My Friend, Bob Stromberg

Bob Stromberg has the best shadow puppet bit you will ever see.  This is a piece that could only come from his slightly warped mind.  I’ve been privileged over the years to have shared the stage with him many times as well as bring him in to do some very special events.  Bob was a great mentor for me right out of college and a very wise voice and tall tree in my life.  Enjoy this video.  Stay committed to it, the payoff is priceless.

Stolen My Heart?

“You’ve stolen my heart,
Yes, You have.
You’ve stolen my heart,
Yes, You have.
You’ve wiped away the stains,
And broke away the chains,
Yes, You have.”
-Leeland

When I first heard this song, I began to ask questions about it lyrically and theologically. For example, is it possible for God to “steal”? Is this really the best description of the work of God in a person’s life…you know, to steal a heart? Does God come and “take” a person or is it that God draws them? Is this a theologically sound lyric or is it careless language that will incorrectly communicate the work of Christ?

Then, I stopped myself. You see, I now had to wrestle with another conflicting thought. Had I become so sensitive to language that I could no longer see the beauty in hyperbole or metaphor? Had I forgotten or even possibly abandoned the romantic use of language? Had I become afraid to paint pictures or turn artful phrases in communicating God’s beauty? Had I devalued or even left no room for “poetic license” in the role of art that reflects the Creator?

So I thought about one of the most prolific artists whose work fills the pages of Scripture, King David. In Psalm 42 did David’s soul truly pant and thirst (Psalm 42:1-2)? Or was he trying to capture a longing that was difficult to convey without using the creative brush strokes of language? Or must I believe he was truly eating his tears as “food day and night” (Psalm 42:3)?

And so I have come to the conclusion that I need to lighten up a little bit. I think I need to be more gracious in allowing artistry to speak with passion and poetry a little bit more, both by others and myself. There is a distinct difference between communicating untruth and representing the beauty of God’s grand story and our individual stories poetically. Our imaginations need this kindling if we are truly to find meaning in Truth. And so I need to re-imagine (carefully and responsibly, of course) my own story and God’s truth with fresh, creative, artistic eyes, ears and words. “Stolen my heart”? Yes, in a beautiful way…I think He has.

1,005 Smooth Stones

Kevin Harlan (no…not that Kevin Harlan) is the pastor of congregational life at my church, Christ Community Church in Leawood, Kansas.  This past week, he put together a video for our Sunday worship service dealing with non-essential differences between Christians.   The result is the video posted below.  A couple things you should know as you watch it:

• our pastor, Tom Nelson, wrote a book several years ago titled Five Smooth Stones;
• in the opening, the guy standing at the toolbox is our facilities manager;
• in our spiritual formation classes, we highlight quite a bit the Great Invitation found in Matthew 11:28-30 (”Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…” -v.29);
• we have a second campus in Olathe that utilizes video sermon delivery on a one-week delay.

This is a funny piece.  We’re going to miss you while you are on your sabbatical, Kevin.

Imagination…and Einstein

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.“

-Albert Einstein

A Big Fish

I was going back through some old audio files today…it’s interesting the different things you come up with throughout your life. At one time I started writing a bunch of Children’s Bible songs, but realized i didn’t want to go to my grave as the next Raffi or Miss Pattycake.

Here is one of my favorites. It’s called “Big Fish” and it uses a really simple chorus and some cute verses to tell the story of Jonah. Press play and enjoy it at my expense…