Archives for September 2007

Here’s an e-mail I got from Shannon today. Enjoy:

Tuesday mornings I volunteer in TJ and Jake’s classrooms. Thursday I’m in Tyler’s.
This morning during my time in Jake’s Kindergarten room, it was library time. The librarian had all the kids sit down and showed them the cover of the story she would read to them- “Jamberry”. She went on to ask the students to tell her some different kinds of berries. The kids said strawberries, blueberries, etc. Jake raises his hand and is called on. He says, “Jake Berry. That’s me!” The grin on his face went ear to ear!!! The librarian threw her head back and laughed and proceeded to call him ‘JakeBerry’ the rest of the time we were there. I have no doubt that she will know Jake Berry’s name his entire career at RSD!

I turned bright red and had to work really hard to stifle my own laughter!! This one is for the books-so glad I got to see it for my own eyes!! 🙂

Not sure how I found myself on this post. A link to a link to a link or something. But from what I can figure, this image war below is months old.

But if you’re like me and are late to the party too- here’s a set of pictures that someone made taking a stab at “motivational posters” for the emergent church and such. They are satirical but feel a bit on the offense to me. But, I like this one- it made me laugh.

Here’s a set that are in contrast to them. They are very good. They seem more sincere to me. I like them better. Probably because I’m not a big satire fan. This one is my favorite.

Here’s the website you can make your own with in case you’re late to the party and want to dance anyway. Very cool website widget.

Activism is a big deal these days in Christian circles. Especially the post modern or emerging ones. I hear lots of ranting about taking care of the poor. I hear lots of noise about war. I hear lots of talk on taking care of the planet. I’m a fan of the conversation and I’m trying to take healthy steps in all 3 of those areas.

But I have not heard of anyone suggesting we should boycott products made in places that do huge injustice to people based solely on their proclamation of faith. I recently started reading this blog for the purposes of opening my eyes and praying more intentionally for those who are persecuted.

This post made me ask, “Why do we buy I buy so much stuff made in china?” I’ve never been much of a protest guy, but maybe I should think before I purchase based on this fact alone.

Either way, I prayed for Pastor Zhang today. I wish there was more I could do. Maybe there is.

In the case of a wedding, the ones I will drive/ fly/ and volunteer my time for are the ones that I know I’m not there to perform a wedding, instead I’m there to begin a marriage. I LOVE DOING THOSE. I love serving a couple who I know and love in this day of their life. So fun.

This last Saturday I had the privilege and honor of doing that for some former students of mine: Max and Monica.

In case you missed it, and perhaps know them. Here’s the part of the ceremony where I shared some memories and my thoughts with them. Weddings and funerals are the only things I script when teaching. I usually just teach from an outline. But for a wedding, I really want to pray and think over every word as much as possible- so much is on the line. (It also allows me to give them the text to read in the future as my gift to them, because most couples hardly hear or remember a word I said due to the pressure and anticipation of the rest of their day, first night, and the honeymoon that all lie just ahead)

So here’s my script in the part of the ceremony I titled in my notes: MY FRIENDSHIP HISTORY WITH MAX AND MONICA:

Max and Monica our friendship goes way back into your days as high school students in Powerhouse where I had the privilege of playing the role of youth pastor and friend. It goes back into water ski trips and summer camps and Mexico trips and countless Wednesday night conversations. You have been in my house and spent time with my kids and at my dinner table and even helped us do projects in our new house a few years ago when we moved to El Cajon. We hadn’t been in it two weeks and you were already there helping us paint and move and get set up both in our house and at the church. Your friendship is very dear to Shannon and I.

Monica, it was on one of those water ski trips where you decided to make following Jesus your life devotion. You made a commitment that day that you have proven truly devoted to. I have seen it in the way you smile, the way you mentored young girls in Powerhouse, the way you speak and the way you live. It is all so clearly evident that you are a woman on a mission to love others into God’s Kingdom.

Max, while bonding with you in a high school men’s retreat in the snow in Tahoe, you chose to give your life over to Jesus. You too have proven good on that step of faith. While at college at Davis you wrestled with what does it look like to love and serve God around a group of men in AGO- a brotherhood that is also near and dear to my heart as you know. You examined your life and faith and chose to fall farther and farther in love with your Creator. I see it and hear it in your blog posts. I remember the time you came back as a college student and told your testimony to a group of guys standing around a fire on the shores of Shasta and the impact it had on them. I remember baptizing you on my last snow ski trip in the parking lot in the frigid air with a 5 gallon bucket of water where you said, “I want everyone to know I’m serious about following Jesus with all my life.” You’ve even chosen to do so as your fulltime vocation- serving students in Benicia. I’m honored to call you my friend and now- a colleague.

Shannon and I have loved watching the two of you become the young adults you are who passionately love and serve God. It is truly an honor to be in the bloodline of the work of God in you. I cannot think of anywhere else I’d rather be than witnessing this kind of union downstream of student ministries. You are the evidence of the greatest joy I have in ministry. Seeing students grow up to love and serve God for themselves.

I am beyond honored to be here. I’m truly humbled at what I see in you both.

If you do, then here are 3 people who do not, sharing a view from the pulpit and the pew on the subject.

here
here
and here

I don’t agree with all their conclusions. I do have my opinion. But rather than make my list, I’d love instead to see a post like this from Taffy or Crowder or Redman.

Not that a blog post is inappropriate from someone who does not lead music, but I wonder how well preachers and seminary professors would respond to a post from “music pastors” on the essence of a good sermon or teaching advice.

… and if you’re leading worship and looking for that kinda stuff from someone in the worship music mode- you might try registering for this site for free from Chris Tomlin. Looks like it might hold some good practical, theological, and been-there-done-that help.