lifeasmission

Know A Good Wedding Song?

April 14, 2009 // 107017 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F04%2Fknow-a-good-wedding-song%2FKnow+A+Good+Wedding+Song%3F2009-04-14+17%3A02%3A25JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1070

Of course Amy and I are going to want to add our own personal touch and flare to the music during our ceremony and reception, but we wonder what kind of great suggestions others might have.  Is there a song you just love?  Something you were really glad you used for your wedding?  Feel free to add any suggestions by way of comment.  Let us know: artist, song, whether you think it’s good for a ceremony or reception, and anything else you want to say.

Posted in Amy, music, wedding

Mmmmmmm, Fall

September 22, 2008 // 7145 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F09%2Fmmmmmmm-fall%2FMmmmmmm%2C+Fall2008-09-23+04%3A44%3A02JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D714

I LOVE THE FALL.  There is just no two ways about it, I look forward to it all year long and it always ends far too quickly.  Today was the first day of fall and it was a great start.

For starters, I found my Tracy Chapman album (New Beginning) from college.  I played this thing to death and today it emerged from the depths of my stuff as a timely surprise.  Here’s my favorite track off the album,

Then it was off to a party with some friends, complete with warm cider, pumpkin carving, and my personal favorite, baked pumpkin seeds.

It was a beautiful evening, 72 and clear.  There was great conversation, Corn Hole, and that little extra something in the air that just makes the world feel like a better place.  See, told you I love the fall.

Posted in music, random

7 Kinds of Smoke

May 27, 2008 // 5382 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2F7-kinds-of-smoke%2F7+Kinds+of+Smoke2008-05-28+04%3A22%3A33JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D538

Besides being a gratuitous reference to Dupree’s Self-Help spiel in “You, Me and Dupree,” it’s the best title I could come up with for a post full of randomness and fun linkages. You’ve been warned, no coherency is to be found here!

Listen to this song, it’s awesome.

I hurt my knee last week and it is bad enough that it’s preventing me from running and playing sports, basically making me miserable.

Even though I missed out on being with some of the most important people in my life,

I had a great weekend with some of my newest friends. Most importantly, I am pleased to announce that at 29 years of age I am still a back flipping fool!

My friend Julia is one of the coolest people in the world. She’s an excellent writer, isn’t afraid to be honest with people, and was kind enough to be my conference wife in the Bahamas at Soularize. But all of that is eclipsed by her commitment to the reality of God’s Kingdom in the world. She is so committed to ending the the global trafficking of people for sex and slavery that she had the words “until the last lock breaks” tattooed on her forearm. Julia, the church could stand a few more men and women with your sort of heart.

I am definitely mourning the loss of a community where the sharing of life amongst people of diverse seasons of life was the norm. Note to Canton friends: Don’t forget that our experience is not that of most.

As someone whose mind is basically consumed with the idea of spiritual formation on the personal and corporate levels, I am really excited to have made the decision to seek out a spiritual director/counselor that I think might be an important piece in that process for me.

I have the opportunity to address the Living Hope community this Sunday. I am definitely excited for the opportunity to share some of my story and heart, but also nervous as someone who has only lived among these folks in this new place for 2 short months (not to mention the nervousness which always accompanies the prophetic element of my personality).

That being said, I have really enjoyed reengaging what it means to be a pastor in the context of a missional church community. Challenges around every bend, but I love the team I get to be a part of.

I really miss my house church and Anabaptist friends. There was a connection there on a deep level that I am yet to discover here in Memphis.

I have come to the conclusion that relationally speaking there is probably nothing more frustrating to me than trying to engage with people who can’t communicate deeply. I hate how little patience I often feel in this regard.

My friend Jason and his family are in the process of joining an Eastern Orthodox church and he has been blogging about it. As I was sharing my my friend Emily, another brilliant and articulate lady, the Eastern Orthodox church has a tremendous amount to offer in terms of its theology and ecclesiology, though few realize it.

OK, think that’s enough randomness for one evening.

Posted in blogging, church, community, living hope, memphis, missional, music, preaching/teaching, prophets, random, songs, spiritual formation, theology

David Ford – State of the Union

May 6, 2008 // 5227 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2Fdavid-ford-state-of-the-union%2FDavid+Ford+-+State+of+the+Union2008-05-06+17%3A03%3A52JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2F06%2Fdavid-ford-state-of-the-union%2F

I came across a really cool video by David Ford last week and have been trying to listen to more of his music since then. I think he’s a great lyricist. And that includes this song, which I think offers a justifiably scathing critique of much that passes for Christianity out there. (video here if you prefer)

I hardly know where to begin in terms of unpacking what he seems to be conveying here so maybe I will just wait for some comments and go from there. You are gonna comment right?

The lyrics are here – probably my favorite line…

Come on, Jesus Christ, come back, all is forgiven. We are lost, we are lost, we are lost.

Posted in christendom, music, politics

Memphis in May

May 3, 2008 // 521No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2Fmemphis-in-may%2FMemphis+in+May2008-05-03+16%3A37%3A03JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2F03%2Fmemphis-in-may%2F

Memphis in May is apparently a pretty big deal. Everyone talks about it and one of the major parts of it is the Beale St. Music Festival. Apparently it rains just about every year for this thing and last night was no exception. A bunch of my new friends were supposed to head downtown for the event, but the rain scared everyone off except for Jess and I – 2 people who happen to think rain makes things more fun, not less!

Jess is a huge fan of Johnny Lang and was kind enough to introduce me to him music. He’s really good – a great guitar player and lyricist.

So, one step closer to official Memphesianship I guess.

Posted in friends, memphis, music

OH…. MY….. WORD…..

April 26, 2008 // 51911 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2Foh-my-word%2FOH....+MY.....+WORD.....2008-04-26+18%3A19%3A55JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2F26%2Foh-my-word%2F

Am I late comer or what?? Why have I not heard of this guy? Saw this video over on Bob’s blog and I have never wanted to be any other musician more in my life…

Posted in music