East Coast Trip (Part 3) -- New York

Manhattan, New York: "if I can drive it there, I'll drive it anywhere!" (With apologies to Frank Sinatra.) By far the most exciting (or nerve-wracking) part of our two week East Coast trip for me was driving the streets of Manhattan. Fortunately, I've been driving the LA Airport for years and it turned out to be some very useful training. But nothing in LA quite prepares you for NYC's volume of foot-traffic, since "nobody's walking in LA."

This was our first trip to New York City and I wanted to share some first-timer's impressions:
* Running in Central Park is never lonely -- people are running all over that park! (I can't wait to run the New York Marathon!)
* New Yorkers were very helpful when we were lost on the subway system -- we just had to ask. Though I'm sure they could be out there, we did not meet the stereotypical neurotic, rude, self-obsessed New Yorker.
* You're never far from a place to eat anyplace in the city (though the Central Park food carts only serve hot dogs and ice cream).
* The view from the Empire State Building at night is spectacular, perhaps even better than the day view.
* The homeless sleep on steps of the cathedrals at night; I was pleased to see that those who are following Christ are visibly providing for "the least of these."
* Times Square is like Las Vegas with taller buildings.
* Once you figure out the difference between "uptown" and "downtown," the NYC subway is a very efficient way to get around.
* New Yorkers are not Dodger fans (just wear a Dodger t-shirt and they'll tell you).
* Everyone who's been to New York has a favorite restaurant there.
* The Lincoln tunnel is way too long to hold your breath all the way under.
* We did not see any single family dwellings in all of Manhattan.
* New York is not a cheap city to visit or to live in.

With Lady Liberty






















Lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe




















Mary Poppins on Broadway




















Rowing on Central Park Lake




















On the 86th floor of the Empire State Building

East Coast Trip (Part 2) -- Pennsylvania

After five full days in Washington D.C., we headed north and spent an afternoon in Gettysburg (and discovered Friendly's Diner) before driving through Lancaster county and staying at a bed and breakfast located in the heart of Amish country.

At the various Gettysburg sites, I was reminded about how deeply and how long the nation had been divided on the issue of slavery. It was a conflict that was brewing for decades; many politicians and leaders simply tried to postpone a definitive decision until they were out of office. I was also reminded that in addition to the issue of slavery, the matter of States' rights was also at stake. It must have been an agonizing decision for Abraham Lincoln to decide to go to war in order to preserve the union but in retrospect, it was the right call. Gettysburg exemplified the painful losses of the Civil War (11,000 deaths, 51,000 total casualties) and is the location of President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg address ("Four score and seven years ago").

Gettysburg -- atop Little Round Top




















In Amish Country, we stayed at Fassitt house, an 1845 home which served as a stop along the Underground Railroad (32 documented runaway slaves stayed there between 1845 and 1862). I had forgotten that harboring runaway slaves was against the law even in the pro-abolition North and those who did so put themselves and their property at risk. Our girls stayed in the Freedom Room, whose closet still has the original trap door and hiding space intended for runaway slaves in case of emergencies.

We enjoyed driving around the gorgeous farmland and seeing the Amish families sharing in meals and volleyball games, as well as their horse and buggy carts. We watched an incredible sunset and then were delighted by thousands of fireflies putting on a fireworks show of their own at dusk.

Sunset in Amish Country




















On Monday, July 6, we drove into Philadelphia, the one-time capital of the Unites States and the leading intellectual and cultural center of the Colonial era. We visited the Liberty bell and the Visitor Center, took a carriage ride, ate cheesesteak sandwiches (well, some of us did), enjoyed "Once Upon a Nation" street performers, and went on a tour of Independence Hall. I also learned (in no uncertain terms) that the Superbowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, though located in Pennsylvania, are not much appreciated in Philly.

Cheesesteak baby!



















My favorite stop of the day was at Independence Hall (the building pictured on the back of a $100 bill), where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated, shaped, and signed/ratified. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence essentially were signing their own death warrants if the revolution against the British failed. I appreciated being reminded about the significant debates regarding how to shape the fledgling U.S. government -- how to provide a government that sought to prevent a "tyranny of the majority" and to create checks and balances through the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. I don't think I had ever realized how independent the various states originally were (more like a confederation of sovereign nations) and how vigorously the tension between federal powers and state powers was debated. I found myself admiring the thought and the give and take that went into creating the founding documents of the United States.

Look Familiar? Philadelphia's Independence Hall

East Coast Trip (Part 1) -- Washington DC

During the past two weeks, our family enjoyed the trip of a lifetime, fulfilling one of our dreams of taking our girls (and myself!) to see some of the major sites of the historically and culturally rich East Coast. (I have not been able to post because we have had five people vying for time on the laptop along with inconsistent internet access.) We were able to visit parts of nine states (and we barely missed Delaware and Rhode Island), covering some 6000 miles by plane, 800 miles by car, and many more by DC metro, MTA New York City Subway, and the Boston "T."

Our East Coast Itinerary
















We returned home yesterday (July 14), and I am sifting through 1563 pictures and countless memories, wondering how to "sum up" this rich, educational, and fun trip. I think my best strategy will be to do it in sections. In this post, I will focus on our five days in the Washington, D.C. area. If you'd care to see a lot more pictures, please check out Jenna and Jessica's posts on Facebook.

While in the DC area, we were royally hosted by Carrie's long-time family friend, Paul Gibson and his wife Melanie. They were a wonderful resource to us in figuring out how to get around and what to see. We enjoyed their three adorable children and even got to run together by a wooded riverside in beautiful Virginia.

The Smithsonian Museum:
* Air and Space Museum -- was especially taken by the systematic and creative persistence of the Wright brothers in achieving the first successful flight (and how these two very different brothers successfully worked together by playing to their strengths).

* Museum of Natural History -- of course we loved all the animal and fish exhibits; but I was surprised by how fascinating the minerals and gems section was; it struck me that God not only created great and diverse animal and plant kingdoms but also that God made the various elements of the universe to combine in some practically useful and spectacularly beautiful ways. I’ll never say “it’s just a rock” again!

* Museum of American History -- enjoyed the Abraham Lincoln exhibit and the display of the U.S. flag that inspired Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner.” Was also drawn into an interactive exhibit for kids on the creative process and various approaches to stimulating creativity.

Capitol tour, Supreme Court, Library of Congress
These are most impressive edifices, with gorgeous architecture and a grand scale, and with reminders everywhere of the great leaders who have shaped U.S. history. I can easily see how working in such a space could be intoxicating to the ego and be a serious temptation to pride. But I was also able to see how this grand experiment we call the U.S., with her two houses and three branches of government, was built on careful thought and reflection as well as through vigorous debate and give and take.

The Capitol Building






















Mount Vernon
I gained a new appreciation for George Washington during this visit, as it seems he was a man who genuinely enjoyed (and perhaps would have preferred) the simpler life of running and farming his estate and yet who responded twice to the call of service and duty, first to be the general of the revolutionary forces and then to be the first president of the United States.

At Mount Vernon



















National Mall monuments (Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson), the White House, and the War Memorials
We visited these sites on the 4th of July, and I was particularly struck by many of the words at the Abraham Lincoln memorial.

From Lincoln’s 2nd Inauguration (1865, toward the end of the Civil War):  
(said of the North and the South) “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully.”

“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue






















We ran into some friends at the National Mall in DC on the 4th of July

Summer Reading

I have been enjoying my reading: this week I finished “The Shack” by Paul Young and “The Lost History of Christianity” by Philip Jenkins. I have also been regularly reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and Pauls’ defense of his ministry (2 Corinthians 2-6) -- such rich and significant portions of the New Testament. I have now completed my memorization of Colossians 3:1-17 and have enjoyed that process of deeply saturating my mind and heart with that great text.

You've probably heard about The Shack, a work of Christian fiction. It tells the story of Mack, a man who experiences a terrible loss in his life and then wrestles to come to terms with God and his faith. The heart of the book (without giving too much away) presents a highly imaginative and creative encounter between Mack and God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Through a series of conversations and experiences, he grapples to make sense of his tragic loss. This book challenged some of my perceptions of God in some healthy ways -- it probably overplays the personal, individualistic aspect of our relationship with God but it also provides a good corrective to perceptions of God as remote and uninvolved with the creation.

A favorite quote (God speaking of his creation to Mack):
Mack: You do great work!
God: Thank you, Mack, and you've seen so little. For now most of what exists in the universe will be seen and enjoyed only by me, like special canvasses in the back of an artist's studio, but one day..."

I like to think I've seen some beautiful places on planet earth. But the above quote reminded me that earth is an absolutely miniscule portion of God's universe -- think of the incredible vistas and places we've never seen that God has prepared!

***

Philip Jenkins' historical work The Lost History of Christianity is subtitled "The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia -- and How It Died." It challenges the West-centered view of church history that presumes that the significant and interesting things that have gone on in Christianity originated only in Europe. Jenkins describes how for at least 1000 years (in some places longer), Christianity had thriving churches and Christian centers of education and culture in Africa and Asia. The stereotypical view that the expansion of Islam quickly wiped out Christianity in the Middle East, North Africa and further east does not accord with the facts. Muslims and Christians coexisted in many places for centuries with some occasional outbursts of persecution. In fact, the influence of Eastern forms of Christianity upon Islam would have been quite apparent for hundreds of years, particularly to those familiar with the Syrian Church.

At the heart of Jenkin's thesis is the following: The particular shape of Christianity with which we are familiar is a radical departure from what was for well over a millennium the historical norm: another, earlier global Christianity once existed. For most of its history, Christianity was a tricontinental religion, with powerful religion, with powerful representation in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and this was true into the fourteenth century. Christianity became predominantly European not because this continent had any obvious affinity for that faith, but by default: Europe was the continent where it was not destroyed. Matters could easily have developed very differently.

Last Week in June

After having been gone for essentially a month, my family and I have truly enjoyed being together this past week (although Jenna didn’t get back from San Felipe until Thursday night). Carrie and I have spent some good chunks of time researching and finalizing plans for our upcoming trip to the East Coast -- we are very excited about the time we will spend in Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. We will visit historic and cultural sites, see old friends, and share in some memorable family adventures.

I have also enjoyed some quality time with my girls, whether in swimming together, going for bike-rides, hosting cousins for a sleepover, practicing volleyball, watching some movies (Jessica and I are enjoying our annual trip to Middle Earth with the Lord of the Rings trilogy), and enjoying meals together on the patio (the weather has been perfect this past week, especially during the mornings and evenings). I also continue to run several days each week (James Stephens and I did a 12 miler on Saturday) and am trying to figure out what my next race will be (perhaps a marathon or half-marathon in late fall).

Cousin Swim Party



















This Sunday morning, I visited two churches: South Bay Calvary Chapel in Gardena and RockHarbor Church in Costa Mesa. A few observations:
* I lowered the average age at Calvary and raised it at RockHarbor. 
* With shorts and a Hawaiian shirt I felt underdressed at Calvary (lots of coats and ties) and about right at RockHarbor.
* Calvary had a wonderful diversity of ages and races; RockHarbor was predominantly young and white.
* Both churches made effective use of audiovisual technologies.
* Both churches made appeals for volunteers for a wide variety of ministries; I was especially impressed with the missional efforts in India, Mexico, and area childrens’ homes in which RockHarbor was heavily invested.
* Both churches are gearing up for VBS and both advertised a variety of activities for middle school and high school students.
* The worship at both services was led by a praise band -- there were moments during both services in which I connected with the lyrics but I deeply connected with RockHarbor’s emphasis upon confession and dependence on God.
* Women did not have a meaningful speaking role at either service -- I’m not sure if this was typical or exceptional.
* Calvary’s preacher used the King James Bible and RockHarbor’s the NIV. Both preachers based their sermons on a variety of scriptures.
* Nether church offered the Lord’s Supper for the entire congregation though RockHarbor made it available at the close of service; both took up an offering (duh!).
* I ran into four people I knew at RockHarbor, including Tadd Wooton’s brother Troy and his family (I performed their wedding 8 years ago). 
* Both churches are large: Calvary has about 10,000 members and RockHarbor 5,000. Though different in makeup and personality, both are obviously having a sizeable impact in their communities and beyond.

South Bay Calvary Chapel





















Fun Reunion: Troy and Shannon Wooton, Hudson and Finley


























P.S. While I was in Orange County, I had to return to my favorite Mexican food hole-in-the-wall, Taco Mesa. Yum!!!

Taco Mesa: Home of the best blackened chicken tacos on the planet

Spirituality Class -- Favorite Quotes

My “Ministry of Spirituality” class with Dallas Willard and Keith Matthews is now complete. Our family is now making plans for our East Coast trip.

A number of your reported that you enjoyed the favorite class quotes section. Here is a final section of favorite quotes from class or class readings:

Poverty and Wealth
* Beware of presenting God as stingy, shabby, mean or small; God is not poor.
* God would rather let you have money that let crooks have it; but be sure that money doesn’t make you crooked.
* One of the worst ways to help the poor is by being poor.
* The problem of wealth is not about possessions or their use but about the amount of trust we place in our possessions and wealth.



Desire
* Sin is a radical addiction to my self-sufficiency.
* The answer to lust is love, the treasuring of human beings.
* Temptation does not leap on you unawares; there is always a lead-up.
* You cannot deal with desire by trying to satisfy it; desire is not self-limiting.
* Human desire is not holy; just because you desire something does not mean that it’s right.



Anger
* Everything I can accomplish with anger I can do better without it; if you approach others with anger, you will get anger back.
* In the moment, all anger feels like righteous anger.
* Revolutions routinely fail because when people get caught up in anger, they often beget even more anger through violence or injustice.



Kingdom of God
* God doesn’t simply want us to not do wrong; God is interested in our involvement in his kingdom purposes.
* The divine conspiracy is God’s intent to overcome evil with good in history and to draw each of us out of our own little kingdoms into his great kingdom.

Scripture, Worship, Prayer
* We need to drink at the well of the greatness of God.
* The Bible provides the best information regarding the most important questions of life.
* Read the Bible with the assumption that you are already wrong about a lot of things.
* Our study should lead us to worship.
* How far from being lovers of God are those who rarely think of him.
* Worship is the single-most powerful force in the renovation of the soul.
* Prayer helps remove the habit of self-reliance.
* Facing the silence of God challenges us to love the giver and not merely the gifts.

Service, Confession, Submission
* Servanthood is not a leadership technique; it is leadership. It is not a path to greatness; it is greatness.
* Confession enables us to drop the burden of pretense.
* Submission frees us from the burden of having to have our own way. 


Use of Time
* If you have too much to do, who do you think gave you too much? OR If God kept your calendar, would he schedule every minute of the day?
* Hurry is a state of frantic effort one falls into in response to inadequacy, fear and guilt.
* Do not say, “I don’t have enough time;” say rather, “I have chosen to spend my time thusly.”
* True spirituality is honest about human limitations.
* It is more important to plans for your weeks, months and years than for your days. [Put in the big rocks first!]
* Work a modest day, then step back to rest. This will keep you close to God.
* What is your personal strategy for becoming Christlike over your lifetime?

Father's Day

For the first time ever, I celebrated Father's Day without one of my girls (Jenna is on the San Felipe mission trip with the youth group). However, we had a nice lunch with the rest of our family and I enjoyed a favorite Sunday afternoon luxury: a nap!

For worship on Sunday morning, I visited Agoura Bible Fellowship. I enjoyed getting to learn about their youth group's summer mission trip and am amazed by the many creative ways young people use their gifts for the Lord.

With Two Out of Three on Father's Day