tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41658538034681770792011-07-30T07:19:16.494-07:00...waking up to God's dream for life, Aurora, and the world.Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.comBlogger1191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-62302775576349784082009-04-29T11:38:00.000-07:002009-04-29T11:47:15.004-07:00

Friends... (aka, the two of you who still read this blog!)Today I am "officially" moving on from this blog. We've had a good run, but now it's time to move on to something that has a little bit less of an identity crisis.So... this blog is breaking up with itself and moving to TWO places.First, for the more "spiritual" and church-related reflections, I direct you to http://awakechurch.org/blog/

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-82364235930161473692009-04-12T12:47:00.000-07:002009-04-12T12:48:57.262-07:00

Running from the tomb?

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-63716602214767259282009-04-08T10:22:00.000-07:002009-04-08T10:32:22.556-07:00

The other morning I read this quote: "Don't fail to do something just because you can't do everything."About an hour later, I met a woman who is embodying this quote exactly when my friend introduced me to his friend and neighbor who is trying to encourage a movement of what she calls "Freestyle Volunteering". Check it out and try it out!

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-21989774259349792942009-04-07T13:24:00.000-07:002009-04-07T13:34:45.132-07:00

Check out the P-I article about this project just north of the Aurora Bridge.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-2086756113087844232009-04-05T07:36:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:45:52.723-07:00

More activity in the neighborhood...

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-62557573432672815902009-03-31T11:55:00.000-07:002009-03-31T12:44:27.185-07:00

The inaugural season for the Seattle Sounders, our very own Major League Soccer team, began a few weeks ago. While my soccer playing days ended in 7th grade when I moved over to the game of (American) football and my knowledge of MLS stops at David Beckham and the guy from Melrose Place who played in the league years ago, I am excited about the Sounders being in town and I hope to make it to a

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-70276497517818974292009-03-25T11:34:00.000-07:002009-03-25T11:53:52.641-07:00

Back in college I spent my summer days painting houses. Besides painting there were two things that were daily staples: At lunch I would eat a PB&J sandwich and in the afternoon I would listen to National Public Radio as I slapped paint on the side of a house and stood 20-30 feet up in the air on top of a ladder affectionately called the "widow-maker".Those were great days. I laughed a lot,

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-85849425831665966722009-03-10T15:31:00.000-07:002009-03-10T15:43:25.748-07:00

Please take a moment to read this article from the New York Times about the hidden homelessness of families living in motels. And pray. The parallels of this story to what we're seeing here are too numerous to count.These neighbors aren't just on Aurora - they're all over the place!

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-91372019606043385352009-03-09T17:16:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:42:00.091-07:00

There was once an ancient region on a lake that was made up of about 10 small cities. This region was known as a progressive and pagan place. Today, some people would call it “godless”. If a person was a good and pious person, they knew that they should avoid this place like the plague so that it wouldn’t contaminate them. Their religious tradition, their denomination, left this place a long,

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-73618073679274560132009-02-05T13:54:00.000-08:002009-02-11T17:44:56.056-08:00

The other morning I was sitting on a church pew...In a café.What does that say?Think about it for a moment.It means that a church somewhere probably shut down. Of course, it could also mean that a church replaced its pews with chairs because they thought that more comfortable seating might get more people to come to church (by the way, which reason for selling a pew is more unsettling? You make

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-13006619456576021162009-02-05T12:25:00.000-08:002009-02-05T12:45:28.378-08:00

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Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-54940025291844888602009-01-15T22:00:00.000-08:002009-01-15T22:17:52.582-08:00

One of these days I'll actually write something of my own, but for now I'll just let others do the writing. This tragic event occurred up the road the other day. I really don't know what to say...http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008627109_webcopshooting14m.htmlhttp://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/396211_shooting16.html

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-82144779841683270102009-01-09T15:34:00.000-08:002009-01-09T15:50:12.331-08:00

Currently, the Seattle Department of Planning and Development is working with members of the emerging Aurora community, including participants in the Aurora Avenue Task Force, on the Aurora Avenue Land Use Visioning and Urban Design study.The first two community meetings took place in November and December. There were additional meetings with the Aurora Avenue Merchants Association. Much of

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-14943147169020263752008-12-23T14:08:00.000-08:002008-12-23T14:15:04.899-08:00

It is the season of waiting...Aurora is waiting for some good news.http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/388333_brothel19.htmlhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008547431_stripclub22m.html

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-43837893089126446482008-12-05T11:12:00.000-08:002008-12-05T11:24:35.133-08:00

This month, Awake Church is partnering with the Green Bean Coffeehouse to raise awareness about the situation of families who call Aurora motels "home", to raise money (from a portion of the tips) to provide housing assistance to these families , and most significantly, to give these families an opportunity to tell you their stories. It is our hope that this simple, yet stirring display will help

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-8268009321945459242008-12-05T10:54:00.000-08:002008-12-05T11:12:09.362-08:00

If you haven't heard of Rev. Billy, it's about time you have.If Rev. Billy's method is getting in the way of hearing his message, check out Shane Claiborne's similar, though more seriously delivered, thoughts here.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-72152976695268123302008-11-26T16:50:00.000-08:002008-11-26T17:34:12.740-08:00

This Sunday at our worship gathering we have a lot going on. We'll be preparing for a photography/art show that we're facilitating on behalf of some Aurora neighborhood friends at the Green Bean in the month of December. Additionally, along with the Embrace AIDS campaign, we'll pray and observe two minutes of silence for those suffering with HIV/AIDS in light of World AIDS Day, which is on

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-53924032913935327212008-11-18T16:09:00.000-08:002008-11-18T17:15:10.183-08:00

I wonder if every weekend there is a little spike in the sales of grape juice at the local grocery store because, except for when we buy bulk, Awake purchases grape juice every weekend for the Eucharist (a.k.a. Lord's Supper a.k.a. Communion), which we share every Sunday night as part of our worship gathering.I think we used "spiked" grape juice (yeah, wine) for the first few Sundays when we

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-16921179094606334082008-11-11T15:58:00.000-08:002008-11-11T16:09:36.511-08:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7718596.stmTragic.This recently happened over what was supposedly the grave of Jesus.Jesus isn't there anymore - he has risen -but if he were, I'm sure he would be rolling over.One wonders what his response is as he sits on thethrone in heaven.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-53954137685902680242008-11-01T11:04:00.001-07:002008-11-01T11:09:23.638-07:00

Seattle, Urban Hymnal 3 is tonight.Sorry for the late notice.Consider yourselves invited.The theme is Psalm 139.Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-89979314185516363092008-11-01T10:53:00.000-07:002008-11-01T10:57:32.162-07:00

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”-1 Corinthians 4.20The last few months have been, well, interesting… Again and again I find myself in situations that I never could have anticipated, and I find myself at this stage of church planting doing things that seminary never prepared me for.And I like it.One moment I’m a preacher; an hour later I’m a custodian. One afternoon

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-25546557943013530902008-10-13T09:47:00.000-07:002008-10-13T09:57:45.500-07:00

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,for they will surely sprout wingsand fly off to the sky like an eagle.-Proverbs 23.5Apparently, the book of wisdom, Proverbs,is also prophetic in nature.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-85896428057199411442008-09-29T16:26:00.000-07:002008-09-29T17:03:37.721-07:00

My daughter is just over 3 months old. She loves "talking" all the time now. She's hilarious. I see babies all the time, but I still think she was the first human being ever born.I was back in Milwaukee this past weekend for my brother's wedding. It was a great celebration, and I had the unique opportunity to both stand up as a groomsman and officiate the wedding. Even though I saw other

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-41447561820320298002008-09-21T07:11:00.000-07:002008-09-21T07:44:00.762-07:00

Reading the book of Acts..."They simply shook the dust off their feet in protest and moved on... The disciples weren't intimidated at all; rather they were full of joy and the Holy Spirit."-Acts 13.51-52

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-62168130153131009462008-09-18T14:03:00.001-07:002008-09-19T13:10:40.046-07:00

The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.-Romans 13.11-12Awake is a group of Jesus followers who are waking up to God's dream along a stretch of Seattle's Aurora Avenue (Highway 99) near

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-87975263382444991902008-09-18T14:03:00.000-07:002008-09-18T14:29:36.432-07:00

The year was 1990.I was ten years old.It was the year before Pearl Jam released Ten.And I had not yet heard of Brett Favre...That year the Seattle Times and the Seattle PI wrote about the street, one block east of Aurora Avenue, that I now live on with my wife and daughter - Nesbit Ave. The situation had gotten so bad on Nesbit that the police were actually talking about barricading it to reduce

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-12810764936616322612008-09-11T16:59:00.000-07:002008-09-11T17:12:02.377-07:00

My friend Scott made this fabulous little video about Awake's parent/sending church, Sanctuary, and their coffee house, the Green Bean. These folks are doing great things in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. I love them.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-83934459161200183482008-09-09T15:53:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:11:40.054-07:00

Last Saturday we went to the convocation worship service for Mars Hill Graduate School, where Cherie is entering her second year of the Masters of Counseling program. The service took place at the massive St. Mark's Cathedral, which sits atop Seattle's Capitol Hill. We sat near the back so that we could sneak out if our baby started crying in this large echo chamber. The wonderful service and

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-32371374991113224332008-09-05T10:00:00.000-07:002008-09-05T10:09:04.634-07:00

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” -Luke 7.34Eating, Drinking, & Befriending Sinners In Jesus NameDo you know of any churches that have the above vision statement? Neither do I. But I’d like to! Luke 7.34 makes it clear that “eating and drinking” were an essential part of the life and ministry of

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-57918783002653983472008-08-27T13:40:00.000-07:002008-08-27T14:33:33.790-07:00

Obviously, there were some discipleship issues here. Following Jesus and owning this type of cafe seemed to be clearly incompatible. Without pressuring him, he explained: He had owned the cafe, but it wasn't doing so well. He was going to sell it, but some friends approached him with the idea of turning it into a sexy cafe. He admitted that he was still wrestling with the whole thing. His mom

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-8067904807481975012008-08-27T13:30:00.000-07:002008-08-27T13:38:44.368-07:00

So what do followers of Jesus do in the face of this daunting disorder? Our response has to be more than just talking about these things, right?We're still trying to figure out how to respond to/confront the entire spectrum of distorted sexuality, but we have definitely been intentional about engaging the cafe scene. Early on, when we began exploring the street of Aurora as we prepared for

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-68311464086980029522008-08-27T11:48:00.000-07:002008-08-27T13:30:38.419-07:00

Have you heard the news about half-naked baristas in Seattle? Yeah, they're all over the place. According to the age-old axiom, "sex sells," so cafes all over the state of Washington - most of them drive-thru espresso stands - are attempting to get a leg up on their competitors, by actually showing more leg. And legs are just the beginning of what's being shown...Aurora Avenue (Highway 99)

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-40631782935121955912008-08-23T21:19:00.000-07:002008-08-23T21:22:01.888-07:00

I like this. A lot.Check out the girl effect.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-3736586881272733702008-07-30T11:48:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:47.326-08:00

"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many..."- 1 Corinthians 12.14Today I'm so thankful for the Awake body. I'm so thankful for the leaders, their quest for the kingdom, and the way in which we are seeking it together. Cherie, Evie, and I are heading out of town tomorrow and will be on vacation for almost two weeks... And we go without any stress related to how this young church is

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-13859815902546002502008-07-22T06:53:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:47.628-08:00

I feel like I have a minor case of writer's block lately:I don't know what to blog about. It takes me awhile to craft a Sunday message. Even in conversation, words don't come easily.What's up with that?I think part of it has to do with the birth of Evie. Her entrance into my life seems to have shifted everything. I find myself in a new world, and so it makes sense that I would have a

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-32222453338197945062008-07-18T12:27:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:47.945-08:00

"No, I don't want to battle from beginning to end. I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge.I don't want to follow death and all his friends."-Coldplay, from "Death and All His Friends"The band's new album Viva La Vida is not incredible. It's very "Coldplay", which is to say that it's a pretty predictable sound, but a predictably good one at that.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-13114658798743680402008-07-18T09:56:00.000-07:002008-07-18T10:10:07.322-07:00

So God created human beings in his own image,in the image of God he created them;male and female he created them.And the image of God liked to dance...[watch in high quality here]

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-92021655072718850042008-07-15T17:00:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:48.222-08:00

I was sitting at Golden Gardens beach with Jay Stringer last Friday. It was a stunning day, absolutely stunning. We were sitting on a park bench when a young boy and his mother approached us. “Have you seen a cell phone?” she asked.We hadn’t.The boy was clearly distraught and his mother was also significantly concerned. Apparently, it was like a $300 RAZR phone - lost. Ouch.I took down their

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-29727171391774369642008-07-08T11:54:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:48.428-08:00

Last week we received our economic stimulus check in the mail. Admittedly, our first response was “Sweet – money!” We could put it towards the couch we already bought, the DVD player we “had” to buy after our other one broke, or college loans that are still haunting us.But then we asked a question: Why did we get this “free money” in the first place? President Bush called the Economic Stimulus

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-91709974081827853992008-07-04T15:27:00.000-07:002008-07-04T15:34:02.080-07:00

Here are a few books I've been reading while Evie sleeps in my arms:The Shack by William P. YoungChrist, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper by Leonard J. Vander ZeeHarry Potter y la cámara secreta by J.K. Rowling

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-72540484590114027072008-06-26T16:47:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:48.618-08:00

In case you've been wondering where I've been and what I've been doing - I've been spending a lot of time with my INCREDIBLE wife Cherie and an AMAZING little girl by the name of Evie Gloria Katt who was born on June 18, 2008.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-8460943229732809732008-06-17T10:22:00.000-07:002008-06-17T10:41:27.361-07:00

For the last year and a half I have spent Tuesday mornings in a dark, little, upper room above the Greenwood neighborhood here in Seattle with some friends in prayer.Sometimes we have a lot of energy.Sometimes we're silent.Usually we have bad breath and are in dire need of coffee.Sometimes we talk for so long that we barely have any time to pray.This morning was one of those days, so we decided

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-82682548447047808092008-06-16T17:27:00.000-07:002008-06-16T17:57:05.683-07:00

I got my first Father's Day card ever yesterday...And it wasn't from my child. It wasn't from my wife either.Granted, my baby hasn't even been born yet, so I probably shouldn't expect too much from him/her. Cherie, meanwhile, did write me a note later in the day - so she gets some credit - but that was the second Father's Day card/note that I've ever received. Someone else beat her to it.An

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-58112953779607040332008-06-11T13:03:00.000-07:002008-06-11T13:29:32.487-07:00

You could call Awake’s gathering last Sunday “Exorcism Night"... [chatter. confusion. people muttering, “what?”]After a fabulous feast and a dirty diaper incident, we took a look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 9.37-38: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”Theologian F. Dale Bruner translates it this way

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-33491134484449048262008-06-10T10:30:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:49.174-08:00

You might feel like I have been hiding.No, no, no.It's just that Cherie and I've got a lot on our minds these days, most notably, our coming baby. This kid is awesome and we cannot wait to meet him/her!!!I don't often show pics on this blog, but there is a time and place for everything... I'm sure some of you would love to see how AMAZING (read: hot) Cherie looks with a belly! Besides, I don't

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-24907686229263191192008-06-04T15:03:00.000-07:002008-06-04T15:58:57.364-07:00

Thanks to many of you for being with us and behind us in prayer as Awake had its first core team leadership meeting last night. Our leadership has actually been gathering since January for prayer, and then in April we started weekly Sunday night gatherings at the Sweet Spot cafe, which were intended to be a time for leadership formation... but then some other friends and visitors and people

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-78334445267552095522008-06-04T13:52:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:49.466-08:00

Aurora Motel Shut Down By State Health AuthoritiesA Tale Of Two Aurora MotelsThe Seal's Motel is the FOURTH Aurora motel to be shut-down by the Washington Department of Health in the last few months. Apparently, the light is finally shining in the darkness. People have had their theories about these motels, but the State is actually starting to do their job - they're enforcing their health and

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-82764547100493457482008-05-30T11:40:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:49.626-08:00

If you're not familiar with the story of Shackleton and the Endurance, you need to be.It overwhelms me every time.BookMovie

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-25181247648723059052008-05-29T15:08:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:49.795-08:00

"Christianity began in Palestine as a relationship, moved to Greece and became an idea, went to Rome and became an institution, then came to America and became an enterprise." -R. Halverson

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-10213228347613597912008-05-24T09:52:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:50.250-08:00

I recently started participating in a coaching program for church planters called the Missional Church Apprenticeship Practicum, or MCAP. The MCAP is made up of church planters and other pastors who are trying to lead their congregations in a missional direction from all over the country. I've enjoyed the bit of discussion we've had up to this point and the opportunity to hear the stories of

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-85340223229251943402008-05-23T10:47:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:50.388-08:00

Here is an update on the situation at the Green Lake Motel: http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=248042.Some Awake folks will likely be having a cookout tonight with the remaining tenants where I will be able to use my spiritual gift of grilling bratwurst.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-8863027339272014552008-05-20T15:35:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:51.579-08:00

This:http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/363730_motel20.htmlhttp://www.kirotv.com/news/16327225/detail.html (w/ video)http://www.komotv.com/news/local/19074539.html (w/ video)http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/jamieson/363679_robert19web.html?source=rsshttp://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/363425_motel17.htmlis going on right now, so on Sunday night after...Church gathered for an hour in the back room

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-88840190815322645312008-05-17T08:03:00.001-07:002008-12-13T03:07:51.763-08:00

Do you ever feel like people are reading your mail, your email, or your journal? It sure feels like the magazine Christianity Today has been doing that lately... and I'm totally cool with it, as long as they keep writing this great stuff!*** First it was this about Christianity and masculinity, and now it is this solid article about being Pentecostal and Reformed by James K.A. Smith (here and

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-19610617072165242042008-05-16T09:14:00.000-07:002008-05-16T09:24:58.784-07:00

I saw this Radiohead video on the blog of my fellow Seattle pastor, Eugene Cho.Yo MTV!, keep raising awareness about the issues of trafficking/forced labor/slavery.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-48045579029819150052008-05-15T13:44:00.000-07:002008-05-15T17:40:23.586-07:00

A friend recently sent me this TED talk by Dave Eggers, author of the book What Is the What (which I hear is pretty good). He is the founder of the 826 writing/tutoring centers, including the one in Seattle... which happened to be across the street from our old apartment. If you've visited us, you might remember it; it is also known as The Greenwood Space Supply Travel Company. I think this

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-57704595328674333622008-05-13T13:42:00.000-07:002008-05-13T14:09:23.118-07:00

Awake has been gathering for over a month now on Sunday nights. We meet in the back room of an interesting cafe on Aurora Ave. Throughout the week (and formerly on Sunday nights) the space is used for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. As a result, we've had many people show up for "The Daily Fix" N.A. meeting that used to take place on Sunday night... and find a church

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-55507324578404028742008-05-12T16:48:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:51.957-08:00

Back from Californ-I-A.Some highlights:-In-N-Out Burger-hours and hours of competitive Wiffle ball on the beach-conversations about the kingdom of God and about how the church has lost its imagination and settled for the idea of "the good life" that the world offers us (just watch five minutes of commercials and you'll see what we're talking about)-watching, grieving, and wrestling with the movie

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-91378394930671753962008-05-06T21:41:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:52.106-08:00

In one of my earliest posts I told you all about Aaron's Beard, a group of men that I have shared life with for a number of years. Well, it's time for another reunion! Tomorrow I'm heading down to southern California for a long weekend with the Beard in all of its glory (although two of us won't be there - one lives in Egypt, the other in Japan - so we're more like a goatee) - learning to

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-34363444292967114592008-05-06T21:36:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:52.322-08:00

Ignatius lived a long, long time ago in a land far, far away. He was the 3rd bishop of Antioch after St. Peter. Sometime around the turn of the 1st century he was summoned to Rome to face death because he was a follower of Jesus (Interestingly, he was really excited about being a martyr). On his way to Rome, he wrote seven letters. Here’s an excerpt from one of them:Mary’s virginity was

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-40855562749180355892008-05-01T16:06:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:52.490-08:00

Last fall some students from Seattle Pacific University began an intentional Christian community called Our House. You've got to love the name - you can't name it without being included - brilliant!Anyways, Mustard Seed Associates just wrote an article about Cherie and my fabulous friends from... Our House.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-27655724241874243312008-04-30T15:01:00.000-07:002008-04-30T15:05:33.263-07:00

Courtesy of Henri Nouwen's Gracias:"More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems."My own desire to be useful, to do something

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-33448211578991257742008-04-28T09:30:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:52.619-08:00

It's Monday morning.Monday morning is a weird time for many-a-pastor.For quarterbacks too, I suppose.Monday is the day that we over-analyze the previous day's activities - i.e., did I really say/do that?Many pastors recommend that other pastors take Mondays off. They point out these Monday morning feelings and come to the seemingly obvious conclusion - you need to rest, so take Monday off! That

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-35207137779469665922008-04-27T21:23:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:52.766-08:00

Last Wednesday the Aurora Task Force presented it's finalized action agenda to Mayor Greg Nickels. It was quite satisfying to sit around the table with my hard-working task force friends and hear the mayor thank us for our work and promise the implementation of many action agenda items as well as continued city support for our neighborhood.Check out the news release here and/or read on below to

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-22248327544717723142008-04-26T14:29:00.000-07:002008-04-26T14:57:10.820-07:00

This week I'm thankful to Brandon O'Brien (not Brenden O'Brien who used to be a producer/mixer for Pearl Jam) for boldly writing his thoughts down on the growing masculinity movement within the church. His reflections/corrections are so needed right now in the church - particularly in Seattle.Similar thoughts have been stirring in me for years. Check out his article.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-41041502087327957912008-04-22T17:34:00.000-07:002008-04-22T20:33:22.052-07:00

"If you are a leader, you have to lead."Thus saith Rob Bell to my friends and me a week ago at the Off the Map event. These words are quite simple, quite obvious. But coming from Rob Bell, they carried extra weight (see previous post). Admittedly, he's struggled with his platform, but at the end of the day he recognizes that he's been given a megaphone. And so the question for him - and for

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-40898845188507405682008-04-19T12:33:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:53.000-08:00

This past week has been incredible. While I feel like I'm usually able to piece together a few different themes/reflections in my writing, I'm just going to have to resort to a list...Friday -Jay Stringer, Cherie, and I prayed/conversed at our place. Jay and I hit the streets... uh, street... that is, Aurora. We hopped on the 358, jumped off so Jay could get some coffee, and stopped at a

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-17674273106108027602008-04-10T15:28:00.000-07:002008-04-10T15:49:27.583-07:00

Are there even words for how bizarre this is? How does this make you feel? Happy?Sad?Joyful?Confused?Disturbed?It actually reminds me of a lot of some of the churches I see on TV.The question is: who is imitating whom?

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-18218020282517539342008-04-09T21:50:00.000-07:002008-04-09T21:52:18.956-07:00

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-68590261168500421952008-04-09T08:41:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:53.154-08:00

A few weeks ago my friend Travis came across this quote in a book called The Violence of Love by Oscar Romero. He sent it to me; I am sending it to you:"A preaching that does not point out sinis not the preaching of the gospel.A preaching that makes sinners feel good,so that they become entrenched in their sinful state,betrays the gospel’s call.A preaching that does not discomfit sinnersbut

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-65659355344806290032008-04-07T11:58:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:53.316-08:00

Just call me "Hugh Grant."Actually, please don't.Whoops a daisies...But my life as of late at least resembles the title of one of his one million romantic comedies. Four weddings and a funeral - that's what my calendar shows between March 29 and May 3. I had to back out of my emcee duties for wedding #1 two weekends ago because my grandpa's cancer quickly took a turn for the worse. He died on

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-48597114017420086102008-03-26T20:28:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:53.495-08:00

Last night I attended a meeting that the task force hosted for the community. Business owners, neighbors, and other people involved in the community showed up for an open house time to discuss the Action Agenda (a.k.a. the results of the task force's work). It was fabulous! Around 100 people showed up, packing the meeting room at a local church. The gathering included a brief presentation by

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-702350557493678352008-03-24T13:52:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:53.623-08:00

It's the day after Easter and your Cadbury Creme Egg wrapper is empty.More importantly, the tomb is empty... still.Wake up.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-78057084744559392782008-03-21T16:06:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:53.767-08:00

First it was a tray and then it was a plate of spaghetti with meat that would become taco meat the next day and then it was the "freshman 15".These were some of the things that my friends and I used to pick up in the campus dining hall.There was a guy who worked in the dining hall named Denny and every Friday he would say the same thing as he scooped up ice cream for the sweet-toothed students: "

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-15865734863335935262008-03-16T07:51:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:54.054-08:00

A few weeks ago at one of our prayer gatherings I encouraged the Awake group to move into the coming weeks as people intentionally seek to bless others - encourage a friend, buy a bottle of wine for a neighbor, take someone out for a double tall latte, celebrate the abilities of a co-worker, etc. I challenged them to try and bless at least three different people. This was a practice that I

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-38954662086744160732008-03-13T18:20:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:54.224-08:00

Some dear friends of mine are on a wild goose chase in the rapidly changing Seattle neighborhood of South Lake Union. Their faith community is called Dust and they are up to some amazing things in Jesus' name, in Jesus' footsteps, in Jesus'... dust. Follow their developing website to keep tabs on their journey. Oh, if you want to buy a t-shirt to celebrate the new South Lake Union trolley, er.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-52626480336719671822008-03-13T09:19:00.000-07:002008-03-13T13:52:20.807-07:00

Vincent Donovan, a Catholic missionary priest in Eastern Africa, wrote a tremendous book called Christianity Rediscovered about the gospel, mission, and context in the late 70's. I keep going back to it. This book was decades ahead of its time.If you have a second, read this brief story:"Work among the Masai in Tanzania was begun more than twenty years ago by the Catholic Mission. There are

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-22590930583349426182008-03-10T21:05:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:07:54.361-08:00

How in the world do you start a church? I still don't know and I probably never will. Any ideas? We're going with the apostle's approach. They raised their voices in prayer. I've always appreciated Karl Barth's take on this endeavor: "To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world." We've found this statement to actually be true. What do you

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-50523350924594980672008-03-04T17:35:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:07:54.505-08:00

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-43260790357525337322008-02-26T17:44:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:07:54.720-08:00

"Dear Child of God, before we can become God's partners, we must know what God wants for us. 'I have a dream,' God says. 'Please help Me to realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts, when there will be more laughter, joy, and

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-36917205707517663882008-02-26T17:26:00.001-08:002008-12-13T03:07:55.168-08:00

Did you hear that Starbucks is taking a 3 hour break today? Yep. Closing their doors everywhere for 3 hours. It's like a Starbucks sabbath. At least, it's a sabbath - a rest - from making drinks for customers. Apparently, during that time they will be training their baristas. My guess is that they'll also use that time to re-school everyone in the good news of Starbucks.Just imagine if the

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-32566662835008235412008-02-26T17:09:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:07:55.336-08:00

I went to the Starbucks at 100th and Aurora this afternoon. I camped out for like 4 hours, drank too much drip coffee, and dreamed about this new church the whole time.Of course as I'm sitting there I hear the word Awake again. It is stalking me. I turned around when I heard someone say, "Awake", and I saw what they were talking about... Awake.A bold breakfast tea of depth and character,

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-4934339047186183782008-02-13T09:33:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:07:55.546-08:00

The stretch of Aurora Avenue that I know runs between a cemetery and zoo*, and in many ways, it is both.To the drive-by eye, Aurora might look like a cemetery. It is a place marked by death. Run-down motels, used car lots, a general lack of beauty. Prostitutes, addicts, homeless people. My guess is that a fair share of commuters in their cars have Haley Joel Osment moments: "I see dead people

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-58743576861766715432008-02-12T13:04:00.000-08:002008-02-12T13:33:11.609-08:00

Can you imagine if your community saw your church as a central/essential part of your neighborhood?That would be beautiful. And that's why I love the Green Bean.Admittedly, Sanctuary church is still trying to figure out what exactly the Bean is as a part of the church. But thankfully - and perhaps more importantly - the community doesn't seem to have any questions about the Bean's place on the

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-51721357906133343012008-02-03T21:26:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:07:55.697-08:00

An American Idol sings the National Anthem before the New England Patriots play the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, which comes only days before Super Tuesday, the day on which Democrats and Republicans will likely choose their candidates for President of the United States. The Super Bowl and Super Tuesday - these are essentially both American religious events.I'm really into football and

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-2905813148035045772008-01-25T17:20:00.000-08:002008-01-25T17:42:23.000-08:00

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). The Apostle Paul writes these words to the young church in Corinth, who, among other things, is fighting over who their leader is. Is it Apollos? Is it Paul? Is it someone else? Essentially, the question is, who gets the credit? Paul confronts this Corinthian conflict and gives the glory to God.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-273327180853580792008-01-21T17:11:00.001-08:002008-12-13T03:08:01.422-08:00

I went for a walk on Aurora today...Whoever has eyes to see, let them see.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-56087571590776367382008-01-17T15:45:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:01.576-08:00

There was an article on the front page of the Seattle Times today about Aurora and the work of an organization called GAIN. In this photo (courtesy of Jim Bates, Seattle Times), you'll see Cindy Potter, one of the founders of GAIN. She's cool.

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-20584370551494256482008-01-16T12:53:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:01.761-08:00

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." -Jesus (to his followers)Yeah, Jesus, salt is pretty worthless after it loses its saltiness. But it did occur to me while I rode the #5 bus downtown and saw people slipping on the ice in the street (and chuckled

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-43575803328903083782008-01-14T09:19:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:02.029-08:00

A friend and I were talking the other day about how Jesus always taught about the kingdom of God with parables, but in the church today we try to explain everything.My friend wants to write parables. He got me thinking about writing parables too. And then I remembered that there was this story, a true story from Aurora, that I heard the other day. There was something very parabolic about this

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-15499256534981414742008-01-11T11:38:00.000-08:002008-01-11T11:52:20.737-08:00

A while back I mentioned that I got a spot on the Aurora Task-Force. That was pretty exciting. I haven't really updated you on the goings-on of that group. It has a been a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to connect with other folks in the community. Thanks to my partner-in-crime Jay Stringer (yes, I still need to introduce you to him!), who saved this group from a potential

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-41129223417785040232008-01-08T14:53:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:02.203-08:00

My friend John studies film at USC and makes films; he takes pictures and tells stories. We share a common heart for Spain and a common curiosity of Aurora. Check out this great story he wrote about his experience at a particular Aurora motel: http://www.blueskyhill.com/gallery.html.In addition to being a gifted storyteller through words and pictures, John is also known for shattering my

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-67677601069676032722008-01-07T13:27:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:02.505-08:00

You ever seen that movie starring Robin Williams as a doctor? No, not Patch Adams. And, no, in that other movie with the all-star cast of Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, and Joey Lawerence's little brother, he dressed up only as an old woman, not as a doctor. I'm talking about the movie Awakenings.Synopsis: Doctor wakes catatonic patients with miracle drug. This is exciting! Only later does

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-91461335851127745552007-12-20T23:45:00.000-08:002007-12-21T00:10:01.279-08:00

I have been so overwhelmed these past few weeks. No, not stressed or exhausted, but humbled by the grace that so many people have extended to me. Of course, at the top of that list is Cherie, who, even though she had grad school finals, found ways to encourage and support me in my church planting endeavors. I have also particularly been blown away by the generosity of the many people who are

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-52876771534110756182007-12-20T23:40:00.000-08:002007-12-20T23:44:37.677-08:00

"The Bible calls this 'faith': leaving the dwelling places of reality where one has peace and security and giving oneself over to the course of history, to the way of freedom and danger, the way of disappointment and surprise, borne along and led solely by God's hope."-Jürgen Moltmann

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-77925550766007395342007-12-13T20:43:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:03.098-08:00

You probably already know that China names each new year. 2008 will be "The Year of the Rat". Side note: I bet someone in Beijing wishes they didn't have to stick to the name assigned by the Chinese zodiac. I can already picture Olympic tourists hesitating to indulge in the local cuisine because they keep hearing about "The Year of the Rat" all over Beijing.Was that side note inappropriate?

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-75395633382385456392007-12-06T14:39:00.000-08:002007-12-06T15:54:57.866-08:00

This past Tuesday I attended the Northwest Hot House. It is an interdenominational group of Seattle (& regional) church planters - old and new with emerging churches of all different shapes and sizes - who gather together to discuss/explore our co-work with God and each other in Christ's kingdom. In case you're curious, this gathering included Eric Likkel of Emmaus Road, Eugene Cho of Quest,

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-66733440816124791992007-12-05T17:01:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:03.397-08:00

This might be painful for some of you... but it reminds me of weightlifting gloves.This past week has been amazing. There are so many stories to tell, but I don't want this to start sounding like a family Christmas newsletter gone horribly wrong, so how do I succinctly describe what has been happening? In addition to getting to know motel managers, I also had the chance to knock on doors. You

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-12804652318590551472007-11-26T16:22:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:08:03.529-08:00

Long time, no write.I went to Michigan for a few days, ended up staying for a week. There's a whole wonderful story there about God's providence, about beauty amidst brokenness, but I won't get into that here...As for last week, it was spent looking forward to turkey and gravy, then recovering from the delicious sleepy meat (the sleepy meat syndrome, however, has recently been debunked).Today

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-46648094296172678042007-11-09T09:48:00.000-08:002007-11-09T10:52:18.759-08:00

Just a brief update on my Aurora (hwy 99) adventures:Monday morning. Met with Jay Stringer, who has been helping me out in amazing ways (I'll tell you more about Jay in the future), at a coffee shop on Aurora that is full of characters. It doesn't have the best coffee, but it is one of the few gathering places on this particular stretch of Aurora. Next door is the Fremont Fellowship Hall, a

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4165853803468177079.post-11634411969029076332007-11-03T22:16:00.000-07:002008-12-13T03:08:03.780-08:00

This is not an adventure a person undertakes alone.It is not a solo project.The movie Chocolat, which will turn anyone into a sweet-tooth, includes a conversation between Roux, a McCandless-type wanderer who travels the river with a band of gypsies (Johnny Depp) and Vianne, a young single mother who also has an itinerant spirit, albeit more subtle (Juliette Binoche). Vianne: Don't you ever think

Ben Katthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746126596671039083noreply@blogger.com0