My Church

One of the additions we have made to our church web site is to add a link to MyChurch. It is one of the social network pages that is designed for churches to connect people. In a church of our size and with as many different services as we have it is a great way for people to make connections across the services. If you haven't checked it out follow the link above and sign-up. Then let me know how we might be able to utilize this web based tool.

What's the Competition

In a conversation yesterday I made the comment that other churches weren't the competition that we were facing. As the conversation continued it was decided that this weekend we would lift up several of the churches for prayer in our community. One of them of the same denomonitation and several others that were of differant denominations. As I have been thinking about it now this morning I wonder how people will respond to those prayers. One of those churches is now home to a number of people who once were a part of SJ. I know though that in the process of many people leaving to attend that church it became very necessary for me to pray for that church, their pastor's, and leaders or I would have become very bitter and negative. So I hope that others can embrace that prayer as well.
If the Kingdom of God wins than all who believe win! Why is it so hard for us to get that and truly embrace it?

Listening

Yesterday during the worship services I focused upon the reasons why people outside the church don't like Christians, churches, or organized religion. After listening to a lot of people and reading various things such as Letters from Leavers I was struck by how many people are simply turned off by our own narcissism. The reality that many Christians feel that it is all about them, what they believe, and what they "know" are the answers. In the midst of that narcissism they seem to forget how to listen. They seem to forget how to have an open spirit and to meet people where they are at before trying to get them to go to where they assume they need to be. Maybe it would help if we began to speak less, listen more, and let the Holy Spirit do more of the work than thinking we are the ones who have to do it all.
So will you join me in listening more and allowing Jesus to be presented in ways that are invitational rather than in your face? I know that we have a lot to overcome because there are far to many people who present Jesus in this way rather than as someone most people would want to follow.

Bonus Picture

Just because I like to remeber here is a picture from this past summers trip. This is a picture of Dawson City at about 11:30 p.m. The road doesn't quite end here, but as you can see from the shape of the main street there isn't a lot of road from here and it doesn't get any better as you go north.

Setting Boundries

I had a lengthy conversation with a peer yesterday about life and work and how does one set boundaries in the midst of it all. I have to say that this was an easier discussion when my children were home and I made time for them and their many activities. But as they have grown up and gone off to college I find myself less sure of where the responsibility stops when it comes to work. It is just so easy to continue to add one more thing to the list of things to do without ever taking anything else off the calendar.
Now I have to say that I don't mind or resent giving 60 hours a week to the church. I know there are many people who work 40+ hours at their jobs and then give another 10 -20 hours to the church on a regular basis. So I don't expect to only work 40 hours, part of my week is time, energy, personal resources that I give to the church because that is just what one does just as a member of the church gives to the work of the church beyond their work and family commitments. But the question still remains as to where and how do I make time to leave the church and all that goes with it to put some distance between my responsibilities and who I am outside of being a pastor.
I don't have it all figured out but I'm at least thinking about it, praying about it, and looking for advise.

Thinking Hard

I've spent the last couple of mornings listening to a couple of lectures/talks given by Dallas Willard at a Renovare conference. I've always found Willard's writings and speaking to be challenging and rewarding to process. The problem with it is that it makes me think to hard. In the mental state that I'm in right now I find myself very introspective and Willard makes me go even deeper.
One of the things that I heard Dallas Willard say in the lecture made me think deeply about where I am at right now. He was talking about why people are drawn to movies and entertainment sometimes at the expense of other people. He basically was saying that we have a deep desire (God made) to feel and know emotional connection and when we become desensitised to those around us we look for those connections in other ways.
I really resonate with this right now. I feel like I am empty, I don't have anything to give to others is the way I feel and yet I want to feel something. So I pray, I worship, I fast, I do all the things that I usually do, but there is nothing there. So I wait, I'm not looking for a quick fix, just to feel the emotional and spiritual connection again with God and with others. I know that this is the time when I am most at risk of looking for connections in the wrong places and so I try to guard my heart and my actions very closely.
Why does God allow someone to go through this? Why is it that you can cry out to God and not hear a response? I'm thinking long and hard about this and there just aren't any easy answers (so please don't try to give them to me). But in the midst of this I trust that God is still God and I'm still fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God for God's purposes.

The Day After

So yesterday was my birthday and I really did try to basically ignore it. It really isn't the idea that I'm getting older that is a problem, I am actually getting more comfortable with that reality these days. The thing is that I have just always seemed to have an aversion to celebrating my birthday. I'm sure that there is some deep dark reason from childhood that makes me shy away from the celebration, but I don't know what it is. (My wife and kids know better than to plan some kind of surprise party or big gathering for my birthday. That would absolutely be the worst of times for me.) With this aversion to birthdays and my general sense of malaise I would guess that I wasn't the most fun person to be around yesterday. So I'm sorry if I wasn't as chipper or up as you would have liked me to be, that is just the way it was. Somehow I doubt if next year will be any different.

Just a Memory From Summer

Just because I need a little pick me up here is a picture from this summers travels in Alaska.

The Flip Side

Yesterday I wrote about how much I dislike American Idol and wondered why someone has not kindly told some of the auditioners that they are really going to make a fool of themselves if they go through with this.
The flip side of this for me is a memory burned into my mind of what happened to me in 2nd grade. My voice has always been lower than most and even at that early age. One day during music class the music teacher was doing a lesson in our class room and for one reason or another she thought that we all needed to sing a particular song or part of a song. We apparently weren't doing it right so she went around the circle and had each one of us sing out load by ourselves. When she came to me I did the dutiful thing and sang what she had asked everyone else to sing but I apparently wasn't hitting the high notes and she grabbed me by the hair (I had some hair then and pulled up) and said, "Think higher, why can't you sing the high notes!"
As you might guess I was completely embarrassed by all that and have struggled with singing alone ever sense. I know that I don't have a voice that is going to wow others and I'm ok with that, but I do love music even singing and I wonder what a difference it might have made in my life if that music teacher would have said something in a little different way.
Having said all that I have in no way ever imagined or wanted the opportunity to be an "American Idol."
Now you know the rest of the story.

Ok, so do your recognize this picture?
Check out how much God really knows.

(Thanks to Bradley Wright for this link smile today)

Impending Doom

Ok, maybe the heading is a little overkill but all I seem to be hearing and seeing these days is the breaking news that "American Idol" is about ready to start its new season. I really just have to say that I don't get it. Every once in a while it's ok if you get someone like Paul Potts (if you haven't heard Paul or watched this clip do so it is well worth the time) who steps into the spot light and reminds us that there is a lot of hidden talent that we never get to see because it just doesn't seem possible.
The real problem that I have with "Idol" is the early auditions that they show of people who for one reason or another no one has ever told, "You really shouldn't stand on that side of a microphone." I understand and appreciate that you might not know or accept this when you are 16 or 18 but by the time you are 25 or even older I would hope that you have some friend in your life that might pull you away from the karaoke machine and say "You really aren't as good as you think you are, maybe there is something else that you are good at that you haven't tried yet."
Just one of the little rants that I have and a reason why I won't be tuning in to this new season.

Coming soon: The flip side of the above rant and maybe the reason why I feel as I do.

Goal Setting

After the great workshop that Tom Harris led on Saturday I'm going to spend the day (or at least a portion of it) thinking about goals for the year and for beyond. I've already begun to plan for how to make one of those life long goals happen yet in a couple of weeks.
One of the things that I have wanted to do is to see Yosemite in winter. Ever sense I got turned back two years ago because of the snow I've wanted to see Yosemite in the winter. So this year as I make the trip out to Boise and down to California I'm going to be ready. I'll take chains and supplies to get into the National Park even if it is snowing.
I'll post pictures from my trip in February.
If you want to see what is happening in Yosemite check out the web cam here (it helps if you do it during daylight hours there).

Life Achievement Planning

I'm going to do some live blogging this morning on Tom Harris' presentation this morning on goal setting.

Tom Harris is the founder/lead teacher of Life Planning Partners and works for Our Sunday Visitor as Human Resource Director. The presentation is called "Planting Seeds for Lifetime Achievement."

The desire is to learn techniques that will help us accomplish our goals. To establish goals that are big and worthy of pursuing and the steps that will allow us to get there.

John 10:10 "I've come that you may live life more abundantly."
Prov. 29:18 "Where there is no vision the people will parish."
Phil. 3:13 "Forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead."
Phil. 3:14 "I press toward the goal of the prize for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Why do people NOT set goals: (Brian Tracy)

• They think goals are not important
• They don't know how to set goals
• They have a fear of failure
• They have a fear of rejection

Only 3 % of people write down their goals!

Goal-Achieving Techniques:

1. Proven Purpose: why are you wanting to reach this goal?
2. Pray About It: is it bigger than you?
3. Put it in Writing: those who do far exceed everyone else
4. Research It: know what it is going to take
5. Keeping it Secret: think it through before others tear it apart
6. Measure It: how will you know you're making progress
7. Celebrate It: recognize the completion and share it with others
8. Subdivide It: make it manageable
9. Visioning your Success: think about what it looks like and what it will feel like
10. The Coach Connection: who is going to help you and encourage you

Family and Social Goals:

• What kind of seeds do you want to plant for your family?
• What kind of memories do you want to create today?
• What kind of areas beyond family would you like to explore ... in the community and beyond?

Career Goals:

• Are you satisfied with your current job/career?
• What can you do to become more satisfied?
• What changes can you make to enhance your career or satisfaction in your job?

Financial Goals:

• Are you satisfied with your current financial situation?
• What changes can you make to improve your financial status?
• What additional information do you need to feel in control of your finances?
• What steps can you take to reduce debt today?

Adventure Goals are those things that you want to do / feel / experience / learn in the future

Set a Bible Verse to Use for the Year!

Weekly Action Plans: it all requires movement!

Thanks Tom for helping to set the stage for goals for the upcoming year. It is a lot to think about and I for one will need more time to work out the details and be realistic in what and when goals can and should be accomplished.

Getting Back on the Web

I ended up taking a bit of a break after Christmas here but it wasn't for any great noble reason like travelling or spending time with family. It was just that I had nothing to say. At least nothing to say that was worth putting in print or on line as far as I was concerned. Because of that I just stayed quiet and decided not to inflict myself upon any of you that might actually be reading.
So now I'm going to get back on the web and beginning the process once again of reflecting and writing about life, church, and faith with those not being in any particular order.