Land of the Rising Sun

I took a trip to Japan in October and, even though it’s been a while since I went, I take every chance I get to talk about travels. I just can’t help myself. Anyway, Campus Crusade is trying a collaborative strategy called City Focus, which aims to bring injections of resources to existing ministries in major cities, in order to be more effective in impacting the whole city. One of the 10 cities that we’re targeting is Tokyo, so I went on the initial vision trip as the representative for Epic.

Tokyo is an active city, full of kinetic energy. There are 1.1million college students in the Greater Tokyo area. The analogy used during our trip as to why we’re hoping to infuse Tokyo with resources was: If we were Starbuck’s and wanted every one in Tokyo to have a chance to sample our delicious coffee, we would need to think about starting multiple Starbuck’s in this place because, frankly, opening one or two stores would see those efforts literally swallowed up by the sheer size of Tokyo.

It was an eye-opening experience. I realized how little I knew about the specific spiritual climate in Japan and in Tokyo, especially. Without getting into comparisons about where/who has greater spiritual need than another, it was abundantly clear how much of a need exists in this place. I loved Tokyo and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that this was one of my favorite trips! Good food + Good people = Good trip. Here are some pictures (try to put more up later) of my time there…

Conveyor Belt Sushi...much sushi for not much yen.

One form of Tokyo rush hour: sprinting to catch the subway...at 6 am!

View of downtown Tokyo from atop the Tokyo Government building.

Shibuya District at night...people everywhere.

Jimmy V Week

This week is "Jimmy V Week" on ESPN, featuring week-long initiatives on multiple ESPN platforms to raise awareness for the V Foundation. Stuff like this normally kick starts my cynicism, knowing some of ESPN's self-promoting ways. But the V Foundation raises money for cancer research and that's something that is worthy of our attention.

Jim Valvano, many of you know, was famous for coaching the North Carolina State basketball team to a National Championship over the University of Houston in 1983. By 1993, he was out of coaching and fighting for his life against stage 4 cancer. The clip above is of his acceptance speech for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, given to him at the ESPYs that same year. Valvano died less than 2 months after giving this speech.

Since 1993, the V Foundation has raised over $70 million dollars for Cancer Research. In 2005, Jim's own daughter, Jamie, was diagnosed with breast cancer. More importantly, she was diagnosed with a rare form of genetic breast cancer that was only found due to advancements in cancer research, research whose funding was aided by the money raised from her father's Foundation. And because they caught it early, she's since recovered and been declared cancer-free.

But back to that night at the ESPYs in 1993...

It was, quite simply, a fantastic speech. I remember watching that broadcast live in my dorm room that night and being moved to tears. Everyone who watched him that night, whether on TV or at the awards show, knew that he was losing his battle. I recalled then what it was like for my family when Mom had breast cancer. I made special note of what Jim said in that speech, that each day he aims:

1. To laugh each day
2. To spend time each day in thought and reflection
3. To allow his emotions to be stirred and moved to tears

Those just seemed to be wise words to me then. They seem to be much wiser words to me today. Now that Dad also faces his own battle with cancer, not to mention that our good pal Jocelin (even though I wasn't able to run the fundraiser on your behalf, Joce, you know I'm with you) walks that road, too...I am glad for Jimmy V Week on ESPN and for the ways that it is bringing meaningful assistance to this important work.

Where have you gone, Vince Young?

"Where have you gone, Vince Young? The Longhorn Nation turns its lonely eyes to you."

I can hear the haunting voices of Simon & Garfunkel, singing this line in my mind every time I think about Texas football lately. Okay, so it's back to the Holiday Bowl for the Longhorns. Is this supposed to be inspiring? Uh, no. Is the fact that Texas, despite looking beatable every week except for the Iowa State game, still has a shot at a 10 win season impressive? Not unless you're Texas A&M...oh, the same scrub team that beat us down again (and proceeded to ruin Thanksgiving for me).

Texas football these last 2 years is a cautionary tale. There should be a Warning Label with the Longhorn logo on it, given to every coach in America. The label, quite simply, is this: Don't Blow Your Chance.

When you are presented with the opportunity to seize the fruits of a once-in-a-lifetime victory (like, say, the 2005 Rose Bowl), you better take advantage because the window closes fast. Two years later, Texas is back in the "underachieving" category again. I dare say that the UT football program is securely in the rear-view mirror of Oklahoma (again) and fighting to stay #2 in the conference. The program is not in a better place today than it was on any year in the last 5 leading up to the 2005 Rose Bowl (aka "The Vince Young Show").

I originally intended on writing more of my "thoughts" on the Longhorn football program, but it's kind of making me depressed. Besides, it wouldn't be all that insightful. If interested, you can check out Barking Carnival for your fix on Texas sports, including perspective on the football program. As for me, I might need to go watch my commemorative 2005 Rose Bowl DVD in order to feel better.

Grace Sublime

It was a little more than two weeks ago when I received a call from Mom concerning Dad's cancer. I now type this blog entry while sitting in Dad's hospital room at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He had a very successful surgery this morning, according to the doctor, and the doctor feels really good about the prognosis and upcoming treatment. I am so grateful for the news...for the hope that Dad can soon be cancer-free and for the idea of a shared future with him. Even as I sense God's grace in Dad's life and in mine, I struggle to grasp the extent to which that grace abounds. It is humbling to acknowledge.

The context is that, when I found out Dad was sick, I was in the midst of the busiest season of ministry I have ever experienced. I'm still in the midst of it. I have been consumed and preoccupied with my various responsibilities. For me, deadlines are the kryptonite to reflection and yet reflection is the life-blood of growth in my life. Reflection leads to meditation and meditation leads to, by God's grace, transformation.

Getting the ill news was like slamming on the brakes of the car while driving at a very fast speed. There was the jolting, the screeching, the skidding, and the jarring. I know God intends much more through this than simply getting my attention, yet I felt compelled for the first time in months to consider life beyond the urgent.

Since then, I find myself drawn to prayer, drawn to more dependence on Him. I want Dad to be okay and, still, the possibility that he won't be frightens me sometimes. Dad knows in Whom he has believed, he knows Who his Savior is. Of that I have no fear. I struggle, then, to put a name to this fear. I think it revolves primarily around the image I have of the future and of that image being shattered. It feels oddly similar to the frustrations that I still struggle with in regards to infertility. My vision for the future involves children for Carita and I and a grandfather for those children, afterall. Fear and frustration ensue when that vision is threatened. God has been gracious as I try to find my place in His plans and His place in mine.

Since then, I have seen Mom and Dad live and speak with a clarity of purpose that seems to graciously come to those who must consider their mortality. As I have heard them share the ways in which God has soaked their days with His mercy and love...the ways in which He is teaching them, I find myself drawn towards those same themes and lessons.

Since then, I have seen Mom and Dad's ministry to the Body of Christ increase in significant ways. I have seen the Body of Christ surround them with prayers, affirmation, and consideration in ways that leave me speechless. I see the ways that they have impacted those around them because people are lining up and begging for the opportunity to minister to them. They bring flowers, drop by with meals, constantly pray. They plead for their turn to be by Dad's bedside and consider it their privilege to stay with him through the night. It makes me teary-eyed to see how much people care for my parents.

And, as I sit here in Dad's room, keeping him company through this first night of recovery, I see the ways in which God's grace is sufficient for all of our needs. What challenges tomorrow will bring, I do not know, but I see that His grace is abundant for every minute and that I never need to hoard up His grace, as if there won't be enough for the next minute or day or month. I see that we are overwhelmed by His goodness and I count it a blessing to be known and so loved by Him.

Bay Area Update 3: Northings

With the first weekend of Project having come to a close, it's appropriate to note what some of our objectives are and the vision that drives them. Our Project vision still remains to:

Establish a community of Christ-centered and Christ-incarnate disciples, organically planting spiritual movements on the campuses and communities of the Bay Area.

This is the same vision as last year's Project, so I'll just refer you to my explanations from a year ago.

Along with our vision, we are developing another theme. The purpose behind us using the name "Epic" is as a reminder of the Spiritual Journey. It's a reminder of the struggle within the Journey. Annie Dillard once wrote a meditation on the pursuit of God called, " to help round out the meaning behind the words.An Expedition to The Pole". In it, she compares the Spiritual journey to that of a Polar expedition, stating that in both there is but one goal...measured by northing. A 'northing' is the distance traveled or measured northward. That goal is the destination and the explorer's proximity to that goal is the only measure of progress. Likewise is the journey towards God. She writes:

"These northings drew me, present northings, past northings, the thought of northings. In the literature of polar exploration, the talk is of northing. The explorer might scrawl in his tattered journal, 'Latitude 82 + 15' N. We accomplished 20 miles of northing today, in spite of the shifting pack.' Shall I go northing? My legs are long."

I like this description of our spiritual journey. I like that this reminder of the determination and the single-minded focus on destination that characterizes successful exploration is also what characterizes a drawing near to God. I like how the Epic Movement draws inspiration in its name from similar themes of an epic journey. Lastly, I like how all of us on Project have committed to the same thing. Shall we go northing, then?

Bay Area Update 2

It's late Saturday night of our first weekend of Project. We've had a full schedule so far. After our Welcome Orientation on Friday morning, we all went for a tour of downtown San Francisco. The weather (which, you may have noticed, is something that I closely observe) has been very cooperative so far. Normally, San Fran can get chilly when the fog rolls in from the Bay, but Friday was sunny...the kind of day that the Chamber of Commerce loves because it makes the city seem so great. On the tour (conducted by our friend Keoke), we saw various parts of Chinatown and got some of the history of the area. Keoke commented about what a strange sight our group must be: a white guy giving a tour of Chinatown to a bunch of Asians. We also asked the students to take pictures of things they saw in downtown SF that spoke to them concerning God's heart for the city and the people. We asked them to try and capture, on film, what might break God's heart or signs of His redemptive plan at work. We're going to share our results tomorrow (Sunday) night at our Family Time.

Today (Saturday), we took another trip into San Francisco for our first Mercy Ministry event. Partnering again like last year with City Team Ministries, our group travelled to Sixth Street in SF to pass out bags of food to homeless and near-homeless residents. It is said that by the time a person hits Sixth Street, they've burned all of their bridges and have nowhere else to go. They've lost their families, jobs, homes...they often are in the grips of multiple addictions and far, far away from a life of meaning. City Team does some incredible work in these hard places, giving structure, guidance, and assistance to those who want to get back on their feet. Most of all, they give out HOPE found in the truth of the Gospel and an environment by which the most broken and marginalized people in the city can experience the redeeming work of the Cross. Carita and I both teared up at the testimonies of the volunteers, who themselves are going through City Team's addiction recovery and Re-education Program. It's sometimes hard to imagine all of the various circumstances and poor choices that would finally land these people where they're at, but it's equally hard to imagine the amount of courage and faith it would take to climb out of that hole.

I think the impact of entering into another's world can change lives...certainly, it can change perspectives. We passed out the bags, but more importantly, we offered to pray for people. We listened to their stories, shook their hands, gave them hugs. For many who find themselves on Sixth Street, this is more than they have received in years. As the director of the City Team center, Rashida, said, "this is the worst kind of poverty...to not only have nothing materially, but relationally, either." I pray that God would truly help us to not only Proclaim the Gospel passionately, but Demonstrate the Gospel compassionately this summer.

Epic Bay Area Project 2007

Summer Projects are cool. I know that I'm biased by the fact that these are a part of my job, but I really think these Projects are some of the best things that we offer to students and staff. The true indicator of what I really think about Projects is the fact that I'd be willing to pay to participate in one (oh wait, I am paying already...hmm). Last year, the Project checked in at a not-so-whopping 8 student participants. Crusade doesn't normally conduct Summer Projects with so few students. But with committed staff and committed leadership, we got the thing up and running. When all was said and done, it was an incredible experience and one that I am so glad we didn't give up on. One major lesson for me was that God accomplishes His purpose...every time. He can't be thwarted by our disobedience, our lack of faith, our sins, our issues, our uncertainty or fear. He can't be swayed from His purpose by a lack of resources or a lack of people. What a privilege, then, for us to step into the redemptive plan that He has always been executing and will continue to do so until it bears its fruit.

This year, we have 16 students coming on Project. Amazingly, we prayed that God would double the numbers from last year and that's exactly what He's done. Those of you who aren't familiar with Crusade, one of the biggest challenges to starting a new Summer Project is the recruiting of students/publicity to get your name out. There are dozens of Projects available for students and it can be difficult to gain recruiting momentum for a new one. The fact that God answered our prayers exactly...not one more and not one less reminds us of who is actually running the show.

So, tomorrow, the students arrive to join the 9 of us staff. We have people from Texas, Oregon, California, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Rhode Island who will come together in this place. Our prayer and desire is for nothing less than life-transformation...of ourselves and those we come in contact with. I'll keep a running diary of our days here, so if you're praying with us, check back for updates.


This is a picture of our staff team (minus me), taken during our afternoon trip to Half Moon Bay, CA.

Arizona: The Land of Hotness

We're on a road trip from Texas to California for this year's Epic Bay Area Project. On our way, we stopped for a few days in Arizona. The reasoning behind this, of course, is that whenever you find yourself on a multi-day road trip through the harshest temperature zones in the country, you should always stop and stay a few days at the absolute hottest places. It only makes sense that way because you aren't really vacationing until you face the threat of severe heat exhaustion. The Phoenix/Scottsdale area hit temperature highs of 115 while we were there. Overall, it was great to see some of the sights and I mean that sincerely. I'd never ventured out to this part of the country before. Three of the highlights were:

The Grand Canyon: awe-inspiring in scale, beautiful in the most striking vistas, and humbling in what it says about God...that He could simply speak and wonders such as this would come to pass. The second picture is taken from Hopi Point, right before sunset.




The Red Rocks of Sedona: very interesting sight, those red rock formations jutting out from an otherwise brown desert...a little bit too overrun by tourists and new-age hippies touting the virtues of crystal energy cleansing, though.



Taliesin West, the winter home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright: historically significant work from perhaps the most influential architect in American history. No better place to see Wright's vision for various design principles, including Organic Architecture, Building for Democracy, and Deconstructing the Box. The first picture is a view of Wright's office (where he would sit at that desk and meet with clients) and the second is of the back of the home.

So What Happened to the Last 8 Months?

If you’re reading this, you may have also noticed that the Blog has taken an 8 month break. Unlike the previous extended hiatus, however, there was actually a reason for this break. I originally planned on transitioning the Blog to a full-fledged website and suspended the Blog updates until I worked that out. This was what I was working on until I ran into some trouble securing an affordable host (by ‘affordable’ I mean ‘free’).

So, the Blog is back in this format until I work up the motivation to try again later. Just wanted to state this for the record.