Sunday Mind Dump

So, I don't have any church related stuff for a mind dump this week but I can talk about my weekend....so let's dump about that:

• Busy weekend!
• I got my butt kicked on the tennis court yesterday. I served really well but I couldn't seem to do much else right. At least I got a good workout in!
• We went to Huntington to visit Chelsea after tennis. Long day! But it's always nice to go hang out with your college aged daughter for the afternoon :)
• Didn't go to church at all this weekend. We were so tired after yesterday we slept in a little and when I got up I worked on writing a paper that was due today. Got it done in a few hours.
• Our dinner consisted of Baskin Robbins tonight....guess who thought that one up?
• Spent the day watching the masters. Almost felt sorry for the kid who imploded after leading for 3 days....almost....he's only 21.
• Next weekend we are going to be out and about and we are going to go visit Perry Noble's church....that should be fun!
• Well...April is telling me I need a shower again....geeeesh!
  

Light Bulb - It's not too late...

This week I finally got around to watching the movie Despicable Me. It was a good movie and I loved it when Gru had some big realization he said "Light Bulb" out loud. Then they showed us the vision Gru had in his mind. Very cute!

I couldn't sleep last night and for some reason I got up around midnight to use the rest room and the word Light Bulb came to mind and I realized that this week marks the 11 year anniversary of my Dad's death. Seems like every year around this time I end up taking stock of the loss and God reveals some new truth to me. Last night, as I was unable to sleep, I think he did it again so I'll share it with everyone here.

My Dad wasn't around much when we were kids. He worked for the Railroad and as such he was on the road for half the week and when he was home he was often catching up on rest. He was always at our ball games and taking us places when he could. I would say he was a good Dad but honestly we weren't all that close. Something happened as I got older. He stopped working on the railroad and did some other things for work. He and my Mom divorced.

For my Dad, the life in his 40's was a tough go. In many ways it seemed like many things were going wrong...failed marriages, ministries not living up to expectations, loss, heartache, and much more. For him it was a tough time. For me those years were actually good. You see, Dad when everything else was falling apart actually became much closer with his children. I was in my 20's and Dad would still call every couple of days just to see if all was well. As a result my Dad moved from being a Dad to being a Dad who was also a friend. It was through that changing relationship our relationship actually grew very close.

Last night that was my Light Bulb moment. This morning it continues...we do that same thing with God. We are so busy with life many of us don't make time for those we love (God) until we get to the point were things start to fall apart for us....it's at that time we make time for the relationships that matter. I hope and pray I am making the right time now for both my kids and my God.

Reflections

Just sitting at home and thinking about some things I've learned over the last few years:

• Most churches have the same problems. Those problems all stem from the same place...sin in our lives...good leaders find God inspired ways to overcome them. They help people move beyond the stronghold of sin in their lives, others can't seem to move people past them....thinking about some of the issues we had at RL and seeing many of those same issues being played out at various other churches over the last few years gives me a perspective I wish I had 5 years ago. When God provides the next opportunity for me to take on pastoral ministry in a church, I think I'll be better prepared for that...and no I don't want to give examples :)
• Thinking about the concept of being a missional person and being a part of a missional church. WE SAY we are missional, yet we have the hardest time releasing people into their missions. Most of us in ministry don't equip as well as we should, we don't recognize God's calling on others enough, and we don't tell people when it's time for them to leave our church and pursue what God is calling them to next. Got to see an example of that tonight and it reminded me again how we don't do that nearly enough. We build people up to serve under us, but what if God is calling them to do more than we are doing or are able to do?
  
• Reminded again this week how difficult the job of a lead pastor is. Everyone has an idea of how things should be done and they are certain their idea is God inspired and correct. We can't all be right now can we? If your idea is right don't badger your pastor, threaten your pastor, or try and shame him into doing what you think is right. Talk with him about it. If he doesn't agree with you pray about the situation and try and see things from his perspective. If he still doesn't agree with you and you are unsettled submit yourself to him and his decision about it. If you still can't get peace about it, perhaps God is stirring something up in you and it's not really about the church as a whole. Consider the possibility that God is calling you, and not your church, to do something.
  

Sunday Mind Dump

Well...we finished up strong at Central Park Congregational Church. This morning we talked about the difference between religion and having a relationship with God. We talked about how religion brings people into bondage but the relationship we have with Jesus brings freedom. One of my favorites I must say. It never get's old talking on that subject.

So, Let's dump:

• As of now April and I are without a church home or anything to do. Feels odd...
• Praying that CPCC embraces Steve and Tamara and they are able to move the church in a direction that God dictates.
• A great bunch of folks at CPCC. Honestly a nice group of people.
• We are going to continue to take some time and just wait on God....as I mentioned before, we think we've got a place we want to hang out at while we are taking a pause from ministry. We've been there a couple times already and it feels nice.
• Got tons to do this week and I am really looking forward to spring break. A few days with nothing going on to just clear the mind will do me wonders!
• Thinking PF Changs sounds really tasty tonight....I'm not going there...it just sounds good :)
• Jake got to fill in at a church in PB today and it looks like he's going to be filling in one more Sunday next month. That's cool for him as he's been wanting to play at church for some time....plus he got to help out Aaron Hammitt and that isn't all bad....if you are in looking for a church in Perrysburg consider Grace United Methodist :)
• Well I better call it a day....April wants the computer.
  

Sunday Mind Dump (Monday Edition)

I was a little slack yesterday and didn't write my normal mind dump until this morning...Looks like everything was ok anyway :)

So, let's dump:

• April and I didn't do any church related work last weekend. That's the first time in a long time. I almost didn't know what to do with myself, almost.
• We did spend a lot of time with our kids this weekend and took them to a local church on Saturday night, sleeping in on Sunday. How nice was that, very nice!
• This is my last week filling in at Central Park. It's bittersweet. I enjoy the teaching and the people there...But still feel like God is asking April and I to take a break from formal ministry. She's going to have so much on her plate in just a few months I just want to give her some space to unwind (well, as best as she can anyway!) and rest up so she is ready to go in August. Law school is going to be almost all consuming for her....she needs a rest.
• We've sorta found a church we think we might want to hang out at, we'll see if we still feel that way in a month or so. It's just big enough we can hide a little but not so big you can't get to know people.
  
• I will say, spending so much time in ministry over the years has made me way more critical of how others do ministry, and that's not healthy...from music to teaching it just seems like I am internally critiquing others rather than enjoying what God is doing through their church/ministry....that attitude has got to go.
• Thinking quite a bit about the controversy over Rob Bells book Love Wins. I'll admit, I haven't read it and probably won't but have we as a church gotten to the point where we can't question the things we've been taught and honestly say "I've got questions" without being labeled a heretic? Admittedly, I do not subscribe to his theological assumptions, but still do we have grace enough to allow him to sort this out? I'm not going to call him a heretic for the questions...I would not have him speak for me, or attend his church....but still, do we have grace enough to allow him to question? I'm not sure we do...
• I better get to my lunch....those kids will be back in here soon enough.
  

Sunday Mind Dump

It's been a long day. I am not sure why but the time change thing in the spring just kicks my butt. I never sleep well the night of the time change and last night was no exception. Only got a few hours in and I feel like I've been hit by a truck!

So let's dump:

• Taught today about the cost of being a disciple. Being a cultural Christian is easy, being sold out is much harder and comes at a cost.
• We are not going to be at CPCC next week. One more week at that church then we are going to take a step back and just wait on God.
• My daughter is home from college this week. Always nice to have my little girl around.
• Went to Compelled church again last night. We enjoyed ourselves. Not sure if it's going to be the place we choose to hang out at for the next year or so, but it's a nice place.
• Praying for 242 and their needs. Finding the right worship leader isn't easy for anyone, it's even harder for a new church in a small town.
  
• Looking forward to spring break. April and I are going to a friends wedding in SC. Warmth and sun...can I get an amen for that?
• Doing a little tutoring after school for the remainder of the year...
• Jake has my drums. Looking forward to getting those back so I can pound and thrash a little this summer. Soon as the weather breaks and he can play his in his garage...
• Well...I am out for the night...
  

Sunday Mind Dump

April and I have had a semi hectic weekend. It was all decent until yesterday evening when we noticed water starting to creep up through a drain in our garage. Needless to say she started freaking out...so after a call to Roto Router, a 5 hour wait, and $124 our problem is fixed. God blessed us and we didn't have any damage other than a little water on the floor of the garage but we were close to it getting in the house, another hour or so and we'd have been getting wet!

So let's dump:

• Really had fun speaking at Central Park today. We talked about the importance of being planted in a church. I can't stress enough how big a deal it is...get planted and connect with others...God created us to be relational....why would you want to fight him over it? He made us that way...I am just reminding you :)
  
• Looking forward to hearing from God about whatever he's going to lead us into next. Believe it or not, the last year has been great for April and I, and I for one am excited. I have zero clue what that's going to be, I just want to be there for the ride.
• Looking forward to being able to visit some friends at their churches while we are waiting on God. I LOVE getting out there and seeing God at work in other churches. It gives you a much bigger picture of him when you can do that. Sometimes we tunnel vision when we've been in one church for a long time. It's not a bad thing to be in a single church for a long time (that's a good thing!) It's just that sometimes we need to see how God works in other churches...
  
• Getting excited about tennis coming up in a month or so. I am so out of shape it's not even funny....who would joke about that anyway! LOL!
• April and I are going to be in South Carolina for a few days in April. We're going to swing by Perry Noble's church for a service. Been wanting to do that for some time...
• What are we supposed to do on Sunday's without football? I seriously get bored...I get a nap and all, but there really needs to be something on in the spring!
• Someone needs to show up at my house with a carrot cake. April doesn't like it so I never get one.....I miss carrot cake.
• I am out of here....she says I need a shower....I think perhaps she has a negative perspective tonight :)