Mar
22
2008
good friday silence begins
Mar
21
2008
Maundy Thursday, Seder Dinners, Baseball, and the A list…
For a second year as a solo pastor I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a Seder Dinner sponsored by one of our families at church. Has to be my favorite event all year long and is a wonderful experience in preparing for this weekend in reflecting on what was accomplished for us on the cross by Christ and what was fulfilled for us on the day of Resurrection. Although the worship, the breaking of bread in the midst of community, the silence, the Word read and spoken were all reminders of grace, I felt though as if my soul was caught in the middle of a good ol’ fashion “tug of war.”
What was frustrating tonight as a pastor and I wonder if other pastors have felt the same, was the tension of wanting to be one hundred percent available and present for the congregation I serve not only as a pastor, but also being available and present as a husband and father for my wife and and kids. Let me explain. I really wanted to be cloned this evening and couldn’t because two of our three blessings of children had prior engagements. The middle dude had a baseball game and the older dude had a dessert where he was receiving an award for getting all A’s this last semester in his last last year of middle school. (The coveted Principals List for getting a 4.0.)
Anyways, Thanks to mom for juggling the rides and video taping the A list event and still having time to see the last half of the game. I wasn’t able to make these events. I tried but arrived at the field as they were turning off the lights. What was frustrating and it really is the first time I’ve gone through this as a solo pastor was that I wondered why Little League baseball and a public middle school had events scheduled during a week that the larger religious community sees as vital to their own faith journey. I wondered if there were other families and persons who felt the tension that I felt. I guess it didn’t seem right that there even needed to be a choice. Again, proud of them both. Just wish I could have been able to be at all three events, all important to my own walk with Christ.
Mar
16
2008
Horton Hears A Who
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=C1tiufSK90g]
We saw Horton hears a who tonight. It was awesome if you love Dr. Seuss stuff. What was neat was the trillion kids in the theater and the applause at the end of the movie. Way to go Mr. Carey!
My favorite line from the book and in the movie, “A persons a person no matter how small.” Totally preachable!
Mar
4
2008
Class
In class this week at Fuller. Taking a “Managing Conflict,” course in the Doctor of Ministry program. Conflict within the church is something every pastor or leader experiences on a daily basis. The question is how we deal with it and work through it with our parishioners. I wish that this course was offered in seminary. Would have taken it over and over and over again. I’ve been on the outside of conflict and I’ve been in the middle of conflict in the church. Still learning how to swim and keep afloat. This fellow is teaching the course and my classmates and I (All seven of us) get him for 5 days. What a treat to be in the course and to be able to be up close and personal. After this week, only thirty six more units to go. Oh yeah!
Feb
20
2008
A high and a low
Served with a pastor way back when who I grabbed this high & low idea from.
My high for the day…
222.8 with socks on and 222.6 without socks
down from 236 with clothes on. hehe.
My low for the day…
We went to our first IB high school informational meeting for our oldest last night. Yes I’m thrilled that he will be in high school. And yes I’m counting the days until he leaves for college. But yes I am missing the days when I used to carry the kiddoe on my back in one of those, “daddy I can at least carry him on my back, back pack thingy’s.”
The kiddoe can carry me now.
Back to work!
Feb
7
2008
let it begin
Ash Wednesday service went well. It was special to begin the season of lent together as a community. Earlier in the day I placed on the BBQ the palm branches from last years Palm Sunday service. Got enough ash for the service but learned that there is a store that sells ash from the palms by the bag. I will have to think about that for next year as it took about an hour to get just enough Ash from five or six branches. I don’t think I did right.
It was a neat experience to watch the branches burn and to begin thinking about the season of lent and what God has in store for the church and for God’s people. In the last church I served there were two other pastors. We usually did the imposing on one another when everyone else was imposed. As everyone was coming forward I forgot to ask someone to impose me. Sure enough a very cool elder in the church came to my aid. As I drove home I made a quick stop at the neighborhood starbucks for a hot chocalate for the wifey and as I walked up to the counter one of the baristas looks at me and than at my forehead and says, “Oh man, my mom’s going to kill me. I forgot Ash Wednesday service.”Another one says, “why didn’t you tell us?”
I smiled.
Jan
31
2008
World Vision Experience: Aids
World Vision has an exhibit that is being hosted by the Desert Vineyard here in the Antelope Valley in Lancaster California. The exhibit has been shown at Saddleback and the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County.
If you are one of the peeps of the AV or are close enough to make the trip to the AV I urge you to come and check this out. Visit their web site to reserve a free ticket.
I will say that what you will experience will move you. Will change you and will cause you to become utterly grateful for the health and safety God has blessed us with in our country. I was blown away. I was overwhelmed with gratefulness that our own kids are healthy and that we are definitely blessed. It will also be a reminder of the impact AIDS continues to have on our world. Please go if you are able. The AV is actually a cool place to hang for a few hours and the Desert Vineyard is doing some cool stuff.