So I Made a Cross Today........

So I made a cross today. No, not one you wear around your neck, a little bigger than that. As I was thinking about this coming Easter…the first one in a new church, I thought “Wow, we need a cross on the stage.” I did a little digging, but the only cross I could find was a little small. Our sanctuary is HUGENORMOUS…so naturally, anything but a hugenormous cross would look like it’s made out of toothpicks. Go big, or go home…at least that's what the lactation consultant told us years ago when we were getting ready to be parents!

Anyhow, a friend of mine, who used to be a logger hooked me up with two great tree trunks. It was a giant cedar tree that had fallen. My friend suggested I take it to the mill and get it rough squared…OH NO. Not me. I had it in my mind I was going to make this cross for the Lord’s Church by hand. After all, this thing is supposed to represent Jesus, and Jesus was a Jewish Carpenter… without power tools…trust me, it all makes sense in my mind.

I figured since I’d seen an episode of something on Discovery where they showed how the settlers of America used broad axes to do this sort of thing, well, so could I. Have you ever used an antique broad axe for anything other than a decoration? DON’T! At this point, I figured since I have a great chainsaw just sitting in the garage, why not use it? But as I held that behemoth saw in my hands, my mind was reeling with images of me crawling to the phone to dial 911 with part of a severed leg in my mouth like a pirate sneaking aboard one of the Her Majesty’s fleet. WHAT WAS I THINKING? I’m not qualified for this. Do you know how hard it is to “just cut the rounded part” off the length of a tree trunk? A 400 pound tree trunk! So I prayed, that’s what we do right? “Dear God, in honor of your Son and our observance of His sacrifice…I make this cross for you. Please don’t let me cut my leg off. The wife will be so ticked if I do! Amen.”

And then I just dove right in. Sawdust and shavings were flying 6 feet in the air. It was awesome. The motor on the Stihl was raging. I was sweating like Lady Gaga at confessional. My arms were burning. Ears were ringing. Lungs were wheezing. Safety glasses totally blurred. I was in the zone. And then it was over. 45 minutes of 2-cycle oil, fear induced mayhem. And I had rough squared my timbers. Legs still hooked to the rest of the torso! Hallelujah!

But……..my “Hosanna” faded faster than it did in Jerusalem the day Jesus came to town. Now what? I’ve got two hacked up cedar timbers…how on earth does that become a cross? Now would be a good time for the broad axe. Yes! NO!!!!! I’m such a slow learner. (Note to self: There is never a good time for an 80 year old broad axe.) I kind of tinkered around with a few options that were useless. And that’s where Norm Abram of the New Yankee Workshop began whispering to my soul…”Use the Plane. Use the Plane.” And then his voice faded away. But I got it! I got the message. For 4 hours I planed. And I planed. And I planed some more. I think tomorrow if my arms still work, which is questionable right now, I will plane again. (This is where Tattoo would say, Replane! Replane! With all this “planning” you knew it was coming.) Pathetic.

But it was incredible. It’s so therapeutic. You can think about stuff. Pray about stuff. Meditate on stuff. All while working away. No wonder Jesus was able to be so mellow most of the time. He was able to be so peaceful and gentle and holy…because while His body was working, His mind and heart and spirit were on the clock too. How refreshing is that? The picture above is how I started. I’ll post a pic next week when it’s put to use. Until then, no peeking! Just anticipate the JOY of Easter with me.

Things the church needs more of:

This is just an off the cuff reflection. I saw a commercial and it had a kid eating an ice cream cone, and the kid was smiling ear to ear. I thought, “wow…we need more people in church that smile like that. “ That’s where this idea was birthed. It’s a little quirky and not overly theological, but it gives you a little glimpse at how my mind works.

Things the church needs more of:
1. Obviously, Ice Cream machines. If it made the girl on tv smile, it would probably make all of us smile. Add a whole “frozen yumminess section” to the Christian Life Center. Cherry Flavored Icee’s. Frozen Yogurt with all –the-toppings- bar. Already I can tell, I’m winning you over to this. You want ice cream. NOW!

2. While we’re on the topic of smiling in church…Why not add more Disco Music. Say what you will, but Disco always makes you smile. You don’t want your friends to know your listening to KC and the Sunshine Band, but secretly, every time you do, you’re glad you did. Isn’t it about time that “DOING CHURCH” becomes a little more enjoyable?

3. Thinking about music, everybody’s favorite church subject to fuss and fight about. Wouldn’t it be cool if the church just had more people who loved singing their hearts out to God regardless of the style of music? Wouldn’t it be cool if we had more worshippers gathered to sing to an audience of “ONE” rather than attenders who show up to be entertained?

4. Tithers. (do I really need to expand on this) God says “DO IT.” Many of us don’t. The church struggles spiritually and financially.

5. Cell Phone Signal Interrupting Hovercrafts. I have yet to invent one of these, but basically its like a little UFO (only it is identifiable because it would have the church logo and John3:16 stamped on it) that flies around the sanctuary and emits some electro-something that makes cell phones not work. Wouldn’t it be cool to have one whole hour set aside from all the electronic gadgets in life that have become impossible to live without? In fact, it ought to be mandatory that we have a whole day or two a month where we turn off all the technology that we’ve built into our lives and quiet ourselves. Listening for the Voice of the Master to speak into us.

6. SWEAT! People who devote themselves as fully and completely to the work of the church and the ministry of the Kingdom as they do to Zumba, baseball, marching band, football, tennis, Yahtzee and any other sport/activity you can think of…including fishing and hunting here too.

7. More leaders, less leadership seminars.

8. Air conditioning vents in the floor right behind the pulpit.

9. Velvet pictures of Jesus, Elvis and the bulldogs all playing pool together. I mean, if they can all get along together, then surely the rest of us can too!

10. Sinners. I’m of the opinion that Jesus intended the church to be a place where the sinful gather to be remade in the image of Christ. Sometimes we get so caught up on being the image of Christ we forget what we used to be, and develop a pretty low tolerance for it too!

Ahh, who knows. What are things you’d like to see more of in the church where you attend? Leave your comments here.

Your Pastor's "Professional" Life.

Back in the day when David Letterman used to be funny, I absolutely loved his Top 10 list. It was a light hearted way of poking fun at oftentimes very serious issues of the day. I thought I’d try my hand at it here. As you will see, Math is not my strong suit.

10 things you need to know about your Pastor’s Professional Life

18. Sadly, I’m not yet like the minister on Little House…I’m not too holy yet. I’ve been following after Jesus for quite a while and I still haven’t caught up. I’m earthy, flawed and messy at times. I still need Jesus as much as the next guy!

17. I never handle the church’s money. EVER!!!!!

16. I will always vote in favor of a church Hot-Tub.

15. God desires the church to dwell in unity. I do to too! Conflict is hard, horrible and hurtful. I believe almost every problem in the church could be done away with if we followed these 3 simples Scriptures:
Matthew 22:36-49 – The greatest commandment.
Matthew 7:1-5 – First removing the plank from our own eyes.
Matthew 18:15-17 – Keeping problems with others a private affair.

14. When it comes to music, be warned…I cannot sing. Also be warned…I love to sing. It’s nasally, off-key and all-out horrible. Sorry, but get you’ll get used to it. And while I’m talking about music, let me say that I love the traditional hymns. I love praise choruses. I love the old spirituals and the new really loud stuff. It takes more than one style of music to sufficiently praise the King. So, if it honors Jesus, I’m for it!

13. I’m always on duty. Life doesn’t happen from 9-5, so call whenever you need your pastor. It’s ok. Really. I promise you won’t be the first person to wake me up in the middle of the night.

12. I don’t eat chicken unless that’s my only option. (And even then, I won’t each much)

11. If you have to go to the hospital, have a procedure or there’s a death in family, please let me know. I had to turn over my psychic powers when I was ordained.

10. As a rule I do not counsel women or children alone.
I will only break this rule if they are in prison, or I am in prison.

9. I am happy to lead your 3rd cousin’s neighbor’s lawn man to Christ.
However, I expect you to go with me!!!! Evangelism works BEST in relationships. ALWAYS.

8. Holy Communion isn’t something that’s just added to the end of the service to make us feel happy.
Holy Communion IS THE SERVICE.

7. God has X-Ray eyes and He sees right through my clothes. You do not, so I will try to dress and groom myself in a manner that does not hinder the Gospel or someone’s ability to take me seriously. This does not mean I will be wearing a suit at all times. It does mean I won’t show up at your funeral in bib overalls and a sleeveless Sundrop T- shirt!!!

6. WRITE IT DOWN! If “it” is important for me to know, “it” is important enough to put it in print.
Both my memory and the old gray mare…they aint what they used to be!

5. Sometimes I make mistakes, at other times I mess up. I will never intentionally set out to hurt you, offend you or be mean to you. If I do, let’s talk about it, my door is always open.

4. Officiating weddings is not part of my “JOB.” Building healthy marriages is a function of my ministry.
I will only “Do” Christian weddings, and only after significant pre-marital counseling.

3. I place a high value on confidentiality. I will not blab your private affairs unless someone else’s life is immediately at risk. If I should happen to share my concerns with you, please afford me the same.

2. Christ and His Church are my life. I strive to give Him and His Church the best I have to offer. I expect every other follower of Jesus to do the same.

1. I love people. I love what I do. But I love my family the most and if I’m forced to choose, my family will “win” every time. I’m their “pastor” first, according to the book.

OK, I just read and re-read this about 4 times and I’m not really satisfied with it. I sound like an egotistical, arrogant jerk. I don’t mean it that way, it’s not a “my way or the highway” type of thing. I just know there are a lot of problems that can be avoided if you know up front what to expect out of me. Communication is everything, and this is stuff that’s important, (at least to me) but not worthy of a sermon or newsletter. So there you have it. There’s lots of other quirky things that make me, me. I hope you find them enjoyable and beneficial to our new life TOGETHER. I know God is up to something exciting at FCPC!

Things you might need to know about your pastor.

I guess I’d never given it much thought before, but today it struck me like the smell of cooked cabbage: “It might be good if the folks at church got to know a little bit more about me.” I’m not your average minister, heck I’m really not average anything. Sometimes I can be a little strange, sometimes I can be a lot strange. I fail a whole lot more frequently than I succeed. Sometimes I can be in the room, but I’m not really present. I fluctuate several times a day between ADD and S.T.O.P. (that spells stop!) So, anyhow, it hit me like a bad smell…You need the chance to get to know me. So for a few days I’ll post a few things about myself and give you the chance to try and understand me.
TODAY I’ll begin with a bit about my personal life. I wasn’t always the sweet angel you currently know. I went through a strong period of rebellion and am so blessed my Heavenly Father was gracious enough to yell so loudly that I could hear His plea to “come home.” After a fairly thorough college and seminary career, I was ordained in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1996. 2 years later I married my only True Love. I have the most incredible wife on the planet. She is beautiful, intelligent, loving and devoted to the cause of Christ. I bug the snot out of her because she’s my wife. You don’t get to bug the snot out of her because she’s my wife. ( I really don’t mean that as rude as it sounds, I just had to get it out there.)

I have 2 wonderful kids. They are not perfect. Neither are they to be treated as such. It’s not every day that I quote Hillary Clinton, but somehow she managed to tap into the wisdom of God when she declared “It takes a village to raise a child.” It takes all of us to help our children “learn the rules and stay in bounds.” Its ok to correct my children when they cross the line, in fact, I’ll be offended if you don’t. (please no leather straps or pepper spray, a good scolding and the ensuing shame is usually all it takes). But also know this…as wonderful as your kids are, they aren’t perfect either, and from time to time I will help guide them back inbounds should they get off course. It’s the way God designed things.

As for hobbies, I love just about everything, everything except golf (I will occasionally make an exception and play a round if it helps a greater cause.)and basketball. I love to be outside. Camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, mowing, cutting firewood, playing Bocce and lawn-chair riding are some of my favorites. I love to read. I really love to read. If you want me to ignore you, just give me a book. I enjoy cooking, but not so much the cleaning up afterward. I am currently coveting one of those Big Green Egg Cookers, but I doubt seriously that I will sell the required kidney to be able to afford one. (If you, on the other hand, would like to donate a kidney to my “fancy grill fund” leave a comment below) For most people, mission trips aren’t a hobby, but for me, I love them. I’ve seen God do some amazing things when His people step out of their comfort and culture on His behalf.

I probably watch more tv than I should, but I love programs like Axe Men, Swamp People and Duck Dynasty. Tonight was the premiere of Duck Dynasty…AWESOME. Mostly I like this type of programming because they make me feel so much better about myself, but they are entertaining. Criminal Minds, while usually pretty graphic, engages my thought processes…which is a good thing. Of course I’m a sucker for some throw-back Hee-Haw, Little House on the Prairie and the Dukes of Hazzard. I never liked Touched by an Angel.

I’m an Illini fan and currently hoping Shaka Smart gets the Men’s Basketball Coaching job. He’d be awesome. Not sure about what the football team needs…I’m in favor of letting the Women’s Volleyball Coach have a stab at it. Baseball is St. Louis Cardinals ALL THE WAY! And the real shocker…when it comes to the NFL, I am probably the only Detroit Lions fan south of Detroit. Not sure how that happened, maybe it was Barry Sanders, but who really knows.

Anyhow, that’s a little about me. Check back in a day or two and I’ll post about the “Professional” side of me. The “How I go about being a pastor” stuff. (I’m sure the suspense is already killing you!)

A Compliment...I think

I got the strangest compliment yesterday. I was visiting at the hospital and went in to meet a lady I'd never met before. Within the first minute of our time together she said, "You have the warmest, most welcoming smile I've ever seen." Given my current "belly-expansion" project, I probably should've received this as the proverbial "...but you've got such a pretty face." You know, maybe its her way of following Grandma's Rule...If you dont have something nice to say, dont say anything at all! But I want to believe that its really true. I want to believe she meant just what she said. I want to believe that I communicate "warm and inviting." When I walk into a room, I want to change the place...I want the presence of Christ in me to make a difference. I want my countenance to reflect hospitality of Christ. I dont want to be one of those dried up, staunchy, too much starch-in-my-shorts kind of Christians.

In Exodus 34 after Moses had been in the presence of God on the mountain top, Scripture says "his face was radiant." It was so overwhelmingly obvious that Aaron and the Children of Israel kind of freaked out and kept their distance. The conlcusion I'm making at this point is this...The more time I spend in the presence of the Father, the more likely others will be able to see Him in me. How's your countenance?

What I'm Reading Right Now.

Every once in a while somebody wants to know what I'm reading. I love to read. Unpacking books this week was almost disastrous. I came across a book I hadn't seen in a while..."Everything I know about Bucks with a Bow"...by Bob Kirschner. Its a thin, home-published looking little tv guide sort of book offering all sorts of tips and tricks for the avid hunter. Its way outdated, but what the heck, it was words on a page, and Bob is one of the most interesting people on the planet. I sat in the floor and read it. Just because I hadn't seen it in for forever. I LOVE TO READ. And I'll read just about anything. But it really interferes with unpacking.

So, you ask, what am I reading right now? And if you didn't ask, I'm going to tell you anyway.
Several different books...For fun, I just finished up "The Bride Collector" by Ted Dekker. To me, its relaxing just to escape into a little fiction every now and then. This would make a great Criminal Minds movie. Its a little dark, eh...a lot dark. The author weaves just enough biblical thought into it that Lifeway will sell it, but nonetheless...I loved it. There's a lot of unnecessary graphic poo left out that books of this genre usually overdo.

I'm really learning a lot from 2 other books. "Visioneering" by Andy Stanley and "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. These two have a lot of great information that I am already trying to figure out how to introduce in my ministry here at FCPC. I think they will help us navigate the future in a way that helps us become all that God desires and intends us to be. And to DO it in a way that honors God and values His people. (The "getting there" is just as important as the "where we're going.")

I'm also reading "Day of War" by Cliff Graham. This one is pretty interesting. The book is about David and his Mighty Men. What makes it such a unique read is that Cliff is a military veteran that now serves as a chaplain. His insights into the life of a soldier open up the lives of those military men in scripture with a new clarity that I was unable to "get" as I have no military background whatsoever (unless you count my years in the Boy Scouts).

I think April is the month for the observance of National Turn-Off the TV Week. Why dont you turn off the tube and do a little reading. It'll do you some good.

Everything's Different...Everything's the same

I'm not really sure where to even go with this tonight. So much has happened. So many things have taken place. Massive tornadoes bringing deathly devastation rocked our region a week and half ago. I moved from Paducah, KY to Fairfield, IL. I started a new ministry at the CP Church here in town. I've met a jillion people. Been involved in some disaster relief efforts. Spent the first of 12 weeks without my family. Not killed the dog yet. Got situated in a new office. Finally found my dress socks...in the box labeled "Movies & Games." Opened a new bank account. Seen tons and tons of friends. Am making many new ones too! Greeted the family in the new house for their first weekend trip. Almost figured out the new cable remote. DiMaggios. DiMaggios. DiMaggios. I've gagged at the taste of city water. Gone to the Women's Meeting. 3 Pork Burgers. Upwards Basketball. HOPE International. 90.9 The Vine. Preached a "First Sermon." So many new things, and yet in all the newness there has been a real familiarity to it all. The familiar presence of Christ and His reassuring arms around me remind me I am not alone in all of this. He still longs to order each step. He still fulfills His promise to never leave me nor forsake me. When I am nervous and afraid, He is still my Strong Tower. When I am uncertain, He is still my Wonderful Counselor. When I am alone, He is my Comfort. So while my life has sort of been turned upside down, nothing's really changed. Holding fast to the hand of He who is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow helps keep things in proper perspective. Everything's different...Everything's the same.