:: cawleyblog ::

Life in Raleigh

-Friday, we went to a Durham Bulls game. I do not know who won. I don't even know who they played. I do know that I blew my nose 692 times and ate a copious amount of ballpark food. I have not seen precise statistics, but from my limited fact-finding, North Carolina has more mullets per capita than any other state in the union.
-Saturday, Katie and Jenny were generally productive-- took walks, "bonded" at the pool (not entirely sure what that includes-- "bonded" was their term), hung out and talked. On the other hand, Kevin and I watched approximately 17 episodes of 24 season 2. I shifted positions on the couch four times.
-Sunday, we worshipped with Kevin & Jenny at their community, Church of the Apostles. I love their church, and I love AMIA.
-We infiltrated the premises of the Gimghoul Castle. I'm not going to lie-- it was terrifying. Tales of intrigue and murder. Secret societies. Skull and bones. I dominated the grounds keeper with CTU style tactics.
-Hung out @ Caffe' Driade. (Weber, Steve, Joe, this would have been the perfect meeting place for our gatherings).
-We hung out @ Duke and Duke Gardens.
-Dinner @ the Mellow Mushroom. Great pizza. Great environment. Made me long to get back to Vancouver and continue building my relationship with the Flying Wedge.
-Daling, the Sonics they have here are open.
-Kevin and Jenny go back to work tomorrow, so Katie and I will get to catch up on some reading and other paper-work we have to complete for next week when we head to Canada. Friday or Saturday we're headed to Brian & Jenny's and will get to hang out with the folks at Christ Fellowship.

[Some pictures of our trip so far]

The Redemptive Power of Memory

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” —Lamentations 3:21

Memory is frequently the bondslave of despondency. Despairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah’s experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: “My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me”; and now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and then slew his despair with the other. As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort. There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime. Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to rehearse His deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection which is so richly illuminated with memorials of mercy, and we shall soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, “the bosom-spring of joy,” and when the Divine Comforter bends it to His service, it may be chief among earthly comforters.

[Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, May 28: Evening]

Happy Anniversary

In less than two hours, we will celebrate our first anniversary. To my amazing wife-- thanks for everything!

Crossing the Bridge PDF Available

Alan Roxburgh's book, Crossing the Bridge : Church Leadership in a Time of Change, is available online here for download. (Thanks to Jon for the heads up). His book, The Missional Leader is scheduled for release next year.

We've Made it Home by the Grace of God (and Daling's phone calls)

Katie and I are on the plane to North Carolina. We got into Ardmore late last night and got up early this morning to drive to Dallas. Plains, Trains, & Automobiles (I look the part of Dell Griffith at least). Our drive to Oklahoma was freakishly long great, and we were glad to finish the first part of the "move".

I haven't been online in three days, but I did update my Net News Wire at a hotel two days ago, and I'm enjoying catching up reading blogs on the plane. (FYI, large men with laptops on planes are actually more uncomfortable than they look)

6.15 & The Cawleys Are On Their Way South

The movers are finally gone.  We're headed as far as we can get tonight after a long day.  Katie will be keeping complete track of me with two way radios, but if anybody else wants to keep me awake while I drive, give me a call @ 630.728.7256-- I'll answer the phone for anyone except Daling.

.:: Newbigin .:: Driscoll .::Church, Gospel & Culture

Centurion is evaluating Mark Driscoll's use of Lesslie Newbigin's diagram for the interaction of church, gospel, & culture in Driscoll's book, RADICAL REFORMISSION : Reaching Out without Selling Out. Moreover, he is using this as a launching pad for an extensive discussion on the proper relationships between church, gospel, & culture.

Here are the posts that he has written thus far:
Dueling Diagrams pt. 1
Dueling Diagrams pt. 2
Dueling Diagrams pt. 3
Dueling Diagrams pt. 4
Dueling Diagrams pt. 5
Dueling Diagrams pt. 6

I have not read each of the segments, and the ones I have read I admit Ihave not read carefully. But it appears that he is working through the book thoroughly, asking good questions and engendering good dialogue. Perhaps someone can read them all and give me the gist of them.

Think Starbucks Isn't a Church For People?

Starbucks Serves Up Nuptials

"They weren't just regulars," he said. "They were everyday regulars, and part of what Starbucks is about is building relationships with our customers."
[...]
"It was fantastic," she said. "Their whole life seemed to revolve around Starbucks, so they couldn't have found a more appropriate place to get married."

BLOG SILENCE :: The Cawley's Schedule until July 11

May 25 :: Load the moving truck.  Drive to Ardmore, OK.
May 28-June 2 :: Raleigh, NC.
June 2 :: Fly to Dallas.  Hang with the Browns in FW (?)
June 6-12 :: Vancouver
June 13-20 :: Ardmore, OK.
June 20-22 :: Kansas City, MO.
June 23-27 ::  Salt Lake City / Idaho
June 28-July 2 :: Oklahoma
July 2 :: Drive to Vancouver
July 5 :: Tentative Start Date For Katie's New Job
July 11 :: Classes Begin for Kevin

Last Weekend in DG Recap // My First Surprise // Three Days to Go...

My parents came to hang out with us for our last weekend in Chicago.  We had a blast with my folks-- took them to Blue Man Group (my Dad actually auditioned) and this morning we took them to the Sunday Gospel Brunch.  It was really special to have them with us.  With the exception of a twelve month stint for me in Minneapolis, Katie and I have lived here since 1996.  Crazy to think about all that has happened here-- and when the next time we're back might be. 

My parents also got to be here for a first for me.  Last night, the Isemans put together a  surprise party for us with our friends from the Vineyard.  It was the first surprise party I have ever had and Katie and I didn't have the foggiest clue.  It was such a blessing to see faces we haven't seen in a long time, hang with people that have been our family for four years, and be prayed over and supported by such a quality group of people.  For everyone involved, and especially on behalf of my wife, Thanks...I can't tell you how much it meant.