First 'real' sermon

This past weekend, I delivered my first sermon as the small groups pastor at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church. I preached at two services and my prayer was that I would encourage MVPC to stand strong together through putting on the full armor of God and prayerfully taking concrete actions of faith. Here is the manuscript, I haven't posted anything like this before so here it goes...

Standing Strong Together
Ephesians 6:10-24
September 2nd, 2007 @ MVPC

Before we get started in Ephesians 6 this morning, I want to first say Thank You on behalf of my wife, my two daughters and me. After four packed weeks of activity, we are beginning to feel at home here in Maple Valley. We have experienced God’s love and grace through so many of you that I cannot even begin to count the number of ways that you have welcomed us. Yesterday, the staff came over to our house to paint and we covered most of the top floor of our home in 5 fun-filled hours. Laurie and I would have taken anywhere from 4-5 days to paint what we painted yesterday. I was reminded of how much the body of Christ can accomplish great things together. I was also reminded of how small groups, in this case the staff, flourish when they take action together to serve God and meet a specific need that he lays on the group’s heart. David took the lead and he relentlessly pursued the idea with the staff and they stepped up even though it was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. For that, and EVERYTHING else, I say “Thank You.”

This morning we are in the final chapter in the book of Ephesians and our passage is Ephesians 6:10-24. I have fallen in love with this book as we have heard messages from David, Will, and Steve. Ephesians is a faith-grounding letter that brings together the primary themes of the Christian faith. Will started this series by pointing us to Paul’s reminder in Ephesians 1 of God’s calling in our life; how Jesus Christ reveals that God is a pursuing God who calls us to a new life and provides the way to experience that life both now and for eternity. David then pointed to how followers of Christ share a common identity and how the church by its very nature should resist our tendencies toward racism and anything that separates individuals from each other. Will then challenged us to live a life worthy of the calling as seen in Ephesians 4. David then provided the sobering reminder that we are indeed responsible for putting on our new identity in Christ and turning from disobedience. Last week, Steve showed how this plays out in the concrete relationships as married couples, parents, children, employers and employees. He reminded us that we need to be filled with the Spirit of Christ in order to live a life of selflessness.

That brings us to today. In many ways, the last chapter in Ephesians is like the final dramatic scene in a movie or the best part of a song or the exciting moment in a sporting event. What are some common attributes of these? Think about these moments in movies, songs and sporting events. In many ways, each of these brings together everything that has been building up to that point. When you are watching a movie, you can tell when everything in the movie is coming to a head. In a romantic drama, the couple who has been apart for the entire movie comes together due to circumstances beyond their control but everything just seems right. In a song, the combination of the chorus and verses and the rhythm and notes leads up to a point where you find yourself closing your eyes to take in the sweetness of everything coming together. In a sporting event, it is like a Seattle Mariners game when J.J. Putz comes out in the ninth inning to AC/DC and everyone stands up in expectation that the game will soon be over. Everything comes together.

Ephesians 6 is that moment. Ephesians 6 brings everything together. Ephesians 6 is what you have all been waiting for. We don’t often talk about the Bible in those types of words, images, and emotions but we should. Just picture the apostle Paul writing this majestic letter, he must have been salivating at the opportunity to bring everything together in this final chapter about Jesus Christ and our life together in him. What would he say? How would he say it?

Let’s read it together… Ephesians 6:10-24 Page 830

“Finally, be strong in the Lord.” “Therefore, put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” “Stand you ground.” “Stand firm.” The word “stand” appears throughout this passage and that is a clear indicator that it carries an important message to which we should pay close attention. Stand. God is encouraging us and commanding us to “Stand Strong Together.”

When was the last time you went to a beach at high tide? Or at least at a time when the waves were crashing to the ground? Picture with me how people respond to the ocean during those times of the day. Some people stay back and observe. Some people will walk up close to the edge of the tide and dip their toes in the water while thinking, “There is NO way that I am going into those waves.” Some people, and maybe you are this type of person, see this as a challenge and go directly into the ocean. For these people, the size of the waves invites a confrontation with God’s creation and an opportunity to test out whether they can withstand the brunt of the powerful waves.

I have to admit that I am that type of person and I always have been. I can clearly remember my first trips to the beach as a child. I often would go with my cousin Douglas. Oftentimes, we would end up at the beach right at high tide, right when the waves seemed two, three or four times taller than us. Even now, I can smell the salt water and feel the grains of sand under my feet and hear the repeated crash of the waves. Doug and I would team up together to take on the waves. We would create a pact that neither one of us would turn around unless we both agreed to give up or both of us ended up flat on our face in the sand. For us, this was fun! I can standing next to Douglas as wave after wave would smash into our bodies. Most of the time, we didn’t take a defensive posture. Instead, we would kick at the waves or throw our bodies into the waves or attempt to dive over them. We stood our ground together and we enjoyed every moment of it.

This morning’s passage reveals that whether we like it or not, whether we choose to recognize it or not, we are situated in that type of ocean. We have no choice in the matter. The preceding chapters in Ephesians have given us glimpses of the struggle that we encounter as followers of Christ. This chapter shows that we live in a world that oftentimes feels like the ocean waves are crashing against us week after week, day after day, and hour after hour. Don’t we feel that way when we you encounter challenges in life that threaten to knock us over? Don’t we feel that way as we look at our relationships and we realize that we struggle to get to a point of feeling like we are the spouses, parents, and friends that we would like to be? Don’t we feel that way when we give in to a temptation that plagues us and does not look like it is ever going to go away? Don’t we feel that the waves are crashing against us all the time?

You see, the apostle Paul did not leave us without addressing the sobering reality of these challenges. How did he address these concerns for those who heard this letter years ago? And how does God address these concerns in our lives as we hear this letter today? He encourages us to stand strong together. Stand strong together.

Let’s look at four different ways that these wise words play out this morning.

First, we need to “Stand! Being strong in the Lord.” Paul starts this section with the word “finally.” He is setting aside this section to give us the take-home message that he has been building toward throughout the letter. Another way to translate the word is “from now on,” meaning that in light of all that we have heard now we are live in a different manner. When is the last time that you have had a “stake in the ground” moment when you said to yourself, things are going to be different now? This weekend is Labor Day weekend, a natural point in the calendar year to reassess our lives and to purge the bad and hold on to the good aspects of life; a natural point to re-establish some goals and remove the activities that cloud our vision for life; a natural point to say “from now on” we are going to re-orient our lives toward Jesus Christ and one another.

How can we go about this re-orientation, this pointing our lives back to Jesus Christ? We are instructed to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Our tendency in 21st century United States is to only hear these words in individual terms. In other words, to hear “I need to be stronger on my own.” The command, however, is meant for a group. Another way to say this would be “finally, all of you be strong” or “you all” or dare I say it “y’all” be strong.

Over and over in Ephesians and in other New Testament books, the body of Christ is a metaphor employed to describe the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the body and followers of Christ are connected to Jesus and to one another in the body. When is the last time that you reflected on the fact that as followers of Jesus Christ you are connected to him? Some of my favorite verses in all of Scripture are in the gospel of John in chapter 15 where Jesus describes himself as the vine and his followers as the branches. He says that if we abide (or stay connected) with him and he abides in us, then we will bear much fruit or flourish for him. In the same manner, when Paul encourages us to be “strong in the Lord,” the “in the Lord” points to the reality that Christians are “in Christ” or abiding in Christ.

When was the last time you felt “strong in the Lord”? For some of us, we may have never felt that or if we have it has been a long time since we could say that we have actually felt strong in Christ. For me, I feel strong in the Lord when I am with others who are also seeking to follow Christ. My home group is the primary example. I feel “at home” when I am connected to other people in the church beyond Sunday mornings. Over and over, as I have led small groups and small group ministries I have heard individuals say that they feel strong in the Lord when they are known by others, they are able to share their burdens with others, they are able to make a difference with others through serving. I believe that we all want to be a part of something greater than ourselves and that God has given us that desire to be connected with him and to one another and to do whatever God has gifted us to accomplish in this world.

We need each other. We need to stand strong together. As the waves of life crash against us, we need to “Stand, Being Strong in the Lord” together.


Second, we need to “Stand, Putting on the Armor of God.” The apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:11 says “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Do you see the conflict here? The full armor of God is set against the devil’s schemes and vice versa. He goes on to explain further in v. 12 when he says “For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” These verses have been a source of questions throughout church history. What is Paul describing? What can we figure out about this struggle from these verses? There are a numerous paths that we could take but this morning I want to focus on the fact that no matter how we interpret the nature of these entities, we have to constantly remind ourselves that life involves more than what we experience through our five senses, more than what we can touch, smell, see, taste, and hear.

We easily forget that we are in a conflict because there are more than enough distractions to capture our attention throughout the day. Like I said earlier, we are in a conflict whether we actively acknowledge that or not. Like the ocean waves, everything that pulls us away from Christ, from each other, and a world in desperate need of God’s grace constantly attempts to knock us over. So which type of opponent is more dangerous, one that you actively identify or one that is at work but you are unable to see it? Paul is reminding us that we need to look beyond our five senses and remember that more is happening in the struggle for our hearts and devotion.

So why does Paul encourage us to put on the full armor of God? He wants us to remember that we do not live in a neutral world. He wants us to remember that we have to actively struggle against that which would tear us away from God. He wants us to remember that we have access to not only the armor of God that equips us for the struggle but that we have access to Jesus Christ himself. Once again, the command “to put on the full armor of God” is given to a group. As the waves of life crash against us, we need to stand strong together, putting on the full armor of God.


Third, we need to “Stand, Receiving God’s Provision Together.” The apostle Paul lists the pieces of the full armor of God. We don’t have time to go through them one by one this morning. There are numerous studies on the significance of each individual piece and I can point you to those if you are interested. For today, I would like to focus on how we receive the last two items listed – the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. God has provided what we need to stand strong together in our daily struggle.

This brings us back to the question that we have raised throughout our sermon series on the book of Ephesians. What are the roles in the struggle? Is God the one primarily fighting for us or do we have a responsibility? The answer is both. David talked about how we need to put off the old and put on the new. We wouldn’t be able to take this action apart from what God has done for us in Christ. As followers of Christ, we have to still have to act and give our best effort in the struggle knowing that God is ultimately giving us everything we need.

In v. 13, Paul says “and after you have done everything.” The verb that he uses there is the same verb that he used in Philippians 2:12 when he says to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” The word means to work through or to be successful in the face of obstacles. Isn’t this what we want in the Christian life? We want to be successful in the face of obstacles. We want to overcome the things that keep us from God and from each other. In light of Steve’s sermon last week, we want to overcome that which keeps us from being good friends, spouses, parents, sons, daughters, employees, and employers. We are in a constant struggle and we need God to come to our rescue (salvation) and his Word for strengthening, direction, and encouragement (sword of the Spirit, the word of God).

Again, this weekend is Labor Day weekend - To labor, to work through. to overcome obstacles. Paul is reminding us to put on the full armor of God that God has provided and to stand strong together as we seek to overcome our daily obstacles by God’s grace. As the waves of life crash against us, we need to “Stand, Receiving God’s Provision Together.”


Fourth, we need to “Stand, Taking Action Fueled by Prayer.” Paul gives these wise words after finishing the list of the pieces of the armor of God, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Like Steve said last week, we cannot expect anything to change unless we are filled by the Spirit of God. The apostle Paul shows us that prayer is a key in living this kind of Spirit-filled life.

He draws out two requirements for our prayers. First, prayer is not an option. This verse makes that very clear. In fact, Paul makes the case for the all-encompassing need for prayer by using the word “all” or “always” four times. On “all” occasions, with “all” kinds of prayers and requests, “always” keep on praying, for “all” the saints. There is no time off. There is never a neutral moment.
Second, prayer needs to be a communal exercise, not just an individual undertaking. There are obviously times for individual prayer but we see here how we need to be in prayer together if we are to stand strong together.

We see this in the two commands that are easy to miss. He says to be alert or watchful. The word for this action means to “look after, or care for” as in leaders who keep watch over their people as seen in Hebrews 13:17. This is not a neutral watching but alertness that involves deep caring for other people. This reminds me of a neighborhood watch program. In that program, if it is working, individuals do not merely look out for themselves but they look out for the entire neighborhood. They are keeping watch.

The other command is to always keep on praying for all the saints. There is a devotion and perseverance in these prayers. Did you notice the small phrase “for all the saints”? They are constantly looking out for one another. Who is looking out for you? Who are you looking for? As the waves of life crash against us, we need to stand strong together, taking action fueled by prayer.


So what is our response to all of this? If we truly are in a daily, moment-by-moment struggle then what practical steps can we take to stand strong together here at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church and wherever God has us in our weekly endeavors? I’ll give you three quick responses to consider.

First, we need to remember the full picture. Every day we need to wake up and be reminded that we do not live in a neutral world. There is a struggle and we are fooling ourselves if we think that reality is only found in what we can touch, taste, smell, see, and hear. We need to remember the full picture. We need to encourage each other to spend time reading and studying Scripture with others so that we can be reminded of the truth and of how God has given us the full armor of God in light of this struggle.

Second, we need to initiate concrete actions. God has given us everything that we need but we have to intentionally act. “Put on” on the new self. “Put on” the full armor of God. We do have a choice. We can ignore reality and let all that opposes God pull us from God, from each other, and from the world that desperately needs God’s grace or we can stand strong together and take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

I want to pause to highlight of specific scheme. We heard a few weeks earlier in Ephesians 4:27 that we should not let the devil get a foothold. That verse refers to letting anger go unchecked and letting it lead to sin. Everything that opposes God wants us to be divided – friendships to dissipate, marriages to crumble, parent-child relationships to go sour, employees and employers to lack trust in one another, individuals to remain disconnected from others. As followers of Christ, we are given the command to be reconciled to one another, to forgive each other and to take the initiative in making things right between each other. These are hard words.

Brothers and sisters, if we are to stand strong together, then we have to be united. That doesn’t mean that we all have to think the same exact way or agree on specifics on every interpretation of Scripture or issue. It does mean that we are, as God commands in Ephesians 4:31, “to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” We need to take concrete action with one another. I want you to take a moment and think about someone with whom you need to work out some “stuff” in your relationship. Maybe it is someone who you need to forgive or someone who has wronged you. It may be someone in this room right now. Consider how you can contact that person this week and schedule a time when you can sit down face-to-face and try again to be reconciled.

Someone gave me this sobering reminder a few years ago and I followed up on his wise words. I called the person and set up a time to meet. When we got together, I shared that I felt wronged by his specific actions and he eventually acknowledged the problem. The conversation was difficult and awkward but we moved on from that time without the bitterness that marked our relationship up to that point. Friends, we need to stand strong together and initiating concrete actions like seeking or extending forgiveness will enable us to do that.

Our last response is we need to prayerfully watch and persevere together. We cannot expect to live the Christian life on own. There are too many ruts. We need God and we need each other. God has given us prayer as the means for us to experience Spirit-filled lives together. Steve will pick up on the theme of prayer next week.


So I conclude with one of my favorite questions in sermons. Who cares? Who cares about all of this talk regarding standing strong together in the midst of a struggle that seeks to pull apart you from God and others. Who cares? I know one person who cares and that is Jesus. He cares. That’s why he wants you to care too.

What’s at stake is our very lives. Brothers and sisters, we do live in desperate times and there is not a lot out there that is seeking to build up your relationship with God and others.

That is why we emphasize home groups and other small groups so much here at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church. We are a “church of small groups” because we know from Scripture and from our life experience that the waves of life will knock us over unless we stand strong together. On this Labor Day weekend, consider how you can, in Paul’s words in v. 13 “do everything to stand” and that consideration must include a serious commitment or re-commitment to a small group in the coming year. We want to be people who overcome obstacles and live the Spirit-filled life that allows us be the friends, parents, children, employees and employers that we want to be. Friends, we cannot stand alone. We need to stand together.


I think back to when Doug and I would stare at the ocean waves and then look at each other and make the pact to stand together against the crashing waves. Today, we need to have a similar moment as we enter this coming year. Will we agree to stand strong together and do everything, by God’s grace, to make that happen?

As we transition now to the Lord’s Supper, we enter into this time knowing that we are one body. Praise God that he did not leave us alone to take on these challenges. Christ is not dead but he is alive and he wants to help us stand strong together. He is the unchanging God whose promises never fail and he promised that he would be always be with us. We are one body and during this time we should not only consider our own lives but also how we interact with the rest of the body of Christ, especially those whom we need to forgive or be seek forgiveness from. May we be strengthened again as we continue to consider how we indeed can stand strong together here at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church and wherever God has called us to share his grace with the world.

Brothers and sisters, let’s stand strong together.

Starting at the "top"

I read in some book (a very important one) that the way to be first is to be last and to be great a person must be a servant. I also have heard about that the one thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6).

Today, the two came together as the staff at the church with whom I am serving came over to paint rooms in our new home. We covered (2 coats of paint) our dining room area, living room area, main hallway, and front stairway in less than 5 hours! The joy came not merely from the fact that these walls were painted but instead from the fact that I could accomplish a task together with some great new friends and colleagues. The same job would have taken me and Laurie days.

I am once again overwhelmed by God's grace that came through these wonderful people. I am a small groups pastor and I saw today how my small group (church staff) expressed its faith through love by sacrificing time, energy and a beautiful Seattle day (80 degrees and no clouds) to make me and Laurie feel more at home.

The "top" (the church staff) showed its greatness by being willing to serve. I am privileged to be a part of a group of individuals who together make up a team with that mindset shaped by Christ.

Error Code 20

No pictures for this post... just an error code that I received from my good friends who live 54 minutes from me at Microsoft. That is what I just received from trying to sign up for something through MS. Forget about it!

You can only sell...

This picture brought back memories of my sales days with a startup company years ago. The sales funnel was always on my mind. I started in software development but I was moved to sales because I loved interacting with new people.

Years ago, a close friend who also happened to work at that same startup company as me shared a basic but profound insight. He said, "You can not sell something unless you have experienced the value yourself." In that case, we were talking about an enterprise engineering (really project) management software application. We both tried to locate specific examples of value in the product and then we based our interactions with customers on those areas.

Tonight, I experienced the value of small groups in a fresh way. I haven't been part of a small group in years. I participated in a prayer group at seminary but it wasn't what I would consider a fully functioning small group.

I gathered with a group tonight and we experienced the best of getting together in the name of Christ.

- introductions with life stories
- a well led discussion on a hard-hitting topic based in Scripture
- a leader who guided the discussion and knew what he was doing
- differing opinions and follow-up points
- good food
- a prayer time that included honest sharing from the heart
- laughter and a "buzz" of excitement during the hang-time afterwards
- new perspectives that wouldn't come on my own
- a sense of mission and purpose in why God had called the group together (beyond an inward focus)

I walked away energized and ready to continue in what God has called me to do - to encourage, lead and equip disciples in community to engage our Internet-driven culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I experienced the value.

I want to share that value (sell it) and invite others to enter into God's working and life-giving influence (or the kingdom of God).

Two hours

Tonight, I had my first official "meeting" with a few members of Maple Valley Presbyterian Church or as some of my friends like to call it "MVP" church.

Tonight, I remembered why I sensed the call into full time church ministry. I love Jesus Christ and I love seeing God at work in the lives of real people. I came into the meeting expecting to hear some stories and to get a glimpse of the small group ministry at this church. I encountered SO much more than that admittedly small expectation.

I encountered people who are passionate about God because they have experienced God's grace in their lives and they want to share that grace with everyone.
I encountered people who do not want to "play church" but want to truly participate in God's mission here and now.
I encountered people who have been praying for months and years for the person who was going to fill the position in which I am serving.
I encountered people who have convictions and they are willing to sacrifice in order to live by them.
I encountered people who care.
I encountered people who expect God to do amazing things because God has shown up in the past, God shows up in the present, and God will show up in the future.

I encountered people who encouraged me and set the bar high for me (and that is exactly what I needed tonight).

The only issue is they want and expect me to "convert" to being a Seattle Seahawk fan and that is going to take more than a miracle!

I am refreshed, challenged, and humbled by what is before me but that is exactly when God has used me in ways that I could not have imagined in the past. I'm looking forward to whatever the Lord Jesus Christ wants to do in and through me going forward.

Go Seahawks?

First Day...

In many ways, I feel like it is the night before my first day of school. I haven't felt like this in years. I didn't really get this type of feeling before I started at Princeton Seminary but I have "that" feeling tonight.

I start at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church tomorrow morning and I have a mixed feeling of being nervous and ready to go all at the same time. I helped lead in worship this morning and my family was introduced to the congregation. I really have no idea what it will feel like tomorrow. I have a set of initial tasks to complete right away but most of my day will be spent making phone calls and initial connections.

Let's see what happens... here comes the next chapter, stay tuned for some details.

Feeling great.... for a moment

The picture above shows the outcome of my toilet fixing experience today - CRACKED!

I have never been a big "house project" guy. In fact, I have many memories of wanting to climb into a hole whenever my Dad would call me out to garage to put anything together. I mean ANYTHING.

Laurie and I bought our first house after our wedding 6+ years ago. I put my best effort at a variety of projects. My most rewarding moment was installing a garage door opener (later, it almost collapsed and smashed our cars). I learned a lot from a neighbor who demonstrated great patience with me and he taught me some basic things.

Years later (now), I am a home owner again and I have been taking on all kinds of projects the past few days. I have actually enjoyed all of them and my confidence has been growing every day. Today, I decided to fix the toilet in the girls' bathroom and I took on the task with a sure plan. In fact, I replaced the entire inside and everything was working perfectly.

I felt great...

until I tightened the handle with one more turn of the wrench and then the entire back part cracked and water spilled out everywhere.

I went from a super high to a super low.

I called one of the men who helped me earlier in the week for advice. He encouraged me by saying, "Jeff, we all have to start somewhere. At least you are trying, there is a lot to say for that. You will never make that same mistake again and you should see the crack as a positive and not as a negative."

A great word from a wise man. In many ways, he described discipleship with those words. As followers of Christ, we all have to start somewhere. I know that I have "cracked many toilets" in my faith journey and I'm sure that I will crack a few more in the next week as I start at Maple Valley Presbyterian.

Anyone else have some "home-improvement" stories to share?

Beyond Comprehension

Today, 7 men from Maple Valley Presbyterian Church showed up at my new home to help with numerous projects. In addition, a person coordinated the donation of some appliances that arrived earlier in the week. I witnessed some of the greatest serving hearts today. The group took on project after project without any questions or concerns. They were there to help and they wouldn't take no for answer. One member stayed with one project for over an hour even though he should have given up after 10 minutes. One helper put so much effort into the work that he split his jeans!!!

I am in awe of God's grace in my life and I saw it manifested in the form of new friends today. In many ways, I realized just how selfish I am with my time and how I need to answer the call of obedience in my life when others need help.

I was humbled today by the help of some faithful followers of Christ.
I was freshed today by the some faithful followers of Christ.
I was definitely helped by some faithful followers of Christ.

Now it is my turn to be faithful with what God has given me to do...

When was the last time you experienced God's grace in a manner that was beyond comprehension?

We made it!

My family made it across the country yesterday with little to zero issues. I am in awe of how God provided for us throughout the journey. Both Cambria and Avery experienced the trip as an adventure as opposed to a long, arduous disaster. We flew out of Washington Dulles at 4:30, connected through Chicago and arrived in Seattle at 9 PM PST.

The main issue was the connection in Chicago. Once again, I realized how much I am still unable to determine how long an event takes with two little children. We stopped to eat a 'quick' dinner in the food court but by the time it was all said and done we were the last ones to board our flight. That is not an issue if you are single and alone. For us, however, that meant that I had to carry the carseat (for Avery) all the way to the back of the plane and I probably was "that guy" who knocked no less than 5 people in the head with it. I was sweating profusely and extremely embarrassed (and guilt-ridden because I didn't even consider the ramifications of choosing my chicken quesadilla over an early boarding).

Who helped us out? Two Mormon missionaries gave up their seats so that Laurie and the girls could sit together. I sat numerous rows ahead of them and ended up checking on them periodically throughout the flight. By God's grace, both girls fell asleep and Laurie was able to enjoy her Harry Potter book.

I may have spent multiple years refuting the legitimacy of Joseph Smith as a true prophet but that didn't matter a bit when the two LDS missionaries stepped up to help us in a time of need. I have something to learn from that... Don't we all?

We are now in Maple Valley, WA and our moving truck arrives tomorrow (Monday). The events are moving quickly but they are going really well.

These are not the normal 'thoughts as i go' because they do not relate to theology, the church, or small group ministries but these reflections describe the pressing moments at hand.

Moving (finally)

Saturday 8/4 finally brings the flight to Maple Valley. Laurie, Cambria, Avery, me and Laurie's Mom Linda are taking off from Dulles Airport at 4:30 PM and arriving in Seattle near 9 PM PST.

We have been giving 150% for weeks, months, years and now we are finally making the transition out to the Pacific Northwest. Today, I had mixed feelings regarding the change. On the one hand, I definitely will miss my extended family and the opportunities to see friends without any major flight plans. I honestly have no idea just how much the change will impact me but that is a risk that I was willing to take when I decided to ask God to "send me wherever he wanted to send me."

On the other hand, I cannot wait to start at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church. The excitement has been brewing for months and today I feel like it has gone to the next level. I am excited about starting fresh with my family in a new place. I am excited about what God has called me to at MVPC. I am excited about encouraging, leading and equipping small group leaders. I am excited about following Christ along with Laurie in a new place.

I am moving (finally)...

See you on the other side of the U.S.

The Next Chapter

The title of this post, "The Next Chapter," doesn't refer directly to the next movie or book in the Harry Potter series. In fact, I am about to transition into my next chapter of life. Tomorrow, I will be officially ordained as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination. The process has taken over 3 years to complete and I have had more than enough time to examine my sense of call and be examined by others. I am in awe of how much has happened in the last 3 years.

Last night, I went to see Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix with Laurie. I am not a massive Harry Potter fan but I have enjoyed the movies (one day I'll read the books after I finish Church Dogmatics).

I really enjoyed last night's movie. I particularly connected with the scene when Harry Potter takes aside a group of students who want to go beyond theory and head knowledge. They come together to practice spells and to prepare for actual battles.

I couldn't help but connect with the parallel in my life now because I am about to transition from seminary to full-time church ministry. In many ways, I have been in the world of theory without connecting with the real world. I am anticipating numerous new friends and colleagues but also many challenges.

The last aspect of last night's movie that hit home with me was the theme of fighting for something worthwhile. I am convinced more than ever that my next chapter of life is worth the energy and effort. I have no idea just how much my life will change but I have been told to be ready.

Movies like Harry Potter and numerous other ones that feature a character who must step up to challenges help me refocus my energy toward the challenges ahead.

The next chapter is about to begin...

Computer Machine Language = Statement of Faith?

Last week, I went out to Seattle for my ordination examination on the Seattle Presbytery floor. I had a healthy dose of nervousness as the time approached but I also was confident that I could respond to questions about my beliefs and life experiences.

One of the requirements for the Presbyterian church ordination is to write a statement of faith and respond to questions about the content. I decided to write a straightforward statement without any flowery analogies or sentimental word pictures. One of my goals was to present my beliefs in a way that would allow for questions about the content and then my response in the form of stories that described how my beliefs translate into real, everyday life.

As I reflected on my approach, my mind jumped to my former occupation of software development. My main area of expertise was user-interface design. My goal in that area was always to create a presentation layer so that any person could use the computer application without being tied down by the details that went on "behind the scenes."

In many ways, my response to theological questions often follows the same sequence, meaning that I often know the "machine language" underneath but my responses to questions are more "user-friendly" than simply stating the Nicene Creed or my statement of faith. I have a long way to go on this but I am learning how to do it.

Here is my statement of faith that I shared with the Seattle Presbytery last week:

I believe in the triune God whom Scripture bears witness as the God of history with the people of Israel and the God of the new covenant with all humanity in Jesus Christ. By the Holy Spirit human persons are incorporated into Christ and receive adoption as children of God. The confession of the triune God summarizes the witness of Scripture of God’s immeasurable love incarnate in Jesus Christ and experienced and celebrated by the Spirit in the community of faith, the church. The triune God provides the gift of justification by grace through faith in the form of a new identity in Christ and the grace for the community to grow into that identity. Just as the Father sent the Son, and the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit, the triune God sends the church into the world to bear witness to the gospel and serve all people.

I believe in God the Father who created the heavens and the earth and sustains all creation. God chose Abraham and his seed to be blessed in order to be a blessing to the nations. God liberated Israel from Egypt and sent prophets to remind Israel of their covenantal responsibilities. In the fullness of time, God sent his Son not to condemn the world but to save it.

I believe in Jesus Christ who is the Son of God, both fully God and fully human, and he is the image of the invisible God. He was sent in order to destroy the power of sin and death. He reconciled humanity to God through his sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and resurrection. The person and work of Jesus Christ opened the covenant to Gentiles. I believe that he ascended to heaven where he sits at God’s right hand in power as the mediator for each believer and as Lord over all. I believe that Jesus Christ will come again to judge humanity and to consummate his reign.

I believe in the Holy Spirit who was sent as the promised gift who convicts the world with regard to sin, righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit regenerates the believer and then sanctifies the believer by transforming them into the likeness of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit reveals truth through the witness of Scripture to Jesus Christ.

I believe that the church, led by the Spirit, exists to bear witness to Jesus Christ through the preaching of the Word, administration of the sacraments, and serving others.

I believe that the Bible is the written Word of God that bears witness to Jesus Christ. The Bible is inspired and authoritative in all matters of life and faith.

I believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are sacraments that function as both signs and the means of God’s grace toward sinners.

I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are one God in three distinct personal expressions who are working together for the reconciliation of humanity to God and to one another. This triune God sends the covenant people to be witnesses of the gospel to the world in word and deed.

For many, that statement may seem like theological "machine language" but the content underlies my worldview shaped by Jesus Christ.

Confession and Crazy Story....

I have to make a public confession on this blog. It has been long overdue. Some of my closest friends already know this about me but I have been hiding it for years. Here it is... I enjoy pop music. I really do. In fact, I haven't fully embraced my fanaticism for it in years due to lack of money and exposure to new music.

My confession goes all the way back to the early 80s when I clearly remember listening to Billie Jean and Thriller and dancing around the room with my sister. Years later, Backstreet Boys and N' Sync made their mark. I am not going to reveal other friends who encouraged me to embrace the sounds of pop but they all know who they are (can't argue with the hits?)

Well, recently I stumbled upon a song that I can't get out of my head. It was listed as iTunes top song for weeks and I eventually bought it after hearing it on American Idol. The song is Makes Me Wonder by Maroon 5.



Cambria and Avery love the song. In fact, they bounce around to it all the time.

Now here is the crazy story.

I took Cambria (4 yrs old) on a walk yesterday on the canal path near our Princeton apartment. We were mostly walking in silence with an intermittent comment about the color of the berries or the turtles on the trees in the canal. At one point, "Makes Me Wonder" started playing in my head and I began to walk at the same pace of the song.

A few seconds later, Cambria said from the stroller, "Hey Daddy, that sounds like Maroon 5 when you walk that way." I said, "What do you mean?" and she said "The ground sounds like Maroon 5 when you walk that way."

I have been blown away by funny comments from Cambria before but this one was a little more than I could handle. How did that happen? Are we really in tune that much to the same music that she could identify "Makes Me Wonder" from the rhythm of my walk???

Footprints in the sand?

You may be thinking that I am going to quote the poem about the footprints in the sand. I actually still like that poem and find myself encouraged by it at points in my life. The poem reminds me of a song that often sounds overplayed but every once and awhile I find enjoyment in listening to it.



This post is about a different set of footprints. Yesterday, Laurie and I went for a run together for the first time in our marriage. We have run on our own at various points but we have never run together. We ran on the sand in the Outer Banks right next to the ocean, right into the wind. It was a blast!

One of the challenges given to us at our wedding by the pastor was to find ways to have fun together, especially when we have kids. This sounds like an obvious idea but the stresses of raising children have made that simple challenge elusive.

Yesterday, I felt like I discovered a different part of my wife and about us together. Our "footprints in the sand" involves both of us running on the beach, encouraging each other not to give up. That is a good basis for a poem too, right?

Unexpected Gifts

I set my alarm this morning for 6 AM in order to get some time by myself for reading and prayer. My youngest daughter Avery must have read my mind because she beat me to the wake-up at 5:30 or so. I ended up having some time of silence and prayer on a walk all around the neighborhood. I was reminded that sometimes God gives unexpected gifts even when it appears that they were taken away. I probably prayed more for Avery during that walk than I have in all of 2007.

I was also reminded of the necessity of prayer this morning during my reading for Company of New Pastors. I read two questions in the PC(USA) study catechism about prayer. I experienced many aspects of the first of the two questions this morning.

Question 120. What is prayer?

Prayer means calling upon God whose Spirit is always present with us. In prayer we approach God with reverence, confidence, and humility. Prayer involves both addressing God in praise, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, and listening for God's word within our hearts.

When we adore God, we are filled with wonder, love and praise before God's heavenly glory, not least when we find it hidden in the cross of Golgotha.

When confessing our guilt to God, we ask for forgiveness with humble and sorry hearts, remembering that God is gracious as well as holy.

When giving thanks to God, we acknowledge God's great goodness, rejoicing in God for all that is so wonderfully provided for us.

Finally, when calling upon God to hear our requests, we affirm that God draws near in every need and sorrow of life, and ask God to do so again.

Psalm 96:8-9 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.

Returning and Being Sent...

Everyone who knows me understands that I gravitate towards the dramatic. I have always loved being swept up into a story, especially when I sense that God is clearly at work in the story. I am clearly in one of those times right now.

10 years ago, I accepted a job offer to work at Microsoft for a summer. The summer of 1997 was full of adventure and challenges. I seemingly went to work for a software company but I was actually sent to start an intern Bible study and let God work miracles through me. I witnessed God show up in ways that still make my jaw drop when I consider them. That small group and all of the surrounding prayers and relationships showed me how powerful a prayerful group can impact the world for Jesus Christ. After that summer, I could have taken a job at Microsoft the following year but I opted to return to the east coast to work for an IT company in Virginia.

One of my favorite prayer locations that summer was Gasworks park on Lake Union. I often found myself standing by the water looking over the city of Seattle and praying for the city, that God would show up and change lives through his amazing grace. The picture above was taken recently at that exact prayer spot.

10 years later, I now have accepted a call to serve at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church to serve as an associate pastor for small groups. I talked with the chairperson of the search committee last night and we both expressed our wholehearted enthusiasm for where the Lord has brought us. I had no idea that my initial training as a small group leader with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at UVA followed by an incredible time with small groups at Frontline Ministries (McLean Bible Church) followed by a young adult community startup (WatersEdge @ Leesburg Community Church) and then Princeton Seminary would lead to this...

I am returning to Seattle! On the one hand, I can't believe it. On the other hand, it seems to fit exactly what God has been doing in my life all along. I am returning and being sent to Seattle at the same time.

Last weekend, Laurie and I visited the church for the weekend and we sensed a clear calling to serve with the congregation of Maple Valley Presbyterian Church. There are still steps to be completed in order for me to be officially installed as an associate pastor there but I am well on my way.

Wow! That is word that comes to mind. Followed by "Praise the Lord for his unending grace and guidance in my life. You, O Lord, have taken that which is broken and made it into your vessel for noble purposes. Use me as your instrument to serve others and bring everyone I encounter into contact with your amazing grace, your Son Jesus Christ, who knows what truly is best for us and then provides that grace to make it happen."

I will finish this entry with the Psalm that I read before the phone interview with Maple Valley a few weeks ago... I picked up my Bible and prayed through the following before they called.

Psalm 37:3-7
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pature. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Missional (Small) Groups

I am about to embark on a 30 page writing adventure. In many ways, I have preparing to write this paper for over 15 years. I also see this project as the foundation for further reflections that will truly last a lifetime. The subject of the study is small group ministry. I have been involved with a zillion different small group ministries ever since I became a Christian during my freshman year in high school. I have seen all kinds of approaches and emphases. I can't say that I have seen one perfect model but I have seen God work in and through these ministries to change lives.

This paper is the intersection of my small group ministry experience and my studies in missional theology. I could go into a full description of my understanding of missional theology here but that would make this post longer than any human would care to read (it may already be that long). All that matters right now is, in my view, a missional church is one that does not exist for itself but is called together, equipped and sent out to the world to accomplish God's purposes together.

All of the small group literature that I read in the past semester pointed to small groups following the pattern of their churches, namely, existing for themselves. Small groups are often described as places for community where individuals become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. This is true. However, I will borrow a phrase from one of my professors George Hunsinger and say that this description is necessary but not sufficient. Small groups exist for more than community and personal growth.

To be fair, the small group books that I have read do include service or mission as a component of small groups. Over and over, however, I see two extremes with this assertion. On the one extreme, a group exists only to do a specific act of service such as repairing cars for people in the church. These groups lack the Christian practices that contribute to the group's spiritual formation. On the other extreme, a group exists for community and service/mission "spills over" from the group after the group arrives at a certain level of intimacy or growth. These groups rarely move beyond an internal focus and end up splitting up or staying a comfortable level.

I suggest that a group can seek the Lord's face in discovering its specific mission apart from these two extremes. I believe that the Lord calls individuals together in a local church to fulfill a specific mission in that local context. The church community provides relationships that encourage spiritual formation for that mission. In the midst of this, I believe the Lord can work through smaller groups of 8-12 individuals to allow them to discover their specific vocation in the local church and, therefore, in the church overall. Churches often talk about the individual's vocation or sense of calling and the entire church's mission/vision but this can and should occur also at the small group level.

In light of this, I propose that God uses small groups to provide the context for missional formation where the group grows into fully devoted followers of Christ not for themselves but for being used by God to fulfill its specific mission in the world as long as they are called together to serve.

Let's see if I can capture these ideas in a more rigorous manner as I embark on 30 pages of writing!

"The" Spirit

I have noticed a pattern in my readings that may already be known to others but I just recognized it. If a person wants to make a claim about the Christian faith apart from the restraints of Scripture or Christ himself, then they oftentimes refer to "The Spirit." An example sounds something like this, "The Spirit leads communities to consider truth differently than viewed previously."

On the other hand, I have observed that these types of claims are minimized when the reference to the Holy Spirit relates directly to its source and giver, namely, Jesus Christ. These references take the form of "His Spirit" or "the Spirit of Christ."

This may or may not happen 100% of the time but next time you hear or read someone refer to "The Spirit" as opposed to "His (Jesus') Spirit" then check to see how that reference functions in the person's claim about God, humanity and the relationships in the world.

In my view, I would rather hear someone talk about "His (Jesus') Spirit" as opposed to "The Spirit" that stands alone and apart from Jesus Christ.

Quiet Haircut?

I went to get a haircut this morning (yes, I have yet to figure out why my frequency of haircuts has increased as my amount of hair coverage has decreased) and I found myself wondering why it was so quiet.

I then realized that something was missing from the room:



The haircut place is moving locations and they already had moved the TVs to the new place. The room was eerily quiet and I pointed out the lack of noise to the person cutting my hair. She shared that she did miss the TVs and then she continued with an analysis of TVs in general. She noted how many TVs she sees throughout the day... at work, at the grocery store, at waiting areas in hospitals, at restaurants, everywhere.

We then talked about how quickly we look at TVs whenever they are present. Our response is almost instinctive. I rarely can keep my eyes off of a TV whenever it is on, especially if sports are on in the background. Earlier this morning, I turned on the TV and I witnessed my two daughters automatically look up at it. They have already mastered the response.

Have you ever been in the presence of a TV and NOT looked at it?

If not, then what does that reveal about the pull of TV in our lives?

The "Perfect" Parable

I am taking a class this semester that I have wanted to take my whole life - a class on the parables of Jesus. I like to tell stories and I have always been attracted to Jesus' parables. For most of my life, I have approached the parables with the assumption that I could figure them out like a puzzle. Oftentimes, there seems to be a "key" to the puzzle. One parable that has always eluded me is the parable of the "shrewed manager" in Luke 16:1-9 (or 13 depending on where you think the parable ends).

I will write more in the future about why I believe this could be considered the "perfect parable" but I will share one reason now. Try to assign roles to the different characters in the parable and you will quickly realize that a person cannot figure out this parable by taking that route. The rich man cannot be God because then you would have to say that God praises a dishonest manager. The manager cannot be Jesus because then you would have to say that Jesus uses dishonest methods to justify the means and, consequently, we should too.

What should we do with this parable? One thing is certain. We cannot sit down and attempt to unlock this parable by assigning roles and then figure out exactly what Jesus wants us to do or figure out more about God through these roles.

What have you "done" with this parable in the past?

If you can't answer this question easily, then that helps make my point that this could be the perfect parable.

Simply Connected

I played Halo 2 with some friends over XBox live for a few hours on Tuesday night. I was reminded of how much a few simple gifts in the past 7 years has changed everything. Video games systems bring limitless opportunities for contagious community. One of the many bits of wisdom that I have picked over the years is that community forms around shared memories. I would add that, for men, community flourishes around shared memories and nicknames that come out of those memories.

I haven't researched this statement but I believe that Jesus was one of the first recorded nickname-givers in history. Simon became the "rock" (not the people's champion), James and John became the "sons of thunder." God has been in the business of changing names from the beginning. In many ways, the newly given names point to who the persons will become as they fulfill God's calling on their lives.

That was a side comment on nicknames, now back back to memories. In April 1999, I received a Nintendo 64 from a friend in my small group and we started playing Mario Kart after every small group gathering. Quickly, the competition became intense. Every night, new memories were created because no two races were the same. Every time we played together was a unique event.

Years later, my wife bought me an XBox for my birthday and the game of choice was Halo. Once again, I hosted numerous gatherings of playing Halo with friends. The XBox took playing to the next level because my friends and I could connect boxes and get as many as 16 players together. The "Halo Fests" were some of the sweetest times of friends getting together. One aspect of the fun was the nicknames that came out of playing together. Each player creates a player profile with the name and quickly we began to change how we referred to one another. Gregg became "Maximus" and Jeff became "Julio" and etc..

Years later, and this brings us to the present time, I played Halo 2 over XBox live with friends from multiple chapters of my life. In fact, there were additional players who were invited in by other friends too. In one game was a friend from UVA (and also afterwards), a friend from a small group right out of college, a friend from a church after I got married, a neighbor from my old neighborhood in Virginia, another common friend, and a brother of my friend from UVA.

We couldn't have orchestrated that gathering even if we tried. The community continues on and the memories are being made, and yes, more nicknames are being given...

Early mornings

I can barely remember the days before the kids when I would set my alarm in order to wake up to read Scripture and pray. I still read Scripture and pray but I often have Dora the Explorer yelling in the background.

This morning, I was able to get some time alone at 6 AM. My "routine" reflects my love for reading Scripture and reflecting on what I hear. Recently, I have been reading from the lectionary along with others in the Company of New Pastors. I decided to start on my own this morning with a reading from Psalm 119. Psalm 119:45 says "I will walk about in freedom for I have sought out your precepts." I composed the following prayer after reading and rereading this verse.

Holy and Gracious Lord, you are the source of freedom and lover of my life, you have given me your precepts as a source of life, may you grant me the grace to follow them so that I may walk about in freedom, for your name's sake, Amen.

What does it look like and feel like to "walk about in freedom" throughout the day? I can honestly say that right now I am experiencing that reality.

I have heard a lot of criticism, whether direct or indirect, about "personal piety" during my time at Princeton Seminary. The comments often focus on "quiet times" just like the one that I described. To be fair, I agree with the criticism aimed at legalistic systems that lead to individuals feeling like they have performed their Christian duty. The criticism that I have heard, however, often focused on the act itself of "spending time with the Lord."

In my view, spending time with the Lord is life-giving and the best way to begin a day. I don't know about you but I would like to be a person who "walks about in freedom."

How do you respond when you hear say that they had a "quiet time" or "spend some time time with the Lord" this morning?

The Discipline of Silence

I carved out a few hours this morning to take a prayer walk near Lake Carnegie. I still remember the first time that I rode my bike out the canal path and arrived at the lake. I couldn't believe how close I lived to an open area of beauty. I have always been one to search for my "spots" and to go there for times of silence. Almost all of my favorite spots in the past were near bodies of water.

Today, I took some time to simply be quiet before God. I was reminded last night in reading Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics IV.3.2 part 1 of how humans evade God and do everything to avoid being encountered by his living Word. I opened my time of prayer asking God to encounter me and to open my heart up to his address. I needed to hear from God, especially after a jam-packed month of February that has featured more than I can begin to document here.

The time of silence was exactly what I needed. I toggled between moments of silence and simple prayers for my family, my future, and my openness to God's Word in my life. At one point, I was walking on the path and I realized that I was listening to my own breathing. How often do I actually slow down enough or remove distractions so that I end up focusing on my own breathing? Rarely. After today, I remembered why I need to carve out intentional times of silence.

Three words...

Tonight, I turned around and looked at Avery. She looked back at me and mouthed three sounds that sounded like "I love you." She then blew me a few kisses. I was absolutely floored. She has never done anything like that before. She has smiled, she has hugged me but she has never voiced "I love you."

I have probably told her 3940830948 times that I love her. For her to initiate the same words back to me was nothing short of pure love. I guess this is a small sample of what God must feel when we express our love back to him.

When is the last time you expressed your love for God? When is the last time you simply said "I love you" to God?

This reflection may not be what I talk about at seminary every day but the profound truth behind this experience outweighs all the volumes of books that I have read and more.

Image of God and Small Groups

I can't even begin to count the number of times I have heard this, "God is a God in community and therefore as humans created in God's image we are made for community." The line of thinking behind this statement is that God is one God in three persons who are eternally in relationship in what Christian's call the Trinity. The description of humans, male and female, created in the image of God has garnered a variety of interpretions. For many small group ministries, the theological foundation for small groups is the notion of "God in community" and therefore we are 'wired' for community.

I have to admit that I have harbored skepticism every time I have heard this interpretation of the image of God and humanity's desire for relationship. I haven't been able to put my finger on it until recently. My main skepticism stems from the fact that I do not believe that this goes far enough. Are small groups only supposed to be meant to be "in community" for themselves? I can already hear the quick response of small groups do service projects both inside and outside the church community. This is true but does that find its foundation in "God in community."

I believe that the Trinity is more than simply "God in community." My guess is that everyone would say that they agree with that statement but I want to draw out a specific idea. My understanding of the Trinity doesn't start with trying to diagram or mathematically posit the relationships between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit apart from what is revealed in Scripture. I have heard many try to liken the Trinity to water (one substance) with three forms (ice, water, steam) but one of the many problems with this approach is this view starts with human thoughts about physical entities as opposed to what is revealed in Scripture.

Starting with Scripture, the Triniatarian relationships are revealed in the Bible as the Father sending the Son and the Father and the Son sending the Holy Spirit and the relationships between them. What is the purpose of this sending? There are many reasons but the primary reason is for God to rescue humanity from sin (salvation) through Jesus Christ and then to establish his people as the church through the Holy Spirit. From there, the church is sent into the world to participate in God's ongoing mission of reconcilation until Christ comes again.

Small groups are gatherings of individuals by God for community but ALSO to be sent out in mission to whomever God puts them in contact. The foundation for this understanding isn't a desire for more service projects but the very nature of God as a God who sends and accomplishes his Word (which does not return void). This Word is Jesus Christ who embodies the reconciliation between humanity and God and we are gathered together as groups (small groups, local churches, the entire body of Christ) to accomplish this mission.

The next time you hear someone say that we are wired for relationships because we are created in the image of God and God is a "God in community," ask yourself or the speaker, "What do you see as the purpose of that community?" If the answer falls somewhere in the arena of fulfilling God's unique mission for that community in its specific time and place then I believe a fuller picture of the meaning of community has been considered.

Greatness

There are few great individuals in the world. I knew one and she was my Aunt Dorothy. Aunt "Dottie" was an inspiration to more people than I can begin to count. She died last night after a long struggle with a series of complications in her body. I just took an hour to type whatever came to my mind about this amazing woman. The one thing that I will share here is that she inspired me years ago to jump from my first job at a medium-sized consulting firm to a start-up company. She told a story about how much her, my Dad, and the rest of their siblings had to fight in Chinatown in NY City to flourish and provide for their families. I do remember her mentioning how they had to take risks to make things happen. I don't remember the exact words she said but I remember thinking "I also have that DNA inside of me and I have a responsibility to own up to that and take risks in my life." I was reminded today by reflecting on her life just how fast life goes and how little time I have to own up to what God has given me to do. Aunt Dottie owned up to her responsibilities and she will always inspire me to own up to mine.

Busted...

I have a habit of pointing out patterns that I find in presentations by speakers. This applies to preachers, teachers, seminar leaders, etc. I wrote my top list of repeated phrases a few months ago in a blog post. Phrases like "painting in broad strokes" and "unpack" made the list. In fact, I decided just for fun (my kind of ridiculous fun) to use those two phrases (back to back) during my chapel sermon last week.

My habit of pointing out things in sermons came back to bite me. Familiar words from Jesus in Mark 4:24 say "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more."

My measure - pointing out specifics in a sermon

Yesterday, I preached a sermon at my home church and I included what I thought was a throw-away line in the middle of the sermon. I said that salt is "what most of us relate to making food tasty or high cholesterol." I didn't think much of the line. I just wanted to put in a transition to the actual use of the term salt in Matthew 5.

A person pointed out to me later in the day that in fact salt causes high blood pressure not high cholesterol. My initial, internal defensive response was "is it that big of a deal that I said high cholesterol? is that the only thing you heard in the sermon?" Later on, after reading Mark 4:24, I reflected on the fact that my measure of pointing out specific parts of a sermon came back on me.

I am now starting to realize that all of my criticizing of things over the years in the church (poor leadership, specific sermon points, etc) will now be pointed at me as I enter full-time ministry. Writing a sermon, leading a church, doing anything as a full-time pastor is more difficult than I realized when I was a person who showed up on Sunday morning and had a lot of time to point out the problems without offering solutions...

Taunting...

One of my favorite moments during the day is when my cell phone rings and I get taunted by a friend. Oftentimes, a friend from Virginia will call to remind me that Virginia Tech is superior in some fashion to UVA. I have some other friends who like to remind me of how the New York Mets are not a real baseball team. I have others who like to simply take jabs at me. The list of friends who call me like this isn't large but I can count on numerous calls throughout the week.

Today, I received that type of phone call from a different person. This person happened to be from a potential church where I may be called to serve. He decided to call me in order to taunt me about the weather that we are experiencing here in Princeton, NJ (cold, icy, ridiculous) as opposed to his location. I never would have thought to put "phone taunting" on my list of desired aspects in a church but I now have that on my list!

Building a church...

Some updates have been made to my blog. I have been absent. I apparently haven't had any thoughts as I go... Of course, that is not true but I have been keeping them to myself. A lot is on the horizon as I seek out where God is leading me and my family.

Leadership from a different angle

1 Thessalonians is at the top of my list of favorite books in the Bible. I am biased because God gave me the greatest small group community in the history of small groups (Fairfax, VA - 1999-2000) and we studied that book during our time together.

My co-leader (Rob) and I saw clearly how Paul's relationship with the Thessalonians revealed to us how we should care for our small group. I kept a list of ideas along these lines that I now use for small group training. The requirements for church leadership are often derived from the listings in 1 Timothy and Titus but I would also recommend reading through 1 Thessalonians for a deep well of ideas for considering leaders in the church.

I came across 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 during my morning lectionary reading and I ended up praying for the following prayer based on its content:

Lord, shape me into a leader of your church, I ask that you form me into a leader, proclaimer of your gospel, and caregiver that is like Paul as seen in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
I ask that I consider those to whom you send me as brothers and sisters (v. 1),

that I dare to share the gospel in spite of strong opposition (v. 2),

that what I share not spring from error or impure motives or trickery (v. 3),

instead may I speak as one approved by God who has been entrusted with your announcement of God's reign, not trying to please people but God who tests my heart (v. 4),

that I may never use flattery or have secret greedy intentions (v. 5),

that I may never look for the praise of people (v. 6),

that I may be a gentle and caring shepherd who is like a mother to her children (v. 7),

that my love for my brothers and sisters would be so great that I would not only share the gospel but also my very life with them because they are so dear to me (v. 8),

that I may work so as not to be an excessive burden to anyone (v. 9),

that by God's grace I would be a holy, righteous, and blameless person among my brothers and sisters (v.10),

that I would deal with my brothers and sisters like a father deals with his own children, encouraging and comforting (vv. 11-12),

and that I would urge them to live lives worthy of God, the God revealed in Jesus Christ who calls each person into his kingdom and glory (v.12),

may I be this leader, encourager, and caregiver as seen in the apostle Paul as he follows his Lord and Savior, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

Like old times...

I really enjoy being online and feeling connected to the world. I took that for granted during my 6 years of work in the information technology where I would be online all day long. I didn't realize how much being a parent and having school work would disrupt that connection.

I do have a 'job' here at the seminary that allows me to experience that again. I work as a lab assistant in a computer lab and I get paid for writing stuff like this. The main difference between this job and my past jobs is I get paid a LOT less for basically doing the same amount of work.

Either way, that doesn't take away the fact that I enjoy having multiple email accounts open, this blog site, other blogs, my facebook account, my myspace account, and instant message sessions all going at once.

I should probably return to reading and doing my school work...

Foggy Perception...

I have received a couple of questions regarding this rarely (if ever) updated blog. I often have ideas to post but the transition from my head to the blog has not been a habit.

Today, I offer a picture of my life in the past year. My second daughter has slept through the night 3-4 times in her first full year of life. Last night was one of the "highlights" of this magnificent run of waking up. I went to bed early (9 AM) due to a head cold and woke up around midnight when she woke up. I was unable to fall back asleep due to being wide awake but I eventually fell asleep near 2:15 AM. 20 minutes or so later, she woke up again. I was unable to go back to sleep until 5 or 5:30 AM... I slept for 3 hours. I had a total of 6 hours of sleep but there was a 5 hour up/down period in the middle.

I guess that is why I have been a little out of sorts this past year. I wonder what it will be like when I can experience the world through the eyes/mind of a full night's sleep. Until then, I will continue to exist with a foggy perception of reality...

Give this guy a chance...

I am on a mission. I am always on a mission (those who know me can witness to that statement). I am currently in a theology of John Calvin class and one of my goals is to meet the real John Calvin. The term "Calvinist" evokes a wide range of responses from both those inside and outside the church, both those in the Presbyterian church(es) and those outside. Unfortunately for theologians, they are often branded with a short phrase or label that biases those who would otherwise learn from their writings, meditations, sermons, and lives of devotion to Jesus Christ. For Calvin, of course, he is associated with predestination.

I have the opportunity (yes, I view it that way) to hang out Calvin this semester. Darrell Guder encouraged me to view my class on the theology of Lesslie Newbigin last year as a time of mentoring by a theologian. I am taking the same approach to my time with Calvin (and Karl Barth in an independent study).

I was refreshed by Calvin's definition of piety. He said "I call 'piety' that reverence joined with love of God which the knowledge of his benefits induces." (1.2.1) What a great source for a prayer? "Lord, grant me the grace to have a reverence joined with a love for you."

I was also reminded of God's provision for me and my response when Calvin wrote "For until a person recognizes that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by his fatherly care, that he is the Author of their every good, that they should seek nothing beyond him - they will never yield him willing service." (1.2.1) (bold added by me)

I am a stubborn guy. What would it look like for me to "yield him willing service" every day? My prayer life will be marked by an admission that I owe everything to God and that I would like to seek nothing beyond him.

I invite you to consider hanging out with Calvin and meet this man of God who reflected on the things of God beyond one subject (predestination). I am looking forward to seeing how he points me to Jesus Christ in the coming months and beyond.

New semester, Final year

My final year at Princeton Theological Seminary is here. I feel like I am in the classic back-and-forth where I feel like I just got here AND I feel like I have been here forever. My faith has changed in the past 2 years in many ways. I have come to some new places through wrestling with ideas that I didn't even have on my radar a few years ago. At the same time, I have seen how wrestling with potentially faith-wrecking ideas has brought me back to the firm foundation that the Lord Jesus Christ has been building for the previous 28 years of my life. That is why I sensed the Lord leading me to Princeton Seminary. I can now see more clearly the theological spectrum and I have a better sense of how different individuals and groups emphasize different parts of the Christian faith. I now feel more confident (properly confident to quote Lesslie Newbigin) than ever with my starting point being Jesus Christ as the Word of God revealed and his work in and through his sent church into the world.

I enter this year expectantly. I am most looking forward to seeking out conversations with those with whom I may disagree. I need to learn how to disagree with respect and gentleness. I also know that I haven't had one conversation in my life that hasn't shown me how I tend to push others away from me when I perceive that they think differently than me. I have missed out on some great discussions and life stories.

Let's see what happens. God-willing, I will post some thoughts as I go this year again. I disappeared for the summer due my internship in a hospital. My classes this semester are:
1. The Social and Ethical Implications of the Synoptic Gospels
2. The Theology of John Calvin
3. Atonement
4. Introduction to Education (audit)
5. Independent Study on Karl Barth's volume IV / 3.2 on the vocation of humanity and the sending of the church by the Holy Spirit.

I'd love to hear from anyone via a comment if you happen to journey onto this blog in the coming months...

Rare Event... shedding some tears

I have to admit that I shed some tears watching something tonight. I can honestly say that I have only cried in less than 5 movies in my life (and one was the Lion King!). I don't know if it is 10 weeks of CPE + 2 weeks or Ordination Exam insanity but tonight I shed some tears watching the end of an episode in Season Four of 24 (2 AM - 3 AM) - when Jack forces the doctors to work on the Chinese guy as opposed to Audrey Raines' husband...

This post has nothing to do with anything but I had to share this with someone...

Gold's Community Church

I was talking to friend about his perspectives on his church. He mentioned how he felt that most individuals at his church belonged because that is what people did in that town. He gave numerous examples of what this looked like in the form of stories of those he encountered each week. If he hadn't stated that he was talking about a church, then I could have easily substituted Gold's Gym (or any other workout facility) in place of the church.

Is that what the church is supposed to be, another Gold's Gym? If so, then the future generations would rather go to Gold's... that is exactly what is happening. I will write some specific ideas on this in the coming posts. This one has been brewing for awhile.

Proof or Story?

I have encountered no less than 10 sermon series, seminars, or pamplets on the Da Vinci Code. Initially, I was on the bandwagon (what is a bandwagon anyway?) that saw this as a point of connection with those who do not consider God or Christianity in their daily lives. My question now, however, is have Christians missed the point by focusing on logical proofs that seek to respond to every single point made by Dan Brown in his novel? In other words, are Christians asking the wrong question? I believe that they are. The question that I do not hear being asked is what does the success of the Da Vinci Code reveal about culture and the role of narrative in relating truth? In other words, what does the success of the Da Vinci Code reveal about today's consumer culture and how methods are used to reach it with a message?

One thing is certain, Dan Brown composed a compelling story and many have read it. What would have happened if Dan Brown selected a different medium for his material. If Dan Brown published a study with a point-by-point analysis of Mary Magdalene, then would he have sold as many copies as the Da Vinci Code? Absolutely not!

The irony is that Christians have responded to the novel as if he composed that very study. In other words, Christians have missed the point. I believe that the Da Vinci Code has exposed the church's weakness in sharing the most compelling story - the story of God's love for humanity in the life and work of Jesus Christ. Dan Brown told a story, Christians have responded with point-by-point counter-proof. Going forward, I believe that Christians are called to bear witness to the compelling story that God loved humanity, even though humanity didn't care at all about God, and sent his Son to make a way for us to be known by God and know God and to experience life in the way of Jesus. As we replace that story with point-by-point lectures that give 3049304983408 reasons why the Bible is true, then I think Christians are missing an opportunity to respond. Even better, Christians are missing an opportunity to share THE compelling story (that story by the way has outsold the Da Vinci Code this year)...

Blogger death

The best way to kill off a mediocre blogger (me) is to have an unsuccessful post. I just spent 30 minutes writing up some thoughts on how the church has missed the point with its response to the Da Vinci Code. I attempted to post but I lost my internet connection AND the content of the post. For someone who has been posting every 2.65913 weeks, that is DEATH...

Interfaith conversations

I continue to notice a pattern in "interfaith" conversations and settings. The pattern is this - more often than not, interfaith equals no Christian references. I attended an interfaith prayer service today and I anticipated a mix of prayers and faith perspectives. Instead, I witnessed a list of references to every faith besides Christianity. A few Psalms were included in the prayer service but there was an obvious omission of any New Testament references.

Why does this pattern exist? Many would try to cite that Christians have taken advantage of their majority status to push back other faiths. Is this completely true? My observation is that Christians have often subscribed to a guilt complex that is shaped by Christianity's connection with colonialism and anything else that is related to the forcing of the Christian faith on others. I have a question in response to this connection. Why do other faiths fail to have the same guilt complex? Why is it that Christians always have to back out from asserting anything in "interfaith" conversations and prayer services?

I worked with numerous Muslims in my last software development job near Washington DC and I often had religious conversations throughout the day at places like the coffee maker. I had the opportunity to attend a Friday prayer at a local mosque with these friends and I received numerous insights from the experience. One of my closer friends was open to seeing the commonalities between our faiths but the majority of others had little to no interest in that kind of 'dialogue.' They made it clear that they did not have any form of guilt complex for the uniqueness of their religious claims.

Am I the only person who notices the pattern of Christian references being absent from "interfaith" conversations? Or am I one of the only individuals who is willing to point it out?

Tale of Two Cities

3+ weeks have gone by since I finished up my second year at Princeton Theological Seminary. I have had a refreshing time with family and friends. I feel completely "detoxed" from the year and I can see how much God taught me this year through my classes and my relationships. A lot has happened this year.

Two weekends ago, I had the opportunity to go on a road trip with two friends (with the same name = Corey). I mistakenly thought that trips like this one were not possible after having 2 kids... We went to church at Presbyterian Church at New Providence on Sunday morning and then headed into NY City. Little Italy, China Town, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and then a subway trip led us to Shea Stadium for the Mets/Yankees game. It was freezing but the game and the crowd kept everything heated up. I love New York. I was born 20 miles from the city and its rhythms are built into my being. The intensity of the crowd was everything that I had anticipated. I would never bring my 3 year old daughter to a game like this one due to the profanity and constant fights but I took in the craziness with a smile. The Mets won and that made it even better...

We left from the Shea around 11:30 and drove up to a state park in Sturbridge, MA and had our tent set up by 4 AM... Around 10:30 AM, we woke up and found our way into a freezing cold lake to wake up. A grease-filled Cracker Barrel breakfast and drive led us to Boston where we hit up 2-3 pubs before the Red Sox/Yankees game. We arrived at Fenway early and stood near the Green Monster seats (hence the picture). As we talked, I heard someone yell "Heads up!" and then a baseball came flying by my head. I fought off another fan for the ball and took into possession my second official American League baseball. Fenway Park was incredible but the fans were a major disappointment. This was supposed to be the "most hate-filled rivalry in baseball" but I couldn't tell that from the slight chatter that marked the crowd volume all game long. The number of standing ovations at the Mets/Yankees game had to be near 50. The Yankees/Red Sox game featured 1. The boos for Jonny Damon lasted a mere 2 seconds and nobody seemed to care when Curt Schilling had 2 stikes on a batter. It will take a lot for someone to convince me that Red Sox fans are passionate after what I witnessed that night...

We returned to the camp site by 1 AM and talked over a cigar until 3 or 4 in the morning, woke up at 6 AM and drove south back to Jersey. I was exhausted but it was the perfect kind of exhaustion - one that was caused by a series of memories that only God can provide with close friends.

new approach

a new approach is required...

Baseball Liturgy

I haven't posted in a LONG time and that reflects a life governed by family and school responsibilities. In an ideal world, I would post 3-4 times per week. I should be posting again now that I am entering finals period because this is a great forum for me to work out ideas and fight off writer's block!

Last night, I had the opportunity to go to Yankees Stadium to watch the Yankees LOSE to the Orioles (note - the picture above is the exact same vantage point of my seat). I am an avid Mets fan (they do exist) and every Yankees loss is a Mets victory. I have to admit that I enjoyed watching Hideki Matsui strike out looking with the bases loaded to end the game. My point in posting, however, has nothing to do with the actual game.

At the game last night, I experienced what I will call the liturgy of baseball. A baseball game at Yankee stadium is a religious event and the worship experience is marked by liturgy. The meaning of liturgy is literally "the work of the people" and the term is most often applied to what occurs in 'high-church' Christian worship gatherings. I experienced Yankee liturgy last night.

Let me explain. The "work of the people" included a wide variety of practices. First, the rituals associated with a baseball game are evident. Everything from how you order peanuts from the person going up and down the stairs to the clapping that occurs when the opposing batter has two strikes in the count. I even witnessed a "worship war" over the use of the wave at Yankee Stadium. The guy in front of me started yelling "Hey, that $%@#" is for Shea Stadium not for this place." It appeared that this guy had a clear sense of what was appropriate for the Yankee "denomination". Second, there is a leader in the liturgy of baseball. The PA announcer, who has been with the Yankees and NY Giants for many years, is revered and he has an expected and characteristic way of moving the game along by announcing hitters and pitchers. Third, the means by which 'saints' are recognized was evident as the crowd automatically gave Bernie Williams a standing ovation. Fourth, the 'sanctuary' is laid out with worship in mind, especially the area dedicated to Yankee greats out beyond the bullpen. Finally, the overall participation marks the liturgy because every person is involved from start to finish with the experience. These marks of baseball liturgy may not apply to every baseball stadium but they definitely apply to Yankee Stadium.

I found myself praying the following "Lord, what would it look like for these Yankee fans to dedicate even 10% of their energy toward worshiping what they ultimately long for - to be known and to know God through Jesus Christ." That prayer will be discussed at another time in another post but I wanted to put that out there for more thoughts.

Have you ever experienced a liturgy (work of the people) like I experienced last night?