Hanging out in Seattle this week, this weekend at Brian McLaren‘s Everything Must Change conference. First part of this week, staying with …parker (Shepherd|Knucklehead) on Bainbridge Island. Below is the submarine that we saw between us and Seattle skyline one morning.

The first part of the week was such a needed time of rejuvenation as I got some amazing time with parker, some great reading, sun, ocean, Harley the golden lab, amazing beer, movies, fresh popcorn (and I guess this is the stuff that isn’t bad for the colon), and just a wonderful peaceful time.

Here at Deep Shift, I am more interested than anything else in the people that show up. I love so much to be able to make some new connections, to hear and learn the stories of people’s joys and sorrows of ministry and living out the journey of living the Jesus-way. It’s always hard for me to sit through long lectures (sermons?) and to do the whole stand up sit down thing of singing (worship). Better for me to feel the fresh air, rather than the dim warmth of big sanctuaries, and stand outside or be in conversation. This is probably why I am writing right now during the singing time.

This conference is good. So many important points made to oraise our awareness of the abuses that get done in the name of Jesus and Christianity. I think the thing that I keep coming back to is how sickly psychotic much of our rational for living is. Our efforts to maintain our security, equity, and prosperity are CRAZY!! And how often we use our religion to back up our insanity…

I’m ready to be back in OR. Ready to get back to growing communities and building connections