Derek Webb used to be the lead singer for the group Caedmon’s Call, and now has his own projects going on. I have always liked Caedmon’s Call, and Derek’s voice, and even though I’m not too knowledgeable about his songs, I have liked what I’ve heard so far. 

Anyway, he is actually coming to where I am currently going to church, Coram Deo, in Omaha in October! His lyrics and songs from his new album, Mockingbird, are pretty deep and cutting into the reality of what’s going on in the world (social justice, war, etc). He has some free songs on his myspace (www.myspace.com/derekwebb), and he is currently offering his cd, Mockingbird, for free download off of his website (www.derekwebb.com).

Anyway, I came across his song, “Wedding Dress,” and it’s a beautiful song. Here are the lyrics (http://www.ap0s7le.com/list/song/322/Derek_Webb/Wedding_Dress), if you want to check it out. To me, I guess, it just was a beautiful picture of God’s absolutely undeserved crazy grace, and the beautiful image of us being free to “run down the aisle” to him, completely unashamed and passionately in love! Redemption is a concept that is easy to understand in my mind, but the reality of what that really means and realizing that all I have to do is “put you on just like a wedding dress” to run down the aisle to God is overwhelmingly beautiful.

That is really a simple way to put what I’m meaning and thinking, but I hope you get me.

So, why do you think there are so many Christian church denominations in the USA? I’m really just thinking about some of the possibilities. I have heard various theories and thoughts, from different viewpoints. But, I’m just wondering what your opinion is, whomever you are. What, for example, regardless of what you believe, would you say if someone asked you this question about denominations? 

This summer I read Philip Yancey’s book, “Disappointment with God: Three questions no one asks aloud.” The title sounds shady, but it was one of the best books I have read to date. I have two special moments this book brought into my life, so I’ll share really quickly.

1. I was at a Starbucks, and the gal making my coffee asked me what I was reading, I quickly held it up, not realizing that on my book in huge dark letters was “DISAPPOINTMENT WITH GOD.” Her face immediately shifted into a defensive mode and she started to kind of question me and I felt this weird sensation come over me. Like, I got defensive back. I wanted her to know that I am a firm believer in God, and in reality, the book made me understand Him more. This gal, I’m sure with good intentions, I could tell, was trying to sort of defend God in an “i’m offended that you’re offended with God” way, and I suddenly realized that this is what it feels like to be doubting God and to have someone respond very rigidly to honest searching. It was not a good feeling. I’m thankful for that experience to hopefully keep me more aware of that feeling. Good motivation, and a firm belief in truth are fabulous, wonderful things, but it’s all about the delivery I guess. It helps keep me humble.

2. I went to a Christian book store to look for this Yancey book. And I couldn’t find it, so I went up to the customer service desk, and the guy was looking for it and couldn’t find it, but kept repeating, “I know we have one here somewhere….” And next he stood up, and went walking around the entire store shouting out, “HAS ANYONE SEEN DISAPPOINTMENT WITH GOD? DISAPPOINTMENT WITH GOD? ANYONE??? ANYONE?” I enjoyed that shenanegan. I ended up getting it at Borders and having a really interesting conversation with the sales guy and even had a lunch invitation!

Okay, my point here is that I loved this book. Relating this back to denominations, Yancey talked about how it seems to him that God keeps parts of Himself, well, depending on what you personally feel, sometimes, quite a bit of Himself, kind of ”hidden” from humanity so that we develop a deep, seeking passion and faith for Him. I absolutely can see that. Especially after revealing Himself so intimately, openly, obviously, and visibly to the Israelites, and receiving doubt and irritation in return. Yancey said something like, “Maybe this type of relationship didn’t create the love that God so deeply desired from us.” And so He changed the way He interacted with humanity. Firstly in Himself and the Prophets, but then in His son Jesus, and finally through His children, those who believe in Him. So, Yancey I think referenced denominations in this discussion, and how this was also a result of God keeping Himself a beautiful mystery (in my point of view), and vulnerably allowing humanity to seek Him out and not constantly reaching down and correcting and openly intervening. This has left us with some unknowns. And therefore each man can read the same thing and come to slightly different conclusions, leading to denominations and the like.

What do you think?

I just wanted to put up some incredibly scary pictures I just received from Brian Wills, a good friend from Sprachcamp. (you can click on them to enlarge if you dare)

If you don’t know the story, allll right, I’ll tell it again. Okay. So, my good friend Ronny and I were supposed to host the Karaoke contest, and we couldn’t decide what to wear, and what sort of “act” we wanted to put on. We debated this and that, and finally, while we were at the beach watching everyone get soaking wet during the water games, I randomly decided to go find Meredith’s fat suit that she had packed and brought all the way from LA!!! Then I found Regina (an actress from LA), and she proceeded to make me look even more freakish by putting as much makeup as is humanly possible on my face. Ronny decided to try to look as cool as possible, to contrast my freakishness even more.

I had to sneak into the building through a window in the back, which led to a horrendous incident involving me having to heave me and my new fatness over a windowsill that was way too high in the first place. I made Ronny and a frightened young German guy get OUT OF THE ROOM before I would attempt said feat. After they heard a crash and a few thumps, they knew I had safely managed to delicately get myself into the room. Here are some pictures of me & Ronny, and then the Karaoke judges before the big event!!

Ronny introduced me as his “delicate little flower” cohost….and then I came barging out of the door and almost knocked him over…

Two German camp gals are on the left, and Dustin from Texas is on the right side. I think I made everyone a little nervous.

Last night I found myself fighting for my life.

I was in the jungle.

61st & Pinkney.

I walked up to Jess & Jill’s house and right there staring me in the face was the FREAKIEST spider I have EVER seen. This thing was a literal freak of nature, morphed by some sort of radiation from OPPD or something (for those of you not in this area, OPPD is the huge nuclear power plant that I can see from the hill by my house. And please, no, “Oh, that explains a lot,” comments). It had an arching, bulbous abdomen that made it look like some sort of nasty crab-spider mix, and its legs were so long and fast it looked like it was dancing the cha-cha.

Jess came outside, and got his kill-all-insect spray ready from 3 feet away. And just as he was about to pull the trigger from a safe distance, we heard this crazy jungle call in the distance, a raccoon calling out, “Death! Death to all humans!” At this point, I was getting a little nervous. Jess quickly started squirting the “spider,” and it got very still….and suddenly dove into this nervous sprint down his web. And as it was running with way too many legs, the porch light cast a sideways shadow of this thing onto Jess’ house that will probably haunt me for years to come. It looked like a monster.

*Shudder*

After I drove home, I walked down the stairs and there was a relative of this little monster hanging out on the wall to greet me. And then there were remnants of its siblings on my floor, thanks to my cat, Wyatt. Legs, legs, everywhere!

THEN! This morning I was delightfully and innocently enjoying some lovely cereal, and I looked and BAM! There was a dead teeny moth in my bowl.

The jungle…it’s taking over…