Crazy Disciple

Jesus’ power of Death

This video was posted on Eric Bryant’s blog today, he is one of the Pastors of Mosaic, an amazing church in Los Angeles.   They are doing a series right now on the seven miracles of Jesus in the book of John, and this last weekend was the final installment of the series, with Jesus’ power over death.  Anyway, all of that background to tell you why you have to watch this video, it is flippin AMAZING.  This is how they started the service off, with an incredible dance and production element to introduce an amazing topic.  I just sat there with my jaw dropped as I watched it…  truly incredible.   Take seven minutes out of your day and watch this, with the sound ON… WHOA.  Awesome job guys!

STRETCH could be read as… OUCH

It seems there is a lot of stretching going on right now, in both my life, and in the lives around me.   It’s almost like God is putting many of us on the potter’s wheel at the same time, and posing that age-old question, “do you really want to grow?”

Growing in many respects requires this sort of stretching, this time when we are almost forced into shapes and positions that feel rather uncomfortable, and certainly unnatural.  I keep finding myself repeating the verse that “God works through ALL things for the good of those who love him and work according to His purpose.”  Wow, I find a lot of peace in that right now.   I probably need to meditate on that one for an hour each day… lol

So, by now you are wondering what it is that is stretching me, or us, or the world around me…  well, I can’t really say yet, as so much of it is still in this position of flux, but trust (just as I am) that God is at work, and the outcome (whatever it may be) is going to be INTENSLY COOL!  We just may not realize it yet…   But I pray (as I find myself doing a LOT lately) that God’s fingerprint continues to be apparent and that we all continue to look for it.  

Stretch-away!

Michael Jackson dead at 50... life is so short

As I prepared to go to bed tonight, I saw the rumble begin on Twitter that Michael Jackson had died.  It was interesting to see the story develop and talked about in real time while each of the individual news agencies confirmed the sad truth.  When it is all said and done however, the unfortunate reality is that we have lost one of the greatest musical talents of all time. 

I am reminded as I contemplate the realization of his death that life is so short; it can be gone in just an instant...   For most of you reading this, there will undoubtedly already be a vast number of honorary blog postings, and memorial TV shows, and news reports, and who knows what else that have already taken place.   For me however, the news has now been out for about thirty minutes, and I am just sad.   It's just a sad sad day for the world.   I will be praying for his kids, and for his family...  

Tonight, as I go to sleep... I choose to remember the Michael of old, the one who was in the Wiz, the one who put out "Off the Wall" and "Thriller" and who even filled dancefloors for me as a DJ many years after his stardom truly hit.  My friend William Jones said tonight on Facebook that Michael will forever be in our hearts, and he is right.   But he will also forever be in our iPods, CD Players, and hopefully ears...   Blessings to you Michael, I hope that you are headed to see our creator.  

What kind of future do we want to create?

In my morning reading, I stumbled across this blog post from the Origins Project, written by Erwin McManus.  It's entitled "Living Wide Awake", and as always, I found many pieces of amazing food for thought here.   The one quote that really caught my eye, and heart, is this:

"Can the Church become the greatest humanitarian movement on the planet? Can we become the epicenter of human creativity, innovation and compassion? Can we create humanity’s next great culture? We think to ask what kind of church we should become is not only the wrong question, it is boring. We should be asking… what kind of future do we want to create?"

(read the full post here)

This is a question that I find myself leaning into more-and-more as I stretch towards the next step in my journey with God.   I had never seen it put so eloquently however.   This concept goes far beyond the church, it goes to the very core of all of our directives and invites an intentionality about shaping our own stories.   Whether we are focusing on our spiritual life, our relationships, our companies or our existence, we have the ability and gift to choose our futures.  Sure, there will be wrong turns, and speed bumps, but that is the beauty of the journey.  

Not as common as I thought

I really believed that I would be seeing photoshoots like this all the
time here in Paris, but this is the first one I have seen in nine
months! It was cool though, and this girl is like 8 feet tall! The
best part was seeing the gear that the photographer was using, and
drooling... Maybe someday I'll have those $4000 lenses... Eek!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday!  For those of you who don't know, my dad's name is Larry Mocha, and he is a small-businessman and an advocate for small business in Tulsa, where I am from.   It's been really incredible to see how his life has evolved and changed over the years, and to see how he has stepped into his passions and roles.

Not only is he the President and CEO of APSCO, Inc., but he is also a powerful voice for business and for fellow business owners.  He has found his call in life as a person who fights for the rights of others, and for the livelihood of his employees, friends and colleagues.   His journey into these places in life has served as quite an inspiration into my own. 

However, more than all of the things he does, and all of the ways he works to affect the world, he is first-and-foremost my dad.   It's a pretty incredible thing to share time with him and to talk about both of our journeys.   I wish that today I could be there and give him a big hug, but it will just have to wait a couple of months.   In the meantime however, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and that I love you Dad.   See you soon!

Finally getting this health system figured out

While Tulsa isn't exactly the "country" it is considerably different than Paris, especially in air quality.   One of the biggest difficulties I have had since spring has started is difficulty in breathing.  My asthma has been the worst it has ever been, and as of two days ago, I was completely out of asthma medicine. 

So today, feeling confident in my French skills, and in my ability to act like an ignorant tourist, I went to the local pharmacy to ask for some help with getting a replacement inhaler.  Nothing fancy, just a little Primatine mist, which will forever remind me of my father.   Anyway, I was shocked to find out that there were no over-the-counter asthma medicines available in France.   WHAT?   So the pharmacist recommended that I go see a doctor, and by some magic circumstance there was a doctor just down that same street that would see people without an appointment.   So, I went!

Entering into the doctors office is nothing like going to the doctor in the states.  These offices are made out of simple apartments, with one bedroom being the waiting room, and another bedroom being the doctors office.   It was interesting to say the least, but as I sat there (with no receptionist greeting me) I kept practicing in my mind how to tell this doctor in French what exactly was wrong with me.   As soon as he walked in the waiting room, I blurted out in my favorite American accent, "Parlez-vous Anglais?"  (Do you speak English?) 

Thankfully, he DID.  So after a short exam and my explanation of my symptoms he giggled and said that the pollution in the Parisian warm air was what was causing so many flair ups.   He suggested a much stronger steroid medication and even gave me two months worth of the medicine for no cost.  I then paid the 30 euros for an uninsured doctors visit, and was on my way.  

As I walked back to my flat with a little more air than normal, I thought to myself... "wow, I may actually be getting this whole health system figured out." It only took me nine months and several failures to get there, but hey... that is half of the fun!

Chase Jarvis on maintaining creativity

You may have seen this teaser going around, but if you haven't, it is definitely worth a few seconds of your time.   Genius, purely genius. 

Patience

I've heard it suggested that one of the first things you are to do when you get to Paris, is to stop...  stop, have a coffee at the local cafe, and change your internal clock to Paris time.   Now for most of us, that probably means a change to the time on our wristwatch, but more than that, it means to engage in a level of patience that most of our cultures are not built on, at least mine isn't.   As I look towards the next steps of this journey, I am beginning to take an inventory of what has changed in me since coming to Paris.   Patience is one of the largest things that has come from this time.   Everything in Paris happens at it's own pace, the waiters come by your table whenever they feel like it, and they deliver your food whenever it is convenient.   The cashier at the local supermarket moves slowly, as there is no reason for her to move quickly, that is just not how it is done here.

I remember waiting for a delivery of two signs for the church, they were supposed to come on a Monday, and the truck driver called on Monday and said he would be there that afternoon... he wasn't.  Tuesday went by, and then Wednesday, and Finally the signs arrived on Thursday, late in the afternoon.  But, of course, they were the wrong signs.   This is such a great example of how things unfold here in the city of Light.   Sure, to many it is romantic, and to others, it is a dream city; all of those things are true, but one of the things I will always remember is the Parisian clock, it seems to tick to it's own beat.   As irritating as that may be at times, it has taught me to stop and take in life, enjoy meals, enjoy conversations, and not let one second pass by without my experiencing it.   I think that has been the key to learning patience.  

Now if I can just hold on to that, then all will be golden.     

Rain, rain, rain, and more rain

I think Paris is pretty famous for its rain.  I have kept thinking about how lucky we've been here, it seemed as if we had totally skipped Spring.   In the last few days however, even though it is early to mid-June, the temperatures have been in the in the low 60's (F), and it has rained, rained, and rained.  Even as I type this, I can hear the roar of a fairly significant downpour outside the flat.   It's a peaceful sound though, a sound of air being cleansed and pollen being washed away... Ahh, yes!

The rain has dampened my new running program though, excuse the pun.  I either don't have the discipline, drive, or determination to run in the rain.   Whichever it is, it is almost a moot point...   it's just miserable to get out there and get so wet.