Memorial Service

Yesterday evening I helped perform the memorial service for Taylor Grant. The parents were thinking about 100-150 people max would show up. There ended up being 470 people who came to support the family and show their love.

It was amazing to see so many teenagers, and people who are in rehab and AA come and be a part of this service. There weren't enough chairs and people were literally standing outside looking in through the windows and glass doors.

Losing Life

I received a call on Friday night from a Student of mine that I hadn't heard from in a couple of months. Receiving a call from students normally has no reason for concern, but this one immediately for some reason I knew wasn't going to be pleasant.

After doing the small talk stuff, the conversation quickly moved from light hearted to tragic. There was a student named Taylor Grant who was a part of our youth group for about a year. He struggled with drugs and alcohol, and he was also bipolar. Taylor was well supported by his friends and even though he went to a few rehabs, was meeting with a psychologist, and had a loving mom and dad, he just couldn't seem to make very much progress.

His mom and dad decided to send him up to Utah where they admitted him into a school/rehab program. He was on the up and up, doing well and even made some plans for when he got out and was on his way home. Then on Friday night he committed suicide.

I recently found out that when people struggle with bipolar and they seek help, there is a 2 week period when they are beginning to balance back out that they are more susceptible to committing suicide than when they are not balanced. The reason why is because they tend to be so depressed that they don't have the energy to actually go through this, but when they become balanced that changes.

Tomorrow, Wednesday December 19th at 4 pm is the memorial service, and I am honored to be a part of it. Taylor was loved by many, and he often struggled with wanting to start a fresh new life, one that he wasn't on drugs and alcohol, a life that he was truly alive.

Taylor Grant, may the torment that you felt on this earth give way to the peace and harmony the new life you have found in the presence of the One who gives life. And may all of his friends know that the support and love that they gave him while he was on this earth was one of the most Christ like things that they could have ever done for him. It was only because of you that he found any relief from his struggles, you helped give him that rest.

Books the last couple of months

I have never been much of a reader, but I recognize to stay sharp and continue growing I have to read. This is a list of books I have read the last couple of months, and recommend to read if you are interested in church growth, leadership, and following Jesus.

The Struggle by Steve Gerali
A book about masturbation and finding liberation and freedom in following Christ. A good read.

For Parents Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa Rice
A book for parents on how to discuss topics and issues with your teen. Its a good book if you struggle to understand your teen, and your looking for ways to interact and connect with them. Simple read but pretty practical.

Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Intro for Christians by Lawrence Kushner
A good read for understanding God and spirituality beyond our "traditional christian" views. Light read but Kushner does a great job at allowing you to think as deeply and as long as you want to go. My wife and I read a chapter together before we went to bed and then discussed it. I recommend reading this book with at least one other person to really see its beauty.

Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger
It is a pretty ok book if you are looking to help bring simplicity into your church. I don't know if it was just me but many times I thought to myself "well... duh" but I think its the simplicity of following Jesus that we sometimes over look. This book also helps bring focus if you are an idea person that speaks in abstracts and generalities.

The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch
I really enjoyed this book perhaps because it spoke to my situation very specifically. If you are interested in becoming a missional church, where you are more organic, and you are using your gifts and talents as a church (not ran specifically by 1 dictator) so that your church becomes the incarnation of God, then this is a great book.
"The church is the journey of a group of people that find each other only in a common pursuit of a vision and of a mission that lies beyond itself. Its energies are primarily directed outward and forward. Me for the community and the community for the world."

Sex God by Rob Bell
Great book about how sexuality and spirituality are connected. This is a great read for anyone who desires to have relationships with other people.

Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
This is an absolute must read! If you haven't picked it up please stop wasting your time reading this blog and pick up this book. It will inspire you, make you think, and place in you a desire to live your life for God. Get this book, I pass it out to everyone I get a chance too.

Big Waves

Yesterday, Wednesday Dec. 5, we had a large westerly swell hit California's coast. For those living in Northern California there were reports of waves coming in at 50 ft. Those living in San Diego there were some reports of waves coming in at 20 ft.

I decided to try to paddle out at Salt Creek in Dana Point, which was consistently getting waves 8-12 ft. A 10 ft waves is just about considered double over head (DOH). We rarely see waves like that, but in all my attempts I couldn't paddle out due to the extreme currents in the water. In a mater of minutes I was dragged about 150-200 yards and when I noticed I was getting close to the point I decided to call it quits.

The humbling part of my journey, is I went out with a friend named Kip who is a really good surfer who just so happened to break his wrist a couple of days before Wednesday. With a water proof cast, he paddled out and caught 1 wave by popping up on his for arm. Unable to duck dive, he just took that wave in and said it was good enough for him.

So to try to redeem myself I decided to paddle out again today. Though it was a bit smaller 6-10 ft waves, there were still sets coming in at DOH. Paddled out no problem but was still pretty scared sitting out in the line up with these monster waves.

The Struggle

Just got done reading a book called The Struggle by Steve Gerali.

The reason I picked up this book is because we are starting a sexuality series with the High School called "And God Said It Was Good." We are taking a look at the way God created us and how that effects us both spiritually and sexually (taken from Rob Bell's SexGod).

Well, with every sexuality issue one that often doesn't get addressed and is often a very common issue is masturbation. Steve Gerali is a professor at APU and he does a great job at talking through this issue by taking a look at the myths and misconceptions, the history of these misconceptions, biblical understanding, and how to find freedom in following Jesus.

Let's face it, the bible says nothing about masturbation and the scriptures people use to call it sin are out of their original context. So how do we deal with this issue? Where do we stand? Is it sin or not? These are all questions Steve goes through and helps us wrestle through the questions and discover more of what we believe God is speaking to us about this issue.

If you struggle with this, or if you are a pastor, small group leader, or a parent I think this is a great resource to have.

New Books

I have a couple of new books that I am excited to read.

1) The Meaning of Jesus by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright
Here you have 2 guys who are friends and have similar backgrounds in education but have different theological views. They share their journey of discovering the historical Jesus.

2) God was in this place and I, I did not know by Lawrence Kushner
Kushner is very interesting to read because he is into Jewish Mysticism, so he challenges me to think and understand in new ways.

3) Forgotten Among the Lillies by Ronald Rolheiser
This book, I haven't heard of, but a friend of mine named Ian DiOrio gave it to me. I am excited to read this one because I respect Ian, and if you ever get a chance to sit down and have a cup of coffee (or in my case a tea or steamer) with him, take it he is a great guy.

I almost purchased a book called The Resurrection of Jesus by John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright. This book is taken from a dialogue they had a few years ago I believe at a university (but I could be wrong on that) and the discussion was all based on whether or not the resurrection of Jesus actually happened. The reason I didn't purchase this book was because I was hoping to find a MP3 of it somewhere, but I am yet to find it.

Restoration by Adoption

Andi and I were talking the other night, and I don't even know how this came about, but I had a thought... yes it does happen now and then.

I wonder what it would look like for us to begin to house foreign exchange students from 3rd world countries that have no opportunity for further education, provide an education for them, and then send them back into their countries with skills and intelligence to help improve living conditions?

This is just a thought, and I haven't heard of anyone doing this so maybe its not a good idea or feasible, so I thought I would throw it out here and see what you all think.