Fine Young Man

The discussion in Gospel Transformation last night turned to creating a culture of openness in our church family. We talked about trusting in the gospel so much that people could share stories of sin & struggle and stories of God’s work in their lives without fear of judgment and with full conviction that they would receive grace. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this desire verbalized and there was a lot of consensus about it tonight.

My mind immediately went to Sunday morning worship time and how daunting it would be to create that culture there. I’m not sure that’s the best place to provide grace and support for tough issues. Wouldn’t we be just as much a family if that kind of care was happening in our home groups? I think so.

However, I do think it is possible for culture to change to such an extent that it does affect Sunday morning, and I just heard a story about how that can happen the other day. A friend of mind who is a minister witnessed something happen at his church that suggested a change in culture. Here are a few ways that came about that might point us in the right direction:

1. Actions of the Leaders – It all started when my friend preached a series called No Perfect People Allowed based on the book by the same title. He is also the kind of person who will love, hug and reach out to anybody anywhere.
2. Artifacts - This may be a hard part of culture to understand, but every culture has physical or concrete features that symbolize the culture. If you align artifacts with new values, you stand a great chance of changing the culture. If I remember right my friend and his leadership made a very simple physical move – they began to dress more informally on Sundays. Dress became an artifact of the culture communicating “Come as you are” to any guests.
3. Rituals & Performances - Here’s what happened a few weeks ago. A young lady in an awful predicament responded to the message. She was broken. My friend announced that he was going to pray for her and he invited anyone who wanted to come down and gather around her during the prayer. Now get this: 75…75 people came down front! What just happened? They performed “no perfect people allowed”. Now, if that sticks and becomes a ritual, my friends, we have ourselves a cultural transformation in that church.

Those are some first stabs at it. What thoughts do you have about how we can create a culture of openness?

I had intended to post on the day I heard the sad news of Al & Tipper Gore’s separation. You can read an informative article about a sad trend called ’silver divorce’ here. When I think of Al & Tipper while they were on the national scene, I remember a charming couple, having fun and in love. I am truly saddened by the news of their separation, and I have a lot of questions of how a couple can walk away from a 40-year marriage. I just don’t know.

Last Saturday, with the ending of one marriage fresh in the press and in my mind, I was privileged to witness a marriage beginning. Our new youth minister, Brent, and his fiance (now wife), Terra, were married. It was beautiful, light and funny and filled with endearing moments. One of those was when the couple whispered personal vows to each other while laughing, crying and praying together. We didn’t get to hear what they were saying but we were blessed to watch as they shared their love with each other. I couldn’t help but be filled with hope that this marriage, beginning as it did so strongly in the Lord, would stand the test of time and be a witness to a watching world.

All this reminded me of something I heard Tom Wright say recently. In a chapel at Wheaton on the book of Ephesians (found here), he stated that marriage was a SIGN of the union of heaven and earth, and he stressed how important that SIGN will be in our emerging world. I like that thought. Strong, healthy, loving marriages will be a SIGN that heaven and earth are coming together and Jesus is Lord of them both.

It’s been a while since I posted mainly because of busyness. My youngest brother, Caul, had his toughest game of the season this past Friday night with a win over Lafayette County. I had meant to post about the season opener at home.

My high school just completed a new stadium, the first one it hasn’t shared with the local community college. Caul began his senior year of football at the new stadium. He and his two cousins were team captains for the night (he’s #55), which was a great honor. From what I hear it was a spectacle to behold! The field was in great shape. The lights went out with a laser show around the smoking teepee at the locker room (we are the Indians). The guys ran through a tunnel that went under the home bleachers and comes out at the 50 yard line. The stadium was full. What a night! They trounced Amory for the opener.

I’m very happy for Caul. He has been to the state playoffs every year. They have a serious chance of going all the way this year, and I hope they do. Those will be some great memories that neither John (my younger brother) or I ever had. My teams went 6-24 in high school. I just hope Caul realizes what a wonderful thing he is experiencing and savors every moment. I proud of him and for him.

Hopefully, I can post in the future about a state champion!

Drew’s birthday is tomorrow. We plan to go to Chuck E. Cheese for a while and then back home for cake and gifts.

Man, I really learned something today. We had access to a party barge and an awesome jet ski. I pulled the tube with the party barge for a while as a friend drove his two sons on the jet ski. They looked like they were really having a great time. I hope so. I got my turn on the jet ski, taking Holley for a few trips back and forth across the lake. Later on, Kristy and I dragged Drew on for a quick ride. I dropped them off at the boat and took off by myself. I opened the thing up across the lake, veering into coves to check it out. I went around in circles and wove back and forth, and then realized that I was jut plain bored. What? On a jet ski on a beautiful day on a great lake! Why am I bored?

The only thing I can think of is this: I can’t handle journeys that are going nowhere and moments that aren’t necessarily spent accomplishing anything. And yet, I want too. I want to enjoy the journey and I want to enjoy moments of simply “being”. I don’t know where this thought will lead, but it is an interesting thing to learn on a jet ski.

Today at Holley’s last softball game, I told Kristy that I needed to run to the restroom. I left Drew with her while I went. I was doing what you do at the restroom, not thinking that Drew was anywhere around. Then, I heard the voice.

“Daddy…daddy…daddy…,” came the voice. It was coming from the sidewalk outside the concrete building and it was coming closer. I knew his voice instantly. It was the voice of my son. I don’t know why but I was amazed that the voice was so familiar to me that I could recognize it above all the other noises of the ballpark. I suppose the familiarity comes out of hours of relationship that have been built up over the last 4 years.

I felt close to Father in that moment. Surely, if I could recognize my son’s voice, He can recognize mine! I bet He feels the way I felt, too, in a way that blows me away!

Me baptizing my daughter, Holley, with Kristy in the background

Today was a very special day and one that we have been discussing for a week. Holley made the decision to take the next step in her faith journey and be baptized. I had the awesome privilege as her father to do it. It was so moving and amazing!

Eleven years ago, our Father gave us a beautiful little girl. She is growing up so fast. Sometimes it’s hard to watch everything happening so quickly right before our eyes.  Yet, Kristy and I are so proud of Holley and thrilled about her decision.

Today she gave herself back to her Father. It was the right thing to do. He is the best!

For the last few days, Kristy has complained about smelling skunk in the kitchen of our house. I didn’t think anything of it. I thought that maybe a skunk had wandered through our backyard (just off the kitchen) and or had been killed on the road below the house. We also have a small dog that goes in and out of the house into the backyard. The thought crossed my mind that Doggie may have tangled with a skunk outside. However, everytime the dog passed me, I hadn’t noticed any rank odor coming from it.

This afternoon, Kristy yells out, “What kind of coffee are you making?” I answered back, “Seattle’s Best Breakfast Blend. Why?” “Your coffee smells like skunk!” she replied. So, to Seattle’s Best coffee: this would not be a good ad or commercial for your Breakfast Blend!

Boat ride on Lake Hamilton

Yesterday was a full day. Sandwiched in the middle of a youth minister search committee meeting in the morning and putting the finishing touches on Bible class for today, the family and I took a boat ride on Lake Hamilton. It was a beautiful day, though that is not what the weather had predicted. When I got up, the Weather Channel on my iPhone said thunderstorms and a lake wind advisory. Neither was true. We explore the lake south of Hwy. 7. Then we found a the calm side of an island to anchor and have a snack. As we snacked on cheese cubes, crackers, pretzel sticks and sandwiches, we watched some Canada geese toward the end of the island. It was very nice to be outside and to enjoy God’s magnificent creation.

We had to cut the trip short because  Holley’s ear was hurting (we found out this morning it was an ear infection). I settled in to finish my class for this morning. After the kids were in bed, I returned to the church building to finish some prep for worship. To my surprise, some local artists had used their talents with sidewalk chalk in the parking lot. The messages were not very Christian. I took a couple of photos but I cannot share them with you here. However, here’s one in the parking space next to the one I normally use. Whew! I will have to admit that I did feel a little uncomfortable at the building alone at 10 at night.

The parking place next to mine

I started today plotting goodness with my friend, Joel Adams. We are both coffee drinkers, so that’s what we did.

The pic is from Holley’s ballgame tonight. I helped out in the dugout. Things really go better when I stay completely out of it and play the role of cheerleader. Otherwise, I am too demanding and I always end up hurting her feelings. She did well in a new position, but the team lost by 1 run.

I now have some work that is due in the next couple days. I have been procrastinating as usual.