It’s been one of those weeks. I’m learning lots about being a small church pastor. I’m learning that it’s most important to do what really matters. This past week I’ve been trying to figure out how to balance the roles of pastor and administrator. Especially when you’re the only one in the office. I’ve also had fun spending time with folks from church who really want the church to grow not only in Christ, but in the way we attract new folks. We joined the gym that a few in the church frequent. One person made sure I met the regulars this past week when I was at the gym. It was pretty cool meeting some new folks. When it hit me that I was now the pastor of a cool, fun filled, hip, little, Christ centered church was when this church member who was introducing me to folks at the gym said, “I want you to meet my new pastor.” I was thankful for his affirmation and at the same time wanted to say, “where?” The Lord is teaching me lots! By the way thanks to those who came to my installation! You all rock! And thanks to our new church for making the day a special one for me as I start as their new pastor.

Thanks Steve!

It wasn’t to long ago that I was in Jr. high. It was just yesterday that I remember a bunch of Jr. high kids playing air guitar at a winter camp with our church for a mini talent show. The song we played? “Here I am, rock you like a hurricane…come on Scorpions… We’re finding with a Jr. high kid residing in our house that what goes around comes around. My wife and I on two seperate occasions borrowed our kids shuffle to go to the gym. Now parents it’s a good thing to know what your kids are listening to when it comes to music. When my wife went to the gym she came back and told the rocker kid, “now all you need is some Fleetwood Mac and your shuffle will be fine. We both laughed. Where and when did he start listening to all these cool “oldies?”  When I peeked into his itunes list I had flashbacks of being in seventh grade…here’s what I saw;

Dream On 4:50 Aerosmith A Little South of Sanity - Live Rock  2 1/20/2007 9:13 AM
Sweet Emotion 5:57 Aerosmith A Little South of Sanity - Live Rock  1 1/17/2007 4:23 PM
Iron Man (Live) 7:30 Black Sabbath Live Evil Rock  2 1/17/2007 4:23 PM
Crazy Train 4:55 Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz Rock   
I Wanna Be Sedated 2:29 The Ramones Rhino Hi-Five: Ramones - EP Rock  1 1/17/2007 4:23 PM
Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2 3:59 Pink Floyd The Wall Rock   
Wish You Were Here 5:21 Pink Floyd Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd Rock   
Baba O’Riley 5:08 The Who Who’s Next (Remastered) Rock  1 1/17/2007 4:23 PM
Pinball Wizard 3:01 The Who The Who: The Ultimate Collection Rock  1 1/17/2007 4:23 PM
Who Are You 6:21 The Who Who Are You (Remastered) Rock   
Rock You Like a Hurricane 4:15 Scorpions 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Scorpions Rock  1 1/20/2007 9:36 AM
 

 Anyways, laughed and realized how I miss being a kid.

At my installation yesterday a pastor friend of mine gave me the charge on what I need to remember as a pastor when it comes to serving Christ and the church. This is something he said, “A minister by the name of James Martin once wrote that being a pastor is like being a stray dog at a whistler’s convention.”  Isn’t this true??? What a joy it was to celebrate God and his goodness yesterday as the presbytery installed me as the new pastor of this great church. My family and I were blessed not only by our church family, but by friends from other churches that we’ve been part of over the years and who we consider family in so many ways. Thanks again to those who came out and celebrated together at our new church. Pictures to come soon…

Greetings fellow church buddies. I hope you find my blog to be helpful and at least somewhat encouraging. I hope you come back often. See you Sunday.

Stopped to get a quick bagel and to email someone here. Standing in line and listening to an older woman tell the girl behind the counter that she was a breast cancer survivor. No one else was in line and I couldn’t help but listen as she was talking to the girl and telling her how she was waiting the news of some recent discussion with her doctor that she was concerned about. The girl behind the counter continued to listen and as I was being helped by someone else, I watched the girl listening come from behind the counter and approach the woman. She throws her arms around her and gives her the biggest hug, I’m convinced that time stopped. I wanted to cry like a baby. Come on people start hugging!!!! Acts of grace in the oddest of places.

When a new pastor begins his or her new pastorate in a Presbyterian Church there is a service of worship to install the new pastor. Although the fun has already begun, after this Sunday it’s official. I will be installed as the new pastor here. I have to be honest I’m thrilled, but anxious. I can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do and will do. For you locals the service starts at 4pm. By the way it was 43 degrees in my office this morning…

Jack is back.