It's work.

Wow, is it ever. Relationships are hard work. Whether it’s an acquaintance or deep relationship. They all require work. I have found that in the hustle and bustle world, email has not place in relationships. Even though it’s fast, efficient and free…don’t use it to talk seriously. It will only let you down.  But, I am probably the last guy in the world that figured it out. And, it didn’t come without cost. Most of the time that my emails are received by others it just hurts peoples feelings. When in person, it takes so much energy to try to cater to the ego…but at least you have other stimulants available to convey a message. Simply adding a ;-) used to be good enough to indicate “just kidding”. Now, that is so overused, I guess, that people ignore them. What’s worse is the presumption from the recipient. But, that’s life. Most of the time when I am “direct” it’s to other believers…folks that should have a solid foundation that doesn’t rely on the approval of man…but, they are usually the biggest whiney babies. We have been called to work…but sheesh, sometimes I wish I could just take my family to an island where no people are. Then we could talk to seals and birds and lizards and such and not have to cater to other people. Yep, that’s a very lazy attitude…and not very biblical. Ahh, feels good to vent.

Another thing that let’s you down is having an agenda/plan. It’s useless. As ol’ Solomon said, “Grasping at the wind”. While I make an attempt to plan and be a forward looking person, I get pulled back into reality by the now. It’s rarely ever worth planning something it seems.

Thanks Dr. Blog…until next time.

Saturday night services

I thought it would be wise to keep a log as things are decided in regards to our churches new Saturday night service. I have been given the honor of heading that up and trying to get it from concept to a worshipful service.

Why we are doing it:

·       Les loves the idea of a “sounding board” for Sunday morning. As we have new ideas and can implement them on Saturday, to take the best received of these and also do them on Sunday. Seems to be great wisdom in that.

·       It’s a service that will have very few hindrances to start. I feel that as we are going to be very judgmental of the services that it won’t be that way long.

·       We will constantly be adjusting things and trying new ideas.  Like:

o       Introduction of new software – EasyWorship 2007 appears to have all the features that we “seem” to need. Currently, we attempt to show a video or integrate it into the slide show with catastrophic results. In my testing, EW fits the bill in that area as well as getting rid of the linear-ness of powerpoint while not making Powerpoint obsolete. It can integrate the slides, their transition, backgrounds, etc right into EW. In fact, it will even allow you to display any of those slides by clicking them as opposed to going in order down and up. If the pastor skips a verse or slide, no need for it to even come up on the screen!

o       Integrating more media content to the service in the form of relevant shorts, worship vids as a call to worship

o       Skits

o       Testimony

o       Guest speakers – Interviews

o       Guest musicians

o       A thought that occurred to me as Mark and I talked was to engage all the senses during the service.

§       Smell - Burn incense? Maybe prior to the service beginning

§       Sight - Videos – Paint the walls

§       Sound - Music

§       Taste – Donuts in the foyer area

§       Touch – Greetings with a holy handshake…or even a hug.

o       Keeping the doors open during the service.

o       Make it very obvious that we are having a service to those passing by.

o       Have the service on the lawn occasionally or maybe a lot!

·       Refocus our target audience to an audience of One instead of catering to a congregation. We want to worship! 

Why am I doing it:

·       I feel a prompting from the Lord to be in service here.

·       It’s exciting.

·       Sometimes I’m not sure. I feel under attack.

·       Because God has gifted me to a certain level. Here’s what I think about that:

o       God has given me many gifts. I feel that gifts are given to be returned to the Lord. Now, I am not exceptional at any 1 thing. It’s been that way my whole life. In most of the things that I do, I become fairly adequate at those things but never excel to the point of “mastery”. Since this is known to me I do not expect NOT to be out done or out performed by someone. I am excited about this concept. As I get something going, if that can be a catalyst for someone that IS a master at something to step up, I feel that I have done my job. For example, in a startup church I was in, there was a need for a guitarist. I have been playing guitar for years and am adequate at playing. However, as we grew, a real guitarist stepped up and took over. It was great to be a part of and an awesome experience to have. Now, that is not to say that I won’t give it my best and have great expectations as I believe it’s possible. I will also endeavor to be a master at what it is that I am doing. So, it’s like the apprentice working his way to master. I don’t know if I’ll ever arrive at anything. But, I desire to.

I am sure I’ll have more posts to follow as time goes on!

It's great to have brothers

If you know me, you know that my parents did not bear 2 son's into their family. They first begat me, then my sister. No physical family member brother. The brother I refer to is a brother in Christ. While I know that being part of the body of Christ means that I have a ton of brothers...it's not typical that anyone really ACTS like one.

Yesterday, I was vomitting my angst and concerns to one of these brothers. Typically, I don't expect much afterward. Very few have ever hung in there with me in an honest attempt to love me as they love themselves. Honestly, I can see how difficult I can make that. Realisticly, I struggle doing to others as I would have done to me. But, this morning I see an email pop up from the same vomit receiving brother. An email of prayer and encouragement.

Thank you God for the heart of that man! Thank you for the talent you've given him and the work that he does. It is a great example of how the body should be and I pray the I have learned a life altering thing in what was done.

What do you think "living life" is?

I know a lady that is in her mid 20’s. She spends from early morning to evenings boldly pursuing her career. She is very helpful to all the people that she meets. Then, in the evening she is going to graduate courses to attain a masters degree.

I see “homeless” on the side of the street begging for money all day. They struggle to find the busiest intersections to hold their signs. I haven’t seen many that make eye contact…I see fewer in cars that pass by making eye contact with them.

I am constantly running about to soccer practices and fencing lessons trying to maintain some balance in life.

So, who’s living life? Who has received life abundantly in those 3 examples. What is abundant life to you?

one of those days

It’s been one of those days for a few days now. Today was the “last straw”. It seemed that everything that could possibly be screwed up, was. There was nothing major…but a culminating of small things that lead us to complacency and minor disobedience. It’s definitely something that I have let go too long.

Man, sometimes it seems the joy escapes me.