Dallas Willard and a Life Well Lived

Men and Women who have consistently demonstrated an on-going personal process toward Christ-likeness is always a life worth observing. This is especially true when these individuals have done so over the long-haul of their life.

Dallas Willard is one of these individuals who has committed his life the the on-going process of spiritual formation.

I've had the opportunity to sit before Dallas Willard all this week as he's taught on various key components of spiritual formation. What's been equally as meaningful has been being able to converse with him over several of our lunches here at the Retreat Center.

The Coyotes

These coyotes were spotted right outside the Retreat Center yesterday...

Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center - Sierra Madre, CA

Celtic Worship

It's amazing to see how different cultures, races and peoples throughout history have expressed their love and worship for God. It's fascinating indeed.

This week I'm in Sierre Madre, California at a Passionist Retreat Center and Monastery. I am joined by approximately 70 other like-minded friends who are dedicated to learning, growing and experiencing personal transformation into the image of Christ. We are all a part of a Masters Program at Spring Arbor University in Spiritual Formation and Leadership.

The make up of cohorts is an amazing diversity of age, experiences and church backgrounds, all with a phenomenal perspective that we all have much to learn from our various backgrounds and experiences.

Our primary lecture is well-known author and philosophy professor at Univ. Southern California Dallas Willard.

Our worship for the retreat/class week will be varied as well, but the main stream of genre for the week is Celtic. It's been interesting to note the themes that are prevalent in many of these Celtic hymns, songs and prayers. I'm looking forward to how this will broaden my understanding of Christian Spirituality.

Learning to Love Life

I love being with my family...

...Though being intentional and fully-present is always an ongoing discipline to be practiced.

...Yet, more and more I simply enjoy being with my family... at home... doing nothing... but playing and exploring life...

Here are a few things...

...I'm Loving this Holiday Season:

• Wrestling with Micah
• Dancing with Naylah
• Making Pancakes on Saturday Mornings with the Kids
• Creating Oatmeal and Coffee Every Morning with Naylah
• Watching Life & Journeyman with Charissa
• Seeing Avi Smile and Giggle
  
• Gett'n Down With the Whole Family to Jam'n Music in the Basement
• Observing my Children Discover Life
• Laughing with Charissa at our kids, each other & the silly'ness of Life
  
• Playing Mario Kart: Double Dash with the Whole Family
• Simply Being Together - Having Nothing to Do...

Here is a little video featuring some of our seasonal celebrations...

Menorah Hora - A Jewish Celebration

Now for the Snowball Fight...

Family Snowball Fight

Parents Buying What They Don't Want to Buy...

According to The Barna Group, born again Christians in the U.S. are predicted to spend $1 billion on media products for children younger than 18 this Christmas.

Unfortunately, many of them are concerned about the media content of the products they buy.

• 70% of those who bought downloads for their kids’ mobile phones were concerned about the content
• 46% of video game purchasers were concerned about the content
• 33% of CD purchasers were concerned about the content
• 31% of magazine purchasers were concerned about the content
• 26% of DVD purchasers were concerned about the content
• 24% of computer software purchasers were concerned about the content
  
  

"Obviously," Kent Shaffer writes, "if parents are concerned about the content, they should not buy it. Unfortunately, somewhere between a quarter and a half of all Christian parents still buy the media products.

Questionable content often shapes culture in unquestionably negative ways. It makes the jobs of children’s pastors and youth ministers more difficult when even the Christian students subject themselves to negative influences, particularly when parents are the ones buying the bad influences."

Warning! :: Sesame Street 1969 is Not Suitable for Generation Z

We are in the process of totally ReDesigning our children's ministry space, as well as the whole scope and sequence of what transpires on a Sunday morning for our children. This is going to be an exciting venture and I can easily become adrenalized merely envisioning what the creative-interactive-hand's-on integrative-multi-sensory worship-learning-engaging-connecting with God environments are going to look like...

As someone who spends a good deal of time thinking about communication, culture and ministry, as well as frequently taking in a new episode of Sesame Street with the kids, I found the following post on a blog hosted by Bombay Creative.

Culture has certainly changed over the past 40 years. The New York Times reports that DVD Volumes 1 & 2 of “Sesame Street’s” original episodes come with the following warning:

These early “Sesame Street” episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child.

Why? According to Executive Producer Carol-Lynn Parente, Cookie Monster smokes and eats a pipe during “Monsterpiece Theater.” And other characters may seem too grouchy, depressed, slow, or drugged. The NY Times also notes:

On the very first episode, which aired on PBS Nov. 10, 1969 — a pretty, lonely girl like Sally might find herself befriended by an older male stranger who held her hand and took her home. Granted, Gordon just wanted Sally to meet his wife and have some milk and cookies, but . . . well, he could have wanted anything.

The DVD warning is a reminder that our culture has become much more politically correct over the years and our streets have become much more dangerous for children.

From a ministry perspective, what worked 40 years ago certainly seems out of place today.

1969 Sesame Street Intro

Compare that to a Recent Sesame Street Intro