A New Voice in a Changing World

So, quick update. We’re not starting classes again until the 1st of December. So I’m headed back up to campus tomorrow after a worship service to get what I need to go home and then my flight leaves SBA at 3:30p. I’ll be arriving at DFW sometime around 11:30p, so it should be an interesting day of travel. But a nice change to the rhythm of the last couple of days. Anyways, here are some links for you to enjoy in the meantime.

Here’s a new book coming out by Peter Rollins. It’s a collection of parables he’s written over the years. It will be amazing.

And here’s a link to a gallery of pictures from the wildfires that have ravaged parts of Southern California in the last couple of days.

Grace and Peace,
Wesley

I’m blogging from my cousins’ duplex in Goleta, CA. The latest news has told us that the fire has been 80% contained, which is definitely great news!

I went to Montecito Covenant’s service this morning, held at the Montecito Country Club (the area around Westmont is still inaccessible because of roadblocks and mandatory evacs in effect) and it was an amazing time of prayer. With aspects of celebration, for those whose houses survived the wildfire, and mourning, for those who lost everything in the wildfire. It was incredible to see the generosity and the uplifting of the Spirit and I’m reminded of what it means to be in communion with the body of Christ.

We (a couple of friends and myself) remain in Goleta waiting to hear the word tomorrow to result from meetings being held starting at 8 a.m. PST to determine what the course of action will be. There are certainly mixed reactions as to what will unfold from this process, but I’m hopeful that many will be eager to start the semester again and finish strong.. because that’s what the Gospel calls us to.

In the midst of pain and confusion and terrible tragedy, we are certainly called to mourn. And to mourn is beautiful, it is an expression that cannot be passed as trivial or insignificant. But at the same time.. we are a people called to live out the gospel of Christ in a time between two realities. A time between the reality of this broken world and a time of the reality of the Kingdom, of the eternal promise we’ve been given to by God. This of course, calls for difficult and awkward decisions.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.
Amazing love, now flowing down.
From hands and feet, that were nailed to the tree.
His grace flows down and covers me.

It is a time of mourning and, simultaneously, a time of celebration as we look forward to the day when all this, as it doesn’t make sense to us, will be made new and beautiful and clear to us in that Eternal Day.

But we are called to live out that Eternal Day, today.

So I encourage my friends and family to be ever-mournful and saddened by these tragedies–be it wildfires or tsunamies or depression or famine in the world–but also to have our life punctuated by hopefulness because we are a people of Hope. When we forget this, we forget everything.

You give and take away.

The image, I can’t help but think of is the smoke rising from the fire. And how that image parallels to the offering of sacrifices in the Hebrew Scriptures. How the smoke rising meant that we were giving everything we have to God because He alone is the Holiest of holies. The LORD of lords.

Baruch ‘atah yahweh ‘eloheynu melek ha’olam

Blessed is the LORD, our God the eternal king.

Blessed is He. In everything. In pain, in death, in tragedy, in loss.

Blessed is He.

We may have lost a lot in the last couple of days, but we have not lost our God who is Eternal… who is Everlasting.

Let us not forget that we serve, in the grace and mercy of a God who is eternal when everything around us withers into dust.

Grace and Peace my friends,
Wesley

I guess people in Tyler will know about Westmont now… click here. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m back in Santa Barbara staying at my cousin’s house. I was interviewed by someone from the Tyler Morning Telegraph about the fires today. Westmont President Gayle Beebe held a conference call for parents/students today with information/update on the current situation at the college. He addressed some logistical inquiries and what students/parents can do to help.

Mainly faculty/staff/admin are working on finding temporary housing for students and faculty. The faculty are also meeting on Monday to determine the next course of action in regards to the course of the academic semester, and we’ll know by Monday which direction that course will take as well as when students will be allowed back on campus.

Note, the county has lifted the mandatory evacuation on the area, so the chance of students/faculty being able to return is greater than previously mentioned.

I will keep you guys updated. Thanks for prayers and thoughts.

Grace and Peace,
Wesley

Update:

As of 7:21am — All students and employees are fine. We are assessing damage this morning. Updates will be posted shortly.

No fires remain active on or in the campus area.

From what I’ve heard from officials on campus, it seems like just about a dozen faculty housing has been destroyed, and only a hand-ful of buildings on campus: The Physics Building, the Old Math Building, a few small maintenance builds, and some other structures were ’singed’ but no significant structural damage, contrary to what many news agencies are reporting.

I’m still in Ventura, though I will head up to SB soon. I will rendezvous with friends who are still in town and we’ll probably just figure out where to go from there at the discretion of Westmont Officials. Chances are I’ll stay at my cousin’s house tonight until they let us back on campus, which could be another 24 hours from now, at least.

Unfortunately, I only have my laptop and not any of the power chords.. and I have my phone, yet no power chords. I’ll be able to charge my phone in my car, but my laptop will lose battery soon unless I can get back on campus to get my adapter/get a new one. I’ll be fine, and I can post to my blog from my phone. If you don’t hear from me, I’ll surely post updates to my twitter.. here.

Again thanks, for the prayers and concerns last night, to all. It looks like we got through the brunt of it, but there’s still a lot to be done. And we’ll need prayers and strength in the coming weeks. Blessings, my friends.

Grace and Peace,
Wesley

I’m blogging from Ventura, at my room-mates house. Tonight, a fire started in the hills of Montecito around 6 pm PST. With the unfortunate aid of strong winds (gusts to ~50 mph) the fire spread very quickly and has now burnt around 300 acres of land including dozens of homes.

I was able to get off campus before students were evacuated to the Murchison Gym, which serves as the Fire Shelter in the event of wildfires. The gym is surrounded by fire trucks and students are not, currently, threatened by the fire.

The latest reports have claimed the winds are dying down and the fire is moving in a direction away from campus.

A few buildings have been damaged, but much of the survey won’t be able to give a complete diagnosis until the sun rises.

I’ll keep everyone updated.. Here are a few links:

Horizon Live-Blog
CNN reporting…
KEYT Santa Barbara News

Keep us in your prayers..

Grace and Peace,
Wesley

We do violence to one another in ways other than attacking one another’s body. The violence we confront in the church on a regular basis is subtle but sometimes almost as hurtful as physical violence. The church is too often the place where people who have little power elsewhere can make their all-out power plays.

Rodney Clapp, A Peculiar People