Shattering the Silence!

OK, maybe its cabin fever or or something a lot like it, but the image of these Struttin' Turkeys makes my heart beat faster than that one-armed guy in Def Leppard can pound his drums with both feet.

Here's how I recall it:

I was sitting with my back against a tree in the darkness, half shivering, half stoked about what is moments away from taking place. The wise old bird of the forest is roosted 40 feet up in an ancient oak only 30 yards away. As the predawn light begins to blot out the darkness, I notice the shape begin to move. He stretches his wings a little and begins to walk around on the limb upon which he spent the night. I know its coming. I try to brace myself for it, but when it finally happens I jump more than a little and mumble under my breath something about a stupid bird. The silence of the night is shattered by an ear piercing GOBBLE! It's one of the single most incredible moments in all of nature. Truth be told, more than once I've been content to watch these ol' Toms strutt off without ever firing a shot. I guess it was his reward for putting on such a great show.

Anyhow, what's the point to all of this? Good question. I said I had cabin fever. My legs have been cramped up under the desk for way too long. I'm ready to get out and stretch a little. That, and maybe the fact that the GOBBLE of the wild turkey speaks to the spirit of man as well (at least this man). The whole purpose for the gobble is to secure companionship for the lonely longbeard. It's his way of shouting, "Here I am." And when the turkey ladies hear him, theoretically, they are supposed to come running. (Too bad it never worked like this for me in high school, eh?)

At any rate, what I'm thinking today is that I'm wanting some companionship too. I'm longing to walk more closely with my God. I'm wanting to be near Him in order that I might become more like Him. My turkey friends dont mind shattering the silence to make their needs known. I on the other hand seem to be a little more reserved. It's not very proper; not very dignified to cry out to God. I'm wondering if there's a lesson in all of this for me. Maybe there's something in it for you too. Or maybe its just time to go huntin'. Maybe a little of both. This much I do know: Scripture bears witness to the fact that when God's people cry out to Him, He makes Himself known.

He Has Made Me Glad!

jeff

Holy Week Reflections

Well, Holy Week has come and gone for 2008. My thought is holy ^^%#$%$!!!!! Is it possible to do any more stuff in one week? I'm sure for my minister friends, they all probably feel a little bit the same way. And I think that was my problem this year.

Easter was good, don't get me wrong. But my experience of Easter this year was that while it was crammed packed with all sorts of great things, it seemed less than filled with the presence of Christ to me. I found myself worrying about what I had to do, rather than focusing on what I was doing. We had great services, and I believe those who worshipped with us were drawn closer to Christ. For me I guess, I was more concerned about the "part" I was playing and making sure that I did a "good" job, than I was about my worship of the King.

Probably the high point for me in all of our services was our Maundy Thursday service. We did something that I'm fairly sure hadn't been done in a long, long time. I know I've never done it with adults before. We had a foot washing and Holy Communion service. The foot washing part was remarkable. Even though it was awkward and unnatural, it was authentic and genuinely worshipful. Especially with my awesome wife who brought along her guitar and sang "Captivate Us" (I think by WaterMark) as accompaniment to the "Sole Searching Service of Sanitation."

I think that's what's so captivating about Jesus. The downward mobility and servanthood of the King of Kings blows me away. Knowing full well that there is coming a day when "Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord," and yet He still stoops to my level, and then empties himself even further to get down on His hands and knees and wash my feet. Wow! What an incredible Lord.

Of course, the kids Easter Egg Hunt was pretty mind blowing as well. I think there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 eggs hidden and found. We certainly had a lot more eggs than we did hiding places.

Sunrise service was followed by a huge breakfast. And that is always good. Our Main Easter worship service was a Cantata performed by our choir and they did a superb job. Our crowds seemed to be a little down this year, but as I pause to reflect on Holy Week, I'm sensing that my Experience of the Risen Christ was perhaps more than I had presumed when I began this post.

Hope your Easter was great and that you find yourselves more encouraged and strengthened today to utter those two little words that fly in the face of the natural order of things: He Lives!

The Need For Family.

OK, for what its worth, the Walton's could be one of the greatest families in the world. Sure, they were make-believe, but their values, ethics and relationships created (and still create) for the viewer a strong desire to have what they have. At least that's what happens to me every time I sit down and happen upon an episode.

Good Family is kind of like your favorite pair of boots or your favorite pair of jeans or a really good dog. You dont recognize the value of what you have until its no longer there. 80's HairBand, Cinderella mythically nailed it on the head when they crooned, "Ya dont know what you got til it's gone."

For me, this is the real down side of life in the ministry. Very few ministers seldom get to remain in their home community and minister among their friends and family. Those that do have a hard time achieving success. The rest of us find ourselves humming Kansas'..."dust in the wind, all we are is..."

The first church I served full-time was in Nashville, TN. It was a fantastic church filled with all sorts of fantastic people. I am so thankful for those who took me in and made me a part of their families. I truly believe I'd be back home making oil filters had I not been authentically welcomed into several families there. And I dont just mean on Easter and Steak Night. Sitting in someone elses home eating hot dogs on the couch while watching the WWF meant more than "just being the youth minister of their church." It meant I was a part of their family and was welcomed in the mundane and not just the monumental. It wasn't family, but it was pretty darn close.

As we welcome a new Youth Pastor here at New Hope, I am confident that many of our families will open up their hearts and their homes to Drew. I just want to remind you of how important it is to his whole ministry that you do this. Not only will it bless him as he serves us, but it will bless his ministry 25 years from now wherever he will be at that time.

I still long for home on a daily basis. I hate that I'm not able to stop by and check on my parents and help them out from time to time. I sorely miss having that morning cup of coffee with my brother and best friend (both the same person). Thankfully, New Hope has made me family and they are so much more than substitutes and surrogates. They are mine and I am theirs. I hope we will do the same as Drew comes to minister among us.

Good Night John-Boy!

Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me!!!!!!!!

That's Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis) holding Audrey II ( A Mean, Green mother from outer space) in the 1986 Cult Classic, Little Shop of Horrors. I remember watching this film when it came out way back when. I'm pretty sure I didn't get it. I'm fairly certain I still don't. But the cast was awesome and funny and made me laugh. One of the scenes of the movie was Audrey II, a human blood-sucking flytrap, crying out "Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me" (Insert the voice of Motown's Levi Stubbs of the 4 Topps).

When I ponder our new Youth Minister Drew, Audrey II is one of the first images that come to mind. Drew came up last week during his spring break to get a feel for what goes on here at New Hope on Wednesday nights. After supper he met with the youth group. After that he met with our current youth workers. After that he came back to our house for "Supper II." And man, can this boy eat. He knows what food is for and where it goes. I felt like Seymour Krelborn trying to gather enough forage for our new "mean, green mother from Outer Space."

Many folks in the church are already beginning to ask, "What can I do to help Drew out when he gets here?" As we welcome Drew to our church staff, please remember that Drew isn't going to be getting rich ministering among us. That's just part of the life of ministry. However, if you want to help him, FEED HIM. Whether you've got kids or not, invite Drew over to your house for a meal, not only will he be blessed, but it'll give you the chance to get to know what a great young servant of the Lord he really is. Take him a pie or some fried chicken. Give him a gift card to Wal-Mart so he can pick out some of his fave's, or a card to Cracker Barrel or some other restaurant. Just Feed Him! It's a simple, yet meaningful way to minister to one the Lord has sent to us. It doesn't sound very "spiritual" yet, look at Jesus. He spent lots of time feeding those who came into His presence.

(By the way Drew, if you are reading this YOU OWE ME!!)

Finally Found a SuperHero!

Recently, I posted about my disappointment over the new Justice League Movie. I'm not going back there again. Here's a pic of another Super Hero from my childhood. Speed Racer. I'm not technically sure if he meets all of the "super hero criteria," but who really cares all that much; he's a cartoon. But these recent thoughts of superhero's has reminded me of another superhero that has recently entered the scene.

OK, maybe not a superhero, but we have hired a youth pastor at our church. I'm certain we'll expect him to perform with amazing skill, ability, and yes...supernatural ability. We have high hopes.

It was a fairly long and drawn out process for us. And I'll be honest, it was very difficult as well. Not only did we want to hire the best of the best, but we wanted that "one perfect fit." On top of it all, we wanted to be certain we were hiring God's Person in His timing. Talk about a tall order to fill. Those who applied for this position didn't make the matter any easier. I'm so thankful for the people who worked so hard on this "project." Many gave lots of time, not only in public, but in private as well, praying over this huge decision for us.

At any rate, I'm pleased to welcome Drew Gray to the staff of New Hope Church. Drew will begin his duties during the second week of May. In the meantime, I hope you will be praying for Drew and his ministry among us. Stay tuned to future posts where I will try and give some suggestions for welcoming a new minister into the church.

Famous Fishermen

What an exciting day for my son. That's him and his buddy Alyssa in the presence of fishing greatness. From Left to Right that's Roland Martin, Kevin VanDam and Bill Dance. They ran into these guys while spending a day in Nashville. I had previously been told that some of these guys weren't always the friendliest. Boy was I misinformed. My wife said these 3 couldn't have been any nicer. Thanks guys.

As an aside, what amazes me is that while having lunch, my wife looked over and said, "Hey, those guys are famous fishermen." I wasn't there, yet in my absence she recognized them. I'll be honest, I wouldn't be able to identify any of the stars from HGTV. Just when you think you know just how blessed you are to have a great wife, she pulls something like this and lets you know that you've only just scratched the surface of how awesome she really is.

Wives are great. Pastor's wives are formed in the throne room of heaven. I thank my wonderful God for the gift he gave me in Miss Bert.