So, since moving to Phoenix over five years ago (has it really been that long?), I’ve learned a lot about this land of endless sunshine. And, while no doubt this is in fact, The Valley of the Sun, I have often found the people here are not so sunny when it comes to their “beloved?” city. In fact, many people here go all seattle on the place quite often and lament her greatest asset. It seems to me that Phoenix has a case of “biggest strength, biggest weakness” on a grand scale. So, just like any good psychologist would tell a “gloomy” patient, it is time to look on the bright side of things…
Seriously, Phoenix, you are good enough, smart enough, and doggoneit, people like you! Don’t listen to those people who tell you are are just too bright and cheery for them too much of the time. Yes, your personality can be a little overbearing at times and, true, you are a little warm to snuggle up to on summer nights, but oh, you do make up for it. Phoenix, there are many things to love about you…your breath-taking sunsets, your rugged terrain, your surrounding mountains, your famous golf courses, your sports franchises, your topflight hiking, your proximity to places like Flagstaff, San Diego, Vegas, Puerto Penasco Mexico (most undiscovered), and, oh yeah, that little place called the Grand Canyon. You have a vastly underrated food culture and, lets face it, if you want it, you can certain buy it in one of your metros 10000 shopping venues. Phoenix lift your Superbowl/NBA all-star/MLB all-star/BCS Championship/Fiesta Bowl hosting self off the couch and understand that while most of the country prepares for their good month of weather, October is just your appetizer. Ignore the naysayers, Phoenix, they are green with envy and their vision is clouded (okay, pun intended). No prozac needed here. Soon all the haters will once again embrace you and act all along like they never talked about you behind your blazing backside. I know already that you’ll be the bigger person, giving twice as much as you take …
Posted in Life, [culture].
Tagged with phoenix.
By Brian Kruckenberg
– August 31, 2010
so, I’m about as big of a phoenix apologist as you will find. too many people moan on and on and on and on about the heat. it is the desert. it is hot. that probably won’t change this side of Jesus’ return. so, what’s a guy or gal to do. first, suck it up and remember you NEVER have to deal with sleet, slush, ice, sand, salt, and the other joys that most americans labor through come december – march. secondly, realize that, contrary to popular belief, it is summer everywhere else in the northern hemisphere this time of year. oh, it may not be melt your eyelids hot, but it is hot and in many places they have the sort of humidity that breads mosquitos the size of our scorpions. seriously, you carve out the hottest 6-8 weeks of phoenix and you have, well, you have 10 million more neighbors.
so, now that my introduction is over, here’s the point of this post: can some brilliant engineer/architect/entreprenuer come up with a trendy/eye-pleasing/cost effective way to shade more of our city. seriously, if you live in phoenix, you know that 108 is not bad in the shade. when the sun is riding shotgun on your shoulder, it is a little intense. so,a little shade please. trees are part of the solution, i think, but if there were ever a place to experiment with some funky new shade casting techniques, it would be here in our lovely sonoran desert. i’d think there’s a mint to be made on such a thing too. perhaps i’m naive and just have my head in the clouds, err what clouds?, or something. but, there’s gotta be a new something out there that will make someone rich and the rest of us “cooler.”
any takers?
Posted in [culture].
By Brian Kruckenberg
– August 20, 2010
We posted this on the day|twelve blog today and I hope you take a minute to read and relay the information.
Posted in [church], [culture].
By Brian Kruckenberg
– August 18, 2010
I wish I could express in a blog post what God has shown me over the past 4 weeks…all culminating this morning. Put simply: the Cross is so beautiful. I deserve death and yet He rescued me. The Perfect One became filthy for me. It has been a wild month of transition and there have been many things to process through. In that process, I think it is easy sometimes to want operate out of our human nature and forget what Jesus did for us. For me to hold bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart is to spit in the face of Christ on the Cross. I know I’ve done that too many times. I don’t want to dishonor my Savior. I have realized today that God must take us through times we don’t understand so that He can drive the Cross deeper into us. I know that I will be a better man by walking through uncertain times with God, not because of what I have done but because of what God is doing in me….the scary thing is that He has so much more work to do in me. Becoming like Christ isn’t much fun in the moment but now, oh, I see it more clearly and He is more real to me than ever. So good to be closer to Him today than I was yesterday. God has messed me up (in a good way 
) and now my soul is resting. My heart is still and all because of the Cross of Christ. Thank you Jesus.
Posted in Jesus, [church].
By Brian Kruckenberg
– September 30, 2009
In the law, evidence is exactly what you’d think it is. In short evidence is an indicator of an event, person or thing. “Where there’s smoke there’s fire” is a simple cliche that embodies the definition. A fingerprint is evidence that a certain person was at a certain location or touching a certain object. Blood is evidence that can solve many mysteries for investigators. Evidence in the law is pretty commonsensical. In the Scriptures…
Faith is the “evidence of things we cannot yet see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is the evidence? Faith is so subjective; so ethereal…not much many empirical qualities to “faith.” Maybe. But Hebrews 11 certainly does a good job of making the subjective objective. “By faith Noah built the ark…” “By faith, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice…” “By faith, the people of Israel traveled through the Red Sea…” So, by Biblical definition, the ark was actually evidence of the flood. In God’s court, He gives the faithful the evidence of the event beforethe event even happens. Cool. People pay billions every year for evidence of future events when all they really need to do is to put their faith in a God who clearly knows the future.
Through faith, God gives you and I the evidence of future events. The question is do we have the faith necessary to gain access to the evidence?
Posted in God, [church].
By Brian Kruckenberg
– September 21, 2009
So, since moving to Phoenix over five years ago (has it really been that long?), I’ve learned a lot about this land of endless sunshine. And, while no doubt this is in fact, The Valley of the Sun, I have often found the people here are not so sunny when it comes to their “beloved?” city. In fact, many people here go all seattle on the place quite often and lament her greatest asset. It seems to me that Phoenix has a case of “biggest strength, biggest weakness” on a grand scale. So, just like any good psychologist would tell a “gloomy” patient, it is time to look on the bright side of things…
a husband, dad, and follower of Jesus who is passionate about teaching and leading well. i love the church, urban culture and espresso. downtown phoenix arizona is my ‘hood. 
