Things have been pretty busy around church recently. 2 weeks ago we had our Children Sunday. It went awesome! John W did a great job presenting and the kids did a wonderful job in their sign language. They helped lead worship for the song “I Stand in Awe”. All the songs were picked out by children from church. I expected them to pick more “kiddy” songs, but they picked the “big people” worship songs. I think that speaks to the power of music. The video clip went over great. I’ve heard NC laugh before, but not quite as hard as they did during that video. A wonderfully uplifting morning topped off with Machalie Brown giving her life over to Christ. Mike (her dad) baptized her. It was a very special time. I even went out on a limb and sang “I’m a Believer” to close the service :-)

Last week our shepherds presented our 5 year vision for the church. Special music, readings, and great presentation from John B. I always get nervous about this type of gathering, cause it’s so easy for it to turn into a “business meeting”. But it wasn’t that in the least. Yes, we got some info across, but everyone worked to make this a time of worship and dedication.

This week it’s back to a “normal” service. No special videos, no special music, but our time together will still be “special” because we’re gathering to worship our risen Lord! David’s starting to talk about “God’s New Society”…what God intended for the church.

This weekend we’re working off the heels of last Sunday. We’re having a church retreat called “Engaging Discipleship.” I’m not sure what will all come from this, but I’m sure it will good.

Our family is leaving Sunday afternoon for vacation. We usually go to Florida with a family from FCC, but the timing didn’t work for them this year. So instead of sunny Florida, and tons of golf…we’re going to Michigan for tons of…not sure yet. I was asked to lead praise and worship in assembly at Rochester College on Tuesday. I’m really looking forward to that. I’m a bit nervous; but I’m sure all will go well. They arranged for me to have a praise team and picked some of the most talented singers I know of. It’s gonna all be alumni from the time I was there. It’s gonna be fun to sing with them. They’ll carry me through even if I blow it. Have a great weekend!

happy birthday

Today is my birthday...29! I don't feel any older; but looking at my gut, I see I am :-)

back to the books...

I have been spending more time on the couch reading and less time mindlessly watching TV. I don’t actually watch too much TV, but by the time I’ve spent time at church, been in a car for 2 hours driving, running around playing “chase” with Kyra, eating dinner, putting Kyra to bed…I just end up plopping down and doing, well…nothing.

But recently I’ve been reading. I seem to have a habit of reading several books at the same time. It makes it a bit hard to keep it all straight, especially when coupled with extended bible reading. “Was that quote from C.S. Lewis or Jesus? " I've finished Chris Tomlin's first book (just OK) and have been going through the English Standard Version of the Bible. Right now, I'm going through John. I’m 90% through “Generous Orthodoxy” by Brian Mclaren. I was first introduced to BM through his comments in the book “Emerging Church” by Dan Kimball. I then got to hear him speak at ZOE this past fall. It’s gonna take me awhile to process thoughts from this book…

I also just finished another Mclaren book “A New Kind of Christian”. Now that was a bit easier for me to digest. Although I must admit, I’m not sure quite what to do with all the thoughts now racing through my head. Basically, I walked away from this book thinking there is something about his writings that resonate with me in a way I can’t fully explain. For a long time (since I was about 12 I guess) I’ve had a hard time fully embracing the “church world” I saw around me. That would seem ironic to anyone who knew me back then, cause I was sort of a poster child of a church kid. But I remember sitting in an ice-cream bar at Lake Geneva, WI and having ice –cream with Landon Saunders. For some reason, he had taken a liking to me. I was in AWE of him. I’m not sure what it was…something about him intrigued me. But I digress…

ANKOC is a must read in my book. Not so you can walk away saying, “just what I always thought, but couldn’t put into words.” But so that you will ask, “What if?” I used to get myself into trouble asking those questions…now, a little older (I’ll be 29 in 2 days) and a bit un-wiser…I guess I don’t care if I get into trouble.

I’m rambling…anyway, I can’t see any way for me to just go back to my life as it was. Mclaren's thoughts have caused me (or was it the Spirit) to stop and take a long hard look at everything I’ve been doing, or better yet, not doing.

Last night, we all decided to go to Borders. This has become our family outing of sorts…it’s free and Kyra has a blast in the kids section, while Angela and I read through book and magazines. I thumbed through MacWord (or something like that) I have been drooling over a Mac for years…but never have had the opportunity to own one. I’m not sure that it is about a Mac that is so appealing to me. Something about the simplistic beauty of it all…but then I realize it’s just a computer and I can do the same, if not more, with my 2.4G, 1MB Ram, 120G HD PC. But then I want a Mac….

At Borders, I also picked up Donald Millers, “Blue Like Jazz”. I have heard tons of comments about this book from some people I admire. I read through ½ of it last night while listening to Miles Davis, Kind of Blue on my ipod…I thought the music choice was appropriate. Miller also conjures up some thoughts I will have to sit with for awhile.
More to come…back to work.

next time...please don't change your own diaper!

OK…it’s official. After 2 ½ years, I have now officially been christened into the Daddy club. Kyra has, for the most part, been a pretty easy child. At least that’s what everyone tells me. But yesterday, I put her down for her “rest time” (it can no longer be called a nap) and she just wasn’t going to sleep. After awhile her whines turned into sad whimpering and occasionally, “Daddy…help.” So I went upstairs to find…
Kyra, no clothes, lying on her comforter with the remains of her diaper all over herself and everything else. I won’t go into graphic detail…let’s just say it was nasty! I of course, was home alone, so I couldn’t call for backup. Normally I would probably have been mad at her, but she looked so sad. Through her whimpering, I think I gathered that she was trying to change her own diaper. Nice idea; but I guess it didn’t quite work. I think Angela and I take this as a sign that it’s time for her go potty like a big girl. I managed to pick her up and get her in the tub (no easy task) and get her cleaned off. The whole time, she just looked at me with those eyes, "I wuv you, daddy" she would say. I'm sure there was a bit of manipulation going on, but man, I just couldn't be mad. We had a good time in the bath and laughed. She promised she woudn't change her own diaper again.

Ah…isn’t parenthood grand! :-)