The day after Alive Festival we went skiing with David and Lauren’s friend Chris who let us stay with him for that week. Chris is a super nice guy and had just got back from tour managing the Deep-south leg for an organization called Invisible Children. If you have not already heard of Invisible Children then stop reading… and click the link. It is one of the most incredible grass roots movements of love in action I have ever come across.
So, anyway, Chris lives next to a lake and his parents have a boat. So we went water skiing. It was my first time. I stood up first time, easy as that. Chris was impressed with Stephen and I for that. So fun!
Monday 30 June 2008
Sunday 29 June 2008
Profound Thoughts 003 – Storm (Alive Festival)
On the final day of Alive there was a storm. This was fun because we heard lots of things about tornadoes touching down in the area etc. I say fun because it is always fun to tease fate and tread the edge of good conditions for growing humans. The best part of the storm was that we, being inside the tent, suddenly got hit by wind that shook the sides and made the roof swell and shake like the end of the world. Then I stepped outside…
It felt like a gentle breeze…
Funny how things look totally different when you step outside of them.
It felt like a gentle breeze…
Funny how things look totally different when you step outside of them.
Tuesday 24 June 2008
Twit 013 – Strange (Alive Festival)
Alive was a smaller festival than Ichthus. Strange things happened here though... People are so funny here. Lauren decided that she was going to hand out flyers and really promote the message of The Love Alliance… the problem was that every other person would decline the FREE flyer!
I had a similar thing. When asking a woman (who was looking through our T-Shirt bin) if she wanted to know what XXXChurch was: she said, "No" and walked off!
I threw a kazoo at her back… but she didn’t notice.
I had a similar thing. When asking a woman (who was looking through our T-Shirt bin) if she wanted to know what XXXChurch was: she said, "No" and walked off!
I threw a kazoo at her back… but she didn’t notice.
Twit 012 – Pornmobile Controversy
After setting up for Alive Festival we went to Wal-Mart to pick up some food that we could have for the festival. We got our food and then went to leave. As we were putting our shopping in the car a guy comes up and says,
“‘#1 Christian Porn Site’! What does that mean?”
“Well, We’re an online ministry that helps people with pornography addiction.”
Then it all kicked off! I’m not sure if he heard me but he was not impressed. Words were banded about like “abomination” and “of the devil”.
After some ‘discussion’ we said we had to go and I went to shake his hand but he refused saying, “I DON’T shake hands with sinners!”
WOW!
We videoed the whole thing, watch this space…!
“‘#1 Christian Porn Site’! What does that mean?”
“Well, We’re an online ministry that helps people with pornography addiction.”
Then it all kicked off! I’m not sure if he heard me but he was not impressed. Words were banded about like “abomination” and “of the devil”.
After some ‘discussion’ we said we had to go and I went to shake his hand but he refused saying, “I DON’T shake hands with sinners!”
WOW!
We videoed the whole thing, watch this space…!
Sunday 15 June 2008
Twit 011 – Ichthus Festival Day 4
Today was a fun day at the festival. I figured out that I could get food back stage to take away and so I was able to get David and Lauren lunch and dinner to supplement their beef jerky diet.
The most fun was shooting some interviews for HeartSupport. We interviewed Dr. J first who is a Nutty-Professor-Creationist and a very nice and smart man who seems good at what he does: engaging with Atheists.
Next we interviewed David from The Showdown about his experiences with the openness he has with the band.
The last interview we did was, however, ridiculous. We talked to Xanadu, the Dance Guru/Choreographer of Family Force 5. We started out sitting outside the backstage porta-potty. We then moved the interview into the porta-potty because David Crowder had just gone onstage and it was really loud. After invading some guys’ privacy we decided it would be funny to get on stage behind David Crowder and do the interview there! We finished up in front of the Family Force 5 drum machine! Totally bonkers!
We wrapped it up around 2am and finally slept in the next morning…
The most fun was shooting some interviews for HeartSupport. We interviewed Dr. J first who is a Nutty-Professor-Creationist and a very nice and smart man who seems good at what he does: engaging with Atheists.
Next we interviewed David from The Showdown about his experiences with the openness he has with the band.
The last interview we did was, however, ridiculous. We talked to Xanadu, the Dance Guru/Choreographer of Family Force 5. We started out sitting outside the backstage porta-potty. We then moved the interview into the porta-potty because David Crowder had just gone onstage and it was really loud. After invading some guys’ privacy we decided it would be funny to get on stage behind David Crowder and do the interview there! We finished up in front of the Family Force 5 drum machine! Totally bonkers!
We wrapped it up around 2am and finally slept in the next morning…
Twit 010 – Ichthus Festival Day 3
Today things went pretty well with sales etc. I forgot to mention that Steve and me had backstage passes and we really loved getting free food that tasted awesome!
The real highlight was around 5pm when the storm knocked down one of the tent poles signaling screams and panic. Steve and I went to the car to wait it out leaving our things in the tent thinking we would be returning soon: may I take this opportunity to say that if you are ever in an emergency situation always take your belongings. We never went back that day and they closed off the “compound”.
We had some fun trying to record the first Love Alliance podcast. It didn’t work because the laptop died before we saved it. Good times though… getting a little wet and all.
The real highlight was around 5pm when the storm knocked down one of the tent poles signaling screams and panic. Steve and I went to the car to wait it out leaving our things in the tent thinking we would be returning soon: may I take this opportunity to say that if you are ever in an emergency situation always take your belongings. We never went back that day and they closed off the “compound”.
We had some fun trying to record the first Love Alliance podcast. It didn’t work because the laptop died before we saved it. Good times though… getting a little wet and all.
Twit 009 – Ichthus Festival Day 2
Today was the first day of the main festival. We sold some merch, talked to some people. It was fun.
I got to know David and Lauren much better. David and Lauren are a couple who are sharing their booth space with us. They are both really cool with such a sense of what’s important and just pursuing that. (Also one of the first married couples I know who are capable of hanging out with single people! If you are reading this and you are married, no offence, but you suck at this.) Anyway, after experiencing some very frustrating times working for a popular non-profit they quit and out of that frustration was birthed The Love Alliance. The Love Alliance is their non-profit that aims to get people connected to various social action projects. It is awesome and worth supporting.
I got to know David and Lauren much better. David and Lauren are a couple who are sharing their booth space with us. They are both really cool with such a sense of what’s important and just pursuing that. (Also one of the first married couples I know who are capable of hanging out with single people! If you are reading this and you are married, no offence, but you suck at this.) Anyway, after experiencing some very frustrating times working for a popular non-profit they quit and out of that frustration was birthed The Love Alliance. The Love Alliance is their non-profit that aims to get people connected to various social action projects. It is awesome and worth supporting.
Twit 008 – Ichthus Festival Day 1
It’s Wednesday 11th and we rocked up to Ichthus at around ten in the morning after driving through the night from Chicago and arriving at around 8am! Turns out that the main merch tent that we were staying in was knocked over by the wind so we had to come back and check in at 4pm. We went and passed out at the house we were staying at.
After setting up the XXXChurch booth a girl from Gotee Records who was running something backstage with the Gotee show came by and asked if we wanted to MC for the night. Steve did not but I thought it would be a fun challenge. I even got to talk for about ten minutes about XXXChurch and throw out some free XXXChurch stuff.
After setting up the XXXChurch booth a girl from Gotee Records who was running something backstage with the Gotee show came by and asked if we wanted to MC for the night. Steve did not but I thought it would be a fun challenge. I even got to talk for about ten minutes about XXXChurch and throw out some free XXXChurch stuff.
Wednesday 11 June 2008
Twit 007 – Wrigley
On Tuesday, I returned to the city of my birth. Chicago has claim to it even though I have rarely been into the city. It bullied Naperville and stole the title because it is bigger I guess. The mission here was twofold: get tickets to see the Atlanta Braves play the Chicago Cubs at the historic Wrigley Field and, second, meet up with my childhood friend John Rhodes. Both were accomplished and I will not be the same because of that fact. The game will always be a special memory and John is a guy I hope I never loose contact with.
Profound Thoughts 002 – Church
I went to church twice on Sunday. Let me tell you about both times.
First, I played soccer with some new friends from Grand Rapids. It was intense and we sweated and I could not breath, but it was great. This is a very postmodern hip thing to call church, trust me. It is how we think outside the box and do not become trapped by church as a meeting with songs and prayer and teaching.
After Soccer-church I went to a meeting with songs and prayer and teaching. It was my first physical visit to Mars Hill Bible Church
. It made me think… a lot. Brilliant!
But hang on. I just described two events and called them both church. They are different events so are they two different churches? That does not work; there is only one church! Maybe on Sunday I actually did only go to church once… for twenty-four hours!
Aaaaahhhhh… now we’re getting suitably hip!
First, I played soccer with some new friends from Grand Rapids. It was intense and we sweated and I could not breath, but it was great. This is a very postmodern hip thing to call church, trust me. It is how we think outside the box and do not become trapped by church as a meeting with songs and prayer and teaching.
After Soccer-church I went to a meeting with songs and prayer and teaching. It was my first physical visit to Mars Hill Bible Church
. It made me think… a lot. Brilliant!
But hang on. I just described two events and called them both church. They are different events so are they two different churches? That does not work; there is only one church! Maybe on Sunday I actually did only go to church once… for twenty-four hours!
Aaaaahhhhh… now we’re getting suitably hip!
Profound Statement 001 - Trust
Ok, I’m going to admit that “profound” is a word that I band around a little and so this is likely to be a more tongue-in-cheek use of the word.
I’m currently riding shotgun in the car. It is affectionately titled “The Pornmobile”. There is a driver and his name is Steven “The Intern” Rose. (It would be pretty dumb if I was sat parked in the driveway on my own! Because of course I would be sitting in the more macho position of Driver Seat!) Steven is one of those guys that says things how they are. He has a wonderfully humble awareness of this ability too. This allows him to make some intensely funny one liners leaving you in stitches in his wake as he plows through with the satisfaction that his work here is done. But maybe I’m exercising artistic license; the only way to know is if you have the pleasure of meeting him.
At this point it is 3:30am. This is important because at this moment my mind is moving. I’m thinking, “Should I go to sleep and trust that Steve will not fall asleep?” Now, this is interesting for two reasons. First, Steve is not likely to allow that to happen, he is way too trustworthy. Second, when presented with this idea of mortality relating to cars I always convinced myself that I was in God’s hands and whatever happened in the car I was in was his will. If I crashed then God would look after me and lead me into circumstances he thought were best.
That second one bugs me. Why don’t I still think that? Is that a reasonable thing to think? How is it that I put my trust in Steve’s judgement but also entirely on God’s will? And most confusingly, what part of being in a car should make me more nervous about the fragility of my life?
I have got answers. Answers I like and think make sense. I think I’ll leave it here though…
I’m currently riding shotgun in the car. It is affectionately titled “The Pornmobile”. There is a driver and his name is Steven “The Intern” Rose. (It would be pretty dumb if I was sat parked in the driveway on my own! Because of course I would be sitting in the more macho position of Driver Seat!) Steven is one of those guys that says things how they are. He has a wonderfully humble awareness of this ability too. This allows him to make some intensely funny one liners leaving you in stitches in his wake as he plows through with the satisfaction that his work here is done. But maybe I’m exercising artistic license; the only way to know is if you have the pleasure of meeting him.
At this point it is 3:30am. This is important because at this moment my mind is moving. I’m thinking, “Should I go to sleep and trust that Steve will not fall asleep?” Now, this is interesting for two reasons. First, Steve is not likely to allow that to happen, he is way too trustworthy. Second, when presented with this idea of mortality relating to cars I always convinced myself that I was in God’s hands and whatever happened in the car I was in was his will. If I crashed then God would look after me and lead me into circumstances he thought were best.
That second one bugs me. Why don’t I still think that? Is that a reasonable thing to think? How is it that I put my trust in Steve’s judgement but also entirely on God’s will? And most confusingly, what part of being in a car should make me more nervous about the fragility of my life?
I have got answers. Answers I like and think make sense. I think I’ll leave it here though…
Sunday 8 June 2008
Twit 006 – The Importance of Being Scene
Due to excitement about the lake I skipped an important part of my week… I GOT MY HAIR CUT! At the BBQ mentioned previously in Twit 004 I bumped into “Danger Doom” Krissee Danger. Since she can cut hair and I had long hair it was inevitable. The best thing was that Krissee is the first hair dresser who’s been ready to square up and take up the gauntlet of my challenge to do whatever she wants with my hair!
So then a certain word got banded around a bit and it was set. I was going to get a little colour… just a little “Scene Stripe” stuck into my emo fringe. I have to say, it’s a beautiful sight to behold!
So then a certain word got banded around a bit and it was set. I was going to get a little colour… just a little “Scene Stripe” stuck into my emo fringe. I have to say, it’s a beautiful sight to behold!
Twit 005 - The Lake
Saturday Steven Rose and his mom invited me to go to Lake Michigan. I almost said I was busy but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity! It was beautiful! Then we went out to the Outback Steakhouse and had the CRAZIEST waitress EVER! She was, as Steve put it, “a little bit chipper about her job". When she pretended to punch the top of our steak with her fingers I nearly died!
Twit 004 - Jon
I'm in G-Rap. Met everyone round at a BBQ (George Foreman out back, it's not as bad as you think) at the Gross' house. I met the confident Mr. Jon Bell who is a great guy working for the ministry on the Heart Support front. The morning after he came over to run through a talk he wrote for CIY Conference which apparently was much improved. I don’t know what it was like before but I loved it. Going to play stand in on the soccer game with him while the rest of the X3Team are in the west. I’ll let you know how it goes…
Wednesday 4 June 2008
Twit 003 – New York
I’ve been to New York. I’d say I can cross that one off. In an afternoon I accidentally saw the Statue of Liberty while trying to find a Telectroscope, got lost and ended up on Wall Street and intentionally stood in Times Square for about 5 Minutes before I had to shoot back t the airport for my connecting flight. It’s a big fun place with lots of nuts-o people. Love it.
Twit 002 – Transatlantic
I did a bit of a casual one across the Atlantic. After camping out at Heathrow and getting no sleep I slept through the take and nearly missed airline breakfast. Before I left I hopped online and jotted down my itinerary. :-S Guess I got here ok so that’s cool.
Twit 001 – London
When I was in London before I left to go to the states I got a chance to be one of the last people to legally drink alcohol on the tube! Not the most upstanding claims to fame but it was an experience. We headed down to Euston Station and when the train pulled in the doors opened and sweaty drunk people spilled out as we got in. The train never left the station because of the behavior of some of the other patrons and large numbers of the fuzz came and politely told everyone to leave. One police woman particularly wanted my friend Guy to know that if he didn’t stop filming she’d confiscate the camera! Mental!
Introducing...
Direct involvement with xxxchurch is something I’ve dreamt about. Now the dream becomes reality and I’m sitting in the intern house ready to put everything I have into something I truly believe in. Porn is a phenomenon that typifies the boredom, quick fix, live-for-the-moment western world and the way we have become so detached.
To keep you updated I will post short updates which I call ‘Twits’.
To express myself artistically and thoughtfully longer I will post entries called ‘Profound Statements’.
It’s all a bit tongue in cheek. Hope you like it; don’t get too jealous (I’m way too blessed to ever figure out why).
To keep you updated I will post short updates which I call ‘Twits’.
To express myself artistically and thoughtfully longer I will post entries called ‘Profound Statements’.
It’s all a bit tongue in cheek. Hope you like it; don’t get too jealous (I’m way too blessed to ever figure out why).
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