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My daughter's gift from dad: circa 2028

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Today I ordered my NASB Wide Margin Leather Bible. I should say I ordered Bryleigh's Bible. Per the example of a couple father friends of mine, I am embarking on a story between father and daughter. I will be walking slowly through this Bible writing out my brief commentary  in conversation tone. Each writing is to address Bryleigh with God's story and my hopes for her.

Once she turns 18, the Bible will be my gift for her.

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My Top 10 Posts of All Time

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What do Willie Nelson, Chipotle, and Coldplay have in common

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I came across this video today, and I really like it. Willie Nelson covering a Coldplay song is reason enough to love this video, but the concept of the video (sustainable farming) is fantastic as well. Enjoy! (I did) [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMfSGt6rHos&w=560&h=345]

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Current Music Obsession: Ben Sollee

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Generally speaking, there is always an artist or band I am obsessed with. I.just.can't.stop listening to this artist all the time. The last obsession I would say was Listener, and before that was Mumford&Sons. Right now, I am working on a strong obsession with Ben Sollee. I saw him on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts a few weeks ago, and I was stricken. He is a cellist and vocalist, and he is both with an outrageous amount of soul. Enjoy with me!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5fd9Z7zJVg&w=420&h=345]

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Your Opinion Needed: new column

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I have been asked to create and maintain a column in a soon to be created quarterly produced by the church I pastor at. My column is to address faith and culture, and more particularly, faith IN culture. What does it look like to live out our faith in our culture? What does faith look like in our culture? A column title is required of me soon, and I have been brainstorming by myself (not really a brainSTORM I suppose). I have narrowed down to 3 possibilities. Please help me with some feedback about these options. (No! I will not even consider calling it "Fulture".)

Which do you like most? Why?

Less Than 3 City (<3C) The most connected culture we have ever had realizes what "Less Than 3" means; it is what you would type to form a heart in text. I love the idea of Christians developing a love for their city. The first step to reaching any group is developing a love for that group. You cannot serve or reach anyone you do not first love.

Lost in Translation: speaking the languages of culture and faith The first thing any good missionary knows you have to do before reaching a foreign culture is to learn the language. As far as most American Christians go, the culture around them is increasingly foreign. Further, most Christians simply do not speak the language of their city, their culture. That needs to change if we are going to reach our cities.

Urban Missionary This seems almost self-explanatory; at least to those of you who read this blog. But without assumptions like that: Though my official title is "pastor", my real ministry identity is that of missionary. I am trying to apply all the same understandings of what missionary would be and do for a "foreign" culture for this urban culture that is increasingly foreign to most Christians. I am still trying to be a light in a culture that most Christians would rather attack for being too dark.

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Alright! What are your thoughts? You may also share completely different ideas if you have them.

New Poet: Hillary Kobernick

I have been trying to listen to more from Hillary Kobernick, though it is difficult to come across more of her material. I have only found two videos online to share. This is my favorite of the two, but my favorite piece I have heard from her is called "An Open Letter to Pat Robertson" (audio of which you can find at her site above) It is both incredibly well-informed and equally cutting. Enjoy! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVs1KQACTgI&w=560&h=345]

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Why: @ragamuffinpc: what is a ragamuffin

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Perhaps you wonder why the address for this site is ragamuffinpc. Perhaps your RSS Reader still calls this site "Ragamuffin Ramblings". Perhaps you wonder what ragamuffin actually is or means. Perhaps you have images of a classic doll with red yarn hair. Perhaps you are thinking of a strange pastry. You have come to the right place today. I will explain, today, the meaning behind my site's title.

I first heard the word used and defined by my hero Brennan Manning in his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. God used Brennan and this book to ravish my aching heart with his outrageous love. I came to understand God's grace and furious love in a way I had never taken hold of in my life.

The ragamuffin is one with a singular prayer: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Brennan explains further in his new book All is Grace: "any additional flourishes to make that cry more palatable are pharisaical leaven."

The ragamuffin is one who understand that he, along with every other person, is a beggar at the door of God's mercy. She is the one who is bedraggled and beat up in life and faith, but have learned to take the hand out of grace without holding back or allowing the shame to hold them back.

This is why you will find ragamuffinpc to be more than an URL for my website, but it is an identity of which I am learning daily to take hold.

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How would you explain the name of your blog?