Our Article for Shaohannah's Hope

Stacey and I wrote an article about our adoption of Rowan for the Shaohannah's Hope foundation newsletter. They finally posted it online, so HERE is the link to the article. The foundation helped us with the last part of the finances that we needed to complete her adoption. It is a great organization and I would highly recommend supporting them.

U2 360

I think many of you know how I feel about the band U2. I was a teenager in the 80's when they hit the scene with a vengeance. MTV was new and I recall watching a video from some Irish band playing at RedRocks. Steam coming out of the lead singer's mouth, passion gushing from his heart as he belted out "SUNDAY, BLOODY, SUNDAY!" I had no idea of the political nature of the song and I didn't care...these guys were just cool and I was hooked.

Fast forward to a couple of Sundays ago when U2 kicked off the U.S. leg of their 360 tour at Soldier Field in Chicago. Not sure why but Stacey and I had never been to a U2 concert and a friend of ours said that he couldn't use his tickets. We went and I crossed another item off of my bucket list.

So we show up at the concert and I was struck by the diversity of ages in the crowd. The appeal of this band is definitely not waning and if anything, picking up steam. Usually churning out 2 or three hits per album, they stay very current by putting on a very tech savvy show with Bono's ability to personally connect with each person in the crowd.

The show was complete eye candy. The mega screen a unique novelty and they used it to it's full effect. The first couple of songs looked like we were watching an edited music video. It felt like they had 100 cameras stationed everywhere with each cut to a different camera completely synced to the beat of the music. Impressive to say the least. At one point the screen starts to stretch (don't ask me how) all the way to the ground. So you are then looking at a 50+ foot screen in the round.

Bono was as you would expect. Passionate, energetic, tender, funny, self-effacing... At one point he is running around the outer ring of the circular stage with shouts of "run Bono run!" coming from the crowd. The next moment he is singing a song while lying on his back. And there is a bridge that hangs over the head of the elite ticketholders that connects the inner stage with the outer circle. Bono leans over the side of the bridge and serenades the crowds below.

What I like most about the band though is their spiritual overtones in many of their songs mixed with a powerful compulsion to do justice. At one point during the show, the crowd of 68,000 was singing "Amazing Grace". There was a funny, spirited and moving address by Desmund Tutu and a song written for Myanmar’s jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, "Walk On". During this song many in the crowd and volunteers on stage wore masked of her face so no one would forget that she was the elected leader of Myanmar in, but currently in her 14th year under house arrest.

It is this social sensibility that has kept me a fan after all of these years. Creative, provocative, spiritual, socially aware with some pretty good rock music. U2 rocks.

Mosaic Bible is available today

I just received my copy of a new Bible of which I was a contributor called Mosaic. And I love how it turned out.

This Bible combines some elements that I have not seen in any other Bible.

v Beautiful artwork from the 3^rd to 21^st centuries from every continent across the globe.
v Moving and thought-provoking writings, poems and prayers from the 1^st to 21^st centuries from every continent and branch of the Church around the world. This includes a meditation that I wrote for the season of Pentecost on the topic of creativity called "Old Things New."

v Both artwork and writings follow the Church calendar throughout the year starting with Advent (Sunday, November 29, 2009).

v And there is space provided for you to record your own thoughts and meditations.

It is available as of TODAY (September 22, 2009) at amazon and we are trying to bump up the amazon ranking by asking people to buy TODAY (at only $20!).

And NO, I do not make a dime from this project. I am simply letting you know about it because I think you will love it and that it will enhance your spiritual journey.

The back cover sleeve of the Bible reads "On our own, we are little more than bits of stone and glass... TOGETHER we are the body of Christ." This Bible taps us into the great body of writers throughout the history of our faith to challenge and encourage us.

Another Great Adoption T

Love the creativity that is happening today to find a place for the millions of little ones needing a home.

My Week and thoughts

1. Rowan went to the dentist today and WOW do I wish I had dental insurance now. Universal Dental insurance NOW!

2. A bit surprised by all of the hoopla surrounding Obama's tv broadcast in schools. Especially since Reagan and Bush did it too. One guy on facebook compared this move to Hitler. Really?

3. Found out my old HS football team will play their first game on national television (ESPN) on Sunday at noon. Very cool except that they can't seem to beat Elder, even when they have a superior team.

4. Surprised how little support there is in Chicago for the Olympic bid. Tepid at best.

5. Am thinking that my dog Sugar needs to find a nice, loving home where there is not the chaos of a 3 and 6 year old.