So I’m spending some time traveling, working a couple weeks in Shanghai, and hitting Tokyo on the way and Cairo, London, Quito, and Phoenix (for my cousin’s wedding) on the way back. Normally I’d post some pics to Facebook and Twitter, but you can’t get to that here in China…

So here are a few pics [...]

If you’re looking for some great new worship music or a CD to pop in the car stereo and bop around town to, you should pick this one up today.

This collection of songs is Vicky’s personal favorite so far and for good reason; here artfully-simple and passionate lyrics are well-paired with catchy and powerful music. [...]

Vicky Beeching just asked on Twitter for opinions about Bono’s recent NY Times article, “Ten for the Next Ten” which suggests holding a “Festival of Abraham” to bring together people from the three major religions with common roots in Abraham.

Here are my thoughts. I’d love to hear yours as well.

If you believe Christ’s [...]

Here’s a few lines from my journal today.

~~~~~

I heard the best of religion
was in helping the innocent, destitute.

Tell me you’ve done at least that
and you’ve got my ear.

Don’t tell me about your great God;
show me face to face,
where things can get messy.
That is where life is the most.

So I went to Synagogue yesterday with a Jewish friend I’d met a few weeks back on a flight into Seattle, and then she ended up going to church with me today. We’ve also been getting together in a small writing group on Sunday afternoons. Here’s a small piece of writing that stuck out among [...]

So at least one of my friends (probably more) will be participating in NaNoWriMo this year. I figured out a couple days ago that the equivalent number of pages for me to meet the requisite daily word count would be about 20. Today, I tried writing as long as I could - as an experiment and for the [...]

I wrote a bunch today. Some of it might even work its way into part of a lyric. The lines below don’t want any music though, they’re purely for fun. What do you think? Do you have a line to add? Even if you don’t, I’d love to hear if you liked it! [...]

I’m waiting to board a flight from Seattle to Grand Rapids, and was spending a few minutes on Facebook. My friend Elizabeth posted this quote there on her wall:

“Few delights can equal the presence of one whom we trust utterly.” ~George MacDonald~

It got me to thinking… A Christian’s mind can easily go to the [...]

I really did mean to go to bed a few minutes ago, but my journal grabbed me before I made it there. I just hope that I can sleep in longer tomorrow than I did this morning!

I haven’t shared many lines from my journal lately, so I thought it was high time. Of course [...]

When Jesus died, the thick curtain that kept people out of the inner sanctuary of the temple in Jerusalem suddenly tore from the top to the bottom. This was God’s way of showing that He no longer wants a priest as a go-between for God and man, that He wants to talk to every person [...]

Mark Driscoll made some good points last weekend during the service at Mars Hill Church. He was talking to men about some areas many of us need to step it up in. I’ve gotta admit, there were some areas that hit home for me, and that hurt – in a good way. A wake-up call [...]

On Thursday night, I realized that Twestival was going on because I saw some tweets from a friend (Joy Argow) who was having lots of fun at the local event in Nashville. I’d been thinking of going to the Seattle event, but wasn’t able to find anyone to join me on such short notice, and [...]

I can’t believe how excited I am right now. I knew that I’d be excited, but I’m just plain geeked out of my mind. It’s just like when when you’re a little kid and Christmas is almost there.

I got the news today that my sister-in-law went to the hospital today and is expected to [...]

Ok… so this is *way* longer than a blog post oughta be.

Every once in a while I’ll get an email or a Facebook note with a huge list of things about a friend (which I usually enjoy reading) and it’ll usually include some sort of request to reciprocate. I just filled out my first reply [...]

A few hours ago this earth said goodbye to Jill Austin, a very special lady, author, teacher, scholar, potter, spiritual leader, and a very good friend to those who knew her.

I met Jill last July, and was privileged to spend a few days with her and then to talk and correspond with her a few [...]

Wow, it’s been way too long since I’ve posted here! I’ve been getting pounded at work lately…

I was back home in Michigan a couple weekends ago, and wrote a song with my youngest sister on her 10th birthday. I’ve been wanting to post that here, but my music setup still isn’t pulled together (due [...]

Here’s something from Monday morning. I thought I’d maybe try to add a bit to it before posting here, but haven’t gotten the chance. Here’s what I’ve got so far. )

I want to know You better
than I know myself
I want to see your dreams
when I’m asleep
I want to spend [...]

Here’s something from my journal today. I’ve also got some music to go along with it, but this time (unlike my Feb 10th post) I’ve decided against sharing the demo recording made on my phone. My computer setup is a bit broken at the moment, but should be squared away within a week. I can [...]

Here’s a few journal entries from today. One of these times I’m going to have to share some stuff that’s more polished. Hopefully sometime in March I’ll get to post some recordings – other than something recorded on my cellphone! ) Until then, I’ll keep posting bits and pieces of stuff as they come [...]

My roommate Scott is gone to Michigan this week to be with family and preach at his grandma’s funeral.

I wasn’t actually thinking of Scott (who would be glad to know this) – or anybody else in particular – when I wrote these lines tonight… Just about the ideas of distance and attraction.

Breath

When [...]