In the midst of taking some time to rest and looking for a new call as a pastor, we’ve been doing a little church shopping of recent weeks. It’s actually kind of interesting. I haven’t been on this side for a while. What do you look for in a new church? Because of our experience in serving in the church it’s fairly easy to become critical and overly cautious of churches we have visited or want to visit. I have to say with the recent events of the PCUSA I must admit I want to find a church that cares about reaching people for Christ. Ministry first. The ministry of loving people as Jesus loved those he encountered. It’s so easy to get caught up in the chaos of church politics and to loose sight of what matters most. It’s easy to forget why we show up each and every Sunday. I want a church that’s confident that it is Christ who really matters and his Word proclaimed. Where the Bible matters. I want to worship in a church where people matter and where the broken hearted can come and find restoration, hope, and a brief moment of rest from the stuff of life. I want to hear and witness mission taking place. Around the world and right next door. I want to witness people unafraid to worship the Lord most high, whether they sit, stand, kneel, shout, or raise their hands without shame. Most of all I want to find a church that cares about going out into the world finding those who want to catch a glimpse of what it means to be part of the kingdom of God. Here on earth. This Sunday I’m preaching for a friend of mine here, while he’s out of town. (Pastor Brian I had a dream that I was preaching and forgot that it was communion Sunday, don’t worry I won’t forget)Then we get back to looking for a place to just be and to witness Christ at work and the people of God being responsive to the call to be like him and to make a difference in the kingdom of God here on earth.

The cartoon speaks for itself.

My wifey has a birthday today. If you know my Debbie, she rocks. She’s an awesome mom and a gifted school teacher. She is God’s gift to me and without Jesus and my wife both I’d be nothing and a total nimrod. Hehehehe. Please send her a note wishing her a happy birthday at debster41@comcast.net.

My friend Chris has reminded me that my worship "typelists" are outdated. Check out my "new worship typelist" for a couple of albums he’s suggested. Gracias amigo! With the joys of being in a pew right now, I’ve actually enjoyed being able to worship the Lord and be fed. It’s been a nice little break from having any worship leadership responsibilities. We’ve recently visited a few  churches. We’ve really started to like this church and my oldest kid is liking this church for their youth group. The kids have kind of liked going stealth these last few weeks and not having dad be "in charge." Anyways, it’s also kind of cool to be on the receiving end of being a visitor. You notice the little things that you’ve heard folks complain about. You notice when folks go out their way to look for new folks. You also notice when no one notices you. We still haven’t received any kind of greeting from the pastor at one church and the other church we finally got something in the mail after a month. Photo copied signature. hehe.

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I was testing the video egg with my guitar, thinking I might post some of my cheesy guitar abilities on my job blog. As I was testing it, a karate kid in the form of a four year old started beating me up! Listen for the “HA YA” and the guitar wack!

This is sad.

It passed. Mark Robert’s deals with some of the issues here.

Found this post here. Good summary of what I think are valid points on what those who work with youth in the church need from their pastors. I know these are things I want to be able to give back to my staff one of these days.

HT: perrynoble.com

Because of God’s grace, I will toot my own horn for a few brief lines. I’m a daddy. You see I wasn’t supposed to get this far in my life. Husband for almost 16 years to a beautiful wife. I have a beautiful wife who is a wonderful mom and is a gifted school teacher. Daddy to three beautiful boys. A college and seminary graduate. Took a bunch of years, but I did it. I have friends who can’t explain it either.

From what I can remember, there’s some guy named Miguel who looks like me out in the world, who I’ve never met. He dated my mom and POW! Enter me. When mom was prego with me, Bob the farm boy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa entered the picture. Dad. My dad. Okay. The guy was a nimrod, but he was daddy. Because of his alcoholism, dad died in 1997. Although our two oldest dudes don’t remember, they did meet their grandpa BOB. 

I am grateful tonight because if it weren’t for a few folks in my life who modeled Christ for me and who I looked to for fatherly wisdom, motherly grace, and guidance I would not be the kind of husband and father I am today. I’m even a pastor because of these surrogate parents.  I’m thankful for the church who without hesitation parented me. The church was my surrogate parent. I have a zillion dads and moms. Big brothers and sisters. People who I’ve watched from afar in the way they interacted and loved their family, their spouses, and their kids.

If it were not for God working through the church I would not be who I am today as a husband and father. We have three wonderful kids. We are truly blessed. I’m most thankful for my Debbie. Debbie has encouraged me and empowered me to be who God has called me to be as a husband and father. I’m who I am because of Deb’s love for me. I know there are folks who didn’t think we’d make it and who couldn’t imagine me being a dad or husband. I am thankful that I’ve been blessed beyond belief. I’m a husband and I’m a daddy. Most of all I’m a follower of Christ. This rocks. It’s by God’s gracious act of love that I’m a daddy, that I get to give back to our kids what daddy couldn’t give me. It’s by God’s grace that I get to be the kind of husband for Deb that my dad wasn’t to my mom. It is because of Christ, that we get to give each of our boys the love of Christ that was given to me by a group of folks a bunch of years ago. And yes. Daddy. It was because of you that you convinced mom to keep me and not put me up for adoption. It is because of you that you met an elder from church who invited you to bring your boys to church. Happy Father’s day dad and thank you Lord that I get to be daddy. And tonight as I put boy number three to bed, we learned Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord…thanks be to God!

Given the fun stuff happening in the PCUSA it’s pretty cool that you can watch each of the moderator elects being interviewed live.