Muscle Memory

I have recently begun to fulfill a lifelong dream of studying the martial arts on an official level. No more practicing Chuck Norris round-house kicks that I saw on T.V. in front of the mirror and and no more conversations with the guys where I talk about fighting as if I have actually had any kind of experience...I am now officially going to a martial arts school (http://www.thetrainingedge.com/) to learn from highly qualified teachers and I am loving every minute of it.

The particular form of martial arts that I am studying is more of a self-defense style. It is built on the concept of reacting and counteracting an other's aggression and because the whole premise of this style is reactive, one's response must be completely reflexive and mindless. In other words, your response absolutely has to be built into muscle memory and the instructor's have clearly demonstrated that the only way to build anything into muscle memory is repetition....a ridiculous amount of repetition.

Through the process of building muscle memory in the martial arts, I have begin to realize that that whole concept translates into so many other facets of life. Greatness in any area of life comes through the mundane repetition of rehearsal. Great musicians have spent countless hours rehearsing scales so that they have built into their muscle memory an expansive vocabulary of note possibilities that allow them to react to any musical situation. Great authors have spent hours writing stories, songs, commentaries, etc. that no one will never read because those unpublicized efforts are the road to writing the great efforts worthy of publication. Great actors have spent countless hours doing acting exercises and watching each and every facial expression in the mirror to see what it communicates verses what they intend to communicate so that when they are on the stage or screen, they don't even have to think about whether the face is communicating accurately because they know that they have spent the time necessary to master each and every expression.

I think the concept of muscle memory also translates to the christian life. So often, I think we as believers just assume that we are going to react in just the right way at the right time knowing exactly what to say. We daydream about how we would share Jesus with the masses with our best Billy Graham altar call and yet we can't even invite our neighbor to church because we're afraid that they might not invite us to the neighbor hood parties anymore. As husbands we like to think that we would ride in on a shiny white horse to give our lives to save our bride and yet we can't get off the couch and help her clean the kitchen and get the kids to bed. Even as I have begun to get more serious about scripture memory, I have found that the only way to memorize God's word is through the monotonous drudgery of handwriting verses over and over again.

When I think about the necessity of muscle memory in my life, I have both an anxious and hopeful reaction. I am anxious because I realize that none of the things that I daydream about will ever just "happen". The greatness of my reaction will be determined by what I am doing today.

But I am also hopeful because I realize that anyone can be great. There is no magic formula. Greatness can be achieved by anyone who is willing to submit to the process of mundane repetition and daily exercise in the little things. It's really just that easy. And who knows, maybe someday we might actually get to live out the daydream of rescuing our wife from bad guys with our sweet chuck norris moves, while quoting an entire chapter of the book of John....now that would be awesome.

A Hopefully Useful Answer To A Seemingly Useless Question

I always get a little nervous any time a spiritual leader (pastor, teacher, or professor) opens themselves up to an "open question" format. The reason for my apprehension is that, in my seminary experience, I spent a lot of time with "that guy". You know, the guy who LIVES for open question time because he will then get to ask a question that he believes no one has the answer for. Questions like "Did Adam have a belly button?", or "Where did Cain's wife come from?", or the all-time genius stumper "Can God make a rock so big that he can't move it?"...These questions are, more often than not, a total waste of time but in my A.D.D. mental wanderings, I have actually wrestled with that last question and I think have an answer for the age old question of God being able to make a rock so big that He can't move it....so here goes..

drum roll please....

Answer: Yes, God could make a rock so big that He couldn't move it...and then...He'd move it. Allow me to defend this answer.

God could make a rock that is so big, that He, at that moment in time, could not move it....and then He'd simply decide to expand in strength and move it. Basically, in any area, be it strength, wisdom, power, or any other trait, God can reach his greatest "limit" and then just will Himself to be more. It's the very same way that God can make snow flake after snow flake and never run out of new designs. It's also the same way that God can make human after human and never replicate himself. Ultimately, it's the way that God never runs out of new ways to meet our needs no matter how impossible the circumstances seem. He's God and He just never runs out of being God.

I'm pretty sure that God doesn't spend a lot of time on this whole "make a rock too big and then move it" drill but I'm glad to know that He can anytime He wants...

Mary...moms will be moms

John 4:3 - 5 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said "They have no more wine".

"Dear woman, why do you involve me" Jesus replied, "my time has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

This passage cracks me up. It is such a sweet picture of Mary. Jesus very respectfully tells his mother that the time for his glory to be revealed has not yet come and Mary seems to just completely disregard her son's statement. In a modern day context, I can almost hear Mary say with a very New York Jewish accent "I don't care if you are the Savior of the World...I'm still your Muthah!!"...and amazingly, Jesus honors his mother's request.

I don't think that Jesus honors his mother's request just because she is his mother and is simply obeying the fifth commandment or that he's afraid that she might pitch a fit and make a scene. Jesus may have decided to honor his mom's request based on what she didn't say.

By going to Jesus with this problem, Mary is giving evidence that she knows who her son really is because the problem at hand is a problem that can only be solved miraculously. She goes to Jesus because she believes he is the only one capable of a miracle. Simultaneously, she is acknowledging both his divinity as the Messiah and his humanity as her son...a son who greatly loves his mom. Jesus clearly demonstrates this love when he sees his mom's concern about the wine shortage and how it might reflect on the bride and bridegroom (who were more than likely friends or family) and makes it his problem to solve regardless of whether or not it was time to reveal his deity.

As a son, Jesus shows us how much he loved and honored his mom in this passage; giving us a tender glimpse of an adult son still honoring the request of his momma.

As the Son of God, Jesus gives one of many evidences to come that He has a soft spot for honoring the requests of those who truly believe in Him and will meet their needs no matter how inconvenient the timing or how impossible the circumstance.

Song Leader

One of the terms that is very rarely used anymore to describe my role in ministry is song leader. Maybe it's not used much anymore because it smells of hymn books and church pews but the more and more I wrestle with what I do, the more comfortable I am with that term.

When I think of the title "Song Leader" I think of my grandfather, Papa (pronounced PawPaw). Papa was the song leader in his church. He would get up every Sunday and lead the congregation; singing songs out of the hymnal. He had a good voice but not a great voice. He didn't play an instrument but was able to rely on the church pianist (or maybe organist..I don't remember) to accompany his singing. Papa wasn't on the church staff but was there at the church almost as much as the Pastor simply because he loved serving. Papa didn't have a seminary education (his education experience only went as far as fifth grade because he was forced to work in a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp to help feed his family) but he offered what gifts he had to serve the church.

I think what Papa did is the purest expression of what a worship leader/pastor is...a song leader. Papa was on the stage to facilitate worship but the congregation knew that the act of worship through singing was their responsibility (maybe that is one of the great aspects of a hymn book. By it's physical presence in each row, there is an implication that each person is obliged to carry out their act of worship through song). There was not a choir or a praise team to worship on behalf of the congregation, that responsibility was the church's and the song leader was just there to keep everything moving and encourage the people on those mornings where it was just hard to sing.

At my church, we utilize a choir and a praise team and a full band and all of the technical bells and whistles that many churches are utilizing these day so I am not speaking judgementally towards the "megachurch" worship style (whatever that is) because we are one. In fact, when used properly, all of those things greatly facilitate an environment that is conducive to worship. But I also see a very subtle mindset that can slip in where those of us who are in the worship ministry (which technically, the congregation is the worship ministry..thanks Jeremiah Halstead for that) begin to think that we are the modern day Levites who worship on behalf of the congregation even though the New Testament clearly tells us that we are a priesthood of believers and we all have the responsibility of worshipping and ministering to our God.

In a culture where song leaders have become worship leaders who have become 'worship artists', I think we can travel a great distance from the purest form of worship facilitation.

I think the question that nags me most is "do I have a place for someone like Papa (in his Polyester suit and coke bottle bottom thick glasses) in my worship ministry?" or would I require him to wear skinny jeans and an unnecessary neck scarf (thanks to http://www.stuffchristianslike.net/ for that imagery) to fit into the worship culture at my church...

Buddies

Today was a hard day for my three year old son Zac. This is the first day that he will be at pre-school without his best buddy Coop. Coop's dad is a football coach and he has taken a coaching job on the other side of the country and so, on Saturday night, we all said very tearful goodbyes and my son said farewell to his best buddy.

This morning, on the way to pre-school, Zac said to me through tears, "Daddy, I'm not going to have a best buddy anymore." I was overwhelmed by his feeling of loneliness and amazed at a three year olds capacity for such sadness. I did the best thing I knew to do and took him to get chocolate milk and a bagel (which is the closest thing to "having a beer" for a three year old) and told him that I would be his buddy today. He accepted my feeble substitution...at least for this morning.

It is remarkable to think that two three year olds could have such a strong bond. Zac and Coop were together almost everyday of every week for about the last year and a half. They are pretty much the blond-haired and black-haired version of the same kid.....inseparable. They fight from time to time and even after leaving on bad terms or in a fight, within hours, they are always ready to get together and play again. It is sad indeed to see such a great friendship seperated by such distance. They will see each other from time to time and will remain friends but the reality is that it is very hard to stay best buddies when you live in two seperate parts of the country.

Zac, I am so sorry that your best friend had to move away. I do hope, though, that you will not grow up and forget how to have a best buddy because a lot of boys grow up and become men and somehow they don't know how to have a best buddy anymore. You'll always need best friends and you'll always need to know how to be a best friend. Thanks for reminding your dad what it looks like to have a best buddy.

As a husband, which superhero are you?

After 13 years of marriage, and doing a limited amount of counseling in other marriages, I have come to realize that women are still, deep in their hearts, little girls who dream about being rescued by their knight in shining armor or their superhero...which made me start to wonder..what kind of super hero would I be? here are some possible options...

1. The Incredible Hulk - the quiet brooding type, strong and fearless in a crisis. Hulk husband makes a wife feel safe and protected in any situation. Hulks only weakness is that he is not exactly a conversationalist. When not using communication techniques such as grunts and gutteral noises, the Hulk husband will use full sentences such as "Hulk hungry" or ,when angry, "Hulk mad", and will use "Hulk fine" to describe every and all other emotions.

2. Iron Man - Iron man is the "Mr. Fix it" guy. There is no problem on the face of the earth that cannot be fixed with some form of ingenuity whether it be purchased or homemade (which is usually the preferred choice). Iron man is extremely handy and can do whatever his wife needs done around the house whether that me home repair or home re-modeling. His only downside is that he can't "fixer up" in every situation..Ex: "What? You don't feel beautiful...let me build you a treadmill."

3. Green Lantern - Ahhh. Mr. Bling. For all of you who are not familiar with Green Lantern, all of his power emanates from the ring that he wears. It is a special ring from outer space that gives him special powers. Every woman has a place in her heart for the man who understands the power of jewelry. Green Lantern is the king of special occasions and always knows how to find the perfect gift for his lady. The only downside to Green Lantern is that he relies to heavily on the bling and when it is gone, he doesn't know how to be a superhero anymore.

4. Mr. Fantastic - Mr. Fantastic is just that...fantastic. Because of his body's ability to stretch and form into anything he wants, he can be all things to all people. Mr. Fantastic is a very public superhero and he is the guy that any wife could be proud of. Because of his flexibility, he never gets bent out of shape and he is a joy to live with. He is very sensitive to his wife's needs and is very good at being who she needs at the right time. His only struggle is remembering his original form and identity and not trying to take on too many shapes at one time...

5. Superman - We all know that Superman can pretty much do it all. He flies, he's superstrong, he's got x-ray vision, and when he's not being superman, he's takes on his humble, brainy identity of Clark Kent. He can pretty much do it all...but that is also his biggest weakness (besides Kryptonite, of course). Because he can do it all, he is often blind to his need for others in his life. Superman husband doesn't have a lot of superhero friends and also has a hard time allowing himself to even need his wife. His self-sufficiency can also make it very hard for him to seek or recieve counsel from anyone...He is Superman afterall..

6. Batman - The Caped Crusader...What wife wouldn't want her husband to come with awesome sound effects everytime he does something awesome. BLAM!! POWEE!! and a dozen roses are waiting for you at the office. KABLOWEE!! SHABLAM!! and a beautiful dinner is waiting for you when you get home.... Batman is awesome cause he has a whole belt full of gadgets. In fact, Batman doesn't even have any super human powers...he's just really good with all of his cool toys. Batman's only weakness is that he's completely reliant on his toys. You can be having a romantic dinner and all of the sudden, Batman is reaching for his utility belt and begins texting on his communicator (or cell phone)...there may not even be an emergency..he just doesn't know how to function without his gadgets..

which superhero are you?

Beauty Re-defined

I am proud to be the older brother of a great photographer. He recently came up with a concept called help-portrait where he along with other photographer all over the country take their very unique gift set and use it to do something great for people who are in very difficult circumstances. These photographers go to folks who are in need (homeless shelters, children's homes, etc.) and they do photo shoots with the people there treating them like celebrities, even going so far as to bring stylists and make-up artists to give these men and women the full 'diva/divo pampering' treatment. You can see what they do in the following video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tu1XrBn3A

What strikes me most about this whole project is how beautiful these people really are. I don't say that with any kind to patronizing undertone. I truly mean it. I see the lines and the stories in these people's faces and I am overwhelmed by the incredible beauty that is there. I also realize how so much of what society calls and celebrates as beautiful really is not. When I see women on the covers of magazines, there is nothing about their perfect faces that make me wonder what they have experienced or seen. I don't see the same knowing (whether good or bad) in their eyes that I see in the eyes of the men and women in these pictures. It struck me to the point that in one of the photos, I saw a man posing as if he were in an Old Navy add and it was so different from what I normally would see that it made me realize that my eye was drawn to this guy's countenance and I would definitely take notice if I were thumbing through a catalogue. I don't know if it was the story in his face or his body language that radiated a bit of 'swagger' while still not being unapproachable and out of reach.

Maybe the advertising world should take notice. I think people's pallets are ready for something different to catch their eye. I would love to see an Old Navy catalogue that read more like a story book than a manequinn display.