IMPORTANT BLOG UPDATES AND ADDENDUMS

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to bring you this important annoucement:

I visited with my family while on vacation and had a delightful time.

(my mom didn't even email me and comment on how I neglected to mention that in my recent blog posting about my vacation.)

The Shack...

So one of the books I read on vacation was "The Shack." Who's read it? What did you think?

Here are some of my reactions:

The book wasn't necessarily a smooth read, but the subject matter kept me engaged to the end (which is rare for me!).

Obviously the book wasn't written as a theological treatise and we could play games all day about the theological "problems" with the book (as we do about every book, even the Bible!).

My greatest reaction was it got me to thinking very differently about how the Lord wishes to interact with His people and how He views this life of ours very differently than we do. That was very enlightening and very refreshing, indeed!

He's Back!

Hi kids out there in blogland! I am back from a week's vacation and I thought I'd check in with y'all. I enjoyed my week of goofing considerably with some of the following:

Reading books. I finished The Shack...what a great book.
Napping. Need I say more?
Riding the hawg...put about a thousand miles on last week.
Turning 44. It didn't hurt a bit!
Spending some time w/ my best friend Carla. Priceless.

So now I'm back and ready to "press on toward the prize." I'll blog more soon, I promise!

You know it's Easter when...

...I have a cold. It seems like I get a cold before all the major high and holy holidays in the church. Why? Satan is trying to dampen the celebration? Sorry dude...I read the book...Jesus wins.

...Newsweek and the History Channel run stories making it seem like Christianity is damned. Why? Satan is trying dampen the celebration? Sorry dude...I read the book...Jesus wins.

Happy Easter!!!

Ch ch ch ch changes....

Why does human nature hate change? There is this ongoing furor (or fervor, depending on your choice of words...) about the "new" facebook. I am working with our Leadership Team to change our vision statement which is causing some unrest. We're not doing the "same" Good Friday service this year...I hope nobody leaves the church because of it! Because, it seems, we don't like to change.

But change can be a wonderful thing...a new opportunity. God is changing the world and that is the fantastic news of Easter. Change means we have Spring instead of winter all year long (and I promise, winter is nearly done!). Change means we meet new people, have new experiences, and have new opportunities to love and serve an awesome God.

So I say "change...bring it on!"

Was it something I said?

His name is Fred Miller. He is probably one of the greatest Christian men I've ever had the privilege of knowing. He is a life long resident of New Paris PA and is one of the most faithful members the New Paris United Methodist Church has ever known. He was an unofficial mentor to me and taught me more about Jesus, more about ministry, and more about the church than any person or seminary ever has.

One day we were sitting in my office peeling oranges and eating breakfast together...part of his gentle way of getting me to slow down a little. I was lamenting to him about how somebody was upset with me because of a decision I had made and how difficult it was to have somebody angry with me.

He sat and thought, and then he said "Brett, you're the pastor and you're a leader. If at any given time someone isn't upset with you, then you're probably not living into your calling."

Wow. Those words still humble and inspire me. Already today, a decision I made has somebody upset. I'm sorry they are, but I'm not sorry for my decision. That's what leaders do. Pray for me that I will always make the Godly decisions. And pray for me that I don't let others' discomfort with those decisions dissuade me from living into my calling...