Backwards, Part II

So a few days (weeks!) ago I blogged about how we have the "great commission" of Jesus to His followers kinda backwards.  This is the second thing that I've been kicking around lately that I think the church (universal) in America has backwards.

I believe that we have become almost incapable of interpreting Scripture except through the eyes of Paul.  Not that Paul is a bad guy.  Not that Paul's writings aren't a crucial part of the Bible.  It's just that Paul interprets the gospel to how it applies to organization.  That's not bad, but that was contextual to Paul's world at the time.

It seems to me that we, however, can no longer read the Bible apart from the lens of the organization...the church.  So we miss the point.  We don't understand the radical nature of the gospel...the message of Jesus. 

My prayer is that I might be able to start to read the Bible with fresh eyes...not the eyes of the organizational church, but the eyes of one simply seeking to follow Christ....

Reflections on Shopping

So I was doing some Christmas shopping on Saturday.  I spent some time at the Ross Park Mall.   Incredible...a bunch of rude, sorrowful, pushy, selfish people gathered in one place ostensibly to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world!  I mean, I had a good time, but more because I just treated it as an adventure and a study of humanity.

I was also shopping in the Strip District in the 'burgh.  If you've never been there, shame on you!  It was a totally different experience.  The streets and stores were jammed, but the attitude of people seemed very different.  People were polite, smiling, and seemingly enjoying their time together. 

In fact, I was in one store and was standing waiting to check out.  The lady at the cash register was older and was super friendly despite the fact that you could barely move in this little hole-in-the-wall place.  There were like 7 people in line, but it didn't bother her at all.  She greeted each guest with a hearty Merry Christmas.  The person in front of me was an acquaintance of hers and as he prepared to leave, she leaned over the counter and gave him a big hug.

I was next and she rang me up and I handed her my money and she gave me the change, I remarked that I must not have been as lucky a customer because I didn't get a hug.  She reached over the counter and gave me the biggest bear hug and said with a grin Merry Christmas.   I left the store with a huge smile on my face, and saw the other patrons smiling too.

Now I'm nearly done with my shopping, but do you have any guesses where I'm going back to?

I Have Sinned

Yes, all you Steeler fans, I have sinned.  Last night, in order to speak some hope to a friend, faithful blog follower, and twittermate who just happens to be a Cleveland Browns fan, I tweeted "Go BROWNS."

As you know, it worked.  They won.  We, the Steeler nation, are in deep mourning.

I feel that I must confess that it was I, and I alone, who must bear responsibility for this heinous transgression.  Please forgive me!

And BTW, if my twitter account holds such sway over national events, anyone wanna like pick a stock for me to tweet about and we all invest in it and watch what happens?!

eW evaH tI llA sdrawkcaB

So I think we have it all backwards.  What do you think?  Look at Jesus' words of instruction to the apostles...their marching orders (found in Matthew 28:19-20):

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

He told them (read: US) to do three things:
1. Go
2. Baptize
3. Teach

As I reflect on my leadership of Cornerstone Church over these last 4 1/2 years, I realized that in many ways, I have it all backwards.  Oh we do these things, or we try.   But maybe one of the reasons why we don't see the "kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven" to the extent we would hope is because we do them in the wrong order.  We attempt to teach Scriptural truth.  As we do, we hope that somebody will actually come and listen.  Then if they do, we baptize them...we indoctrinate them into the faith.   Then, and only then, we attempt to get them to "go." 

Problem is, we didn't "GO" to them, so we don't seem to be able to inspire them to "go" to anyone else.  So we keep teaching, and hoping someone will show up to listen.  And we keep baptizing...indoctrinating those few who stumble into our midst.  And we keep trying to get them to go, all the while not going ourselves....

ebyaM ew evah gnihtemos denrut sdrawkcab!!!  tahW od uoy kniht?

Have We Lost Something?

Have we lost something?  By we, I mean the church...the body of believers in this American culture.  The numbers are shrinking, you know.  We're not seeing people come to the Lord like once did, you know.   I'm sure there are lots of reasons and stuff behind it, but one thing I suspect is that we lost something...

What have we lost?  The call to change.  We say we accept people as they are.  And we do.  And we should.  Because God does.  We say come as you are.  And we ourselves do.  And we ourselves should.   Because that is the call of God.

But that's it?  I mean it goes no further?  We just come into a relationship with Him, and that's it.  We just live, and die, and heaven.  The end?

I don't think so, and I believe that is something we have lost.  God calls us to Him...to be accepted just as we are.  But He DEMANDS that we change.  He DEMANDS sacrifice...of our old lives for His.  And that is hard.  Very hard.  And so we resist.  And we don't change.   And we don't demand change of others...

...and we wonder why the grip of faith is slipping in our land?

Livin' For Sunday Mornings...

Here is a recent photo from one of Cornerstone's worship services...NOT!  If you have not ever been here, well we meet in a converted warehouse space and it looks just a little bit like nothing like this!

But we do faithfully gather every Sunday at 10:30 to sing, to pray, to praise, to share the Word of life together...to lift up the name of Jesus Christ.  And in the past 4 1/2 years that I've had the privilege of leading this congregation, I've loved every minute of our worship together...

And yet as I work through my own transitions from being a pastor to serving the Lord in some missional way, I am reflecting on my accomplishments here....and on where I have failed.  And as I lead this church through a time of transition and preparation for a new leader, we need to be reflecting on what we have accomplished together...and where we have failed.  I believe one of the things that we have found it most difficult to do is to be the church in any big way other than on Sunday mornings.

Our budget reflects this...our money, our time, and our facilities are primarily focused on enabling the Sunday morning worship service.  Not that it is bad to come together in worship...it is essential to our faith.  But we must also be the church to the world the other 6 days.  I believe one of my greatest shortcomings in my time here has been to be able to lead us in reaching out...boldly...recklessly...unceasingly...into this lost and hurting world.  One thing I believe we need to strive for as we move forward is to be livin' for Monday mornings, and Tuesdays, and so on...as much as we do for Sundays.

Well I'm a Mouse, and I'm Stirring!

So I'm coming from the gym to our ministry center this morning and there I am, sitting in traffic at a red light.  That is life in Cranberry.  Sitting in traffic at a red light.  I had just been talking to Stan this morning about the old Christmas TV special where the voice recites the beginning of 'T'was the Night Before Christmas.'  When he gets to the "not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" part, there is this little mouse in the kitchen stirring something in a bowl and she says "well I'm a mouse, and I'm stirring!"  Funny stuff.

So anywho, I'm sitting at this red light and all of the sudden I see this little mouse run out right into the middle of the intersection (228 and 19, no less!)!  As he begins to scurry about on the pavement, he starts acting very strangely.  You know, going this way, then that.  Running very fast in one direction, then stopping and running very fast in the opposite direction.  He finally and frantically made his way safely to the other side of the highway, hopped the curb, and took off into the grass.

And I'm thinking...I'm that mouse, and I'm stirring!  As I ponder God's ever renewing call on my life, I realize that my time in the suburbs has been like this mouse on the road.  It is just unfamiliar territory to me...it isn't where I really belong.  It's not that it is a bad place...if you're a car.  But I'm a mouse, and I think I have been stirring to find the grass where I belong. 

Lord, make me faithful to follow you....may my prayer be your commands to me iin Proverbs 4:26-27:

"Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  Do not swerve to the right or the left..."

Hope in the Hood

I took this pic while driving down through Aliquippa the other day.  I was coming back home from spending a few hours with Ben...the 12 year old boy that I "mentor" there.  If you've not been to Aliquippa and you live in the PIttsburgh area, you owe yourself a trip through there.  It is such a depressed place in so many ways.  When the steel industry pulled out a few decades ago, it's like they pulled out the heart and soul of Aliquippa and its people.

But NO!  Take a closer look and you'll see heart, and soul.  Jesus said that the last shall be first, and in many ways that is living out as truth in Aliquippa.  I take heart in a world that is obsesses with "Happy Holidays" and other politically correct crapola that a town in the heart of our region knows where the true hope lies, and is not afraid to display it.

Merry Christmas, Aliquippa.  And may the peace and hope, which can only be found in Jesus Christ (which you apparently already know) be yours this Christmas and always....

Caught Not Taught...

So I'm thinking it's true, that the fine line between the dog and owner begins to blur over the years...

You see, we have this crazy dog Shadrach.  He's almost 10 years old now and I love him...but I must admit he drives me crazy.  He is so reactionary.  Every little thing that happens he reacts like a crazy dog.  Every time I get out the chair, he's ready for his next "big adventure."  That usually means I'm just getting a glass of milk and he doesn't get anything, but still there is this ridiculous excitement...

He's also very fickle.  One minute he is all lovey and stuff and the next minute he's like "leave me alone."  One minute he is lying on the floor and the next minute he is fidgeting around on his cushion (his cush-cush!).   

And I look at him and think...what a nut!  And then I realize...over the years, he has taken on my personality!!!  I didn't teach him to act this way, he just learned it by watching me!  His behavior was caught, not taught. 

So I wonder...are we watching and catching Jesus? 

And then I wonder...who (besides Shadrach) is watching and catching Jesus...from ME?

Here...let me do that for you!

So I went to the Bishop's Day on the District meeting last night.  It was a very long meeting, but it was good in some respects.  First of all, I got to see some old friends and hang out a bit.  I also heard the bishop be very honest about how the United Methodist Church is dying and we better do something about it.  I agree.

But after a 2 hour and 15 minute presentation, we spent a few moments on our knees in prayer.  And part of that time was in explanation of why we need to pray.  It just struck me...again...this notion that has been rolling around in my bean for a while now.

It seems that we (as Christians) spend much of our time and energy trying to do things only God can do, and then trying to get God to do the things only we can do.   Some plant, some water, but it is God who makes it all grow (see 1 Corinthians 3:6).  Only God can grow the church.  Only He can bring about the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The best effort is to allow that to happen in us individually as we spend our lives on our knees in prayer, devotion, worship, and service to Him.  That's our job.

The rest, I gently remind us, is His...

Me and My Big Mouth (Boy, did I just open myself up for comments, or what?!)

I love Bugs Bunny.  He has always made me laugh since I was a little boy and watched him on Saturday morning cartoons ('mimber them?).  He had a way of getting himself into some scrapes and then would often, in reflection, say "me and my big mouth!"

I guess I have a big mouth sometimes and I get myself in trouble for it.  Take for example recently when Carla and I were trying to decide upon a realtor.  We met with this woman who was extremely scattered and disorganized.  She forgot some paperwork, forgot her pen, and then lost the keys to a home she was showing us!  When she emailed to see if we were interested in using her as a realtor, I said no.

Now I tried to say it in a polite way, but I guess the truth sometimes hurts.  I had a few friends read the email just to make sure I wasn't slamming her and stuff, but I still kinda felt badly speaking my mind.  Even if it was the truth.  Even if it was in a kind fashion.  Even if we, as a buyer, have the right to determine with whom we'll do business and why. 

So why do I feel badly?  I feel like I've opened my big mouth and "hurt" somebody.  But in the end, aren't we really called to "speak the truth in love?"  (see Ephesians 4:25)  And how do we expect to grow if we're not honest with each other?  How do we expect to be changed, and to change the world if we're not willing to lovingly confront? 

In fact, I'm gonna preach on that this week....

Fun Facts from Brett's Kitchen

With Carla working so much, and especially 3-11, I have been doing a lot of my own cooking.  I just thought I'd share a few fun facts I've discovered along the way:

- Pork can, and will, explode in the microwave!

- Exploded pork can take a long time to clean up!

- If you bend down to get something out of the fridge, make sure you back up far enough before standing up or you'll bang your bald head off the freezer door handle, leaving a noticeable divot in your head!

- Bald head divots quickly turn to big bumps on your head!

- Seeing stars is not just a figure of speech.

- Dishrags can, and will, get caught in the disposal!

- Food doesn't taste nearly as good when you eat alone...

It kinda reminds me how spot-on God was when He said that thing in Genesis 2:18..."It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

GOOD PLAN!!!

NEWS FLASH: I'M NOT DEAD!!!! (yet)

Heck, I'm not even dying (at least at a faster-than-normal-than-I'm-aware-of-but-if-I-don't-stop-eating-Krispy-Kream-donuts-that-could-change-rate).  I am alive and well.  Let me repeat that for the hard of hearing: I AM ALIVE AND WELL!

Why do I feel the need to share this news flash?  Because of how people are treating me...how they are responding to my news that I'm pursuing God's call on my life to "local" missions.  I have people from my previous churches calling and crying because I'm not going to be a pastor anymore.  I have people at Cornerstone that avoid talking to me or at least avoid talking about "it", you know, the way it is when you're dying and nobody wants to say you're dying?!?!

Well, I'm not dying, and I'm not dead.  I'm alive and well and following God's call on my life.  I am more excited (read: scared too life) about what God is doing next than I have been in a long time!  This is a very good thing.  My life as a pastor hasn't been a mistake, it is just that the season has ended.  My life isn't over.  In fact, my new, new life is just beginning.  And this is a good thing!

I'm not dead, at least not unless you consider the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20... "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Bert and Ernie

So back in the day, I used to work on a horse farm that had Belgian draft horses.  They came and went, but my favorite team we called Bert and Ernie.  Bert was an older, gentle, wise gelding, and Ernie was younger, crazier, and personable.  When we hooked them together, it was almost unbelievable how they took on each others' best characteristics and covered for each others' weaknesses.  I used to love to sit behind them on a wagon or whatever and just watch them work as a team.

Stan is my lifting partner at the gym.  We usually meet at the gym at 4:45 (a.m....yes it does come around twice a day) and start lifting at 5.  We work out for an hour or so then sit and drink coffee and share life.  It is a fantastic way to start the day.

How are the two related?  Well, Stan is on vacation this week, and I made it to the gym Monday.  That's it.  Just Monday.  Why?  Because I'm Ernie...and I'm lazy unless I have a Bert to inspire me, push me, drag me, perk me up, settle me down.  (NOTE: I am not calling Stan a horse, or any other part of a horse's anatomy, although there are times....)   Carla plays this role in our marriage. (NOTE: I am not calling my wife a horse, or any other part of a horse's anatomy!)  Some friends play that role in my Christian journey (NOTE: I am not calling my horses, or any other part of a horse's anatomy!) 

The bottom line?  I need to be a part of a team, or I stumble.  Maybe that's why God said in Hebrews 10 that we should not "forsake meeting together as some are in the habit of doing..."

4th Gear

So it's freezing outside today...like 48ish, but I decided to ride the hawg today.  Let's face it, one is not going to be able to enjoy too many more days on two wheels this Fall.  So this afternoon after my last appointment and before the sun set, I took a nice little "therapy" ride.  As I was cruising along enjoying the cold wind, the sights and sounds of Fall, and the freedom of the open road, I decided that I like 4th gear best.  Roads that are 4th gear roads are twisty and windy and maybe a little rough.  They are roads with blind curves and blinder hills and lots of chances for fleeting wildlife.  4th gear roads have lots of hazards and surprises waiting, and so they demand 4th gear.  Not 5th, not 6th, for sure.  But not 1st or 2nd either.  Just fast enough to really keep on alert on the bars.  And just slow enough to enjoy the day, the view, and the challenges of the road...

I've spent a good bit of my life in 6th gear, and while I don't regret it, I find myself more and more comfortable with 4th gear.  And not just on the bike, but on the road that leads to life...

Thoughts on Germ X

So my wife, Carla, is a nurse.   And therefore, she is acutely aware of germs and what they do and stuff.  So we have Germ X everywhere...various places in the house, in the car, at the office, etc.  And the bottle says right there on the bottom...kills 99.99% of germs.

However, from Carla's microbiology class a few years ago, apparently it isn't just the Germ X, or even the soap in handwashing, that does the trick.  Apparently, it's the rubbing.  No matter how you "sanitize" your hands, you must rub them together vigorously, for that is what really sheds the germs!

It kinda reminds me of 1 Peter 1:6-7, where we are told that the "rubbing" makes us stronger...healthier...more faithful...

The Road to Life...

So when I was a kid, we had this stupid sister-imposed rule called "own places."  That meant that when we were taking a trip in our 1970 Dodge Coronet (actually ours was a four door in Burnt Orange Metallic...with vinyl seats...) my sisters would yell "own places" and that meant we had to sit in our assigned seats in the back.  Felicia, the eldest and self-appointed boss, sat on the left side by the window.  Brenda, who is a ridiculous 3 minutes older than me but who lords it over me as if it were decades, sat on the right side by the window.  That meant that my spot was, you guessed it, in the middle, on the "hump."  (Please refer to 70's vintage rear wheel drive cars for a point of reference, all you youngin's)

The blessing in that was I had a great vantage point to watch dad drive....left arm on the window and right hand at twelve o'clock on the wheel.  It drove me nuts to see him always moving that right hand slowly back and forth as we drove along, even on a straight road.  So I finally spoke up one day to ask why he couldn't just hold the wheel straight.  He explained that the art of driving a car is that you're always correcting...at any given time you're heading slightly to the right or to the left, and that the trick was to be aware of that and be in the process of correction.

Now that has become a bit of a metaphor for my life.  You know, Jesus said that the road to life is a narrow road...and I think He might mean that as we walk through this life, we're on a journey, in a process.  The trick is to keep moving, and to be always correcting...seeking to keep our eyes and our life focused on Jesus.

So what's my point?  As usual, I'm not sure!  But I think to say that life is a process.  That we need to be always correcting our path.  That we need to be staying out of the ruts.  That the road to life is exactly that...it's a road.  Ya, that's probably it.

Oh yeah, and that sisters are bossy...

Good Times with John and B.I.G.

So I'm out on the bike the other day and I get lost and end up stopping a Sheetz for some "Cupoccino" to warm up.  As I'm standing there in the warm sun enjoying the day and good beverage, these two guys get out of this beat-up old 80's vintage Buick two door and walk over to me.  They began a conversation with me, or should I say two conversations?

You see the one guy, whose name is John, begins asking me all kinds of questions...most of them twice!  He asked my name and told me his and we talked for like 20 minutes about the bike, his job, life stuff.  It was pretty obvious that he wasn't the "brightest bulb in the pack." 

Then there was BIG...short for Brain Injury Guy.  He began having a completely separate conversation with me all the while I was talking to John.  He told me how glad he was that I wore a helmet because he had suffered a brain injury in a car accident when he was 19 and how horrible it was.  John probably wasn't too smart, but BIG made him look like a Harvard guy.  BIG told me about only having one eye, and that his head hurt so bad on sunny days that even that "vicadin stuff" didn't help.  And he went on and on, as John was going on and on...

Finally, they said goodbye...John called me by name...and they walked over to their car (out of which they sold frozen fish...for a living...I swear I'm not making this up!).  John got in the passenger seat and BIG got in to drive...brain injury, blindness, vicadin, and all!  My first thought was, get outta here fast before they have the chance to kill me!  My second thought was, I just met Dumb and Dumber! 

But as I drove away, I was humbled by some prayerful conclusions.  1 Samuel 16:7 came to mind in which we're reminded that "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."   I thought about their hearts...they were obviously best friends.  They took time... a lot time...to take an interest in me, to learn my name, to share a few minutes of life.  They were loving, fun, polite, kind, and engaging. 

My final thoughts were this...I hope I get to see them again, and soon.  Because in the parking lot of that Sheetz, in the hearts of two "strange"rs, I think I met Jesus...

Free!

I was talking with a friend the other day and he was talking about the freedom we have in Christ and how awesome it is.  You know, I have known this truth for years...in my head.  But something about the passion in his voice and his testimony to me had a huge impact on me and I haven't been able to get the notion out of my head since then. 

We are free...Galatians 5:1 says that "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."   I believe that He desires us to be free...and how awesome it is when we are.  Free from debt.  Free from sin.  Free from fear.   Free from the expectations of others.  Free from ourselves.  Free to love.  Free to be like Him.  What has He freed you from?  Better yet, what has He freed you for?  Whatever it is, be free today.  And remember the conclusion to the story in Galatians 5...from verse 13: "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love..."

An Announcement...

If you worshiped with us at Cornerstone on Sunday, October 18th then you have already heard this news, but I wanted to put it into writing for those who were not able to be with us. 

 

About six years ago, Carla and I began to pray about a new direction that we felt God was leading our ministry.  We have served the Lord in pastoring a church for 13 1/2 years now and have been blessed to be able to serve Him in this way.  However, we have been increasingly convinced that He has a new ministry direction for us, and particularly for me (Brett).  I don’t know exactly what kind of direction He is taking me, but I do know that in order for me to seek that out with honesty and integrity, I must announce that I am going to step down from pastoring Cornerstone Church .

I am willing to serve as your pastor here through the end of the appointment year, which is through June 2010, provided God doesn’t open other doors for us or for Cornerstone.  I know this might seem to be an unusual approach by telling you now and continuing to serve as your pastor.  However, I believe that Cornerstone is at crossroads that provides for huge and exciting new possibilities.  I do not want to lead us through a planning time that assumes to involve me when I know I won’t be a part of it through the long term.  Also, I don’t want to announce that I’m leaving and let Cornerstone to deal with that alone.  I think it is much more honest and productive for us to work through this all together.

Although I am uncertain about many things as Carla and I go forward, let me tell you a few things of which I believe we are certain.  First of all, I am not going to pastor another United Methodist Church …the Conference is not “moving me on.”  Secondly, I am not going to pastor a church in another denomination.  I simply feel that God has a calling for ministry that isn’t leading a church, but is more a mission.

Secondly, we plan to stay in the area, at least for now.  Carla has a stable employment situation, and we feel that it is wise for her to maintain that while my ministry is in transition.  I am beginning to write my resume, and I am feeling called to some kind of ministry where I will work with people groups that are unchurched and may never hear of or see the love of Jesus unless Christians go and take Him there.  I may work with a mentoring ministry, homeless ministry, children of incarcerated parents, prison ministry, or something like that….again some kind of “missions” ministry, but here locally.

Most of all, please know this.  I am not leaving for a better offer.  I wanted to announce this now so that I can begin to search those things out with integrity.  Also, I’m not leaving because I dislike being a pastor.  I love it, but I know God has something different in store next.  And we are unsure of exactly where He is leading us; just that we know He is calling us to leave this venture and step out to where He is taking us…a ministry that He will show us.  (Genesis 12:1)

Lastly, know that I have great hopes for Cornerstone.  The Leadership Team is a very capable group of solid Christians who have supported me in this because they know that God has big things in store for Cornerstone.  Please pray for us all as we continue to seek God’s face and will for Cornerstone Church of Cranberry and for our lives as individuals. 

in the love of Jesus,

Brett

And Now Please Bow Your Heads and Mow

So last evening I had free time (yippee!) and Carla was working (bummer!) so I mowed the lawn.  I know that sounds crazy, especially since the last time I mowed the back yard it was so high that i had to put the bagger on and empty it, and I swear I'm not making this up, EVERY SINGLE TIME I MADE A LAP AROUND THE YARD!!!!  (Don't tell dad.)  But I thought, hey, what if I mowed more often....maybe it might be easier when I did.  And it was.

But alas, this hain't about mowing.  My point is this...as I was mowing, I was reminded of how I do my best praying when I'm doing something else.  Maybe I'm ADHD...maybe I'm crazy...maybe it's just how God wired me.  But as I was mowing, I was having an awesome conversation with the Guy who made the grass!  I was able to share some things on my heart from the day, and I was able to hear Him speak some things I needed to know.  So Lord, help me to use the mundane activities of life as opportunities to spend time with you...

...and now, please bow your heads and rake...

Be Creative!

So I'm not very creative.  I can't draw.  I can't paint.  I can't write songs.  I can't sculpt.  I swear when I do crafts.  Get the picture?

But I believe that we're created in the image of God...and He is the Creator!  Just think of the imagination He must have to conceive of this world (and just look at Fall on the slopes of the Western Pennsylvania mountains if you don't believe me...).  He is Creative, Creator...and we are made like Him.

So I guess I'm feeling challenged to be a little creative...perhaps with my humor, perhaps with my messages or my writing, perhaps with my guitar...idk, but I'm thinking that creativity and imagination spur a deeper connection to the Almighty...

Cough, cough...

So I'm still coughing...even though I'm done (I hope) with the swine flu.  But as I'm coughing, I'm remembering one of my favorite stories from childhood.  See, we were in second grade and I had a cough.  So mom sent me to school with Smith Brothers cough drops (see picture.  BTW, why did they come 17 in a box?  Like did the Smith Brothers have a thing for prime numbers?!).

Well, my twin sister Brenda wanted some cough drops.  And I wouldn't give her any (now this was with good reason...see the picture, Brenda:  They're MEDICATED.  This is a SPECIAL FORMULA!  They are not candy!!!).  So after our bathroom break (the bathrooms were upstairs in the old Salix school where we only had 1st-3rd grade and no cafeteria), Brenda loudly fake-coughed the whole way down the stairs. 

It didn't work.

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....

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....)

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!

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?

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.

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?

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?