WARNING: THIS BLOG MAY BE OFFENSIVE!!! (sorry if the caps are considered offensive) (sorry if my alarming title has offended you)

WARNING: (again, sorry if you consider writing in caps to be offensive (sorry if you consider writing in abbreviations such as "caps" instead of capital letters to be offensive))

You are about to enter an offensive blog post!!!! (The use of one or more exclamation points (or any other punctuation marks is not now, or previously intended to be offensive in ANY (or any) way) You MUST (or must) certify that you have thick skin (I'm sorry if I offended any people with physiologically thick skin. I was attempting to use a metaphor (which is not intended to be offensive to anyone who may find metaphorical statements to be in any way offensive nor is it intended to show preference to metaphors, and is not intended to offensively degrade or lessen the importance of simile or other literary tools)) to read this (or any other, including, but not limited to previous or future, or linked) blog entry or entries.

Please click HERE if you wish not to be offended or if you are offended easily. (If you offended by embedded links in a blog, I apologize.)

NOTICE: The following (and preceding) is intended to be, but may not be perceived to be, and may not be wholly or partially limited to, a non-offensive blog entry. The blog entry shall not, may or may not, does not, and is not necessarily, although may be UNINTENTIONALLY perceived to be, reflect or represent the views, viewpoints, opinions, feelings, leanings, or personal preferences of me (being Brett Probert (sorry if you're offended by so many parenthetical statements (my use of the apostrophic rendition of "you're" instead of "you are" is not intended in any way to be offensive (I am sorry if you're (or you are) offended by the occasional, though not intended to be offensive, but which may none-the-less be unintentionally considered to be such, of poor punctuation or grammar or missspelllllings of word or words (or the inability, though intended to be benign, although sometimes understood differently, to count how many punctuational ending little thingys that look like " ) " which may INADVERTANTLY result in an incorrect number of those aforementioned, though improperly named (which, BTW (I'm (or I am) sorry if you don't (or do not) understand or appreciate text message abbreviations such as, although not intended to be exclusively limited to, BTW) little punctuation notations previously notated as " ) " ))))) in any way, shape, or form (which is not intended to offensive to, and I apologize if it was unintentially perceived to be, other short words, terms, or phrases that describe inclusivity).

PLEASE (or "please" as I am not intending offense, and am not, nor have ever been, and am henceforth from this time intending to seem like I am yelling, screaming, angry (even righteous anger (which is not a Biblical term per se, and is not intended to speak on behalf of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or any saint (to be understood in a more universal or catholic, and not Catholic (although I am intending absolutely NO (or no) offensive to Catholics (note: my use of "Catholic" is an abbreviation for "Roman Catholic" which is not intended to be offensive to either Roman Catholics or Catholics of other Catholic traditions and is IN NO WAY (or in no way) intended to appear to elevate or debase in any way the Roman Catholic Church or Roman Catholic adherents or any other Catholic traditions or the adherents thereto) of the church either past, present or future (NB: (I am sorry if the notation "NB" which is an abbreviation for the French phrase "notez bien" is offensive and is not intended to be considered either an endorsement, preferential treatment to the French language, French speaking people, or France, or the debasing of any or all of those) use of the word), hurtful, cutting, demeaning, degrading, being too loud (or being too soft) do not take offensive to anything already mentioned or written below or beside this (or any other) text (or images) on this blog entry (or the links (which are not intended to lead to any offensive material nor to show preference to any blog or blogger over another) which may or may not be therein contained) consider yourself forewarned and pre-apologized to for the content of this, or any, and all, blog posts, comments, links, or other uses of, but not limited to, written language, images (photographic, drawn, or otherwise), and non-verbal means of communication (which is not intended to in any way offend by elevating or showing preference to, or superiority of, any or all of the aforementioned means of communication and is NOT (or not) intended to offend anyone, anywhere, who may or not be able to, or does not prefer, or who greatly prefers, one means of communication above or over or under another))).


I AM SORRY (or I am sorry, or i am sorry, or I'm sorry, or i'm sorry, or I apologize, or i apologize).

(NOTE: (or note) the preceding "sorry" was not intended to offend anyone, anywhere, for any reason and if it did, does, or will at some point, or points, of time in future, I am sorry...)

These are a few of my favorite things...

...besides the Lord and Carla of course!

Here are a few projects I'm working on during my day off and free evenings:

My Telecaster that I am hot-rodding:

The guitar I'm building for the use of pastors and spouses at the Pastors Retreat Network:

UPDATE: Biggest Loser!

I lost the weight I gained so that I could lose so that I could win. Now I just have to lose some weight that I hadn't gained in order to win so that I can win and be the biggest loser!

I Have a Secret...

...and it is hidden in an old clock! Just kidding! My real secret is that I have been reading Nancy Drew stories lately (and am just starting into the Hardy Boys)! Why, you ask, would a grown man (insert nasty comments now!) read Nancy Drew? Well, when we were on our retreat, Carla and I rediscovered the art of reading for FUN! I read the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and then remembered reading these mystery stories as a kid. So, I have been securing these fun novels from my local library and losing myself in a world of innocence and goodness. What a blast.

It is helping me to, as the Lord said through Paul, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

It is

cold.

Elijah Room

When I was on my retreat, the Lord put upon me to develop a "retreat room" in our house. So we did. I am calling it my "Elijah Room." In 1 Kings 17, we read about how Elijah sought the Lord and the Lord cared for him. Later, when the widow with whom he was staying had a son who stopped breathing, Elijah took the boy upstairs to his room and prayed. God restored the boy's health. I believe the reason Elijah did this was because it was in this upstairs room where he met regularly with the Lord. So when he had a problem, he simply went to meet with the Lord.

Do you have an Elijah space somewhere?

Here are some pix:

The Biggest Loser!

Today was the big weigh-in at my gym. A number of us are embarking on our own "Biggest Loser" contest over the next three months. The cost to enter is $50. The 2nd place contestant gets his money back...1st place takes the rest.

I have never been overweight so I had a problem on my hands. In order to have a chance to win, I spent the last 6 weeks eating anything and everything I wanted. The strategy was to be unhealthy and gain weight so that I could lose weight and be healthy. I gained 9 pounds and now am heavier than I've ever been in my life! Awesome!!! I have a real chance to be the biggest loser because I was striving to be the biggest gainer!!!

And don't we sometimes act like that in life?

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Please Pray

Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, serving our country in Iraq with the US Army Special Forces, died on Wednesday, January 2. Please be praying for his family. He has a twin brother Brandon who is also serving in Iraq right now and is hopefully on his way home. He has a younger brother Adam who is in the Army but is currently stateside, stationed at Fort Campbell GA.

Pray for Scott and Cheryl to have the strength to deal with this tragic loss and to be a witness to their family and friends about eternity and the realities made possible through Jesus Christ their Lord.

Feeling ReFRESHed

Well, I am back to the daily routine. It has been an awesome Christmas season...perhaps the best ever. Carla and I had a lot of time to spend together as well as some great times with family and friends.

The greatest part of Christmas this year was the retreat we went on. If you are a pastor, you MUST click on this link and consider applying for a week like this. It was an physical, emotional, and spiritual blessing in ways that are hard to verbalize. We felt like we sat at the feet of the Lord for a whole week. Dan and Nancy, who host the retreats, are just awesome people. They are being SO used by God in this ministry. I cannot overstress how important it is for we, as Christians, to take time to fellowship with our Lord in extended times of communion. I am blessed!!! And I am now, truthfully, ready to start a new year. I hope you are too!

Happy New Year!

Just a quick note to wish all of you in Blog de Brett land a happy new year. I will begin blogging in earnest again on January 2, I promise. (I may then promptly end blogging in earnest very shortly afterward, but know that I will at least begin....)

Retreat!

After worship this Sunday (the 16th), Carla and I are heading out for a five day, all expenses paid retreat!!! Woohoo! We are SO much looking forward to spending some time away from school, cell phones, and computers! We will be seeking the Lord together and experiencing the true presence of Jesus Christ in preparation for Christmas. We'll be gone from Sunday afternoon through Friday, December 21st. We'll miss yins'all and we'll be praying for you. Please pray for us!

Merry Christmas!!

My favorite Christmas song...expressing the true meaning of Christmas!

Hope!

This past Sunday in worship, we were experiencing the hope of the Lord together. How good it is to hope in something that will not disappoint us. And yet, how often do we fail to hope? Worse yet, how often do we fail to show it to those who are hopeless? One of Carla's favorite verses is 1 Peter 3:15. What a verse...always be ready to share the reason for the hope you have. In other words, our hope should show. Lately I am afraid my hope hasn't been evident. But fear not, for my hope is not lost. No, hope in Jesus doesn't disappoint us...

Blogstipated

My wife, Carla, is a nursing student at Sewickley Valley Hospital School of Nursing. Currently in her nursing concepts class, she is studying a chapter called "elimination." This does not hold the same meeting as teams competing for a title, if you know what I'm saying! She is showing me all kinds of beautiful pictures...thanks Carla.

Anywho, it gets me to thinking about how, lately, I seem to be blogstipated. This is a term coined by my friend Greg ...or was it Chris ? I don't really feel like I have much to share with the blogging world. I know this is a huge disappointment to all the 3 people who read this blog. Please accept my apologies.

Tonight we have our Charge Conference and I am, for the first time in my pastoral history, looking forward to it. I feel like our District Superintendent is a very good guy and I believe he is the best DS I've ever worked with. (Don: I hope you read this before tonight.) We are holding this anal....er, excuse me...annual Methodist meeting in conjunction with the ROCK. The ROCK is our discipleship service on Wednesday evenings. Way fun.

Our Vision Team is really moving forward. I am so blessed to serve a church that is looking to where God is calling us and is really trying to be proactive and faithful to walk that road. Praise the Lord.

Well, that's about it. I'll try to take a bloxative and get things moving again around here.

Latest Update

Click Here.

And yet another friend...

I just want to praise the Lord for some very good friends. I spent some time with a good friend last evening and it was such a blessing. He is the kind of friend who will always love me but will also tell me what I need to hear, even if it hurts. And then I get a call this morning from another friend...just checking in on me...no agenda, no needs, no complaints, just checking in.

When I lived in Africa, I discovered that our American culture uses the terms friend and acquaintance interchangeably. This is not so in other parts of the world. And although I do have a lot of “close acquaintances” for which I’m thankful, I am especially grateful to the growing number of people in my life that I count as true friends. My African friends and acquaintances would be proud…

Mondays!

I wrote this post a long time ago...but I ain't feelin' it today! I am tired and having a hard time getting my mind to engage. Anyone else feeling the Monday blahs?

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to share some things that I am thankful for.

First of all, for a God who chose to create me and this world. For a God who chose to reveal Himself to me in His Son Jesus Christ and to redeem me through His life, death, and resurrection. And for a God who lives through me and perfects me through the power and abiding presence of His Holy Spirit.

I am thankful to God for my wife Carla. She is the greatest human being in the world. She is my best friend!!!

I'm thankful to God for my family. I am truly blessed with parents and siblings and in-laws and an extended family whom I love.

I'm thankful to God for my church family. Cornerstone has been one of the greatest blessings of my pastoral life. I am so happy to be able to serve with these wonderful people. I have made some great friends for which I'm very thankful.

There is so much more that I have to be thankful for that there isn't enough bandwidth to contain. I hope you're able to recount your blessings over this holyday too.

Snow!

It is snowing this morning for the first real time this season. Praise God!!! I love the snow! May I be to the Lord as in Proverbs 25:13 "Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;he refreshes the spirit of his masters."

What Ya Listening To?

My favorites on my iPod right now:

Iona: Revelation (a great tune of prayer)

Brandi Carlile: The Story

Mercy Me: Word of God, Speak

Michael W. Smith: Healing Rain

Roxy Music: Oh Yeah

Dave DeMarco: Adore

How about you?

Standing on the Rock

I have been trying to do some Scripture memorization of late. I haven't been very faithful to that at all over the past few years and as God has been speaking to me lately, He has encouraged me to memorize and stand on His Word. My verse for the week is Psalm 18:2. "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness to me and for being a Rock to me when I am on unsteady ground. May I look to you for strength and wholeness with each passing moment.

Music to My Ears

I love music...especially bluegrass. There is something about how music can communicate with the soul and express the feelings of the heart that other forms of communication cannot. God says through the Psalmist in Psalm 33: "Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song;play skillfully, and shout for joy."

Thank you Lord for music...may I hear you and speak to you through this "means of grace" you've given to us...

A Great Weekend!

Had a great weekend....took Lori and some of our youth to Leadapalooza on Saturday. That is a youth leadership training event. We had a great time and learned a lot of cool schtuff and...



WE WON THE MINISTY MAKEOVER PACKAGE GRAND PRIZE!!!! Victoria had the winning number...we are calling her VictoriaS...because she is. We are so psyched...now we are finalizing our name choice and we'll start working on our logo to launch our website and that. Coolio indeed!



Also, Cornerstone hosted a "Professional Minister's Appreciate Luncheon" for our staff yesterday after our worship service. It was wonderful and a great time. I am so pleased to be able to live out my calling among some fantastic people. Cornerstone...YOU ROCK!!!

Perspective....

Man, Was I Thirsty!!!

So I cancelled my appointments today and spent the day at the park with God. Here is what He said to me:

"Come, all you who are thirsty,come to the waters;and you who have no money,come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread,and your labor on what does not satisfy?Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me;hear me, that your soul may live.I will make an everlasting covenant with you,my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,because of the LORD your God,the Holy One of Israel,for he has endowed you with splendor." (Isaiah 55:1-5)

Thanks Lord....I really needed that. I'm claiming those promises, and thanks for prompting me to spend the day with you....

What a God Send!

Some words from the recent edition of Discipleship Journal:

"Given the choice, would you rather read a book or ride a bike? Ponder theological concepts or prepare a meal for a sick neighbor? Keep a journal or talk with a friend about your spiritual journey? Jot down musings about a Bible passage or debate an issue? Guess what - most material on spending time with God is written by people who would choose the first option in each question..."

So the article goes on to talk about how to enjoy the presence of God and allow Him to enjoy you in ways that are not so passive and sedentary. Praise the Lord...finally some resources for the more tactile learners of the world!

So, fellow kinesthesians, how do you experience the presence of God in active, experiential ways?

15 Years Ago Today...

...Carla and I were married. After she gets home from school, we are going to spend the rest of the day together. She is my best friend, my closest companion, a true encouragement, and a wonderful Christian example. She is more beautiful than ever, wittier than ever, and more in her element as a student nurse than I have ever seen. She is a constant source of joy in my life and the greatest gift God has given me apart from His Son. I thank the Lord for her, for our relationship, and for every day that we get to enjoy one another.

Jesus' Method of Discipleship

This list is from Mike Yaconelli, who summarized Jesus' methods of discipling people like this:

Hang out with the disciples…
Let them see you at your best and your worst…
Teach truths that none of your disciples can grasp at the moment…
Avoid crowds…
Go slowly…
Spend hours in solitude…
Don’t worry about opposition…
Ignore criticism…
Don’t expect immediate results…

Whaddya think?

For the Birds!

On Saturday, Carla and I spent the day together...what a blast. We went to the National Aviary on the North Side of Pittsburgh. What a cool city in which to live. We had so much fun learning about different birds and observing them. God is amazing and His creation testifies to His goodness and love at every 'tern'...get it? Tern...turn? Nevermind...

Anywho, we had a blast together. I thank God for my wonderful wife, for days off, and for a God who is worthy of all of our praise, as well as the praise of His creation....

He Who Is Not With Me...

Jesus said "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30) An interesting statement, to be sure. What does He mean?

Well last night Carla and I attended the Bishop's Night on the District gathering at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Allison Park. He had a very inspiring message about life and how to choose it for our churches. This verse came to mind as he was speaking, because I believe this is what Jesus was saying to His disciples in the first place.

We must choose to follow Jesus, which according to Him in this statement is simply being "with" Him. If we are not, then we have chosen, without even choosing, not to be with Him. As the Lord tells us in 1 John 5:12 "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." Choosing to be with Jesus is a choice for life, and all that it can be. Not being with Jesus is a choice to die...in every sense of the word.

For the people called Cornerstone, as much impact as my leadership can have, I choose to be with Jesus. And, therefore, I choose life.