It’s not easy going out to eat these days. Money is always tight…I have three kids under the age of 5…one of them is a newborn, which means we have to be selective in where we eat…babysitters cost cash too…time doesn’t often allow us to go to places like Seattle or Bellevue…again, babysitters cost money too!
Having said all that; my we do however like to know where the newhot spots, or the local ”classics” are so we can plan accordingly and have someplace fun and good to look forward to. I’m not much of a Red Robin or Applebees fan. Their fun to take the kids to, but we both really enjoy seeking out establishments that are new or have maybe been around for some time that we’ve always wanted to try.
I hear Trellis in Kirkland is great. The same with The Preservation Kitchen in Bothell. Ever been there? Tell me about it! What about Seattle? Any place new that’s worth the time and money for a date night?
Here are some of our favorite spots for a special night out. For what it’s worth…we believe going out is on regular date nights is extremely important to a marriage. Sometimes it’s just coffee…other times a steak. Doesn’t matter so much where you go, or how much it costs…just find a way to get out of the normal routines and talk.
Purple Cafe (Seattle more than Kirkland)
Azul in Mill Creek
Qdoba (cheap and good!)
Spaghetti Factory (any place that serves good “all-you-can-eat” bread is alright in my book)
El Gaucho (more of an Anniversary type place for us)
What the Pho
Noppakao Thai (Kirkland)
I’d love to hear about some of your favorite Seattle / Eastside restaurants. Why do you like them? What’s your favorite food to order? What are the prices like?
2009 has thus far been an exciting and exhausting year for me! In mid-December I became the new lead pastor of Redwood Hills Church, where I had previously worked part-time as the community and culture pastor. This huge change came very unexpectedely and I still find myself wondering how this all came about. But, it’s been a great change for me personally and for our faith community!
I’ve been a pastor for 13 years and Redwood Hills is the first church I can honestly say I love being a part of. I’ve enjoyed working in other churches, but never quite felt like I fit in them personally. Basically I always knew that if I hadn’t worked there, I never would have attended there. That’s not good…
Redwood Hills has been such a genuine and healthy community for me and my family to journey with! It’s been a breath of fresh air to our faith!
Since becoming the new pastor, I’ve spent the past few weeks teaching vision as we explore the church and culture of Corinth. It’s been a lot of fun sharing my vision and crafting it with some great leaders and friends!
Something I’m very excited about right now is the forming of a book study. Next month people will be gathering together to explore and share in the experience of reading Richard Dalhstrom’s new book called “O2…Breathing Life into Faith”. It’s one of the best books on discipleship I’ve ever read!
Dalhstrom is a pastor in Seattle and blogs at Rain City Pastor. He has brilliant and fresh insight into what it means for us to follow Jesus in today’s culture and I’m so excited to involve others into a deeper commitment of faith.
If you’re like so many whose faith in God has just been tested, discouraged or even destroyed…this would be a great book to pick up and hopefully find that renewed life you’ve been looking for. If you’ve already read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Dalstrom’s “inhale, exhale” approach to faith. What about the book did you learn from the most? Has it changed your approach / practice towards discipleship?
I got a great laugh out of this today! I especially enjoyed it since I’m NOT at all a Beyonce fanl! I love how this dude never once cracks even the slightest grin…
2008 was not a good year for those of us who live in the Seattle area and love our local sports teams. My beloved Mariners lost 100 games, the historic Sonic’s franchise moved to Oklahoma City, the Seahawks were horrible, and the UW football team was the first team in Pac-10 history to go winless. Brutal!!
Yesterday, I turned on the TV to see the outcome of the UW men’s basketball team as they played against the mighty UCLA Bruins. I couldn’t believe my eyes! We won! Not only did we win, but this means the UW hoops team is in first place within the Pac-10 conference.
First place! #1!! Numero uno!!!
Well, to most of my readers this is no big deal…but for a guy who has spent the last 12 months frustrated, angry and resentful towards the Seattle sports scene…this is a great day!
In being a pastor over the last 12 years I have had my fair share of doubt and questions for God. I’ve been tired to the point of almost quitting, discouraged to the point of exhaustion, and simply felt alone. Today as I woke up the first thing I did was to listen to some of Martin Luther King’s speeches and sermons.
In listening to them and thinking about tomorrow’s Inauguration, I can’t help but celebrate America. I’m excited about Obama’s leadership and the hope he’s bringing to the world. But today really isn’t about Obama. It’s about America. We’re far from perfect, but as a nation we’ve come together in ways MLK only dreamt of.
One particular speech that struck me was MLK’s sermon called “A Knock at Midnight”, in which he talks openely about the personal pain of standing up for justice. He admits his loneliness and times of being afraid. The corresponding video reminds us how ugly things were in the south, and I’m left to believe it can only be because of God and His faithfulness to heal and work through people that we now have a holiday in honor of MLK.
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Martin Luther King
I hope that you find some comfort in his words as well as the courage needed to live for love.
This coming Monday and Tuesday are simply huge! Monday we honor the life and work of Martin Luther King, while Tuesday we watch with the rest of the world as Barack Obama is sworn in as the President of the United States of America. Amazing!
I have to be honest and say that it’s disconcerting to me when I hear so many people play this weekend off as just another three day weekend. I’m all for taking extra days off from work, but this particular holiday weekend is special. It’s humanity’s chance to honor a great man by honestly reflecting on his message of equality and then ask ourselves how we might live in a way that keeps his dream alive.
One mistake many people make is to assume that MLK stood for racial equality only. No, this isn’t a weekend to honor the rights of African-Americans only. This is about all people. Color, gender, economic status, and religion. It was for all of us that MLK dreamed and ultimately gave his life.
Each year, I take time to get by myself on Martin Luther King day and go to MLK Online and download one or two of his speeches. They’re not only brilliant, but challenging. I really encourage you to take some time and listen to his words of hope and then reflect a bit on why this still matters greatly today and how you might be an agent of change in bringing hope, justice, and equality. Maybe you’ll listen and realize how deep your hurts go, if you’ve been treated in ways that say you’re the wrong race or gender. May MLK’s words help lead you on a path of God’s healing and liberation.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.” -Martin Luther King
“Fear doesn’t work.” This is what a friend said to me today as he’s been contemplating life and his future. He feels this is what God spoke to him while praying. I believe he’s right…
Think about those words for a few minutes. Turn off the TV. Go to another room where you can be by yourself. Remove the earphones. “FEAR DOESN’T WORK!”
What are you afraid of today? How is fear shaping the way you think and live? What is fueling this fear?
Casting off fear isn’t about living a false happy life . It’s about embracing abundance. The abundance of things that our hearts desire…not what the world or media want us to desire!
I’m getting very excited for Tuesday the 20th! It’s Inauguration Day and history will be made as the world watches the first African-american President sworn into the White House. Whether you voted for President-elect Obama or not, we all must realize the importance and impact of this day.
Obama’s thing has been change. He has spent the better part of the last 2 years working to convince Americans that his leadership, wisdom, character and integrity will provide “change we can believe in”. I’m hopeful, and so far I’ve been fairly impressed with most of the people he’s chosen to bring around him. But there’s something deeper happening than faces who fill cabinet spaces or government positions. There’s more than a changing of the guard…there’s a change in words. Big change!
Yesterday I was watching the news and catching up on the events leading to next Tuesday, when I heard Senator Clinton speaking before a committee as she shared her vision for being Secretary of State. She spoke very clearly about engaging with Iran. Not in war terms, but in conversation terms. This is one change for sure as our new President honestly believes we can respectfully converse with world leaders, while still maintaining a strong defense against world terrorism.
But the biggest change we’re seeing is the words they are choosing to use. Yesterday Iran and other threatening nations were called “rigorous adversaries”. That should catch our attention! They weren’t referred to as the “axis of evil”, “the enemy”, “those people”, or “the others”.
The words that are being used show us that they are being thoughtful about the use of our words and how they impact the world. They aren’t being wimpy or weak…but respectful and intelligent.
As a Christ-follower this matters to me and I for one believe in that kind of change. It doesn’t change the fact that there is evil at work, but it will help the world see how much fear we live with and have been convinced of by our poor use of words. We are a great nation and if we’re to model greatness, it should not be done with threats or by casting fear, but with respect and a humble confidence!
Yesterday was a big day for true baseball fans. Most people probably didn’t even notice what happened, but it was a great day to reflect and dialogue about some of the greatest baseball players to ever wear an MLB uniform. It was the day when some great players were inducted into to baseball Hall of Fame.
One player in particular made me think back to some very fond memories of being a kid and falling in love with the greatest game in the world!
Rickey Henderson entered the Hall of Fame. He’s the greatest lead-off hitter and base stealer the game has ever seen!
I was about 10 years old and Rickey was close to entering the prime of his career when my dad took me to a Mariners game in the old Kingdome. We sat right on the first base line in perfect view of all that happens between a pitcher, first baseman and a base-runner. I remember my dad purposely selecting those seats because he told me that I needed to closely watch this amazing baseball talent.
Well, my dad was right. Rickey was amazing! He brought life and energy to the diamond like few players could do. When Rickey was on base…it altered the entire game! He stole four bases that night…
Rickey Henderson wasn’t my all-time favorite player as a kid, but he certainly inspired me to play the game with passion. It’s really hard to say who in fact is my “childhood” favorite player. Dale Murphy, Pete Rose, George Brett, Kirby Puckett, Fernando Valenzuela, and Don Mattingly were all such great players who each had a style and approach to baseball that helped shape my love for the game.
When I think of the NBA…it’s Charles Barkley. The NFL…that’s easy, Steve Largent. But baseball? I guess I love the game too much to be able to say which player from my childhood was my absolute favorite.
As the Super Bowl nears, there are a lot of people who will grieve the absence of football. Not me. I like football very much, but I won’t miss it…because its absence means the presence of Spring Training is days away!
I’m curious…as you look back on your childhood, who were some of the athletes you most loved watching, following, and emulating? What was it about him or her that made inspired you?
This number goes much deeper than recession or even an economic depression. This number represents men, women, children, self-confidence, marriages, family happiness, and neighborhood stability.
Since becoming a bi-vocational pastor three years ago, I know what it’s like to be on the economic fringe. I pastor a wonderful and beautiful church in Redwood Hills while owning a small residential painting company. Until recently, my painting income has had to produce about 50% of my family income, and this week I had my first painting job of any kind since October 5th! That’s too damn long to not have work for a family of five!!!!
My wife and I have prayed, fought, worried, and borrowed to get through this period, and while it’s been tough…I still have a job! It’s humbling to say that, since I know so many who have lost their employment this year.
I found myself thinking today about 2.6 million people, many of whom are men trying to provide for their wives and children. It must be shattering to their self-confidence, as we who are “married with children” would want nothing more than to be able to provide for our family!
Then, I began to think about the single mom. Think of her kids…are they going to school on Monday hungry? I have a hard time even typing those words…
What I’m about type will upset some of my friends and readers…but can we take a few moments to pray for President-elect Obama? Can those who didn’t vote for him because of his stance on abortion, or gay marriage possibly forget all that for a moment and pray that God gives this man and his staff the wisdom to help provide jobs for those who currently have no source of work.
We’re in for a long struggle, and who knows what’s to come of all this economic tension. But for those of us who know “job security”, let’s not take it for granted. May we pray for, care and help provide for those we know who are in the storm of recent job-loss.
Everything Must Change,
Missional Leadership,
Out of Poverty,
Cross-Cultural Servanthood,
O2...Breathing New Life into Faith,
The Mission of God,
The End of Poverty,
How {Not} to Speak of God
