Go yellow

Great to catch a soccer game. This sport has played such an important role in Kate's life.

I remember, quite vividly with what could only have been our second or third public appearance as a dating couple, when Kate made the final penalty kick to send her high school team to the state championship.

After a celebration, she ran victoriously to the sidelines where her "fans" were, only to run by me and into the arms of some friends.

She played division 1 soccer, then played for Edinburgh University, coached at Edinburgh Uni, played for one of the Scottish women's premier league teams, and now plays on two competitive teams here in DC.

It's been fun to have atheletics be so integrated in our marriage, even if she brings all of the athleticism:)





-- Post From My iPhone

Cap Hill

The Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington DC is beautiful. Love the colors, love the streets, love the colonial style, love the feel. Enjoyed getting out for a few hours and photographing the streets.

Baby blue

Is back in my arms! After 15 straight hours of driving, my dad pulled into DC with the bright blue jeep wrangler I had through my college years. My parents have graciously allowed us to borrow it for the summer. I think I'd take this old 89 jeep over any new vehicle....honestly. It's rides like a jeep should.


We took the top off last night and drove around with a degree of freedom we haven't quite felt.

Such a gift!


-- Post From My iPhone

Midnight oil

Working late on the latest film project, a story about Addis in Africa. Feels good to be in the office alone and working on crafting a narrative on mission. That has become a great passion, to use story creatively enough to capture an audience and visibly show the power of the gospel.

Got a early August deadline, want to show it in our Week of Justice.


-- Post From My iPhone

monuments

We've been here 8 months and still haven't hit up all the monuments. You simply take for granted what is so unavailable to most, such as the DC skyline or the impressive array of monuments.

We finally walked all of them the other night with our good friends, the Zempels. We had a little fun along the way.

memorial day

It's family tradition here in DC to spend time at cousin Rob's house outside the city. It's all about relaxin' and enjoying family time.

With the exception of Christmas and a few visits from my parents overseas, we haven't had family around for certain holidays like Memorial day or July 4. Makes you appreciate family when you can take advantage like this.

Lot of laughs. Lot of cornhole (12 hours this weekend to be exact). Lot of food.

Did I say a lot of cornhole?

cornholio

Some highlight pictures from the tournament on the National Mall.
(in the finals against Mark Batterson)(my teammate and cousin Joel Schmidgall with great friend Paul Ott)

(The Uganda team...we've got 27 going on the trip with only a few pictured. Love thi team though!)

national cornhole tourney

Just finished the National Cornhole Tournament on the National Mall.

12 sets of boards. 26 teams. Double Elimination. Championship match.

It was 85 and clear skies as the Uganda team arrived mid-morning on the lawn just in front of the Capitol to set up for the tourney. Felt good about the turnout, felt great about the competition, felt even better about donating every penny to the project cost of building a classroom for Watoto Ministries in Uganda, a family-focused foster-care ministry reaching hundreds of children. It's pretty phenomenal. It's worth reading about.

My cousin Joel was my partner and we were in it to win it all. It came down to the final two teams, somewhat humorously an all-family affair. We squared off against Mark and Rob, my cousins.

Great day. Great cause. Great fun.

(we didn't win:()

accumulate relationships

Don't accumulate possessions.

Accumulate relationships.

Accumulate experiences.

This has become a core value that governs the way I try to live my life.

Today has been another alter of remembrance and celebration of how many amazing people have played a part in my life. My wife gave me what could be the most creative and thoughtful gift I've had. She constructed a collage of photographs into a large frame that was composed of some of our most memorable experiences and friendships from the last few years. Attached were small envelopes that had letters written from a smattering of friends and family that graciously took the time to thoughtfully share what our relationship has meant to them over the years.

Whether it was a quick quip, or an articulate essay that belongs in an academic journal, I was overwhelmed with kind words and fond, hilarious memories. Being a sentimental guy, these letters will remain in my possession and stand as an alter of remembrance for the value and the gift of relationship.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I've learned thus far is the value of investing in other people and more importantly the level of insight, joy, and challenge I receive from so many.

As someone said, "Enjoy fully. Live richly. Love lavishly."

Well said.

rebirth

On the eve of my birthday, I've spent time reflecting on the most life-changing decision I've made: my spiritual birth. I gave my life to Christ at a young age but it wasn't until my early twenties that I discovered what it really meant to radically give everything I am over to Him. John 10:10 says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!" The less I become focused on myself and my own pursuits and entrust my identity and desires to Him, the more powerful that passage continues to become.

Kate and I don't have perfect lives, but I can tell you the more we say, "whatever, wherever, whenever", the more full our lives have become.

I've been watching these two videos that have been put together in the last few years of the baptisms here at NCC. Over and over again, I've watched with tears in my eyes as I witness the visible giving of a life over to Him.

As one person shared: "I've been wandering in the forest lost all my life. At yet, still God and his children have been waiting for me when I return home.....I want to tell everybody....I'm home."

Nothing brings me more joy than to witness the transforming power of Christ's love and sacrifice in the life of another. The description I feel is more than 26 letters in the english alphabet can allow for. Salvation is not simply a human endeavor, but a crossroads of a physical and spiritual renewal that changes the trajectory and destiny of one's life.

I hope you enjoy these videos as much as I have. (turn off the "HD" for faster upload).

Easter Baptism 2009 from National Community Church on Vimeo.

Baptism by the Bay 2008 from National Community Church on Vimeo.

Where the river meets the sea

I love spontaneous excursions.

Yesterday afternoon, kate and I decided to head south a few hours to an island called St. George which ironically happened to be 5 miles north of a town called Scotland. We had the whole place to ourselves, spending the evening as the sun vanished over the horizon amidst a colorful sky in front of a fire on the beach just outside our quaint "honeymoon suite."

We quickly discovered "honeymoon suite" was a stretch as we passed through the living room that did not include a single piece of matching furniture, and a fake fireplace that apparently ran on a diesel engine.

It was all we needed though: a private beach, fire pit and a "newly" renovated cottage.

Not gonna get all romantical:) but we had an awesome evening trading one for one the things that we love about each other. So good to spend some time reaffirming those qualities. Hadn't done it in a long time.

There were camp sites as well, so we're talking about a 24-hour getaway on the beach every month.

Great to recalibrate and prioritize what matters more than work: family.

Man's night

10 macs, screen tv, 5 flat screens, rock band, and call of duty.

This is what I call a man's night!


-- Post From My iPhone

godfather

god⋅fa⋅ther
   /ˈgɒdˌfɑðər/Spelled Pronunciation [god-fah-ther]
–noun

1. a person who is regarded as the originator or principal shaper of a movement, school of thought, art form, industry, or the like.


A few years ago, I began calling Dr. Beta, The Godfather. The title and subsequently the definition is fitting to this man, this patriarch, this stalwart. Born with Leukemia and into a poor, rural Ethiopian village, Dr. Beta asked for holy spirit transformation in his life, and transform it did! He's a powerful example that "salvation" is not about being a human construction, rather a deeply penetrating crossroads of the human and divine, the reformation of God's redemptive plan. God healed him of Leukemia and called Dr. Beta into a radical Christian faith that set in motion the Pentecostal movement in Ethiopia in the 1970s, which today has established a groundswell representing 19% of the population. It's phenomenal what the Holy Spirit has accomplished through this vessel. He is a leader among leaders and I take very seriously any chance I have to meet with him.

He resides in Addis, but traveled to the University of Chicago to give a lecture brokered by my great friend Andrew Decort. He was just passing through DC, so for a few hours in an airport hotel, he was able to speak into my life.

When I think of "stones of remembrance", those people that have dramatically impacted the way I live and witness life, I think of Dr. Beta. I'm reading "The Long Walk to Freedom", by Nelson Mandela and have been so impressed by this humble man and the people that were strategically positioned to help shape his views on the world. I've spent time recently doing the same thing, deeply reflecting on the mentors and leaders that have spoken into my life.

I'd challenge anyone to think about their "stones of remembrance" and what they inherited to you.

Ss

Hanging out with Scott and his wife. I've never heard so many stories that could be movie scripts. He's in the secret service.

Saw this picture in his "man" room. This was on the cover of USA Today, he was chasing after someone who was heckling Bush a few years ago. He's on the right.

So cool to hang with these guys. Scot went with me on the Thailand trip last year.





-- Post From My iPhone

Back to Africa

Excited to head back to Africa in July to help build a classroom for an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda.

Our media pastor, Dave Clark, accepted a position in Texas, so there was a last-minute decision to go with it.

This past sunday morning, during service, one of our pastors and my cousin Joel voice-mailed me asking if I'd call back about something. There was a Uganda meeting that afternoon and they were about to tell the team that Dave Clark was no longer leading.

For some reason, during service, I felt like I needed to be on this trip. Can't describe it. Kind of a Spirit encounter, so at 1:55 the decision was made to go. At 2:00, we met with the team.

The scripture, "be ready in season and out" came to my heart and sensed a specific calling on being there this July.

Mission trips are where my life radically changed, so any opportunity to guide a trip and empower 28 people to expand their view of what God is doing around the world.....I'M IN!

At a conference looking at the relevance of the church in the 21st century.

Got to connect with Cameron Strang, editor and founder of Relevant Magazine.

I always hope to build some new relationships and have a few action-steps. I'll do my best to articulate some of the remarks.


-- Post From My iPhone

music exchange

Had a bunch of musicians over last night for a music exchange party. Can't believe we'd not tried this before. This comes highly recommended.

Each person brought a cd of their most important songs. We listened by our fire last night and were able to hear the story behind the music: where they heard it first, what the lyrics mean to them, who the artist is, etc.

I gotta say, for connecting with people you don't know very well, this couldn't have been a better evening.