Fruitful or Fruitcake?

One thing can be said of this unnammed woman... she is persistent and she loves the Lord!

But my question is this... is what she is doing frutiful or fruitcake?   She has been standing on the corner of South Blvd and Rt. 13 quite frequently.  As she stands there, she holds her Bible high and shouts, reads, and raises her hands high. 

I watched her for a while, with my windows down trying to hear what she was saying.   It was interesting to watch as people would see her and would do a wide circle around her, either walking behind her or on the other side of the street.  No one seemed to want to walk by her.   Actually, I wanted to go talk to her, but when I heard the tone of her voice, I chickened out and stayed in my truck.

For sure, it would be better if more of us who love Chirst would be more intentional and visible in our witness, but I seriously doubt that this style will yeild much fruit.

Out of the Blue...

Was not feeling real good about my sermon last Sunday!  It seemed to fall flat both times.   Yet, felt really led to preach it.

After the first gathering, I had several positive affirmations for the message... so, I thought ... maybe it wasn't as flat as I thought.   Then the second time, I got ahead of myself in my notes and didn't feel that I recovered very well.  Looking at folk's reactions is hard, but that didn't help my feeling of flat.

Then last night, I got a facebook message from someone, thanking me for preaching it and saying that it had hit them between the eyes.  That led to an interchange this morning and a promise of more conversation in the near future.   AMAZING how God works! 

I am grateful that it doesn't totally depend on me!  If I am faithful and do my part, get out of God's way, the Holy Spirit can take over and work in ways beyond my comprehension!  That's what is so neat about trusting the Spirit to work and watching for where it does!

Thanks be to God for the incredible, out of the blue gift of the Holy Spirit!

Love it when...

I love it when people in the congregation come up with great ideas to live out our mission and then are willing to take the lead and work to see the idea become a reality.  Late last week, I got a text from one person who had an AWESOME idea!  

I see my role as throwing gasoline on that fire... so, I said... make the contact and lets talk about how it would work.   And that is where we are in the process right now.  Next step is to form a team who will carry out the idea and meet with one of the stakeholders to see what ideas they have and then we can get out of the way and see God at work in and through us to carry out the mission he gave us...

As we actively reach out with God's love, hospitality, hope, healing, and peace!

Love it!

I have been meeting with a triad of men for many years ( lost track but over 7 or 8) now... the group has changed in make up over that time, but for the past 5 plus years, we have been the same 3.  Both of the other guys are NOT from my congregation, though one was a while back.   It has been a game changer for me.   Wouldn't want to not have one in my life.  We have done a variety of growth plans.... mostly reading specific passages of the Bible throughout the week and sharing our learnings.  More recently we are working our way through Luke, using the 5 Q method that I like so much.  And of course there is always time for sharing and prayer... we don't end without it! - no matter the time!

Recently, we added a new member and it is exciting!  This is a long time friend of one of the regulars.  Our new friend is a new Christ follower and is asking some AWESOME questions and pushing the rest of us to wrestle with positions and beliefs we have held.  It is invigorating to rise to the challenges of looking at things from another perspective!

If you don't have a group... I would HIGHLY encourage you to form one!  It has made all the difference in my life over these past 21 years of ministry!

Worth Pondering....

My wife, Sharon, is a Pastoral Counselor for our local Hospice and as such finds herself in a position of being called on frequently to do graveside and funeral services for patients who don't have a church connection.  She willingly does so.  As do the others in the same position.

This call seems to be coming more and more frequently and it has me thinking...

On one level I think it could be a good thing as it is a witness to a family who needs to hear about Jesus.

On another level, I wonder if  their willingness to step in allows people to keep their distance from the church until they need it.  If no one would step up and do this service for these families, would it push them to establish a connection with a local church earlier in life, when the opportunity to help them find Christ would be stronger?  That's the question I am wrestling with.

It seems that there are still two times those in our culture who are not connected to a church turn to the church - when they get married and when they need to be buried.   Why is that?  And what can we in the church do to reach these people in all the in between days?    I'd love to hear your ideas!

Trump National Golf Course

On the one afternoon last week that we had time to expore Southern California, we went to the beach, saw whales and walked on the Trump National Golf Course.

Here are the pics... first of the whale watching area... where we saw 5 whales and hundreds of dolpins.

And here are the pics of the Golf Course and the public access beach... we had to walk down the big clif to get to the beach ...

Wayfarer's Chapel

On Wednesday of last week, we took the afternoon to explore and enjoy some relaxation time.  We went to Wayfarer's Chapel build by Frank Lloyd Wright's son.  It is pure beauty!  Enjoy!

Now, the breath taking view walking out of the chapel!

One Final look at the chapel... Do you see it in the redwoods?



A Trip To So Cal!

I enjoyed my trip to Southern California this past week... the second trip of 8 for my cohort of Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership.   Meeting over a two year period with 6 other pastors from around the country and a number of Bethany Theological Seminary Faculty to explore issues of leadership and strengthen our leadership skills.

The week was spent at a Catholic retreat center - Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.  A high hill overlooking LA.  Beautiful for sure... peacocks roam wild and roost in trees and serve as EARLY alarm clocks.

We were together in session from 7:45 each day until 9 p.m.   Lots of exploration of group process dynamics, leadership tools, nutrition, and exercize ideas too!

On the last day, my friend Marty and I walked to the top of the hill about 2 miles away to see the sunrise (unfortunately it was foggy) and then the group went to the same spot to see the sunset... Beautiful!

Best Thing EVER!

Last night after a long break for a couple of months, my men's group got back together.  For the past 8 or so years, I have been part of a group of guys that meet almost every week to support, encourage, hold one another accountable, pray, and read scripture together.  Over those years the make up of the group has changed, but for the past 6 or so years, the group has been the same three guys.   Last night we added a new guy and it was great to have him join us.  He is new in his faith and I think this group is going to be a blessing to him, just as it has been to the original three men.

I can't imagine my life without this group of guys and the support, encouragement, accountability they hold in my life!  What a difference they have made in my life!   And the neat thing is that each of us sitting around that circle last night could say the very same thing.  In fact, one of the guy's wife would also tell you that too!

If you don't have a group that you belong to, I highly encourage you to form one.  We use the 5 Q method of Bible Study and find it very helpful.  No one has to prepare ahead and you can have any level of biblical understanding to participate!

It takes all of us!

Working on my "State of the Church" address for Sunday.

I plan to go in a different direction than in past years.... where I usually reflect on and celebrate all the things we have done throughout the year to fulfill our mission. 

This year, I plan to look at the passage in 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul talks about the Body of Christ being made up of many members yet being one.    Some things jump out at me...

1. God places us where he wants us!

2. God gives each of us a gift and role to play in the church.

3. ALL parts of the body are NEEDED!   We can't be who God has called us to be without YOU, if you are part of us!   It takes all of us to fulfill our role and complete the picture!

4.  No matter what limitations we face, there is SOMETHING that each of us can do!  Each of us has a role to play!!!

The question is ... will we play that role?

Best Christmas Gift This Year!

Sharon and the girls gave me a 1/2 hour tension massage to see if it would help ease the tightness of my facial muscles due to the Bells Palsy that I have been dealing with since March 12.   I went for the first session on the Thursday after Christmas and found it to be wonderful.    I noticed an almost immediate benefit from the massage, so I scheduled a second visit last week and now am contemplating my third visit.  My right side facial muscles are spasming and twitching almost constantly now.  Through out the night last night as I slept, I was consious of the movement.  I don't totally understand why it has been so helpful, but I am grateful and wonder if I had gone sooner, would I have experienced the same benefit.   

I still can't whistle well.  And my eye goes shut when I move my jaw, but not tightly shut... that's progress!

Sunday...

Looking forward to gathering with brothers and sisters today in worship at Community of Joy!  Sunday's don't feel the same to me if I miss this part.   Last week, we were on vacation and while I thoroughly enjoyed being able to worship in a new setting with people I didn't know, there is just something awesome about gathering with people I have been sharing the journey with for the last 12 + years!

Excited that today, we have several folks participating in a membership class and considering deepening their connection with the body at Community of Joy!

Sundays just aren't Sunday's without seeing the good folks at Community of Joy!

Amazing Deer...

I love deer.  They are so amazing, beautiful and tastey!

Today, after shooting two trees, I was able to take a doe.  (long story but my scope must have been bumped sometime, because my gun was shooting 8 inches to the right - thus the trees).   The doe I shot, had only 3.5 legs, and you couldn't tell at all!  It is the second time I have taken a doe with less than 4 legs and not known it until I walked up on it.  She walked just like a normal deer.  

Not sure if it was born this way or injured, but it was well healed!

You would think with that stump of a leg, she would hobble or limp, but not so!