Wednesday, July 26, 2006
SAM HORNISH JR. DAY
You may not know it, but Sam Hornish Jr., this year's winner of the Indianapolis 500, was from this little town of Defiance, Ohio. So, we celebrated his victory today with his official day with a parade in his honor. Here's some picts from the parade.
Friday, July 21, 2006
I'VE BEEN CALLED TO PREACH
For most of you the title of this post is no real suprise. I've been preaching at some of you for a long time now. (yeah, I meant it to sound that way). In fact, I've been been in youth ministry and preaching for over 15 years now. I'm an ordained elder in the church even. Well, all that to say it has taken a VBS to remind me that I have been called to preach. This week, as I have for the past three years, I have been preaching to a group of 4th-8th grade students at a Nazarene church in a neighboring community. Last night's lesson was about how God shines in our lives brightest when we obey him. (the theme they choose was "shine" from the Newsboys). I choose the two stories Adam and Eve and Johah to try and explain to them how God wants us to obey him when he asks us to do or not do things blah, blah, blah. Well, I got to the part in the lesson that I stated that at the age of 12 God began to speak to me and call me to be a preacher. For two whole weeks I told him "NO". I had better plans for my life and I was too young to be a preacher. The last night that I "heard" God speaking to me about it all, I specifically remember him stating, "If you turn me down tonight, I am done speaking to you!" My curt response was "Fine, I'll do it, but I don't want to!" I felt his love and his reassurance that I was only 12 and he just wanted to see if I'd be willing. Well, as I reminenced about that part of my life with the kids last night, I was reminded that, Yeah, I have been called to be a preacher. But, I've actually been running away from that call for quite some time now. Not that I've not been preaching or not that I haven't been fulfilling that role to some degree, but I've avoided the title or the position of preacher. Being a "youth pastor" was/is different from being a preacher in my eyes. The picture of a preacher that I've had and don't want any part of is the one who has to know it all and do it all in a church. Everything from preaching, to the finances, to the hospital calls and everything in between. That's not what I think that a preacher should do nor do I want it. I want to preach the Gospel of Jesus and Him Crucified, but I don't ever want to get to a place that I have to do it alone. I don't think it's the pastor's responsibility to do all that stuff mentioned above, instead it's the body's responsibility as we are on this journey together. I'm in no place in my life to even think that I've got all the answers nor do I ever want to think I do. I do have some insights, I do have the ability to lead, but I do need others around me who are willing to be on the journey with me.
Anyway after the lesson and I started heading home, the reality of God speaking to me was running though my head. Is he calling me to start a church? Am I supposed to be a preacher? etc etc etc. Then all of the sudden a White dove flys up from the side of the road and crosses in front of my car and I kill it. No I don't kill it, but it's just like you would see in the movies of what the Holy Spirit would look like when portrayed as a dove. I've never seen one out of captivity before. Was this confirmation? I'm not positive, but it's what I thought when I saw it. So, I'm called to preach and this is the beginning of a not so new journey for me. God may I preach as if they are your very words.
Anyway after the lesson and I started heading home, the reality of God speaking to me was running though my head. Is he calling me to start a church? Am I supposed to be a preacher? etc etc etc. Then all of the sudden a White dove flys up from the side of the road and crosses in front of my car and I kill it. No I don't kill it, but it's just like you would see in the movies of what the Holy Spirit would look like when portrayed as a dove. I've never seen one out of captivity before. Was this confirmation? I'm not positive, but it's what I thought when I saw it. So, I'm called to preach and this is the beginning of a not so new journey for me. God may I preach as if they are your very words.
Monday, July 17, 2006
3 POSTS 7 DAYS!
Don't drop over in excitement, but I'm on a roll for me with all these posts. Anyway, tonights post comes in the form of a question that I have that was spurred on while reading a book. Here it is:
What would it mean to be a spiritual church?
give me your thoughts!
Blessings
What would it mean to be a spiritual church?
give me your thoughts!
Blessings
Thursday, July 13, 2006
AIRPLANES AND THE CHURCH
I jotted these thoughts down 41,000 feet above the earth as I was returning with Reagan and Connor from my parent's home down south.
I'm sitting on an airplane on my way home from getting the kids from their extended stay with my parents. I couldn't help but notice all the little rivots that are holding the wing together outside my window. They seem so small and insignificant, but in truth they are vital to our survival in this flight. What would happen if one or several, for that matter, decided that they weren't all that important and decided to not do what they were made to do? The obvious would happen, they would let go and the plane would crash. Or, what if one little spring or gizmo (technical term) in the engine felt under appreciated or decided not to do whatever it was supposed to do today? The results would be devistating.
The body of Christ functions much in the same way. We are all supposed to be doing something that our designer made us for. It may be something that, to us, seems trivial or seemingly meaningless. Some were designed like the jet engine made to propell us. Others like the rudder (I think that's what it's called) to guide us. But, often the plane never gets off the ground because too many of us parts don't show up for work. Instead we downplay our importance. We think we're not important or someone else will fill in. Just as bad are the other parts who think their more valuable than the others. So, the church, instead of soaring above the clouds is stuck in the repair garage, always broken, always trying to get beyond that insult, that injury that thing which has convinced the body it is powerless and destined to just be idle.
Jesus never intended for the body, the church, to be like that. In fact, he took some the most broken people, some of the smallest and some of the most insignificant people in the world and called them disciples. He took the lame, the blind, the lepers, the prostitutes and "sinners" and told those who thought they were the most important that they were the least while this ragtag group were what or who the church would be built upon. Jesus even said the kingdom of heaven was made up of people like little children and we would have to be like them if we ever thought we'd have a chance to make it there. I've watched Reagan and Connor during this, their first airplane ride, and I see their wide-eyed exhuberance and anticipation of what's next and I'm envious of this sort of expectation. They were even excited about how "cool" the seatbelts were and couldn't wait to clip them together. Seatbelts? Can you believe that? They couldn't wait because they knew that was their little part in making the plane fly today. The rest of us thought it was just something that was irrevelant to whether or not we flew. Reagan and Connor believed, however, that the tray table had to be in it's upright position and that my headphones had to be turned off or we wouldn't, no couldn't fly. And, you know what, they were right. Had I demanded that I kept my tray down, I would have been escorted off the plane and they would have not flown today.
Jesus expects so much more from us than what we often give. He doesn't expect us to do more than what we were designed for. Much like the rivot isn't supposed to propel the plane, but he does expect us to live up to our role as the rivot. No more, but no less! It's our responsibility to take whatever we are and use it to carry others to our final destination. Without all the body parts working in unison, we are nothing more than a few loose nuts lying around on the floor. Well, I'm for flying so sit back and enjoy the ride and thanks for choosing this airline.
Blessings
I'm sitting on an airplane on my way home from getting the kids from their extended stay with my parents. I couldn't help but notice all the little rivots that are holding the wing together outside my window. They seem so small and insignificant, but in truth they are vital to our survival in this flight. What would happen if one or several, for that matter, decided that they weren't all that important and decided to not do what they were made to do? The obvious would happen, they would let go and the plane would crash. Or, what if one little spring or gizmo (technical term) in the engine felt under appreciated or decided not to do whatever it was supposed to do today? The results would be devistating.
The body of Christ functions much in the same way. We are all supposed to be doing something that our designer made us for. It may be something that, to us, seems trivial or seemingly meaningless. Some were designed like the jet engine made to propell us. Others like the rudder (I think that's what it's called) to guide us. But, often the plane never gets off the ground because too many of us parts don't show up for work. Instead we downplay our importance. We think we're not important or someone else will fill in. Just as bad are the other parts who think their more valuable than the others. So, the church, instead of soaring above the clouds is stuck in the repair garage, always broken, always trying to get beyond that insult, that injury that thing which has convinced the body it is powerless and destined to just be idle.
Jesus never intended for the body, the church, to be like that. In fact, he took some the most broken people, some of the smallest and some of the most insignificant people in the world and called them disciples. He took the lame, the blind, the lepers, the prostitutes and "sinners" and told those who thought they were the most important that they were the least while this ragtag group were what or who the church would be built upon. Jesus even said the kingdom of heaven was made up of people like little children and we would have to be like them if we ever thought we'd have a chance to make it there. I've watched Reagan and Connor during this, their first airplane ride, and I see their wide-eyed exhuberance and anticipation of what's next and I'm envious of this sort of expectation. They were even excited about how "cool" the seatbelts were and couldn't wait to clip them together. Seatbelts? Can you believe that? They couldn't wait because they knew that was their little part in making the plane fly today. The rest of us thought it was just something that was irrevelant to whether or not we flew. Reagan and Connor believed, however, that the tray table had to be in it's upright position and that my headphones had to be turned off or we wouldn't, no couldn't fly. And, you know what, they were right. Had I demanded that I kept my tray down, I would have been escorted off the plane and they would have not flown today.
Jesus expects so much more from us than what we often give. He doesn't expect us to do more than what we were designed for. Much like the rivot isn't supposed to propel the plane, but he does expect us to live up to our role as the rivot. No more, but no less! It's our responsibility to take whatever we are and use it to carry others to our final destination. Without all the body parts working in unison, we are nothing more than a few loose nuts lying around on the floor. Well, I'm for flying so sit back and enjoy the ride and thanks for choosing this airline.
Blessings
Monday, July 10, 2006
Gutsy Faith
I finished reading Jeff Edmonson's book Gutsy Faith the other day, and I have to say that I rather enjoyed it. I don't know what I really expected from it, but I know that I've enjoyed reading what he has said in the past and this time he reminded me of how much prayer has to do with things. He also challenged my understanding about how and why God answers our prayers. The book is laid out so that you can go through it with a small group, which is nice if you want to do that. I sometimes think that publishers think that all books have to have questions for a small group, but I think that sometimes they just get in the way or are just forced questions. Don't know if that's what happened here, but just my two cents. Anyway, outside of that little rant I think the book would be worth your while to read. Jeff, if you take the time to read this, Congratulations on a good book!Blessings All!
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