Radically Happy

  • Exodus 9:1-9:35 Hail to the Chief

    that they may serve.. freedom to bind… plague on both your horses… manifesting God’s name… exalt ourselves, or God? …loyalty test… confess sins… repent… moot… interpret events… folly… failing…

  • Exodus 7:25-8:32 Much To Do With Frogs

    heighten tension… frogs? deities… invasiveness… cry uncle… glory… sincere… reverted… up a notch… fear of God… rationalizations… distinction… progression… catch… unreal… greed… frog in a kettle…

  • Exodus 7:7-7:24 Whys, as a Serpent

    God’s instruction… miraculous signs… necessary, not sufficient… manifestly inferior… choices and consequences… serpentine reminder… believe in the works… isn’t impressed… manufacture signs…

  • Birthday Blessings

    Today — October 8th, 2004 — I turn 37. Its the first election I’m old enough to run for President (though I won’t). I received some very special blessings with common themes, which I wanted to share here.

  • Exodus 6:6-7:6 Name, Calling

    more oppression… reciting His name… see Him… redemption… taken… had no God… brackets… Accentism… bumpkin… Yahweh in charge… genealogy… just guys… translator… won’t work… pulled it off…

  • Exodus 5:1-6:9 Straw Man Arguments

    Who is the LORD? … denies… accusing… gambit… larger stakes… Hopper… more work… penalties… taunts… rebound on messengers… God answers… strong hand.. I will… deaf ears… stunting… bondage…

  • Exodus 4:1-4:31 Staff Support

    objected… rod… serpent… unleashed… object lesson… leprosy… inadequacy… whining… terrifying Hope… crutch… gone native… mountain of God… reunion… worship… God saw… aggravating visit…

  • Vineyard Elk Grove Mission Statement

    Today we (the four of us who remain) renewed our commitment to the transformational calling of our church.

  • Exodus 3:1-3:22 AM-bushed

    backside of nowhere… theatrics… Moses, Moses… boundaries… guilty… excruciating… seen, heard, knows… deliverance… who? where? to do what??… incongruity… who is this… I AM… God is. Yow!

  • Exodus 2:11-2:25 Stranger in a Strange Land

    Hebrew brethren… being beaten… take action… furtive… worst fears… fled… meet women… make peace… tries to forget… hope proved false… cry unto God… manifest His concern… strengthens relationship…

  • Wrestling for My Name

    September 28, 2004 I step onto the field.  Though the night is dark,  I see my Opponent waiting for me, the Author of all my miseries.  I flex my hands, eager for the combat. “Mal’ak,” I cry.  “Step aside, or face my wrath.” My Opponent does not move.  He does…

  • Exodus 1:1-2:10 Midwife Crisis

    arrived… prosper… new king… despised… Oppression… emasculation/genocide… midwives immortalized… fear God… chutzpah… rewarding… cast into the river… plan… compassion… Moses…

  • Genesis 49:29-50:26 Mummy Daddy

    charged… yielded… wept… embalm… even the Egyptians mourned… final command… trick… forgiveness… processed grief… peace… reconciliation… promise… exodus?… mummy…

  • Family Vision Statement

    On our 4.5 year anniversary, we decided to (re)develop a family vision to capture what we jointly believe God wants for and from us.

  • Genesis 49:1-49:28 Blessings by the Dozen

    prophecy… excellence… anger… leadership… haven… strong… judge… overcome… prosperous… free and lovely… fruitfulness amidst adversity… aggressive… according to the blessing they already had…

  • Genesis 47:28-48:22 Sons of the Father’s

    good age… nothing lasts forever… pass on the blessing… generation-skipping… privilege… breaks convention… straighten out… better than his father… final encouragement… personal… worthy

  • Genesis 46:28-47:27 Jacob and the Fat Land

    Judah leader… drawing near… wept… plan… loathsome heritage?… father… unscripted… great age… dismissive… blessing benefactor… works as intended… trading commodities… demographic rearrangement… piece of the action…

  • Genesis 45:9-46:27 Israel’s Express Way

    reconciled brothers… reunited father… demonstration of affection… uproar… thrilled… all-inclusive… favoritism… counterpoint… jocular… shock… too good… rallies… vision… rose up… happy ending…

  • Genesis 44:1-45:8 Judah’s Redemption

    sets up… twist… sham divination… indignant… enslaved… test… respond nobly… Joseph plays… Judah submits… invoke empathy… suspense… freak out… still unsure… reassurance… God’s goodness…

  • Genesis 43:1-43:34 Ben Again

    ominous note… God’s mercy… unpleasant truth… bribe… release… freaked out… saving their asses… suitable honor… deep passion… drunk on fortune… happy ending… greater trial… ultimately redemption…