This Might Explain It....

Each night, after we put the kids down, the house is very peaceful and quiet. Vanessa and I will either read & knit, or talk or watch a little TV. Around 10:30 or so, I'll typically go upstairs, climb into the comfy bed, settle into the covers, close my eyes, and try to enjoy the silence just before this begins playing in an endless loop in my head.



Pray for me.

The Temptation

Hebrews 4:15 (New International Version)

¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

I will readily admit that the above verse has given me fits for years. First, because I am tempted to do horrible things. I know that He knows what I am tempted to do, but the thought of Him being tempted to do those things has always bothered me, even though that is probably not what the verse means.

The other reason the verse has given me fits is because I've had trouble getting temptation story as presented in the Gospels to gel with "...has been tempted in every way, just as we are...". Mainly, because I've never been tempted to turn stone into bread or jump off something tall. Therefore, anytime I came to the accounts of the temptation, I either glossed over it with the ole "Jesus answered temptation with scripture, so should you"* line or got too deep in the weeds with the "could he have sinned, or couldn't he?" tailspin. I even taught through Matthew in a Bible study last year, and my notes for the week of Matthew 4 simply read "Temptation story" and move on from there. However, in reading through Matthew again, and now Luke, Christ's temptation stuck with me, and I had to figure out why it was there and what it means. Again, my challenge to myself this year was to read the gospels without the aid of commentaries and books. Just Christ and His words - nothing more. Which is fine, until you come upon a passage that poses an interpretation problem. So, here is my take on the temptation story. I'm no theologian, I just played one for youth groups in the 90's.

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" -Matthew 4:2-4

This one might be easier to grasp. Look, as I sit here, I'm not in the least bit hungry. But if I could, I'd turn the throw pillow into a plate of sour cream chicken enchiladas, just because I could (and it's impossible to find them in California). So I get it. There are no short cuts to success. Look at Esau. He gave up his birth-right because he hadn't eaten since, like, breakfast. But there is more too it. Jesus was, in order to be Christ, both human and God. This was a temptation to give up his humanity. Since the garden, there has been a process for man to achieve food. Either hunting or growing. The temptation was for skip that process. Don't plant, weed, water, harvest, grind and bake; just do what you are capable of doing - making something out of nothing. Sounds almost reasonable. But to do that, the verse from Hebrews couldn't be written. He kept his humanity, thus he kept the ability to relate to us, and to be the sacrifice for us.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple."If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" -Matthew 4:5-7

Well, why not? If the one thing God desires is the praise from His people, then this would achieve it. It would be obvious, Jesus was The Messiah. Right? Well, no. Look, in the garden, a guard gets his ear cut off, and Jesus reattaches is....and they arrest him anyway. Before that he healed a guy, and they Pharisees were P.O.'d that he'd done it on the sabbath. They had all sorts of evidence that Jesus was The One. But maybe this would have sealed the deal. Maybe doing this would have opened the eyes of the people. So they would have worshiped him. Out of fear and duty. God wants our praise, yes. But Jesus made it clear that he wants to hear the praise from the blind who could see, the cleansed lepers, the knees bent in worship that were once twisted from disease & sinners saved by Grace. His kingdom would not be filled with empty accolades from politicians who wanted his ear or those worshiping him for fear that, if they didn't, they'd get what was coming to them. His Kingdom was not to be built on the expected. Because no one expected the ideal. This would have left the ideal behind.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. - Matthew 4:8-10

We, as a whole, have a hard time seeing beyond the next five minutes. We forget recent history at an alarming rate. We've seen it before; Godly man or woman does something completly out of character and falls. Because human nature doesn't like to wait. If the first temptation was to give up his humanity, this one was asking Him to give up the Divine. "One day, "every knee shall bow..", but why wait that loooong. You could do it now. You deserve it.". Sound familiar? It does to me, because appealing to that base human desire of "NOW!" is a good portion of every temptation I face. Tempting me to give up the Divine nature living and working (most day, working overtime) on me, and feed that screaming 2 year old know as "man" inside of me. He could have ruled right then. But that meant that he would have given up part of himself.

Well, so what? First, this tells me there is no such thing as an easy way out. Process and order are there for a reason. And when I hear that voice telling me "You're getting to be a bigshot, not many people do what you do..and certainly not in the length of time you've done it...you deserve ______", I should remember where it's coming from. Also, I think that I settle for second best too often. God had an ideal, and stuck to that. Jesus should be my only example.

How 'bout you? What does the temptation of Jesus teach you? How does his responses help you?

*Not taking that point likely here. His responses to the temptation are the example to follow. I'm just saying that I, at least, fall into the trap of hearing one emphasis on a passage, and never getting around to exploring the other sides.

Scattershooting While Wondering Whatever Happened to Eddie Biles

- Emery O'Shamrock hopes everyone had a happy St. Patrick's Day.

- The kids started their springbreak on Friday. They get two full weeks off.


- I really wish I got a spring break.

- Both Asher and Em were in a musical at school Friday. The name of the musical was "My Planet, Your Planet". Lot's of song about the environment. We live in California.

- In the spirit of equal time, we buried old car batteries in the backyard today.

- Here's the unedited video of Asher's song "Tomorrow Needs Us". It's shaky, Vanessa was behind a large headed guy, and Asher was behind a Large headed girl, so it's not the best, but you get the idea.


- Em's class sang Polar Puppy. Good luck on deciphering the lyrics...

- The flick'r site has a few more pics as well.

- I've watched more NCAA tournament this year than I have in a long time. We actually had games on during a bid at work on Friday. I play Basketball at work 2 or 3 times a week. Watching has inspired me to try some new moves.

- There is no way my body is going to go along with the new moves.

- I miss Paul Harvey.

- Since Asher was born, V and I basically, for all intent and purpose, have stopped going to the movies. I have little interest in new movies. I'm becoming Don, I know. But, I did get "The Dark Knight" on demand last night and loved it. And not because I'm a Batman nerd from way back. Great actors, well written, and very cool. glad I saw it. Also, I love Gary Oldman, who played Commissioner Gordon.

More posts soon....

Change You Can Believe In, pt. 2

[Another in the series to help you track just what changes The One brings to our country. Also, to avoid any other angry emails/phone calls - it's sarcasm]


THEN: A long time ago, during the presidential campaign, the Republican candidate John McCain proved to be completely out of touch with the economic realities of the country (read: middle class) when he stated that the Fundamentals of the economy were "strong". Anyone who watched the alarming news on TV knew that the economy was fundamentally on shaky ground.

NOW: After less than 60 days on the job, our Glorious Leader President Obama, through a series of unprecedented stimulus and spending packages, has moved the economy off the sinking sand and on to a more stable foundation. We knew it would happen, but it became official Friday with this statement:

ANALYSIS: Some will argue, cynically, that doom and gloom during the campaign was just an attempt to scare up votes. They will also argue that his constant talk of the uncertain economic situation was only a tactic to push through the Stimulus package and/or lower expectations if it turns out that he really doesn't know what he's doing. Those people are obviously right wing nut cases in the pockets of big-business and the evangelicals playing partisan politics.

Notes From Matthew

Define "Hubris" ? OK - "Lane doing a book review". Define "height of human arrogance"? Easy - "Lane doing a book review on a Book of the Cannon". But in my defense here, my intention is to only let you know the thoughts, convictions and impressions that the book left-not a critique in anyway, shape or form. You might recall the challenge I presented myself HERE. In lieu of reading what people say about Jesus, I'm just going to read what he says this year. I started with Matthew because, well, it's first. Color me simple. I've completed Matthew and V and I are working on Luke together. Here are some things I picked up from Matthew. Note, I'm not a theologian, scholar, preacher or anything other than a Bible College drop-out. Albeit a rather handsome and charming bible college drop out. So don't read this if you are expecting great insight. You are likely to be in a different place. This is just me typing.

- Something I've always wondered: How did anyone who knew Jesus first hand like Matthew or John manage to remain so objective in their accounts. If it were me writing, it'd be peppered with subjective quotes like "dude, seriously, Jesus fed 5000 that day with, like a couple of fish and some Brown N Serves-it was awesome." or "I'm not sure what kind of cold hearted, self loving/loathing idiot can sit there and read what I'm writing and still not believe that Jesus is God in the flesh and wants you to get to know him. Really, repent. Like, now". But not Matthew, he just gives the facts and lets the Jesus' words and actions speak for themselves without beating the reader over the head. Wish I could do the same sometimes.

- You'd expect - as would most of Jews in Century 1 - that if you were God in the flesh, born as a baby and thus in the line of David, you'd have a who's-who of the Jewish faithful in your Genealogy. But what you have is a list of adulterers, prostitutes, bastard children, faithless, rebellious, liars, cheats and Gentiles. What you have is Grace. Thank God.

- The Sermon on the Mount kills me every time. What a challenge it is not to use it as just another list of instructions on how to be a good Christian. That is nothing more than being a Pharisee. It is a list to show how far we are from God and what to do to get back. I'm poor in spirit. Thank you for blessing me anyway.

- Finally, if there is one overall impression that I never really noticed, or paid much attention to until now, it is this; Every time Jesus spoke to someone, it was meant to enhance His relationship with the other party. What would happen if I made a point of doing the same? What if I every conversation I had, I focused on enhancing my relationship with the other person? How much less would I yell at the children, or split hairs with my wife, or treat the lady behind the counter at the Taco Shop? How would my co-worker's perceptions of me change? What if I added to it, and instead of trying to enhance their relationship with me, what if I tried to enhance their relationship with the Jesus in Matthew's account as well? It's not easy. But I think the main problem I have with myself and humans in general is the fact that 90% of what we do and say is is done and said on autopilot. If I used my head, tried to be more self aware, tried to be more like Jesus in this area, I bet each relationship in my life would change for the better.

I'm working on something about the Temptation, and we'll get it posted - probably after we read it in Luke. Until then....

Change You Can Believe In, pt.1

[As a public service to the WAM readers, we will from time to time offer you examples of exactly how we as American's can quantify & celebrate the "Change" that was promised during the campaign]






THEN: When you adjust for inflation, since 1890, the median cost for a home in the US typically is between $90,000 and $100,000. Sure there have been dips (WW's I & II, Great Depression) and Peaks (70's, 80's). But on average, the market likes housing to hover within a close range of $100K per home.

NOW: The bubble of the early part of the decade sent the median cost to $200K per home. Today, it sits right around $170K & falling. The market is trying to adjust back to where it should be, but we won't let it! This is America dangit, and $100K just isn't good enough. So we will artificially dictate the costs, not the capitalistic market. Dictating who got a martgage worked out well for us didn't it?

Link
Click the Chart to enlarge:

No Line on The Horizon

So, after a few days and a dozen listens, here is my blow by blow review of the new U2 Album No Line On The Horizon.

1. No Line On The Horizon - It reminds me of Lady With The Spinning Head, a B-side from Achtung Baby. Cool song, cool lyrics, good start.

2. Magnificent - I really want to like this song, but I go back and forth. Why is Brian Eno in love with the sonar sound? I hear overtly Christian lyrics. But, Christ can be in anything if you are looking for it.

3. Moment of Surrender - Edge plays an actual factual guitar solo. It's long, over 7 minutes. Themes of sin, repentance & giving up control. Making a case to be one of my favorite u2 songs...

4. Unknown Caller - I like it. Different, long intro with That U2 Sound (TM). I like the chanting. "Go. Shout it Out. Rise Up. Escape yourself, and gravity...Force Quit and move to trash." I dig it.

5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight - Awkward falsetto. I dunno, might be this Album's A Man And A Woman.

6. Get On Your Boots - I like the stream-of-consciousness lyrics. The music part is good. I'm gaining more and more respect for Larry and Adam. But still, it could be named "Vertigo, pt2". I can't help but hear "Wild Wild West" in some of the lyrics. I could take it, I could leave it.

7. Stand Up Comedy - Led Zeppelin Guitar anyone? I like.

8. Fez: Being Born - I can't see me singing this in the shower. (deal with THAT visual for a second). But, I like it. It's Zooropa-y.

9. White As Snow - First listen: hated it. Second listen: only lasted halfway before skipping to the next track. But, I'm learning to appreciate it.

"Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not

Only the lamb as white as snow"

10. Breathe - Bono writes a Bob Dylan song! Tell me these lyrics aren't Dylan-esque:

16th of June, Chinese stocks are going up
"And I’m coming down with some new Asian virus
Ju Ju man, Ju Ju man
Doc says you’re fine, or dying
Please
Nine-oh-nine, St. John Divine on the line, my pulse is fine
But I’m running down the road like loose electricity
While the band in my head plays a striptease

The roar that lies on the other side of silence
The forest fire that is fear so deny it"

Anyway, i like it.

11. Cedars of Lebanon - ahhhh the Daniel Lanois sound. Cool, slow, ambient music. Half-spoken lyrics. I really dig it. I really dig most of the last songs on their albums.


So, it's no Achtung Baby, or Joshua Tree. But better than How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and might be better than All That You Can't Leave Behind.

Back to doing my Awesomely Bold Leading Leader's of Bold Teams Workshop Homework.

Scattershooting While Wondering Whatever Happened To Fun Boy Three

- Thanks to Emery for the new WAM banner. I asked her why she wrote McKibbens in lieu of the more traditional "McKibben". She said "because there are 4 of us in the picture, not just one". Hard to argue with logic like that. Also note that in the pic, Em is taller than Asher. I suspect that was on purpose.

- I'm spending 3 days this week in LA for a Managment Training Conference. I have a bad attitude about it. I need to drastically improve that attitude.

- This video is wrong on soooo many levels.



- I want one of those KJV Chains though...

- We spent all day Saturday at the beach. Although the water was much too cold to swim (it's never really warm, like the Gulf), the kids had a blast. "Doing what?", you ask? Digging a hole. They, along with several other kids who'd never met, spent 4 hours digging a 3 foot deep by 4 foot wide hole in the sand. Amazing in this day and age of computers, countless cable channels, WII, PS3 and the like, that a hole commanded such attention. They don't realize it, but it just guaranteed us not getting any sort of gaming systems. For a few years at least...

- Did I mention I dread the Management Conference?

- I'm down right giddy about the new U2 album. I like Coldplay, I like Radiohead. In fact, other than U2, they are about the only bands I'd walk across the street to see (Unless the Smiths have a reunion). But I don't wait in anticipation for their next releases. I downloaded the album art a month ago. A U2 song was played at my wedding (It wasn't "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" smarty..), I'm a full blown nerd. Luckily, I'm not alone. Brant at Kamp Krusty wrote a piece summing it up pretty well.

- This is getting kind of embarrassing for other kids at Asher's school. Last week he got an award for being a good citizen (A pencil..). Friday he won the Academic Achievement award for the last Trimester. This time, he got free nuggets at Chick-fil-a, so much better than a pencil. Yep, it's hard to be Humble when you're McKibben, but we try.

- I've made some snarly comments lately about V not knitting me anything. I would like to offer this correction. Vanessa has knitted me a scarf and a sock. Not an entire pair of socks mind you, just a sock. But still, it's something.

- Check out all the earthquakes around us HERE

- I got no less than 6 posts lined up in the Draft folder, so get ready.