Well, last night we had our annual Barn Party with our youth group. Although there was no barn this year, we had an absolute blast!
I am kicking myself for not having a camera, but it was so dark that a camera wouldn't have mattered anyway...
We went to the Metzlers, a family in our church, who have 4-5 acres which they bought just to be a blessing to others. Codorus Creek (the clean part of it) runs through the back of their property. The back of their property (where the creek is) is covered with woods, but has a cool clearing that is dotted by trees. It was down in a little valley, while their house was up on a hill. And they had a zip line set up for kids to get down into the valley. How cool is that?!
Anyway, the kids had a blast.
The apple bobbing contest was probably the most fun part of the night. I've never had that much fun with apples. Ever.
And Erin was the best. Maybe 1 second. She went down and came up with an apple before you could say Micheal Jackson. It was that fast. Way to go Erin!
We got on kayaks. I rode with Xavier...his first time in a boat where he had to paddle. Wish I had known that before we got out there so that I could have shown him what to do on shore so he could see me...we had so much fun...
And we didn't provide a bus to get the kids out there, so parents came and stayed the whole time. That was probably one of my favorite parts of the evening...it's so cool to have the parents around. Too often we do things where we separate them so it was good to go against that grain...
So it was great! I give it two thumbs up!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Summoned to Lead
So, me and a couple friends are going through this book by Leonard Sweet. So I'm putting my thoughts about it on here. My friend Brian is doing the same thing. You can find the link to his site in my sidebar. So here are my current thoughts...
Sweet opens up with the idea that we have gone about this whole “vision thing” the wrong way. In this age we have learned so much about leadership (10 K books on it out there), but there is so much corporate scandal. So, where have we gone wrong? (11)
He suggests that leadership isn’t about seeing things, but about hearing, and about hearing the summons to lead and following it (interesting that in leading, we would be following).
Leadership is something that we are put in by the situation we are in. (12)
This concept is helpful in helping others see that they can change and affect the situation that they are in.
I love Collin’s metaphor of the flywheel. (16) It takes a bunch of pushes for it to get spinning. But you can’t tell which push was the final one to make it spin the fastest. Not sure where to head with that one. What I like about it, is that it seems that there is no “key” to leadership. All the components come together in the end. Does that mean that there are no specific “keys” to leadership? Does that mean that leadership just happens?
Sweet points out that humility is the guiding force. We’ll always hear this.
“It is the intentionally humble and quiet leaders who truly do make a difference. Humility can win out over more powerful organizational forces.” (16)
Humble leadership is a participatory, not a performance, act. It is like a conductor, guiding a group of people with various talents to play a certain tune, instead of a performer who plays his instrument for everybody else to hear. (19)
But going further with this metaphor. Sometimes the conductor has to hum out the tune so that others can get it, so that the other performers will hear that they need to play. This isn’t a controlling thing, it’s a releasing thing. It says this is what it can sound like, but what you’ll do is much better than my hum.
Sweet opens up with the idea that we have gone about this whole “vision thing” the wrong way. In this age we have learned so much about leadership (10 K books on it out there), but there is so much corporate scandal. So, where have we gone wrong? (11)
He suggests that leadership isn’t about seeing things, but about hearing, and about hearing the summons to lead and following it (interesting that in leading, we would be following).
Leadership is something that we are put in by the situation we are in. (12)
This concept is helpful in helping others see that they can change and affect the situation that they are in.
I love Collin’s metaphor of the flywheel. (16) It takes a bunch of pushes for it to get spinning. But you can’t tell which push was the final one to make it spin the fastest. Not sure where to head with that one. What I like about it, is that it seems that there is no “key” to leadership. All the components come together in the end. Does that mean that there are no specific “keys” to leadership? Does that mean that leadership just happens?
Sweet points out that humility is the guiding force. We’ll always hear this.
“It is the intentionally humble and quiet leaders who truly do make a difference. Humility can win out over more powerful organizational forces.” (16)
Humble leadership is a participatory, not a performance, act. It is like a conductor, guiding a group of people with various talents to play a certain tune, instead of a performer who plays his instrument for everybody else to hear. (19)
But going further with this metaphor. Sometimes the conductor has to hum out the tune so that others can get it, so that the other performers will hear that they need to play. This isn’t a controlling thing, it’s a releasing thing. It says this is what it can sound like, but what you’ll do is much better than my hum.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
November Themes
In the month of November, we'll be tackling the issue of suffering/pain in the lives of our students...here's the general direction I am feeling we're going to go.
1. Name the Pain.
This week will just acknowledge that we all have pain in our lives. Hopefully it will be a good avenue for people to be honest with themselves. We will acknowledge God's presence with us, but leave it as a mystery as to what that means.
2. Know the hope.
This week will talk about what we do with our pain. How do we react to it? Do we just let it beat us up? Do we just linger in it? Do we just complain? God desires to take the rubbish as a way to make us stronger. (I'm worried about being pithy here...I want to make sure that when we talk about God making good out of bad doesn't invalidate people's pain, but instead validates the great work of God.)
3. Share the pain.
This week will be about how to walk with those who are in pain. Coming from Romans 12, where Paul talks about rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn. Also will look at how Jesus wept and didn't solve his friends' problem right away (Lazarus). I've asked several students for their thoughts on the topic as I am preparing it, and one student said that we are all in pain, and we just have to deal with it, because everybody is too consumed with their own pain to notice anybody else. So, if that's true, how do we respond?
1. Name the Pain.
This week will just acknowledge that we all have pain in our lives. Hopefully it will be a good avenue for people to be honest with themselves. We will acknowledge God's presence with us, but leave it as a mystery as to what that means.
2. Know the hope.
This week will talk about what we do with our pain. How do we react to it? Do we just let it beat us up? Do we just linger in it? Do we just complain? God desires to take the rubbish as a way to make us stronger. (I'm worried about being pithy here...I want to make sure that when we talk about God making good out of bad doesn't invalidate people's pain, but instead validates the great work of God.)
3. Share the pain.
This week will be about how to walk with those who are in pain. Coming from Romans 12, where Paul talks about rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn. Also will look at how Jesus wept and didn't solve his friends' problem right away (Lazarus). I've asked several students for their thoughts on the topic as I am preparing it, and one student said that we are all in pain, and we just have to deal with it, because everybody is too consumed with their own pain to notice anybody else. So, if that's true, how do we respond?
Some more quality llama shots
These were sent to me by a cool student and her father. Thanks Amy and Mark!
Under the Bed
It’s been frigid cold recently in PA. It’s our first winter in our own house. Up to this time we have lived in college dorms together so we haven’t had to worry about heat bills or anything like that. But now that we do have to worry about it, we try to conserve energy by keeping the temperature at a low.
And we live in the upstairs of our house. Since heat rises you would expect that to be the warmest part of the house, but it’s not. It’s like an attic up there. (maybe b/c it was an attic…until it became our bedroom)
So we turned on the heat and our upstairs was still incredibly cold. We would get into bed and huddle like Eskimos under the sheets. We would dress up like we were getting ready to go out into the snow, but instead we were just bundling up to get into our bed.
Then one morning, Aubrey stepped out of bed and noticed that the floor by her side of the bed was warm. And upon more investigation, we found that there was a heat vent under the bed. Woohoo!
So last night we decided to move the bed to get to the heat. But in order to move the bed, we have to pull everything out from under there. We went through old letters to each other, all sorts of shoes, broken things, a hatchet (not sure how that ended up there), all sorts of bags. And then to move the bed, we had to take off the mattress and box spring, which wasn’t easy, because our ceiling is 5’7” and it slopes. So…yeah. Definitely some scratches on my ceiling and bruises on my head.
But moving everything made me think of God’s presence in our lives. It’s often by digging through the junk in our lives that we can get to the source of comfort. The comfort has always been there, but we’ve been searching for it, and yet have kept it covered by all sorts of stuff.
And we live in the upstairs of our house. Since heat rises you would expect that to be the warmest part of the house, but it’s not. It’s like an attic up there. (maybe b/c it was an attic…until it became our bedroom)
So we turned on the heat and our upstairs was still incredibly cold. We would get into bed and huddle like Eskimos under the sheets. We would dress up like we were getting ready to go out into the snow, but instead we were just bundling up to get into our bed.
Then one morning, Aubrey stepped out of bed and noticed that the floor by her side of the bed was warm. And upon more investigation, we found that there was a heat vent under the bed. Woohoo!
So last night we decided to move the bed to get to the heat. But in order to move the bed, we have to pull everything out from under there. We went through old letters to each other, all sorts of shoes, broken things, a hatchet (not sure how that ended up there), all sorts of bags. And then to move the bed, we had to take off the mattress and box spring, which wasn’t easy, because our ceiling is 5’7” and it slopes. So…yeah. Definitely some scratches on my ceiling and bruises on my head.
But moving everything made me think of God’s presence in our lives. It’s often by digging through the junk in our lives that we can get to the source of comfort. The comfort has always been there, but we’ve been searching for it, and yet have kept it covered by all sorts of stuff.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Well, I found this cool site. Not sure how accurate it is, but it has info on every single date of the year. People who were born, people who died, things that happened all on a specific date.
For instance: Today in history
1939 Mike Ditka coach/tight-end (Bears, Cowboys, NFL rookie year 1961) was born
1949 Country songwriter Stuart Hamblen, 31, underwent a spiritual conversion. Author of the popular 1954 hit "This Old House," Hamblen later wrote such Christian favorites as "It Is No Secret What God Can Do," "How Big is God?" and "They That Wait Upon the Lord."
So check it out here...
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
For instance: Today in history
1939 Mike Ditka coach/tight-end (Bears, Cowboys, NFL rookie year 1961) was born
1949 Country songwriter Stuart Hamblen, 31, underwent a spiritual conversion. Author of the popular 1954 hit "This Old House," Hamblen later wrote such Christian favorites as "It Is No Secret What God Can Do," "How Big is God?" and "They That Wait Upon the Lord."
So check it out here...
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Monday, October 17, 2005
National Youth Workers Convention 2
Well, we're heading out today. It's been great.
More highlights.
Skipping the general sessions to catch up with Nate. It was good to hear his heart.
Talking with Dave Curtiss. He's got quality experience and great advice.
Reflecting with Rick. I asked him where he desired to be led, and he had some great pointers for our ministry.
Kansas City Chiefs won. Granted, it was against the Redskins, but they won.
Hanging out for dinner with Asbury grads.
I love the people who came from our church. It's been so good to just be away and let our proverbial hairs down.
Connecting with the Living Word (another church in York) youth workers for lunch at Pittsburg finest restaurant (the waiter yelled "F--- You" when we told him we were rooting for the Jaguars, who were playing the Steelers. We immediately asked him to bless our meal as he blessed us...)
It's been good for me to clarify where I think God is taking our ministry. I've had some good moments just being alone to think about it...I'll be posting some more about it. The previous post contains some of my rambling thoughts.
On the drive home today I'm hoping that we can work through some of the things we heard this week.
More highlights.
Skipping the general sessions to catch up with Nate. It was good to hear his heart.
Talking with Dave Curtiss. He's got quality experience and great advice.
Reflecting with Rick. I asked him where he desired to be led, and he had some great pointers for our ministry.
Kansas City Chiefs won. Granted, it was against the Redskins, but they won.
Hanging out for dinner with Asbury grads.
I love the people who came from our church. It's been so good to just be away and let our proverbial hairs down.
Connecting with the Living Word (another church in York) youth workers for lunch at Pittsburg finest restaurant (the waiter yelled "F--- You" when we told him we were rooting for the Jaguars, who were playing the Steelers. We immediately asked him to bless our meal as he blessed us...)
It's been good for me to clarify where I think God is taking our ministry. I've had some good moments just being alone to think about it...I'll be posting some more about it. The previous post contains some of my rambling thoughts.
On the drive home today I'm hoping that we can work through some of the things we heard this week.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Direction:
To follow Christ in all we do, partnering with him in the recreation of the world.
We do this through...
Community (we need each other and experience God in each other)
Awareness (we create space to become aware of our Creator around us)
Service (we create space for others to know they are loved by the Creator)
To follow Christ in all we do, partnering with him in the recreation of the world.
We do this through...
Community (we need each other and experience God in each other)
Awareness (we create space to become aware of our Creator around us)
Service (we create space for others to know they are loved by the Creator)
Saturday, October 15, 2005
National Youth Workers Convention Part 1
Well, I'm here in Pittsburg with Rick, Matt, Trudy and Laura at the annual convention.
What I've liked so far.
1. Dan Kimball's hair. It's a mixture of Street Fighter, Fifth Element and Jimmy Neutron.
2. Dave Crowder Band. They do such a great job leading us to the throne.
3. Coffee with Nate this morning. It was great to just sit and chill with an old Asbury friend. He's a good man to have as friend.
4. Teaching by Doug Field's. "Just say No".
5. Supper with youth worker crew at Mahoney's. Great conversation with the guys from my church. They are great people, with hearts in line with our Creator.
6. The new Nooma preview. Rhythm. It follows Rob Bell's Ultimate Reality sermon.
7. Sleeping in the same bed with Rick. It's a full size bed. Well, my favorite part was waking up t 2:30 with our faces like 3 inches a part. What a riot.
It's my hope that I'll walk away with like 2 things I can apply. That's what I've told my friends who've come with me. We could walk away with 99 things. But we wouldn't do those things well.
What I've liked so far.
1. Dan Kimball's hair. It's a mixture of Street Fighter, Fifth Element and Jimmy Neutron.
2. Dave Crowder Band. They do such a great job leading us to the throne.
3. Coffee with Nate this morning. It was great to just sit and chill with an old Asbury friend. He's a good man to have as friend.
4. Teaching by Doug Field's. "Just say No".
5. Supper with youth worker crew at Mahoney's. Great conversation with the guys from my church. They are great people, with hearts in line with our Creator.
6. The new Nooma preview. Rhythm. It follows Rob Bell's Ultimate Reality sermon.
7. Sleeping in the same bed with Rick. It's a full size bed. Well, my favorite part was waking up t 2:30 with our faces like 3 inches a part. What a riot.
It's my hope that I'll walk away with like 2 things I can apply. That's what I've told my friends who've come with me. We could walk away with 99 things. But we wouldn't do those things well.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Safe Things
"When something is new and hard and bright, there ought to be something a little better for it than just being safe, since the safe things are just the things that folks have been doing so long they have worn the edges off and there's nothing to the doing of them that leaves a man to say, That was not done before and it cannot be done again."
As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner
As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
MClaren Kicks if Off
I took notes (it's true) at the retreat I went to last week, and thought I'd share those here. The first time Brian MClaren talked, he spoke about the life of prayer.
7 Kinds of Prayer
Rediscovering a Treasure
Thanks
Prayer of thanksgiving
(Prayer that Wakes us up)
Sorry!
Prayer of Confession
(Prayer that Weeps)
Help!
Prayer of Petition
(Prayer that Reaches Out)
-saying I don't have power
Please!
Prayer of Intercession
(Prayer that changes the world)
-moving to pay attention to things that are bigger than me
-make it personal-pray for the broken as if they are your sibling or child
Why?
Prayer of Lament
(Prayer that Groans)
-we need to be honest about pain and unresolved pain
-"We are suffering from a crushing weight of easy answers."
Yes
Prayer of Contemplation
(Prayer that Listens)
-God can be experienced in complete normalcy
Oh! Hallelujah
Prayer of Worship
The part that stuck out to me was praying for people who are suffering as if they are my family. So, if I am praying for someone who is suffering in the Pakistan earthquake, I might pray this way. "God, be with my mother who has lost her husband." Or, "God, be with my little brother who is underneath the rubble waiting for the rescuers to get to him."
7 Kinds of Prayer
Rediscovering a Treasure
Thanks
Prayer of thanksgiving
(Prayer that Wakes us up)
Sorry!
Prayer of Confession
(Prayer that Weeps)
Help!
Prayer of Petition
(Prayer that Reaches Out)
-saying I don't have power
Please!
Prayer of Intercession
(Prayer that changes the world)
-moving to pay attention to things that are bigger than me
-make it personal-pray for the broken as if they are your sibling or child
Why?
Prayer of Lament
(Prayer that Groans)
-we need to be honest about pain and unresolved pain
-"We are suffering from a crushing weight of easy answers."
Yes
Prayer of Contemplation
(Prayer that Listens)
-God can be experienced in complete normalcy
Oh! Hallelujah
Prayer of Worship
The part that stuck out to me was praying for people who are suffering as if they are my family. So, if I am praying for someone who is suffering in the Pakistan earthquake, I might pray this way. "God, be with my mother who has lost her husband." Or, "God, be with my little brother who is underneath the rubble waiting for the rescuers to get to him."
Monday, October 10, 2005
Full Weekend
Well, this weekend was incredibly full. But Aubrey and I got to be together through most of it, so that was great.
Friday night we went down with the youth to the Rescue Mission. It's something we do the first friday of every month. The Mission makes these people sit through a service after which they get to eat. The food is free. Only payment is attendance of the service. So, we've tried to make the services lighthearted and tried to bring in good food. The kids are great at serving the men and women there. I'm always impressed with their actions and hearts.
Saturday was quiz meet day. Lots of people came from around the Nazarene District. It was great. Our kids did an excellent job. Amanda and Cody got in the top 10 for novice. Way to go, guys.
After that, Aubs and I went down to Gettysburg to meet with Andrea and Nate. Wow, we love those two. They are just so easy to be with and fun...
Sunday, we started our college prep course for juniors and seniors in high school. I think it went well. We had two recent college grads come in and talk about their first impressions and what they would have loved to have known before they came into school. I thought they did a good job. After that we had Mark and Becca over. They are a good couple. They're getting ready to have a baby in January. I think that will be cool.
Then our neighbor Carol came over to show us her vacation pictures. She and her grandson, Joe, went on a cruise through the NE last weekend. They loved it. The pictures were cool too.
Friday night we went down with the youth to the Rescue Mission. It's something we do the first friday of every month. The Mission makes these people sit through a service after which they get to eat. The food is free. Only payment is attendance of the service. So, we've tried to make the services lighthearted and tried to bring in good food. The kids are great at serving the men and women there. I'm always impressed with their actions and hearts.
Saturday was quiz meet day. Lots of people came from around the Nazarene District. It was great. Our kids did an excellent job. Amanda and Cody got in the top 10 for novice. Way to go, guys.
After that, Aubs and I went down to Gettysburg to meet with Andrea and Nate. Wow, we love those two. They are just so easy to be with and fun...
Sunday, we started our college prep course for juniors and seniors in high school. I think it went well. We had two recent college grads come in and talk about their first impressions and what they would have loved to have known before they came into school. I thought they did a good job. After that we had Mark and Becca over. They are a good couple. They're getting ready to have a baby in January. I think that will be cool.
Then our neighbor Carol came over to show us her vacation pictures. She and her grandson, Joe, went on a cruise through the NE last weekend. They loved it. The pictures were cool too.
Friday, October 07, 2005
I wonder if we have such a hard time with pain b/c our bodies, our spirits were made for a perfect world.
So, no matter how hard we try to figure out pain, we're not going to get it.
We weren't made to get it.
Sure, we can understand that things are broken. We can understand that things do hurt.
But we'll never really get it.
I think we were made for Eden.
And now God is coming beside us and helping us get back to that. Not promising understanding of pain, but understaning of hope.
So, no matter how hard we try to figure out pain, we're not going to get it.
We weren't made to get it.
Sure, we can understand that things are broken. We can understand that things do hurt.
But we'll never really get it.
I think we were made for Eden.
And now God is coming beside us and helping us get back to that. Not promising understanding of pain, but understaning of hope.
4 Steps
I'm sure somebody has written this down somewhere, but in thinking through the ministry here in York, I've tried to come up with a way for me to understand the process of changing the way things are done. And I was thinking about how the way we think affects the way we act. I haven't put tons of thoughts into this, so what will be found here is very very raw.
But in the movement of ministry there seems to be about 4 or 5 positions.
1. Content with where we are. Satisfied with the way things are done. There is nothing wrong with the system.
2. Noticing something might not be right. So I criticize what's going on. Just looking at the system itself and complaining. Not ready to change yet.
3. Something's not right, and I want to change that. So, I examine current structures with a critical eye and look at what can be improved or changed for the better.
4. We move forward. We adjust to what we see as the problems and seek to create space for what we desire through a new/old/revised/revisited format.
5. Content with the way we are.
6. Notice something might not be right.
7. I want to change.
8. Move Forward.
I guess it's more than 4, b/c things are always changing. And maybe there is another step that I am missing.
Anyway, i think it's my responsibility as a leader to identify the direction of our ministry, and then to evaluate whether or not we are heading in that direction. And if we aren't, what are the good things that we should keep, what are the bad things we should throw out, and what are things that we can improve.
Also, my responsibility is to help others in the process. To help them move from 1, to 2, to 3, to 4.
What happens if people get stuck on any of these steps? Stagnation...if you get stuck on 2, then you start to complain and that becomes your life...that's not centered in the creativity and love of God.
if you get stuck in 1, then it's possible (unless you have the perfect system and if you do, please call me), that you don't have your eyes open to what's going on. That you are unaware.
if you get stuck in 3, then you're being lazy. You're not moving on. You're not taking the insight you have gained and acting on it.
if you get to 4, great...but that puts you right at one again.
But in the movement of ministry there seems to be about 4 or 5 positions.
1. Content with where we are. Satisfied with the way things are done. There is nothing wrong with the system.
2. Noticing something might not be right. So I criticize what's going on. Just looking at the system itself and complaining. Not ready to change yet.
3. Something's not right, and I want to change that. So, I examine current structures with a critical eye and look at what can be improved or changed for the better.
4. We move forward. We adjust to what we see as the problems and seek to create space for what we desire through a new/old/revised/revisited format.
5. Content with the way we are.
6. Notice something might not be right.
7. I want to change.
8. Move Forward.
I guess it's more than 4, b/c things are always changing. And maybe there is another step that I am missing.
Anyway, i think it's my responsibility as a leader to identify the direction of our ministry, and then to evaluate whether or not we are heading in that direction. And if we aren't, what are the good things that we should keep, what are the bad things we should throw out, and what are things that we can improve.
Also, my responsibility is to help others in the process. To help them move from 1, to 2, to 3, to 4.
What happens if people get stuck on any of these steps? Stagnation...if you get stuck on 2, then you start to complain and that becomes your life...that's not centered in the creativity and love of God.
if you get stuck in 1, then it's possible (unless you have the perfect system and if you do, please call me), that you don't have your eyes open to what's going on. That you are unaware.
if you get stuck in 3, then you're being lazy. You're not moving on. You're not taking the insight you have gained and acting on it.
if you get to 4, great...but that puts you right at one again.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
The Shadow Proves the Sunshine
Sunshine won't you be my mother?
Sunshine come and help me sing
My heart is darker than these oceans
My heart is frozen underneath
Crooked soul trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
The shadow proves the sunshine
two scared little runaways
Hold fast till the break of daylight
When the shadow proves the sunshine
Oh Lord why did you forsake me
Oh Lord don't be far away, away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord don't look the other way
I'm a crooked soul trying to stay up straight
Shine on me
Let my shadows prove the sunshine
Jon Foreman of Switchfoot wrote this song.
I appreciate his honesty when he echos the psalms by saying "Oh Lord why did you forsake me/Oh Lord don't be far away". I've been searching for songs that complain to God, but have a sense of hope. Many of the psalms are totally about complaining. And it makes me wonder if the content of our own songs on Sunday mornings or whenever you worship, should have more complaint within them. I've heard some people having "doubt night" and stuff like that...but can doubts and complaining be regular parts of worship?
I think our times together should reflect where we really are and where we want to be. But I think many of our songs, if not most of them, only talk about where we want to be and are pretty superficial...that's just what I think.
Sunshine come and help me sing
My heart is darker than these oceans
My heart is frozen underneath
Crooked soul trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
The shadow proves the sunshine
two scared little runaways
Hold fast till the break of daylight
When the shadow proves the sunshine
Oh Lord why did you forsake me
Oh Lord don't be far away, away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord don't look the other way
I'm a crooked soul trying to stay up straight
Shine on me
Let my shadows prove the sunshine
Jon Foreman of Switchfoot wrote this song.
I appreciate his honesty when he echos the psalms by saying "Oh Lord why did you forsake me/Oh Lord don't be far away". I've been searching for songs that complain to God, but have a sense of hope. Many of the psalms are totally about complaining. And it makes me wonder if the content of our own songs on Sunday mornings or whenever you worship, should have more complaint within them. I've heard some people having "doubt night" and stuff like that...but can doubts and complaining be regular parts of worship?
I think our times together should reflect where we really are and where we want to be. But I think many of our songs, if not most of them, only talk about where we want to be and are pretty superficial...that's just what I think.
Seasons Change
Well, the fall is coming in...the sun is setting earlier, the leaves are falling, the wind is colder.
We pulled out our down comforter to brace for it. Boy I love the warmth of the covers when it's cold in the room.
This past weekend, Aubrey and I went down to Richmond with the cover excuse of me getting expert advice from Gregg Paul, who did NYC twice for the VA district. I did learn some good stuff from him, but the highlights were definitely seeing our family.
We got in late on Friday night, but we stayed up a bit talking with Aub's parents. It was one of those times when you don't want to go to bed and you feel giddy and comfortable. I have great in-laws.
The next morning, I met with Gregg and then hung out with my good friend Douglas (he will be refered to as Uncle Dougles by our children...). Then we had lunch with the ladies; Aubs' grandmother, mother, my nana and sister.
Then we went on a walk with Sis. that was great. We walked through a park that Aubrey and I spent much of our dating time in. We talked about Sue's future and stuff. She's a great young woman. I'm proud of who she is and is becoming.
Then we came home.
Now we are getting ready for our annual Pastor and Spouses Retreat! Yay, free hotel, free food, good friends. And the coolest thing this year is that Brian MClaren is going to be there! I think it will be great for all of us. And we'll get to see our friends...but Brian and Carol won't be there...so sad...we'll miss them.
We pulled out our down comforter to brace for it. Boy I love the warmth of the covers when it's cold in the room.
This past weekend, Aubrey and I went down to Richmond with the cover excuse of me getting expert advice from Gregg Paul, who did NYC twice for the VA district. I did learn some good stuff from him, but the highlights were definitely seeing our family.
We got in late on Friday night, but we stayed up a bit talking with Aub's parents. It was one of those times when you don't want to go to bed and you feel giddy and comfortable. I have great in-laws.
The next morning, I met with Gregg and then hung out with my good friend Douglas (he will be refered to as Uncle Dougles by our children...). Then we had lunch with the ladies; Aubs' grandmother, mother, my nana and sister.
Then we went on a walk with Sis. that was great. We walked through a park that Aubrey and I spent much of our dating time in. We talked about Sue's future and stuff. She's a great young woman. I'm proud of who she is and is becoming.
Then we came home.
Now we are getting ready for our annual Pastor and Spouses Retreat! Yay, free hotel, free food, good friends. And the coolest thing this year is that Brian MClaren is going to be there! I think it will be great for all of us. And we'll get to see our friends...but Brian and Carol won't be there...so sad...we'll miss them.
Giving Charities but Holding Ourselves Back
"I came to a new understanding why Jesus passed up the religious establishment of his day, the economically secure, the socially prestigious, and sought out the poor, the outcast, the sinner, the broken, the sick, the lonely. He felt, as we so often do not feel, their sorrow. He was acquainted, as we too seldom are, with their grief. On Calvary he died of a broken heart. But that heart was broken long before Black Friday, by the desolation of the common people. 'In all their afflictions he was afflicted.'
"Most of the time we are not. We seem to have quite a different conception of life. We avoid as much as possible the unpleasant. We shun the suffering of others. We shrink from any burdens except those which life itself inescapably thrusts upon us. We seek arduously the wealth and power that will enable us to secure ourselves against the possibility of being involved with another's affliction. Lazarus sometimes makes his way to our door stop. We toss him a coin and go on our way. We give our charities but we do not give ourselves. We build our charitable institutions but we do not build ourselves in other's lives."
-From The Captivating Presence by Albert Edward Day
"Most of the time we are not. We seem to have quite a different conception of life. We avoid as much as possible the unpleasant. We shun the suffering of others. We shrink from any burdens except those which life itself inescapably thrusts upon us. We seek arduously the wealth and power that will enable us to secure ourselves against the possibility of being involved with another's affliction. Lazarus sometimes makes his way to our door stop. We toss him a coin and go on our way. We give our charities but we do not give ourselves. We build our charitable institutions but we do not build ourselves in other's lives."
-From The Captivating Presence by Albert Edward Day
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