Reign

It's been a while since I've posted.  I'm on Facebook now, which is helping me to micro-blog via status updates, photo uploads, etc.  So, this one is falling away.

I think I'll save this blog for long posts, or stream of consciousness blogging.

Our Sunday gatherings this month have been wonderful, milestone-type celebrations.  We've had seven families visit us for the first time, including two musicians who played for us yesterday.  Pitch perfect I might add.  Just the right addition for my talk on worship and God as King.

This is the most often I've ever had to preach.  I've actually wondered how people do it every week (still do).  But, I've found a secret that has helped me develop what I think is some of the best communicating that I've ever done:  I'm speaking to myself.

Basically, my sermons are just allowing the crowd to listen in on the thoughts and discussions that I've been having with God over the text.  The points where Scripture is intersecting my life, my worries or fears, the things that make me excited or happy, all of that is just packaged in a "sermon."  

So, lately I've been pondering the reign of God in my life and what that means for the church.  The basic thought?  Jesus is Lord and Caesar isn't.  Neither is money or stuff or politics or "free-time" or anything else.  And that's freedom.

Baa

Earlier this week, I celebrated 12 years in ministry.  It's been full of a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but I have to say, God led me here.  I've been reflecting on Psalm 23 (my passage for Sunday), and I think that's the psalmist's feeling, more or less.

God led me here.  

I had a good friend remind me that God isn't calling me close to him so I can get a church off the ground.  He's calling me close to him (and that's that).  For his name's sake.  Because he loves me.  

David's conclusion is that goodness and mercy will pursue him for the rest of his life.  Anyone can look in the rearview mirror and get a glimpse of the crap that seems to chase you.  But David makes a different decision.

So, here's to enjoying green pastures.

Camping Weekend

Last night we had our first camping trip as a family!  I grew up in the Boy Scouts, so I have had my fair share of campfire cooking, setting up tents, and general discomfort.

We had a great time.  The weather was great, nice and cool.  Jon made some killer ribs, and we roasted corn on the grill too.  

The best thing is, Kylie and Kat slept (for the most part) through the night!  Before going to bed, Davey entertained us with his guitar skills and everyone else tried to sing along.

Maybe in the future we'll do it again.

Living the Dream

I enjoyed this article in Inc. Magazine regarding Harmonix, the developers behind Guitar Hero and Rock Band.  My favorite part:

Last year, when fawning organizers of a video game conference asked Rigopulos to give a speech about "living the dream," he wistfully marked up a PowerPoint chart of Harmonix's annual profits and losses. He labeled the company's breakout year, 2006, as "The Dream." The years 1995 through 2005, shown almost entirely in red ink, were "The Part Before That."

My takeaway from this is that we can never give up on our dreams.  It was more than the bottom line that was pushing these guys.  It was commitment to realizing their dream (getting non-musicians making music).  

Sometimes it can feel like we're living in "The Part Before That", but I think that it's required for the dream to feel, well, dreamy.  No matter how frustrating church planting can be (and it can), there's still much there to savor.  

And, when it's time to realize the dream, you're grateful that you kept true to it