From the mind of McHonza

2012-02-02T19:25:00.001-08:00

1st night at Geeks That Drink with team Preachers, Teachers & The Coach = 3rd place!

2012-02-01T04:59:00.001-08:00

Creator God,
Above us all,
Holy are You,
May Your Vision be realized,
May we follow Your plans,
As it should be everywhere,
May we be thankful for what You provide,
Forgive our stubborn wilfulness,
So that we can forgive others,
Guide us toward good choices,
And save us as only You can,
For all is Yours,
Always.
Amen.

2012-01-31T07:06:00.001-08:00

Just signed up Central UMC for CTCYM Senior High (8-12th grades) Mission Trip June 10-16 to Arkansas & Missouri. Register at www.ctcym.org

2012-01-28T13:16:00.001-08:00

Dog watching, cooking for Church Under the Bridge, Downtown Farmers Market, Cafe Cappuccino, almost nap time.

2012-01-21T07:44:00.001-08:00

Not sure exactly what's going on, but there's a large number of people in gorilla suits running in Austin today.

2012-01-20T06:04:00.001-08:00

Did Jesus save the unrepentant thief, too?

2012-01-18T14:56:00.001-08:00

Starting "The Bible in 90 Days" & Youth Bible Study at Central UMC.
What better way to make your head explode than with the Word of God?

2012-01-13T21:49:00.001-08:00

Coffee & s'mores at Halcyon.

2012-01-13T20:05:00.001-08:00

Fado Irish Pub in Austin - Smithwick's & (excellent) Shepherd's Pie.

2012-01-12T06:22:00.001-08:00

My friend Kyle's blog: http://ping.fm/yR0tS
http://ping.fm/S7HQd
http://ping.fm/KJeUX

2012-01-11T15:10:00.001-08:00

Taking a step back toward some youth ministry tonight; volunteering at Central UMC.

2012-01-10T15:15:00.001-08:00

"Bad Ass" doesn't quite adequately capture Led Zeppelin.

2012-01-07T08:17:00.001-08:00

Pedal-power to the bank & to get a haircut. Then off to Farmers Market & ShoeQuest.

2012-01-06T07:07:00.001-08:00

It's payday, I'm starting ShoeQuest. How many pairs for $40? http://ping.fm/LOlr4

2012-01-04T19:29:00.001-08:00

Funny (mean) thought while shoe shopping, "Toms: 'Cause I can't buy a pair of shoes for someone in need without getting some for myself."

2012-01-01T09:07:00.001-08:00

Cowboys watching @Honza's @7:30. More hurricanes & margaritas (more hurritas) More black eyed peas. Bring your kids or just bring yourself.

2011-12-31T14:00:00.001-08:00

New Year's Eve party at The Honza House. Come get some.

2011-12-24T09:16:00.001-08:00

If this Xmas season has been the same old consumerism: Stop. Breathe. Love your family. Love your friends. Make peace. Enjoy God's Gift.

Poop Washes Off

2011-12-13T07:06:00.001-08:00

We have a nativity scene on fluffy, white, fake snow. It is on a low shelf & the dogs had swiped & (mostly) eaten various shepherds & livestock that were on the periphery of the scene.

(There is some kind of lesson here in the negative impact systematic socioeconomic discrimination as the Holy Family, Wise Men, & Angels are all still safe & sound in the "inner circle") Anyhow...

Apparently at least one of the dogs ate a fair quantity of the fluffy, white, fake snow as well. (This also brings up some interesting imagery if you've seen Will Farrell's movie Elf & wondered about the gastrointestinal ramifications of the scene in which he repeatedly eats cotton balls at the doctor's office) Based on my observations, this material doesn't necessarily "clump", but may (and again, this is only my own particular experiential observation) "trail" at said dogs time of rectal evacuation.

I'm not sure what all went on in the yard, but she took longer than usual to take care of her "business". When I called her in, she came running & I noticed what I thought was a string from a rug or blanket trailing behind her. I had mentally committed to freeing her from this foreign object. Just as I was grabbing it (with my bare hand) I realized (in horror) "That's stuck in her..."

After taking one of the strangest handfuls of anything I had ever grasped out to the trash, and one of the most thorough hand-washings I've ever undertaken, I did reflect upon the humor of the situation.

Additionally, it brings to mind that relationships can be messy, but commitment to improving each other's lives is necessary when someone else needs help. And the truth of the advice that I often give to new parents came back to me in a very real way:
"Don't worry, poop washes off of almost everything."

2011-12-12T16:51:00.001-08:00

Ah joys of pet ownership. Just had a situation, details aren't that important. Story ends with, "So I pulled something out of my dog's ass."

2011-12-10T18:17:00.001-08:00

Exceedingly cool that there is no "I" in III. Go RG3 & Baylor!

2011-12-08T10:14:00.001-08:00

The belly of the beast is foul.

2011-12-05T15:38:00.001-08:00

Watched Bad Santa last night. Just before that we watched The Virgin Diaries. My mind is still reeling with psychoanalysis.

2011-12-03T13:09:00.001-08:00

Shaking dust ain't as easy as it sounds.

Shaking Dust

2011-12-03T13:07:00.001-08:00

I still have a lot of bitterness about what happened to me at Woodway FUMC. For quite a while it was overwhelming. It's not that severe any more, but I am often reminded by names & locations that bring the pain & frustration right back to me. It's slowly getting better, but there is still a lot to work through.

I feel tremendous guilt for not doing better at keeping or making peace. I still feel incredible anger at the misguided people that hurt me, my family, our youth, & their families. It irritates me that these supposed leaders & supposed christians would think so much of their shallow & selfish view of what they thought church needed to look like that they would dig in so hard & deliberately reject others that don't fit in.

It gives me some satisfaction that their half-assessed plans & ideologies are proving to lack depth & connection. I do not believe that they are approaching what they do as servants & that will ultimately doom their efforts.

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church defines a process for resolving issues of "failure to perform the work of the ministry;" (2702.1d), "disobedience to the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church" (2702.1e & 2702.3c) and "relationships and/or behaviors that undermine the ministry of persons serving within an appointment." (20703.3j). I was asked by Bishop Lowry if I thought following through with that process would make Woodway FUMC a stronger church. My answer was an unflinching, "Yes." I went on to explain that I see accountability as a clear responsibility within a community of faith and that when that community is not functioning according to the rules that define it, those responsible for it's deviation should be held accountable and responsible.

Bishop Lowry also asked what I was looking for in the way of resolution. I explained that I was looking for:
1) Acknowledgment
a) that our Staff Parish Relations Committee was negligent,
b) that out Nominations Committee was negligent, &
c) that our Lay Leaders created a negative & hostile environment for our youth ministry
2) Apologies to
a) me,
b) my family,
c) our youth,
d) their families, &
e) our congregation for the hurt and pain as a result of their actions, and
3) Some positive attempt at restitution including
a) adoption of Book of Discipline model for Youth Ministry
b) personal expenses related to the impact of this situation
c) resolution of pension issues defined in the Book of Discipline (258.2)

Sherri & I came to be United Methodist by very deliberate choice. We are first & foremost, followers of Christ. We love John & Charles Wesley's approach to that Christian faith. We love Wesleyan theology. We love the balance & openness that the United Methodist denomination has embraced & promotes. We love the personal responsibility for our individual beliefs & actions and we love the call to action for social justice that the United Methodist Church does espouse.

I am a firm believer that if your personal views aren't reflective of the group that you claim membership to, there is some dishonesty present. You have a responsibility to resolve those differences.

We have found much grace, peace, acceptance, & healing in our Family-in-Christ Bible Study, in worship at Central UMC, & in our Sunday School class (tentatively named FaithSpring).

I take my faith in Jesus very seriously. I have made some fairly dramatic changes in my life in order to follow my understanding of His Gospel. I think my biggest fault is my lack of patience with those who claim a Christian faith, but exhibit little of it in the evidence of their life. That often makes me appear harshly judgmental. For those I have offended, I am sorry.

I, as all of us are, am a work in progress. Those close to me know my weaknesses &, I hope, appreciate my honesty. I love this journey of faith & I am so thankful for those traveling with me.

2011-11-24T09:01:00.001-08:00

So many things to be thankful for, amazed at how blessed I am.

2011-11-23T13:50:00.001-08:00

Gobble-gobble-goo & gobble-gobble-gee.
Turkey 4 U & turkey 4 me.
Gobble-gobble-goo & gobble-gobble-giggle.
I wish turkey only cost a nickel.

Reconnecting

2010-11-02T08:41:00.001-07:00

I often write about priorities, connection, involvement, and commitment. None of this stuff happens by accident. Each one of us has the final say for how we spend our time and energy. Other people will gladly fill your schedule with what they want. The thing that will outlast any team, sport, project, or task is relationships. And, good or bad, they do continue. If we put all our efforts into temporary things, we may satisfy our own needs for a while, but we can damage the relationships that continue to exist whether we pay attention to them or not. This applies to friends, family, and God. God is always ready to welcome us back into relationship, but we may have a tougher time with friends and family. In all cases, it's probably more healthy to stay connected to begin with. But if you have disconnected from people that are important to you, take the first step back. Send a message, make a call, go visit, do something TOGETHER. That little electronic device in your pocket or purse probably gives you the ability to make a connection with just about any person that you would like. And as for God, He's already there.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Why do we sing?

2010-10-05T10:15:00.001-07:00

Help Wanted - We need a person or two to run the sound and video system during our 8:15 Early Service. We can do some training for anyone that has a calling for participating in this important role. (If you like buttons & knobs, this is your big chance!)

In September we started an Early Worship Service. We start up at 8:15 and get done just in time for Sunday School. In fact, we usually end the service with a call to "Go in peace! (to Sunday School)". Pastor John originally felt a need to create some worship time and space for the ever-increasing number of people serving during our 10:30 Worship Service, but everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part. I have already heard feedback that the chance to worship together as a family for some of our servers has been an incredible blessing. There are also many of us that have deep connections to a more contemporary style of worship. For my family, this type of service was the connection that drew us back after years of being absent from any church connection.

Looking back even further for myself, some of my earliest worship memories were from the 11:30 "Guitar Mass" that my church had in the early 1970's. That even prompted me to take guitar lessons in 3rd grade. Sister Catherine Marie taught me the basics and eventually I was able to play with several other students during our weekday services. Close to two decades years later, she actually recognized my guitar when I lent it to a niece that took lessons from her as well.

Last week I attended Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference here in Waco. I heard speakers like Francis Chan, Rob Bell, Louis Giglio, and Matt Redmann talk about the role of music and how participation affects us. I heard popular artists such as Leeland, Hillsong London, Jars of Clay, and David Crowder*Band give some insight into their own calling and efforts to express faith through music and songwriting. Even better was the chance to hear and listen to lesser-known groups that are exploring different ways of approaching worship music. This ranged from a couple of voices and a guitar, to harps and small choirs, to large funk/jazz groups, to electronic-based and straight-forward rock bands. An overriding question across the 3-day event was "Why do we sing?" Different workshops and discussion panels explored this in many ways. The most simple answer is that God calls us to worship. Additional perspectives brought up the idea of there being an inherent need based in our Creation to express ourselves creatively. The weekend ranged from being very theological and philosophical to just immersing in incredible music.

Woodway FUMC has a rich history and identity of wonderful music. We have a collective expression through music and worship that is incredibly diverse. I firmly believe that God loves all offerings that are given honestly and authentically. I know He loves the pretty stuff, but I'm pretty sure He loves it even when we're off-key if that's the best we have. The important thing to remember is that we never have to audition for God; He already loves us and anything we have to offer Him. So "Why do we sing?" is important question, but don't forget to just sing.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Involved or Committed?

2010-09-20T09:26:00.001-07:00

Years ago I heard a speaker use a bit of a joke to describe the difference between being involved and being committed. He said something along the lines of, "Think about the breakfast you might have had this morning. (pause) Image a big breakfast with everything. (pause) Think about your eggs and your bacon. (big pause) You see where I'm going with this? Now the chicken was very involved in getting the eggs there. VERY involved. Those eggs wouldn't be there without the chicken. (big pause) But the pig. OH, the pig. The pig went WAY past just getting involved. That pig was COMMITTED to your bacon. That pig GAVE IT'S LIFE for your breakfast. That's the difference between getting INVOLVED and getting COMMITTED."

When you get down to the absolute core of anything we may hope to do or accomplish, all we really have to give is time. We can do may different things with our time. We can give it to classes, teams, work, etc. There are many different things we may get back from doing this: grades, performance, money, etc. Lots of "stuff." In some cases we may think of it as giving our time to teachers, coaches, or bosses. That puts it more in the context of a relationship. Makes it a bit more personal.

Now think about it even more in terms of relationships; when you give your time to family and friends. What we put into it changes quite a bit. What we get back changes. It's less about the stuff we get (at least it should be) and more about what the relationship becomes. We can understand a huge difference between relationships we are involved in and relationships we are committed to.

We're all just human and there is only so much time. But each one of us gets 24 hours each day (except for the day we're born and the day we die, but really that's just 2 short days in our entire lives). So if we're constantly tired and we're constantly running from one thing to another and we're constantly falling short in the relationships that we say are important - what can we do to make things better?

All we can do is choose. Choose how we spend our time and choose who we spend it with. I think it is as simple as choosing people or stuff. The two biggest things we spend time on typically is school or work. But in our efforts at school and work, are we investing in building relationships or the ability to get stuff? I have heard very few people who look back and wish they gained more stuff over their lives, but I know MANY people who wish they had spent more time in their relationships. We are about to begin a church-wide worship emphasis called Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity that will help us address this issue of how our choices affect our lives and relationships.

God demands commitment, not just involvement. Jesus didn't just get involved in our salvation, he committed his life to it. We can look at all of scripture as describing how our lives go poorly when we put "stuff" first and how our lives, and the lives of others, are dramatically changed for the better when we commit to the life God has planned for us. Make your choices. No one else can do it for you.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Relationships Unfiltered

2010-06-04T11:56:00.001-07:00

Youth ministry, and really any type of ministry, has to go beyond simply being about influence. If you base a relationship on only influence, you have established an agenda, which changes and perhaps eliminates how authentic the relationship can be. There must be sharing in relationships, being present in whatever that other person is experiencing. Not always trying to fix it, but sharing, really sharing, the pain that can come with actual presence in the relationship. Opportunities for influence and help will present themselves. This kind of relationship building does create them. But the point is to be there, to share their place, to be available, within limits, without your own agenda.

When we have an agenda, doesn't that open the door to simply using others?
To accomplish or fulfill our own needs, desires, or "calling"?
Christ didn't do what He did to glorify Himself.
He took our place.

These are my thoughts upon finishing reading Relationships Unfiltered by Andrew Root. This came highly recommended by Steve Heyduck, who reads, thinks, writes, and goes about life & ministry in such a way that I've come to value his opinion in a very positive way. Root draws much from another book of his Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry, which I look forward to reading soon and the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer which I've been wanting to explore for some time.

Transitions and Doing Something to Follow Christ

2010-05-19T11:47:00.001-07:00

We're hitting that fun and busy time of transition into summer. Student school years are winding down, local college students may be heading home for the summer, many out of town students are heading back to town. Some students are finishing up their high school or college education, others will be starting them soon. Summer jobs and summer trips keep schedules at a different pace for a few months. These times of transition are always a good time to do some evaluation of our lives.
There was a good quote that came up during our Momentum series this Spring that I can't locate but goes something like this: "Imagine what you would be doing if you could do anything you wanted. Now, how does what you are currently doing move you toward that goal?" For us that choose to call ourselves believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have a calling for our lives that goes beyond just our own wants and desires. We have chosen to claim God's plan for our lives as our plan for our lives. That plan, based on my understanding of the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ, is more about self-sacrifice and helping others than anything else. It is about relationships that build each other up and making sure that everyone is taken care of.

So if you are young: you have a lot of time in which to make a difference.

For those of us that are older: each morning that we wake up means we've got at least another day to do something.

Read scripture about what Jesus taught. Chapters 4, 5, & 6 of the Gospel of Matthew are only a few pages in length and communicate a great deal about what our lives should look like. None of us can perform miracles, but we can all change our thoughts and actions to be more like Jesus.

It's not easy, but it is simple. This is what we are called to do.

Be Blessed!

Michael

Green Stewardship

2010-02-08T08:13:00.001-08:00

A friend of mine posted a blog with her acceptance of a challenge from another friend of hers:
"Challenge of the Upmost Kind:"
For 365 days I will purchase only handmade or second hand goods for my home and closet.
I pledge to engage my creativity to discover what it means to live simply and live often.

This is an awesome concept. I think I decided a few months back that I could probably never buy another article of clothing and make it through the rest of my life. My current weakness is college t-shirts, hoodies, & caps. I will try to do better. I think we could all get by perfectly fine with fewer new things and the earth would certainly do better with us consuming less.

I've been trying to think through the implications for trying to do this everywhere. I know a very green-minded couple that take their own cups & eating utensils for use at places that use disposable products. They even have glass straws. Going another step further, like using a real napkin, seems like a hassle but people used to carry a handkerchief and it seemed to work out just fine. To make it easy and portable we could use a bigger cup with a lid to hold your drinking cup, straw, knife, spoon, fork, & napkin. It would be a more complete and re-usable version of the little plastic bag, with plastic utensils & a paper napkin. Pack it up at the end of your meal and wash the stuff at home.

Another thing to try is carrying a refillable bottle for water instead of bottled water. You CAN recycle, but DO you? Using less stuff in the first place is probably a better way to go. We use a filtering pitcher at home and refill bottles that we keep in the refrigerator. Fresh, cold water, ready to go. Part of the packing list for our Mid-Winter Retreats this year is a "Refillable water bottle." We have plenty of real coffee mugs at church, but every Sunday I see people walking around with throw-away cups. At our Youth meals on Wednesday and Sunday, we use real plates, bowls, cups, and utensils which we wash afterwards.

If we use less stuff, there is less to throw away.
I remember seeing a poster a while back that showed an overflowing trash can with the caption:
"When you throw something away, what does away mean?"

I've also seen a picture of a disposable, plastic spoon with the caption:
"It's pretty amazing that our society has reached a point where the effort necessary to extract oil from the ground, ship it to a refinery, turn it into plastic, shape it appropriately, ship it to a store, buy it, and bring it home is considered to be less effort than to just wash the spoon when you're done with it.

The current popularity of ideas like "Being Green" and "Environmentally-Friendly" fit in very well with the theology of stewardship and taking care of what God has blessed us with. Every step we take to "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" into everyday thinking, planning, and practice can be a step further in our discipleship. Try a little something every week.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Take Opportunities

2010-01-22T09:06:00.001-08:00

Although I've only received about 20 responses to our Youth Ministry Pre-Survey, the feedback has been good. There has been a lot that is supportive, as well as some constructive criticism. It's very open-ended to allow you to cover whatever is on your mind. If you would like to take part go to http://ping.fm/izuCv

We had already set some things in motion such as defining some specific times and opportunities for Junior & Senior High, and refining the Sunday & Wednesday schedule. Other things we had talked about got a kick start such as planning to paint the Youth Room after a pretty major clean up.

It's been very interesting to me to read and discuss the sometimes very contradictory needs and desires that students, parents, volunteers, members, and visitors have shared. The things that seem to drive some people crazy are the very things that others view as essential to their connection here. What has drawn some in has caused others to disconnect.

What I have learned during my years of youth ministry here and at other churches is that everyone needs different things and that any particular activity/program/meeting/study/group/gathering does not answer everyone's needs all the time.

As I have said before: My calling, and my responsibility as the Director of Student Ministries, is to make sure that we create an environment in which each of our member and visiting students have the opportunity to discover and/or develop their relationship with Jesus Christ in a way that authentically connects them and draws them deeper.

There is nothing I won't try to make sure our students get connected.

Students:
If you have not been a part of things here in a while, come check things out again.
We may be doing things differently than you remember.

Parents:
It is part of your calling to make sure your kids understand the priorities you have for them.
And if your kids are not driving, it's up to you to get them here. (I'll pick them up if that will help)

Right now we've got 14 different opportunities EACH WEEK to find a connection. Additionally, we have retreats & trips throughout the year. Don't try to come to everything, that's not the point. If you are part of another group, invite the friends you have there to try something here with you. Better yet, invite a friend that is not connected to anything spiritual. You should be able to find a connection here. And if it's not here, we can create something that will. That's what we're here for.

Be Blessed,
Michael

Theology of the Hammer

2009-12-17T17:16:00.001-08:00

This evening I went to the Dedication & Blessing of a Habitat for Humanity home. Our church was part of this Interfaith Build 2009 project. Lots of Christian churches as well as Baha'i Faith, 2 Jewish congregations, & the Islamic Center took part in building this home.

The spiritual differences of these faith communities were put aside and brought together under the "Theology of the Hammer" as a director from Habitat put it.

This was my first time to take part in a Habitat build & I am looking forward to being part of more. The new homeowner read a prepared thank you to the many people and groups that were a part of this. Her voice never wavered, but when she looked up, there were tears in her eyes.

God's work comes in many varieties.

Thank you to all who were part of this.

Christmas & The Decade

2009-12-17T10:40:00.001-08:00

If you have let Christmas "sneak up" on you, it's right here. Ten days. Next week. Right around the corner. However you want to put it, it's upon us. If you haven't made plans for yourself, it's very likely plans have been made for you. You might want to check on those. Either people are coming your way or you are heading toward other people.
We've gotten into a pretty consistent routine in our family. Not that each year is the same as the last. I guess it's really less routine, actually more like traditions. From the way we put up the decorations at home, to which days we spend at which family. I like all that. Christmas lights in yards, Christmas music on the radio, Christmas concerts and pageants. Food, snacks and treats that we could make all the time, but only seem right at Christmas.
My hope is that this Christmas season brings you the best that you, your family, and your friends have to offer each other. When that happens it's easy to extend some extra care and giving to those who we aren't quite connected to as well.
We're also close to wrapping up the first decade of this century. That gives me a bit more pause than usual for the end of a year. Not that a ten year period of time in which the first three digits are the same are really more special than any other ten consecutive years. But people tend to categorize things, so there we are.
This decade took me from my early 30's to over 40. From the father of one teen to "kids" that are now both in their 20's and launching their adult lives. From a self-employed business owner with plans of wealth and fortune to a youth minister in which monetary income has become almost an afterthought. From a college drop out to plans for graduate school. From someone new to the reality of true faith to making faith a fundamental aspect of how I order my life. This has been an interesting and transformative decade for me. My priorities have changed over these years and I've clarified many values that lacked definition. Those priorities and values have become a driving force to the authenticity of my faith and the way I approach it.
So enjoy everyone in your life, give them all your best, and help them to be their best as well. Jesus appeared and shared that very outlook when came to us. The world will never be the same because of him, and it will never be the same because of you. Take this season of celebration and this time of transition to carve out the direction you want for your life and for those entrusted to your care. God has provided us with gifts beyond our worth. Love is the reason for it all. Accept it and share it.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Christmas Giving

2009-12-02T19:23:00.001-08:00

Every family goes through some adjustments as they grow in size and Christmas can highlight those differences in unique ways. My older and younger sisters are ten years apart. My daughter, a niece, and a nephew are each ten years apart from them and each other. So we've always had at least one young child at my parents' house that seemed to help keep the Christmas spirit fun and playful. As our family grew in size we started getting more deliberate about who we bought presents for and we've tried some different exchanges. Generally we all give presents to the kids and then worked out some sort of list for us and our spouses. We tried out some different things; some smooth, some not so smooth. One year the talk about spending limits and the ease of gift cards made me think it would just be easier to all show up with a handful of cash, stand in a circle, hand the cash to the person at our left and call it done. That helped bring us back to a more personal exchange.
My Dad's answer to inquiries about what he wants are assurances that he doesn't need anything. I think that's a pretty accurate assessment for most of us. I've determined that I could probably never buy another article of clothing and be OK, but some of my family are a bit more fashion conscious. So I can pretty much count on a new shirt or two most years. We've started making donations as gifts for some. Not necessarily to charities that we are personally connected to, but something of interest to the person for whom we make the donation. That creates the sense of personal connection to go along with the stewardship of giving in response to needs.
In honor of my grandmother, there are some in my extended family that are making donations to the nursing home that cared for her or getting gifts for residents we got to know while visiting her. What giving should be about is caring enough to put some extra effort to connect in some deeper way. If you ask a young child (or someone older who is pretty materialistic) about Christmas you may get a list of stuff that can be bought. If you ask someone who has lost a person they love, whether through death, disagreement, or just distance, you are likely to hear about shared memories and the importance of spending time together.
The birth of Jesus began a new era. God could have easily gifted us with overt power or plenty of possessions. What we were given instead, was the unlimited power of relationship. Jesus modeled and taught what an incredible difference that can make in each of our lives. If we will simply put the needs of others before our own, we all end up taking care of each other and no one gets left behind. There is more than enough stuff to go around. Time and caring enough to make an effort is what it takes to make sure we are all blessed. This is right season to make a difference.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Food and Faith

2009-11-17T09:00:00.001-08:00

The youth group has been focusing on food quite a bit lately. To be fair there has almost always been plenty of food to go along with our activities. But we have taken up the whole process ourselves lately. Everything from planning, shopping, cooking, serving, and eating, to cleaning up. We have experimented with odd combinations like hot dogs and fried rice or pizza and macaroni and cheese. One of the favorites, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, has become a standard part of the program. And bananas. We always have bananas. And toast. Toast seems to go with everything, too.

We shop for deals. We take turns cooking. There are a blessed few that almost always wash dishes. Making our meals together has become an important part of sharing our lives together. We have a lot of fun conversations and can talk about whatever anyone wants or needs to talk about. A lot of good things happen over shared food.

We used to ask families to sign up for the Sunday evening snack supper, but fewer and fewer people seemed to be able to work it in to their schedules. That was frustrating to me, but then I realized I was just adding another big task to a family's crowded schedule and endless to-do lists. I was close to sending out a guilt-laden letter about priorities, but that just never felt right. So I like that we've figured it out in a positive way. To be clear, there is always room for anyone that wants to host. So if cooking and serving is your thing, just let me know and we will find a date that works.

Jesus did a lot of ministry centered around food and gatherings of people. That's certainly one of my favorite ways to continue his ministry and connect people to faith. Food nourishes and refreshes and satisfies in wonderful ways just like faith does. Putting the two together is a great way to go.

Be Blessed!
Michael

School of Fish?

2009-11-07T09:43:00.001-08:00

"There are 2,000 verses of Scripture that tell us we must be committed to protecting the poor and the oppressed... There is no concern of Scripture that is addressed so often and so powerfully as reaching out to the poor" Tony Campolo

This doesn't mean that we are called to just simply hand people stuff.
(though that very well may be what many particular situations call for)

I love the phrase:
"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats forever."

But do we actually do much teaching?

What I hear more often is something along the lines of "They just need to..." or "Why don't they just..."

That's not teaching, that's judging and blaming.

Jesus said we will always have the poor with us. In my experience, they are not always the same group of people who are always in need, but rather particular people in a particular situation. For some of these, giving a fish may be all that is required. For those that find themselves repeatedly in need, the more involved response of teaching is required those of who will teach. Our calling is to help whoever is in need in whatever way we can. Our turn to be helped has either already happened or will happen. No one is an isolated success.

I don't think we will ever eliminate all of the many, many circumstances by which people find themselves in need of help. But if we see similar circumstances occurring again and again, it is also part of our calling to address that.

You don't have to give all your stuff away.
(though it would be very scriptural to do so)
What we at least need to consider is that helping someone IN need is also an opportunity to help someone OUT OF need.

Jesus, give us the courage to live it. Give us the courage.

Test

2009-10-21T12:23:00.003-07:00

Test, test.

Test

2009-10-21T12:23:00.001-07:00

Test, test.

Really Follow, For Real

2009-10-20T10:21:00.001-07:00

"The matter is quite simple. The bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly." - Soren Kirkegaar

When Lanell gave the message this past Sunday, she told the very compelling story of seeing a need in her community, taking action, and changing not just the lives of those she served, but of changing herself. She explained that scripture very clearly defines what our priorities are supposed to be, but growing up in church didn't always make that clear. As she explained, the Old Testament, the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ, and the writings of Paul all point us to serving the needs of the poor, the sick, and the needy.

The history of our congregation is that of growing to serve the growing city of Woodway. The city of Woodway prospers as part of the greater Waco community. As our congregation grew out of our original space, we committed a great deal of resources to our new location and building. As wonderful as this is, we are called to serve people and we cannot let other matters get in the way of that. Our short distance from our neighbors in need does not excuse us from that call.

Our church budget for next year is almost $850,000. Of that, less than $80,000 is spent on actual ministry and most of that is focused on our own congregation. The rest we spend on our building and related debt, salaries and related compensation. By comparison, Church Under the Bridge donates over half of its budget to the needy. I have read of another church that got rid of their new building designs, pledging to spend at least as much on serving others as themselves. They decided to built an outdoor amphitheater instead and are now better able to minister to their community. When the pastor was asked about possible discomfort for church-goers he replied, "Is what we are doing of so little value that we won't put up with a little inconvenience?

Along with our big budget for next year, we will be starting a new way of dealing with our financial matters. If you have been a part of Financial Peace University that we have been offering for the last couple of years, you will be familiar with the process. It is a system designed to get us, our families and our congregation, past the burden of dealing with money and into a place where we can follow God's call to ministry unencumbered.

This stuff, this Good News, that we claim to follow can be very freeing if we actually take it seriously. It is when we try to control and tame our God, when we undermine and shortcut the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ that we run into trouble. We are called. Give us the courage to follow. Give us the courage.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Weekly Grind - Not Excuse, Choices

2009-10-06T10:16:00.001-07:00

Jesus came to show us a new way of living our lives that went way beyond simply following the law. He called us to a life that is different because it is based on love. Not excuses, not rationalizations, not disclaimers. We can't put it on anyone else. We cannot let our personal desires, family, friends, job, politics, or nationality get in the way. These are our choices, plain and simple. And no one will answer for them except us. God, give us the courage to live this. Give us the courage.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Here's Chapter 7 of the Gospel of Matthew that wraps up the Sermon on the Mount.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

More From Jesus

2009-09-23T19:48:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I simply shared the 5th chapter of Matthew. Chapters 5, 6, & 7 of Matthew contain the Sermon on the Mount. A great deal of Jesus' teachings are given in what has been called "the greatest sermon ever preached." These 3 chapters have been the focus of my personal time of scripture that I try to engage in daily. Here is Chapter 6.
Be Blessed!
Michael

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Weekly Grind - Thunder Rolls

2009-09-02T12:09:00.001-07:00

Twelve years ago, I needed a car with good mileage for a 104-mile round trip commute to work. Knowing that I would be putting a lot of miles on this car, I really considered it to be disposable. I'm also pretty cheap anyway, so I was looking for something inexpensive. No bells and whistles, just basic transportation. What I found has become "Blue Thunder."

After years of high mileage daily trips for me and then Sherri, our daughter Brooke drove it during high school. That's where the name came from. It is blue and it has quite a few and shakes as well. Then I got Thunder back. Then Alex drove it for a while. Then Sherri again. And then me again. A couple of years ago, the mileage rolled over 200,000. Through all this, we have never had to do any major mechanical repairs. Now there are plenty of things that don't work, most notably the air conditioner for the last couple of years, but it just keeps rolling. I may sound like I'm joking when I say I'll drive it until the wheels fall off. But I'm serious. Then I'll put the wheels back on and see how far it goes after that.

I don't drive it nearly as much as I used to since I got a motorcycle. But when it is really rainy, really cold, or the dreaded combination of the two, I roll in Thunder. If I need to haul some stuff around or take my bicycle or kayak somewhere, Thunder is ready. Not very pretty, not all that comfortable, but ready to take me and my stuff where I want to go.

In the last few years, Thunder has taken on some ministry work. For a few individuals and a couple of families, Thunder was a way to get around when they were in a bind. She just started a new gig this week. I heard a friend's car had quit on him. When I offered Thunder, his reaction was, "Are you SERIOUS?" I assured him I was. This little car of mine, which could be accurately called a "pile of junk." is making someone's life closer to normal right now.

This has been a response to groups of Christians I know who live in shared community. They share a house and living expenses with each other and their neighborhood, trying to live closer to the ideas that Jesus taught and the early Christians attempted of "holding all things in common, that none would be in need." One said, "when somebody shows up with a car, we're like 'Woo! Hoo! We've got a car!"

I've had Blue Thunder appraised to see what its worth. It is technically worthless in the automotive market. The few hundred bucks I might be able to get for it is nothing compared to what it means to someone who needs it, including me. I'm not interested in ever having another car payment or a full coverage insurance bill. Many of the things that we consider necessities are simply earthly desires. These desires take a toll on our ability to lead a life as Christ taught. Blue Thunder actually fills many worthwhile roles while also being somewhat of an inspiration in my opinion.

Find your way to serve. You may feel small, weak, or worn out, but you have a purpose that is exactly what someone else needs. Make some choices that make you uncomfortable. Not for the sake of discomfort, but for the sake of others.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Weekly Grind - Schedules & Deep Roots

2009-09-01T07:17:00.001-07:00

Between my phone alarm and Google Calendar (which sends me text reminders) I have a lot of reminders to stay connected to my personal spiritual practices throughout the day, week, month, and year. These include prayer, reading scripture, meditation, devotionals, worship, fellowship, retreat, and fasting. I'm not a stickler for specific times, but I do notice when I'm trying to do too much or not getting enough.

My buddy Steve Heyduck posted a blog in which he shares that watering your lawn is best done with occasional deep watering. This encourages deep roots and the ability to survive times of drought. He then asks how we might use this in regard to our spirituality.

Tying into that: we've got an ivy that I gave to Sherri over a decade ago. She has killed many plants over the years and this was the hardiest one I could find. It survived our initial neglect and eventually I started making clippings to spread to other pots. The original plant has now been spread to at least 12 different planters in various states of health. I've got them spread all around the house, my office, and the youth room at church. I've over-watered several of them, killed several along the way, and have some that just keep thriving in the right combination of light & watering. The occasional watering seems to be the most successful. Whenever I see them wilting, I water, & they bounce back; seemingly even stronger. The vine thickens and the leaves are broader. So apparently a little thirst does them some good.

In whatever ministry we find ourselves connected to, we do need to find a balance between doing too much and doing too little. Neither properly serves those we seek to serve. And if our own spiritual depth is lacking, we must change. Initially for ourselves, but further to have the strength to serve those to whom we are called. Serving is not a substitute for minding our own spiritual health, though it can be part of the process. And personal spiritual strength is not fully realized if we don't serve.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Weekly Grind - Jesus Teaches

2009-08-13T16:07:00.001-07:00

There are times when I feel I have a great deal to offer.
Sometimes I just need to shut up and get out of the way.
Be Blessed!
Michael
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Listen and Watch, Hear and See

2009-07-28T10:24:00.001-07:00

I think it's time for a vacation.
Or a short sabbatical.
Or some down time.
Or just no agenda for a bit.

Someone asked me the other day, "When do you rest?"
She had seen my schedule of the last couple of months which included, work at church, college classes, jackhammers in my house digging up a plumbing problem, the senior high mission trip to Louisiana, a house still in disarray for tile installation, training for a triathlon, the junior mission trip, and youth week activities.

Generally when I hit a wall, I grab some coffee and hop over it. Sometimes I take a quick nap and head off in another direction. I recently started keeping up with an online calendar that I try to put everything on, including time to sleep. I usually only get about five hours on a good night, so I wanted to make sure I didn't forget. The calendar sends reminders to my phone and I've got other alarms set on it as well. So it rings quite a bit. I've got about thirty various To Do lists because I write down whatever seems to be a good thought or idea. I've got an electronic task list that pops up whenever I look at my email or calendar. There are just two items there:
- Be Better.
- Do More.

This does not mean that I never rest. The beauty of what I do is that although it is time intensive, it is very flexible. I do manage to occasionally turn off everything; the phone, the alarms, the computer, the TV, even the lights sometimes and just completely relax. I try to do this at least once or twice a day, several times on a good day. Often this is the first step of some prayer time. It is like hitting a reset button. Prayer and a nap make me very happy.

I am not sure how long it has been since I've had a real vacation, but I am feeling the need for one. Not an activity-filled, non-stop agenda of how much I can squeeze into a trip. But some very real time off from everything. A chance to unplug completely. A chance to really relax. A chance to sleep until I can't. A chance to think slowly and deeply. A chance to watch trees and water.

When my faith became real, I was struck with a sense of purpose. God has a plan for each of us and I got right to work on mine. A big part of making sure we are heading the right direction is making sure that we take time to listen to God and watch for directions. I have learned the hard way that this not possible if we are constantly in motion.

So I'm about to take some time to listen and watch.
I'm excited to consider what I will hear and see.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Triathlete?

2009-07-14T10:08:00.001-07:00

I've never been a particularly athletic person, but I do enjoy many sporty activities. I played baseball in high school and got the Coach's Spirit Award. That doesn't say much for my skills in the ballpark, but it does say a lot about my enthusiasm for the game. Backpacking has been a passion of mine for many years and I've done some trips of over 30 miles. Several years ago I became quite fond of running, and I recently discovered the joys of kayaking.
Years ago I watched the Ironman Triathlon held in Hawaii. This voluntary torture consists of a 2.4 mile swim in the ocean, a 112 mile bike ride, and THEN a full marathon run of just over 26 miles. This event was created by competitors trained in each of the three sports who were debating which was the best all-around athlete. A race consisting of all three disciplines seemed the logical way to settle things. The commitment of these athletes captured my imagination and I mentally vowed that I would attempt such a feat someday.
Fast forward 20-plus years and 40-plus pounds and I am not exactly the image that comes to mind when you hear the term athlete. This Spring I hit my heaviest weight ever in my life and decided to do something about it. My wife Sherri and my daughter Brooke had been training for a 5K race on Memorial Day weekend. In my previous years of running I had gotten down to a time of about 24 minutes for this 3.11 mile distance. But I had not trained regularly and couldn't even run the entire way.
As I nursed my sore muscles and aching joints I made plans to get back into better shape. This is when I found the TriWaco triathlon scheduled for July 26. Besides the Olympic distance race of a 1500m swim, 25 mile bike ride, and 10K run, there was the Sprint distances of 400m swim, 12 mile bike, and 5K run. This shorter race looked like something I could work toward. The start and finish lines for each are near the Suspension Bridge downtown and it all takes place in and around the Brazos and Cameron Park.
I started swimming a few laps at the gym, did some spinning on a stationary bike, and worked on bringing my running time back to a respectable level. I gradually increased the distances of each and experimented outside. I did some swimming at Lake Waco, rode my mountain bike around the neighborhood, kept running, and tried hard to shorten my considerable recovery times between each as I went farther and farther. After a few weeks I felt ready to try the entire length of all three sports. It took me about 3 hours and I was dead tired and worn out. But now I knew I could do this.
Swimming and running are both all about technique and my times kept dropping as I learned and trained. But biking is centered around a piece of equipment and 12 miles on a mountain bike that weighs almost 50lbs. with big, knobby tires is pretty tough. I looked around for a faster, lighter road bike and finally found an inexpensive entry-level bike. At close to half the weight, skinny tires, a more aerodynamic position, and much more appropriate better gearing, I was excited to see what my stronger legs could do. It literally cut my riding time in half the first time out.
I've learned that you don't approach these three sports together like any one of them on their own. It's not about the fastest of any particular part, but rather the whole race. I've gone from hoping I could finish to thinking about how well I can do. That is a transformation based on action and effort. I'm not going to get any trophies, but I am going to be a winner that morning.
Oh yeah, the connection to faith! I'm not going to say I'm racing for God or running to the cross, because this will really just be me trying to do better for myself. But here's some observations: I'm glad I was created as part of this wonderful world to live and play and work in. If you've got big things to do in your life, get started now; time is ticking. We don't have to learn or do everything on our own, but we do have to pull our own weight. It feels really good to see the fruits of your efforts.
Be Blessed!
Michael

Be the Change

2009-06-29T23:07:00.001-07:00

Our Senior High mission trip to Baker, LA and Vacation Bible School made for a busy couple of weeks. At the very least, they certainly didn't feel like normal weeks. I don't know that I really care for normal weeks very much anyway. That's probably not what God is looking for from us either.

For our mission trip, we joined about 2500 students and adults from the Central Texas Conference to spread out all over Louisiana and Mississippi. There were a lot of tools, equipment, and stuff packed into church vans and trailers rolling down the highways. We setup places to sleep, eat, worship, and play together. We rolled out to people's houses to do work that needed to be done. We made new relationships with people from other churches, other states, and got to know the people who we served.

There were people in our group that got a new understanding of following God's call. My prayers and hopes are that those changes keep going. A key part of what Jesus teaches us is that there is a new life ready for us all the time, no matter what our past has been. I count on that for myself and everyone that is a part of my life.

Vacation Bible School takes more hours to setup and prepare for than the time that kids are actually here for. That doesn't mean that all the extra time doesn't count. In fact, I think it may mean more to the people who are doing the work. Preparing the way was another big theme that Jesus talked about. Living a life of faith and service doesn't just happen. It takes effort and it takes lots of it. It takes time, too. I think everyone that was a part of VBS was glad to be a part of it.

John talked Sunday about the fact that we are called to make a difference. He reminded us that we are not here to enforce the rules, but we are called to share the message. If we are open and say, "Lord, I'd like to, but I don't know how," He will show us.

Following Christ can be tough, but we are not alone. We have each other and that lightens the load. What I said about our mission trip can be applied to VBS as well. "It wasn't an easy week, but it was a good week."

Keep looking for what God has for you to do. You will find it in scripture, if your eyes see it. You will hear it your prayers, if your ears will hear it. If that doesn't point you in the right direction, pay attention to what is going on here at church. Follow the busy people. There is good stuff happening.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Mission Trips

2009-06-09T10:00:00.001-07:00

Back in the fall of the year 2000, I was asked to go on a mission trip with my daughter's youth group at Ennis FUMC. I was asked because someone knew I had done some construction work in the past. Well, I had been a trim carpenter and cabinetmaker for quite a few years as well as doing various remodeling and countertop work. I had held several management positions for various manufacturing companies but keep coming back to work in which I was physically part of building something. At the time I was self-employed, striking a balance between management consultation, technical drafting, and running a small shop. I figured I could take whatever time I needed, and so I said yes.

That trip the next summer changed my understanding of how faith can work. I was pretty new to finding what I would call real faith or my own true faith. For the first time, I was actively pursuing my relationship with God and seeking His will and plan for my life. Following God can take you different directions pretty quickly. After skipping church that morning to finish up a project, I threw my tools and clothes into a trailer hooked to a church van and then climbed into the driver's seat. Knowing nothing about our destination other than it was somewhere in Oklahoma, I told the other driver, "I'm following you."

I probably had heard all the details of the trip, but was so busy with work that none of it had registered with me. I didn't know we were staying at a church in Sunday School classrooms. I didn't know we were combining with several other churches to make work teams with a bunch of new people. I didn't know we were going to be playing together and sharing worship every night. I didn't know that we were going to do some relatively simple projects that were going to dramatically change the lives for some people. I didn't realize how important what we were doing was going to turn out to be as I drove to Owasso, Oklahoma outside of Tulsa.

By the next year I was our inexperienced new youth minister. In planning the trip, I signed my wife Sherri up just to hold a place for another adult. She was not interested in, and had no intention of going on the trip. Long story short, she went, she loved it, and she has been going every summer since then, trying out roles on a work team, Program Director, Cook, and settling into her calling as a Center Director. Our kids Brooke and Alex have grown up going on these trips and are now moving into leadership roles for them. Between the four of us, including some additional trips to Mexico, this summer will bring us up to 40 weeks of mission trips.

These weeks are not what I would call comfortable. We live with a large group in close quarters. We do work that can be quite challenging. By the end of the week, everyone is usually exhausted. But they are immensely satisfying and I look forward to them every year. Jesus never told us that following Him would be easy. He in fact warned us that it would be difficult and would cost us our lives. But as I told the other driver on that first trip, my desire is to tell Christ, "I'm following You."

Be Blessed!
Michael

Bucket List

2009-06-06T09:13:00.001-07:00

There was a movie a couple of years ago with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman called "The Bucket List" that I really enjoyed. The basic story is that a couple of guys with terminal illnesses and not much time left make a list of things they would like to do before they die or "kick the bucket." It was funny, sad, inspirational and motivating for many that saw it.

Time began to speed up for me back in high school and, except for a very brief period before the arrival of my second child, has continued to accelerate. Life hasn't slowed down with both kids becoming adults in the last few years, but I have had taken the time to re-visit and re-evaluate some of my big goals and dreams for my life. With that in mind, Sherri and I made bucket lists last week to get a fresh look at things.

Various ideas had been rolling around in my head about which kinds of things to list and what kind of order they should be in. I took about an hour or so one morning to think it through and then spent about 15-20 minutes making my list. Getting something written down has a way of freeing my mind and so later that day I added a few more items and also made a "Done" section. Here I added experiences and accomplishments that would have made the list earlier in my life. Things like: "marry for love," "have great kids," "be in a band," "skydive," etc.

Trying to figure out what to do first pretty much falls in line with how physical the task may be and what the associated costs are. Some trips like: "go to Mt. Everest base camp" and "visit all the continents" or giving such as: "give away a car" or "give away a house" that I'd like to do will require many years of adjusted financial planning to pull off. Others such as "run a marathon" or "do a triathlon" have only required that I turn off the TV and start training. There are a handful of shows I really enjoy, but looking at my list as well as those of others, I didn't see "watch some good TV shows" anywhere. I also didn't notice "spend hours surfing the internet" or "drive at a breakneck pace between too many activities for each member of the family that we're not actually enjoying our time together and also spending a ridiculous amount of money in the process." I'm looking at my list in terms of 5 years, 10 years, 20, 30, and 40 years. That will put me into my early 80's. If I'm done by then, I'll start another list.

As I wrote last week: we all get a day every day, but eventually we run out. God has gifted us with time and a great world and lots of people in our lives. Take some time to make your own list and be sure to add the "Done" section. Talk to people about your list and ask them about theirs. Share ideas and help each other out. Look back favorably on yesterday, enjoy what you do today, and look forward to tomorrow.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Time and Space

2009-05-29T10:07:00.001-07:00

There are a couple of things that we all have available to us: time and space. What we do with those two things depends almost entirely upon the choices we make. We are constrained only by whatever abilities that we have been given.

Time is perhaps the most equally distributed gift that there is. Other than the day of our birth and the day of our death, we all get 24 hours each and every day. What we do with those hours are ultimately our choice.

Most of us submit to an authority of some sort. Children to parents, students to teachers, workers to bosses, spouses to their marriage, etc. As Christians we follow Christ in submitting to God. All these relationships create some order in how we spend our time, but they are choices that we make. There is opportunity for rebellion in all these relationships as well.

Based on where we have chosen to spend our time, we find ourselves in a variety of spaces. Our day of birth again defines where we start, but we start working on our choices pretty quickly. Even as babies we can make our feelings about our personal space pretty clear. As soon as we become mobile, we can change the space we choose to occupy ourselves.

We have at least a whole planet we can get around on fairly easily. Many choose to stay in the country they were born in but may move to different regions. We keep making choices of cities, neighborhoods, buildings, rooms, furnishings, and clothes that define the spaces around us.

Our choices of time and space are based on what we want to do. We can use our time or waste it. Our space may make it easier or more difficult to accomplish what we want. These are our choices.

Look at your schedule, your very own definition of your time and your space. If it is not getting you where you want to be, you need to make some changes. To do that you need to make some choices.
- Think about God's plan for your life
- Think about your current commitments to family and friends
- Think about how work or school is helping you accomplish what you want

Choose wisely. We get another day every day. Usually.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Faith AND Action

2009-05-07T07:51:00.001-07:00

If you have spent much time at all in a community of faith, you have probably heard something, sometime about faith and action. This is another one of those times. In the second chapter of James, we are told very explicitly that "faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead." Jesus often explained to his followers the connection of faith and action, especially in the case of new believers making a change, coming forward, asking for healing, doing something different.

We are creatures of habit. It is very easy to get into routines that can last even decades. If they are good habits, then great. But more often the word "bad" seems to be associated with habits. This can be tragic when we let empty or bad habits define our faith. They may technically be actions, but if they don't move us in our faith, they really are not doing us any good.

Last Sunday we celebrated two groups that took some action. One group, our newly confirmed class of congregation members, have just spent months doing something. They have been learning about and trying out new ways to experience their faith. As they spoke their vows, it marked not an end, but a beginning. This group of young people has changed our congregation as they have changed their own understanding of faith.

The other group was our 50-year members. They have literally been a part of this congregation from the beginning. When the groundbreaking for our first building took place, we changed the community of Woodway. These people could have comfortably stayed where they were. But that was not where they were called to stay.

There are times when our faith may wear thin and we struggle with the meaning behind it all. Following through with the actions of our faith can help us through those times. There are times when our actions don't seem to make a difference and we feel like we are wasting our time. Focusing back on our faith, the reason that drives our actions can help us power through when we are not seeing or feeling results.

Being in a community of faith helps with both faith and action. Choose to connect and spend time with people that can help you focus on each of these things. When I feel like my faith is lagging, I have friends that can boost me with a new focus for my thoughts or my action. When I feel like my actions aren't doing enough, I can always find someone that shows me how they are finding connection.

Though faith and actions ultimately come down to the choices we make as individuals, experiencing both in community is how Jesus showed us that it works best. We've got plenty of ways to connect to both faith and action here at Woodway FUMC. Make a commitment to yourself TODAY to more closely follow Christ and to help others to more closely follow Him as well.

Be Blessed!
Michael

What Is Your Faith About?

2009-05-07T07:47:00.001-07:00

I've been having some online conversations with a group of atheists on and off over the last few weeks. If you have ever wanted to clearly figure out what your beliefs come down to, have a conversation with someone who does not share your point of view. I try to put quite a bit of effort into understanding my own faith and I think this has been very productive.

Notice I said conversation, not argument. There has been a lot of arguing that has taken place, but that is not the productive part. Getting past the disagreeable parts has been difficult, especially when God is referred to as "your imaginary friend," or "your sky-daddy." When you can find a way to overcome those kind of limitations and get to what your faith is about, it feels like progress.

There are a lot of definitions that have to be agreed upon: faith, evidence, experience, revelation, knowledge, valid, proof, belief, etc. Most of the differences of opinion on the terms come from very different ways of looking at the same concepts.

I had entered the overall debate by correcting some errors in the use of scripture, writing "There is a big difference between being a follower of Christ and a literal biblical fundamentalist. The took considerable exchanges to sort out, but has resulted in some actual conversations between a few individuals. One conversation finally came around to what I actually believed or based my individual faith upon. I replied: "Chapters 5, 6, 7 of the gospel of Matthew and Mark 12:28-34 are a good place to begin." When asked if that was all there was to it I followed up with His public teachings in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) would be the best place to begin. If that doesn't do anything for you, nothing else I can say would matter."

I guess what I have learned in this exchange is that we should not expect someone to come to faith by losing an argument. We must find a way to show in the way we live our lives that our faith makes a difference and should be worth looking at.

Perhaps it is only a desire to follow that begins the real process of faith.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Weekly Grind - You Say You Want A Revolution

2009-05-07T07:43:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went with some friends to see a show called The Beatles - LOVE. The music was incredible and the choreography was overwhelmingly delightful at times. Some in our group were already big Beatles fans and those that see this show usually become bigger fans than they already were. One friend pointed out that whenever Beatles music that hasn't been released before is found, it outsells any new music that is being made today. At this point we're talking about the extras tracks and B side stuff that wasn't "good enough" for release when it was originally made. This from a band that hasn't been together for about 40 years.

At the height of their popularity they made some statements and engaged is some behavior that didn't exactly fall in line with what one might call a life of faith. They were young and the 60's were a time of trying out many new ideas that didn't fit what was considered normal. But one of their most endearing songs, "All You Need Is Love" ends with these lyrics. "And, in the end, the love you take/ Is equal to the love you make." A common theme in their music is for people to come together in spite of differences.

Due to the slow economy, there were some very low-priced travel packages to get to Las Vegas to see the show. While there, we did a lot of people watching. Vegas has done much to earn it's title of "Sin City" but it is also a place where people also earn a living and raise families. I was most intrigued by a group of people from a church that were handing out flyers that while pointing out that "God sees you first as a sinner" there was hope if you would follow their quick set of instructions and join their church. I guess that does fit a town that markets to the possibility of instant wealth.

I do look for strange opportunities for faith. Over the last couple of weeks, I've been having some conversations with a group of atheists about faith. They maintain that the bible is full of contradiction, religious leaders are ignorant and manipulative, and that there is no proof for the existence of any deity. I used to question faith from a very logical point of view so this has been an interesting exchange.

In one of our last sessions, I was exploring the idea of what makes you even look for God. I said, "Whether or not a person even entertains that as a possibility depends on how they look at the question, "Why am I here?," perhaps even more basic would be "Why am I thinking?"
The reply was, "Both questions can be answered, scientifically, without the need for a god. Or, if you choose to continue asking 'why?', you merely have one more step before 'I don't know' than I do. Your god."

I then thanked him for his observation.

Jesus Christ was a revolution.
Be part of that.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Weekly Grind - Faith Theory

2009-05-07T07:39:00.001-07:00

I think about faith a lot. I write about faith a lot. I talk about faith a lot.

I talk to a lot of people about faith.

I talk to teenagers and to younger kids.
I talk to adults my age, ones that are older, and ones that are younger.
I talk to people who are sure they understand faith and those that wonder.
I talk to people who have been at it longer than me and shorter.
I talk to people who are in church and those who are out.
I talk to people who love faith and those who do not.
I talk to people who look at faith as a to do list and those who see it their life.

Everyone has their own theory of faith. If that word theory feels iffy to you, don't let it throw you off. All that means is that is that we all have an understanding of our own faith that answers certain questions. The questions are up to you. It could range from "What do I do on Sunday morning?" to "Why am I here on earth?" It could range from "Why am I so blessed?" to "Why doesn't God just stop all the pain and suffering in the world?"

How confident you are in your faith theory will also determine what kind of questions and answers you may listen to from the faith theory that someone else may have. Our questions and answers may be able to exist mixed together, simply side by side, or not work together at all. Lots of things can happen: feelings have gotten hurt, doubts have been erased, congregations have divided, cultures have changed, and wars have been fought. All in the name of faith.

I would encourage each of us to make sure that we have the answers we need. Be confident with what you know and be ready to explain it to some else who is searching. If someone questions you, be ready to defend it, but also be ready to learn. Part of my faith theory is that God is not afraid of any questions, but He may be concerned with the answers we accept.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Weekly Grind - This Is It

2009-05-07T07:37:00.001-07:00

Easter.

This week is it.

There are a lot of things that go on throughout the year of the church, but this week is what everything comes down to. On Easter Sunday we celebrate, and I mean CELEBRATE! Jesus making the difference for us all.

He was a good kid.
He was a good man.
He was a good friend.
He was a good teacher.
He was a good healer.

He was dangerous.
He shook things up.
He inspired change.
He attracted fear.
He attracted hate.

What He did,
What He taught,
All came from love.

Some people got it,
Many did not,
And so each journey continues today.

Even if He wasn't God,
He would be worth following.
But He always was,
And He always is,
And He always will be.

He saved us all,
Whether we want it or not,
Whether we know it or not.

May we all find the strength to move toward Him and what He gave us.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Summer Camp Memories

2009-05-07T07:13:00.001-07:00

One of my cousins posted a picture one Faceook of a bunch of us heading to summer camp. I now live just a few miles away from there and wrote in Jan 07 about visiting there again. I found it in my Myspace & Xanga blogs.
<a href="http://ping.fm/Tz1Gv">http://ping.fm/Tz1Gv</a>

Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Weekly Grind - A Good Bike
Category: Religion and Philosophy

When people see me on my motorcycle at this time of year, they often express concern about the temperature. Rest assured, with my riding gear on, I am quite comfortable. Now if it is below forty degrees and I don't put on all my gear, it can be a bit chilly. But I can handle it for a few miles. I am really enjoying my bigger bike. It's got a large fairing to block the wind, big saddlebags to haul whatever I need, and plenty of power to go wherever I want to go. I've taken a couple of short tours around the area and they both got me thinking about my younger days.

I few weeks ago I went out to what used to be Camp Val Verde. I spent some summer weeks there with a youth group as a youngster. We did lots of swimming, crafts, archery, & horseback riding. One of the most interesting things about going back to a childhood place is the new sense of space you get. Most of the time places seem much smaller when you return years down the road. As I rode around the camp I found a treasure. The two-story cabin. I don't think it was used on the weeks I was there. If so, it must have been older kids that were there. There were lots of stories about the fun that happened there. At the end of one week, I tagged along to go jump from the second story loft onto a huge pile of mattresses below. Letting go of that rail was one of those "man-maker moments" along the lines of jumping off a high dive board, or walking through the woods alone. I must have been very young and small because now, as an adult, I could see the drop was only about seven or eight feet. Regardless, it was a big moment from my childhood.

On another sunny day I took a ride to Meridian State Park. I've heard it was very nice and I was in the mood for a little distance. I packed a lunch and grabbed a book, hoping to find a nice place to sit for a while. I wasn't disappointed. There are some tiny cliffs overlooking the small lake there. Warm sun, light breeze, and fragrant cedars made for a pleasant stay. I don't always understand the way memories work, but I got to thinking about one of my first bicycles. I had several hand-me-down bikes once I learned how to ride. Then one Christmas I got my first brand new bicycle, just for me. Shiny purple paint, twenty-inch wheels, big banana seat, high handlebars. This bike took me places. I felt like I could go anywhere on it. One of best memories I have is with some of my older cousins. We set up a ramp at the top of a little hill leading down to my grandpa's barn. We then competed to see who could jump the most old tires laid out flat. I think the record was seven.

Years after I had moved up to a ten-speed road bicycle, I ran across my now old and rusting bike out behind our workshop. The tires were gone, the rims were bent, the replacement seat was ripped open. I had harvested parts for my brother's bike, using anything of value. I had literally ran the wheels off of that bike. It had taken me places I wanted to go, but couldn't keep up. It was what I needed for a time and served me well. I remember thinking, "That was a good bike."

There is a good balance to find between the past and the future. Our faith, like most things in our life, needs to grow and change as time goes by. Our growth from the past can't satisfy our need to keep growing in the present and future. God continues to call us to His plans for our lives. Progressing in our faith will still take leaps of faith and steps out of our comfort zone. But the trip is worth it. So is our God.

Blessings!
Michael

Weekly Grind - Wesleyan Quadrilateral

2009-03-31T10:01:00.001-07:00

I think it is very important for each of us to continue to try to deepen our understanding of our own faith. Not only does this move us closer to God, but we are also better able to help others move toward God. We all move forward in our faith together.

There is great way of looking at our faith, a methodology called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. This was not a term John Wesley himself used, but rather an understanding of the way he went about his reflections of spiritual matters coined by Albert C. Outler. There are four components, but I would contend that it is not a true quadrilateral because scripture is held above the other three. Regardless, taken together, these four perspectives can give us a very deep understanding of virtually all areas of our faith. They are:

Scripture - the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments
Tradition - the history of Christian faith from Christ and his followers to our congregations today
Experience - the actual thoughts, actions, and events of our lives
Reason - rational and sensible interpretation

Think through all the various ways that these four valuable perspectives can affect each other.

Scripture is of course held above the other three. But think about what scripture you are actually reading. If you are not reading the original Hebrew or Greek, you are reading a translation. So which translation? Different denominations may have a tradition of a preference different of one version or another. Your particular experience may be with a translation that is easier for you to read and understand. Our reason can help us sort out which version may be useful for reading in a Sunday morning service to a congregation, or for personal reflection, or for an in-depth bible study.

Have you ever heard someone mis-quote scripture or use it to make a point that is very different from the context it was written for? Any group of people can develop a tradition of using various parts of the bible for one reason or another. Each of us have had experience that either supports or refutes someone else's point of view. Through reason we can come to understand how variations have come about and what can be gained or lost through the differences.

Each of us are responsible for our own point of view and for the impact it makes in our life. We are also called to look after each other and make sure that God's will is becoming a reality for all people. When we assume that our understanding is complete, we are probably wrong. When we assume that someone else is wrong, we probably lack understanding.

This business of faith is a complicated and never-ending journey throughout our life. We have a chance with our lives, with each decade, with each year, with each season, with each month, with each week, with each day, with each hour, with each minute, with each breath, to move toward God or away from Him. Our lives, our actions, our words, our thoughts have the power to change.

Let us spend what we are given wisely.

Be Blessed,
Michael

Weekly Grind - Methodist Small Groups From the Very Beginning

2009-03-27T12:17:00.001-07:00

In the last few weeks, I've been writing about what is behind John Wesley's Three Simple Rules as phrased by Reuben Job, "Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love With God." What John and his brother Charles had started was a growing group of people who were very actively and very personally working on their faith, individually and collectively. Here is some of the earliest components of how they organized themselves and what they did:

This was the rise of the United Society, first in Europe, and then in America. Such a society is no other than "a company of men having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation."
That it may the more easily be discerned whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, each society is divided into smaller companies, called classes, according to their respective places of abode. There are about twelve persons in a class, one of whom is styled the leader. It is his duty:

1.. To see each person in his class once a week at least, in order: (1) to inquire how their souls prosper; (2) to advise, reprove, comfort or exhort, as occasion may require; (3) to receive what they are willing to give toward the relief of the preachers, church, and poor.
2.. To meet the ministers and the stewards of the society once a week, in order: (1) to inform the minister of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly and will not be reproved; (2) to pay the stewards what they have received of their several classes in the week preceding.

There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies: "a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins." But wherever this is really fixed in the soul it will be shown by its fruits.

What they were defining were small groups. Small groups can be a place where some very serious steps of faith can take place. They can be a place of deeper relationships. They can be a place for care and concern. They may be a place where we can bring forth struggles and joys. It could be your Sunday School class, a bible study group, a Journey Group, a prayer group, an Emmaus 4th day group, any group that truly deepens your personal walk of faith. Here's my simple version of what they were talking about:

Because you desire to follow God's will for you life,
Find a group of people that are committed to each other,
Keep up with each other each week,
Share your faith with each other,
Pray for each other,
Share scripture with each other,
Hold each other accountable to a life of faith,
Keep your group's needs in touch with the rest of the church.

We have lots of ways to do this at Woodway FUMC, and we can start more for whatever your particular need made be. If you have a need to connect, or have a desire to connect with others; talk to someone about it. We have many leaders here who will help you find or create it.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Pub Church - Week 10 - Sabbath?

2009-03-20T11:41:00.001-07:00

This week we talked about how we observe the Sabbath.

Years ago there were "blue laws" that prohibited most businesses from taking place. You could pretty much just sell food & gas. In grocery stores, they would close off the isles that had general stuff. Only buying beer & wine after 12 noon and no hard liqueur are about all that is left of these laws.

So Sundays have pretty much turned into a regular business day like any other. There are a handful, such as Chick Fil-A that choose not to do business on Sunday. Sports teams used to leave Sunday & Wednesday off limits, but even some school districts have formal practices on Sunday afternoon now.

So how do we observe Sabbath? Or even why?
It comes from the original Big Ten, the 10 Commandments given to Moses. It is thought to be based on God resting after creating the universe, & earth, & everything.

For those of us in ministry, Sunday is a work day. I try to set aside time throughout the week to relax and spend some unencumbered God-time. But I am reconsidering my role in the church. I really don't care for the "business" of church. I've seen it get uglier within churches than any company I've worked for. It was cool when I was able to start doing youth ministry full time. But now I'm working toward being able to quit taking a paycheck & donate my ministry.

I've heard discussions of people observing the Sabbath by not doing anything that would cause someone else to have to work. That would mean, no shopping, no going out to eat, and would knock out a lot of traveling. Sherri gave me a column that told the story of a group of church-goers that went into a restaurant and told the server that they would not be tipping because they didn't believe in working on Sunday. I resist the urge to strangle such hypocrites. We've got to go beyond posing and talking a good game. For the most part, there is no discernible difference between Christians and those who are not of any faith. That is sad. We must do better.

Pub Church Week 11 - The Teachings of Christ; Do they make a difference in your life?

2009-03-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

Last week Lara shared some thoughts about some of the imagery of God, Jesus, & The Holy Spirit in William P Young's novel The Shack and highly recommended it. She even brought a copy to lend!

We talked a great deal about the words of Christ and their impact on our lives. I've been reading Phyllis Tickle's The Words of Jesus, which I found while doing research for a red letter bible study that I've been engaged in for many years.

When I first took some steps back toward faith years ago I was very critical of other people's statements of faith especially when they didn't sound like what I remembered from years of Catholic school education. A Sunday School leader thought I might enjoy a red letter bible. I had never heard of that. She explained that it had all of Christ's words printed in red.

Since then I've tried several types of red letter bible studies with youth groups, and evaluate any other scripture in relation to what Jesus himself said. I've actually started writing 3 different books based on the words of Christ, his teachings, and his actions. Regardless of whether I actually finish them, the exercise has focused my own personal study, spiritual practices, and actions.

I guess that's the whole point anyway.

Weekly Grind - Regular Church, meet Pub Church

2009-03-17T13:21:00.001-07:00

In his sermon last Sunday, my pastor John mentioned Pub Church, so we thought it would be a good idea to explain what that is about. The idea behind this outreach ministry developed from various conversations that I've had over the years with people who are no longer connected, or perhaps never were connected to the community of faith that a church could and should be. John talked about our calling to be light to the world. He explained the role of lighthouses and landing lights on an aircraft carrier to guide ship captains and airplane pilots not just away from danger but toward safety. That is what Pub Church is about.
The idea is that a group of Christians can create a presence in an environment that is not normally thought of as a holy place, and welcome God into the situation. Just as our church building becomes more than concrete, stone, and glass because of what we do within it; so can bar stools, booths, and neon signs. John and I have regular conversations about what is going on to ensure some pastoral guidance, as do some of the other regulars with their pastors. Along with a regular meeting time at a downtown Waco bar & grill, this is the idea that we started with in January:
Current Definition:
Open Source - created by participants rather than being designed & produced
Invitational - open to anyone
Un-denominational - didn't think non-denominational quite captured it, we're interested in input from all faiths
There should be some time to hang out and meet people, some time to share ideas and expressions of faith, and the invitation to go deeper.

We are not trying start another church itself, but rather just a step
into a community of faith. Those of us that are already connected can
provide the deeper steps that come with discipleship or we can create
those opportunities based on the needs of this group.
A small group of regulars has developed over the weeks of this experiment. There is a new visitor or two almost every week. We have spent time sharing our personal stories of our faith experiences. We have shared scripture and what it means to us. We have shared song lyrics and sang together. We have shared our concerns. We have shared our shortcomings. We have shared our joys. We have prayed for each other.
Some of the topics of discussion that we have had are:
- What is God calling us to and how do we respond?
- Who is Your Sycamore Tree? (we all have someone who can lift us up to help us see Jesus)
- Where is God When You Hurt?
- How Do We Respond to Oppression?
- Why Do We Observe Lent?
- How Are Our Lenten Observations Going?
- What Do We Do to Actually Observe the Sabbath?
- Do the Teachings of Christ Affect the Way We Live Our Lives?
All this in a bar. We have had some conversations about faith with the bartenders and DJ's that work there. People who don't drink have come. People that express a lack of spirituality have come. People that say they are not interested in "church" have come.
So I am definitely interested in any thoughts or feedback anyone might have. I am even more interested in your prayers for this. If you have concerns, I will do my best to explain the point of view we're working from. Following what I believe is God's calling in my life has taken me into strange places and situations. I have no doubt that if we remain faithful to Him, great things can and do happen.
Be Blessed!
Michael
You can check out the Waco Pub Church facebook group http://ping.fm/94pXc
My Weekly Grind blogs start out as my weekly newsletter article at www.woodwayfumc.org

Weekly Grind - Stay In Love With God

2009-03-10T12:53:00.001-07:00

In the last couple of weeks I have explored some of the foundational writing of John and Charles Wesley's The Nature,Design, and General Rules of Our United Societies. They give many specific actions for how we should act toward ourselves, toward others, and toward God and also how we should conduct ourselves together in the interest of following Christ. As Rueben Job paraphrased them in Three Simple Rules: "1) Do no harm...2) Do good...3) Stay in love with God."
As the Wesley's originally put it: "It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation, First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced...
Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all... Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God"
So now, after looking at the first two in more depth, here is what I originally planned to write about:
Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God; such are:
The public worship of God.
The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded.
The Supper of the Lord.
Family and private prayer.
Searching the Scriptures.
Fasting or abstinence.
As we saw in the first two rules or expectations, there are many details in which we can focus the efforts of our daily lives. As is the case earlier, the Wesley's give guidelines and advice for public and private actions in regard to practices or commands given by God. The first three of this list can be accomplished by regularly attending Sunday worship services, but they can go much further. We don't have to wait for Sunday morning to worship God. When people see by the way we conduct ourselves at school, at work, or in other social situations, we are giving evidence to our level of commitment to God. If worship, hearing scripture and a sermon, and sharing in communion do not create a difference in our lives outside our church building, we may need to think about what we are doing when we are there.
The next three points are more internal. Praying on a regular basis by ourselves and with our families can be incredibly transformational. As a friend of mine said, "It's hard to be mad at someone you just prayed for." Sunday School classes and bible study groups are a great way to learn more about scripture, but there is nothing stopping any of us from reading scripture at any time. I would encourage us all to be engaged in a couple of groups that look at scripture in different ways. The multiple points of view and discussions create opportunities for much deeper understanding than any one setting can. Lent has brought fasting or perhaps some temporary abstinence to many of us. I would encourage you to look at it as an opportunity to experience life in a different way rather that simply something to endure. The point is not to see if you can get through it, but to look for God in a different way.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Pub Church - Week 8 & 9 - Lent

2009-03-10T11:33:00.001-07:00

Week 8
We talked about a lot of things this week.
Some shared what they would be giving up for Lent.

Week 9
This week we shared how our Lent commitments were going.
For the most part, we have been finding it easier to do the things we have chosen to do.
We are finding more connection to God through some attempts at spiritual disciplines.

I have chosen to drink only water.
My thought process is that we need water to survive, anything else is just flavoring, a craving of the flesh.
So when I want a cup of coffee in the morning, or a soda, or tea, each drink of water becomes a reminder of my commitment to Christ, our Living Water.
Lent is a time to recall and honor Christ's sacrifice for us.
I do take off Sundays, celebrating it as a "little Easter."

Weekly Grind - Do Good

2009-03-03T09:09:00.001-08:00

Last week my original intention was to expand on the idea of "attending upon all the ordinances of God." That is the third expectation in John and Charles Wesley's The Nature,Design, and General Rules of Our United Societies. It is paraphrased in Reuben Job's Three Simple Rules as "Stay in love with God." But in the course of studying and reflecting on the whole writing, which is still a foundational part of our Book of Discipline, I found much to be addressed in the first expectation. "By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced" warns against many actions that harm us or others, lifted in a very direct manner from scripture.
This week we will examine the original writing behind "Do good" as Reuben Job simply puts it. The Wesley's use less direct scripture, but pull together many scriptural themes and actions:

It is expected of all who continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Secondly:

By doing good; by being in every kind merciful
after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every
possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men:

To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food
to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that
are sick or in prison.

To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we
have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic
doctrine that "we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it."

By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of
faith or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others; buying
one of another, helping each other in business, and so much the more
because the world will love its own and them only.

By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed.

By running with patience the race which is set before them,
denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; submitting to bear
the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and offscouring of the
world; and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them
falsely, for the Lord's sake.

In as much as they turned "Do no harm" toward, not just other, but also ourselves; here they point out that the good we do not only helps we seek to serve, but becomes an example of the gospel to those who see our actions. They hope to give us the awareness that when we follow God's word in Jesus' example our faith works at many levels.
John and Charles gave us essentially a shorthand version of what they saw as some of the most important ways of conducting ourselves with others and how we think about ourselves. They certainly encouraged everyone to discover these truths for themselves by reading and studying scripture. But in case you wanted to try to make some changes right away, they had a pretty good "method" for getting you there quickly.
It's really good knowing that we are part of good efforts that have been around a long time.

Be Blessed!
Michael

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Running to Faith

2009-02-28T18:46:00.001-08:00

I have been feeling quite out of sorts lately. I haven't gotten into a good groove this semester with my college classes, there seems to be quite a lot happening at church, and my family life has seemed complicated lately. Those are the three big areas of my life and I have trouble keeping them balanced on good days. When they are all out of sorts, I don't function very well.

So early last Wednesday morning I head to one of my high school small groups. I had ordered my breakfast and then prayed the Office of the Dawn while waiting for my students to show up. When they got there and got settled one of the first things one of them said was, "I wonder what I should give up for Lent?" I set down my coffee & realized that I had forgotten that it was Ash Wednesday. I also realized later that I had forgotten it was my wife's birthday, but that's a whole other story.

For the last few years I have given up drinking anything but water. The theology behind it seems good. Lent is about honoring the sacrifice Christ made for us, so we sacrifice something in remembrance. We do need water, but anything else is just flavoring, a craving of the flesh. You can talk all you want about "needing" a soda or coffee, but that is just simple desire or caffeine dependence. Either way, just cravings of the flesh. Water is all we need to keep us hydrated. Jesus also made a point of calling Himself "Living Water." I love it when a spiritual discipline can be expressed a bit poetically.

So I put my coffee aside and we talked about what they would be giving up and I explained my routine of water only. Then we got on the subject of running. A couple of them are in track and they talked about the various training for their distances. I used to run quite a bit, did many 5K's and even a mangled half-marathon that turned out to be very painful because of a lack of training right before the run. When I first started running seriously, I had to let my breathing dictate my pace. That helped reduce some of the pain and guided me toward adding mileage. I was up to about 35 per week for a brief period. From a spiritual standpoint I liked the focus and time for thought that running provided. I have even incorporated breath prayers into running, short spiritual phrases that you repeat over and over as you breathe.

We talked about a few other things, but after they headed to school, I thought more about running. My daughter is training to do a 5K at the end of next month and I was interested in running it with her, but had not started any training myself. So I decided to at least get started with a 20-minute easy run to at least begin the process.

I started off walking for a few minutes to warm up and then took off at an easy pace. I felt pretty good and went past 20 minutes and just kept on deciding to run a full 5K. I had done this before and even though I was moving slow, I thought I could do it. Kind of reminded me of how we can get out of sorts about things like faith and family and work, but we can get back in the groove easier than if we are just starting completely from scratch. I even asked God to have me end up right at 5K in front of my house. I don't think God minds showing us stuff when we ask. I felt like I should run a couple of blocks further than my usual turn around to do this. I second guessed and actually started to go even another block further, but them told myself to listen to what I felt like He told me originally and turned back. I ended up at just over 5K at the edge of my yard.

God is not so far away when we ask and listen and do things by faith.

Pub Church Week 8 - Random

2009-02-28T17:50:00.001-08:00

We didn't have much of a planned agenda this week.
The conversation moved around in several subjects of faith, the most significant being that of the upcoming season of Lent and how we might each observe that.
Caryn did share about a group http://www.love146.org that works toward rescuing children trapped in sex trade.
It was nice to just talk with a group of people about faith over a couple of beers.
That's kinda the point of this group anyway.

The Void Collective group is interested in doing the monthly-to-six-weeks presentation on Sunday evening.
I think both groups are very mutually supportive in what is trying to be accomplished so I look forward to some joint efforts.

Void Collective: Elephant

2009-02-28T17:30:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to an event called Elephant by the Void Collective at Treff's Bar & Grill in Waco. It was a Monday evening and the upstairs room, normally the venue for bands, DJs, and other musical acts was full of people and props. This was the first event, some people and groups that were involved in getting this started are Adam Moore, Emergent Waco, Peter Rollins, & Ikon.

Seeking to closely involve faith and doubt, Elephant brought forth various illustrations, stories, music, and visual elements to give life to ideas, images to concepts. There were confessions of doubt, prayers seeking understanding, liturgies that explored questions. We wrote doubts on a stained glass portrait to see it smashed into pieces and then rebuilt it as a new work, the brokenness with it's own beauty.

The entire production was developed in parts and not even the participants had seen the entire work together. Some of it felt deliberate and staged, but much of it seemed an authentic presentation of refined questions and thoughtful looking toward issues that nagged at the mind of the doubting faithful and of faithful doubters. I don't know that new questions were brought forth, but there was comfort in experiencing doubt and faith with a group of people that I personally know are seeking honest answers to honest questions.

Weekly Grind - Do No Harm

2009-02-28T16:02:00.001-08:00

In the course of following and strengthening their own faith, John
Wesley and his brother Charles came to some great understandings of what God
wants for us. They were significantly gifted as a writers and preachers,
giving them the ability to communicate these understandings to people for
hundreds of years. There are many books and websites that contain various
collections of their writings, hymns, and sermons. One of the most popular
as of late is a small book, "Three Simple Rules" by Reuben Job
which simplifies part of John and Charles Wesley's "The Nature,Design, and
General Rules of Our United Societies" and is generally summed up as 1) Do
no harm, 2) Do good, 3) Stay in love with God. The Wesley's give
significantly more specific guidance than that:
*
First:
By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is
most generally practiced, such as:
*The taking of the name of God in vain.
The profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein or
by buying or selling.
Drunkenness: buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking them, unless
in cases of extreme necessity.
Slaveholding; buying or selling slaves.
Fighting, quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with brother; returning
evil for evil, or railing for railing; the using many words in buying or
selling.
The buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty.
The giving or taking things on usuryi.e., unlawful interest.
Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation; particularly speaking evil of
magistrates or of ministers.
Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us.
Doing what we know is not for the glory of God, as:
The putting on of gold and costly apparel.
The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the
knowledge or love of God.
Softness and needless self-indulgence.
Laying up treasure upon earth.
Borrowing without a probability of paying; or taking up goods without a
probability of paying for them.
It is a fairly easy thing for us to live our lives and simply take
for granted that we are following God's will. But I think with a honest look
at this first step we can quickly see that we have some obvious areas of our
lives to give some spiritual attention. We do, perhaps, live in a much more
complicated world than John and Charles Wesley. But should that
reasoning allow us to stray further from what God wants for our lives, or
should it draw us closer to Him. Should we ignore the example of Christ
because we are too busy or have too much stuff? Jesus told us to cut off our
hand or pluck out our eye before we let anything get in the way of God. It
seems like it would be a lot less painful to change some behavior that to
start actually severing body parts.
There is some interest in observing that many of the specific items
in "doing no harm" here affect us as individuals. A way of rationalizing our
behavior sometimes might be that "I'm not hurting anyone else." God sees us
first before He looks at how we treat others, He doesn't want us working
against ourselves. God loves us, expects us to love ourselves, and calls us
to love others. We may not have read or understand everything that God has
shared with us, but we can take a simple step and see how it goes.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Pub Church Week 7 Oppression

2009-02-17T21:03:00.001-08:00

This week Katie took the lead.

Her favorite music video is Sarah McLachlan's World on Fire.

Which connected her to share this scripture:
1 Tim 6: 6-7 and 17-19
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ... Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

Which she also tied to: http://ping.fm/kRAtR(philosophy)
She handed out little cards with this printed on them:
"A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed." Desmond Tutu

We then watched the video:
http://ping.fm/myjnD
In the video, which looks like McLachlan shot herself with a camcorder in her living room, it is explained that the $150,000 that would have been spent on the video was given to various charities all around the world that made some very real differences in some basic needs.

We talked about how we may feel oppressed in our lives.
We talked about how we fall short with our families and with others.
We talked about finding ways to serve.
We talked about how we strive to connect to others rather than just giving to "them."

We played and sang "World on Fire"

Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
Night has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I try to hold it in, yeah I try to hold it in

The world's on fire and
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
(I try to pull my ship)
I try to bring more
More than I can handle
(Bring it to the table)
Bring what I am able

I watch the heavens and I find a calling
Something I can do to change this moment
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
Don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone

Hearts break, hearts mend
Love still hurts
Visions clash, planes crash
Still there's talk of
Saving souls, still the cold
Is closing in on us

We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take, the less we become
A fortune of one that means less for some

We wrapped up with a prayer and headed out.

Peter Rollins and Thinking About Faith Differently

2009-02-17T20:02:00.001-08:00

Peter Rollins is a theologian and philosopher from Ireland. I went to hear him back in November and enjoyed his thought-provoking observations about faith. After hearing about his group Ikon that meets in a bar I got re-interested in an idea that I had let go of a while back. That idea has now become Waco Pub Church. He was back in Texas this week and I had a chance to meet and talk to him a bit. He explained the correct pronunciation of Smithwicks and got him to try a Shiner Bock.

Here's some notes I took from Thursday (with my explanation in parentheses):

Some Ikon topics:
- Getting out of Christianity (a contrasting examination of classes for joining a church)
- Go out & get evangelized (listening, REALLY listening, to the message from other faiths)
- During Lent - Giving Up God (reading atheists Freud, Nietzsche, Marx for some insight into the outside view of faith)

People have needs and we just give them God. (Not in a real sense, but as a platitude)

When you are looking for someone, you may not find them. (God may not show up until you give up)

God enters the world as this whole other thing that changes the whole story.

In talking about how important it is for us to share our lives, he told a joke about a pastor who said that he went to volunteer at a hospice but actually went to play golf. To punish him, God intervened in his game one day, pushing the ball here & there. He ended up with the most perfect game he had ever played, but couldn't tell anyone about it.

Nietzsche, who wrote "God is dead," also said of Christians that "your theology makes no difference."

Don't put flowers on your chains so that you can endure them. Question the chains. Don't treat slaves kindly, ask why they are in bondage and set them free.

Does Satan use the church? Is church the very thing that prevents real change. Prohibition can create desire. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Do we embrace God but preserve our wrongness? We know that money, cars, houses won't bring happiness, but we step right out of church and live like they will. Winnie the Pooh, his head bumped down each step of the stairway wondered, "Perhaps there is a better way to go down the stairs, if only the bumps would stop long enough for him to think."

Mother Theresa lived a life of uncompromising service, yet we found after her death that she had major doubts of her faith.

God doesn't want to live about our doubts and struggles, he wants to be in fidelity with us in it all.

The only liturgy of doubt that he has been able to find is, "Lord, if you exist, come among us."

Pub Church Week 6 - Where Is God When You Hurt?

2009-02-10T22:31:00.001-08:00

We had a couple more first time people this week, which is great.
There was a collective effort of sharing, which is also great.

Caryn led by talking about some times in her life when she has been in pain with some real need for healing. Sometimes people who try to help can end up making you feel worse. Like you have brought this on yourself, or that if you just pleased God with the right kind of faith you'd be all better.

She shared a couple of songs that helped her stay connected to God and brought her some comfort. I'll add here that she added some great fonts to the lyric sheets she handed out and her ipod speakers had shifting-colored lights that pulsed to the music for a full multi-media experience.

There Are Days by Nickel and Dime

There are days when my heart is heavy and I can't go on
and there are times when it feels like the world is caving in
and pain is something that I know too well
the hurts of the world seem to be part of the ride

I wanna know your life when times are hard and heavy Lord
I wanna know you're there when I'm all alone
I wanna look in your eyes and see the passion of home
when home seems to be just a figment of my imagination

there are days when I can't put a finger on how I'm feelin'
and there are times I wanna crawl in a hole and refuse this day
but this is not what you have called me to
so teach me Lord to live this life just like you

Rolling River God by Nichole Nordeman

Rolling river God
Little stones are smooth
Only once the water passes through
so, I am a stone
Rough and grainy still
Trying to reconcile this river's chill

But when I close my eyes
And feel You rushing by
I know that time brings change
And change takes time
And when the sunset comes
My prayer would be this one
That You might pick me up
And notice that I am
Just a little smoother in Your hand

Sometimes raging wild
Sometimes swollen high
Never have I known this river dry
The deepest part of You
Is where I want to stay
And feel the sharpest edges wash away

I was reminded of the scripture in which John the Baptist says, "He must become greater; I must become less." This is also sometimes paraphrased as, "Less of me, more of Him."

We talked about how beautiful smooth stones on a beach are. But to get that way takes a lot of wearing down. The sharp points and harsh edges are slowly worn away. The rock is much more pleasing to look and especially to hold. It is less than it was, but something more beautiful has been revealed.

Scott and Colin wrapped us up with a great acoustic version of "All You Need Is Love." Well said John, Paul, George, & Ringo.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Go Green, Go Deep, and Go Changed

2009-02-10T08:31:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday, I was at Glen Lake Camp in Glen Rose, TX for Mid-Winter Retreat #1. The theme was Go Green! and we spent the weekend looking at ways to honor God by using the earth more wisely and lest wastefully. We used as few lights as possible, worship was acoustic, and we tried to be less wasteful with our meals. We also just added an iron-on to our own shirts rather than creating a bunch of new t-shirts for the event.

The repeated way we reminded each other was with the phrase: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.The idea behind "Reduce" is to try to use less of anything overall; less electricity, less gas, use a rag instead of paper towels, less disposable products, less new stuff. The next part, "Reuse" is to use things that might get thrown away in other ways; buy clothes from from a thrift store or reseller, fix things instead of throwing them away and buying new stuff, keep your car in good running shape instead of buying a new one, refill a cup instead another paper or Styrofoam cups, wash plasticware to use again. The last step is to recycle whatever you can; aluminum, plastic, paper, steel. Most towns have some sort of recycling system in place, but reusing keeps it out of even that loop, and reducing makes the whole process easier to manage.

In a couple of weeks we will be going to Mid-Winter Retreat #2 with a theme of Go Deep! that will focus on getting deeper into scripture. We will be finding ways to understand and apply God's word to our lives in very real ways. We will also continue much of our Go Green! practices to try to keep making a difference. We all know that scripture is one of the easiest ways to learn how much God loves us and to find out what He wants for us, but it is easy to take our understanding for granted. Working on it together is part of being a community of faith.

Weekend retreats like this can be a great starting point or an opportunity to recommit to some faithful actions. It is so important to try to take all this from being just ideas in our heads to being the way we live our lives. If we don't, we're really just giving God lip service and just pretending to be people of faith. Faith should make a difference in our lives that people can see and it should affect the lives of others in a good way.

I understand that back at church our pastor preached on the scripture of the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. This is one of my absolute favorite scriptures. It teaches us so much about God's love and calling to a new life. Those with an agenda that was not based in love, which Jesus tells us is what all the law and prophets are based upon, were put in their proper place. They came, using this woman to try to trap Jesus. He turned their actions right back at them. We do not know what Jesus wrote in the dirt. Perhaps he began listing sins of those around Him. Perhaps showed them His understanding of their twisted plan. Perhaps he just wrote "love." Whatever it was gave them a better understanding of what they were doing, for they stopped and went away. Now the woman didn't just get off free and clear. Jesus told her essentially the same thing as those who came to trap Him, "Go now and leave your life of sin."

That's a good plan for all of us.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Pub Church Week 5 - Who Is Your Sycamore Tree?

2009-02-05T12:00:00.001-08:00

We moved the meeting time to 3:00pm this week to stay out of the way of the Super Bowl, but found the upstairs of Treff's (where we normally meet) was not open. A co-worker of my daughter showed up first with a cup of coffee. She asked the guys at the downstairs bar where the "bible study" was. They said they didn't know anything about it. A patron that apparently sounded a bit tipsy, asked what she was looking for. She explained the idea of Pub Church. He said (very loosely quoted), "F*** yea! I need some of that $#!+!" So with that bit of direct marketing research we may be on to something.

We ended up sitting at a couple of benches in the foyer because the music was pretty loud. Sherri read the scripture of a short tax collector named Zacchaeus that climbed a tree to be able to see Jesus as he passed through town. Jesus ended up sharing a meal at his home. Zacchaeus started a new life that day.

Sherri told the story of a very dark and sad time for her some years back.
Most of our church at the time didn't know how to respond to her and for weeks she felt very isolated and alone. Finally, after church one day a woman held her and just let her cry. They began a friendship that day that help Sherri heal and find strength in her faith. Sherri now refers to Brenda as her sycamore tree because she helped her see Jesus.

Sherri had initially thought of using the Beatles song "All You Need Is Love" but wanted to check the lyrics first to make sure more than just the chorus fit in. They did:

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

Be Blessed!
Michael

Pub Church Week 4 - Calling

2009-02-05T11:52:00.001-08:00

Smaller group overall, but another first-timer, Wesley, joined us.
Colin led this week with the topic of calling.
Using the scriptures in which Jesus called his first followers, who dropped their fishing equipment and just went, and also the story of Jonah, who ran from what God had asked him to do eventually coming around to be obedient.
We sang If You Say Go by Vineyard, written by Dian Thiel.
We talked quite a bit about our various callings and how they have been revealed or what has gotten in the way.
We closed with a prayer.

If You say go, we will go
If You say wait, we will wait
If You say step out on the water
And they say it can't be done
We'll fix our eyes on You and we will come

Your ways are higher than our ways
And the plans that You have laid
Are good and true
If You call us to the fire
You will not withdraw Your hand
We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

Be Blessed!
Michael

A Wedding & A Funeral

2009-01-27T01:12:00.001-08:00

A Wedding
Our confirmation class and several older youth went to serve the meal at Church Under the Bridge Sunday morning. CUtB ministers to the homeless in Waco and sets up under the I-35 bridges between 4th & 5th Streets right next to Baylor University. It feel like a cross between a traveling revival and a carnival. There are some interesting people there and it is truly a blessing to worship there.

The younger students & other adults had the serving line under control, so the older ones and I went around to the convenience stores nearby and bought a bunch of gloves to give out since it was a cold morning. People eagerly took the opportunity to warm up their hands. We also brought plenty of peanut butter & bread to send with people, who may not have a regular food source.

At the end of worship, a couple came forward to get married. The pastor, Jimmy Dorrell, who also founded & directs Mission Waco, stepped off the trailer that serves as stage for the band to unite the couple. He was wearing a red "Troll" hoodie. CUtB started 16 years ago when Jimmy and his wife, on a walk one Sunday morning, came upon a small group of homeless men having a bible study there under the bridge. They asked to join the group and brought more people the following week. It just grew from there.

The bride was wearing what was very likely a thrift-store prom dress and appeared to have lived a pretty tough life so far. The groom had a nice cowboy hat & western sport jacket and also carried the look that comes with a life of hardship. Jimmy gave the usual vows of loving each other and sticking together through the tough stuff. An extra collection was taken up for the new couple and there was a big round of applause & shouts of well wishes.

There was so little pretense to the material side of things. If it were some strange version of Bridezilla she might have thrown a fit to make sure they had the trailer lined up perfectly between the bridges. She might have demanded that the folding chairs had been arranged in pretty semi-circular rows or that the porta-potties had been set further away or that they paused when the traffic noise got too loud. But instead the bride was drenched in tears of happiness and they just seemed so glad to have found each other and to just have each other.

And A Funeral
Our church van died.
It was a slow death.
People thought it was old 3 years ago when I first started at Woodway FUMC. But I've had older vans and I've had vans in worse shape. But this thing kept falling apart on us, sometimes in the middle of trips. The first problems I noticed were the lack of interior lights and the sliding door trim that was duct-taped on. But it ran fine. A big truck ran into us on a mission trip. I don't get shaken up very easily, but that scared me. But still it ran. Brakes needed work, tires needed to be changed, a running board fell off, more trim was lost, the radio wasn't much good. And it still ran on. The door handle broke and the sliding door didn't close properly for a while. We would take it to the shop, and it just ran. Mission trips to Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, even a trip to a youth workers convention in Nashville last November. It took us camping, to play paintball, to retreats, meetings. Picked up kids after school. Hauled stuff to our storage building. Pulled a trailer whenever we needed it. It was our humble servant.
So we had a funeral for it Sunday night.
We all climbed inside one more time. We lit a candle and said some prayers. We told stories and laughed. Nobody cried (because it's just a van), but there was a sense of sadness.
RIP Big White Van, you will be missed.

Pub Church - Week 3

2009-01-18T22:27:00.001-08:00

Based on the growth rate of over 500% since it's
inception, Waco Pub Church could be the fastest growing church in world.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=58742589987#/group.php?gid=58061205873&ref=ts

OK that actually comes down to 2 people the first week, 5 people the second
week, & 11 people tonight. But I think more importantly, there was a broader
impact. I had a conversation about church with the bartender. The DJ that
was setting up said that he listened in on some of what we were talking
about and liked it. We overheard it being mentioned in some other
conversations.

We did create a little structure this week. After some time of meeting and
getting to know each other better, I talked about my background of faith and
that this was an attempt to create a way for people to connect to a
community of faith who didn't feel connected elsewhere. I talked about my
favorite 2 scriptures: Jesus' response to the question of the greatest
commandment (love) and his response to the woman caught in adultery (no
condemnation, but a call away from sin). We sang a song, In the Secret, then
read the lyrics to David Crowder's Come and Listen based on Psalm 66:16.
Invited others to share next time and to invite others who need a
connection. Ended with a prayer.

I'm not sure of what the next week will bring, but I know that God has made
an amazing difference in life.
That is what I hope to share.

Come and listen.
Come to water's edge all you who are thirsty, come.
Let me tell you what He has done for me.
Let me tell you what He has done for me,
He has done for you,
He has done for us.
Come and listen,
Come and listen to what He has done.
Praise our God for He is good.
He has done for me,
He has done for you,
He has done for us.
Come and listen,
Come and listen to what He has done.

Down With Christmas

2009-01-16T22:57:00.001-08:00

We finally took down the Christmas tree today. The outside lights have been down for a bit. Sherri felt good about consolidating the ornament packing so we've got less boxes to store overall. We've got a bunch of lights that we didn't even open so we should have plenty for the next couple of years. All that's left is getting the boxes down to the storage building.

It's always a little sad to "put away Christmas." The decorations do lend to a light and happy state of mind. The holidays being in the middle of the week made December seem like a weekend that lasted a month.

So back to normal life, whatever that may be. Maybe we should make all the months of the year like an Advent calendar. Each day could hold a little something special.

2009-01-16T19:18:00.001-08:00

test from ping.fm web site to Blogger using @bl with only Micro-blog checked in Blogger settings

2009-01-16T13:02:00.001-08:00

Friday Test to Status Updates from ping.fm web site. I've sent to Blogs & Micro-blogs, this is to see where Status Updates go.

Friday Test to Blogs from ping.fm web site

2009-01-16T12:19:00.001-08:00

I'm tweaking & testing my settings on ping.fm

It is a very cool service that can allow you to update several Status, Micro-blog, or Blog postings with one message. I've had some success and am trying to get it all the paths of data figured out.

ping.fm lets you send a message for "Status update," "Micro-blogging," or "Blogging" but it ends up as different things depending on the network you send it to. You can use their web site or send an email.

I started off sending text messages to the email address they gave me (each user get a unique one) to update my Facebook & Twitter status. I've added more networks (they have over 30) and can now update my Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Blogger, Plaxo Pulse, Xanga, & Wordpress with just one message.

For this particular message, I am sending a message from the ping.fm web site, set to go to all my Blogs. I've got all the available options checked on all my networks to see where this actually goes. Next, I'll send a message from the ping.fm web site to all my Micro-blogs, then finally to all my Status Updates.

Depending upon where the messages end up, I'll change the ping.fm settings for my various networks to get messages going where I want them to go.

2009-01-16T02:11:00.000-08:00

Check out the facebook group for Waco Pub Church http://ping.fm/5YWfV
Sundays at 8:00pm, upstairs at Treff’s Bar & Grill, 520 Austin Ave., Waco, TX.
The 1st week, there were 2 of us that just talked about what we thought this could be. Basically, a way for people to connect to a community of faith without going to a regular church.
Week 2 added my wife and a couple of people that we had never met until that night. They had heard about it through the Emergent Waco group and another friend connected to it.
This Sunday will be Week 3 and I’m really not sure what to expect.The facebook has jumped up to over 60 people in a couple of weeks and there has been some blogging and Twitter conversations regarding it.

Here’s my web page http://ping.fm/nNVdV there are links to various networks I’m in and web sites I use a lot.
I would highly recommend ping.fm for easily updating many statuses and blogs and micro-blogs from one spot.
You can send one text message and update all your statuses or send one email and update blogger and wordpress, working on mapping it to myspace & facebook notes. It’s cool try it.

2009-01-15T18:53:00.001-08:00

Is picking up sodas & aqua for my girls & Sherri's bringing home fajitas. Gave a guy some compelling imagery to help him stop smoking.

2009-01-15T14:41:00.001-08:00

Is seeing if ping.fm will update his status on twitter, facebook, plaxo, linkedin, myspace, and xanga from one text message.

Multiple Blogging From An Email

2009-01-15T14:01:00.001-08:00

Trying to see if ping.fm will make several blogs from an email. If so, it will change the way I do some things. I've been looking for a way to make getting stuff out on multiple sites easily. ping.fm already makes it possible for me to update my twitter and status (stati) for facebook, myspace, xanga, & plaxo from one text message. I've added the blog option to see if it works to go to xanga, blogger, wordpress, & xanga. That's it for the test blog. Be Blessed! Michael PS Adding a reference to Waco Pub Church, Sundays at 8:00pm, upstairs at Treff's Bar & Grill, 520 Austin Ave., Waco, TX. http://ping.fm/nNVdV