I had the craziest idea pop into my head the other day:

How long would it take to melt a giant glacier with a hair dryer?

I searched the internet but there were no figures to refer to, and no real data to answer my question.

But I would guess that it would take a little while.

But with enough batteries or a strong power supply, it could be done.

Some of the challenges that we face feel a little like we are attacking a mountain of ice with a little bitty hair dryer.

And to a large degree we are.

But the good news is, if we keep plugged in and stay at it, the mountain will melt.

Persistence is a mighty weapon.

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

Matt. 11:19

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

I have had a very eventful 7 days. Last Saturday I joined a group (Unspoken Ministries Blog-click here) whose main focus is to reach out to those struggling with same-sex attraction. We went to the Sacramento Gay Pride Parade (click here for Sacramento Bee article) and gave free water away with tags that read, “You are Loved!”.

It was our aim to communicate the love of Jesus in a practical and tangible way, letting everyone know that Jesus loves gay and lesbian people too.

No matter where someone is at, Jesus still loves and is looking to provide rescue.

2 days later I went to the DreamIT Conference at Capital Christian Center. I had a great time being inspired, challenged, and refreshed as a leaders such as Bill Hybels, Erwin McManus, Ed Young, and Matthew Kelly.

But my personal inspiration is not the reason that I include this detail.

The reason why I mention both of these happenings is because I wasn’t the only person who attended both events. Aside from others from surrounding churches (which included Capital Christian Center) there were groups of protesters (pictures above) that did everything they could to judge, condemn, and frustrate those that were gay and lesbian at the parade as well as those that were attempting to reach out and serve them (which is one of the reasons they were protesting at the conference with their signs). They yelled, screamed, pointed fingers, and spouted Bible verses with veins bulging from their flushed faces and craned necks.

I have many thoughts on the subject (which I am sure will inspire some of my near-future blogposts), but I will condense them all with a question:

What if Jesus acted like the protesters and angry Christians when we were sinning and struggling?

I am so thankful He didn’t.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:17

A couple of days ago basketball’s Shaquille O’Neal apologized for a Sunday evening freestyle rap session where he strongly criticized former teammate and past (and it appears present) rival Kobe Bryant.

Here are a few sentences from his apology:

“Everyone that knows Shaq knows two things about me: One, that I’m a rapper, and two, that I’m a comedian. When I played with Kobe, me, him, Brian Shaw, J.R. Rider, we had freestyle sessions all the time. … all in fun and we said crazier stuff than that. If I hurt anyone’s feelings, I apologize.“

This goes hand in hand with Janet Jackson’s, and Justin Timberlake’s apologies after the 2004 Super Bowl debacle:

Janet:It was not my intention that it go as far as it did. I apologize to anyone offended – including the audience, MTV, CBS and the NFL.”

Justin: “I know it’s been a rough week on everybody. What occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable and I apologize if you guys were offended.”

The reason that I point out these three ‘concessions’ is because they illustrate a profound aspect of the human condition:

We are allergic to humbling ourselves.

In all three of these statements, the individuals apologize by placing the onus on the potential offense connected to their actions, but not the actions themselves. They come to make things right, but get it all wrong.

Unfortunately, they aren’t alone. We have all tried our best to combine humble contrition with proud dignity. But we can’t bring healing to the wounds that our actions, inactions, or careless words have caused if our ’sorries’ are designed to cover our tracks, and watch our own backs.

Authentic apology brings togetherness and relational harmony, while fraudulent efforts perpetuate fragmentation and the pain of people.

Sorry is not just a game.

I wanted to write a simple ‘Thank You’ post to all the people that take the time to read my ramblings on this blog.

Please keep reading, commenting (you could do a little more of that!), sending e mails, and letting others know about this dreamer’s diary.

I am working on some stuff that I will post this week that I believe will challenge your thinking a little bit (I know it did mine!).

I am currently attending the DreamIT Conference at Capital Christian Center.

I will try to get some new stuff up no later than tommorrow.

Thanks for being a Dreamer.

The world needs you.

This is a very unusual, creative, and inspiring talk from the TED Conference (website) by J.J. Abrams (click here).

J.J.Abrams is a writer, director and producer of ‘Lost’, ‘Alias’, and ‘Cloverfield’.

He tells the story of the ‘Mystery Box’ and why ‘mystery’ is so key to story-telling and movie making.

Here is a cool link (click here) giving a behind the scenes look at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (Check out their website) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This is an amazing art community (I have been there and checked it out) that gives me tons of ideas for how the church can engage and inspire people.

So we can better break from the limitations created by our traditions, and we can dream new dreams in our generation.

There is a scene in the third Indiana Jones movie, ‘The Last Crusade’ where Indiana Jones (click here to see clip) where he is seeking the ‘Holy Grail’ to save his father’s life.

In order to do that, he has to have faith in a bridge that he can’t see, by jumping out and risking everything.

Is there any area where God is asking you to take a step of faith and risk something?

Can you believe and take a step like Indy?

Like a fish in water, God has a place for all of us to swim.

Don’t be afraid to jump in.

Destiny is coming.

Today is the birthday of my beautiful wife. She is my best friend and most faithful companion.

She is smart, strong, sexy, intelligent, and amazing. She is a great mom, a fun person, and she really loves Jesus.

I won’t tell you how old she is, but I will say that she is getting better and better with time.

This is a very, very bad girl (And I mean that in a good way!).

Happy Birthday Tiffany.

I Love You.

Have you ever watched a cool movie trailer that was so amazing that you couldn’t wait to see the movie? And then you went to the movie theater and the film was a joke? That happenend last night when I saw M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Happening’.

This is a horrible film. Maybe one of the worst I have ever seen.

Don’t see it.

But the concept of the cool trailer/bad movie is intriguing.

It got me thinking.

Sometimes we are a little like cool movie trailers. Flashy, quick moving, and eye catching. But after closer examination, there is not too much depth, authenticity, or integrity.

But God wants us to be more than a cool trailer of a movie.

He wants to our life to be a great film.

A film that includes truth, honor, faith, hope, passion, prayer, sacrifice, challenge, victory, and love.

May our lives be great films.

A friend gave me this quote from Pastor Cho in Korea:

“Show me your dreams, and I will show you your future.”

What are your dreams?