Handyman

My Dad basically taught me that there is nothing a man shouldn't be able to do. For instance I can cook dinner, wash dishes, do the laundry and in all reality know how to do anything that needs doing in the house. I'm glad he taught this to me I find I help my wife out so much more than I would normally be able to.

Dad also taught me how to fix stuff or how to do things...actually better than that he taught me how to figure out how to do things so in reality...well in my mind there is nothing I cannot do. I'm very glad he taught me all this stuff. I have only one question though.

Does it ever end? If I'm not doing maintaining stuff like shoveling the snow, mowing the grass or mulching the flower bed then I'm doing something else, like installing a floor, dishwasher, garbage disposal, fixing the heat in my truck (not fun when it's 14 degrees outside).

I have come to the conclusion that indeed it does not ever end and it's too late to pretend like I don't know how to do stuff like many men I know. In the words of Shintaro Kiwano "I'm pooched!"

Change

I have been place in a few positions of leadership for my denomination both with the youth ministry and with two committees on the District Level. Now I'm not making any hardcore decisions, except with the youth leadership, but rather just getting good experience at what goes on at the District level. It's quite an honor for me and I love learning.

As I read the reports and check the status of our churches I must admit I am startled at the lack of conversions and conversion growth. I know that numbers aren't everything I might be the pot calling the kettle black but...something much change.

Not change for the sake of change but change because the world has already change around us and we are changing merely to try to keep up but still steps behind. I don't think it is a methodological change either, I don't think changing the way we do things is going to connect people to a relationship with Christ. I also know that Christ will not change.

I guess I've come to the conclusion that it is a change in mindset. Those take time, seem pretty much impossible, and people will hate you for it.

I'm ready! Who's with me?

Please no!

This morning in conversation the question was asked "what verse have you chosen as your theme for the new year?" Let me explain my perspective on this. I am a youth pastor and I think it is lots of fun coming up with themes for messages and events, sometimes a theme can really make an event more appealing to the crowd. For instance for valentine's day rather than calling it "Valentine's Party" we're calling it "A dynamite valentine's party" and using Napoleon Dynamite as a theme. So I'm all about themes.

I also think it's good to have goals...

If you walked into a science room and the class was disecting something. The parts are all over the tables and there is no recognizable animal only animal parts. One of the students runs up to you holding a small organ...it's a liver. The kid exclaims...look it's a frog. You want to correct him but really don't know how. He goes on and on about how the "frog" is so cool and how it changed his life and that this frog is his best friend.

It sounds stupid but that's how I feel we treat the Bible sometimes. Look at this one little verse 12 words in a sea of millions yet this one verse explains all there is to know about 2005, the world, science, and God. Hogwash!

The Bible is not a rule book!
The Bible is not a list of guidelines!
The Bible is not a devotional book!

The Bible IS the living word of God of HIS interaction with his creation...and us!

Birthing Classes

My wife and I are about 4 and a half weeks away for our babies due date. We're pretty darn excited and are just waiting for his arrival. So far I've been to a breastfeeding class and one birthing class and I'm happy to report have not been traumatized...too much. Last night we watched two births...when it was all over I said to my wife...I was a little disappointed at how much they didn't show. I'm might be crazy.

All because of you: From the airwaves of rock stations everywhere U2's song all because of you is being transmitted. The truth of Jesus Christ and the power of the salvation he offers is being revealed to many...will they listen?

Devotional Thought

I put this in my parent's newsletter for winter 2005, thought I'd share it here.

I was scheduled to give a devotional at a recent youth event. I knew there would be a group of about 50 students and 20 adults and I wanted it to be impacting. I had prepared my message well ahead of time and was just reviewing in my mind in the hours before I was supposed to present.

As I was reading through my words and the scripture passage I was going to speak from I suddenly realized something quite tragic.
The very Bible that I speak so highly of, the one that I make my living explaining to people, and the book that I live my life by is the LIVING WORD OF GOD. In short it is God’s message to us.

I realized how callously I was handling such a precious gift. I encourage you in these months to realize the value of the most owned book in the world. It is not a text book, devotional book, or guide book for life. The Bible is the living word of God involving real people, a real God and a real story of a living savior that died for us.

American Jesus

Below is a part of an excerpt from a review I read on http://www.theooze.com The book sounds fascinating I can't wait to read it.

As the church continues to retreat into its own subculture, this book should be required reading to nudge it back to cultural engagement. Many of the false ideas presented in this book fall squarely back on the shoulders of the institutional church and its failure to proclaim Christ as reveled in the scriptures. The church as a whole and individual Christians should read this book to see the variations of Christ that have been proclaimed through history and continue daily in our culture. Perhaps then it will be forced to have to confront the errors with truth and the sad history of our savior in this nation will be a thing of the past. If the church refuses to leap head-first into the dialogue, then Jesus will continue to be fashioned into an idol and not the savior of mankind. It's a battle the church can not afford to ignore.


AMERICAN JESUS
Stephen Prothero
Farrar, Straus and Giboux, 2003.
364 pages, $14.00

Good morning starshine?

Who dat?

Haven't read anything good lately. Don't get me wrong books about taking care of a baby and being a father is good reading just not normally good stuff for a blog. I do think it is absolutely amazing that the human bodies work the way they do. Everything is perfectly set up to give the baby the best start in life it can possibly have. The amazing part is that women used to do it without hospitals and doctors.

My girl and I...Wowza!

Movies

Flight of the Phoenix: I label this a good movie. Not incredible plot line or special effects but a good family friendly movie. Which I'm considering more and more important these days. I enjoyed it and would consider this to be on the "to buy" list when it comes out.

Christmas with the Kranks: I used to get ingrowned toenails that were so bad the nail of my big toe would grow out of the side of my toe...this movie reminded me of extracting those ingrown toenails...by myself with only a pair of toenail clippers and some scissors.

Meet the Fockers: The same uncomfortable feeling was there when Gaylord and Pam's dad went at it during any converstaion...that's why this was such a good movie. Gay's parents: His mom a sex therapist of seniors and his dad a stay-at-home dad...hilarious but in appropriate for any teenager I think. I enjoyed the movie but was glad I was watching it with two other married couples and even they cringed at some parts. Overall very funny and even good story line with some inappropriate material for teens and children.

Ocean's Twelve: The heist wasn't as good as Ocean's Eleven and I got frustrated that so many talented theifs were scared of that manhoe but...It was a better movie overall and just enjoyable to watch. I don't think I'd own it but I'd watch it again.

Grace

God's been showing me a lot about grace for the past year or so. This may sound absurd but all of my life I have understood what Grace means but never comprehended the effects on my life. There is one thought that has baffled me for weeks now.

1. There is nothing I can do that will ever make God love me less.
How wonderful!
2. There is nothing I can do that will ever make God love me more.
We live in a world where there is something more to earn. Even in our marriages we learn how to love our spouse more and they do the same in turn. Not with God...that's what's amazing about grace.

Profound

To the new tribe;
you know who you are.
May your tribe increase!
There's a world counting on you
-Reggie McNeal

My girl and me!