Crazy Disciple

Back in the saddle again

This week has not been too generous in terms of available time, but today I finally got a few minutes to test out a new camera and new method of shooting.   It was such a blessing to have a camera wrapped back around my neck, and through the ability to jockey between currencies around here, I actually got a pretty good deal on it.  So, without further ado...   Here's a sample of what we're getting back to.   This new camera is a bit different than the old one, more designed for low and available light, more artistic stuff too (I do believe.)   So without boring you too much with all the technical jargon, let me just share with you the photo I just shot out of the window.   It feels quite nice to be able to shoot again, I have sorely missed the opportunities to not only create, but also share what my eye and heart sees around me.   I have a feeling that we are entering a new era of experience with photography, and I am excited to bring you along.

Striking - why?

A few people have asked about the whole issue with this strike on Thursday, so I thought I might attempt to clear it up.  This nationwide strike in France was against the Economic crisis (yeah I know, that doesn't make much sense.)  The people of France don't like it, and think that Sarkozy should be doing more to protect their wages and job security.   What was amazing however, is that the country is essentially run by eight independent unions (labor unions) and on this day, all of them decided to strike together in a showing of unity and cohesion. 

If you keep up with Twitter or Facebook, you might have noticed some of my angst, as the march continued for hours and hours on end.   I have never seen so many people, it was incredible.   The ironic question, at least from my perspective is a question of anything actually getting accomplished.  I guess that has yet to be seen.

Paris on Strike

The whole flippin city is apparently marching today. I have never
seen this many people in one place, EVER. The metros are running at a
diminished capacity, some of the RER lines are even closed... It's
completely crazy! Man I miss my camera in times like this. So many
photo-ops!

This photo is of some guys marching with red emergency flares. I
don't know who they are, but they sure got my attention! Bienvenue à
Paris, the city I will never forget.

Missing my art

It's been over four weeks since I last shot a photo, at least on anything other than a phone.   Breaking the shutter on my camera has proven to be a gift, in that I have really been given the opportunity to realize what my art means to me.   It's so much more than capturing an experience or event, it's the magic of creation.   I absolutely love creating things.

For the first week or two, I held the idea in my mind that this would be a perfect opportunity to work on some very technical aspects of photography, such as framing and composition.  I mean, what a perfect way to work on those concepts, when everything else (exposure, sensitivity, depth of field, color, etc. etc.) is so drastically limited.  That is the curse and pleasure of using the camera on my iPhone.  I have even argued the point several times with many people that the camera does not make a photographer.  I still believe that, but man do I miss my camera.

I know what you're thinking...  just get it fixed!   Well, I'm working on that.   The camera is an older model, and in Europe it is basically totaled.   The cost difference of replacing the camera and repairing it is less than $100.   SO...   I am going to upgrade and replace it with a much newer body, and then maybe send it back to the states to have it repaired (everything is so much cheaper in the states.)   The upgrade should be exciting... but we have a few more weeks to iron out that mess too.   In the meantime, I am still without my camera; and I miss my art; I miss the process of creation.  

Sharing

This last week I wrote and prepared a sermon about Passion.   I studied carefully, and spent a lot of time preparing and cutting out little pieces of ideas and concepts to fit them into a cookie-cutter approach to sharing from a pulpit.  I carefully planned transitions between segments so as to possibly invite canned inspiration, and maybe even a goose bump.  Basically, I wrote a sermon about passion and completely sterilized it from anything real and heart-felt.   I basically removed every ounce of passion that was in it.    I was on the edge of becoming exactly what I don't like... boring.

So like every good speaker in the church world today, I spent the last hour before my sermon in Starbucks, sipping a hot cup of the coffee de jour, and trying to sort through the clouded mess in my brain.   It just didn't feel right, I wasn't excited, and even caught myself trying to memorize the cues and notes.   Thankfully, it didn't take me but another few minutes to hear the voice of God, and even my dear friend Pastor Mark McCord.  Just a few days earlier, as I had tried to explain all the mechanics of this elaborate message with multiple points and references, Mark had simply responded with "just share from your heart man."

That idea echoed in my brain and cut through the music pounding out of my headphones.  Within moments, I began to question everything that I had done all week, where in the world was I taking this... and why wasn't I taking this advice?  I stopped-dropped-and rolled and asked God to remind me of what is truly in my heart.   What is it that I am passionate about right now?  It isn't passion...  it really isn't even giving your life away...   it's evangelism.   WHOA.  

So, realizing that I didn't have long until I was supposed to be speaking, I walked through the things in my life that God was taking me through.   I went back into the 17th chapter of Acts and revisited the revelation that had been occurring in my heart since the Origins conference.   I prayed and prayed and prayed...  and then I let go.

I walked into the Theatre du Gymnase with a fire in my heart, I was now EXCITED to share what God was teaching me.   I wasn't walking in to teach a church, or even a person how to do any one thing, I was instead walking in to SHARE what was being taught to me.   Huge difference.

The result was imperfect, definitely contained many mistakes, BUT was completely authentic and true to not only my heart, but also (I believe) to the heart of God.   That is the cool stuff.  And who knows, maybe that can be a starting point for some conversations and discussions that aid in the recapturing of this fine city.   Time will tell...  but until then, I will do my best to simply honor God.

Connect

I spent a great deal of the day today with Brady Mcgowan, one of the members of the Mosaic team who put on the whole Origins conference in Germany.  He and some of the other team members were just passing through Paris on their way back from Morocco.   Yes, *that* Morocco...  what a fun life eh?

Anyway, in my walking all over the city with Brady and discussions about Mosaic, life, Origins, LA, and Paris, the word community came up so many times.   We talked about the feelings of community in both of our cities, and the ways to engage moreover in community here in Paris.  It was GREAT STUFF...  

Coming back to the apartment tonight, I sat down to spend some time in prayer and studying, trying to get ready for this weekend; and that idea of community kept coming into my head.  How does that connection to community affect our abilities to lead passionate and original lives?  Does being passionate about life absolve you from the need for community, or does it mean that you will now demand more of it?   It's an interesting thought, and one that I have to wrestle with a bit.   At first glance, I would say that community and connection was absolutely imperative...   I think I feel some structure coming into this whole thing. 

House Music

It's really a shame that more people don't get into house music.  For those of you who don't know, house is what many of you refer to as "techno" although it isn't techno, it's house.  House generally has a 4/4 beat, runs between 120 and 130 bpm (beats per minute) and often has a soulful vocal, a smooth bassline, and lots of magic with the high hats...  

Anyway, my description is probably not serving you well, if you don't know what house is, then you probably wouldn't even understand that description.  Let's just say that it is great music that makes you want to dance.   My point of all of this, is that I am in a house groove right now, I am digging the laid back soulful house of Paris... man is it good.   I walk through the city, and ride the metro all the while listening to this soulful, uplifting music called "house."  It seems to connect me deeper into the city, unlike some other forms of electronic music that feel more foreign in these parts.  It's amazing.

Now I am *hoping* that there are a few of you out there that know what I'm talking about.   A few of you who get the whole vibe.   Well, back in 1987 there was a song released called "Can you feel it" by Mr Fingers, and from that song almost every major house record was born.  Not only house records, but techno, breaks, the whole lot... they all use samples from this magic cut.   So, in honor of hose music... and in honor of the most random post I have written in a while; here are some of the lyrics to "Can you Feel it." 

In the beginning, there was Jack, and Jack had a groove.
And from this groove came the groove of all grooves.
And while one day viciously throwing down on his box, Jack boldy declared,

"Let there be house!" and house music was born.

I am, you see,
I am the creator, and this is my house!
And, in my house there is only house music. But, I am not so
selfish because once you enter my house it then becomes OUR house and
OUR house music!" And, you see, no one can own house because
house music is a universal language, spoken and understood by all.

Man that is GOOOOOOOOD stuff....   LET THERE BE HOUSE!

You never know...

I am sitting in a bible study on the outskirts of Paris. The bible I
am reading is an NIV student bible that was given to me by my Dad, way
back in 1988. I don't think I opened it much until 2004, but the day
I decided to use it, I knew exactly where to find it. It's my
favorite, and most thoroughly worn bible so far, and what I love most
is the first two pages. This is a picture of one of them, and the
other simply a note how important this book is to my dad, and his hope
that it will become the same for me. Well, it has!

The last line of the note is the best... "Love, Dad."

Passion pt 1

Alright everyone, hold on to your hats... this coming Sunday I have been invited to share, preach, teach, talk, communicate, facilitate or "speak" at C3Paris!  (It seems each of those words was insufficient to explain the invitation, so I used them all... :-))  Pastor Mark is actually letting me share for the entire service...  what a brave guy!   Seriously though, I am so excited, and am feeling so fortunate to have the opportunity.   I will be sharing (in English, with translation) about living life with passion and connecting into the adventure that God lays out for us.   If you've read my blog for every long, I would assume that it is apparent that this is a subject close to my heart.   After giving my life to Christ and learning more about who I was in Christ, this has been something I have really aimed to do.  Admittedly, I haven't always been successful, but thankfully my life isn't over yet.  

Now considering that this doesn't get to happen a lot for me, I am going to be talking a lot about the journey towards building the message that will come on Sunday.   I am no professional (it's so interesting to hear how Perry Noble or Steven Furtick builds a message) and I am not really "trained" per se.   I am just a guy, a guy who is PASSIONATE about God and about life, and through digging into the Word and prayer, I believe that God will unwrap and deliver a message that reflects his heart, and my heart as well, while hopefully impacting people and encouraging them to reach for more.  SO...   for those of you that will be there this coming Sunday, this should be a little redundant, but I think it might also be pretty interesting.   To the rest of my friends and family back home, I hope I don't bore you to tears, but I really treasure the opportunity to bring you along on this journey. 

Over this weekend, I have mostly prayed about this idea of passion, and how to share it.   I didn't pray in lieu of living life however, everything was normal with the exception of stewing over and thinking about the word Passion.  In my prayer time, I asked about Passion, and what it means to me, how to see it, how to unveil it, and ultimately if it was something God wanted me to speak about.  I walked away from the weekend feeling deeply encouraged and was even reminded of several questions I have heard over the time of my walk with Christ.  Those questions have lead me into the life that I am leading today...   How they will connect into the message, I dont yet know, but here are the questions:

1.  What would you do with your life if you weren't afraid of dying?

2.  What would you do with your life if you weren't afraid of failing?

3.  If you had an unlimited budget, and unlimited resources, how would you use those resources to serve and affect people and their lives?

4.  Lastly, if today was your last day on this earth, what would you want to make certain was accomplished before you left?

Mocha's to the RESCUE

It sounds a bit like the cry of a family of superheroes, well it is; the Mocha family.  My Dad, Step Mother, Aunt and Sister (Larry, Sandy, Suzanne and Teri) came together to answer the needs of a withering and weakening missionary, fighting through the inequities and challenges of finding GENUINE Mexican food in France.  Not only did they send ample food, but also fresh T-shirts (a commodity in France apparently,) shampoo, Pepcid complete (a true delicacy) New Music, and Pens that dry fast enough for a left handed writer to write with them...  Basically, they sent pieces of home that were delivered with love, and served as amazing reminders of the most amazing of families.   Now you may not see a pile of Mexican food as love, nor a selection of vacuum packed Taco Bell dinners, but I think we all can agree that BEAN DIP IS THE BOMB.  And not only is it amazing, but it keeps you warm, long after you eat it... 

  

So, to my family, who have spoiled me rotten.  Thank you.   I love you guys so much, and I miss you just as much...   I wish we could have enjoyed all of these things together.   But as I take each bite, and share pieces of American culture with my French friends, I can't help but be blown away by the love of a family who supports me, who encourages me, and who impacts every day that I live...  no matter where I am.   Even when my life was not pointed in such good directions, they were always there, loving me, holding me, encouraging me, and....    feeding me. 

I love you guys!!!!   Thank you for the packages, but also thank you for being the best family a man could hope for.