My two favorite action figures as a kid…
1. The Bionic Man, “Mr. Col. Steve Austin with that toy rocket with the pop out bionics…
2. And Mr. Evil Knievel and his bike.
Today across the world a generation of kid mourns with the passing of Mr. Evil Knievel. Very sad. How many of us pretended we were Knievel as kids? What it really means is that I’m getting old. 
Finally.
Update: It’s POURING!!!! Yippie!
One of the buzz words that is often used in our denomination is the word connectional. I love the fact that I could call any of my colleagues in ministry for advice, wisdom, or even a little prayer. In some ways with the birth of the blog we’ve even become more connectional within the church universal.
A couple of nights ago I was sitting in one of the longest presbytery meetings I’ve ever been part of and there was an older woman in her sixties sitting behind me in another pew. I had figured out that she was being welcomed into the presbytery and that she was waiting for her turn to read her statement of faith that evening and be interviewed by members of the presbytery in regards to her faith and call as a pastor. She leaned over to me during the interview process of another pastor that was taking place in the meeting and said, “is my statement of faith ok?” I had mumbled something like, “just give them your heart.”
When I read the docket for the meeting I figured out she was a hospice chaplain and had served for several years as a presbyterian minister. Now mind you I’ve never met this woman before. As the meeting continued I had stood up once during the interview process for another pastor and asked a question. When you stand up in a meeting like this its customary to say your name and what church you pastor. After I asked my question I sat back down. The woman sitting in the pew behind me waiting for her turn to finally come to be interviewed leans over to me as I sat back down in my pew and said, “you were the pastor that worked with Jimmy? Apparently she was one of the chaplains that cared for Jimmy over the year while he was dying of cancer.
Its an honor in that all of us who follow Jesus have an opportunity to be part of a connectional relationship as the body of Christ and in the church universal. We all have a part in the proclamation of the “good news” of a Savior who will come to bring hope to a world in need of hope. This Sunday we get to sing, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Have you ever wondered what it might be like for the the Lord to sit and listen to his people sing?” Not just my church or yours, but the church “Big C” universal?
Happy Advent.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3p_sYIS6C0]
A recent bowling trip with the youth at our church…
This year was the second time in several years we’ve been able to host thanksgiving for our extended family. My memories of thanksgiving included an annual trip to the sizzler in Hollywood and an occasional Jack in the Box run. I don’t recall having extended family or friends over. What’s awesome is that we get to do this for our family now. I watched our six year old wait patiently for his extended family to arrive. “What time are grandpa and grandma coming over?” The house was clean as a whistle thanks to Mrs. Kasedoggy. Yours truly had the honor of cooking the “Bird.” The goal was 4pm and we began eating at 4:15pm. The turkey rocked, the potatoes were “wahe” cool, and the conversation around the table was casual. My two favorite side dish’s of the day??? My sausage apple stuff and the corn bread with “real corn” as one of the cousins commented, “what’s the deal with the corn in the corn bread?” It’s now post-turkey day and the turkey noodle soup is done and I’ve had two bowls. Yummy stuff. We even did a little Christmas shopping. This year I am thankful for family, my wife, and our kiddoes. I am thankful for my extended family too. I pray for my brother Scott. Now its time to get ready for Advent. As our youngest waited for grandma and grandpa we now wait for the king of kings. We prepare and wait for hope to come and renew us to right relationship with God. And together we pray, “come Jesus come.”
In about eleven days I’ll have been the pastor of this awesome church for one year. So much has happened in a year. I’ve preached a bunch of sermons. I’ve done a couple of weddings, a few baptisms, a couple of funerals, and I’m learning how to build a new church building with some awesome leaders. What am I learning in my first year as a solo pastor?
I’m learning to listen. The church needs someone to listen for those God moments. Those little reminders that God is at work and that its not about us as the people of God or me as a pastor. I’m also learning to listen to those who truly are led by God. One of my jobs is to empower the people of God to be the ministers. Finding people with a heart for ministry and for bringing hope to those people who need hope. Finally, I’m learning to listen to those who really need someone to just stop and listen. I want to be the kind of pastor who doesn’t mind not trying to have all the answers as opposed to the pastor who always tries to be “super fix it pastor to the rescue” which is easy to do as a pastor.
I’m learning to breathe. Breathing is important when you’re in ministry. No matter how big or small your church is that you pastor. Others need to see you breathe. Its a sign of ones trust in God to be at the center of all things. Its our opportunity as pastors to give God thanks for everything that happens in the life of the church even if its not the way we want it to be.
I’m learning to rest. I remember the pastor who charged me at my installation. Resting and taking care of myself, my mind, and my body have not been top of the list of things to do this past year. I’ve even had some warning shots fired at my head reminding me to stop and rest in God’s restoring power. Learning mostly to spend time resting in Christ and his love for me as his own. In spending time with God being one who prays often as a way of finding rest in God. I still enjoy what Nouwen says, “what would it look like if someone called the church office and asked for the pastor and the response of the secretary was sorry the pastor is out praying.”
I’m learning to enjoy my family. I had a pastor friend tell me not to do the same thing he did in sacrificing his family over the church in his first couple of years as a solo pastor. When the six year old wants me to follow his “neatly” drawn map in finding a secret treasure in the house, I sure as better get my “button” off my chair and go play with that little guy. I’m also learning that as I sit here and write this post that the kids aren’t getting any younger and if I’m hiding behind a computer or sitting in a meeting that I’m really not needed at I will miss this ride called parenting and enjoying our kids. Finally, enjoying the blessing of being married to a woman that I love more than anything and that continues to encourage me and love me no matter what. Knowing that again she is someone that I am not willing to lose because of my need to be “super pastor dude.”
Over this next week I will do some more reflecting on lessons learned and that I’m still learning as a first year pastor.
I had some friends come and worship with us in church yesterday. Dave shared his experience in serving in another country along with his wife. You see Dave and his wife were among many who played an active role in my life as a kid. They were two of many who shared “good news,” with me that God is an awesome God who loves us. There was a point in their lives where they moved and it wasn’t until this last year that God brought us back together again. When we prayed before the services and when I could hear Dave and his wife teach Sunday school in between services I couldn’t help but think that God’s work comes full circle. It was great to have them come and speak because there were some who appreciated a different outlook on the world and the presentation of the Gospel and how we are to share “good news.”
Welcome Highcallingblogs.com
Meet Angel. The new addition to the family unit. Thanks Cindi!
(Welcome to my friends from church)
The month of November we will focus on a theme of thanksgiving in our worship services (8am & 10:30am). Our sermon series for the month of November in church will cover four themes; giving thanks for each other, giving thanks for our enemies, giving thanks when times are hard, and giving thanks for the world. Our scriptural theme for the month of November will be from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you, who belong to Christ Jesus, to live.” (The Message Paraphrase)
The word thanks means to be actively giving thanks or to express gratitude towards something or someone. In our case as followers of Jesus we express gratitude to God for all that he does for us as his children. Being thankful is sometimes not easy to do. Especially when the world around us seems to be crumbling every time we turn on the news or read the morning headlines of another problem burdening the world.
How does one give thanks appropriately to God? I appreciate Eugene Peterson’ paraphrase from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. “Be cheerful no matter what, pray all the time, and thank God no matter what happens.” Paul gives us three things to do that I know for myself are sometimes difficult to live out.
There is a song we sing in worship by Matt Redman called “Blessed be your name,” that is applicable to us especially when we feel like not giving thanks to God when times are tough. May these words be our prayer as we learn to truly give thanks to God with a grateful heart.
Every blessing You pour out , I’ll turn back to praise, When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say; Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your name, Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name.
Giving thanks for you!
Pastor K.C.