family, escrow and chuppah ...

I'm in the blogging mood ... so much going on in my life and marriage and family and church ... where do I begin?

My wife is simply amazing ... we've been married almost 10 years and I'm more in love with her than ever before ... our children are growing up so fast ... Ava is getting smarter and smarter every day ... this week, we introduced her to the world of Monopoly ... she won ... it's on ... Adiah dances in this Hawaiian costume every night ... so cute ... Asher is such an amazing kid ... I couldn't imagine life without my son ... and now we have little Alicia ... she's almost walking and has the most beautiful eyes ...

as far as the Stirring, today we went into escrow on the building we're purchasing ... it still seems unreal ... we've been praying for a space like this for years ... I know this is God's dream for us, and God loves to see His dreams in the hands of His children ... God is so good!

Over the next three weeks, we're wrapping up our series Under the Chuppah ... we've been talking about love and romance and dating and marriage and sex ... all the good stuff ... with all the confusion, divorce and brokenness when it comes to relationships and marriage, I'm convinced the book Song of Songs is more relevant and needed today than ever ... we're calling this generation back Under the Chuppah and into a life of freedom and purity ...

it's late and I need sleep ... blog on!

It's my life!

God has blessed me with such an amazing son ... We wrestle and growl and play with motorcycles all day long ... it's my life!

weddings ...

I'm the wedding guy ... here's a shot from Drew and Julie's wedding a few months ago!

skim boarding and sewer tunnels ...

my family and I just walked the Pier in downtown San Clemente ...

every year, we spend a week of family vacation on the beach ... we eat Pedro's tacos, build sand castles in the sand, and sit around in glorious hot tubs ... life's a beach ... tonight, we took a family walk on the Pier ... we watched surfers and ate pink cotton candy ... my kids nail cotton candy like champions ... pure sugar rush to the head ...

last night, Sean Gafner talked me into a late night skim boarding adventure (Sean always has some crazy idea) ... we hopped in the car around 10 o' clock p.m. and went searching for the nearest Walmart to buy a skim board ... since most of the beaches are closed at night, we parked in a dark parking lot and walked through a sewer tunnel to the ocean ... we finally arrived around midnight ... we didn't have board shorts, so we skimmed in our boxers ... late night boxer midnight moment with Sean ... priceless!

we skimmed the night away in the moonlight ... I'm hooked!

a long day ...

woke up late this morning (saw Coldplay at Sleep Train last night) ...
spent a few hours at Starbucks drinking coffee (reading Acts & Ephesians & 1st Samuel 30) ...
ate pizza ...
met with Emily and talked about the Stirring Kids ...
signed a few checks ...
responded to almost 130 emails (grateful for typing class in high school) ...
Red Robin with Matt and Erica parsons ...
life group at the Gafner's (steak & potato salad) ... I love our church ...
met with Darby Anderson about 'the Way' ...
called my wife in Sacramento ... (I miss my family) ...
watching a film about a cop who chases down bad guys with a gun ... (yep) ...
keeping up my blog reputation ...

poets, prophets, and preachers ...

I just spent the past weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan, soaking up the Poets, Prophets, and Preachers, a conference hosted by Rob Bell of Mars Hill, Shane Hipps, author of Flickering Pixels, and Peter Rollins, author of How (Not) to Speak of God. When I found out about this conference, I knew I had to be there. I bought a plane ticket the next week. Sometimes, you just know you've got to be there.

The heart of the conference: Reclaiming the Art of the Sermon

Here were some of the session titles: (provoking to say the least!)

The Original Guerilla Theatre (Rob Bell)
The Story We’re Telling (Rob Bell)
Returning to the New: An Introduction to Tranformance Art (Peter Rollins)
How Technology Shapes the Sermon (Shane Hipps)
The Fig Tree and the Failure of Language (Rob Bell)
Fumbling Around with Your Radar (Rob Bell)
For Those With Ears to Hear: Parables and the Lost Art of Provocation (Peter Rollins)
You are the Medium (Shane Hipps)
The One Thing I’ve Never Heard Someone Talk About That Has Changed Everything For Me (Rob Bell)

I took 15 hard core pages of notes ... I leaned forward in my chair 3 days straight ... my head hurts, but my spirit is alive ...

More than anything, I have a wider lens through which to read the Scriptures ... I have a new set of questions as I approach theology ... I have a new passion for teaching and preaching ... I have a renewed love for God's story ... (and I have a great idea for our Fall series) ... just wait and see ...

my girls ...

here are few new pictures of our girls ... Alicia (4 months), Adiah (4), and Ava (6) ...

Oh Canada!

we just spent the past 8 days on family vacation in Canada ...

what a glorious week in Beautiful British Columbia ... so green and so peaceful ... there's nothing like the smell of cows and hay in the morning ... we spent time with our grandma and cousins and uncles and aunts ... we watched movies ... we ate Sushi ... we took the kids to Dinotown (a mix between Kid's Kingdom and Disneyland, but more like Kid's Kingdom) ... we walked on the beach ... we have such a generous family up in Canada ... they fed us and loved us and blessed us ... thank you so much ... go Canada!

by the way, if you didn't know, I'm half-Canadian ... I told that to the lady at the border and she laughed at me!

I know this sounds crazy, but one of my favorite things to do on vacation is to visit other churches ... we visited a Canadian church 'Peace Portal' on Sunday morning ... we sang the song Oh Canada to begin the service ... it just happened to be Canada day ... the message was powerful ... just months ago, the pastor lost his wife to cancer ... she was an amazing woman of God ... he talked about the importance of community in moments of pain and death ... how do we encourage and come alongside people in the most painful moments ...

that night I went to an underground Youth Church movement ... there are over 1000 youth meeting weekly to worship and seek God ... they meet in five different cities ... they're not connected to any particular denomination or church ... it's just Canadian youth who want to reach their generation for Christ ... amazing ... the gathering was raw and real ... one of the youth shared his testimony ... just a few months ago he was dealing drugs, and then he met Christ, and now he's one of the young leaders in this movement ... he shared his story and then we prayed for each other ... God is moving in Canada!

on the way back, we spent an evening with Steve and Renee Swinburne in Bellingham, WA. ... we love the Swinburnes ... they fed us pasta and sent us off with fruit snacks and coffee ... I drank a quadruple shot Iced Caramel Macchiato and drove 12 hours straight back to Redding (with only one speeding ticket) ... 70 mph in a 60 mph zone ... 60 mph on I-5??? ... what the heck? ... Steve warned me about the Washington police and how they're out to get those speedy Californians ... I should have listened to him ... bummer!

now I'm back ... I've missed my country and my bed ...

seminary and ramblings ...

almost done with class ...
just wrapped up my last paper ...
absolutely intrigued and wrecked by the life of Bonhoeffer ...
just got back from Grandma's memorial service ...
shaping my message for Sunday ...
performing Drew and Julie's wedding this Saturday night ...
getting excited about our vacation to Canada ...
just drank a cup of coffee at 10 pm (awful idea) ...
I am white and I need a tan ...

sitting in class ...

I'm finishing up two weeks in Tozer Seminary ... two weeks, 10 days, 80 hours of class ... "the life and thought of Bonhoeffer" and "Global issues in Evangelism" ... my head hurts ...

I'm sitting in class with some great friends ... yes, of course, the one and only Shawn Bagley from Utah ... sitting right next to me and making me laugh ... we're drinking coffee and eating skittles ... skittles, friends, and theology ... it's my life ...

Once I finish this week, my family and I are leaving for our summer vacation to Canada ... good old British Columbia ... I can't wait ... all 6 of us piling into our mini-van for an adventure to the land of Canada ... go Canada!

I'm going home ...

my grandma June passed away this Thursday morning at 6:05 am ...

she loved Jesus ... she walked with God ... she lived a life of courage and passion ... she played the piano and used her musical talent for God's glory ... more than anything, she loved to serve people ... she had a burning passion for people ...

my grandpa Paul and grandma June were missionaries in countries all around the world ... they saw revival in villages, cities and nations ... they preached the message of Jesus with boldness ... they prayed for the sick ... they cast out demons ... they saw the dead come back to life ... they planted churches in New Zealand, the Philippines, and Canada ... they lived filled with the Holy Spirit ...

grandma June leaves behind a great legacy ... she gave her life ...

early this morning, my grandma called the nurse into her hospital room ... she spoke quietly, yet boldly to the nurse and said, "I need to get dressed, I'm going home" ... these were her last words, and she fell asleep ...

brothers ...

when I was young, my brothers and I were in a rock band named 'Outburst' ...

Benji played the drums, Jeremy played the guitar, and I played the piano and sang ... in fact, we actually filmed a music video (we never finished it, due to the fact I got angry with my brothers and kicked them out of the video) ... anyways, one day I'll post it on my sight for your entertainment ...

we wrote a few song and performed concerts for the neighbors and their families ... we set up our instruments in the garage and jammed for hours ... back in the grunge days (before Nirvana caught on) ... I wrote a rap song called 'the Resurrection Rap,' inspired by Carmen, of course ... and I wrote a few worship songs, inspired by Michael W. Smith and Keith Green ...

as a band, we never released an album, but we were a hit in the neighborhood ... and that's all that matters ... we made people laugh and our songs gave people hope ... years later, when I began high school, the band broke up ... it was a sad day, but nothing great lasts forever (except love and Jesus and Christian rap) ...

Benji grew up to be a loan officer ... Jeremy moved to Seattle to become a legend in the rock world ... I am a pastor in Northern California ... we are still friends, and perhaps one day we will resurrect 'Outburst' for one more concert in the garage ... long live rock ...

one more thing: if you've never heard of Carmen, you've never lived ...

grandpa and grandma ...

I'm floored by God's goodness ...

I'm so grateful to be alive and to know Jesus ... Jesus has changed my life in every way possible ... someone asked me a question this week, "When did you know you wanted to be a pastor?" ... I responded, "I never wanted to be a pastor" ... a few years ago, I met Jesus and He changed my life ... I just want to know God and love God and walk with God ... whether I serve burgers at Red Robin or teach weekly at a church, I will live my life to bring glory and honor to Jesus ... pastor is not a job, it's a calling ...

this week, I spent time with my grandpa and grandma ... they've walked with Jesus for their entire lives ... they've traveled around the world and shared Jesus in more than 50 nations ... they've seen great revival in cities and churches and villages ... grandpa plays the trombone and grandma plays the piano ...

I'm so grateful for my grandpa and grandma and the legacy they will leave behind ... they gave their lives ... they have shown me a love worth knowing ... they have shown me a life worth chasing ... they have shown me Jesus and I will never be the same ...

Jesus and shoes ...

a few months ago, we hosted our music, art and film festival, Erase the Dark ... with the purpose of using our creativity to bless children and schools in our city ... we brought together some of our favorite local artists, songwriters and filmmakers to pull off this festival ... through this event, we raised almost $6000 for the children at Cypress Elementary ...

so we purchased almost 200 pairs of Converse shoes for the kids on that campus ... last Wednesday, our team took the shoes to Cypress and gave them to the kids ... what an amazing opportunity to show God's love to children and families in our city ... for all those who helped with Erase the Dark, thanks for your generosity and thanks for using your creativity to show the world Jesus ... for all those who sponsored this event, you are fabulous ...

over the next few weeks, we'll be putting together a sweet video of the festival and the shoes ... until then, check out the pictures on the Stirring Blog ...

Happy Birthday Asher ...

Happy Birthday Asher ...

2 years old and you're the man ... riding bikes and throwing balls ... handsome little guy, just like your dad ...

I pray for you every night, that you would grow up to be a man of God ... that you would love Jesus and follow Him with your whole heart ... I know you have a great call on your life and I will pray for you and encourage you until I see you walk in that great calling ... you're a marked little man and I can't wait to see the bold man of God you will one day become ...

and please stop beating up your sisters ... that's not cool!

Adiah's first song ...

tonight, my 4 year old daughter Adiah wrote her first song ... my kids are great song writers ... it must run in the family ...

most people don't know this, but almost everyone in my family has incredible musical talent ...

my grandma plays the accordian and keyboard ...
my other grandma plays the tuba and the piano ...
my grandfather plays the trumpet and sings ...
my father plays piano, guitar and writes songs ...
my mom plays the guitar and the piano (and coordinates weddings) ...
my uncle plays the banjo ...
my brother Benji plays guitar and enjoys country music ...
my wife sings and plays the recorder ...
my daughters are songwriters ...
oh yeah, my brother Jeremy wrote a couple of songs in a rock band (I think they won some MTV contest) ...
and I played the trombone in high school ...

anyways, here are the lyrics to Adiah's new song:

I love you Jesus
Please come with me to Disneyland
Please help my birthday to come really fast
I hope my birthday has cupcakes and cake
I hope Spring comes fast

Chorus:
I love you Jesus
I love you all the way to the moon and back

I love you Jesus
I love you everywhere
I love you to the sun
I love my baby sister Alicia
I hope she grows up fast

Life Group Stories...

Hey guys, God is doing some amazing things in our life groups ...

as we're traveling through the book of Acts this summer, we're already hearing so many stories of how God is changing lives ...

go check out what's happening in Sean and Rebecca's Wednesday evening life group ... praise God for baptism and swimming pools ... God is so good!

Let's keep sharing the stories of what God is doing ... this will help us be encouraged as a community!

Happy Anniversary ...

Happy 9 year Anniversary!

Erica, you're the most amazing woman on the planet ... I love you so much ... you are so giving and encouraging ... you're a great mom and I can't imagine life without you ... you have a strong faith and I'm blessed by your life with Jesus ... every year, I grow more in love with you ... 4 kids and 9 years later, we're still best friends and ready for teenagers ... next year, let's ditch the kids and go to Hawaii! (for a month)

they devoted themselves ...

they devoted themselves to the teachings, to the fellowship, to the breaking of the bread, and to prayer ...

to the teachings, a life of obedience ...
to the fellowship, being as committed to each other as we are to God ...
to the breaking of the bread, a life of worship ...
to prayer, simply talking to the God who moves the universe ...

they devoted themselves ... who devoted themselves? ... everyone ... the men and the women, the rich and the poor, the leaders and the new believers ... everyone devoted themselves to this Acts 2:42 life ... no one devoted them to this life ... they had to do it for themselves ... the leaders taught with boldness and passion, but the burden of discipleship fell upon the new believers ...

we can't force discipleship ... as leaders and pastors, we can teach and pray and provoke and inspire, but when the people of God devote themselves to a life of obedience, covenant, worship, and prayer, we will become the radical and world changing community God created us to be ...

let's be honest, it's much more convenient to just show up at church and sing songs on Sundays, and for some reason, we call that church ... but that's not church ... true Acts 2:42 church is much more life changing and radical and it costs us something ...

they devoted themselves ... are you devoted to an Acts 2:42 life?

there's no place I'd rather be ...

I just wrapped up the craziest and fullest few months of my life ...

I finished a challenging theology course in my Masters program, brought our 4th child Alicia Amy Edwardson onto the planet, tackled a thick series on 'Heaven' at the Stirring, and we just hosted our first 'When God Dreams' Conference ...

It's been such an amazing few months ... my daughters bring me so much joy ... my son can beat up your son ... I'm enjoying spending time with my brothers and their wives ... my parents are so encouraging and generous ...

I love our church ... our church is the bomb ... I'm not talking about Sundays, I'm talking about the people ... the people who serve and the people who love and the people who worship and the people who encourage me and hold up my arms every day ... the ones who carry ladders and speak words of life and put courage in me ... that's the church ... thank you for being WHO God has CREATED you to be ... I'm proud to raise my family in our church ...

I just spent the last hour hanging out with my wife on a couch ... there's no place I'd rather be ... I'm fried and ready for bed ...