Northwest Leader - Brian Dolleman

This is the World I Want to Live in.

Brian Dolleman - November 19, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized

My friend Jackie Frazier shared this beautiful story with me, so now of course I want to share it with you. It’s entitled “Gate A-4″ by Naomi Shihab Nye – the poet, songwriter, and novelist – born to a Palestinian father and an American mother… she calls herself “a wandering poet.”

Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport Terminal, after learning my flight had been delayed four hours, I heard an announcement:

“If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please come to the gate immediately.”

Well— one pauses these days. Gate A-4 was my own gate. I went there.

An older woman in full traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing.

“Help,” said the flight agent. “Talk to her . What is her problem? We told her… Read More

Jesus, Hyperbole, & Ignoring Him Completely

Brian Dolleman - November 18, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized

*note: picture above is a statue of Jesus in Hallgrímskirkja – the iconic church in Reykjavík, Iceland.

I got into a crazy discussion with a pastor friend recently.

It all started when I answered a question honestly. My answer was something like this: “I don’t believe in guns.”

Chaos erupted in the room. Every eye was on me as I attempted to explain myself.

I tried to describe how, as a follower of Jesus, I embrace his way of non-violence, forgiveness-times-infinity, enemy-love, blessing those who curse, etc.

There were more questions. Hypothetical situations raised. Some ridicule. Maybe a little genuine curiosity too.

But then it got weird. Somehow the question… Read More

Have We Lost Our Imagination?

Brian Dolleman - November 16, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized

I recently said, “I think compassion is a muscle and the church has atrophy. Time to build some muscle.”

Another muscle withering away due to neglect is imagination.

We have lost our imagination.

I think this happens because we are so easily tempted to mimic, copy, follow, and accept status quo as reasonable and good enough.

In the church it happens like this: we look to another church in some other part of the state or country that is considered successful because of one or more of the “B’s” – buildings, budgets, and butts-in-seats. We esteem these other churches as having or being something that we also should have or be. We podcast them. We fly over to them and scribble notes about everything we see and hear. We meet with their leaders to get their secret recipes. And then we bring it home to our state, city, neighborhood.

This whole thing reeks of a lack of imagination.

What ever happened to… Read More

No Strength From Fear

Brian Dolleman - November 15, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized

Towards the end of Brideshead Revisited, Charles Ryder talks to the doctor who is attending Lord Marchmain – who is on the verge of dying…

“He’s got a marvelous will to live, hasn’t he?”

The doctor says, “Would you put it like that? I should say a great fear of death.”

“Is there a difference?” Charles … Read More

How Far Do I Have To Go Before Just Admitting That I Screwed Up?

Brian Dolleman - November 12, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized

Almost 20 years ago, one of the key guys on my youth ministry team was getting credentialed as a minister. He’d graduated from college, answered the right questions, made it through the interview, and was becoming an official “Rev.”

So I got him a nice Bible with “Reverend” and his name in gold on the cover, and planned a special service to recognize this milestone.

I don’t remember all that went into this little celebration. There was probably a reception and cake. I think we invited his parents and relatives to the shindig.

What I’ll never forget, though, was my… Read More

Do You Have A Donnie?

Brian Dolleman - November 10, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized, Video

Tony Anderson is a successful composer who is welcoming an extra push outside of himself from an unlikely friend: Donnie. This video with Tony teaches us to embrace interruptions and trash our stuffy/competitive/deadline driven perspectives. I hope his story helps you love the people around you a little more freely… Read More

The Good Stuff

Brian Dolleman - November 8, 2015 - Guest Posts, Life With God, Uncategorized

This is the good stuff – what I read online this week… and read again. So I’m sharing:

1. We Are Made In The Image Of God And We Are Women by Nish Weiseth. Here’s my favorite line(s): “We are given the same commandments and the same marching orders, to love God, love others and fulfill the great commission. We are working to advance the same Kingdom that worships the same Jesus.”

And you cannot understand or comprehend the fullness of the image of God without us.

2. Who’s The Racist? by Carlos Rodriguez. Here’s my favorite line(s): ”

For me it looks like cooking a Puerto Rican meal for my African-American neighbor while we talk about British culture. For us, it’s the combination of hundreds of little acts of love. We could spend days talking about what the white police, or the black community or the latino leaders… Read More

Opal’s Warning

Brian Dolleman - November 5, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized, Video

Opal Covey is the cuckoo lady (and self-proclaimed prophetess) who believes God chose her to be the mayor of Toledo. Her campaign slogans? “Remove the curse” and “Opal Covey for mayor – a miracle worker.” She’s run for office 5 times now – and the election results are in for her most recent attempt…

She came in dead last with 1% of the vote.

Prior to the election, she was interviewed by the local news station. During the interview, she claimed that she actually won a previous election, but votes were stolen from her. Then she gave a warning:

“Great destruction will come upon… (speaking in tongues for quite a while) …Thank you, Jesus. That was a confirmation. If people don’t give me… Read More

Do You Remember Who You Are?

Brian Dolleman - November 4, 2015 - Life With God, Uncategorized

Do you remember who you are?

I mean, the real you – deep down inside. The you created in God’s image and likeness. The you who is God’s masterpiece. The uniquely gifted you. The one and only you, free from all the comparisons and advertising and marketing and demands and peer pressure and…