Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Insights from Readings...

I've not felt the greatest today, so, I decided to spend the bulk of the day reading through the many pages of material that we are supposed to have read before our January gathering of our Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership Cohort group in California.  The first thing I finished was a book called "Leadership for a Changing Church: Charting the Shape of the River" by Robert Dale.

Near the end of the book, Dale says something that caught my attention..."When any church feels it has arrived, it takes on an establishment mind-set.  The "establishment church" is convinced that it has a heritage worth protecting and invests more emotionally in the past than in the future.  Since the church is, by definition a conserving institution, it's too easy and too natural for congregations to adopt a backward direction.  But preserving and conserving aren't the same as serving.  "Establishment churches" subtly shift our energy from leading the movement to tending the monument - a risky, if not deadly stewardship of energy.  The tragic risk in protecting our past is that we may, in the process forfeit our future."

I realize that as we move farther and farther away from the initial purchase of our building, we are slipping more and more into this reality.  Fighting the established church mentality is hard.  Not quite sure how to break out of it either.   I don't think it must be a given either.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

EXCITED!

I am looking forward to being back together with the great folks at Community of Joy today after 2 weeks of vacation!  Also am looking forward to preaching again today. 

The break was wonderful! 

Today we start a new series... Getting to With.

Excited about it!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

A New Day....

Today started with an AWESOME sunrise...






And then saw a heard of does (not able to shoot them on neighbors property)...  then two small bucks and then this guy followed a doe to his end.  He is OLD... weighed 198 pounds field dressed and teeth are pretty worn.  The pictures don't do his massive horns justice!



Love...

Everytime I am in Harrisonburg VA visitng our family there, I see some advertising for a church.  Actually I see lots of advertising for many churches, but this one in particular always catches my attention!  Don't know a thing about the church, except it is a United Methodist Church that is fairly new.

The thing I really, really like about it though is it's mission statement!   In fact, if I were starting a church or at that stage again with Community of Joy, I think I would strongly consider it as ours too!  It is one that is Biblical, easy to remember, and T-shirt worthy!   Here it is...

Receive Love.  Give Love.  Repeat.

Absolutely LOVE it!  And wow... what a mission.   If we could but get that much right.... our churches would bust at the seams and the world would be a different place!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thankful for MUCH!

I am thankful for much! 

Thankful that my friend Steve is recovering well and is out of ICU.

Thankful that my brother in law Henry is through his second heart surgery and will come home tomorrow.

Thankful to be spending time with my girls... all three of them.

Thankful to get to see etexnded family in two states over this holiday.

Thankful for the blessings of life and the call of God to lead a great church - Community of Joy!

Thankful for the upcoming deer season and another opportunity to spend time out in the woods.

Thankful for growing relationships with new people in my life - had a nice visit with a new friend of mine _ Marty and his family last night.

Thankful for improved health for several people on my prayer list and for assurance of God's presence in their life regardless of improvement or not!

Thankful for so much more....   I could go on and on and on... for all of it is a gift from God and for that I am truly thankful!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

One Never Knows...

Good thing we don't know what the next day or hour for that matter will bring!  If so, we might miss out on somethings in life.

Got the news last night that a good friend of mine, who will turn 50 on Sunday, had a heart attack while at the YMCA.  They had to use the defibulator on him and he is in ICU.  This is his second in 5 weeks.  The news really shook me!

I was happy that we were still in town so that I could spend some time at his bedside supporting his family and praying with and for him!  I pray that each day he will strengthen and recovery will be quick! 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Memories...

One day last week, I went to Camp Mardela in Denton, MD to scout out some good settings for a photo shoot that I had for that area on Sunday.  As I walked around, I came across a tree that I had carved my initials in when I was there some 30 years ago.  Oh, the memories of good times spent at Camp Mardela.  Check it out!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Reflections on Visiting a Church...

Visiting a church is always a strange and interesting experience!

While on vacation, Sharon and I had the experience of visiting two local churches.  My relfections are not so much a criticism  of these churches as much as a hope that we at Community of Joy will learn from the experience and do better!

If you have never visited a strange (new) church and are actively involved in a church, you ought to avail yourself of that opportunity to feel what our guests feel when they visit.   It is not an easy thing to go into a place where you have never been and don't know people.

In both instances, Sharon and I knew a few people at each church.

Our experience at both churches were pretty much the same.  We got there 15 minutes before the start of worship and hung around in the back a bit and then took our seats.  We found both churches to be pretty cold in terms of welcoming us.  In fact, with two exceptions, the only people who greeted us were people we already knew before we entered.   In each situation, we did have one person that we didn't know prior to going - the first was an elder in the church and he came over and introduced himself to us and told us he was an elder and that the pastor had suggested he come introduce himself to us.  As far as I am concerned, he would have been better off not coming over at all!  No one likes to be greeted by someone because it is what they were told to do!

The second was a lady who was curious to know who we were and when she found out we were not prospects... she didn't carry on too much longer!

I write all this because welcoming guests is so CRITICAL we must do it well!   We never get a second chance to make a first impression!  So, I hope that at Community of Joy we go out of our way to make guests feel welcomed and valued!  It is really not that hard to do!  It just takes intentional effort - making sure we greet each other AFTER we greet our guests.  Introducing our friends to the guest!  Taking an interest in them!

Refreshed!

After 14 days of vacation, I am refreshed and ready to get back in the saddle!  Actually woke up at 3:30 this morning with ideas and lists swimming in my head.  Tried to stay in bed till 5:15 but at 4:30, I gave in and got up!

My two weeks back to back vacation was the best thing I have done in 21 years of ministry!  And I am confident that I will do it again!  A week away doesn't really allow you to unhitch and let go... usually the way it works is by the time in the week you are unhitched, it is time to think about hitching back up and go back to work.  With two weeks away, the unhitching lasts longer and refreshment comes.

Grateful to have had the opportunity to get away and spend some time pursuing deer in the beauty of God's natural world! 

Later today, and this week, I will be posting some reflections from our two church visits on the two Sundays.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Day 14 - the final day of vacation...

Enjoyed haveing a lazy morning prior to heading to worship at The River in Berlin.  Good to be with this new church plant!  Pastor Mark preached a challenging message!

Then got to see the Ravens score two touch downs before I had to leave to go to Denton MD.  I had donated an hour photo shoot to the youth chinese auction and the winner lives in Denton.  She and her hubby wanted to have their dog in the photo...so we met at Camp Mardela.  The good color of folliage was mostly gone.  I knew that, because I had scouted it out on Friday. 

When we got there the dog was very excited... so I suggested we walk to the river first and shoot our way back.  That way she would settle down a bit and we could get some good shots.  I dindn't even thing about a lab and water... but that was a huge temptation for her!  At the second location - the finshing pond, it proved to be too much... she jumped in for a swim!

All in all, I am please with the shots and hope the couple is too!







Had an AWESOME 14 day vacation!  And ready to get back in the saddle tomorrow!


Saturday, November 19, 2011

Day 13 - One Last Day in the woods...

Day 13 of my 14 day vacation was again a day for the woods... at least the first part of the day.  Saw three small bucks on stand and one on the way out of the woods... can't seem to find a doe anywhere!  Enjoyed hearing a LARGE flock of turkeys in the trees, yelping and gobbling at dawn.  Was hoping they would come my way, but they didn't.  Also saw a red-tail hawk come by me in search of a squirrel, two bald eagles, a fox and countless squirrels.

Decided since I have not seen a doe since Tuesday, I would sit this afternoon out so, I came home to get laundry done, and finish grinding the meat from earlier in the week.








Looking forward to taking Sharon out to dinner later and then enjoying a night with her!

Day 12 - Back at it...

Friday (yesterday - I am writing two posts today because my parent's internet was down) I went back out to the deer woods.  It was perfect.  COLD, clear, slight wind in a good direction and it was a wonderful time.  In the morning I saw 3 different bucks - the odd thing was that two of them were very similar in antler configuration to the one I shot, each had two points on one side and four on the other.  These were both much wider than the one I shot and one had the odd side on the left and the other on the right.  Makes me wonder about a genetic issue in the herd on that farm.  Got a picture of one of them.

ALos was able to capture some photos of a group of 4 bald eagles - 3 adults and 1 immature eagle.  And I shot some photos of buzzards on a fence and a pileated woodpecker, as well as a fox in the field. 

The highlight of the day was intentionally staying out of the woods a few moments to capture an even better picture of the lone tree at sunrise.  Hoping to enter one of these in the Ward Contest next year!












Thoroughly enjoyed being out in the woods again!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Day 11 - a Transition Day...

Today is Day 11 of a 14 day vacation.  And it is a day of transition in many ways.

First, it is a day of transition weather wise... we are leaving behind the warmer weather of the early part of the week and hopefully the end of the rain is in sight too.  Deer hunting is so much better this time of year when it is cooler.  So to have the temps be in the 30's tomorrow will be great!

Second, I spent some time today getting all our Christmas decorations down, so that Sharon could begin decorating this Saturday.  A time of transition of special seasons.

Third, I find that today, is the first day of this vacation that I find myself thinking about the church more than not.  Thinking about the Christmas season.  Thinking about upcoming sermons.  Thinking about community impact.  Thinking about the need to get the leaves gathered up from the ministry center.  Thinking about all the work I have to do in preparation for my next Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership Cohort in January.   Thinking about newsletter articles that I must write next week.  Thinking about a schedule of pastoral care next week.  Not that thinking about church is wrong... but one thing a pastor tries hard to do while on vacation is to unhitch... to let go... to get away for a bit.  I have been able to do that mostly until today.  Everyday, in my times of prayer, I have remembered the ill and othere special needs of our people as well as seeking God's best for our congregation.

These two weeks have been good for me!  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time away and feel ready to get back in the saddle and live out of the gifts God has given me and the calling he has placed on my life.   This time of transition away and soon back has been a blessing!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Day 10... a different kind of day!

Today was not a day to hunt as it rained most of the day. 

Besides I had butchering to do.  So, today was a day to enjoy the fruits of my vacation labors... and enjoy we did.  Nothing better than fresh venison tenderloins cooked on the grill wrapped in bacon.  YUM!



Tomorrow, I expec to return to the woods after the rain stops.  And my plan is to spend the remaining days of this incredible vacation in the woods hunting.  I have one more doe to get before I can return to buck hunting and I already have my bonus tag in my possession. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Day 9 - Vacation... return to the woods!

Today I returned to the woods after a day to butcher yesterday.  It sure was windy and warm this morning.  Beautiful still!  I decided to stay local and enjoyed my time in the Wicomico County woods.
I need to harvest two does before I can take another buck, but all I saw this morning was bucks... here are some of the pics... and one has a buck in it.








Monday, November 14, 2011

Day 8 - Vacation .. Time to unhitch and let go...

Today is the day after a week's vacation that I would have had to go back to work... but not this time!  I took two weeks off back to back... and it is WONDERFUL!

Today, I walked at the mall, then openned the butcher shop.  Glad to have meat to eat and share!


Then I ran some errands, visited with some friends, and got supper ready for the oven.  And before I knew it it was time to head to Wi Hi for the Powderpuff Game that Emma was playing in.  She was quarterbacking the junior team.  I knew from our time of catch in the yard the other night, that she would be a fine QB!   And that she was!  The team beat both the sophmores and the Seniors and came away with the title.  The Freshman couldn't field a team (didn't have enough girls willing to play).  WOW!  It was fun to watch.






Tomorrow it is back to the whitetail woods... though I am staying local and hunting only morning and evening as I must take two does before I can hunt another buck!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Day 7 - A Day of Rest and Worship...

It felt good to sleep in a bit today.  Didn't need to get up early to prepare for preaching at Community of Joy nor to go hunting.  It was nice!

I am looking forward to another day off and especially to going to a local church where I can just be a participant and not need to say a thing!  Also anticipating some more time to spend with my family!

Ended yesterday on Hoopers Island with some friends at their house and then at Old Salty's for dinner.  The photos were taken from our friends dock.  It is the view they have from their house too!


Saturday, November 12, 2011

What a day...

Got up at 3:50 and still was late to the woods this morning!  But that allowed me to get a photo I wouldn't have gotten otherwise and it didn't matter anyways.

I realized just as I got to the farm that I had left my cell phone at home and was dreading the all day sit without connection to the outside world and not knowing what time it was.  It is amazing how stranded I felt without the ability to have connection to the outside world.  I did realize that Sharon would see my phone and realize that I didn't have it.

I left by 8:09 a.m. this morning and had already seen 7 deer under me... and shot a buck that was loaded in my truck by that time too!  It was a buck I photographed on Wednesday (the last picture on my blog for that day) and it wasn't as big as I thought.  And I confess, it doesn't have 13 inch brow tines like I said in that post either... and you know what, it never will either!

Came home deciding to spend the rest of my day with my wife since she is also on vaction!  And in the process I cut my finger pretty badly, but don't think I am going to the ER!