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See-Thru Shirts


2010
09.01

Posted in life, metaphors | No Comments »

In REPLY to the LAST POST:

I found this picture in Psychology magazine at Barnes and Noble one day.  It was taken by a girl who struggled with an eating disorder during the teen years of her life.  Now she embarks on visual metaphors via photography to let others now of her plight.

I found this picture stunning because of the gradual shrinking that is depicted.  It captures the idea of never being satisfied with our body image.  It’s impossible to hold a magazine shape all your life (or ever with all the airbrushing and photo-shopping that occurs), but it’s a powerful place to be where you can be content with your our figure.

The phrase comfortable in your own skin comes to mind.  I don’t know if I’ve been there much, at least a complete comfort.  Some of it has to do with my abuse of food and struggle not to be emotionally addicted to food (for comfort or whatever).

The struggle often rages in me, but the beauty is that God affirms my heart.  That He is more satisfying than food.  That He is more a comfort than calories.  And resting in him means I don’t have to wrestle with the bigger me (ha ha).

I am, more and more each day, becoming a disciplined man physically.  However that takes shape, I need to be content.

~ Shawn

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A German Gift from the Divine


2010
08.18

Posted in life, spiritual formation | 2 Comments »

'91 BMW 325i

Okay, so here is the story.

I was recently given a car.  Yes, a car.  Since our family has moved here (some 4 years ago), we have been a one-car family.  The beauty of flat land set up on a grid and a 1-mile commute is that transportation can easily be supplemented by a bike.  Therefore, that’s what I did.

The first bike I owned was a Wal-Mart Mountain (Weight) bike.  I then upgraded to a more trail-ride friendly hybrid bike.  Of course, then I got the road bike bug.  After acquiring an older and outdated road bikes, I was given a quality commuting road bike from someone who didn’t want it anymore.  The red Raleigh has been my ride for quite some time now.

As of about a week ago, Friday, Michelle and were talking about the possibility of a new car and the scheduling difficulties of pulling the one-car switcharoo now that she was working more steady hours.  So, the need for a car was becoming more pressing.  We decided to be creative until the spring when we would start shopping for a vehicle.

And, then Saturday came.

I was up at the church for Cadence when someone called me and asked if they could swing by and give me something.  I said, “Yes” not really thinking much of it.  I followed this guy out to his car to get “it” when he said,” I believe God wanted me to get rid of my car and after asking Him ‘to who?’, he said, ‘You.’”

Well, needless to say, I was shocked and humbled.  Mostly because this wasn’t someone’s leftovers.  It was tagged, smogged, detailed, and cared for.  This truly was an act of worship for this guy.  The WAY he gave it and in response to the LORD’s voice was somewhat more humbling than the gift itself.

Needless to say, the kids and I have been having fun cruising to school with the top down.  Eli loves jumping in it like he’s one the Duke boys.  And I kinda feel like I’m having a midlife crisis and fear going bald (ha ha).

All in all, I am blessed… because of the grace of Christ (in spite of my brokenness) and His amazing community, the church.

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Ride Across California (Part 2)


2010
08.09

Posted in cycling, life, ministry | No Comments »

Here is a link to more photos from the trip:

Kevin’s Photos from the Trip.

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Back Home…


2010
08.07

Posted in cycling, life, ministry | No Comments »

Well, the trip went well!

We made it — 4 riders, 1 SAG wagon, 6 days, 291 miles, 12,000 plus feet of total elevation climbing, lows of 4 mph/highs of 41, 3 flats, 2 ripped tires, 2 mild spills, a bunch of laughs and one great time!

I had a great time meeting some new people as well as serving as a spiritual coordinator/pastor for the trip.  I was super encouraged by these guys and the stimulating conversation around the fire Friday night.

Here is a link to the photo album and a link to a few videos (funniest are the chicken ones).  I hope to add some more photos as I receive them from the guys I traveled with.  My FB page has had quite a few txt updates, but talk with me about the stories if you’d like more.

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Riding Across California


2010
08.01

Posted in cycling, life, ministry | 2 Comments »

Click for Larger Image

Well the Ride Across California trip is finally here!  I leave in about an hour to ride from right near the Nevada State line to Moss Landing Beach just south of Santa Cruz.  Today we make the long drive up there… yay.

I have included a photo that shows the route pretty close.  The dots along the way are our projected stopping points.

I did a trip down part of the Northern Coast last year with Andrew Oller and Andy Steelman.  That was quite the adventure but they both got real jobs and couldn’t get the time off– ha ha!  Good for them, but bad for me.

There are a total of five of us taking the journey, sponsored by the Brigade Summer Camp experiences.  I will be serving as the spiritual coordinator for the trip, so that should be a bunch of fun.  We pedal all day, eat, have devotionals and conversations, take “natural” showers (hardest part of the trip for me), and then sleep until the morning when we do it all again!

Pray for me if you think about it!

**  Hopefully pics and videos to come via Facebook and Youtube (StutznMotown Channel).

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NEXT… now type away!


2010
07.28

Posted in life, metaphors, spiritual formation | 2 Comments »

Here is the next picture.

Directions {PICTIO DIVINIA}:

1. Look at the picture. What sticks out to you in the picture and why?

2. How does the picture make you feel, make you desire, or even wish?

3. What scripture or spiritual truth does this picture remind you of?

Type up a great masterpiece in the comment area.  I’ll post my comments before the next picture goes up.

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PICTIO DIVINA EXPERIMENT!


2010
07.17

Posted in life, metaphors, spiritual formation | 5 Comments »

I’d love to try a social image experiment.  Over the next few weeks, I will post a picture that is interesting on multiple levels to me.  My hope would be that you’d take a moment and follow the steps below, then post a comment or two.  It’s easy… fun… and as quick as you’d like it to be.

Here is the first of many pictures that spur conversation and curiosity in me.

  1. Look at the picture.  What sticks out to you in the picture and why?
  2. How does the picture make you feel, make you desire, or even wish?
  3. What scripture or spiritual truth does this picture remind you of?

Now comment away… can’t wait to hear what you get.  I’ll post my comments before the next picture goes up.

{HINT:  Are you drawn to the size, colors, void, people, lighting, activities in pic?}

{HINT:  click the photo for larger view}

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Been awhile…


2010
07.16

Posted in catalyst, cycling, family, life | No Comments »

Well it has been awhile since I’ve posted here.  And since that time, a lot has happened.

I took a family vacation to the classy land of San Diego where we saw Shamu and the other caged Zoo animals– lots of walking but lots of fun.  Shortly after that I went with the fam back to East Tennessee to visit the in-laws and chill in the raging Southern humidity– ugh.  It was steamy, but the fellowship &  food was great (and greasy– not the fellowship).

After returning I spent most of the month reading.  I was able to finish the following books; all of which I recommend:  The Furious Longing of God, Patched Together, Working the Angles, & Forgotten God. Now I’m re-reading Sacred Companions, and starting Praying the Psalms. Scroll over the titles for a mini-review.  Reading has definitely become a renewed passion.

In addition to reading, my writing times have been revived.  I have finished the outline, intro, and a few chapter or two (almost).  It’s slow going with the schedule I keep and the creative space it requires.  I hope to have a pretty rough draft by the end of the year, but we’ll see.

At Big Valley, we are finishing up an in-depth look at the Book of James on Sunday nights in Catalyst.  It has been a great study as well as an extremely convicting one.  There is no doubt that the scripture can grip the heart like no other work of literature ever.  If you get a chance, come and listen to the conclusion this weekend and go back and podcast the rest.

Of course, there has been riding too (sounds like writing, but very different– ha!).  I finished the LIVESTRONG ride in in 5:47 (which was about the same time as last year).  That was shy of my 5:30 goal, but for doing the ride by myself with no shared drafting efforts I felt good about it.  And without a doubt, I have watched tons of TOUR de FRANCE (bummed that it’s not quite the Tour de Lance this year though– go Schleck!).  Hands down, cycling announcers Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen are the best announcers around.

And finally… the whole first week of August will be spent cycling from the border of Nevada (near Lake Tahoe) to Monterrey, CA.  I will be serving with the Brigade Summer Camp ministry as a spiritual coordinator for a group of five guys; mostly high school and young adult.  This is a trip where we will have SAG support so I don’t have to carry all my equipment on the bike like last year (YAY!).  It’s going to be quite a bit of climbing but our longest day of 108 miles will consist of 7000′ of descent (whew!). This will be a great opportunity to be a shepherd on a road bike– combining two passions; not too shabby.

So, needless to say, life has been a whirlwind.  However, in the days to come, I hope to be a bit more active in this digital realm.  Come back tomorrow for a look at a fun visual experiment called Pictio Divina!

Later…

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LIVESTRONG :: SAN JOSE 2010


2010
05.24

Posted in cycling, life, reach | No Comments »

Reasons to Ride… Again!

The LiveStrong Challenge is one based out of the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s goal to raise global awareness about the fight against cancer.  In addition to awareness, every cycling event raises millions of dollars for much needed cancer research.

I’m riding again on July 11, 2010.  I hope you can donate to the cause and help me out!

{read more about this adventure here}

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It’s been awhile…


2010
05.12

Posted in life | No Comments »

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted.  Wrestling with time like most people; therefore, the abrupt nature of this post.  I hope to post more in the near future.

I’ve actually been reading a bit more… so there might be a book review or two coming soon.

Another thought I’ve had was to post a series I’d like to call “Pictio Divinia.”  With a bit of time, there might be some fun posts soon.

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