  Good news... we just confirmed our reservation for the family to get away to Mount Hermon this summer!
  
  It seems like Tamara and I dream about vacations all the time these days - probably because they're hard to come by with 4 kids and a dog.
  
  Anyway, we're absolutely stoked about a whole week at Mount Hermon with the kids in the middle of the Redwood Forest.
  
  I love traditions and intentionally creating memories so our hope with Mount Hermon is that it can become a regular summer tradition for our family...
  
  
• March 12, 2009
• 9:16

  The Antioch Story

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Kip loaded up "The Antioch Story" to the web page.
  
  It's fun seeing the broad strokes as well as all the little links and gadgets that Kip put into it.
  
  Check it out!!
  
  
• March 09, 2009
• 15:09

  Antioch Kids Video

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  We've been highlighting the Antioch Kids program weekly this past month during Sunday mornings at Antioch.
  
  It has been something we've wanted to do for a while since we're pretty excited about what is going on in the kids area of things.
  
  We began by talking about the philosophy of ministry - that church alone isn't the goal with spiritual growth of kids, but a collaboration between parent(s) and the church.
  
  This past Sunday we talked about the volunteers. It's amazing to me how much talent and passion the Antioch Kids group has for loving and impacting children.
  
  We also showed this short video clip that Kip put together!!
  
  
  
• March 07, 2009
• 14:02

  New Blog Design

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Blogging   [edit]

  Jane Johnson was gracious enough to hook me up with a new blog design.
  
  She's a pretty stellar graphic artist and photographer (check her out at www.ethniphotography.com).
  
  There's still a little work to be done to dial it in... but go ahead and tell me what you think!
  
  (I love it!!)
• February 24, 2009
• 12:08

  Antioch Offices

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  After looking for over a year Antioch finally signed on a 4,700 sq/ft office space in the Old Mill last week!!
  
  The top 3 greatest things about the new office space:
  
  1. We're out of the old office space (we were in three separate offices with storage behind doors and multiple people sharing desks. I can't believe we lasted this long!)
  
  2. There is a 1,600 sq/ft open room that will be used for middle school, high school and interns. This is the first time that we've had space for our student ministries. (As one of the board members Tim Hardin said, "It's everything you'd need for a church minus a sanctuary!")
  
  3. We're sub-leasing a large portion of this to several artists in Antioch -- not only will it help with the rent, but the synergy and creativity in that space is going to be off the chart!!
  
  
• February 20, 2009
• 8:27

  Intern Fun

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Here's a picture of Justin going tater tot crazy over at the McMenamins in McMinnville, Oregon.
  Me, Justin, Caitlin, Matt Smith and Sara (a new children's ministries intern who arrived this week after graduating from Biola) are getting in on the intern fun with a recruiting trip to George Fox and Linfield colleges.  
  Remind me not to take Justin out in public again!!
  P.S. Just got word that Antioch is signing today on our new office space in the Old Mill - more on that later!!
  
• February 18, 2009
• 19:30

  Moody Interns

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Brandon Reynolds, Lauren Yoho and Emi Popa are at Moody, Wheaton and Trinity Seminary this week in Chicago promoting the summer intern program at Antioch.
  
  Brandon and Emi have worked all year to revamp and improve the intern program for this summer... I'm pretty excited about some of the things they have lined up to pour into college students.
  
  Here's a picture that Brandon shot over this morning.
  
  P.S. If you know of anyone who might be interested in the program, you can find info on our web page here >> Negev Internship Program
  
  
• February 14, 2009
• 12:41

  Wine & the Bible

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  messages   [edit]

  I'm talking at length about wine tomorrow at church as part of a sermon on Jesus turning Water into Wine.
  
  In case you're interested, here is a great little article on the subject of Alcohol and the Bible by Daniel Wallace, a widely respected New Testament and Greek scholar (he wrote the Greek textbooks that most seminary students use today).
  
  [www.bible.org]
  
  
• February 12, 2009
• 9:57

  The Psalms

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Art   [edit]

  I love what Augustine calls the Psalms in chapter 9 of his Confessions:
  
  "Outbursts of devotion with no room in them for the breath of pride!"
  
  Outbursts of devotion. I could think about that phrase for quite a while. What do outbursts of devotion look like in our lives... in my life?
  
  Was the capacity for "outbursts of devotion" why God called David a "man after his own heart"?
  
  Without pursuing this at length, I think that unstructured creative acts of enthusiasm, passion or desperation are at the heart of outbursts of devotion or Psalms.
  
  I'm often asked why art is such a big deal at Antioch... well, maybe that is the answer.
  
  Unstructured creative acts (does that sound like art?) seem to me an essential ingredient in devotion, worship and our ability to glorify God with all that is within us.
• February 10, 2009
• 17:33

  Portland

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Tamara and I took the two youngest over to Portland for a couple of days.
  
  We had a bunch of stuff on our list and also wanted to be able to spoil Sara (she used to be the "baby" till a couple of months ago and needed to be reminded that she's still special!)
  
  Here's her being special with the new Hello Kitty umbrella that we picked up for her (it's raining, of course).
  
  
• February 07, 2009
• 17:56

  Wiggleworm Photography

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Tamara has been at it the last week or so with her photography business (Wiggleworm Photography).
  
  Here are some fun pictures of our kids and some of our friends' kids.
  
  Thanks also to Benjamin Edwards for being such a stud and having the heart to help mentor Tamara.
  
  Her business is so cool because there is nothing like having amazing pictures of loved ones!!
  
  
• February 06, 2009
• 19:57

  Snowmobiling

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  When out snowmobiling with my dad this week on his machines.
  
  An hour in to Elk Lake Lodge, an hour coffee break and an hour back.
  
  Hit 70 mph at one point - then thought better of it.
  
  Good times!!
  
  
• January 31, 2009
• 13:14

  World Relief NEXT on Facebook

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief Next   [edit]

  Click here if you want to join the World Relief NEXT Facebook group!!
  
  
• January 30, 2009
• 9:35

  Kilns Classes

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  Last night was the last of the four spring semester classes to start at Kilns College.
  
  Syd Brestel, Sr. Pastor of First Baptist Church in Bend, began his course on Hymnic and Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament.
  
  In total, there are over 65 students in the four classes. Not bad at all!!!
  
  Here is a sweet picture that was shot last night for use in college promotional materials.
  
  
• January 29, 2009
• 15:22

  Kim Dashing

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Humor   [edit]

  So here's a picture of Kim "dashing" out of the office.
  
  She was complaining to Kip about a picture of Justin always being on the worship night flyer... I threatened to switch it out with a picture of her and this was the aftermath.
  
  O, so fun!!
  
  
• January 27, 2009
• 13:45

  Mike's Archaeology Article

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  Pretty cool!!
  
  Mike Caba, who is a good friend of mine, goes to Antioch and also teaches at Kilns College just had an article published in Bible and Spade Magazine (an archaeology journal).
  
  Check out the pictures below and stay tuned for his upcoming "Sunday School Class" at Antioch on The Bible and Archaeology.
  
  
• January 26, 2009
• 13:11

  Catalyst

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Had coffee today with LV Hanson as he's cruising the northwest in the Catalyst Conference Vanagon.
  
  Great conversation and great connecting with a passionate and creative leader out there.
  
  
• January 25, 2009
• 21:30

  Generosity

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  Tonight was the kick off lecture for the spring semester of Kilns College.
  
  The night was totally cool, but the neatest thing was the check a guy dropped on us for one month's rent.
  
  I love generous people!!
• January 24, 2009
• 15:37

  Alpha

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  For those of you who go to Antioch or are interested in High School, Kip just updated the Alpha youth group web site.
  
  Check it out at: www.alpha.antiochchurch.org!!
  
  
• January 22, 2009
• 14:01

  Baltimore

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief Next   [edit]

  I'm in Baltimore with the World Relief NEXT team for a presentation to the World Relief board of directors later tonight.
  
  It's been quite the travel adventure in addition to being a great time of connecting and strategic meetings.
  Here's a picture of Ann in front of a pretty funny poster -
  
• January 20, 2009
• 16:10

  Doodle Pad

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  creativity   [edit]

  Antioch is a creative church.
  
  It shows up in most everything we do in some little way or another.
  
  One of my favorite things is the Doodle Pad on the back of the sermon notes sheets where people can "Draw the sermon... or pass the time."
  
  Here is a little shot of one that Christina Lemke drew on this Sunday (She made the mistake of showing me at the office where we have a color copier!!)
  
  
• 10:39

  Spring Classes at Kilns College

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  This Sunday night is the Kick-Off lecture for the spring semester at Kilns College.
  
  With three local Senior Pastors teaching and four great subjects, I am pretty excited about what is taking place.
  
  We already have some full time students signed up for all four classes and are registering a lot of adults from around Central Oregon who are excited about quality bible teaching.
  
  Below is a brief shot of the classes being offered:
  

  HERMENEUTICS/BIBLE STUDY METHODS (BI 102)

  This class will give you the practical tools and essential principles for interpreting and studying the Bible- a foundation for all of life and ministry. (Monday’s 6:30-8:30 p.m., Units 2, Instructor: Glen Schaumloeffel)

  SCIENCE & THE BIBLE (SC 101)

  This course will examine the historical and present interaction of science and Christianity and how the latest scientific discoveries relate to the Christian worldview. We will discuss how science informs Christian understanding and how the Bible informs science. Topics will include history of science, philosophy of science, dual revelation, cosmology, the anthropic principle, scientific naturalism, evolution, intelligent design, and the age of the earth and universe. (Tuesday’s 7-9 p.m., Units: 2, Instructor: Rick Gerhardt)

  INTRODUCTION TO HYMNIC AND WISDOM LITERATURE/ PSALMS (OT 211)

  Old Testament wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) is filled with insights on living life to its intended fullest while avoiding dead end streets. The student will learn how to interpret and employ biblical wisdom in daily life as well as identify the various types of Psalms and develop a deeper appreciation for Hebrew poetry. (Thursday’s – 6:30-8 p.m., Units: 2, Instructor: Syd Brestel)

  SONG OF SOLOMON (OT 212)

  The Song of Solomon is the inventor’s definitive word on sexuality, romance, marriage and relationships…all set to music…we need to see, hear and feel the beat of a love that “has it all” before we can actually create it. We desperately need to be reprogrammed!

  We need a new Song we can learn to sing with abandon…not just hum along with it, or just sing when we’re alone in the car…but something we can sing at the top of our lungs in a culture that is singing something really different. A song you can’t get out of your head! (Wednesday’s – 7-9 p.m., Units: 2, Instructor: Tim Kizziar)

  If you have any questions or would like to register for a class e-mail us at info@kilnscollege.org
  
  
• January 19, 2009
• 20:08

  Saturday Round Table

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Saturday we had an all day Elder meeting and then reconnected that evening at the Wine Loft in Bend for dinner with the wives.
  
  Also enjoyed having Cory Bittner sit in on the meetings as he has joined the staff as a volunteer helping us out with executive and organizational issues.
  
  Pretty amazing privilege to serve with such a great group of guys!!
  
  
• 15:29

  Gospel of John

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Yesterday we headed into a book study of the Gospel of John at Antioch.
  
  More than any other series in recent memory, I'm excited about this one.
  
  As I keep reading through it I can't help but think that we're going to cover just about everything -- almost all theological, psychological, personal and relational topics seem to come up in John.
  
  It's going to be a good year!!
  
  
• January 16, 2009
• 12:42

  Team Unity

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  I've been on a "Team Unity" kick with the staff at Antioch lately.
  
  The longer I go in ministry I'm beginning to believe that the best legacy we can leave as a church isn't necessarily the great things we do, but the mistakes we avoid. Put another way, church health over the long run is more powerful than a great event, perfect Sunday or any number of cool programs.
  
  So if we're going to avoid politics and drama in our church, the best thing we can do is pour into each other as staff and build tight long lasting friendships. Team unity is a big deal.
  
  This past week I went with the other pastors to see Gran Turino at the Regal over our lunch break.
  
  I've worked at churches where that would be called a waste of time. Instead, I call it an investment.
  
  Team unity matters.
• January 13, 2009
• 15:55

  Congo Learning Group

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  Last night was the beginning of a 6 week collaboration between Kilns College and World Relief NEXT of a "Congo Learning Group."
  
  The Learning Group is a focused course on learning the issues, history, culture and opportunities to help with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
  
  There were 52 people who showed up...
  
  For more information e-mail info@kilnscollege.org
  
  
• January 09, 2009
• 12:07

  Ballet

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Never in my life did I ever sit around and imagine that I'd be watching a ballet class. Guess what...
  
  Life is funny that way!!
  
  
• January 07, 2009
• 15:18

  World Relief NEXT on local news

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief Next   [edit]

  Ann Moran is being interviewed tonight on KOHD news at 6:00 p.m.
  
  She'll be talking about World Relief NEXT and ways that people in Central Oregon can get involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  
  Sweet stuff!!
  
  
• January 06, 2009
• 9:34

  Life

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Life lessons   [edit]

  I was with a couple yesterday graveside as they buried their 9 month old daughter.
  
  Some things I learned that I'll never forget:
  - Both parents reading lists of things they were "thankful" to God for in giving them their daughter for 9 months. It was a paradigm shift for me. I thought of burials as a time when we lose something... hearing the words of the parents made me realize how much is also gained.
  - Life is short. We spend a lot of time building sand castles. How can we spend more time focusing on eternal things?
  - Love opens you up for loss. Motherhood brings vulnerability. It is impossible to embrace life as God has given it and also avoid suffering. But where in modern culture do we talk about a theology of suffering or speak to this difficult calling?
• January 04, 2009
• 14:29

  Quote

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Quotes   [edit]

  I like this paragraph from the German theologian Karl Barth in 1948.
  
  

  “What objection could we really make if it should please God to carry his work onward and reach his goal, not through a further numerical increase but through a drastic numerical decrease of so-called Christendom? It seems to me the only question in this matter is: How can we free ourselves from all quantitative thinking, all statistics, all calculation of observable consequences, all efforts to achieve a Christian world order, and then shape our witness into a witness to the sovereignty of God’s mercy, by which alone we can live-a witness to which the Holy Ghost will surely not refuse his confirmation?

  Barth was commenting on the papers prepared for the first Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Amsterdam of that year in his essay entitled “NO CHRISTIAN MARSHALL PLAN,” in The Christian Century, December 8, 1948.
• January 01, 2009
• 15:57

  Sledding

   » ‎ Pensees

  Enclosure: [download]

  Tags:  Family   [edit]

  Sorry for the long break of blogging... hope to get some real stuff going again soon!!
  
  In the meantime, here are some pics from sledding today (our new New Years Day tradition).
  
  
  
  
• December 25, 2008
• 13:04

  Snow

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Justin, Kim, Kristin and Mike Summers put together this little spoof video from Bing Crosby's movie "White Christmas" for the Xmas Eve service at Antioch last night.
  
  Absolutely hilarious!!
  
  
• December 23, 2008
• 16:43

  Antioch Kids

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Here's a fun little video of some of the K-3rd grade kids at Antioch singing this past Sunday.
  
  Tons of fun and almost as much rythym :)
  
  
• 11:44

  Merry Christmas

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  
• December 22, 2008
• 15:35

  Heart of Darkness

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  book recommendations   [edit]

  Just finished reading the classic book by Joseph Conrad called Heart of Darkness.
  
  It was published in 1902 and is set in colonial Congo. It was one of the first books to expose the atrocities that took place under the Belgian rule in that part of Africa (then referred to by Europeans as "The Dark Continent.")
  
  For you movie buffs... it was also Francis Ford Coppala's inspiration for the last third of the movie Apocolypse Now, which came out in the late seventies as one of the first major Vietnam war films.
  
  It's a quick read and I highly recommend it... if for nothing more than the historical value!!
  
  
• December 17, 2008
• 15:04

  Congo

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  The focal country for World Relief NEXT is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC is the biggest tragedy in the world... and practicly nobody is talking about it.
  
  In January 2008, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) survey found that “5,400,000 people have died from war-related causes in Congo since 1998—the world’s deadliest documented conflict since WWII."
  
  The following is a video put together by Beth Fischer for the launch of World Relief NEXT this past weekend to show a slice of the tragedy taking place in the Congo and to help the community at Antioch to begin learning about the DRC.
  
  
• 14:48

  World Relief NEXT Video

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Check out the overview video for World Relief NEXT. We showed this along with a presentation by Ann Mara at the "Official Launch" of NEXT this past weekend.
  
  Pretty cool stuff!!
  
  
• December 15, 2008
• 21:26

  First Snow

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Here are some pictures that Tamara took of the girls the other day.
  
  Bend is getting hit with the first snow of the year (not to mention super chilly weather!!)
  
  
• December 12, 2008
• 12:16

  Ugly Sweater Staff Christmas Party!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Here are some pictures and videos from our Antioch Staff Christmas Party.
  
  Karie Reynolds took the prize on the "Ugly Sweater" contest, but not without controversy (Emi had a doozy of an outfit too!)
  
  Some strange games... Kim stealing Nicole's gift at the end of the White Elephant exchange... and mountains of food (that Justin had no problem tackling) made it one to remember!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• December 10, 2008
• 10:24

  FOUR

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  four   [edit]

  With the help of Lauren Yoho (who recently graduated from Moody with a jounalism degree) and Tony Querio (who is married to the office administrator Caitlin) we have begun putting out a quarterly in-house news magazine called "FOUR."
  
  Lauren named the magazine after the four words that appear on our logo and represent who we are: truth. beauty. meaning. adventure.
  
  It's all part of an increased desire to communicate as effectively as we possibly can.
  
  People can hear preaching or announcements on Sundays and they can get a little information blurb from our e-newsletter, but there hasn't been a real easy way till now to get out the whole story, little bio's of people and the background or context to things happening at Antioch.
  
  Again, the mantra with communication is: "People are down on what they're not up on!"
  
  
• December 08, 2008
• 21:51

  Christmas Tree Part II

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  So here's the finished product... not a bad looking tree (or family)!! :)
  
  
• December 07, 2008
• 21:52

  Christmas Tree Part I

   » ‎ Pensees

  Enclosure: [download]

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Here are some pictures and videos from the Ochoco Mountains where we cut down the family Christmas Tree along with the rest of the extended family.
  
  The kids loved it!
  
  
  
  
  
• 18:20

  Emmanuel Ndikumanu

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  My friend Emmanuel Ndikumanu from Burundi spoke this morning at Antioch as part of a missions series and shared the following as his closing prayer and challenge:
  
  May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, So that you may live deep within your heart.
  
  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
  
  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
  
  And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world; so that you can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
  
  The prayer time was incredibly convicting for me.
  
  It has been amazing for me and the family to spend some time with Emmanuel and be both blessed and challenged by his wisdom and perspective on our life in America.
  
  (Here is a picture of Emmanuel with the family from dinner the other night.)
  
  
• December 05, 2008
• 20:30

  Hardship

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  human rights   [edit]

  So here's a quote from a Congolese gang rape victim being interviewed by Ted Koppel of Dateline in response to the question, "Why can you be so candid with me in sharing your very personal story" - after she talked about the diseases she received and losing her family and kids as a result of the experience.
  
  "You can have secrets if you haven't had hardship."
  
  Makes me think about my own personal hardships (and secrets) a little differently.
• 9:50

  Missions Booklet

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  We're kicking off a two week missions series this Sunday as part of the upcoming launch of World Relief NEXT.
  
  Among a host of other things that are coming together, the Missions Booklet detailing our philosophy and strategy will be printing in about an hour. I'm pretty excited to have a document that people can look at to see our heart for missions as well as how they can begin to get involved.
  I'm beginning to appreciate just how important communication is in a church... like the old saying, "People are down on what they're not up on."
  
• December 03, 2008
• 11:23

  Barth on Preaching

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  teaching   [edit]

  I know this might be a boring subject for some, but I love this quote I just read from Karl Barth (a theologian in Germany during the first half of the 20th century.)
  
  “No matter what may be said in detail, this is the point from which every single line of preaching must be drawn: not the mere word Christ, not the mere description of Christ, but solely what God has done with us in Christ. Emmanuel—God with us—this is the central point in all preaching. Only when this is the message for delivery, does the preacher speak with the full authority of the one who sends the herald.”
• November 28, 2008
• 19:03

  Kids Art Book

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Art   [edit]

  The Antioch Kids Art Books arrived this week and will be available starting a week from Sunday.
  
  It's such a cool thing to see... all the artwork from so many different kids who all will be beaming with pride when they see their work in print.
  
  I can already see my kids faces when they give these to their grandparents as Christmas presents :)
  
  
• November 26, 2008
• 21:29

  Eugene Peterson

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  I shared a part of a letter in a message this last Sunday at Antioch.
  
  It was a letter that I received in response from Eugene Peterson when we were getting ready to plant the church.
  
  It had been over a year since I looked at it and somehow I ended up rereading it last Monday and was amazed at how well it tied in with what we have been talking about the last few Sundays.
  
  I forwarded it on to our staff and elders and thought I'd also post it online since I've had several requests.
  
  Click here to view a pdf copy.
  
  
• 14:11

  Launch of World Relief NEXT

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief   [edit]

  The World Relief NEXT project is going to be launching here in Bend in the next two weeks. It's as cool of a thing as I've ever seen!!
  
  One of the goals is to create a collaboration of northwest churches that can be more meaningfully involved in missions through collaboration than alone.
  
  Below is the e-mail that Ann Mara sent to local pastors inviting them to a special luncheon. Make sure to holler if you would like to find out more information for your church!!
  
  ********
  
  Dear I am writing to invite you to lunch on December 4th, at 1pm, at the Pastini Restaurant, in the Old Mill Shopping District.
  
  As we prepare to launch the World Relief NEXT Project (www.worldreliefnext.org) here in Bend, we would welcome an opportunity to sit down with you and explain our vision and goals, and to see how we can enter together into a collaborative approach towards global missions.
  
  We will be joined by our esteemed friend and colleague Emmanuel Ndikumana, who will be visiting Bend from Burundi, East Africa. We invited Emmanuel to help us launch the World Relief NEXT Project, and to communicate his view on Missions from an African perspective. Emmanuel is a graduate of All Nations Christian College in the UK, and holds a B.A. (Hon) degree in Biblical and Intercultural studies and an M.A. degree in Aspects of Christian Missiology.
  
  We hope that you are able to make this luncheon, and if you cannot, that you would suggest someone else in your place. Please RSVP by December 2nd, to this address.
  
  Many thanks,
  Ann Mara.(Project Manager)
  ann@worldreliefnext.org
• 9:19

  Trust

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  A friend of mine sent me the blurb below out of his journal. He and I have been talking through the subject of faith and trust in God -- something we both believe is underrated and under-emphasized.
  
  My friend (we'll just call him Brad Pitt for short) is a pretty amazing writer and thinker. When his book finally comes out I'll reveal his true identity so that we can all pick up a copy!!
  
  *******
  Restless circles of trust. I've never thought of this before, and I've never heard of it. But tonight is the kind of night I can't sleep. I got out of bed, down onto my knees, and started to pray. I instantly felt pathetic, weak, tired, and useless. I couldn't focus on a single thing. The future, for some strange reason, suddenly went black and terrifying.
  
  I felt like I was squirming around to get a better view but nothing helped. I realized, sometimes in my pursuit of God I'm restless. How ironic. In a season of rest I feel restless. Like a fidgety little kid desperate for my Father's attention. And it all feels endless. Round and round. Restless night to restless night.
  
  And I wonder, where is all thing going anyway? Is there somewhere I'm supposed to be ending up? If so, how will this circle ever get me there? Where is my straight line to freedom?
  
  Then it hit me. Trust. The restless circle runs around trust. The straight line runs around...well, nothing.
  
  There is no center to linear living. Yet, strangely, I long for the center-less life. The 'I know where I'm going' kind of life. Ultimately, what brings me around is the question: Do I trust him? Restlessness, circles, lines, whatever...do I trust him? Yes.
  
  There is something here in the midnight. The tapping fingers do not tap in vain. There is something in this fear. Maybe I'll find it tomorrow. Or the next day. Of the one hundredth time around the circle, and when I do it will be the restlessness to thank.
  
  The holy wrestle with restlessness. The circle of trust. The ever on going journey.
• November 22, 2008
• 18:37

  Mary Joy's Birthday

   » ‎ Pensees

  Enclosure: [download]

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Today was Mary Joy's 7th birthday!!
  
  She had a party at Pappy's Pizza, which is designed specifically for kids and this kind of thing. I now have a phobia of places designed for kids and "this kind of thing."
  
  Anyway, it was high energy from start to finish and had plenty of cute "kid" moments!!
  
  Here are a few pics and the highlight video :)
  
  
  
• November 21, 2008
• 20:11

  Doubt and Unbelief

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  I'm giving a message on Doubt and the Problem of Unbelief this Sunday at Antioch.
  
  Tough topic.
  
  I think that many are like Dostoevsky who said, “It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. My hosanna is born of a furnace of doubt.”
  
  I'll only be able to scratch the surface so I made sure we'll have several books on the topic available at our book table.
  
  Here are a few that I think are worth a look:

  1. J.P. Moreland, In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God
  2. Alister McGrath, Doubting: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith
  3. Gary Habermas, The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God
  4. John Piper, Battling Unbelief
     

  
• November 20, 2008
• 16:22

  Quote of the Day

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Quotes   [edit]

  "I love change... it helps you know that you're alive!"
  
  Brandon Reynolds
  
  (Wouldn't it be nice if everyone thought that way?)
• November 19, 2008
• 18:01

  Official Dad

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Well... I feel like I'm officially a Dad now.
  
  I had my first experience with a kid getting something stuck up her nose.
  
  Feel free to guess which kid... you have a 1 in 4 chance of being right!
• 12:17

  Cauzal Blog

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  blogs   [edit]

  A friend of mine, Dan Brose, is now keeping a blog through Cauzal Coffee.
  
  If you've ever wanted to hear a credible voice on some of the great causes of our day as well as keep up to date on what's going on in the world, then this blog is for you!!
  
  Check it out: www.cauzalblog.com
• November 17, 2008
• 18:29

  Crazy Love

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  
  The staff is reading through a book right now by Francis Chan called Crazy Love.
  
  The book pretty much nails it on the head... so much so, that we made it an "all church" read at Antioch and want as many people to read it as possible.
  
  Trust me... if you want to remain the same then don't read this book.
• November 14, 2008
• 10:58

  Sara Video

   » ‎ Pensees

  Enclosure: [download]

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Since Sara was a little baby she has always hummed while she eats. If she really likes what she's eating she hums even louder. (She's not aware that she's doing anything out of the ordinary).
  
  It has been one of the funniest and most enjoyable things in our family for a couple of years now.
  
  I shot a quick little video of it this morning just to have something to show her someday...
  
  
  
• November 13, 2008
• 13:52

  emote 360

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  creativity   [edit]

  Just met with two of my good friends Gary Christenson and Benjamin Edwards about a new media group they have created to help non-profits.
  
  It is a great concept and a great cause.
  
  If you are a non-profit in need of creative media solutions make sure to check them out... they are some of the best in the world at what they do.
  
  www.emote360.com
  
  
• November 11, 2008
• 15:21

  Quote

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Quotes   [edit]

  So I really liked this quote on a birthday card I got today:
  
  "Show me a day when the world wasn't new."
  
  Sister Barbara Hance
• November 10, 2008
• 15:44

  Apologetics Conference

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  apologetics   [edit]

  I really enjoyed the conference this weekend and getting to hang out with some of my old professors.
  
  Rich Waller did an amazing job pulling this thing off... all in all there were close to 400 people who came to listen or to volunteer.
  
  It was also cool to see such a multi-church event and hang with the gracious staff over at New Hope Church.
  
  Looks like the next one will be in February of 2010!
  
  
• 10:42

  Unsigned Notes

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  It's funny.
  
  Every once and a while we'll get an unsigned letter with no return address delivered to us at Antioch sharing thoughts, ideas or comments.
  
  That just drives me crazy.
  
  Christians ought to be mature enough to have conversations and engage in dialogue. An unsigned and unaddressed letter is the supreme example of manipulation and control.
  
  It is saying, I want to get my words in without hearing yours.
  
  It is the jr. high student who puts two fingers in his ears and sticks his tongue out.
  
  Not a fan of unsigned notes.
• November 06, 2008
• 12:41

  Church and Visitors

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  I came across a statistic on churches this week that was pretty interesting.
  
  "85% of churches retain 10% or less of their visitors."
  
  Seems pretty crazy... that means that only 15% of churches connect more than 1 in 10 visitors!!
  
  Now I'm sure that some of that is because a lot of people aren't really looking to get connected to a community, but I'm wondering how much of that statistic is simply because churches do a horrible job of getting new people connected relationally.
  
  I don't necessarily have any great thoughts on the matter, but the statistic really hit a button and I've been pondering it and praying about it for several days.
  
  It seems like churches should be doing a better job with relationships and community.
• November 04, 2008
• 14:09

  Came Back Shorn

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  So I was watching this cool documentary on the Gold Rush in California during the late 1840's and 1850's and heard a really good quote.
  
  They were spotlighting these three brothers who had come up to San Francisco from Chile to make their fortune. After failing at the mines and then losing their hotel to one of the San Francisco fires they boarded a ship to return to Chile.
  
  The one brother wrote a letter to their mom and said:
  
  "We went looking for wool and came back shorn."
  
  I love the conciseness of the statement and the imagery. It also dovetails with a lot of my thinking lately about the individualistic nature of American culture. So many of us go running around looking for our big win and to define ourselves -- and often, come back shorn.
• November 02, 2008
• 17:45

  Numbers

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Today there were 420 people at Antioch. It is the first time there have been over 400 people in a service and I think it is pretty darn cool to see what has happened from two years ago when we started til today.
  
  Now I know someone will jump all over this and start accusing me of being everything that I'm not, but that's okay. Numbers are not why we exist. Numbers don't necessarily mean health or significance (there are a lot of things that are big that I wouldn't call significant or good). Numbers don't influence our decision making... the elders have always valued health and unity more than pleasing people or building attendance.
  
  Having said that, it is pretty neat (like in Acts chapter 2) to see "more and more being added" - especially when all of those numbers correspond to actual people and especially when we hear from so many of those people that they were hurting and Antioch has become a place of safety, community and healing.
  
  Right now, I'm excited about 420!
  
• October 31, 2008
• 14:54

  Out of Gas

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  So my first week back after "guy maternity leave" and I'm flat out of gas!!
  
  I have new found respect for Tamara now that I'm getting the girls ready for school and ready for bed and a host of other things. Motherhood is too hard for me!
  
  Here are some updates:
  - Mary Joy has forgotten her lunch twice this week (on my watch)
  - Having people bring you meals after having a kid is awesome!
  - I'm glad Tamara and I stopped watching Grey's Anatomy a long time ago. We watched it again with Kim Hunt last night and those shows are like crack cocaine. I wouldn't stand a chance if I watched it a couple times in a row.
  - However, 24 is starting up again on November 23rd. Long live Jack Bauer!!
  - Speaking of Kim Hunt... holding a guys remote hostage in his own home for 2 hours is not cool.
  - The new baby is an angel... until midnight, and then she's a terror from midnight till 6:00 a.m.
  - I'm becoming more and more a fan of affirmation. Does anyone else think that more affirmation and less criticism would be cool?
• October 27, 2008
• 20:05

  Pawn Shop Kings

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  We were blessed to have the Pawn Shop Kings (Scott & Joel Owen) in church a week ago.
  
  They are amazing.
  
  Check out the videos...
  
  
  
• 18:43

  OurCauze Fundraiser

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  Click here to visit the Cauzal Coffee store and purchase world class coffee with $4 of every bag supporting the development of the Kilns College Missions Department.
  
  
• 10:30

  Caleb the Yellow Lab

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Family   [edit]

  So my kids now have a second dog - well, kind of... my folks went out and got a yellow lab named "Caleb" last night.
  
  Here's a picture.
  
  I'm glad that there's another "lover dog" in the family and even more glad that the big shedding beast will be living down the street and not at our home!
  
  
• October 24, 2008
• 11:46

  2 Years of Antioch

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  
• October 23, 2008
• 17:49

  Pictures of Ashlin

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Family   [edit]

  
  
  
• October 20, 2008
• 22:32

  Ashlin Wytsma

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Here's our new little girl (all of 2 hours old!)
  
  I shot this picture of her being held by Kim Hunt on my Blackberry. I'll post more pictures when I get the chance to download them from the camera.
  
  She's a cutie!!
  
  
• 11:46

  2 Year Anniversary

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  We had a 2 Year Anniversary service this Sunday. In some ways it sounds corny...
  
  Our thinking was shaped when Rick McKinley came out in January and told us a story of how he wasn't going to do a 2 year anniversary because it would draw too much attention to the people in leadership etc. (too ego driven). One of his mentors coached him to think that by not celebrating things and giving opportunity for God to get credit it was actually more ego driven (i.e. we are worried about what people might think so we won't praise God.)
  
  That made sense to us.
  
  So our service yesterday was all about trying to celebrate what God has been doing in Antioch.
  
  (Here's one of the videos from the service)
  
  
• October 19, 2008
• 18:17

  Ed Underwood

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  book recommendations   [edit]

  A good friend, Ed Underwood, delivered this morning's message at Antioch.
  
  Take a listen, but be warned... it's pretty rowdy.
  
  Also, for anyone dealing with difficult circumstances and wondering where God is in the midst of pain, Ed's book When God Breaks Your Heart is excellent.
  
  
  
• October 17, 2008
• 14:56

  Apologetics Conference

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  
  Pretty excited about the Apologetics Conference coming up that is being put on by Kilns College and a couple friends in town.
  Some of my old Philosophy professors, J.P. Moreland and Scott Rae, will be speaking and I'm really looking forward to catching up with them.
  Should be a pretty amazing time!!
  To read more or to register: www.apologeticsguild.com
• October 16, 2008
• 17:22

  Facebook

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I have a friend who is going to be marketing his business on Facebook and MySpace etc. so I thought I'd get on Facebook to figure it out.
  
  I now have more friends than I remembered having about a week or so ago. It's amazing how fast and quick online networking happens.
  
  Other than not having time for it... it's pretty fun!!
• October 14, 2008
• 21:42

  Last Minute

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  So we're getting ready at the Wytsma household for baby #4 who should be coming any day now.
  
  What does that mean?
  
  - I can't keep up with the variety of things Tamara wants to eat
  - The sole focus of family life is cleaning
  - I get maternity leave pretty soon (actually it is a week of vacation we have saved up)
  - There's baby stuff laying all around
  - The name game is heating up (still haven't finalized it yet)
  - I'm supposed to make an appointment with the doctor so that the kid thing doesn't happen to us anymore
• October 12, 2008
• 21:37

  Winnie the Pooh

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Thoughts   [edit]

  In debating, one of the lessons you learn is to not offer up every argument that you have... rather, give only the best.
  
  The reason is pretty simple. The counter argument will usually always be aimed at the weakest - not the strongest - argument that you made.
  
  The principle is that sometimes excessive communication can be a bad thing.
  
  I've been feeling like that in life the last week or so. I'm pretty behind on sleep and when I get tired I'm more talkative and have less energy to listen. Excessive communication can be a bad thing.
  
  Anyway, it reminds me of a Winnie the Pooh quote in my kids' books that I wouldn't mind trying to live out for a week or two:
  
  “Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.”
• October 11, 2008
• 15:46

  Cauzal Coffee

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  
  I had the privilege yesterday to sit in on some of the final brainstorming sessions around the marketing launch for Cauzal Coffee.
  
  Cauzal Coffee is the brainchild of a friend who wants to creatively leverage consumer spending for the benefit of others.
  
  It is one of the coolest ideas that I've run across in a while.
  
  Not only does the company donate 25% of the gross to a humanitarian cause of your choice, but there is also a high tech fund raising apparatus called MyCauze / OurCauze.
  
  MyCauze and OurCauze allows you to set up your own cauze such as your own missions trip, a relief project or outside organization that you believe in and fundraise around it. Not only does the 25% go to your cauze (yes, that's how they spell it), but people can also donate however much they want.
  
  It is one of the easiest and best fund raising platforms out there.
  
  So visit the sight... drink coffee while helping others... and make sure to set up a MyCauze or OurCauze supporting something you believe in!!
  
  www.cauzal.com
• October 09, 2008
• 16:16

  Kids Art Book

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Art   [edit]

  I'm not really involved in this one all that much, but I think it is pretty darn cool.
  
  The Antioch Kids Art Book is going to be a collaboration of art work from students within the church put into actual book form. (Can you see all the Christmas presents that grandparents will be getting?!)
  
  Here's the cover that Gary Christenson worked up...
  
  
• October 07, 2008
• 21:26

  Thought

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  So I've had this thought in my head all day...
  
  What if the difficult times we're going through loosens jobs and routines just enough so that some people can finally change course and pursue the dreams that they've always had, but could never fit in?
  
  I guess I'm thinking it would be such an interesting story if a middle aged couple finally heads off to seminary or to the mission field all as a result of their life getting turned upside down and thus making the transition easier.
  
  I'm not thinking that tough times are good... just that good might come from tough times.
• October 06, 2008
• 19:13

  Staff Retreat

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  solitude   [edit]

  
  We had a half day staff prayer retreat out in Sisters this morning.
  
  It was primarily focused on solitude and I could have stayed out there all day and not minded.
  
  For me, there's nothing more restorative outside of sleep than solitude (and maybe movies!)
• October 04, 2008
• 19:20

  Don Golden

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Guest speakers   [edit]

  This next Thursday there will be a lecture on Church and Missions at The Kilns by Don Golden.
  
  Don is senior vice president of church engagement at World Relief in Baltimore, Maryland. His passion to help churches help the poor and oppressed has taken him to more than 60 countries.
  
  Don's new book with Zondervan, called Jesus Wants to Save Christians, just released this week.
  
  Don will be in town for discussions around World Relief NEXT as well as his lecture at the Kilns.
  
  Plan on being there from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.!!
  
  
• 8:36

  Mission Kids

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch kids   [edit]

  Last week Antioch launched a pretty cool ministry to "help parents raise compassionate and mission minded kids."
  
  It is called Mission Kids.
  
  Sometimes it is just plain hard for busy parents to find ways to serve alongside their kids or find opportunities to teach them about the needs of others in the world.
  
  I'm pretty excited about Mission Kids being a part of helping the values of compassion and love that Tamara and I have trickle down to our own kids.
  
  Anyway, yesterday the website www.missionkids.us went live. Check it out and read more about the ministry!!
  
  
• October 02, 2008
• 16:05

  Collaboration

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Sermons   [edit]

  Check out the sermon trailer for the new sermon series starting Sunday at Antioch.
  
  
• October 01, 2008
• 7:07

  Missions Opportunities

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief   [edit]

  Just had a great meeting with Lorelei Mah, Director of Volunteer Resources at World Relief and wife of the CEO and President Sammy Mah.
  
  One of the things that people are always saying is that there aren't tangible ways for people to go oversees or be directly engaged... and I was amazed at all of the opportunities available for people to get involved in the world that nobody even knows about.
  
  Check out all of the oversees opportunities on their web site here.
  
  (Here is a picture of Lorelei with all of the current oversees volunteers listed on her board.)
  
  
• September 30, 2008
• 18:15

  World Relief

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  Had a full day of meeting with the World Relief folks here in Baltimore.
  
  Dan and I are staying in a makeshift room at the offices known affectionately as "Hotel Nicaragua".
  
  The meetings have been amazing and World Relief has some pretty quality people doing some pretty amazing work around the world.
  
  Some random thoughts:
  
  - Why don't more Christians take the initiative to get involved in stuff?
  - Why does the World Relief firewall block all web sites with music or video streaming?
  - We have some pretty talented people at Antioch -- just wait till the launch of the World Relief NEXT Project at Antioch in December!
  - I like people who dream big!!
  - Why do I have jet lag so bad when it is only a three hour difference? I'm a lightweight...
• September 28, 2008
• 22:52

  Baltimore

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  world relief   [edit]

  So I'm heading out at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow (that's early!) to head to Baltimore with my friends Dan, Ann, Beth and Bill to meet with the folks at World Relief.
  
  It'll be the first big step in getting the World Relief NEXT project off and running.
  
  It should be tons of fun and I'm expecting some pretty cool things to develop!!
  
  P.S. Did I mention 4 am?
• 17:48

  Attitude

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Sermons   [edit]

  Here is a brief meditation from Chuck Swindoll that I quoted in a sermon this morning. It had a profound impact on my life... hopefully there is someone else out there who it will speak to as well.
  
  ATTITUDE
  
  The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.
  
  The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
  
  And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.
• September 27, 2008
• 17:17

  First Time

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  money   [edit]

  I'm finding myself for the first time in ministry dealing with the effects of a poor economy.
  
  Ministry takes money, but it's not a fun thing to have to focus on or deal with.
  
  It'll be a good growing experience, I'm sure, and it certainly has been good for my prayer life...
• September 25, 2008
• 14:55

  Mission Kids

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch kids   [edit]

  This Sunday we are launching a program that is one of the coolest and, seemingly, most important that I've seen in a long time.
  It is called "Mission Kids."
  Mission Kids simply exists to help parents raise compassionate and mission minded kids!
  
  Parents who are compassionate or involved in ministry often wonder, "is any of this trickling down to my kids?" "Am I working really hard at serving others to the expense that I have a hard time discipling my own kids in this area?"
  Mission Kids will be a simple focused effort to make it easy for busy parents to do biblical devotionals with their kids and then join them in events centered around service and compassion. It will help parents teach kids about the world, other cultures, caring and meeting needs and how they can turn love into action.
  There are a lot of crazy uncanny parts to the story of how this thing came about and where it is going, but I'll leave that to Brandon Reynolds to share on Sunday morning at Antioch!
  
  
• 11:54

  Ed Underwood

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  On October 19th, Antioch is having a "2 Year Anniversary Service."
  It should be a ton of fun with some highlight videos and testimonies.
  I'm most excited, however, to hear from Ed Underwood our guest speaker for that Sunday.
  Ed is the Sr. Pastor of the historic Church of the Open Door in Southern California and is author of the soon to be released book, When God Breaks Your Heart (which talks about Ed's bout with cancer and how to deal with suffering in your life.)
  Ed became a Christian during the Jesus Movement of the late sixties and early seventies and is currently working on a book about how movements of God sometimes lose their way. He will be challenging us to stay true to our calling at Antioch. Anyway, whether you go to Antioch or not... mark your calendars for October 19th!!
  
• 10:38

  Rise Up

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  ministries   [edit]

  A local non-profit ministry (Rise Up International) that does amazing work around the world to help at risk children is having a pretty creative fundraiser this Sunday night.
  
  Here is the video promo:
  
  
• 9:22

  Isaiah 50

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Scripture   [edit]

  I read through Isaiah 50 last night (after watching about 3 hours of evening news) and then again this morning.
  
  My prayer for myself, my family and our church right now is for increased faith. There certainly is enough reason for us to look to God a little more quickly and easily these days -- and as hard as it might be to believe it, God can certainly bring beauty from ashes when we trust in Him.
  
  9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.
  Who is he that will condemn me?
  They will all wear out like a garment;
  the moths will eat them up.
  10 Who among you fears the LORD
  and obeys the word of his servant?
  Let him who walks in the dark,
  who has no light,
  trust in the name of the LORD
  and rely on his God.
  11 But now, all you who light fires
  and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
  go, walk in the light of your fires
  and of the torches you have set ablaze.
  This is what you shall receive from my hand:
  You will lie down in torment.
• September 24, 2008
• 18:52

  Kilns / World Relief Sign

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  the kilns   [edit]

  I like little things in life.
  
  Today I got excited by seeing The Kilns Bookstore and World Relief NEXT sign go up.
  
  
• September 23, 2008
• 14:22

  Prayer and Fasting

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  prayer   [edit]

  Speaking of Human Trafficking...
  
  This weekend is the "Weekend of Prayer & Fasting for Victims of Sexual Trafficking" sponsored by The Salvation Army and the Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking.
  
  Click here to read more about it.
• September 22, 2008
• 11:38

  Trafficking Movie

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Movies   [edit]

  Click here to see the preview of a new anti-trafficking movie called "Call + Response" coming out in October. It looks incredibly well done...
  
  
• September 20, 2008
• 19:58

  Antioch Metro

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Art   [edit]

  Tom Monson, one of the artists at Antioch, worked up this cool little map for us detailing the process for getting connected.
  
  Check it out!!
  
  
• 14:50

  eBay

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Just had my first experience with eBay.
  
  I lost in the last 2 seconds...
  
  Not a fan of eBay.
• September 18, 2008
• 21:04

  Art Lectures

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  the kilns   [edit]

  Just letting ya know about a cool opportunity --
  
  This Friday and Saturday, September 19th & 20th, Wes Hurd will be lecturing at the Kilns on Art History. Wes is the co-founder and President of Bluetower Arts Foundation in Eugene, Oregon and has his M.A. in Biblical Studies from Western Seminary, a Ph.D. in Educational Foundations and an M.F.A in Painting from the University of Oregon.
  
  He is also director of Art Project, an arts fellowship within Gutenberg College.
  
  The lectures are Friday 7-9 pm and Saturday 9-2.
• September 16, 2008
• 14:43

  Fast Pass

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  This Sunday / Monday evenings at Antioch we'll be hosting our regular "Fast Pass Class."
  
  The Fast Pass Class is our version of doing an intro or membership class. We took the name from Disneyland's Fast Pass system where you get to "cut to the front of the line.
  I really enjoy doing these classes not only because of all the new people I get to meet, but because I get to revisit the vision of Antioch. Nothing gets me more excited than talking big picture and sharing the dreams that we think are possible.
  
  
• 11:15

  Monday Night Football and Life

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I watched the Cowboys game last night on Monday Night Football with a good friend Evan Hendrix. The game was insane...
  
  It was the second most points ever in a Monday Night Football game and the most total points in a game ever for both the Cowboys and Eagles. The ball just kept bouncing in the craziest directions!!
  
  This morning as I was in my half asleep - kids wake us up way too often - fog, I kind of drifted into thinking of life like that football game.
  
  It's crazy how the ball bounces sometimes!!
  
  The good thing is that in the crazy times of life, prayer comes pretty easy. You don't look at a roadmap when you're on cruise control, but you frantically pour over it when you're in a big city and worried about making a wrong turn. Prayer is the same way for me... when life is easy we just don't need God as much.
  
  As Paul wrote, "When I am weak, then I am strong."
  
  It is just another one of those counter intuitive parts of faith that first really is last and bad - oftentimes - is good.
• September 11, 2008
• 16:46

  Baptism at the Deschutes 2008

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  In case you missed it... Paul Davis put together this great video of the Baptism Service several weeks back.
  
  I love the baptism services... but I think I love the baptism videos even more (they slow things down and capture the memories so well!)
  
  Watch it as many times as you want and feel free to share it with a friend!!!
  
  
• 15:16

  The Problem of Pain

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Sermons   [edit]

  We are launching into a two part series on The Problem of Pain this Sunday at Antioch.
  
  It is one of those topics that always seems to hang around, but rarely gets dealt with straight on. Funny thing is that I'm both looking forward to it and being done with it all at the same time.
  
  We'll see how it goes...
  
  
• 12:51

  Special Music

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  So we thought about it for a while and then passed on doing this as special music :)
  
  
• 10:43

  Tidbit

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  In studying this morning I came across this tidbit that I wrote years ago in an essay on the difference between true spirituality vs. individual virtue. I thought I'd share it...
  
  In seeking life in Christ we seek a person to relate with. In seeking only virtue we strive for a product to have – we strive to overcome ourselves; we seek to be different; we aspire to be the “overman;” we try to be Christ – perfect in himself. One path leads to dependence, the other to pride. One leads to fellowship, the other to solitude. One leads to peace and grace, the other to strife and envy. The only way that we can resolve the seeming paradoxes between growth through right action and growth through relationship is to begin with conceiving of God as a Father who disciplines rather than a judge who judges.
  
  Right stands alongside another in a position of independence – relationship alongside God is a position of dependence. In the end, it was largely Jesus’ claim that they needed to go through Him that caused the self-righteous Pharisees to stumble. The branch remains in the vine in an organic relationship. All virtues in the Christian life are thus relational virtues that help to further establish the branch in the vine, the person into Christ, the child into the family of God.
• September 10, 2008
• 10:56

  Personal Calling & Mission

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  This Thursday I am kicking off the class that I am teaching through Kilns College called Personal Calling and Mission.
  
  I'm pretty jazzed on the class and specifically on the reading. It is like a who's who of my favorite books and essays...
  
  - Augustine's Confession's
  - Bonhoeffer's Life Together
  - C.S. Lewis's essay "The Weight of Glory"
  - Henry David Thoreau's "Life Without Principle"
  - The Strengthsfinder book / test
  
  Not to mention some of my favorite historical narratives from the Old and New Testament. I'm beginning to remember how much I love the classroom environment!!
  
  There are two seats still open... so if you have Thursday's free from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. just shoot me an e-mail at ken@antiochchurch.org and let me know that you're coming!
  
  
• September 08, 2008
• 16:51

  2 Years

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Blogging   [edit]

  So... evidently I've been blogging for 2 years (as of yesterday), which has amounted to some 585 posts.
  
  I've got to say that I never envisioned this two years ago when I set up a blog one night and began with a post called "Frogs and Blogs."
  
  The blog has evolved into a tool that not only allows me to share random thoughts and happenings from life and church, but discipleship thoughts as well. Blogging, in many ways, is a form of e-discipleship.
  
  Internet tools are never a replacement for organic relationships and such, but they are tools nonetheless.
  
  2 years and counting!
• 11:45

  New Address

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Blogging   [edit]

  The blog has a new address... www.mypensees.com
  
  No worries for all you bookmark type people, the old address still works as well!!
• September 05, 2008
• 14:51

  Communication

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  This week we added two more e-newsletters to the mix. There is a new monthly newsletter for parents and children's workers in the Antioch Kids program as well as a regular newsletter for the college.
  
  In the next couple of weeks we will add another as well... what we are calling a "V-Newlsetter" that spotlights volunteers and service opportunities.
  
  I'm pretty excited about the upswing in communication. A friend of mine has a saying that "in the absence of communication, people expect the worst." Basically, the less people know the more critical they will be and the more wrong assumptions they will make.
  
  It is like the old saying, "People are down on what they're not up on!"
  
  It's kind of like a room that is poorly lit. The less light the less visibility... the more light the more visibility. I kind of think that communication in a church is like lighting up the room and making things more visible.
  
  Every church I've ever worked at (or heard about) fights an uphill battle with communication. Some ministries put the responsibility on the congregation -- "it is your job to find out what is going on."
  
  I tend to think that it is the staff's responsibility to try and over communicate. We're the ones with our hands on the light switch.
  
  Anyway, with all the new newsletters we're kind of saying, "let there be light!"
• September 03, 2008
• 17:24

  Glass Walls

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Life lessons   [edit]

  Have you ever run into a sliding glass door?
  
  I have. I ran into our sliding glass door at the beginning of summer so hard that I fell over backwards. The headache that came on was so fast and so intense... the only thing worse was how stupid and mad I felt.
  
  I did what I always do when I'm mad and act immature... I looked for someone to blame. Luckily, there was nobody responsible but myself.
  
  Glass doors and windows are funny that way. I've seen my kids, dogs and birds fly headlong into glass when they believed there was nothing there. You see where you are going, but you fall prey to the illusion that you can actually go there.
  
  Today kind of felt that way to me. There are so many ministry things that I can see right in front of my face... so many things that look easy and within reach... so many things that we've been praying for and needing. My nose, however, feels like I've run into a glass wall.
  
  Whether it is a lack of time, energy, people, leaders, money or resources... much of what is visible is not attainable.
  
  Anyway, I'm hoping and praying that it's a glass door and not a glass wall. That God has a way he is going to open rather than this being one of those seasons where you get to see the Promised Land (like the Israelites), but don't get to enter it.
• September 01, 2008
• 14:01

  Francis Chan

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  This video of Francis Chan explaining the vision behind Eternity Bible College (a school we are partnering with) is worth the two minutes.
  
  Click here to view the video.
• 9:57

  Celebrity Names

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Tamara was working on names for baby #4 last night and came across this web site. It lists the birth names of celebrities -- pretty stinkin funny!!
  
  [www.babynames.com]
  
  P.S. In case you've ever wondered what Sting's real name is, it is Gordon Matthew Sumner.
• August 31, 2008
• 17:35

  Jonathan Martin

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  Next Sunday night is the kickoff for Kilns College. There'll be a BBQ, live music and (most excitingly!) a special guest lecture by Jonathan Martin.
  
  Jonathan oversees the Global Outreach Ministry at Good Shepherd Community Church in Boring, Oregon where many staff from their Church have been sent out and are presently living and serving in nearly 20 countries on every continent around the world. Nearly 800 from the congregation have also been sent on short term teams. Before coming to Good Shepherd, Jonathan and his family lived and ministered in Asia.
  
  Jonathan just has finished a book “Giving Wisely?” which challenges the church "to understand the the negative impact so much of our money is having all around the world – and how to step up to make a real and lasting difference."
  
  Jonathan loves backpacking, mountain biking, skiing and anything that gets him outdoors and away from the noise. He majored in English and History and received his Masters from the International School of Theology. He has taught English and English Literature for 15 years in foreign universities.
• August 30, 2008
• 17:20

  Hosmer Lake

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Went kayaking with my dad this morning... good times (and a little chilly!)
  
  It's beautiful at Hosmer Lake -- we were thinking we'd bring the whole family back next summer to camp.
  
  
  
• August 28, 2008
• 8:55

  Fall Schedule

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  Pretty excited about the classes starting soon at the college.
  
  We're hoping that a lot of men and women will see this as a great ongoing educational opportunity and sign up to audit a class!!
  
  If you'd like to register either e-mail us at info@antiochchurch.org or visit the web site (which is still under development) at [www.kilnscollege.org] and look under "academics".
  
  Here is the Fall 2008 Schedule:
  
  FOUNDATIONS – MODULE 1 (HI 101)
  Designed to give students a chronological progression of history from Creation to current events. Philosophies, religions, literature, culture, and ideas that shape humanity are all explored in this framework. Insight is broken down into four modules. The first two modules cover the ancient and classical world, including its ideas, developments, and people. Modules 3 and 4 cover the expanding and modern world, beginning with the collapse of the Roman Empire and ending with current global issues.
  
  Credits: 2, Instructor: Kimberley Hunt - Monday's 6:30 - 9 p.m.
  
  PERSONAL CALLING & MISSION (MI 101)
  This class will look at the idea of personal calling and mission throughout scripture along with several select readings from throughout church history. The topic deals with the idea of God’s purpose for your life and your own unique gifting and preparation for ministry. Each student will engage in personal profile studies and assessments as well as spend time outside class in solitude exercises. There will also be a lot of discussion on faith, submission, prayer and spiritual disciplines.
  
  The goal would be for students to finish the class with a deeper trust in God’s sovereign purposes for their life, greater clarity and direction for ministry and a growing desire and ability to spend time with and listening to God.
  
  Credits: 2, Instructor: Ken Wytsma - Thursdays 6:30 -8 p.m.
  
  THE BIBLE & ARCHAEOLOGY (BI 101)
  The purpose of the course is to present an introductory examination of the relationship between the Biblical text and archaeology. The main outcome goals are (1) to show how archaeology confirms the historical context of scripture, and (2) to show how archaeology illuminates the Biblical text.
  
  Credits: 2, Instructor: Mike Caba - Tuesdays 6:30 - 9 p.m.
  
  ADVANCED APOLOGETICS (PH 101)
  The purpose of the course is to hone our abilities as ambassadors for Christ, to present a winsome and reasoned defense of the truth of Christianity. The main goals are (1) to understand and address the key modern challenges to the validity of Christianity, (2) to provide students with the resources to go deeper into the various issues in modern apologetics, and (3) to understand the role of tact and character in apologetics ministry.
  
  Credits: 2, Instructor: Rick Gerhardt - Wednesdays 7:00 - 9 p.m.
• August 25, 2008
• 11:59

  Annie

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Here are two video clips from Annie Bathencourt singing at Antioch last Sunday.
  
  Annie is a singer / songwriter who came in for a concert on Saturday night at the Kilns and stuck around to bless us on Sunday.
  
  She's amazingly gifted!!
  
  
  
  
• 11:08

  Staff Retreat Video

   » ‎ Pensees

  Enclosure: [download]

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  Gary made this fun little video from some stills and clips that he shot on the Staff Retreat this past weekend.
  
  Let me know if you need some dictionary help with the "Gary lingo"!!!!
  
  
• August 23, 2008
• 14:23

  Staff Retreat

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  The staff at Antioch headed out to the Prineville Reservoir for our First Annual Staff Retreat.
  
  The goal was simply to relax and play before we gear up for this fall.
  
  I thought it was a pretty funny sight seeing Tim Hardin's boat being pulled by our stylin church van!!
  
  
• August 21, 2008
• 17:26

  Two Kinds of Martyrs

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  I was talking today with one of the other pastors and mentioned that I think there are two kinds of martyrs out there - those who run into problems because they are doing what God wants them to do and those who run into problems because they are not doing what God wants them to do.
  
  The first type is obvious, but the second type is much more subtle.
  
  I think those who head out in a wrong direction get corralled by common grace (difficulty simply because they are going against the way God designed things) or by special grace. Special means something that God steps in and does (the storm that chased Jonah) and grace means that God rights wrongs for the purpose of preserving truth or building things up (Jonah's whale and the first class cruise to Ninevah).
  
  What precipitated the conversation with the other pastor was the realization that the guys who are in the second category (I've been there before) usually always think they are in the first category.
  
  In other words, if we are facing opposition we usually take it as an indication that we are right and on God's side (the first type) when it could easily mean that we are in error and God is trying to set us right.
  
  Wasn't this the mistake that many Israelites made in the Old Testament when they didn't believe the prophets who were saying that God was going to set himself against them? The temptation to self justify is such a strong one.
  
  Where is this all going?
  
  One of the characteristics of my generation is to jettison orthodox thinking or sound doctrine as outdated and then chart a course for adventure, self discovery, experience, engagement and many other noble things. The problem is that the latter didn't require the former. Relevant and meaningful engagement doesn't require a rejection of Scripture and orthodox theology.
  
  These guys, who go by many names and join many of the latest emerging movements, often run into road blocks, rejection by other Christians and have difficulties getting going or being understood and the temptation for them often is to feel justified, persecuted and that they are martyrs.
  
  I wonder, however, if sometimes the difficulty and opposition isn't just an indication that they are "kicking against the goads"?
• August 19, 2008
• 14:53

  Baptism Pics

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  It was around 100 degrees this past Sunday at the Baptism at the Deschutes service. The water was actually refreshing (last year I froze!)
  
  The baptisms are one of the favorite things I get to be a part of at Antioch. They are such a perfect metaphor for newness of life.
  
  Anyway, here are some of my favorite pictures from Sunday...
  
  
  
  
  
  
• August 18, 2008
• 12:56

  Bonhoeffer

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Quotes   [edit]

  The staff is reading through Life Together and discussing it at Staff Meetings. Life Together was written just before World War II by the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer when he was living and teaching at an underground seminary. The school was eventually found and shut down by the Nazis, but Bonhoeffer's insight and wisdom on the common life of believers is still incredibly relevant and thought provoking.
  
  I like these bits from Chapter 2:
  
  "One who will not learn to handle the Bible for himself is not an evangelical Christian."
  
  "But, of course, we must admit that the Scriptures are still largely unknown to us. Can the realization of our fault, our ignorance of the Word of God, have any other consequence than that we should earnestly and faithfully retrieve what has been neglected? And should not ministers be the very first to get to work at this point?"
• August 15, 2008
• 15:38

  Baptism at the Deschutes

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  videos   [edit]

  This Sunday is our Annual Baptism at the Deschutes.
  
  I rewatched the video from last year (for the 8th time) and thought I'd post it again since it'll be the last time that it is current!!
  
  I never get tired of this one...
  
  
• August 14, 2008
• 13:38

  I Love Life!

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  The girls picked me up to grab a quick coffee and drop me off at a meeting...
  
  I'm really enjoying my day so I had them screaming, "I love life!!" over and over again.
  
  It was fun :)
  
  
• August 11, 2008
• 12:58

  Staff Appreciation Lunch

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Antioch   [edit]

  The Encouragement Team at Antioch made the staff an "Appreciation Lunch" today.
  
  The spread was amazing and all 10 of us sat and traded jokes and laughed together for about an hour.
  Make sure to ask Nicole if they've heard of Nike in Kansas, what Kim wants to be when she grows up after seeing "Pineapple Express," and Emi about gymnastics in Romania (oh, and don't forget to ask Kip about desserts!)
  Thanks to the ladies who cooked and set it all up (and the one husband who dropped off cookies!!)
  
  
• August 10, 2008
• 21:28

  College Talk

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  kilns college   [edit]

  This morning at Antioch I gave a talk about Kilns College.
  
  And even though I rambled a little too much, we still gave out all 30 packets we had made up and had a line waiting for more after the service!
  
  It's fun watching the school come together... from the class schedule for the fall to the guest speakers lined up to the web page that goes live this week.
  
  I'm also looking forward to the class I'll be teaching called "Personal Calling and Mission." We all want to find purpose and clarity in our lives, but we rarely study ourselves, study the providence of God or look at key biblical stories and texts that give us a clue to how God works in the lives of men and women (hint: it's usually pretty non-linear and not always crystal clear).
  
  Anyway, lots of good stuff!!
  
  
• August 09, 2008
• 18:20

  Jon & Christina

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  One of my best friends out there is Jon Lemke.
  
  If you've never met Jon, I'm sorry... and I also won't be able to explain him to you. He's one of a kind!!
  
  I was in Jon's wedding about this time last year, and just 12 months later he and Christina are traveling around the world on one of the most epic trips I've ever heard of. They started in Japan and then ferried a van over to China where they will drive to Mongolia, Russia and then on through to Europe.
  
  I'd be jealous if it wasn't for the fact that I'm pretty sure they're going to end up in prison for at least a day in Mongolia or some other crazy place :)
  
  Anyway, a bunch of people have asked me for their blog address and their posts are pretty funny and worth reading.
  
  The blog address is in French and is a little crazy: www.voirdire2008.blogspot.com
• August 08, 2008
• 15:44

  Brooks & Dunn

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  journal   [edit]

  Well, I'm not much of a country music fan... and when I found out that these guys were named "Kix" and "Ronnie" I kind of laughed.
  
  That said, I've got to say that getting back stage passes and these guys putting on a darn good show has won me over (at least enough to throw a bunch of pictures up on the blog and call it one of the highlights of the summer so far!)
  
  
  
  
  
• August 07, 2008
• 16:31

  Love the Blob

   » ‎ Pensees

  Tags:  Family camp   [edit]

  Tamara took this picture on her new camera at Family Camp.
  
  The Blob was epic this year!! (except for the poor girl who got the concussion)