Expelled

On Monday I did my typical routine... got a text message from redbox with my free DVD rental. So I watched Expelled.

This movie is worth seeing. It's a little polarizing (comparisons to Nazi Germany), and certainly not the whole story, but it exposes the ridiculous suppression of truth ("damned nonsense" as C.S. Lewis calls it) that goes on in academia. I was surprised to find a friend that was in it... Guillermo Gonzalez. He was a part of our church and recently "expelled" from Iowa State.

My O.T./N.T. prof...Hector Avalos. I also did an independent study with him on my topic, "An essay concerning Jonathan Edward's biblical exegesis in 'The End for Which God Created the World.'" Although Dr. Avalos is a prosletyzing atheist, I consider him a friend and a man with crazy knowledge about the ancient near east.
And last but (or and...) least my physics prof- John Hauptman. I didn't get to know him well, but he seemed like a nice guy. But his quotes in the movie were blatantly hostile to faith.
Where do we go from here?

If you're a young person with an inclination toward science- strive to be the next Newton or Kepler or Einstein. Do science with all your might and remember the chief end of all science is the glory of God. Cherish Psalm 19. And remember that as a scientist, you are merely "following the faithfulness of God in all things." (to loosely quote AW Tozer in Knowledge of the Holy)

If you're a schmo... pray and love people. Don't try to win arguments. Don't throw down your "pearls of knowledge" on intellectuals. But don't think the truth is unknowable. "The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." Ps. 19

If you're a Christian apologist...don't deny this fact- believing in a Creator God is an issue of faith (Hebrews 11:3 "By faith we believe God created the world...").

Babysitter and the New Cave

Today Leatha had to run to Des Moines, so I dropped the kids off with one of our students, Tim Odell, who lives in the dorms. I played b-ball at the nearby gym (as I always do over the lunch hour on Mondays and Tuesdays).

Makai was a fan of the animal crackers. This is such a stereotypical guy dorm room- skateboard, guitar, random food, a mess... the boys loved it.
Tim cooked Beck some Chicken Noodle soup. It was a big hit.
Tim can do both the traditional 3x3 and 4x4 Rubick's cube. Cameron was impressed.
This was a very sad day yesterday. My office is officially a cave. Here is the last glimmer of light that will ever be seen through the window. I'm so glad I was able to capture it on camera...Goodnight now.

Busier than I want to be

But it's all good stuff...

Tuesday night: Anthem rehearsal. Got home around midnight.
Wednesday: Woke up to Makai screaming just after 5:00 AM. Anthem band played for our hs/jr high ministries. Got home around 11.
Thursday: Woke up to Makai screaming just after 5:00 AM. Good thing I had my earplugs handy, but too bad they couldn't shut out his crying. Neither could the pillow over my head. Anthem band played at TSC. Got home around 11:30.
Friday: Makai slept in 'til 6:00 AM. I knew I was in for a good day. Anthem that night. More on that in a second...
Saturday: Woke up to Makai, but went back to sleep as we were rescued by Grandpa Jack and Grandma Linda, who had driven up for Anthem. Stadium cleanup until 11:3o pm in 26 degree weather. Here I am with Parker, a guy I recently started discipling. This was his first ever stadium cleanup. He picked a winner to attend. Don't get me wrong- ISU got slaughtered by Missouri (a moment of silence for the pathetic Big 12 North...)- but more importantly, the Janitors of God rocked Jack Trice Stadium in just over 2 hours. I'm overwhelmed by the 200+ students that came out in the freezing cold to serve Jesus in this way.Sunday: 6AM- left for church to lead worship for the gym services. 1:45- got home to attention starved chilren and a wife who I haven't seen much of for a week.

Next weekend: What was I thinking...another youth retreat.

Anthem was amazing.

Imagine 1,000 students packed into a gym for one reason alone: passionate worship of the living God. It's indescribable. Uncontainable.... I feel a song coming

My personal highlights (I will try to get pictures soon):

- Going into the night I received a prophetic word from a friend. He said people were going to be saved, therefore, I should make the gospel clear. I did my best one minute gospel presentation at the end of our first set going into "lead me to the cross." I haven't heard any specific stories of new birth yet, but...

- 4 of the people I talked to after Anthem all said they realized for the first time who they were in Christ. One guy said it was like he was having an out of body experience. He was looking at himself worshiping and he was saying about the guy he saw (himself), "That guy right there- he is a true follower of Jesus. This is real. His faith is real!" The God stories from Anthem abound. There are 1,000 of them. Many said they felt the presence of God walking into the room.

- Jesse singing "My love, I adore" with just him on acoustic...Wow. That Anthem song's got some anointing on it. Soli Deo Gloria, Clint!

- Tim and Geoff coming down from Des Moines to lead during the acoustic set. Dude's got a set of pipes (he almost made this season's American Idol), but more importantly, he exudes worship. God has bigger plans than a tv show for that guy. Geoff's tasty guitar playing on the T-5 (a guitar that's worth a downpayment on a house) was so fitting for the songs. Praise God for such gifted people. AW Tozer said how the world has taken God's instruments and thrown them in the mud. May this generation take hold of T-5s and play them like David would- with passion and skill for God!

- Five years ago, I used to have this attitude about the songs we (me and other people in our church) wrote, "Well, I guess we should do one of our songs, since we wrote it and all." But in my heart there were 10 other songs I'd much rather do.

This is not the case now. Case in point: "One life" and "I will lift up my voice"

The new Anthem songs are blessed. I can't wait to get them on an album this spring. We're planning on a live CD/DVD recording at the next Anthem.

I've never worked with such an "others-centered" and "God entranced" group of musicians and artists. They could care less whether their name is attached to a song (they even resist it), or whether they play lead or just run lyrics and help tear down. They are happy being nameless, as long as Jesus is glorified. May God bless us in a way that it spills over. And especially to the nations.

"How can I repay the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD..." (Ps. 116)

Neck Agility

This is funny stuff

Anthem Vision and Go Madison!

I've got a new link for people who ask me what my vision is for Anthem. Just click here and watch the video.

Also, Madison is a student in the Salt Company. She's one of the final people on Rachael Ray's cook-off. Click here to watch an excerpt of last Monday's show. You can also click here for her entry video filmed at her sorority. She's in New York right now filming one of the last episodes...go Madison!

Anthem Week: Hunger

O God you are my God. Earnestly I seek you, my soul longs for you, my body thirsts for you. In a dry and weary land, where there is no water. O God you are my God. I've seen you in the sanctuary, beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. -Psalm 63

God, stir our hearts today with this hunger for you.

Here are some pictures from our Anthem rehearsal last night...It was so loud in the room where we practiced. I had earplugs in the entire time. I'm getting older and smarter. Some of the highlights: the connection group that served us a meal (lasagna!), the talent of that group is ridiculous, and Mattycakes taking the week off and making the 3 hour trip back to Ames to be a part of Anthem.

Here's a study in contrast: Bass player Bryan Alsbury. Notice the Metallica tshirt juxtuposed with the first stanza of "Amazing Grace" tatooed on his forearm. "Hold my breath as I wish for death" meets "was blind but now I see."

Clint Robinson is the tastiest drummer I've met. He plays drum lines that you want to sing. His drumming style is becoming a staple of the Anthem sound (i.e. the beginning of "Your glory")