When God Reroutes & Redefines Us

Photo by and of Dieter Zander
from Dieter Zander's Daily Photo Op

My childhood friend, Dieter Zander, is an amazing photographer. Actually, he is a bit of a photo journalist. It is becoming an area that he is devoting more of his time and attention to hone. Photography has not always been his primary means of drawing those around him into thoughtfulness. He has spent most of his life as a worship leader with a passion for the connecting a new generation to lives with Jesus at the center.

He has always been able to make the keys on a piano speak with passion and articulated thoughtfulness. This was true, even in grade school. Many times we were in the same line-up to perform on the piano. I played the keys as well, but did not know at the time that I was almost deaf. It would be convenient for me to say that if I had better hearing, I would have played as well as him. I know that was not how I was designed...it was Dieter was designed. God created Dieter to speak to people through music. The Holy Spirit moved when Dieter led worship. I can tell that by the avalanche of comments people have left on posts about Dieter over the last year and a half.

Posts and comments have been particularly active about Dieter. The Big Question has been pondered,"Why would God allow that to happen to someone like him?" Almost a year and a half ago, Dieter fell victim to a stroke. His life has been altered and redefined tremendously.

My pastor at Sunset, Ron Kincaid, use to be in ministry with Dieter, while Dieter was serving here in the Portland Metro area, at Mountain Park Church. Dieter most recently was on staff at BayMarin church. Before that, he was at Re-Imagine, a San Francisco-based ministry designed to help re-think the church in the post-modern world. He has served on the staff of Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago, where he led worship and developed the "Axis" ministry to post-modern young adults. Prior to that, He started New Song Church in San Dimas, California. He is the co-author of Inside the Soul of a New Generation.

Right now, Dieter is nurturing other aspects of his design in his (and his family's) detoured life. I am fascinated with the depth of message in his photography. Take a moment and check it out here.

I can relate to my childhood friend, since the lives of my family have been detoured, as many of you know. It is hard and painful to let go of what has defined oneself. It is hard to see the whole family impacted so drastically. It is baffling to find balance when the options available are not the ones we chose before or dreamed of. It is also where one slows down and really craves and savors things so easily taken for granted. It is when friends are needed more than ever. It can be when prayer become as reflexive as breathing.

It is faith in a grand plan and a loving God that keeps the detour from completely derailing in the process.

90 Degrees and It's Christmas in July

Yes, I proof-read that title. It is correct.
Does the concept seem a little upside down?

In November and December of most years, there is an avalanche of opportunities to support other persons in need. November and December are always enormously busy months for the average person and an extra strain on personal budgets.

My Beaverton church community has assistance available, year-round, through our Helping Hands program. We also have a program called 'Food and Toy', that supplies holiday food staples and Christmas gifts for hundreds of families in our area. Last year, even with record snow-fall in Portland, church members ensured that this caring program still moved ahead, full-throttle.

Keeping in mind that the economy is further straining our personal budgets, it is thought that I might be more practical to gather food and toys for Christmas during July. Many of us will be strained to pull together our own finances during the holidays, this year.

This letter came from church about what is needed to stock up the Helping Hand food pantry and sock-up for the Food and Toy Drive, as well. I'm posting it here, in case July is a better time for you to be involved with something like this, as well. The numbers of those needing help have been sky-rocketing, as you know. They are our sons, daughters, neighbors, parents and selves.

If you live in the Greater Portland area and would like to help out,
click here for more information.

Summer is More Than a Change of Seasons

What is one thing I like most about summer? The chance to see the students in my life have more time to reveal their inner creativity. Michael & Daniel have both been composing music.

What's something that you particularly enjoy about summer?

School's Out for the Summer!

OK, so they don't quite look like they are celebrating or relaxed yet. Finals week does that to a person. So does 4 fire alarms going off in one day at school.

School is out for the summer and we are about to be celebrating! Michael has been out of school for a month, but Daniel's last day is today.

As most of you know, this has been a very difficult year for our family. We seemed to have hopped from crisis to crisis and some of those still have have not resolved.

It has been a particularly difficult year for Daniel, since he has been in the middle of the full-out gale of one challenge after another. Yet, he made it through course work, in spite of some significant distractions in his constant peripheral thoughts. I am so thankful for his good friends who have have supported him this past year. Friends can be great encouragers and motivators.

I guess it is easy to see my method of celebrating includes homemade goodies!

I've Got a Grass Addiction

Wheat grass, that is.

For years, we bought it to have out for our indoor cats to consume. They get so excited about it, too! I knew that you could by wheatgrass boosters for your smoothies, but had never quite figured out how to fold it into daily consumption.

Now, I regularly clip wheatgrass into our salads, steep it in my tea, serve it with my string beans and fresh dill and more. Here is my incentive:

According to various websites, this nutrient-rich grass contains 17 amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Our bodies uses these amino adds for, things like building, muscle tissue, repairing cells, and clotting the blood. Wheatgrass retains 92 of the 102 minerals found in the soil. These minerals include calcium, phosphorus, iron magnesium and potassium. It is a rich natural source of vitamins A and C. Wheatgrass has more vitamin C than oranges and twice the vitamin A as carrots. It is exceptionally rich in vitamins E, K, and B-complex. It is also a natural source of laetrile (B-17). Dr. Chiu Nan Lai of the University of Texas has found that wheatgrass produces an immunization effect against many dietary carcinogens.

It is said that 1 ounce of wheatgrass has the nutritional equivalent of 2.5 pounds of other vegetables. That is a statement that a local smoothie chain boasts and I have not verified it, but it grabbed my interest. So I have been researching it. It seems to be a fairly well substantiated claim.

So I am looking for other innovative ways to fold in wheatgrass to our family recipes. Do you consume wheatgrass? If so, what are some of the ways that you consume it?

Unlimited Calls, Any Time, Any Where

"There on the beach we knelt to pray."

- Acts 21:5

We can pray any where at any time and as often as we want. Sounds a bit like a Wi-Fi or mobile advertisement doesn't it? He doesn't drop our calls, though. He likes it when we call often. For my any time prayers, I like my home office, where I can shut the door and stare out the window at the waving tree branches and changing sky. For more intensely focused time though, I crave being off in the woods.

Do you have a special place that you like to go to focus and listen to God?

Music to Your Ears

CHRIS MARSHALL

My last post was about the strengthened sense of community that was forged, as shared grief was acknowledged. Our community has been hit hard with devastating losses. I am sure your community has been, too.Loss is a common denominator. There are losses of trust, loss of love and/or marriage, loss of employment, loss of life, loss of health. It is all loss and leaves roller-coaster emotions and a desperate craving for comfort and caring.

One of the losses in my community was the loss of the life of Scott Resnick. Many have been grieving his death. People have been personalizing their ways of helping out the Resnick family. Meals, hang-time with the lovable Resnick kids, lawn mowing and shopping are just a few examples of showing care and offering comfort.

My friend Jenni alerted me to another idea that has sprouted up to assist the Resnicks. This is a so-easy way to help out the Resnicks financially and to also enjoy some locally composed music.

Read about what Chris Marshall is offering to do here.

100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Resnick family.