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Looking for the Fig Tree
That Time When ... I Thought I Was the Best Basketball Player
life

That Time When ... I Thought I Was the Best Basketball Player

When I was in fourth grade, my grandmother signed me up for a church basketball league. I didn't know anyone or have any friends on the team, but for some reason that didn't deter me. Why? Because I literally thought I was the best basketball player. Let's run down the facts as they stood at the time: * Experience playing organized team sports? None * Played basketball on a regular basis? Nope * Knew a lot about the sport from watching televised basketball? Nah. I don't think I had ever watc
3 min read
Processing Grief and Mourning
life

Processing Grief and Mourning

My heart is heavy and burdened tonight. As of this writing, protests and riots are occurring across the United States in reaction to the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of police. This is on the heels of the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Our society is failing its people. Failing to assure each other of our shared humanity and God given worth. Failing to render reforms that lead to a belief that things will get better. It simply isn't happening. It's a lot easie
1 min read
Sorting Out Thoughts on Reopening (Part 2)
life

Sorting Out Thoughts on Reopening (Part 2)

See Part 1 for my initial thoughts on reopening church. As of May 25th, 2020 - the California Department of Public Health has released initial guidance for providers of worship services. The guidelines are posted here. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Protocols are available here. Summary of Public Health Policy Expectations These are some of the most notable guidelines from the aforementioned released policies: * 25% building capacity or 100 people - whichever is lesser (Wh
6 min read
Sorting Out Thoughts on Reopening (Part 1)
life

Sorting Out Thoughts on Reopening (Part 1)

Update: Sorting out my Thoughts on Reopening (Part 2) is now available. Dear Future Self: As you read this, we here in 2020 are living through what some have called a once-in-a-century pandemic event. We have been living in varying degrees of state-ordered lockdown for around two months. To date, an impossible to fathom 100,000 people have died because of COVID-19. Almost every possible norm in the regular rhythms of life have been upended for many, including, physical gatherings of our church
4 min read