strive

perspective

~ryan — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:29:56 +0000

Watch this:

haiti – churches helping churches

~ryan — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:31:26 +0000

Mark Driscoll (Seattle pastor) & James MacDonald (Chicago pastor) both headed off to Port- Au- Prince, Haiti this past week to see what they could do to help the Church in Haiti. Below is a video of what they found. Churches ravaged, numerous dead, and multitudes hungry-scared-tired-injured awaiting the West to swoop in to fix it all. Haitian Christians have faith and it remains strong.

I encourage you to watch the below video. Check out Churches Helping Churches website. Also, keep an eye on the Mars Hill website because I believe Mark Driscoll will be releasing a more in depth video as this Sunday’s message – stay tuned.

Addendum – Pastor Mark Driscoll did give a sermon related to his trip to Haiti as well which is now available online. Check it out.

prayer

~ryan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:42:44 +0000

Got this in my inbox and found it fitting – a “Prayer for our Country” by Billy Graham:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘ Woe to those who call evil good, ‘ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics… We have coveted our neighbor ‘s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!

joyful boy

~ryan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:30:20 +0000

New (old) video from Josh Garrels. Yes, it’s a cover/alteration of Ani DiFranco’s “Joyful Girl” and the sound is poor. But, Josh and the song is amazing. Best 7 minutes you’ll spend this week. Listen to the lyrics and just TRUST me:

sex + money

~ryan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:47:34 +0000

Tim is a young guy I met a few years ago and have commented on periodically over the last 2 years. His talent in photography and love for Christ is great. Currently, Tim and some friends from his PhotoGenX group are expanding the theme of sexual exploitation from a book with a global perspective into a grassroots documentary of the problem here in the United States.

This issues speaks to me since I have two daughters, both of whom I would never want to see taken advantage of. I have also see pornography and sex erode the morality of our young men; up front and in my own past, which I don’t think is being addressed in our Churches, health care, or society. [go here for a frank and appropriately harsh discussion on this topic by Pastor Mark Driscoll]

As the film makers state in the below trailer, “What one generation allows, the next generation embraces.” We need to take a stand for the exploited, ourselves, and our children!

health reform psa

~ryan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:38:43 +0000

Funny stuff; irregardless of the political background. Enjoy:

josh garrels

~ryan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:45:17 +0000

Where to start about this great artist? Had the opportunity to see Josh play last night at the Mars Hill Downtown Campus in Seattle – one word, amazing. Josh has a tremendous musical gift and the intellect behind it to put together some great songs with powerful lyrics.

Josh has released a new album of b-sides here called “Lost Animals”. After a few listens, the song, “Indiana Sky” is at the top of my favorites – somewhat induced since he closed the show last night w/ it and I hear it live whenever my Ipod plays. I’ll add some pic’s in a day or two. Here’s an oldie to enjoy in the meantime.

-update: A few pic’s from Josh’s concert in Seattle on 9.6.9

man who is God

~ryan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:29:12 +0000

Looking forward to Mark Driscoll’s new series about Luke entitled, “Investigating the Man who is God”.

update:

new video from Pastor Mark. the excitement increases.

new home

~ryan — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:18:32 +0000

Just a quick note. This will be my new virtual home for the foreseeable future. Just more options, tweaks, and customizable things available with WordPress. So long Blogger.com.

a change?

~ryan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:53:00 +0000

This just makes me laugh…all this pictures are criminal mug shots. Check out the candidate they all support.

This also made me chuckle today.

My cynic tank is full today. I’m ready for 2012 to come quickly.