Monday, September 28, 2009

Cowboy for an Evening...


So a few weeks ago, Carla was working 3-11 on a Friday night, so I headed off on the hawg for an evening of relaxation.  I was heading south on Route 18 in Washington County and was encountering all sorts of traffic, a rarity for this rural stretch of road.  As I tooled on, I started noticing people in the cars dressed in cowboy hats and flannel shirts.  Soon, I was at a mini traffic jam near the entrance to the concert grounds.  I asked someone (dressed in the cowboy garb) next to me what was going on, and they responded that it was a Toby Keith concert...last of the season!

So that explains it.  I have to admit, my first thought was "how stupid is this...a bunch of yinzers dressed like cowboys and cowgirls.  I bet they don't dress that way on Monday..."

But then I thought, that's what makes America great.  We are truly free...free to lose ourselves in some "other persona" if evening for an evening.  We are free to live out our dreams, if only at a concert on a Friday evening.  I love this country, and I love freedom....

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

G20 Scmee Scmwenty


So here are some thoughts on the G-20 Summit in Pburgh this week:

  • Who cares?
  • What if all the protesters went on a mission trip for a week and did some real good?
  • Or what if the protesters got jobs?
  • Or what if the world leaders got jobs?
  • Or what if the world leaders got saved?
  • Or what if the protesters got saved?
  • This summit is pointless...in the words of the great theologian "The WHO" - "...meet the new boss, same as the old boss..."
 I'm thinking of offering my own "discount" summit in these hard economic times:

G-17.95 Summit!  You save over 10%.  But wait, we're not finished...we'll send you a second G absolutely free (just pay separate shipping and processing fees....)

Friday, September 18, 2009

There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch...or is There?


So dad always used to say that there is no such thing as a free lunch.  (Actually,  dad probably still says it...I haven't known dad not to repeat himself too much!)  But alas dad was wrong on this one. 

Today at C3, we're hosting yet another free lunch for our neighbors.  You see, we don't have a real church building so we lease space in a business park.  It's a real neato opportunity to do some different things and to bless our neighbors around us.  So with the help of our staff and few wunneful volunteers, we're cooking up some burgers and dogs and stuff and inviting our business neighbors to enjoy it with us and one another.  No strings attached.  Free.  For real.

Jesus said "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Hey Lord....we're trying!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Life's a Trip!

So the other evening Carla was working and I was bored so I went out for a long (like 190 miles) ride on the hawg.  As I was cruising up the highway nearing sundown, I was just admiring how beautiful the sky was that evening.  The clouds were gorgeous and the colors that God had used to paint the evening sky were absolutely breathtaking.  As I cruised along, I noticed something....everyone else on the road seemed to be going somewhere!!!  I wasn't...I was just enjoying the ride.  In fact, the ride was the whole purpose for the evening.  But I seemed to be rather alone in that.  People passed me and never seemed to notice the sky, or the sumac turning red, or the deer and turkey far off in the neighboring fields.  They were all going somewhere, but they forgot to enjoy the ride...

A great theologian, John Magargee, once taught me about the dangers of destination disease.  You know, how we focus on where we're going and forget to enjoy the journey of getting there?  So that evening, I was free...free to enjoy the journey and not worry so much about where I was going.  Didn't Jesus say something about the "road to life?"  You think He was really trying to remind us the simple truth that life's a trip?

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Sometimes, It Just Fixes Itself

So it isn't much, but it's my car.  It's a '99 Saturn SC-1. I'm thinkin the SC stands for super cool.  Anywho, about a year ago, the windshield wipers started sorta just coming on and off on their own volition, even though they probably don't have a volition.  So you can be driving down the highway on a bootyful sunny day and like all of the sudden they just start wiping.  Sometimes on fast, sometimes on slow, sometimes on pause, and sometimes some combination thereof.  And then they stop...sometimes down at the bottom where they're 'apposta and sometimes just right in the middle of the field of vision.

So people (read: Carla) say "why don't you get them fixed?"  Well, the car is prolly worth less than a good set of wiper blades to start with and I'm just not thinking that it is really worth it.  Do I have pride?  Do I care if my wipers are on when it's such a nice day?  Heck no!  I just care that I'm not giving some mechanic his child's next tuition payment to "fix" the problem.

Now all that to say, my car seldom does the windshield washer thing anymore.  Maybe it just got tired.  Maybe it was a battle of wills and I won.  Maybe they just fixed themselves.  Who knows.  But it gets me to thinking how much energy we put toward things that really don't need our energy at all. 

Wasn't it Jesus who told that story about the farmer who...well, you can read it here.

Friday, September 04, 2009

SIMPLE!

My how we complicate the simple... This seems to be the way of the world. And it certainly applies to the church. And it surely applies to the gospel. The good news of Jesus isn't complicated at all, and yet we've made it seem that way. On September 13th, C3 is going to embark on a journey to simplify. Won't you join us?

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Doin' the Stuff


John Wimber, controversial pastor, preacher, teacher, and minister of decades gone by is sorta famous for this line "doin' the stuff." He came of out a drug life into a relationship with Jesus Christ. After reading through the New Testament and worshiping in a church for a while, he was led to ask the pastor when we "get to do the stuff." By the stuff, he meant the miracles of Jesus...the healings and the instantaneous changes of life that Jesus brought about. The pastor kinda shrugged him off and indicated that Jesus did the stuff, but we don't anymore...

What a shame. Why have we dismissed the supernatural abilities of an awesome God. Why do we do our own stuff, and often with very little kingdom impact, all the while not letting God do His?