Jerry

Last night I fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams - to see Jerry Seinfeld live.

Our evening started at Red Mesa, a great Mexican place in St. Pete. I ate the best chile rellenos I've had in a very long time.

We found our seats 5 minutes before showtime. Larry Miller (the dad from 10 Things I Hate About You -the movie title which also happens to be the most often used search term that drives readers to my blog from Google) opened for Jerry. He's very hilarious.

The show was great. Way better than I thought it would be. I'll admit that at one point in the show I found myself wondering if all the money I paid to be sitting there was worth it if I could have just watched clips on YouTube, but I forgot about all that sometime later when I noticed that my mouth was aching because I was laughing so hard.

For his encore, Jerry came out and took questions from the audience for about 5 minutes. That was cool. He comes off as very personable. I tried to take a picture with my phone to share with you, but an usher got up in my grill before I could snap it. Blast.


For more on Jerry I recommend:
this documentary about life on the road post-Seinfeld
this interview about stand up comics and writing material
and this stand up routine.

What pastors do on their day off

It's Friday. I'm off today and writing this from my couch on my laptop at 10:10am. I just had breakfast - an English muffin with cheddar cheese, a grapefruit, OJ and a multivitamin.

Here's a random list of things on my mind today...
- Spring Training!!! Games started Wednesday. The Cards are 1-1 and looking good for the most part. Their rotation is a little dinged up but looks promising. Carpenter and Wainwright are throwing great stuff. Ankiel and Pujols both had RBIs in the first game.

- This time next week I'll be in a car on my way to Jupiter. My buddy Eric is coming down here for the weekend and we're gonna hit up games in Jupiter (Cards) and Ft. Meyers (Twins), play golf and drink a cold one or two.

- We handed out Lenten daily devotional books on Sunday. I'm reading A New Perspective, distributed by Lutheran Hour, and written by my friend Ryan. I like it a lot so far. Nice job, mate. You can download the .pdf and print it for free.

- Tonight I'm going to see Jerry Seinfeld - one of my life long dreams - and also my Christmas present to my girlfriend, Jacqui. We've been joking since then that we hope we'll still be together when the show comes. Just a few hours left to go. Things still look good.

- Speaking of live shows - Jacqui got us tickets to see Ray LaMontagne for my birthday in April. He's coming to Tampa - and also helping me check another item off my "bucket list". Stay tuned for a future post on said list.

- And finally, here's my to do list for today, pasted directly from the sticky note on my desktop:

• scope dinner location
• gather other tax docs
• start tax worksheet
• $ for danielle, text dian
• call Angie & Greg
• call jamie re ted
• watch grey's & office online
• grocery store - trash bags, milk, contact solution, hangars
• read book
• golf?

What are you doing today?

Why I didn't give up anything for Lent

Well, that's not entirely true. I did give something up, kind of. I gave up going to bed after 11:00pm. More on that in a minute...

When Ash Wednesday rolls around every year, a lot of Christians sacrifice something from their daily life in order to enable them to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus. By his death on the cross, he gave all of himself, so a small sacrifice on our part is nothing in comparison. Those moments of usually reserved for indulgence now become opportunities for prayer, reflection, and appreciation.

Sounds pretty good, right?

Well, I'm not really big on it. Never have been. In fact, I can't remember the last time I gave something up for Lent. Not sure if it's because I don't have a whole lot of discipline or that in my selfishness, I can't do without beer (there's an ice cold Amber Bock on my ottoman right now) or cable (March Madness is just weeks away. Come on).

So instead of stopping something, I'm starting something - a new bed time and a better morning routine. Rather than deny myself of something and spend my time bragging about it to the people around me, I've found something else that adds clarity to my day and focused time to center on God's Word. So far, so good. Plus I'm sleeping way better.

It's 11:16pm. I guess The Wire will have to wait until tomorrow.


How about you - what did you give up? Why'd you pick that?

Changing the world, one white board marker at a time

I <3 white boards, especially the new one in my office.

I regularly take my own trip down the hall to our conference room where I'll think, reflect, plan, write sermons, brainstorm, and study. I'll record my thoughts on the white board, take a photo with my phone and text it to my email. It makes recording the ideas a complicated process. I think I need some sort of electric board to save the image so I can start a new, then come back and edit an old image. It'd be like a digital sketch pad. The size of my wall. Sweet...

Since Monday morning I've already filled the thing up. Take a look. This was Tuesday afternoon.



















Far left - list of friends for fantasy baseball
Middle - list of over 50 young adults connected to our church
Upper right - ideas for next steps in young adult ministry
Lower right - ideas for next Wednesday's sermon on simplicity

Is Slumdog Worth All Those Oscars? or Nate Goes to the Movies

I saw Slumdog Millionaire tonight. It's probably got a lot to do with why I'm still up at 12:46am.

Worth all the Oscars? I don't know. It seems like most best picture winners in recent years have made a political or social statement of some sort. SM is true to form in that respect, but that's not what was most striking about the film; neither was it the cinematography nor the score.

For me the most poignant moments of the film were the most painful. I had a visceral reaction to several scenes. It felt like watching the opening montage of Saving Private Ryan for an entire movie. Stomach punch. More than once I found myself wondering if the ending of the movie could possibly outdo the rising action.

I also found myself hating Satan, for not the first time in the last few weeks. He's wreaked havoc on our lives. I can't wait until he stops feasting our our destruction.

In addition to all that, the movie was true to its name. After watching this film, I don't really feel like taking a vacation to Cancun and sitting in the sun with my feet up. With the poverty in the world, it seems like sponsoring mission work is a better use of my money than making sure the drink in my hand has an umbrella in it.

Cora, pt 2

Hi friends. These days have been hard for us.

The funeral service was awesome. The committal was all about the hope of the resurrection and the recreation of all things.

It's been quite amazing to watch the response from the blogosphere. You've come out in droves to offer your support and prayers, written and unwritten. I've heard from people I know in completely different spheres who are some how connected to Jess and Joel. Truly we are one body in Christ by the faith we share. Some of you have left quotes like these on their blog.

"I know many, including myself, who have begun, renewed, or strengthened their relationship with the Lord all because of Cora. She served such a meaningful purpose in the short time she was here. Thank you for sharing your light with all of us! God bless you and give you unyielding strength during this time."

"I fell in love with Cora from the moment I read your blog 2 weeks ago. She has touched so many lives and will make a difference in so many lives. I want to thank you so much for sharing your story. I know it had to be so hard. I feel like I will be a better christian and mother to my children, thanks to Cora Paige."

"These past few weeks, Cora has changed our lives. Her little life has taught us lessons of love, of treasure, of God's power of our lives. Know that her life has meaning. She has reached many. You two, her parents, have taught us unbelievable lessons of love for each other and of love for the Lord. Know that hundreds, probably thousands, surround you and Cora today and in the coming days as you grieve for her precious life."


In his funeral message, their pastor shared that when Jess and Joel dedicated Cora on Mother's Day last year, it was their prayer that she would be a servant and that her life would glorify God. It appears that their prayer was answered sooner than any of us expected.


Soli Deo Gloria
To God be the Glory

Cora

Hi all. Recently I asked for you to pray with our family for the very life of Cora McClenahan. This morning (Sunday) she left her brief battle with cancer and departed to be with Christ, which as Paul says, "is better by far" (Philippians 1:23).

I'll be in Kansas for the next few days with my family. Please pray for Jess and Joel.

In the HOPE of the Resurrection,
Nate

Omnipresence

Next weekend I'm preaching on the omnipresence of God. It's part of an Old Testament series we're running from Epiphany to Lent.

During an absentminded trip through my blog reader this morning, I came across this morning's post from Stuff Christians Like. It's a humorous, and insightful take on the mystery and presence of God, the beauty of nature, and the (extra)ordinary majesty of Christian vocation. Check it out.


Side note: I'm thinking of using a hand held magnifying glass as a visual illustration. It'll be like an episode of Scooby Doo only without the monster. Sweet.

Live from Lakeville

I'm sitting on the reclining couch where I slept last night. It's white. There are rumblings from upstairs. I think I hear someone waking up. The heater is cranked up and I'm fine in a tshirt and gym shorts, despite the snow I can see through the windows outside.

It's been great weekend in Minnesota. I've had lots of opportunities to spend time and reconnect with old friends from the church where I spent my vicarage (internship). Much in my life has changed since then. The two and a half years since I left feel more like five.

Surreal is a word that comes close to describing the weekend.

Three experiences stand out
- I made a hard decision to pass on an invitation to attend a party and see lots of people in order to spend the night at the home of friends I've known for 20 years. We laughed. Told stories. Talked about our lives. Ate together. Played Mario Kart. It was great.

- My friend Martin baptized the hell out of Lyla Jo Christoffer. And I became her godparent. As I stood beside some of my best friends in the world at the baptismal fount in the church where I once served, I had a front row view to watch God pour out his grace into the sinfulness of her life. It was pretty awesome.

- Perhaps the greatest moment was kneeling at the communion rail, with my hands open to receive, being served with the body and blood of Christ, as tears rolled down my cheeks, at the very same rail where I once served and the same body and blood of Jesus.

Full circle is another word that fits well, too.


















Here's Lyla, moments after joining our family.