Ballet In The Kingdom

Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, recently told of meeting a wonderful little girl named Ella Mae.


Read on...you will be inspired.

Updike's "Seven Stanzas At Easter"

My friend Jared recently posted this on his blog, and I wanted to share it here. It's a poem by the late, great John Updike about, well, I'll let you discover on your own what it's about....

Death In His Grave

A profound and poetic description of Jesus' mission at the cross, enjoy "Death In His Grave" by John Mark MacMillan.

"The man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave!"




You can read John Mark's line-by-line commentary about the lyrics here. (thanks for the link Becca:)

Happy Easter everyone!

Spring Is Here

This brief exchange actually happened 5 minutes ago:

Carly: "Dad, will you get me something I can ride?"

Me: "Sure - let's have a look out in the shed for our bikes."

Carly: "I was thinking of something more like a giraffe."

April Fools!

My two favorite April Fools Day posts were:

http://donmilleris.com/2011/04/01/my-review-of-love-wins/

http://www.google.com/mail/help/motion.html#utm_source=en-et-na-us&utm_medium=new-features-link&utm_campaign=en

Take Advantage Of It While I Can

Here's what Bethany Hamilton, the girl who back in 2003 lost her left arm in a shark attack while surfing, said about being in the spotlight:

"I try not to make a big soap opera out of the shark attack. I would rather focus on what God has allowed me to do in picking up the pieces of my old life and adjusting to parts that are new and different for me. Most of all, I want to use my story as a way to tell people about God's story. It seems like he has given me the attention of the world for a moment, and I had better take advantage of it while I can." (from her book, Soul Surfer, 2004).

That is an unbelievably mature thing for a 14-year-old kid (at the time of the book) to say about such a loss. "Most of all, I want to use my story as a way to tell people about God's story." Outstanding. From the mouths of babes....And she feels much the same today, as her true-story movie is about to be released. The rest of the story is that she got back on her surfboard and competes....with only one arm. Fantastic.

Watch the trailer at the movie website - there are also some good interviews and such. 

This girl is inspiring. I hope I, and anyone else who catches her story, can measure up to this kind of excellent attitude in the face of a great trial!

Obsessed With Facebook

This guy Alex created this short clip for a design class, I guess. Extremely nicely done, though I don't read as fast as he can.

I feel alarmed by the statistics, though I don't know why.

I guess the thing that bugs me is: if social networking like Facebook is supposed to be about "us," why do I have this nagging feeling that somehow its still all about "me?"



The World Is Obsessed With Facebook from Alex Trimpe on Vimeo.

Fate or Free Will?

I haven't seen the movie yet, but The Adjustment Bureau explores the concept of Fate vs. Free Will. Which controls our lives? We make our decisions every day, don't we?  Paper or plastic? Decaf or high test? Medium or supersize? Did we really make our own decision or was it decided for us? If decided for us, then by whom or what? Is our path predetermined for us, or do we truly - really - make our own destiny?

I am pretty sure the movie will have the hero exercise his own free will and defy Fate (the 'Adjustment Bureau') and get the girl and live happily ever after. Kind of a David vs. Goliath thing. I found an interesting statistic at the movie's website though: 55% of the people surveyed at the site (as of today, 3-17-11) believe that Fate decides what happens to them every day. 55%!  I confess to being a little surprised. I really thought people would overwhelmingly say that they, themselves have their own free will and that nothing can get in their will's way. "I make my decisions and live by them. Nothing controls me. Gosh darn it, I'm an American!" End of story.

All of that leads me to this: why then do people object so much to an infinite, personal, Sovereign God providentially and lovingly, directing their lives?

Just sayin.' I'm curious.

Music: For The Soul

The little electronic voice that emanates from this little blue dog toy, called a "Talking Babble Ball" is nothing like a real voice. The closest it comes is to make recognizable sounds that emulate a voice that sort of pronounces syllables to make you think you heard it a say words. Words like, "Good Doggy!" or, "Oh, you got me!" or "I'm gonna get you!" Kind of like the fake voice on the "pull the string" dolls my little sister used to have. Nothing like a real voice, right?

Admit it: you're a shower singer. Or a car singer. Or a living room conductor. We love music. We kind of need music, don't we? Can you imagine life without music? It's like trying to imagine life without trees. Picture the entire earth with no trees. Like the moon. Life without music would be airless and dry and suffocating.

Rant: What's Wrong With This Picture: Part II

What's wrong with the picture? What's wrong with the picture? I'll tell you what's wrong with the picture: how the heck old is that guy? He has got to be at least thirty years old, right?  What in the world is a thirty year old man - or a twenty year old man for that matter - doing playing a Nintendo DS?  What's wrong with that picture - that full page magazine advertisement - is that Nintendo clearly sees a viable sales demographic for their video games in the over-thirty male crowd. 

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I am irked. The problem is just not going away.

I don't very often ask for direct interaction on this blog, though sometimes some of you cool people out there add your comments, which I love.

But this time, at the risk of looking silly for asking and getting no responses, I'm asking for your feedback: what's wrong with this picture? Hint: there's nothing wrong photographically with the image.

My answer / rant in the next post........

Still, My Soul Be Still

Gospel Vs. Social Justice Smackdown?

Which should be the primary concern of Christians? Should our primary concern be to "proclaim the gospel" or to "promote social justice?" 

I think the answer is, "yes!" Actually, I'm not really sure why there has to be a tension between the two, like somehow we are expected to

Happy To Get The Bible

I saw a girl at youth group kick her bible. Not a Beckham-like drop-kick across the room or anything, but she did give it a firm 'skootch' across the floor a little ways. What bugged me was that she touched a Bible with her feet. Scripture. God-breathed. The very words of God. With her feet.

Contrast that to these people:

Every Thought Captive

Janie sent this email back in 2006. If you are struggling with panic in whatever your battle is, let Janie's email sink in and help you!


----- Original Message -----
From: chris booth
 
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 1:57 PM
Subject: Here's the latest. . .
Hey y'all!  I'm sure you've been waiting with bated breath for the next installment in my medical journal.  I shall try to spare you ALL the gory details but here goes.

I finished radiation last Friday and have noticed

Rescued From Death, or, Two Years of Sobriety!!

This is a re-post from a guy named Mac Mitchell. I don't know him personally, but I'm interested in his story. Not so much because of his clean life now, but, for my re-posting usage, and for the sake of the 'older brother of the prodigal' readers (those already in the family of God), I'm interested in the paragraph 1/2 way down, the one in bold type. I'm interested because this guy Mac saw something different in the Christians around him: joy that he himself didn't have. And its significant that Mac had Christians around him, they weren't tut-tutting from the sidelines. They were there with him in the trenches...at least as much as they could have I guess. Mac knew them as his friends. So they weren't tucked away in the cloister; they were in Mac's life. That's good but it can be scary for those still in the cloister. How do they get out, right? I think by opening the door and walking....and praying.

Happy Calvinist Valentines Day

Becca just sent this to me...I wonder if Calvin ever tried any of these awesome guaranteed fail-safe lines?

Jefferson on Cairo

What Thomas Jefferson said about toppling the regime of a tyrant:

To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed—that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

 I'm glad the Egyptian revolution was so much less bloody than our own. It will be interesting to see who comes into power. The Egyptian people have shrugged off authoritarianism...will they establish a democracy in Cairo?

 

 

Being Missional May Kill Your Church

Ok, one more ditty on 'missional' church and then I'll stop for now. This is from the Resurgence and it quotes Ed Stetzer who is a church planting guru.

Stetzer gave the following list to help describe the missional 'shift' going on. I think it's a good thing, though some churches will be very uncomfortable with tweaking out their ministry paradigm or, for that matter, their very reason for existing. This is from Stetzer's book, Breaking The Missional Code. Please take your time; taste and digest slowly.

Missional Church Defined

Have you heard the term, "missional" in reference to a church and wondered what that meant? Here's a handy little guide.

Unconventional Church Plant

How many pastors like this guy have you met?



An Intentionally Missional Lifestyle from Acts 29 Network on Vimeo.

Ten Questions To Ask At A New Start

I just found this in Janie's folder in our computer. I don't know if she created this list or got it from a book or the internet, but it would have made a great New Year's Day post...

What Would Janie Do?

I'm sure that when our friend Kim Winters innocently asked Janie to write a post about God and having cancer, neither of them could have foreseen the far-reaching effects that post, called, "The New Normal," would have. We gave it out at Janie's memorial service, and many people have said they've made copies and handed it out to friends and co-workers. Thanks to the World-Wide-Computer-Net-Inter-Web, people all over the U.S. and even beyond have been blessed by Janie's simple essay.

Yesterday, I received

Forge Was Good

Several years ago, Janie & I had envisioned a worship event very much like Forge was tonight. It was really sweet to see it actually happen and I'm sure she would have liked it very much. It was just a joy to set up and watch the college-aged people filtering into this cool little downtown venue called The Brick Box for the purpose of worshiping God. We had a good time of singing and the Jared gave a really good talk from 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." He challenged us all to, among several other things, see ourselves as God sees us:

-chosen people
-royal priesthood
-holy nation
-God's special possession

We're really hoping and praying that this would be the start of something special in His Kingdom work here in Vermont!

First Forge

If you are a 20-something and/or college student in the Rutland, VT area, you are invited to (the very first) Forge, a once-a-month worship event right in downtown Rutland! We'll meet at the Brick Box on Center Street on Saturday January 22 at 7:00 for some coffee, conversation, and a time of worship in singing as well as a message from Pastor Jared Wilson from Middletown Springs Community Church.

Friend us on Facebook.

Also save the date for the next one: Feb. 26!

See you there!

New England Church

Yeah, I've been in churches like yours, little guy. Don't be discouraged...keep at it!

Janie's Christmas Stocking Final Update

Carly, when contra-dancing, if a little kid gets in your way....take her out! Buh-bam! I'm so proud of you!

Just kidding. But we did have a contra-dance hoedown for New Year's Eve! And I must say, all ninety or so of us non-experienced contra "dancers" did alright. For myself, I know I am more 'contra' than 'dance.' Just picture Rocky Balboa staggering around in the 12th round. Oh, and to all of you whose toes I stepped on, I'm really sorry and I hear broken toes actually heal pretty quickly.

The evening was rounded out by a time of worship songs and an 'out-with-the-old-year-in-with-the-new' challenge from my friend Rob, or as I like to call him by his rapper name, L'il Robby T. It was a good way to round out 2010 for our family: a celebration and worship....just like Janie would have liked.

Speaking of Janie, it's time for

Creepiest Piggy Bank Ever

I really have a lot to be happy about this Christmas. I've got so many blessings, not least of which has been the wonderful opportunity to give money away and to buy a cow to give away! Because of your generosity (and your love for Janie, I know), I've been able to help three needy families in the Rutland area. And that's over and above the money that will soon be sent to Food For The Hungry for the cow!

I must say that sitting with these people and hearing their stories, and being able to help them has made this Christmas exciting and happy for me rather than depressing.

Another highlight along the way was when some friends delivered

December 20th 'Deadline'

Thank you so much, all of you who gave to Janie's Christmas Stocking project! Money is still coming in, and we will be giving away the first batch of cash to a local needy family sometime this week before Christmas.

There is still time to give, though, because the check for the cow to Food For The Hungry won't go out till after Christmas.

I try to imagine the looks on the faces of whatever far-off family is going to be receiving this cow...when they first hear they are going to be getting it. Or the look on the faces of

Janie's Christmas Cow

Well, this is just an epic piece of art sent by a close family buddy, Becca Hall. Doesn't that make you want to give lots of money for a cow for a needy family? A note Becca included said that she made the cow purple because that's what Janie would have done. And she is exactly right, isn't she?

(If you don't yet know what I'm referring to, click here, or, if you are on the blog's main page, just scroll down one post.)

To those of you who have sent in money for the cow (and for the yet-to-be-determined needy Rutland family), I'd like to send out a great big THANK YOU! It's been very encouraging to open your envelopes and I can't wait to pass it along. What a blessing to me.

We've given a deadline of

Janie's Stocking

I want to get a cow for Christmas. I know that sounds funny, but really, I want to get a cow for Christmas.

***

So we went ahead and decided to set up all the Christmas decorations. Janie had a few rules about Christmas 'set-up' at our house. First: on the day we get our tree we will play Bing Crosby Christmas music and eat those gross frozen 'delights' from the grocery store freezer that we would never, ever eat otherwise. I mean the frozen puff pastries and the frozen snack trays and little weiner hot dogs wrapped in Pillsbury pastry. Actually, those are delectable. Second: the Christmas tree must be taller than her. Period. Third: We must purchase our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. No earlier, no later. This third one, I am sure, was to extend the deliciousness of the Christmas season for as long as possible. Janie loved Christmas.

I decided that we would honor these traditions in the Booth household, but I was a bit concerned about

Janie's Stocking Teaser

Watch this space for something special about Janie's Christmas stocking..............

What Jon Acuff's Dad Said

Some of you read Jon Acuff's hysterical, satirical commentary on the church and Christianity at his blog, Stuff Christians Like. It turns out his dad used to pastor a church in Hudson, MA where we used to live back in the 80's. Anyway, Jon just put up a really nice, and useful bit of father-to-son advice...


Last week, I asked my dad, a pastor in North Carolina, about something I read in Proverbs 1. Here are what two verses I read said:
8 "Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."

After reading that, I thought I’d ask my dad

Only One Life, ’Twill Soon Be Past...

Janie often quoted this little poem, which we first heard in John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life series (listen to him speak here, but prepare to have your mind blown).

"Only one life,’twill soon be past, 
Only what’s done for Christ will last."

We even thought of (but never got around to) having Barbie Carr calligraphize it (I know, I made that up) on our living room wall... over the opening to the kitchen.


It does put a certain perspective on everything you decide to say, think, and do, doesn't it? Janie thought so, and those of you who knew her can probably remember her quoting it to you.


So imagine how pleasantly surprised I was tonight, while browsing at sermonindex.net, to discover that there is another (seemingly anonymous) verse!

Janie's Piano Students

Here is a photo of Janie's piano students at an end-of-the-season recital party in 1999. I'm not sure which is cooler: the fact that she taught 14 kids (plus Carly) or that epic full sized piano keyboard cake!

If any of you kids read this blog, can you share where you are at today? Still playing music?

Joyful Grieving?

I mentioned in a previous post how I get a little concerned sometimes when people ask me how I'm doing. My concern is not with them, though, but with me. My concern is that unless I brush them off with a quick, "fine thanks," I end up talking about myself and my situation too much, which I don't like. Even here on the blog, I'm talking about myself right now and my way of dealing with talking about myself so much. Guh.

And that reminded me of Marcel.

Tools To Find Your Freedom

I Am Second has a good page, called "Find Freedom Tools," that has some great links for people seeking bible answers to problems that they are experiencing. 

The help pages are connected to the Hope For The Heart Biblical Counseling pages, which are part of the Logos bible software.

I know some readers of this blog are navigating some pretty rough waters...maybe there will be help for you in the links on this page....why not have a look and ask God for help?

Jesus and the Plunger

Cue action-packed, newscast-ish music: Trumpets, drums, and whatever that instrument that goes, dit-dit-dit-dit, dee dit-dit-dit-dit, dee dit-dit-dit-dit......

Our Top Story tonight: "Local photography business, ******** Studio, was burgled sometime late Saturday night through Monday night! Details at eleven."

Ok, I made up that word, burgled, but I like it and the TV news should start using it: burgled. Sounds even better out loud. Say it: burgled. Not "robbed," like at gunpoint, just "burgled." Like what a burglar does. He burgles.

Yes, about a month or so ago, baddies really did break a window at night snuck around and
stole stuff from the studio. Actually, it was all the camera gear that I use to earn my living. And some cash. About $600, actually.

The two-person staff where I work - we felt pretty weirded out by it. We could easily imagine people tiptoeing from room to room by the light of a dim flashlight. And touching our stuff without permission. And then making off with it. Just like that. I can't possibly tell the whole story...much too long and boring, but there were some cool parts to it...like how the police caught the guy because of

Janie's Email To 'Harry'

Janie wrote this email, under the 'push' of the Holy Spirit, to a college-student-friend of our family who was going through a rough patch and was facing a big decision. Who writes stuff like this anymore? I think it gives a really good picture of what Janie was really like...behind the delightful smile and chocolate chip cookies.


So special thanks to our friend, who's name I have changed to Harry, (and whose girlfriend's name I have changed to Sally) for allowing me to put this up here. Please enjoy this little taste of Janie at her best....even when she was just about feeling her worst.

********

1-29-08

Hi Harry,

I had breakfast with your Mom this morning - it was a great time of catching up.  She is sure proud of you and loves you more than you could possibly ever know!  We have been friends for a long time and there are not too many secrets between us.  She mentioned to me that

Democrats And Republicans Are Different

Ok, you knew that one. But to what extent are they different? How deep does it go?

Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll in his book, Radical Reformission, refers to syndicated columnist Thomas Sowell's A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles. Driscoll says, "Sowell defines the two visions for the transformation of our culture as 'constrained' and 'unconstrained.' The constrained (Republican) vision views human nature as