The Link Below is NOT Broken.... Read Carefully

You Must Read This: Click Here

Happy Easter! (Pass the tartar sauce).

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. - Luke 24:5-6

Jesus was dead and then came back to life. And then he ate some fish. I like that part. Seems very nonchalant. Jesus was tried, murdered, dead and burried. He came back to life after three days. Jesus just saved the world from certain damnation... and then he ate a broiled fish. That makes me happy. Jesus is alive and seafood is good.

May your day be filled with joy. And enjoy your lunch.

Photo Portrait

striped sweater one
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Photo Portrait

striped sweater two
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Photo Portrait

striped sweater three
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Homeless Problem Solved!

solution
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

The homeless problem in my neighborhood was recently "solved" with the installation of an iron gate at the opening of the alcove in the vacant building across the street from my office. Now you may ask "where will the homeless sleep"? And I will answer "not my problem". See? Homeless problem solved. That was easy.

New OTR Released in One Week

new album
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Over the Rhine is a perhaps the single most under rated musical act in the world. (With the exception of "Gored by Buffalo", a little known power pop outfit that rocked the St Louis divinity school houseparty circuit for a few short years near the turn of the millenium- but I digress). Anywho, OTR is due out with a new album in just seven days. "Drunkard's Prayer" is the follow up to 2003's "Ohio", a stunningly resplendant double disc album of some of the best songsmithing (is that a word?) you'll ever come across. Simply put, no one does what they do better. Be sure to purchase this album and pick up something from their back catalog while you're at it. They write songs that are sad and happy at the same time. It's a lot like real life in that way.

Here's my top five all time favorite OTR songs as the list currently stands (it changes a lot):

5. And Can It Be (until we have faces)
4. Sleep Baby Jane (eve)
3. Circle of Quiet (patience)
2. Ohio - (ohio)
1. Latter Days - (good dog bad dog)

Obligatory "Cute Kid" Picture

curious george & curious sam
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Charity took the boys to a book store recently to see Curious George in person. I love this picture of Sam. It really captures the essence of his personality. He is so inquisitive and observant. You can almost see him thinking, "Who the heck is this clown?"

Jesus, the Beatles, and how the Church got it wrong.

help
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Freaks & Geeks

freaks & geeks
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Recently, the good people over at birty.us posted an entry about the show freaks and geeks, a little watched, mostly unknown television show from the late 90's that just happens to be one of the greatest pieces of programming in broadcast history. It made me nostalgic. Then, last week on NPR I heard an interview with the author and co-executive director of the show talking about his experience and pushing some new book he's written. So Charity and I ordered the complete Freaks and Geeks 6 disc dvd box set (now get off my back Columbia House!). Unfortunately this brilliant show was cancelled after just one season by some network executive who said "none of my friends were like that". Of course not! All your friends were named Thurston and wore ascots. Freaks and Geeks is a show for people who had ordinary childhoods. This show is the exact opposite of (and perfect antidote for) shows like 90210, Dawson's Creek, and especially the OC. Every actor in the show gives a stellar performance. You will swear you went to high school with some of these people.

Here's a quote from a 2000 review of the show, while it was still on air: "Freaks and Geeks' finest attribute (and the reason it may not fare well in the "outrageous" world of network television) is its refusal to resort to the easy laugh or the life-shattering moment. If anything, Freaks and Geeks seems at first blush to be uncommonly ordinary, entirely devoid of sarcastic zingers or Kramer-esque pratfalls. But don't stop watching. Repeated exposure breeds a deep appreciation for its low-key charm and, I suspect, for all who survived high school, a shudder of recognition when they see a bit of themselves reflected on screen."

Charity and I are thinking about throwing a "Freaks and Geeks Party" in order to share the joy with our friends and create converts to the Freaks and Geeks army. Look for your invitation in the mail.

What's Rockin' the Reverend?

spoon and rafter
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

The reverend has been rocked by a new itunes mix he made for his wife. Look people, I've been a ittle busy lately to bring you the quality you deserve in a blog, so please forgive me. Really I have no time to review each of these songs. You can check out my mix (and even purchase it) at itunes. Search under imixes. It's called "a mix for funky pastor's wife". Listen to samples and judge for yourselves. I think it is tasty! Let me know what you think.

1. We Will Become Silhouettes 3:01 Such Great Heights - EP The Shins
2. Snow Day 3:31 Winter Songs Matt Pond PA
3. Staring At the Sun 3:59 1 Simple Kid
4. First Day of My Life 3:08 I'm Wide Awake It's Morning Bright Eyes
5. Here Comes the Sun Again 2:21 Transistor Radio M. Ward
6. You Wouldn't Like Me 2:56 So Jealous Tegan and Sara
7. Evangeline 4:47 Girlfriend Matthew Sweet
8. Love Is an Arrow 2:30 Young Forever Aberfeldy
9. Finally 4:53 Burn the Maps The Frames
10. Such Great Heights 4:10 Such Great Heights - EP Iron & Wine
11. Amanda's Dream (iTunes Version) 4:17 Modern Troubadours - In the Roun... Teitur
12. Starlight, No. 1 4:55 Spoon and Rafter Mojave 3
13. Fake Palindromes 2:52 The Mysterious Production of Eggs Andrew Bird
14. Coin-Operated Boy (Edit Version) 3:37 War Pigs - EP The Dresden Dolls
15. Dig the Lightning 2:50 Tree City Robbers on High Street
16. Break so Easy 4:03 Extended Player 24:26 - EP Johnathan Rice
17. Mary 3:10 Emoh Lou Barlow
18. True Religion 4:16 The Duhks The Duhks
19. All My Life 3:19 Only With Laughter Can You Win Rosie Thomas
20. Brimful of Asha 5:17 When I Was Born for the 7th Time Cornershop

I chipped a tooth.

dentist
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Eating cashews. Went to the dentist and he said it needs a cap. The estimate is $1,060. Most expensive cashews I ever ate. By the way, does that dentist look like Ray Romano to you?

Cup Holders and the Grace of God (or where to put 44oz of diet coke while operating a ford focus with manual transmission)

super big gulp
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Details to come...

Jimmy stopped by today.

"Jimmy"
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

I took some coffee to the guys across the street this morning and mentioned that I hadn't seen Jimmy and Johnny in quite awhile. They must have told Jimmy I was eager to see him because this afternoon he showed up at the door. It was good to see him. He's gotten involved in a substance addiction program and they set him up with an apartment in Renyoldsburg. This is good news, though today I could tell he had been drinking. He hasn't seen Johnny in sometime. Apparantly they had a falling out. Johnny got mad when Jimmy got an apartment. Then later when Jimmy gave Johnny some cash to go get some liquor, Johnny took off with the money. Now they aren't speaking. I'm sure it will pass. They've been friends for 15 years. Anyway, Jimmy asked me for $81 so he could get his guitar out of the pawn shop. I didn't give it to him. Then he asked me for a bible. I told him he could come back Wednesday and I'd give him a bible, but he has to hang around and read it with me some. That's the plan. But then how often do things go according to plan? Regardless, it was good to see Jimmy again.

A Quote I Read This Morning:

"We cannot attain to a vision, we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision" - Oswald Chambers

It's Time To Catch Up: iPod Church Finder

The following is an article I found on a website entitled churchmarketingsucks.com I didn't write this article. But I found it interesting.

In a well written, pithy press release, the "Irish Pubs Directory" people announced that you can now download the iPod version of their list and ratings:

"You won't always have access to the web when you're travelling, especially at the exact moment you're looking for a pub. That's why we are making it possible for you to take the directory with you.Now you can have the directory of pubs along with descriptions and ratings always to hand. Never waste time looking for that perfect Irish pub again! You can choose from two versions...our popular PDA Directory and our new iPod Guide. Both versions contain the pubs, descriptions, ratings and more. All at hand when you need them."


I've got nothing against Irish pubs. But why is it I can now find an Irish pub (with reviews!), a Buffalo Wild Wings (with menu!), a Kinkos/FedEx (with service listings!)in 10 seconds, but I can't find a complete listing of Methodist churches in Columbus, Ohio that tells me which has traditional vs. contemporary services? Or if any has childcare? Or a choir? Or nursery school? Or Bible study? Or... Or... Or...


Wake up and smell the electrons. I don't care what your denomination is. When the "Irish Pubs Directory" is better organized and has better Internet and electronic, portable, personalized marketing than any and all of the major Christian denominations, there's some serious catching up to do

What's Rockin' the Reverend?

Muse
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

When Radiohead stopped sounding like Radiohead with the release of Kid A (a work of genius, by the way) some one was bound to step into the gap and make music for the listeners that were not willing to follow Thom York and company into the great unknown. Muse is that some one. Absolution is a good album. It's adequately written, well produced (perhaps too well) and picks up where The Bends left off. This album is a guilty pleasure for me. I have just a little bit of trouble respecting a group whose sound is so clearly derived from such talented contemporaries. So yes, Muse is to Radiohead as Stone Temple Pilots is to Pearl Jam, and as Candlebox is to Stone Temple Pilots, and as Silver Chair is to Candlebox, and as Creed is to all of the above. And yet I like how Absolution sounds. I hope you can forgive me. If you enjoy a little "Planet Telex" from time to time and miss the sound of Thom York singing over guitars that actually sound like guitars, then you may just want to pick up Absolution by Muse. A guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless.

Watch out for Arizona this year.

warner
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

I became a fan of Kurt Warner's during my time in St Louis. I can't help it. I just believe this guy still has it in him to win the big games. No, I don't have any recent evidence of this. Yes, I am aware of what a debacle the last few years have been for Warner. I just can't help it. I believe in this guy. Click the link to read an article by a guy who agrees with my irrational love of Kurt Warner.

Oops. Naughty Indy Rock Hipster.

uhhhh...
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

This artitst was previously featured as the "Rockin' the Reverend" of the week. Please disregard. It has no no's on it.

Be this guy: Week 2

124scott
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Ok, so thanks to those of you who participated in our "be this guy" event last week. The management has declared the winner to be birty. Good job birty. It was a tough call, but in the end it was the olives that pushed him over the top. Here's your photo for week 2. Here's the rules: In first person, leave a post explaining who this guy is. Go ahead... be this guy. Good luck.

weak is the new strong

live strong bracelet
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Strong is not the answer. Strong is the problem.
Little boys go through a stage of life beginning at around three years old, when they want to be independant. They want to do everything themselves. They want to be strong. Jack is now five, so this "strong" stage is in full swing. He is utterly infatuated with super heroes, and super powers, and knights with swords, and cowboys and guys with capes and light sabers, and that catch the bad guys and fly and lift cars and break things and blow stuff up. And we've got all the paraphanalia that goes along with it. The action figures, the comic books, the dvd's. In some ways all of this is very good. It promotes manhood and idealizes courage and bravery, justice and truth. Strong is attractive. Strong is exciting. Strong is cool. But strong is pretend.

A growl of frustration made its way to my ears from the upstairs bathroom. Jack had just entered the "I can do it myself" stage and was learning to dress himself for bed time. The growl gets louder. Now its a scream. Jack doesn't ask for my help, but it's clear from his unintelligible protest that my help is needed. I climb the stairs to find Jack standing in the bathroom, naked from the waist down. His arms are contorted and sticking nealry straight into the air. He's flailing wildly. Still growling, bound and blinded by his Superman pajama shirt which is half-on/ half-off, over his head. Jack needs my help in putting his pajamas on for bed time, but he doesn't ask. He wants to do it himself. He wants to be strong. His strength is his weakness. If he would just ask me to help. If he would just be weak, for a moment, he could be free. The great irony of course is that it is his Superman shirt which binds him and blinds him. Jack's great strength is not Jack. Jack's super power is his weakness. It is when he is weak that I can help. His weakness is his strength because it allows me to work.

Little boys enter that independant stage at around age three. I'm not sure when they grow out of it. Not thirty, apparantly. We're still in it. And so we live strong. Walking around naked from the waist down with some polyester-blend pajama shirt wrapped around our heads, arms flailing wildly trying to free ourselves from the mess we're in. Of course, we think no one notices. We pretend our flailings are the flexing of muscle or the flapping of wings, ready to soar. And mostly, no one does notice. They're blinded, naked and flailing as well. We're not strong. The answer is not inside us. Help must come from outside of us. We need the strength of our Father, and when we are weak, he is strong. Our weakness is our greatest power.

Ever wonder what the prayers of a pastor sound like? They must be so eloquent and spiritual, right? Lot's of times it sounds like this: "Jesus, help me. I don't know how to fix this. I can't do this. Jesus, help". And so I stop flailing. And he puts my head through the head-part. My arms through the arm parts. He covers my nakedness. In the end I find that my problem was my need to be strong. I mean, that's the original temptation isn't it? The serpent says, "eat this and be like God, do this and know the answers, turn stone to bread, have power, be strong". Well, I don't want to be strong anymore. I need to be weak, so Christ can be strong in me. Strong is my whole problem. I want to learn to live weak.

TBN Gang Connection Suspected

angel
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

While at the world famous headquarters of TBN in Southern California, my friend Jason and I happened upon this beautiful (read shlocky) painting of an angelic being adorning the interior walls of a particular room. After some brief analysis we determined that the angel appears to be flashing some kind of secret gang hand signal. So we are seen here with the angel, flashing our gang signs. Well, I'm flashing a pretend gang sign and Jason... Jason appears to be in pain. but nontheless, we are confident that we have discovered some DiVinci Code-like connection between TBN and Orange County street gangs. More to come as the story develops.

Let Not the Sun Go Down on Your Danish: Love, Forgiveness & the Definition of Coffee Cake

the pastry in question: danish or coffee cake?
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

I'm sure many of you have often wondered, "Just what does a funky presbyterian and his wife argue about? Anything? What could possibly bring distress into the household of two people so very in love... and sanctified?" Well, my dear readers, believe it or not, we do have the occasional, ahem... "disagreement". Take tonight for instance. There was a dispute that essentially revolved around the specific set of characteristics necessary for a food item to be categorized as a part of the coffee cake phylum. One party held to what may be called a "loose subscriptionist" position whereby "coffee cake-ness" is to be defined according to a very flexible set of features and is determined in large part by referring to the manner in which said label has been applied to food items in our household in years past. The other party held a position we will call "strict subscription" whereby those food items clearly labeled "coffee cake" by the manufacturer are held to be coffee cakes, while items labeled otherwise (in this case the label in question was "danish") are considered to fall outside of the coffee cake category. In short, the whole matter was resolved with a second late night trip to the grocer's, an apology and the purchase of a rasberry danish twist, a package of brownies and apple oatmeal cookies. And then I drank a beer. (And by "beer" I mean "beer"). In the end, cooler heads prevailed as peace, love and understanding returned to the funky p. household. Goodnight.

Funky Presbyter to Attend Funk-Free Presbytery Meeting

One of the things I appreciate most about my church's denomination is it's government. Presbyterian government is based on shared leadership. I enjoy seeing and speaking with other pastors and church leaders from throughout the region. We are able to pray for each other and encourage one another while we are together. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these presbytery meetings are 100% funk-free. So this weekend I must travel a great distance in order to conduct the business of being the church, and my funk is not much of an asset in these instances. While I will not be leaving my funk at home, I will be leaving it in the car during the meetings. I'll be sure to leave a window cracked. You know, so the funk can breathe.

What's Rocking the Reverend?

trouble
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Here's a new weekly feature for you all entitled, "What's Rocking the Reverend". Feel free to let the rest of us know what's rocking you this week? We'd like to know.

Ray LaMontagne's recent release entitled "Trouble" has been rocking my world this week. He's got a scruffy, smokey voice that is eerily familiar, and yet I can not place it. All of these songs sound instantly like old favorites. This album could have been written 40 years ago, or yesterday and it wouldn't matter. It is a solid, soulful, well crafted album occupying that place between country and soul, blues and folk. Nothing groundbreaking here. It's not pushing any envelope or experimenting with some new technology. LaMontagne reminds me of the first time I heard Norah Jones in that it made me think, "here is a talented artist with nothing to prove, writing songs without pretension". Refreshing. Look for this guy's name come Grammy time next year.

Interview with Derek Webb

Derek Webb
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

I know some of you are Derek Webb fans. Here is a link to a recent interview. The more I hear this guy talk, the more I like him. He's a trouble maker.

Click the link above to read an interview and then copy and paste the link below to listen to Derek speak about these and similar issues. You know, on second thought you probably shouldn't listen to him speak. Your head might explode.

http://www.tucollegelife.com/audio/derekaudio.html

The Church Needs Bob Dylan

Dylan
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Here is an excellent article about Bob Dylan's great cultural influence and the Church's great need to listen and learn with humility. Read this if you are a Dylan fan. Read it twice if you aren't.

Mad at God?

Here's a relatively good article for those angry with God. It doesn't so much provide answers, it's not a polemic, it's just one guy's story of dealing with his anger at God and God's patience with his children. It's worth the 7 minutes. Click on the link above.

Time running out to be that guy

Time is running out to submit your entry for the Be This Guy competition of this week. Two more days and then the management at Funky Prebyterian will choose a winner. You could be the envy of all your friends. Scroll down and get to work. : )

mmm...beeeeer.

spaten optimator
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Right now, this very moment, I am imbibing my favorite adult beverage. It is called Spaten Optimater, a dark german beer from a brewery that has been at it since 1397. 1397! That's before the protestant reformation, or the invention of the printing press. That's a very long time to have been brewing beer. Must be why it's so yummy. I highly recommend. There is a place in St Louis where you can actually get it on tap. It's called the Schneidhorst Inn. I think its a Jewish place. joke people, it's a joke.

My wife bought it for me. Thanks, darlin'.

A Picture I Painted

painting
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Across the street

across the street
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

When it's cold, people without homes tend to congregate in the alcove of an empty building across the street from my office. Sometimes I invite them in for coffee. Sometimes I offer to buy lunch. Sometimes I just go and talk with them. Sometimes I don't know what to do.
For a while I had these two friends, we'll call Jimmy and Johnny. They were from the street. They say that they're brothers, but after a few weeks they told me they were lying. I use to take them to lunch and they would occasionally come to church. Once I offered to put them up in a hotel for a couple of nights. It was cold and rainy and they had no where to go. Well, they could have gone to a shelter, but the shelter will only take sober people and Jimmy and Johnny weren't very good at staying sober. While at the hotel Jimmy and Johnny made long distance phone calls and watched adult movies on pay perview. It was expensive. It was charged to our account. What a metaphor. The next time I saw them they were defensive and embarassed about having taken advantage of our kindness. I was just disappointed. After that they didn't really want to come back to church or hang around much. I wish they would. Johnny use to play my guitar after the service was over, and Jimmy and I use to talk about wrestling (we were both high school grapplers). It has probably been six months since I've seen either one of them. I think they're ok. They've been at the street living thing for about 15 years now, if that part of their story is accurate. So they know just how much to do to get by, even though they aren't much interested in getting better. Another metaphor. Maybe they'll come around again when it warms up.

An Elephant Rides a Bicycle

worship at grace central
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Today marks the one year anniversary of our birth as a mission church. It has been an eventful year. It has been rich and rewarding and difficult and God continues to be faithful. It has felt many times like wrestling an octopus, or like we are an elephant riding a bicycle, making forward progress, yet ever so slowly, teetering and tottering, yet remaining suprisingly upright. We can feel the hand of our father on the back of the seat. We can hear his footsteps as he runs along side. Now little boys and girls eventually learn to balance themselves, and to pedal smoothly and swiftly down cul de sacs and side streets. Not so with elephants. We are not at all aerodynamic. Balance is not our gift. We do nothing swiftly or smoothly. Should our father ever remove his hand from the seat, we would surely crash. But he will not. That is his grace. We never out grow our need of it. In fact, the bigger this elephant gets, the more we'll need his steadying hand. Let's all pray for more grace for another year.

Local Church Implements New Evangelism Program

No Clever Caption Required
Originally uploaded by Greg Blosser.

Jesus loves you. Now feel the might of my double reverse flying death slam!