In a couple of days Gail and I will be in California to fulfill a long time dream.
Our first year plus of marriage was spent in Orange. It was her first time in CA. I had lived there for a time during high school Both of us love the Golden State - what we have seen of it - which is pretty much from San Diego to LA with a trip up to Kings Canyon.
This visit will include a West Coast drive all the way up into Oregon on Hwy 1. Then we'll come down the center of the state. On the way we'll get to visit a lot of friends, too. Some we haven't seen for decades.
We're totally stoked.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday Flashback
So what does a pastor do on Sundays when he's away from home and his home church? I'll confess - visiting churches unknown to me isn't my favorite crap shoot. But I try to find a church that is at least attempting to think out of the box and not be content with the status quo, whatever that might be.
I'm all about learning from others. If someone has been where I'm trying to get to they've got something to teach me. I'm also about having a kingdom mindset - we're all part of the same family and we ought to share. At NHC we've adopted the role that God has given us as a teaching church. With so many (thousands each year due to our resort location) out of town guests worshipping with us, God has placed us in the position of at least planting seeds in their minds of different ways of "doing church".
On this trip we've passed through 3 different churches in three different cultures. All three are at different points on their journey. The first is in the early stages of transitioning from traditional and irrelevant to the current generation to contemporary and relevant. It was my second visit with them in 14 months and the changes were evident. The biggest differences were in the worship style and in the average age of the congregants in the service. With baby steps they're getting there!
The second church was already miles ahead of the first church. We attended the middle of three Sunday morning gatherings and the house was jammed full of young adult types. (That's where I want to be!) Their staff is young and their creative juices obviously flow. What particularly impressed me is that this church is also in transition. Last Spring their Lead Pastor left for another church in another state. Often when that happens there is a void in leadership and pulpit presentation resulting in sheep searching for another pasture. But not so here! Their Student Pastor has stepped up to the plate, handling the Sunday sermons and doing so with excellence. They brought on a new Worship Pastor who clearly has a passion for not only leading the church to God's throne, but doing so with exelllence. Whoever gets called to serve with this team better have his running shoes on already. This church hasn't slowed down a step.
The third church perhaps surprised me the most. Founded over 50 years ago and for most of that time in a very traditional, conservative brand of fundamentalism, they are reaching their city in a refreshing way. The founding pastor was there for his entire "career". They've had some challenges since his retirement with charismatic "senior pastors" giving them a bump then falling morally. And not just once. But they've overcome that and in doing so changed their leadership structure to one that is far more biblical than what they had in the past. A new building that features cutting edge technology and relevant teaching and outreach into the community has resulted in having a church with 3 Sunday morning gatherings with room to grow. This church reminded Gail and I very much of Nags Head Church in many ways.
I'm taking mental notes about what works well and what doesn't. I get to see church as a first time guest, and that helps me think through what our first time guests experience. It's not so much about the sermon or the music that is so vital that first time, although they matter in a big way. But simple things like how you're greeted; signage that shows you where to enter and where to take the kids; friendliness, not by those paid to be so, but by the congregants; and a good web site!
So just so you know, I'm on a mission these three months that I'm away. And hopefully God will stretch me and give me some fresh ideas to introduce when I get back in the saddle.
I'm all about learning from others. If someone has been where I'm trying to get to they've got something to teach me. I'm also about having a kingdom mindset - we're all part of the same family and we ought to share. At NHC we've adopted the role that God has given us as a teaching church. With so many (thousands each year due to our resort location) out of town guests worshipping with us, God has placed us in the position of at least planting seeds in their minds of different ways of "doing church".
On this trip we've passed through 3 different churches in three different cultures. All three are at different points on their journey. The first is in the early stages of transitioning from traditional and irrelevant to the current generation to contemporary and relevant. It was my second visit with them in 14 months and the changes were evident. The biggest differences were in the worship style and in the average age of the congregants in the service. With baby steps they're getting there!
The second church was already miles ahead of the first church. We attended the middle of three Sunday morning gatherings and the house was jammed full of young adult types. (That's where I want to be!) Their staff is young and their creative juices obviously flow. What particularly impressed me is that this church is also in transition. Last Spring their Lead Pastor left for another church in another state. Often when that happens there is a void in leadership and pulpit presentation resulting in sheep searching for another pasture. But not so here! Their Student Pastor has stepped up to the plate, handling the Sunday sermons and doing so with excellence. They brought on a new Worship Pastor who clearly has a passion for not only leading the church to God's throne, but doing so with exelllence. Whoever gets called to serve with this team better have his running shoes on already. This church hasn't slowed down a step.
The third church perhaps surprised me the most. Founded over 50 years ago and for most of that time in a very traditional, conservative brand of fundamentalism, they are reaching their city in a refreshing way. The founding pastor was there for his entire "career". They've had some challenges since his retirement with charismatic "senior pastors" giving them a bump then falling morally. And not just once. But they've overcome that and in doing so changed their leadership structure to one that is far more biblical than what they had in the past. A new building that features cutting edge technology and relevant teaching and outreach into the community has resulted in having a church with 3 Sunday morning gatherings with room to grow. This church reminded Gail and I very much of Nags Head Church in many ways.
I'm taking mental notes about what works well and what doesn't. I get to see church as a first time guest, and that helps me think through what our first time guests experience. It's not so much about the sermon or the music that is so vital that first time, although they matter in a big way. But simple things like how you're greeted; signage that shows you where to enter and where to take the kids; friendliness, not by those paid to be so, but by the congregants; and a good web site!
So just so you know, I'm on a mission these three months that I'm away. And hopefully God will stretch me and give me some fresh ideas to introduce when I get back in the saddle.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday Flashback
I won't be posting any Flashbacks about my church until May. That's because I'm on a 3 month Sabbatical.
However, I did watch the 9AM Gathering via webcast, and it was great!
Gail and I attended worship at Forest Park Baptist Church in Vero Beach, FL today, where our son-in-law is the youth pastor. We were here 14 months ago, and the changes in that time are very encouraging. Great band with songs I had never heard, but spoke deeply about our responsibility to take the Gospel to the world. And Paul's message on kindness, from the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 was very good. I took lots of notes.
After lunch and taking the girls out to do some shopping (I also picked up a Shelby Foote Civil War book) we're at home preparing our hearts for the Saints to be victorious. At least that sounds like the Christian viewpoint for some reason.
However, I did watch the 9AM Gathering via webcast, and it was great!
Gail and I attended worship at Forest Park Baptist Church in Vero Beach, FL today, where our son-in-law is the youth pastor. We were here 14 months ago, and the changes in that time are very encouraging. Great band with songs I had never heard, but spoke deeply about our responsibility to take the Gospel to the world. And Paul's message on kindness, from the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 was very good. I took lots of notes.
After lunch and taking the girls out to do some shopping (I also picked up a Shelby Foote Civil War book) we're at home preparing our hearts for the Saints to be victorious. At least that sounds like the Christian viewpoint for some reason.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Pro-choice Liberal Gets It! - Sally Jenkins, Washington Post
Sally Jenkins, a former Sports Illustrated writer, now writing for the Washington Post and a self-avowed pro-choice feminist has written a most excellent editorial on the Tim/Pam Tebow Super Bowl ad "controversy".
Finally someone who is pro-choice understands that one of the choices has to be to allow the unborn to live. Going against the flow of the river left, she calls out the abortion rights activists groups for their hypocrisy.
There are some superb quotes in this piece.
While she admits she disagrees with the Tebows' position, she at least argues his position is worth supporting.
Here's the link to the column.
And if you applaud her for having the courage to set herself up for criticism from her own side, send her an email and thank her for being a voice of reason and intelligence on a moral issue.
Finally someone who is pro-choice understands that one of the choices has to be to allow the unborn to live. Going against the flow of the river left, she calls out the abortion rights activists groups for their hypocrisy.
There are some superb quotes in this piece.
While she admits she disagrees with the Tebows' position, she at least argues his position is worth supporting.
Here's the link to the column.
And if you applaud her for having the courage to set herself up for criticism from her own side, send her an email and thank her for being a voice of reason and intelligence on a moral issue.
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