Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Shattering the Silence!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Holy Week Reflections
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!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
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!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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!!)