- after all these years, i still love to hear singing around the campfire
- work trips bring out the best...and sometimes the worst...in people
- i love the people of mexico
- i am always reminded that mexico is a "work in progress". unlike our country, where people have to have things right now, the people there are content to build with what they have and are willing to wait until they have a little more to continue. the patience and contentment blows me away!
- there's a lot of nothing between dallas and el paso
- bucket showers get easier with age
- leaving wanda for a week at a time does not get easier with age
- i wish i were in a place that required me to learn to speak spanish
- there is something really empowering about serving
- it was awesome to see our college young people step up into leadership on this trip
- there is much that the rich can learn from the poor
- it's fun to listen to middle school kids pray out loud for meals
- road markers are much easier to drive by than street signs
- there was more dust than ever
- it is an incredible experience to build an entire house by hand
- everybody should have the experience
- deep life change for young people begins on trips like these
- it's always good to get home!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Mexico 2007
i'm always consumed with our spring break mexico trip for a couple of weeks. here's a few thoughts from this year's trip...
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Rules
who decides what the ground rules are for church? in the old testament, god says for his people to remember the sabbath and keep it holy. ultimately, this is a command about resting and trusting and acknowledging that god is in total control. at a minimum, though, this command defined the day that god's people set aside for special worship...for thousands of years.
after jesus was raised from the dead, it appears (from both historical records and the tradition of the church) that the special day of worship for the church shifted from saturdays to sundays. i grew up believing that sundays were "the lord's day", and that sunday mornings were the most important time of the week for god's people.
not only were sunday mornings sacred, but so were the times. my family would be at the church building at 9:00 for "opening exercises" before sunday school...a time where we would sing a couple of choruses to get our minds and hearts prepared for study and then we would be dismissed to our classes. at 10:20, we would finish our classes and then begin moving back over to the sanctuary to prepare for our worship service at 10:45. on good days (when the preacher wouldn't preach too long), we would conclude with a rousing chorus of "blest be the tie that binds"...not one of my all-time favorites...and we would all be pulling out of the church parking lot by 12:15.
that was 40 years ago. and i still go to a church that keeps the same schedule!
i know it's ok for the church to gather for worship on friday nights or saturday afternoons or sunday mornings or whenever. there is no rule that says we must meet at a particular time. i know this...and so do all of you!
in three weeks, we are going to change our sunday morning schedule. we are doing away with the 9:00 hour...mainly because we are a church family that functions a little better a little later. we are going to have a 10:00 service and an 11:15 service. and even though i am totally convinced this is an awesome decision for all the right reasons and...there is absolutely nothing wrong, bad, unlawful, illegal, immoral, unscriptural, or unspiritual about the decision...i am still a little uneasy about how people are going to respond.
but not uneasy enough to change the decision. i mean, come on...who wouldn't want an extra hour of sleep on sunday morning?
after jesus was raised from the dead, it appears (from both historical records and the tradition of the church) that the special day of worship for the church shifted from saturdays to sundays. i grew up believing that sundays were "the lord's day", and that sunday mornings were the most important time of the week for god's people.
not only were sunday mornings sacred, but so were the times. my family would be at the church building at 9:00 for "opening exercises" before sunday school...a time where we would sing a couple of choruses to get our minds and hearts prepared for study and then we would be dismissed to our classes. at 10:20, we would finish our classes and then begin moving back over to the sanctuary to prepare for our worship service at 10:45. on good days (when the preacher wouldn't preach too long), we would conclude with a rousing chorus of "blest be the tie that binds"...not one of my all-time favorites...and we would all be pulling out of the church parking lot by 12:15.
that was 40 years ago. and i still go to a church that keeps the same schedule!
i know it's ok for the church to gather for worship on friday nights or saturday afternoons or sunday mornings or whenever. there is no rule that says we must meet at a particular time. i know this...and so do all of you!
in three weeks, we are going to change our sunday morning schedule. we are doing away with the 9:00 hour...mainly because we are a church family that functions a little better a little later. we are going to have a 10:00 service and an 11:15 service. and even though i am totally convinced this is an awesome decision for all the right reasons and...there is absolutely nothing wrong, bad, unlawful, illegal, immoral, unscriptural, or unspiritual about the decision...i am still a little uneasy about how people are going to respond.
but not uneasy enough to change the decision. i mean, come on...who wouldn't want an extra hour of sleep on sunday morning?
Friday, March 09, 2007
Friendship
i was talking with a friend of mine recently and he was telling me about the death of a friendship that he had experienced in his world. somebody that he thought was a true friend and valued coworker turned out to be the exact opposite. i was incredibly impressed by my friend's determination to work out the difficulties, see things from the other guy's point of view, take responsibility for mistakes that he had made, and, more than anything else, the value my friend placed on relationship, teamwork, and kingdom priorities. he really wanted to work things out, but the other guy had already made up his mind and had walked away...with no reconciliation.
in return for his effort, my friend received rejection, slander, and the severing of communication. it makes me think about the relationships that all of us experience. i gotta tell you, good relationships are hard. they seem to be harder in the church than anywhere else in all of society.
i have seen this story again and again: someone makes a mistake, says a thoughtless word, or breaks a promise and another person is left to interpret. rather than going right to the person and asking for clarification, they just shrug their shoulders and breathe out a hearty "whatever" and they move on.
the problem is whenever this kind of pattern begins, it becomes easier and easier to avoid talking about it and then grow comfortable with assumptions. over time, relationships erode, fake smiles replace genuine friendship, gossip begins and the search for people who will validate the assumptions takes over. and pretty soon, people just walk away...without ever giving us a chance to work out the problem.
let me give you this advice: if you get your feelings hurt or if someone is doing something you think is wrong, go talk to them!!! give them the opportunity to listen and change. give the holy spirit the opportunity to do what you can't. for crying out loud (which i want to do sometimes), don't walk away from this church family, from a friendship, from a work relationship...without giving people a realistic chance to make things right.
the power of reconciliation is so much greater, so much better, so much more life-changing than the temporary pursuit of the personal comfort we gain by running away.
if you've got relationships that have grown stale or empty or fake or purposeless, go back and try again. ask the holy spirit to prepare the way and give you wisdom and depth. the world needs to see us act differently. they already see enough running away.
for the record, i am deeply grateful to be surrounded by some tremendous people who don't run away from conflict. i need more of them. so do you.
in return for his effort, my friend received rejection, slander, and the severing of communication. it makes me think about the relationships that all of us experience. i gotta tell you, good relationships are hard. they seem to be harder in the church than anywhere else in all of society.
i have seen this story again and again: someone makes a mistake, says a thoughtless word, or breaks a promise and another person is left to interpret. rather than going right to the person and asking for clarification, they just shrug their shoulders and breathe out a hearty "whatever" and they move on.
the problem is whenever this kind of pattern begins, it becomes easier and easier to avoid talking about it and then grow comfortable with assumptions. over time, relationships erode, fake smiles replace genuine friendship, gossip begins and the search for people who will validate the assumptions takes over. and pretty soon, people just walk away...without ever giving us a chance to work out the problem.
let me give you this advice: if you get your feelings hurt or if someone is doing something you think is wrong, go talk to them!!! give them the opportunity to listen and change. give the holy spirit the opportunity to do what you can't. for crying out loud (which i want to do sometimes), don't walk away from this church family, from a friendship, from a work relationship...without giving people a realistic chance to make things right.
the power of reconciliation is so much greater, so much better, so much more life-changing than the temporary pursuit of the personal comfort we gain by running away.
if you've got relationships that have grown stale or empty or fake or purposeless, go back and try again. ask the holy spirit to prepare the way and give you wisdom and depth. the world needs to see us act differently. they already see enough running away.
for the record, i am deeply grateful to be surrounded by some tremendous people who don't run away from conflict. i need more of them. so do you.
Friday, March 02, 2007
You gotta check this out!
my friend bill passed on a story to me tonight that i think is amazing and needs to be shared with as many as possible.
his daughter has a close friend who has a cousin who lives in australia (did you get all of that?) his name is nick and he has no arms and no legs. it is a truly amazing story and he tells some of it at a televised church service in southern california. here's the link to the broadcast:
http://hourofpower.org/video/video.cfm
his name is nick vujicic and you need to scroll down to where his name appears as a special guest.
you need to set aside a few minutes to listen to his story and be inspired. all i'll say right now is that it's time to stop whining and get busy serving the god of wonders...
his daughter has a close friend who has a cousin who lives in australia (did you get all of that?) his name is nick and he has no arms and no legs. it is a truly amazing story and he tells some of it at a televised church service in southern california. here's the link to the broadcast:
http://hourofpower.org/video/video.cfm
his name is nick vujicic and you need to scroll down to where his name appears as a special guest.
you need to set aside a few minutes to listen to his story and be inspired. all i'll say right now is that it's time to stop whining and get busy serving the god of wonders...
Monday, February 26, 2007
Church membership
i started thinking about church membership yesterday. i grew up in an era where membership meant something different than it does today. and i can't say that it really bothers me. don't get me wrong, though...
when i study about the church, there is no question that relationships mean something. the bible writers talk about the church as a family and a good family is where commitment is lived out, intimacy is forged, conflict is resolved, tasks are shared, trust is built, backs are covered and responsibilities are not optional. it is also where the essence of membership is defined.
i read recently that it's getting progressively more difficult to define a church member, but you definitely know one when you see one. i think i agree with that.
i like it when i hear people say, "this is my church!" i like it when i hear ownership and pride (the good kind) and heart when they talk about their church family. i like it when i hear folks say, "these are my people!" it really means something to me when i learn of people who are willing to lay down their opinions and tastes and wants and differences in favor of friendship and warmth and load sharing and bigger vision.
church membership is all about none of us being as strong as all of us.
i guess there will always be people who say they are members of particular churches. maybe even ours. but don't you think that if you have to wonder whether someone is a member or not, maybe there's a problem? most of us know...instinctivley...whether we are part of the family or part of the team. the same should be true of church.
when i study about the church, there is no question that relationships mean something. the bible writers talk about the church as a family and a good family is where commitment is lived out, intimacy is forged, conflict is resolved, tasks are shared, trust is built, backs are covered and responsibilities are not optional. it is also where the essence of membership is defined.
i read recently that it's getting progressively more difficult to define a church member, but you definitely know one when you see one. i think i agree with that.
i like it when i hear people say, "this is my church!" i like it when i hear ownership and pride (the good kind) and heart when they talk about their church family. i like it when i hear folks say, "these are my people!" it really means something to me when i learn of people who are willing to lay down their opinions and tastes and wants and differences in favor of friendship and warmth and load sharing and bigger vision.
church membership is all about none of us being as strong as all of us.
i guess there will always be people who say they are members of particular churches. maybe even ours. but don't you think that if you have to wonder whether someone is a member or not, maybe there's a problem? most of us know...instinctivley...whether we are part of the family or part of the team. the same should be true of church.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
The college group and the 9:00 service
i had some great discussion this past sunday night with some of our college students. their insights into scripture are profound. their pursuit of truth is admirable. their love of north point is obvious. their desire to have an honest and life-changing connection with god is what keeps them coming. they are a really good group.
in our discussion, we beat around the topic of worship service times on sunday mornings. we've been trying, for months, to grow our 9:00 service (another post...another day), but we are not quite "there" yet. one possible solution would be to have an entire group...like the college group...make a commitment to that service and help it grow. the problem is there is no way, no how, not in my lifetime or yours, that our college group would make the decision to come at 9:00 on a regular basis. but not for the reasons you might think...
it is true that most of them stay out too late on saturday nights. many of them don't have mama to wake them up in the morning anymore. a lot of them probably get up early every day of the week to go to work or classes...and the thought of losing a "sleep in" day doesn't sound too appetizing. but those are not the reasons why they don't want to come at 9:00.
the best part of sunday mornings for our college students is not the sermon. hard to believe, but it's not. (i'm over it.) it's not the opportunity for communion...nor is it the nifty music we play as we worship. the new padded chairs are sweet and really comfortable, but they aren't the best part. no...the best part of sunday mornings for our college group is when it's over.
as soon as the service ends, our college young people go right back to doing what they were doing when the service started. enjoying each other. talking...laughing...poking fun...comparing notes about their weeks and school work and jobs and music and fantasy sports and relationships and pretty much anything else that comes to mind.
if you watch them, they take over the room. their relationships spill over. most weeks they have to be kicked out of the auditorium, so they begin to slowly file out and continue the fun at their restaurant of choice.
the reason they won't come to 9:00? they couldn't hang out afterwards. they would get a sermon and sing songs and pray and take communion and experience all of the other components of the service. but it just wouldn't be the same. and it's ok with me.
in our discussion, we beat around the topic of worship service times on sunday mornings. we've been trying, for months, to grow our 9:00 service (another post...another day), but we are not quite "there" yet. one possible solution would be to have an entire group...like the college group...make a commitment to that service and help it grow. the problem is there is no way, no how, not in my lifetime or yours, that our college group would make the decision to come at 9:00 on a regular basis. but not for the reasons you might think...
it is true that most of them stay out too late on saturday nights. many of them don't have mama to wake them up in the morning anymore. a lot of them probably get up early every day of the week to go to work or classes...and the thought of losing a "sleep in" day doesn't sound too appetizing. but those are not the reasons why they don't want to come at 9:00.
the best part of sunday mornings for our college students is not the sermon. hard to believe, but it's not. (i'm over it.) it's not the opportunity for communion...nor is it the nifty music we play as we worship. the new padded chairs are sweet and really comfortable, but they aren't the best part. no...the best part of sunday mornings for our college group is when it's over.
as soon as the service ends, our college young people go right back to doing what they were doing when the service started. enjoying each other. talking...laughing...poking fun...comparing notes about their weeks and school work and jobs and music and fantasy sports and relationships and pretty much anything else that comes to mind.
if you watch them, they take over the room. their relationships spill over. most weeks they have to be kicked out of the auditorium, so they begin to slowly file out and continue the fun at their restaurant of choice.
the reason they won't come to 9:00? they couldn't hang out afterwards. they would get a sermon and sing songs and pray and take communion and experience all of the other components of the service. but it just wouldn't be the same. and it's ok with me.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Sermon redux
i gotta tell you, i don't think i would have liked listening to most of my own sermon this past sunday. in preparing for my sermon on the rich young ruler (matthew 19:16-24), i became super convicted by what jesus was saying to this guy. really, what i was convicted of was the similarity between the the young ruler and our culture.
he was rich. we are rich. and that's the part i don't want to hear.
but no matter how much i don't want to hear it, it's true. and to have some preacher stand up in front and say it...out loud...with no regard for personal struggle or financial stress or awareness of unique situations... with no apparent sensitivity to the fear or worries or depression that people feel when they labor under the relentless burden of financial pounding...well, i'm sure i wouldn't have liked listening to me.
i made reference to a website that points out just how rich we are compared to the rest of the world. and that's the problem. when i live under the crushing weight of finances gone wild, my vision becomes myopic. i can't see beyond my own mess. my financial chaos becomes so demanding, there's no way i can look at others...let alone see how much better off i am. and i definitely don't want some preacher telling me to start admitting how great my life is.
but truth is truth. no matter how bad our financial condition gets, jesus still tells us to measure our lives by the plight of the world's poor. sell your possessions and give to the poor was not jesus' answer to the shortcomings of the welfare system (or was it?). in this passage, he was simply telling the rich (rulers and common folks like you and me) what they needed to do to live underneath the rule and authority of the kingdom.
rich people need to admit they are rich. we need to admit that our wealth...and all the good and bad that comes with our wealth...is the most powerful force in our lives. and we need to recognize that until our addiction to money...and all the chaos and worry and stress and pursuit it demands...is surrendered to kingdom wisdom, there will always be problems. as ironic as it seems, without our wealth, we would not have these problems.
and the best way for rich people to get things straightened out is to remember the poor.
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Galatians 2:10
he was rich. we are rich. and that's the part i don't want to hear.
but no matter how much i don't want to hear it, it's true. and to have some preacher stand up in front and say it...out loud...with no regard for personal struggle or financial stress or awareness of unique situations... with no apparent sensitivity to the fear or worries or depression that people feel when they labor under the relentless burden of financial pounding...well, i'm sure i wouldn't have liked listening to me.
i made reference to a website that points out just how rich we are compared to the rest of the world. and that's the problem. when i live under the crushing weight of finances gone wild, my vision becomes myopic. i can't see beyond my own mess. my financial chaos becomes so demanding, there's no way i can look at others...let alone see how much better off i am. and i definitely don't want some preacher telling me to start admitting how great my life is.
but truth is truth. no matter how bad our financial condition gets, jesus still tells us to measure our lives by the plight of the world's poor. sell your possessions and give to the poor was not jesus' answer to the shortcomings of the welfare system (or was it?). in this passage, he was simply telling the rich (rulers and common folks like you and me) what they needed to do to live underneath the rule and authority of the kingdom.
rich people need to admit they are rich. we need to admit that our wealth...and all the good and bad that comes with our wealth...is the most powerful force in our lives. and we need to recognize that until our addiction to money...and all the chaos and worry and stress and pursuit it demands...is surrendered to kingdom wisdom, there will always be problems. as ironic as it seems, without our wealth, we would not have these problems.
and the best way for rich people to get things straightened out is to remember the poor.
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Galatians 2:10
Friday, February 09, 2007
Thinking too much again
i don't want to make a big deal about this, but these things bother me a little...
why is it that people can get up early, get dressed, take care of the kids, make a lengthy drive and manage to get to work or school on time...all the time...but can't get to church on time?
why is it that we will stand and passionately cheer our favorite athletic team, but sit quiet and motionless during the time we worship the greatness of the king of the universe?
why do we cry over the loss of our pets, but not over the thousands who die every day in darfur?
why do we know the names and plots and characters of countless movies and tv shows, but don't know the names of the twelve apostles?
why do we consider school events more worthy of our time and money than church events for our children?
why can we walk for hours at the mall or stand for hours at sporting event, but our legs get weary when we have to stand up to sing two songs at church?
would we read our bibles if they had more pictures?
why is it so hard to give 10% of our income to god through the church, when we don't think twice about spending the other 90% on ourselves?
why is it so difficult to accept that some people have got it wrong? why does that fact have to be deemed "judgmental" or "intolerant"?
why is it so hard to walk up to someone we don't know and start a conversation?
why is it so important to get revenge? why can't we control our anger...even when we know it's doing no good for anybody...including us?
when will we realize that worry is a sin and a blatant distrust of god as our provider?
when will it dawn on us that hanging around christians all the time is like living in a ghetto?
why is gossip soooo acceptable among christians?
why is it more important for us to be right, rather than to do right?
just what i was thinking tonight.
why is it that people can get up early, get dressed, take care of the kids, make a lengthy drive and manage to get to work or school on time...all the time...but can't get to church on time?
why is it that we will stand and passionately cheer our favorite athletic team, but sit quiet and motionless during the time we worship the greatness of the king of the universe?
why do we cry over the loss of our pets, but not over the thousands who die every day in darfur?
why do we know the names and plots and characters of countless movies and tv shows, but don't know the names of the twelve apostles?
why do we consider school events more worthy of our time and money than church events for our children?
why can we walk for hours at the mall or stand for hours at sporting event, but our legs get weary when we have to stand up to sing two songs at church?
would we read our bibles if they had more pictures?
why is it so hard to give 10% of our income to god through the church, when we don't think twice about spending the other 90% on ourselves?
why is it so difficult to accept that some people have got it wrong? why does that fact have to be deemed "judgmental" or "intolerant"?
why is it so hard to walk up to someone we don't know and start a conversation?
why is it so important to get revenge? why can't we control our anger...even when we know it's doing no good for anybody...including us?
when will we realize that worry is a sin and a blatant distrust of god as our provider?
when will it dawn on us that hanging around christians all the time is like living in a ghetto?
why is gossip soooo acceptable among christians?
why is it more important for us to be right, rather than to do right?
just what i was thinking tonight.
Monday, February 05, 2007
The Superbowl
tony dungy, the coach of the superbowl champion indianapolis colts once said, "god is here...even in the ugly things." he should know. he said this after the suicide of his eighteen year old son.
i had interesting feelings about this year's superbowl. being the resident sports authority of my world, people would ask me who i wanted to win the big game. honestly, i didn't care from a player or favorite team point of view. once the chargers handed their tickets away, i didn't have enough emotional energy to invest in another team. but i did care about tony dungy.
i think it is significant that tony dungy is an african american in a sports world that is run by wealthy, white owners. it is significant that he is the first african american coach to win a superbowl. it wasn't long ago that african americans were not considered "coach" material. i can remember the day when owners and coaches didn't think that african americans "had what i took" to even be the quarterback of a pro team. it was a great moment to watch tony dungy accept the trophy. it was an even better moment to listen to him talk.
when one of the sportscasters ask him what the secret to victory was, he replied, "we did it the lord's way." did it the lord's way? what an amazing comment! he didn't say that god wanted them to win. he didn't even give the obligatory glory to god we so often hear from entertainers and athletes. he just stated that there was a right way to do things and wrong way to do things. and as the leader of the colts, he chose to lead the lord's way. we should all learn from his simple formula...
watching tony dungy on the sideline is a lesson in anti-football coaching behavior. no screaming. no ranting. no over-reaction. no stripping of player dignity. calm. personable. friendly. patient. humble. the high school football coaches i have witnessed in texas should be required to watch tony dungy coaching videos.
watching his players hug him after the game was touching. watching the players from the other team hug him after the game was amazing. listening to the cynical journalists extol his personal and professional virtue this week has been nothing short of astounding. he did it the lord's way and he has been noticed for it.
when his son committed suicide last year, this very private man in a very public position walked through life's toughest situation with dignity, honesty and an unashamed and unapologetic faith in god that was beyond inspiring.
in the big picture, there is waaaaay to much blending of sports and religion in america. i am weary of hearing athletes talk about how god is blessing their effort. in a world that labors under the effects of sin and disaster in epic proportion, i find it hard to fathom that god is particularly concerned with the outcome of the games we play. but he is always concerned with the way we live our lives in the face of a world that is looking for meaning and purpose.
i am grateful for tony dungy.
i had interesting feelings about this year's superbowl. being the resident sports authority of my world, people would ask me who i wanted to win the big game. honestly, i didn't care from a player or favorite team point of view. once the chargers handed their tickets away, i didn't have enough emotional energy to invest in another team. but i did care about tony dungy.
i think it is significant that tony dungy is an african american in a sports world that is run by wealthy, white owners. it is significant that he is the first african american coach to win a superbowl. it wasn't long ago that african americans were not considered "coach" material. i can remember the day when owners and coaches didn't think that african americans "had what i took" to even be the quarterback of a pro team. it was a great moment to watch tony dungy accept the trophy. it was an even better moment to listen to him talk.
when one of the sportscasters ask him what the secret to victory was, he replied, "we did it the lord's way." did it the lord's way? what an amazing comment! he didn't say that god wanted them to win. he didn't even give the obligatory glory to god we so often hear from entertainers and athletes. he just stated that there was a right way to do things and wrong way to do things. and as the leader of the colts, he chose to lead the lord's way. we should all learn from his simple formula...
watching tony dungy on the sideline is a lesson in anti-football coaching behavior. no screaming. no ranting. no over-reaction. no stripping of player dignity. calm. personable. friendly. patient. humble. the high school football coaches i have witnessed in texas should be required to watch tony dungy coaching videos.
watching his players hug him after the game was touching. watching the players from the other team hug him after the game was amazing. listening to the cynical journalists extol his personal and professional virtue this week has been nothing short of astounding. he did it the lord's way and he has been noticed for it.
when his son committed suicide last year, this very private man in a very public position walked through life's toughest situation with dignity, honesty and an unashamed and unapologetic faith in god that was beyond inspiring.
in the big picture, there is waaaaay to much blending of sports and religion in america. i am weary of hearing athletes talk about how god is blessing their effort. in a world that labors under the effects of sin and disaster in epic proportion, i find it hard to fathom that god is particularly concerned with the outcome of the games we play. but he is always concerned with the way we live our lives in the face of a world that is looking for meaning and purpose.
i am grateful for tony dungy.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Sundays
i read this morning about a pastor that took a sunday off. yeah, just took a sunday off. he swallowed his guilt, took off his preacher facade, and just went out in the community on a sunday morning. he wrote about some things he learned. these are some of the same observations i've had for years, but it was kind of cool to hear it from his perspective...
the first thing he noticed was that a large majority of people DO NOT do not go to church. pollsters may still call us a christian nation, but the fact of the matter is the majority...the overwhelming majority of people in our country and in our community to not go to church. is that good news or bad news to you?
his second observation is one that i have been aware of my whole life, but just recently have been really bothered by...men are not going to church. most research says that our churches are made up of 60-70% women. i'm not sure i would dispute that research. i'm reading a book right now that talks about why men hate going to church. i'm agreeing with almost everything the author has to say. you ought to check the book out.
another observation the pastor makes is that people are craving community and they are going to find it somewhere! on most any sunday, you'll find huge groups of people at restaurants, at the mall, on the lake, hitting the golf course, at the gym, out by the pool having a barbeque, and all kinds of other places. the common denominator? they're looking to have a good time with friends. mmm....
his last observation was that a lot of people are working on sundays. the day is certainly no longer sacred...even among the faithful. sunday is a work day...a play day...a family day...a sports day...pretty much anything but a sacred day.
does this information concern you? does it confirm your belief that the world is going to hell in a hand basket? does it excite you to the possibilities of new and creative ways to "do church", in order to reach a culture that no longer sees sundays the way we do? are you ready to get out of your comfort zone?
i'll leave you with this question. is church for us...or them? think about it...
the first thing he noticed was that a large majority of people DO NOT do not go to church. pollsters may still call us a christian nation, but the fact of the matter is the majority...the overwhelming majority of people in our country and in our community to not go to church. is that good news or bad news to you?
his second observation is one that i have been aware of my whole life, but just recently have been really bothered by...men are not going to church. most research says that our churches are made up of 60-70% women. i'm not sure i would dispute that research. i'm reading a book right now that talks about why men hate going to church. i'm agreeing with almost everything the author has to say. you ought to check the book out.
another observation the pastor makes is that people are craving community and they are going to find it somewhere! on most any sunday, you'll find huge groups of people at restaurants, at the mall, on the lake, hitting the golf course, at the gym, out by the pool having a barbeque, and all kinds of other places. the common denominator? they're looking to have a good time with friends. mmm....
his last observation was that a lot of people are working on sundays. the day is certainly no longer sacred...even among the faithful. sunday is a work day...a play day...a family day...a sports day...pretty much anything but a sacred day.
does this information concern you? does it confirm your belief that the world is going to hell in a hand basket? does it excite you to the possibilities of new and creative ways to "do church", in order to reach a culture that no longer sees sundays the way we do? are you ready to get out of your comfort zone?
i'll leave you with this question. is church for us...or them? think about it...
Monday, January 29, 2007
lookers, helpers and owners
churches are full of all different kinds of people, but i have found that most people fall into one of three categories: lookers, helpers, or owners. let me explain...
lookers are people that are seeking. they are looking for a place to belong. they are looking for friends. they are looking for meaning. they are looking for answers. they come to check things out and see if its worth it to keep coming back. lookers can stay lookers for a long time. months or even years. you can get to know them and they can get to know you. they join in. they come to events. they can even turn into regular attenders. but make no mistake, they are still lookers. they give a little money, a little time, a little effort. they show interest. sometimes, they even tease you into believing they are more then just lookers. but when all is said and done, they are still lookers. they can be members. they call the church their church. they might even bring more lookers with them. but they are still lookers.
a second group of people are helpers. they are much more involved than lookers. these people can be counted on to assist. they don't mind being asked to do things and are usually more than willing to help out. they are busy people. they have jobs and families and hobbies and homes and neighbors and vacations and associations and investments. they are busy people. they have to work hard to schedule "church time", but they do it. they are people who will gladly give you their name and number and encourage you to give them a call when you have a need. they are friendly and helpful and will work hard to fit additional tasks into their busy schedules. the greater the need, the more willing these folks are to help. honestly, we couldn't do the things we do without helpers. they are usually the largest group in a healthy church.
owners are foundation of the church. they are the people who start things and finish them. they are the people who don't need to be asked to do things. they are already doing them. owners are always thinking about their jobs. always planning. always strategizing. always wrestling with new ways to do the important things they are responsible for. owners are always there. owners are responsible...even when they are not there. they make sure the job gets done. they don't call people at the last moment to fill in. you seldom have to call them because they already know what they should be doing. they are the people the helpers call. they give their own money to see tasks completed. they use their own stuff. their own homes are extensions of their church jobs. they make personal decisions in light of their ministries. they seldom get sick. they arrive early. they stay late. they make the biggest messes, but stay to clean up. they always have your back. they will climb the mountains with you. they will face the enemy with you. they are your team...your family...your brothers...your deepest friends.
are you a looker...a helper...or an owner? maybe it's time to get with the program...
lookers are people that are seeking. they are looking for a place to belong. they are looking for friends. they are looking for meaning. they are looking for answers. they come to check things out and see if its worth it to keep coming back. lookers can stay lookers for a long time. months or even years. you can get to know them and they can get to know you. they join in. they come to events. they can even turn into regular attenders. but make no mistake, they are still lookers. they give a little money, a little time, a little effort. they show interest. sometimes, they even tease you into believing they are more then just lookers. but when all is said and done, they are still lookers. they can be members. they call the church their church. they might even bring more lookers with them. but they are still lookers.
a second group of people are helpers. they are much more involved than lookers. these people can be counted on to assist. they don't mind being asked to do things and are usually more than willing to help out. they are busy people. they have jobs and families and hobbies and homes and neighbors and vacations and associations and investments. they are busy people. they have to work hard to schedule "church time", but they do it. they are people who will gladly give you their name and number and encourage you to give them a call when you have a need. they are friendly and helpful and will work hard to fit additional tasks into their busy schedules. the greater the need, the more willing these folks are to help. honestly, we couldn't do the things we do without helpers. they are usually the largest group in a healthy church.
owners are foundation of the church. they are the people who start things and finish them. they are the people who don't need to be asked to do things. they are already doing them. owners are always thinking about their jobs. always planning. always strategizing. always wrestling with new ways to do the important things they are responsible for. owners are always there. owners are responsible...even when they are not there. they make sure the job gets done. they don't call people at the last moment to fill in. you seldom have to call them because they already know what they should be doing. they are the people the helpers call. they give their own money to see tasks completed. they use their own stuff. their own homes are extensions of their church jobs. they make personal decisions in light of their ministries. they seldom get sick. they arrive early. they stay late. they make the biggest messes, but stay to clean up. they always have your back. they will climb the mountains with you. they will face the enemy with you. they are your team...your family...your brothers...your deepest friends.
are you a looker...a helper...or an owner? maybe it's time to get with the program...
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Family responsibilities
groups of people who have a common goal share an incredibly important characteristic. whether its a family or an army or an athletic team or a music group...it doesn't matter. they are all the same when it comes to meeting the goal. everybody has a role and if they don't do their part, the group will not...no, cannot...function properly. it is no different in the church, the body of christ.
the apostle paul says in his letter to the christians in corinth:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:3-6
if you are part of the church family, you have a job to do. one that god has gifted you to do. one that you are needed to do. one that has to get done...and if you don't do it, it is going to require someone else to do "double duty" to make sure that its covered.
come on. that's the way it works in the army. that's the way it works on a football team. that's the way it works in the office. that's the way it works in your family. why would it be any different in the church? why?
maybe it's time for you to get busy.
the apostle paul says in his letter to the christians in corinth:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:3-6
if you are part of the church family, you have a job to do. one that god has gifted you to do. one that you are needed to do. one that has to get done...and if you don't do it, it is going to require someone else to do "double duty" to make sure that its covered.
come on. that's the way it works in the army. that's the way it works on a football team. that's the way it works in the office. that's the way it works in your family. why would it be any different in the church? why?
maybe it's time for you to get busy.
Monday, January 22, 2007
So what
bad week last week. i really hate being sick. sinus congestion kept me from wearing my glasses for longer than ten minutes at a time. couldn't focus. couldn't read. couldn't write. doesn't make for a great week of study and preparation! it's good to be past all of that.
i was reading a review of a recent television show this morning and it made me think about our reputation as christians. the media, more often than not, paints a pretty crummy picture of christ's followers. whether it's a character in a drama or a participant in a reality series or a report of someone in the news, the person is usually a narrow-minded, ultra-conservative, uneducated fanatic. i suppose it bothers me, but it got me to wondering whether we have any right to expect otherwise.
i heard about a new church that said within their first seven years, they wanted to do something regularly in the community that would be missed if they ever stopped doing it. what a great goal! it makes me think about north point.
would we be missed in our community if we decided to fold up shop? the brutal answer is no. i'm sure we would be missed by our members. but the community...no way. so here's the challenge:
i'm not saying we're a bad church. far from that. we are strong and resilient. we are good people who work hard and serve well. we care about each other. we worship. we give. we are committed to truth and believe that jesus is the way. what i am saying is that in order to be the kind of people we are truly called to be, we have to take all of that "good" and give it away to those who don't know us and don't understand us and aren't one of us.
it's astounding to me that sinners and prostitutes and tax collectors and disillusioned and forgotten people were drawn to jesus. when he was gone, i'm sure he was missed. when the disciples dispersed, i'm sure they were missed. we're not going anywhere. i want to know we would be missed, tho.
i was reading a review of a recent television show this morning and it made me think about our reputation as christians. the media, more often than not, paints a pretty crummy picture of christ's followers. whether it's a character in a drama or a participant in a reality series or a report of someone in the news, the person is usually a narrow-minded, ultra-conservative, uneducated fanatic. i suppose it bothers me, but it got me to wondering whether we have any right to expect otherwise.
i heard about a new church that said within their first seven years, they wanted to do something regularly in the community that would be missed if they ever stopped doing it. what a great goal! it makes me think about north point.
would we be missed in our community if we decided to fold up shop? the brutal answer is no. i'm sure we would be missed by our members. but the community...no way. so here's the challenge:
i'm not saying we're a bad church. far from that. we are strong and resilient. we are good people who work hard and serve well. we care about each other. we worship. we give. we are committed to truth and believe that jesus is the way. what i am saying is that in order to be the kind of people we are truly called to be, we have to take all of that "good" and give it away to those who don't know us and don't understand us and aren't one of us.
it's astounding to me that sinners and prostitutes and tax collectors and disillusioned and forgotten people were drawn to jesus. when he was gone, i'm sure he was missed. when the disciples dispersed, i'm sure they were missed. we're not going anywhere. i want to know we would be missed, tho.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
American idol
ok, i'm going to admit it. i'm sitting here with wanda watching the season opener of american idol. yup. me. watching american idol. what are these people thinking?
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Churches
went out shopping this afternoon to buy some things before the world ends due to ice over the next couple of days. while walking the aisles of my least favorite favorite store, i ran into three different people who have left north point over the years.
i really wish them all well. really. i don't know the whole story of why they chose to move on. i never will. but i wish them well.
i wonder why people choose the churches they do? big church. lots of people. small church. everybody knows your name. music of today. music from my childhood. cool facilities. lots of options. clear focus. good people. good programs. opportunities to serve. they need me. they want me. they don't need me. they still want me. the preacher is awesome. the preacher tries real hard. great leadership. incredible vision. people who are like me. people who are really different than me. they're authentic. they're real. they're friendly. i don't have to waste a lot of gas driving to the building. they don't make me feel guilty. they motivate me to be better than i was yesterday. it's casual. it's formal. they act like a real church. they don't act like a church.
ok, i made my own head spin...
i love it when people choose to come to north point. i hate it when people choose to leave. every time. but when they do, i wish them well.
i really wish them all well. really. i don't know the whole story of why they chose to move on. i never will. but i wish them well.
i wonder why people choose the churches they do? big church. lots of people. small church. everybody knows your name. music of today. music from my childhood. cool facilities. lots of options. clear focus. good people. good programs. opportunities to serve. they need me. they want me. they don't need me. they still want me. the preacher is awesome. the preacher tries real hard. great leadership. incredible vision. people who are like me. people who are really different than me. they're authentic. they're real. they're friendly. i don't have to waste a lot of gas driving to the building. they don't make me feel guilty. they motivate me to be better than i was yesterday. it's casual. it's formal. they act like a real church. they don't act like a church.
ok, i made my own head spin...
i love it when people choose to come to north point. i hate it when people choose to leave. every time. but when they do, i wish them well.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The power of play
it is amazing to me what happens to a group of people when they decide to just have some fun. shortcomings are overlooked. mistakes are poked at, but then laughter takes over. problems are forgotten. people who have different jobs and likes and dislikes and worries and fears lay them down for a while, and all is well with the world...even if it's just for a few moments. and god is pleased.
we don't play enough. we are so serious in our relationships. our memories are long and we get robbed of the moment. forgiveness and compassion and understanding and grace and spontaneity and wonder are sometimes really foreign ideas that have no place in our day to day. we don't like what people do. we don't like what people do to us and ours. honestly, if we would just play more, life would be a lot better.
there is a time and place for serious and grave and important and solemn and somber and stern and crucial and critical. but like king solomon said, "...there's a time for everything." there is a balance in life that is to be lived. there is also a time time for play and fun and whimsy and sport and laughter.
find your balance today. god wouldn't have it any other way.
we don't play enough. we are so serious in our relationships. our memories are long and we get robbed of the moment. forgiveness and compassion and understanding and grace and spontaneity and wonder are sometimes really foreign ideas that have no place in our day to day. we don't like what people do. we don't like what people do to us and ours. honestly, if we would just play more, life would be a lot better.
there is a time and place for serious and grave and important and solemn and somber and stern and crucial and critical. but like king solomon said, "...there's a time for everything." there is a balance in life that is to be lived. there is also a time time for play and fun and whimsy and sport and laughter.
find your balance today. god wouldn't have it any other way.
Monday, January 08, 2007
waffles
i ate waffles tonight while watching the big game. waffles could be the perfect food. piping hot. slightly crunchy. it's important that the waffles be made on an older waffle iron. the one we make ours with is over 30 years old. lots of character. i'm convinced that a little bit of each previous waffle we've ever made is deeply embedded into the fabric of the iron. every new waffle is related. talk about history.
the obvious perfection of the waffle is found in the dozens of little caverns for melted butter and hot syrup. those delectable pockets of taste sensation are what set the waffle apart. no "belgian" waffles. those are for strawberry eating sissies.
sometimes, tho not tonight, a layer of crunchy peanut butter serves as an amazing foundation to build on. hearty. protein-laced enjoyment. no creamy peanut butter...crunchy only. i learned about waffles and peanut butter from a good friend of mine about 25 years ago. thank you, friend. the only problem with using peanut butter is that it limits the amount of waffles you can eat in one sitting. life is full of compromises.
it is important to double syrup the waffle. the first coating of syrup needs to be put on and allowed to fully saturate the waffle. if time permits, a quick trip to the microwave before you put the second layer of syrup on is always a good thing. it is important to put syrup along the edges and down the center of the waffle. full diffusion of syrup is the key to true waffle bliss.
your face and hands are usually sticky after a truly good waffle moment. this is a small price to pay for the enjoyment received during the eating of a waffle. just thought you'd like to know.
the obvious perfection of the waffle is found in the dozens of little caverns for melted butter and hot syrup. those delectable pockets of taste sensation are what set the waffle apart. no "belgian" waffles. those are for strawberry eating sissies.
sometimes, tho not tonight, a layer of crunchy peanut butter serves as an amazing foundation to build on. hearty. protein-laced enjoyment. no creamy peanut butter...crunchy only. i learned about waffles and peanut butter from a good friend of mine about 25 years ago. thank you, friend. the only problem with using peanut butter is that it limits the amount of waffles you can eat in one sitting. life is full of compromises.
it is important to double syrup the waffle. the first coating of syrup needs to be put on and allowed to fully saturate the waffle. if time permits, a quick trip to the microwave before you put the second layer of syrup on is always a good thing. it is important to put syrup along the edges and down the center of the waffle. full diffusion of syrup is the key to true waffle bliss.
your face and hands are usually sticky after a truly good waffle moment. this is a small price to pay for the enjoyment received during the eating of a waffle. just thought you'd like to know.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Pain
i am going to write about pain today. even though i am totally unworthy to write on the subject, i am going to anyway. our world is full of people who live in excruciating pain everyday... unspeakable illness or loss that is beyond words. hurt that has no apparent explanation. physical agony that is unrelenting or emotional damage that never lets up.
i am no expert, but i am acquainted. it's from a "front row seat" that feel like i am writing today. i have had loss. my psyche has been scarred. my heart has been wounded. my body aches most days. my confidence has been shaken. yet, what i have experienced is nothing compared to others. not even close. nevertheless...
pain is powerful. we can repress it. we can suppress it. we can try to ignore it. we run from it. we are confused by it. it causes tunnel vision. it creates overreaction. it can make us do things we would never do under normal circumstances.
pain draws us into isolation. it makes us put up walls and run from help. it turns us into martyrs. it can make us jealous or angry or afraid or lonely or confused or depressed. pain is nasty and has no favorites. pain is mean and heartless and random and doesn't care who hurts.
pain causes us to blow things out of proportion. it has a long memory or it can cause us to forget things that are most important. it controls our emotions and influences our decisions. it can make us misinterpret motives and forget who our friends are. it robs us of joy and sucks away time and attention. it makes us long for a better place or a better time or a better set of circumstances. pain makes it look really "greener" somewhere else.
are you in pain? my best advice is to be honest about your pain and tell someone about it. don't run from it, but give someone a chance to share your pain with you. get perspective. widen your vision.
three tylenol and ice packs are good also...
i am no expert, but i am acquainted. it's from a "front row seat" that feel like i am writing today. i have had loss. my psyche has been scarred. my heart has been wounded. my body aches most days. my confidence has been shaken. yet, what i have experienced is nothing compared to others. not even close. nevertheless...
pain is powerful. we can repress it. we can suppress it. we can try to ignore it. we run from it. we are confused by it. it causes tunnel vision. it creates overreaction. it can make us do things we would never do under normal circumstances.
pain draws us into isolation. it makes us put up walls and run from help. it turns us into martyrs. it can make us jealous or angry or afraid or lonely or confused or depressed. pain is nasty and has no favorites. pain is mean and heartless and random and doesn't care who hurts.
pain causes us to blow things out of proportion. it has a long memory or it can cause us to forget things that are most important. it controls our emotions and influences our decisions. it can make us misinterpret motives and forget who our friends are. it robs us of joy and sucks away time and attention. it makes us long for a better place or a better time or a better set of circumstances. pain makes it look really "greener" somewhere else.
are you in pain? my best advice is to be honest about your pain and tell someone about it. don't run from it, but give someone a chance to share your pain with you. get perspective. widen your vision.
three tylenol and ice packs are good also...
Saturday, December 30, 2006
The List
2006 is almost over and i'm feeling...well, pretty grateful. i'm not nostalgic or weepy or sappy or particularly reflective. just grateful. here are a handful of reasons why:
- a new season of 24 is getting ready to begin.
- stellar year for my beloved chargers.
- my son got married. my son got married. my son got married. sheesh.
- i have a daughter-in-law. i couldn't have picked a better partner for my son.
- the grass in my front yard is almost all the way back.
- the leaves are almost all picked up. almost.
- i read about 15 really good books this year. really good books.
- i still get to watch my other son play baseball. i love bleachers and seeds.
- i needed to sell my old truck. i have another one now and it runs better. it's amazing how 235k miles can still run well.
- fall arrived again.
- 32 years of marriage.
- 35 years of ministry.
- 25 years of parenting.
- 42 years of being a padre fan.
- i own a house.
- my dad always bought a real christmas tree every year. so do i. you can't beat the smell.
- color television.
- the internet. i am blown away by the access i have to books, resources, study helps, commentaries, and historical documents for sermon and lesson building...all at my fingertips.
- my ankles work reasonably well. the surgeries are holding. i still can't dunk a basketball, but i don't think bad ankles are the problem.
- i pastor at a church that doesn't place me in a box.
- i got to go to colorado again this year to help mentor young youth ministers. i love staying connected to my roots.
- baja fresh and cabana. fresh mex. tex mex.
- the drive to tyler, instead of the drive to vernon.
- the church building renovation is finished. well, almost.
- our staff at north point. loyalty, friendship, devotion, camaraderie, openness, and shared vision are priceless.
- the awareness that i have a life partner that is steadfast, faithful, and full of more integrity than anyone i have ever met. marriage is still fun, fulfilling, satisfying, and purposeful. wow.
- the bowl season.
- music. loud and raucous. quiet and contemplative.
- my recliner. i wonder how they got them all into the upper room...
- a consistent salary and more than enough money to do everything and have everything we could ever need...and most everything we could ever want.
- contentment, joy, peace, hope, security, significance, purpose, confidence, gratitude and love.
really...who could ask for more?
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
It's time for a change
again, tony morgan writes another question that growing churches should be asking...
#6 – Do people accept change as normal? Believe it or not, even churches can develop a culture where change is both expected and embraced. This is important as change is most critical in a culture that is continually “morphing”.
why is change so difficult for people...especially adults. children learn, at an early age, that they are not the controllers of their own destiny. heck, they don't control their bedtime, their choice of friends, their menu, their finances, their wardrobe, or the music that's played in the family car. they have to accept that others make decisions for them and they must learn to adjust on the fly...or be frustrated with life pretty much all the time.
then, somewhere along the path, children grow up to be adults. and adults are the controllers of their worlds and the masters of their own universe. as adults, we make our own decisions and assume full responsibility for the outcome. we know what's best for our lives and, if asked, we probably know what's best for our neighbors, our schools, and our favorite athletic team. honestly, if the president would just ask, most of us have the answer for poverty, aids, the national deficit and world peace. he just needs to ask.
and there's the problem. since we know what's best...in just about any area...change is tough. i like what i like and if someone comes along and messes with it, well...they're probably wrong. most of us have opinions about the way church is supposed to be done. strong ones. opinions about music and preaching and money and buildings and sunday school and leadership and marriage and biblical inerrancy and hundreds of other areas...some really important and others that probably don't amount to a hill of t.o.'s sound bites...
here, let me say it...we need to get off our high horses and admit that we don't often know what's best when it comes to church. there are many "right" ways to do it. there are countless ideas, strategies, programs, and possibilities. we need to swallow our fear of change. if something is not working, we need to change it. if something can be done better, we need to change it. if there is the possibility of becoming more effective, more relevant, more faithful, more influential...we need to take the risk
#6 – Do people accept change as normal? Believe it or not, even churches can develop a culture where change is both expected and embraced. This is important as change is most critical in a culture that is continually “morphing”.
why is change so difficult for people...especially adults. children learn, at an early age, that they are not the controllers of their own destiny. heck, they don't control their bedtime, their choice of friends, their menu, their finances, their wardrobe, or the music that's played in the family car. they have to accept that others make decisions for them and they must learn to adjust on the fly...or be frustrated with life pretty much all the time.
then, somewhere along the path, children grow up to be adults. and adults are the controllers of their worlds and the masters of their own universe. as adults, we make our own decisions and assume full responsibility for the outcome. we know what's best for our lives and, if asked, we probably know what's best for our neighbors, our schools, and our favorite athletic team. honestly, if the president would just ask, most of us have the answer for poverty, aids, the national deficit and world peace. he just needs to ask.
and there's the problem. since we know what's best...in just about any area...change is tough. i like what i like and if someone comes along and messes with it, well...they're probably wrong. most of us have opinions about the way church is supposed to be done. strong ones. opinions about music and preaching and money and buildings and sunday school and leadership and marriage and biblical inerrancy and hundreds of other areas...some really important and others that probably don't amount to a hill of t.o.'s sound bites...
here, let me say it...we need to get off our high horses and admit that we don't often know what's best when it comes to church. there are many "right" ways to do it. there are countless ideas, strategies, programs, and possibilities. we need to swallow our fear of change. if something is not working, we need to change it. if something can be done better, we need to change it. if there is the possibility of becoming more effective, more relevant, more faithful, more influential...we need to take the risk
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