boys just want to have fun.

i had the privilage to reminise with my boys this last week. scott, andrew, adam, david, and steve all flew out from California to do a little r & r for old time sake. jonathan, andrews brother, and i live out here at this wonderful elevation of one mile and are considerably always experiencing the rocky mountain high. we thouroughly enjoyed it then when all of the guys came out to see us.

the main point on the agenda was the denver broncos vs. the miami dolphins. this was the main reason the dates were selected for the trip. dave has been a miami dolphin’s fan his whole life and what better time to see them play then when they played in denver. that was the reason for the weekend. anyways, i managed to get rowdy trout for the weekend. this was such a blessing. hannah’s family owns a cabin or two up on the mountains right next to a river and some lakes. it was quite the experience taking all of the city boys up there. and fun was had. from fishing the river to coney island to poker, we had a blast. the highlight by far though was the community.

when old friends get together something unexplainable happens. time begins again. you pick up where you left off. you give abbreviated cliff notes of the past circumstantial happenings and then join in with the lives that you love. this was probably the greatest part of the weekend. it was like a ‘good ol boys’ tour. this was the first time that i had been with all these guys since hannah and i got married a year ago and we picked up where we left off. things have changed, that is for sure, but who we are, and the character of these boys has not changed. the character of these men has not changed.

to grow up and to grow old-er brings new life experiences, but there is something about that favorite sweatshirt we like to wear that reminds us of the old days, or eating a dish that takes us back to childhood. these men have made me who i am. i have experienced life with them, shared tears with them, celebrated with them. they are old friends that move with me into a new future. they are my constants. they are my havens. they are my anchors. they are my brothers. and they are my friends.

bob.log.

now there is a friend of mine who i can not disclose his name – scratch that. his name is bob. bob is the high school pastor that i work with and love dearly minus all of the seinfeld quotes that he unnecessarily warrants frivolously through out his speech.

bob decided to jump on the band wagon. he says it is to voice his thoughts and dialogue on God, but i secretly know that it is to impress the socks off all the christian blogging babes out there. it should. well it should when he posts.

see blogging is quite the most difficult thing for some like myself and bob. it is quite hard to keep consistency if it is not your job. currently i am working as a jr. high pastor and am a full time seminary student under the umbrella of husband. no where in between do i have delineated time to be blogging. especially since i do not get paid for it and no one reads it. well bob is the same way. he use to be even worse. i believe that his blog was created for over a whole month before the key strokes began to take place on it.

bob eased in with ‘are you ready for this’ which i responded with an inquisitive comment

ok i have a few questions. did you just write this whole thing in the middle of your seminary class? how often are you going to post on here? should i check bi-annually? lastly, i heard you were going to write about all your ex-girlfriends. is that true?

bob proved my sarcastic whit to be void since within the last two days he has posted about three blogs. now here is one of the greatest qualities about bob that comes out not in his blogging, but in his timing. when bob buys into something he buys into it. if something is great and grand in bob’s eyes he will be more passionately for it that it will bleed out of his ears and permeate every sentence spoken. this is recently true of bob’s blogging rampage. not only has he posted two post within the last day but he has posted in his facebook status the url of his blog.

his most recent post roadsigns is great. i have completely walked alongside him when he has missed a significant road sign. we recently took a trip to new jersey and bob took us on a route where they were dismantling a bridge. now bob knew that there was traffic on this bridge and he knew they were doing construction. the road was riddled with cones and signs and here we were in the picture to where we were stuck after bob’s decision to plow ahead. despite the decision, our circumstantial mishap turned into an incredible memory of crazy pennsylvanian lady yelling at us. and by us i mean me.

anyways. let this post be a blogbute (kind of like a tribute) to bob, his perplexing personality, contagious enthusiasm, loyal friendship, and an indescribable humor. check out what he has to say here.

hairy pants.

this is the only picture i have to prove this post. you see here myself and deb. deb was originally hannah’s friend but became my friend shortly after. we worked together. hannah lived with her. and she became obsorbed in our post colleged community.

now deb is possibly my favorite friend out of the long beach friend faction and we had the privilige to have her out to visit this last weekend. it was so good having her out. hannah and i greatly miss the community that we left. it is always a special treat when we get to visit and even a greater treat when they come and visit us (which my five guys are doing in two weeks).

anyways this was the only picture with deb and i in it together. now at this point in the trip we were making coffee or something, maybe just cleaning up. deb was messing around with the coffee maker and realized that she left the metal filter out when she brewed it. how rediculous. she proceeded to lift the paper filter with the used grounds up by one side. the grounds then spilt inside the coffee maker and all over the counter and ground. she injured the coffee maker. it was quite the experience.

we love deb and it was so great to have her visit. she refreshes our spirits with her cheer.

intentional community.

i hardly ever can refuse being around people. there is something about community and conversation that is so appealing to my soul. to be in relationship, close relationship, with others and living out Jesus together. this has what brought me to this place.

a place of intentional community. i first heard of communal living through Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborn and then heard it first hand at a conference that he spoke at. Then little by little the idea of communal living began to pop up in Jesus following communities all throughout the u.s. in newspapers and magazines.

the idea of living with other people (singles, couples, children) brings much anticipation of experiences and memories. the goal is to bring people together in one place (the home) for one purpose (to serve Jesus) in an intentional community designed to love God and encourage, support, forgive, serve others in the house and in the community.

house meetings, family dinners, game night, prayer and worship services, and every day life would bring people together who wanted to live minimally (giving up unnecessary possessions and combining possessions) and live missionaly (showing Jesus to those in the community we live, work, and play in). this is the heart of my wife and i and our best friend kate.

we have a passion to do this. i hope the idea will come to fruition and become a reality. here are rules to which the simple way (Shane Claiborne’s community) goes by. if you think you can follow these you can go through an extensive application process (this does not exist yet so it may be a minimal process).

Our Commitments

Scripture

We recognize the Bible, composed of the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament, as inspired of God, the supreme and final authority in faith and life. We submit ourselves to carrying out our mission under this authority and seek to apply biblical principles to all facets of human aspiration and action.

The Church

We affirm that the Church is a unit with many parts, forming one body (1 Cor. 12:12). The Church is the body of the followers of Jesus, inclusive of persons of all cultures, races and nationalities. We value and unite with local congregations in establishing the Kingdom of God and carrying out the work of Jesus.

The Trinity

We echo the Nicene Creed in our belief in one God, the Father almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, both perfectly divine and perfectly human, the Son of God, begotten from the Father, God from God, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things came into being, in Heaven and on earth, and who because of our sins became human, suffered, died, rose, ascended, and will come again to judge the living and dead; and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life, one with the Father and the Son, and to be worshipped and glorified.

Humanity

We believe that people are created in the image of God. We believe people are created to love and to be loved. We also believe that humanity is fallen, and Jesus died and rose in order to save humanity. Humans are incapable of holiness and perfect love without the sacrifice of Jesus.

Evangelism

We affirm the importance of calling all persons to personal faith and faithful discipleship in following Jesus Christ. We recognize that this is done both with words and without them.

Justice

We acknowledge with sorrow the brokenness of the world at personal, national, and international levels, and we seek justice, reconciliation and transformation in all arenas of life. In these politically, economically, socially, and religiously decaying times, justice is needed to bring hope, wisdom, and grace. We also realize that the evils of poverty and oppression exist on two levels, the individual and the structural, and we work for justice in both facets.

Need

We believe that there is enough. Those with plenty can meet the needs of the poor, if s/he who can gather much will not gather too much (2 Cor. 8:13-15). We believe that the Kingdom of God is free of poverty and oppression. We echo and attempt to live out Christ’s prayer that the “Kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We believe that begins now, with Jesus’ followers, and continues throughout eternity.

Community

We believe that humanity is created for community. God is a community, a Trinity, a plurality of oneness. And we are created in that image. Jesus modeled this community with His disciples, as He lived and as He sent them out and taught them to live. We wish to return to the community like that of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35. We believe that in this type of community, reconciliation happens. God is establishing a new community, a new Kingdom.

Love

We recognize the mystery of love. Ultimately, our mission is to love — to love God and to love people. This is the greatest commandment, embodying God’s law. All sin stems from not loving God or not loving people. Loving God and loving people are intricately connected and utterly inseparable. We also acknowledge that pure love is God. The greatest act of love is introducing someone to Love, in the person of Jesus.

Foundation (The Spirit of the Potter Street Community)

Simplicity — Striving to live with only what one needs, not wants. We are not driven by simplicity (or we still serve money), but we are committed to love, which demands simplicity.

Non-violence — Driven by love which does not express itself in violence towards people… absolute community and individual commitment to not use violence.

Spirituality — The community shares a common desire for spirituality, often expressed through work, worship, prayer, and sharing of the sacraments.

Relationships — Commitment to balance time inside the intentional community as well as building relationships outside… balance between inward growth and relationships and outward growth and relationships.

Jobs — Commitment to balance work inside and outside the community, individually and communally.

Kingdom of God — Commitment to building the Kingdom of God, through ending poverty.

Together — The community will strives to work with, not for, people — allowing the people most affected by problems to lead the way in the struggle for their solutions.

Healing — We are all broken. And we are all on a journey towards wholeness. This healing is individual, communal, and social.

Accountability — Community members are held accountable to one another by love. With open permission and intentional commitment to actively hold one another accountable, we work toward loving God and loving people.

Local assembly — The community worships with and builds relationships with congregations.

Non-profit — The non-profit is an instrument to systematically function as a Body, but if this system hinders the Spirit of the community or its vision, it will be abandoned.

Structure — The community recognizes the necessity and danger of structure, and establishes structures not as a prescription for community but as a description of how the body and family function, often driven by individual roles rather than systematic delegation.

The creative and performing arts — We recognize that we are created Imago Dei to be creators. Each individual has unique and special creative abilities that add to communal “art”. Also, we value the role that art has in breaking the cycle of poverty and liberating emotional and spiritual deprivation.

Projects — The community may find projects to do as a Body and family, which all persons commit themselves to (in different capacities), and individuals initiate personal projects with the community involvement in mind. All projects are born out of love, not out of the desire for programs.

Growth — The nature of love is to grow. There are both opportunities and dangers in growth. Everyone is invited to “come and see”. Anyone desiring to join the community or a new Simple house must first have a journey with the existing community members.

Balance — The community will continue to struggle for transformation both on the systematic (in the macro and micro) level and on the personal level… small things with great love, great things with great love.

Play — The community is committed to playing… creating foolishness as we dance together; never forgetting to cry and always remembering to laugh.

Rest — Action must be accompanied by reflection, and reflection by action. Rest is done as a community and as individuals, distinct from playing.

Justice

Hope

Beauty

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Functionality (what it really looks like each day)

Money — it is generally our policy to not give out money. When necessary, we go with the person. If giving out money, we check with at least one other community member.

Drugs — No illegal substances are allowed in the house under any circumstance.

Relations — We do not allow ourselves to be alone with a new guest to the house. As relationships develop, community members’ discernment is respected, but aloneness with a guest is strongly discouraged. It is generally our policy to not be alone with kids. If this is necessary, we check in and out with another community member.

Alcohol — We recognize the implications of buying and using alcohol, especially in our neighborhood. When alcohol is to be consumed in the house, this is to be discussed with the other community members.

Weapons — No implements of death allowed, regardless of race, creed, religion, or perceived level of power or authority (including police officers).

Guests — there are several levels of commitment for guests. Initially, we generally invite anyone to visit anytime. Any overnight visits are decided as a community. If individuals want to become permanent community members, this is to be discussed after previously visiting. Them must commit to Loving God, Loving People and Following Jesus, and to the vision, commitments, Foundation, and Functionality of the community and The Simple Way.

Non-violent civil disobedience — There are times when we must choose to stand in solidarity with the oppressed rather than follow the law of the world. We choose non-violence because the Powers choose violence. Our resistance is always born out of relationships where the people most affected are in leadership.

House meetings — Mandatory, once a week…”points” meetings designed to connect with information, dates, ideas, struggles.

Prayer — Sometimes scheduled, sometimes not… highly suggested, not mandatory even when scheduled.

Family Dinners — Mandatory, bi-weekly… scheduled dinner time for the family to check-in with one another and be together. Community members often share meals together outside this scheduled time.

Roundtables (guest dinners) — Bi-weekly dinners, often inviting guests… for the purpose of discussion or special activities (i.e. visiting communities).

Re-Evaluation — Times of reflection to keep connected as individuals and as a family, often scheduled when a new member comes into the community (after 2 months…)

Sabbath — Time of rest and/or reflection and/or playing… done sporadically during the week as individuals and as a family. One day is also set aside as a Sabbath, typically Sunday. The community rests (as well as routine activities).

Emergency — Must be willing to be flexible and sacrifice when there are special needs requiring a meeting, discussion, or simply bonding.

Taken from the Potter Street Community started by the Simple Way