the bahamas baybee...

For the past year and a half, I've had a weekly discussion with three friends in Kansas City. We're a pretty eclectic group composed of a washed-up engineer turned pastor/church-planter (me), a life-coach disguised as a corporate employee (Art), a rock-star now pastor (Rustin), and a spiritual life coach who has his hands in far too many things (David)! They're crazy. We're crazy. We loosely call ourselves groundwork... only because it is easier to throw out some name rather than explain us.

In July, David, Art and I went with our friend Mike to the Midwest Emergent Cohorts Conference in Chicago. Well... to the suburbs of Chicago. How I went to Chicago and didn't go downtown, I'll never know, but it happened! At that conference, we had the opportunity to share some of groundwork's material, and from that were invited to attend a conference in late October.







In the Bahamas.





So, early tomorrow morning, I leave for Soularize in Nassau. Either on Friday afternoon or Saturday afternoon we'll be presenting our workshop titled: Human Development as Spiritual Formation: Discovering God's Human Design.

I'm hoping to blog a bit while I'm there. Maybe upload some pictures. So stay tuned. And feel free to post all your hate mail as comments to the blog. We all know you're just jealous.

some of my favorites...

I'm currently at the Roasterie Cafe in Brookside working on my part of an upcoming conference workshop. I love coffeeshops in general and specifically appreciate the Roasterie, so I got to thinking about my favorites in KC (I decided to limit myself to KC otherwise my list would barely get out of Lawrence!).

In a particular order:
- Hi Hat in Westwood Hills. A minute walk from my parent's house and barely any internal seating. The nicest baristas and great drinks. Definitely the place to go on a crisp Fall day.

- Broadway Cafe in Westport. Seriously, amazing! The only reason Hi Hat won the top spot is because I can walk there when I'm home. I love to walk places, especially coffee shops. It adds to the experience, trust me.

- P. Village Starbucks. Im ashamed corporate coffee made it this high on the list, but this place has a special place in my life; many hours of good conversation, bad conversation, and general productivity. Once you visit, it'll make sense why this is my friend Megan's comfort spot.

- Roasterie Cafe in Brookside. Sweet vibe. Great coffee. Always full and alive.

- Crave Cafe in Midtown. I once did a podcast with a friend from the Crave. One of the most creative coffeeshops I've visited. If Broadway is full head to the Crave!


Anybody want to give a shout-out to their favorite that I shafted?

adoration...

For the most part, however, Buck's love was expressed in adoration. While he went wild with happiness when Thornton touched him or spoke to him, he did not seek these tokens. Unlike Skeet, who was wont to shove her nose under Thornton's hand and nudge and nudge till petted, or Nig, who would stalk up and rest his great head on Thornton's knee, Buck was content to adore at a distance. He would lie by the hour, eager, alert, at Thornton's feet, looking up into his face, dwelling upon it, studying it, following with keenest interest each fleeting expression, every movement or change of feature. Or, as chance might have it he would lie farther away, to the side or rear, watching the outlines of the man and the occasional movements of his body. And often, such was the communion in which they lived, the strength of Buck's gaze would draw John Thornton's head around, and he would return the gaze, without speech, his heart shining out of his eyes as Buck's heart shone out.


~ from Jack London's the Call of the Wild

(In case it wasn't apparent: Buck is a dog, and so is Skeet, and Nig for that matter.)

the feet of him who brings good news...

How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'

Behold, My servant will prosper,
He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.
Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
Thus He will sprinkle many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;
For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.

from Isaiah 52

Change...

I used to understand the goal of life as reaching a destination. This destination looked different for each person, but generally it was the place of security and identity. For some this meant having money, for others success or relationships or living out their life's work. Once you arrived, life was pretty much figured out: there were no more deep questions, little risk required, and certainly you possessed the peace of knowing yourself. After you arrive, the rest of life is working out the kinks.

A few years ago, I was presented with the idea that life wasn't a destination, but instead a journey. There never was a place of arrival, but rather an adventure to be lived. In this progression, we are somehow changed, transformed; in the words of Lewis, we become either "immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."

Upon reflection, I dont think I ever fully bought the journey idea. Instead, I just embraced a hybrid of the two: life is a journey until you reach the place of arrival where security and identity reside. Makes sense right? You go on a journey to get somewhere!

Something happened last week. I suddenly believe it. There is no destination, no place of arrival. Life is a journey. A beautiful adventure full of discovery and risk, love and pain, possibilities and betrayal. Through the seasons and relationships and experiences we grow and deepen. And hopefully we become more full expressions of our best self.

Refreshing... Not Refreshing...

Spending a rainy Sunday afternoon in a coffee shop is refreshing.

Running through a torrential downpour to get to said coffee shop is not.

Comforting...

It's been a long week.

These things happen.

Whenever life gets crazy, music is my relief. This week it has been two Snow Patrol songs: Hands Open & Make This Go On Forever.

Oh, and Apologize by Timbaland featuring One Republic. Lawton WHAT!