God Is in Control...Yada... Yada... Yada
by Len Evans
I toyed with the idea of writing this anonymously because I was scared that it would come across bitter and angry since…well, I'm probably bitter and angry.
David wrote about walking through the valley of the shadow of death; well, this past year it seems like we've been camping out in the valley of the shadow of death—and the dangers, toils, and snares have come courtesy of some Christians and some churches.
I've never served in a true mega-church (2000 on a Sunday) or had 200 active students every week, but I've been fortunate and able to do some pretty cool things in youth ministry land. I graduated from a great seminary, pastored thriving youth ministries, spoke at national youth worker conventions, and wrote lots of articles and curriculum—even a recent book.
Despite all these accolades and appearances of success, it's been a rough haul recently. So I thought I'd share some of my recent journey with all of its fear, doubt, and messiness, written in the moment.
The Dark Days – 4 months ago
I've been looking for a new ministry position for over six months. I left the church and have been without income for almost three months; my savings will run out soon. I've played back the last church situation in my head hundreds of times. Seems it "wasn't a good fit"—which was true in some ways. At the end, my senior pastor told me I didn't fit in well with the church culture—and I agreed, since it seems to be characterized by material affluence that's led to an attitude of entitlement.
I made mistakes and I could've done things better, but I didn't do anything worthy of being asked to leave…er, excuse me…I "resigned"—of course, it was made clear to me that it'd be easier to provide some severance if I agreed my departure was 100% mutual.
There were no moral issues, my behavior was above reproach, and I was told that I'd left with grace. (Does telling this story—albeit true—still qualify me for leaving with grace?)
I believe there's a plan for me, but I just wish God didn't have to use these kinds of people to accomplish it.
The Darkest Night
I've never really considered abandoning youth ministry until tonight. I looked at my wife and told her, "If this church that we're talking to doesn't work out, I'll leave youth ministry. I'll leave any sort of ministry."
I'm tired of my wife being hurt by promises that are broken by church leaders. I'm tired of telling my daughters, "It'll be okay, maybe this next church is where Jesus wants us to be," and "No honey, we're not poor yet. Don't worry about those kinds of things." But most of all, I'm tired of being treated like a corporate employee who's simply there to do the bidding of the higher ups.
This whole experience makes me just want to find a job to pay the bills, focus on loving my family, and go hide in a church rather than serve in one. Then fear kicks in as I wonder who would hire a 35-year-old former youth pastor with no "real world" experience. I still, and always will, love the church; though some churches really tick me off with how they treat people, especially youth workers.
Don't get me wrong. Some youth workers should be fired. Heck, some of us never should have become full-time youth workers in the first place! But right now, it feels like there are a lot more of us out there who should be treated better than we are.
I've had over 20 phone interviews with different churches, and yet not one place has worked out. Four have been very close. One even said, "We can have you here in two weeks," and then the next day called and said, "We're sorry; we think we rushed the process."
Maybe God is telling me that I should get out of ministry or maybe that I should wait. I'm not sure what the answer is, and I'm not sure, at this moment, what I want the answer to be. My theology tells me that God is in control and in the end it'll all be okay—but right now I don't want to hear it, and frankly I'm not sure if I believe it.
The Rest of the Story
It seems that my camping permit to the valley of the shadow of death was a temporary one. It was so dark on some days that I joked with my wife that if it got much worse I was going to take my daughters' Bibles and pitch them, saying, "You won't need those." I didn't really want to, but that's how low I was feeling—wow!
As I reviewed what I wrote four months ago as a cathartic exercise at my lowest point in the search process, it's still hard to relive or even recall the extent of the pain I was experiencing.
After interacting with over 40 churches in response to my resume, I'm currently a volunteer youth pastor while working a full-time job somewhere else. Lots of stuff about this church excites me, especially the leadership. They're all on the same page, and they know where they're going. And they're hoping by faith and proper planning to hire me full-time in another 4-5 months.
Meanwhile, a church of 8,000 contacted me last week with the words, "You're at the top of our list." But the truth of the matter is that this church of 350 is such a great fit that I'd rather be here as a volunteer than pursuing that next step up the youth ministry success ladder.
Through this process I learned several things: to trust God more than my resume; that contentment comes from God's plans, not mine: and that it's okay to hurt when life's circumstances go from bad to horrid. Most importantly, I learned that God really is in control, even when I think about pitching the kids' Bibles.
Len Evans is the author of Creative Bible Lessons in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus and is the family pastor for Grace Bible Church in La Vernia
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Foster Parenting
Many of you know that we were foster parents several years ago. We have taken in lots of kids and thought we would even adopt a couple of them. It has been almost four years and we are beginning that journey again. We are in training this weekend and next. Just like before we don't know where this will lead or what children will be brought into our lives. But, this is a path we are pursuing out of a love and passion we believe God has given us. It is always scary to open yourself up for all to see. I (Brian) am a very guarded person and do not like the scrutiny or politics that go with foster parenting. However, I believe even more firmly that every child deserves a home and parents. And, so, it is with this in mind that we cautiously and prayerfully step forward. We know so much more this time around and feel much more prepared. That does not mean that it will be easy but we might just give ourselves a little more grace. Pray for us that we will have discernment, love for the children, and wisdom to do this for God's glory.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" James 1:27 (New International Version)
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" James 1:27 (New International Version)
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
World Restoration Church? updated 9/8/07
I know- sounds strange. When we started this church that was the name I wanted to go with but I was afraid it would sound a little nutty so I went the safe route and called it Restoration Community Church. However, I have been looking at where people are from who use our website and it has been surprising. We have people from Florida, Washington, Virginia, Texas, Michigan, South Carolina, North Carolina and many other states visiting. But, there are also people from Korea, India, Russia, Italy, France and Poland (and other countries) visiting on a regular basis. It is truly becoming a global community. So, who knows? Maybe it will be "World Restoration Church" before too long and that is very exciting.
We checked who's been to our site and there have been people from Beijing, China, Malaysia, Germany and the Netherlands. It's just very cool to see a worldwide community developing and to be a part of it.
We checked who's been to our site and there have been people from Beijing, China, Malaysia, Germany and the Netherlands. It's just very cool to see a worldwide community developing and to be a part of it.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Is There More To Life?
I have posted the manuscript to my first message on the church website. I tried a new format for it that seemed to work well. There are three 8 minute parts and after each there was time for interaction and discussion. We have received a lot of positive feedback from it. Feel free to comment, critique or use it as a devotional. Thanks!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Restoration Church Second Service
I'm tinkering with some new software. I am trying to create a really cool flyer for the church. Let me know what you think of this first draft. You can click on it for a bigger view.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
First football game of 07
Tayler's first football game of 2007 was last week (sorry for being late in posting, I know I have ADHD and do not have the patience for pics to download)Tri-West won 20-7 and Tayler was thrown two-two point conversions. Tonight, he was also thrown a pass to almost tie the game. He is being used more this year than ever! He is safety and running back. Enjoy the pics. We love you guys! -Leave a comment!
ps He is #1 (of course he is, but really his number is number 1)
Why the Church Is Important
Why the Church Is Important
The institutional church is for every believer.
Tony Campolo. Excerpted from Letters to a Young Evangelical. | posted 5/01/2007 09:00AM
Dear Timothy and Junia,
Right now I want you to do some careful thinking about the role that the institutional church will play in your lives. Many young Evangelicals are a bit leery of getting too involved in the life of a local congregation. Some can tell painful stories of bad experiences with institutionalized Christianity.
Related articles and links
In America, Evangelical churches have often been bastions of conservatism, providing support for the status quo. For example, many of our leaders were reluctant to lend their support to the civil-rights movement when their help was desperately needed. More recently, some of our leaders have allowed male chauvinism to continue unchallenged. Unfortunately, these kinds of lapses have earned Evangelical churches a reputation for being reactionary and even contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. When secularists are asked about Evangelical churches, they often say that they consider our churches and other Evangelical institutions to be anti-gay and sexist.
It is certainly true that our congregations have, at times compromised the radical requirements of discipleship prescribed by Christ, and you may find yourself put off by the church because of its failure to be faithful to his teachings. But I would urge you to consider this fully, and to think about the words of St. Augustine: "The church is a whore, but she's my mother." That statement brilliantly conveys how I feel about church. It is easy for me, like so many of the young Evangelicals I know, to note the ways the church been unfaithful as the bride of Christ. You don't have to look too hard to see that the Evangelical church in America has a great propensity for reducing Christianity to a validation of our society's middle-class way of life. Unquestionably, the church too often has socialized our young people into adopting culturally established values of success, rather than calling them into the kind of countercultural nonconformity that Scripture requires of Christ's followers (Romans 12:1-2).
Why, then, do I encourage you to participate in organized religion and commit yourself to a specific local congregation? Because, as Augustine made clear, the church is still your mother. It is she who taught you about Jesus. I want you to remember that the Bible teaches that Christ loves the church and gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:25). That's a preeminent reason why you dare not decide that you don't need the church. Christ's church is called his bride (11 Con 11:2), and his love for her makes him faithful to her even when she is not faithful to him.
Through the ages, God has used the church to keep alive and pass down the story of what Christ has done for us. It is the church's witness that has kept the world aware that Christ is alive today, offering help and strength to those who trust in him. The story of Christ would have been lost during the Dark Ages if the church had not sustained it in monasteries where the Scriptures were laboriously hand-copied while barbarians were tearing down the rest of Western civilization. Church councils have protected Christianity from heresies by examining new theologies. Today, it is against two thousand years of church tradition that our modern-day interpretations of Scripture are tested. In short, it is the church that has preserved the Gospel and delivered it into our hands.
Where would most of us be without the church? Most Evangelicals have the church to thank for the Sunday-school classes that taught us what the Bible says and paved the way for our eventual decisions to commit our lives to Christ. Stop and consider the importance of the church's worship and liturgical functions. Even if we Evangelicals aren't likely to call them sacraments, as the Roman Catholics do, we still recognize the importance of certain ceremonial rituals. For instance, baptism is an important public declaration of faith that initiates new members into the fellowship our churches. In baptism, new Christians become part of a body of fellow believers who are called to spiritually encourage one another and hold one another responsible for consistent Christian living. The extent which churches live up to such obligations varies from congregation to congregation.
Holy Communion is another ritual of our church that cannot be taken for granted. Even if most Evangelicals view the bread and wine as only symbolic of the body and blood of Christ—and there are many Evangelicals who view them as more than that—the role that those symbols play in our lives cannot and should not be minimized. Holy Communion focuses our faith Christ's sacrificial death, which delivered us from our sins and signaled his conquest over the demonic forces of the universe.
My earliest memories of church services involve the sacred specialness of Communion Sundays. Before I understood any of the theological underpinnings of Communion services, I sensed that there was some kind of mysterious blessing in the air on these days. I felt an awe and reverence falling upon the congregation, and I was aware that something special, something with inklings of the supernatural, was happening. I realized early on that there was a sacred meaning to the bread and wine that demanded a hushed solemnity from everyone present.
Sitting with my parents at a Communion service when I was very young, perhaps six or seven years old, I became aware of a young woman in the pew in front of us who was sobbing and shaking. The minister had just finished reading the passage of Scripture written by Paul that says, "Whosoever shall eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27). As the Communion plate with its small pieces of bread was passed to the crying woman before me, she waved it away and then lowered her head in despair. It was then that my Sicilian father leaned over her shoulder and, in his broken English, said sternly, "Take it, girl! It was meant for you. Do you hear me?"
She raised her head and nodded—and then she took the bread and ate it. I knew that at that moment some kind of heavy burden was lifted from her heart and mind. Since then, I have always known that a church that could offer Communion to hurting people as a special gift from God.
Some claim that they can worship alone, and I do not question their claims. Indeed, those who cannot be alone with God are not fit for community. But the positive experience of worshipping alone does not contradict my argument that something different happens when Christians come together in corporate worship. The sociologist Emile Durkheim recognized that at such a gathering a unique feeling of oneness often emerges—he called it "collective effervescence." He meant that there is some kind of shared emotion and psychic power that can be experienced only in communal worship. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, those who share in this ecstasy keep coming back for more.
I belong to an African American church, and on those special days when the congregation "really gets down, and the Spirit breaks loose," as my pastor says—those are days when that collective effervescence is especially evident people say afterward, "Oh, we had church today, didn't we?" For them, on those days the church becomes something more than a gathering of people in a sanctuary. It becomes a happening. But such happenings would never happen if there weren't "an earthen vessel," as Paul called it, to contain them. That's what the church is. In spite of all of its flaws and shortcomings, it is the "earthen vessel" that can serve as a home for sacred happenings and the special fellowship that the Greek New Testament calls koinonia.
At Eastern University, where I teach sociology, we have weekly chapel services. Attendance is voluntary, but students have been showing up in such large numbers over the past few years that we have had to move our weekly worship services from the school chapel to the gym. It's not the speakers that draw the crowds, but the worship. These worship services feature "praise music." As an old guy, I have difficulties with this new praise/worship music, but the students love it. I see them with their hands lifted up and tears running down their cheeks as they sing love songs to God, and I realize that they are experiencing God in a way that transports them from the gym bleachers into a mystical community of holiness. I become aware of that collective effervescence wherein God's presence becomes uniquely real. There and then, I am grateful for the corporate worship that makes such things possible.
There is another reason that the church should play an important role in your lives: the church is Christ's primary instrument for bringing about social change and transforming the institutions of society to conform with his will. It is through the church that Christ has chosen to bring all principalities and powers into submission to himself (Ephesians 1:21-22).
When the apostle Paul used the phrase principalities and powers, he was referring to all of the suprahuman forces that influence what we think and do. Some Christians limit the meaning of these words and think that Paul was referring only to evil spirits (i.e., demons). Undoubtedly, that is part of what Paul meant. Evangelicals, especially in this postmodern age, are ready to affirm that there are demonic forces fostering havoc and evil in the world. It should be noted, however, that modern scholars such as Walter Wink and John Howard Yoder have pointed out the phrase's broader meaning. Principalities and powers, say many Biblical scholars, also include such social constructions as television, government, economic systems, and the arts. These and all other social institutions, they argue, should be understood as superhuman forces that influence human behavior. What Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 is that we members of the church are supposed to wrestle with these principalities and powers so that they might be transformed into institutions that enact God's will.
Allow me to give you some examples of how ordinary Christians are doing extraordinary things as they work to bring the principalities and powers under the lordship of Christ through the church. Christians in England, working together across denominational lines, have seriously influenced international policies regarding Third World debts. When the heads of the G8 nations held a summit in the city of Birmingham in 1998, Christians mobilized tens of thousands of church members to hold a prayer vigil in front of the convention hall where the meetings were held. Clare Short, who was then Britain's secretary of State for international development, told me that it was that church-sponsored prayer vigil that moved the world leaders to make the first efforts toward debt cancellation.
The collapse of apartheid in South Africa offers another dramatic example of the church's bringing principalities and powers into submission to God's will. Archbishop Tutu, the leader of the Anglican church in that country, was able to make the church into a force for justice. There can be no question as to the crucial role the church played in challenging the racism that had made black Africans into less than second-class citizens.
As young people rebelled against the oppression of the South African police, they found in Tutu a spokesperson and leader for their movement. American author (and my friend) Jim Wallis describes how, on one occasion, Tutu met with thousands of freedom-seeking young people in the cathedral of Cape Town. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as Tutu took his place in the pulpit. He pointed to the policemen who had positioned themselves along the walls of the cathedral to intimidate the crowd. Then he lovingly spoke to the police: "Come join us! You know we will win, so why not be part of the victory?" Then he led the thousands of young people in singing freedom songs. The congregation rose to its feet, swayed to the music, and started dancing in the aisles. There was no containing these young people, who were celebrating the coming end of apartheid. The dancing spilled onto the streets, and passersby joined in. Thus, a revolution was fueled by a church that was willing to challenge oppressive principalities and powers that had once seemed unshakable.
In addition to such direct campaigns for social change, there are a host of other ways in which the church has been a powerful force for positive societal transformation. Consider what has been accomplished because of missionary work in developing nations.
Schools created by missionaries have educated most the significant leaders in Africa, Latin America, and Asia The professional elites in developing countries—the doctors, lawyers, engineers, and entrepreneurs—almost all owe their training to church-sponsored education. Kofi Annan is one example. In Latin America, even Marxists have to give credit to church schools for training their leaders. Fidel Castro readily testifies that his revolutionary ideas came from his childhood training in Jesuit schools. And I haven't even mentioned all the incredible work missionaries have done in the fields of medical care and agriculture in developing countries
Some people mock the missionary efforts of the church and claim that they have been destructive of indigenous cultures. There is some truth in what these critics say; missionaries have often made the mistake of imposing Western values and lifestyles on native peoples. But today's missionaries are much more cross-culturally sensitive than were their predecessors, and they are often trained in cultural anthropology so that they can contextualize the Gospel in ways that both employ and preserve the best of native cultures.
While I think that cultural sensitivity is essential, l don't believe that every cultural practice should be tolerated simply because it is indigenous. For instance, certain cultures allow the ceremonial sacrificing of children, and others call for the circumcision of girls upon entering puberty. I believe unequivocally that such practices should be eliminated, and I think you will, too. Likewise, I have no qualms when it comes to challenging the treatment of women in Islamic countries governed by sharia law or what remains of the caste system in India. If the work of missionaries undermines cultural patterns that are cruel and dehumanizing, I'm all for it. The sooner, the better.
There is little doubt that the tentacles of Western technology, and the social changes that come with it, sooner or later will reach out and affect every tribe and nation on earth. Given that expectation, I would prefer that preliterate societies first encounter the West via missionaries, who have the best interests and salvation of indigenous people at heart, rather than via commercial forces whose only concern is the maximizing of profits.
There is one scary thing about our desire to change the world into a societal system that is ever more like the kingdom of God. This is the triumphalist tendency, increasingly evident among us Evangelicals, to use political power to impose our will on the rest of the nation and even the rest of the world. I see this happening especially among Evangelicals identified with the Religious Right who exercise their significant influence to try to force their agenda on others. There is incredible danger in this. I hope you can understand that Evangelicals' God-ordained identity as a servant people is compromised when we adopt coercion as our means for bringing others into compliance with God's will.
Young people often tell me that they are wary of the institutional church because they believe it is filled with hypocrites. Well, it is. What these people fail to understand, however, is that it is because the church is filled with hypocrites that they'll be right at home in it. If they don't think their own lives are filled with hypocrisies, then they are blind to the truth. We in the church mad no bones about it. We acknowledge our hypocrisy. We believe that everyone is a hypocrite, if by "hypocrite" we mean someone who does not live up to his or her declared ideals and does not practice what he or she preaches. Most of us in the church recognize that we fall short of our goals, but we acknowledge our shortcomings and have come together to help one another overcome our failures. As the old saying goes, "We're not what we ought to be, but then we're not what we used to be." The apostle Paul spoke for all of us in Philippians 3:13-14 when he acknowledged that he wasn't perfect but was still striving to become what God wanted him to be. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is the same thing I'd tell anyone else: if you ever find the perfect church, don't join it—because your joining will ruin it!
In spite of all its flaws and shortcomings, I still believe that the church is filled, for the most part, with decent and caring people who will be there when you need them. The loving fellowship that the church often provides is exemplified in a story that a Presbyterian pastor once told me about his early days of ministry at a small country church. One day, a young woman came to the church to present her child for baptism. She had given birth to the child out of wedlock; in a small rural community, a woman who has done this can easily find herself shunned. The day of the baptism, the woman stood alone before the congregation, holding her child in her arms. The pastor hadn't recognized the awkwardness of the situation until he asked, as is customary in a baptismal service, "Who stands with this child to assure the commitments and promises herewith made will be carried out? Who will be there for this child in times of need and assure that this child is brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?" At that moment, he realized that there was no godmother or godfather on hand to answer the question. But, as though on cue, the entire congregation stood and with one voice said, "We will!"
Those who think that church people are all bad should have been around on that Sunday, when they would have had a chance to see the church at its best. They would have seen the church as a nurturing community. That kind of church is worth your time.
Sincerely,
Tony
The institutional church is for every believer.
Tony Campolo. Excerpted from Letters to a Young Evangelical. | posted 5/01/2007 09:00AM
Dear Timothy and Junia,
Right now I want you to do some careful thinking about the role that the institutional church will play in your lives. Many young Evangelicals are a bit leery of getting too involved in the life of a local congregation. Some can tell painful stories of bad experiences with institutionalized Christianity.
Related articles and links
In America, Evangelical churches have often been bastions of conservatism, providing support for the status quo. For example, many of our leaders were reluctant to lend their support to the civil-rights movement when their help was desperately needed. More recently, some of our leaders have allowed male chauvinism to continue unchallenged. Unfortunately, these kinds of lapses have earned Evangelical churches a reputation for being reactionary and even contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. When secularists are asked about Evangelical churches, they often say that they consider our churches and other Evangelical institutions to be anti-gay and sexist.
It is certainly true that our congregations have, at times compromised the radical requirements of discipleship prescribed by Christ, and you may find yourself put off by the church because of its failure to be faithful to his teachings. But I would urge you to consider this fully, and to think about the words of St. Augustine: "The church is a whore, but she's my mother." That statement brilliantly conveys how I feel about church. It is easy for me, like so many of the young Evangelicals I know, to note the ways the church been unfaithful as the bride of Christ. You don't have to look too hard to see that the Evangelical church in America has a great propensity for reducing Christianity to a validation of our society's middle-class way of life. Unquestionably, the church too often has socialized our young people into adopting culturally established values of success, rather than calling them into the kind of countercultural nonconformity that Scripture requires of Christ's followers (Romans 12:1-2).
Why, then, do I encourage you to participate in organized religion and commit yourself to a specific local congregation? Because, as Augustine made clear, the church is still your mother. It is she who taught you about Jesus. I want you to remember that the Bible teaches that Christ loves the church and gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:25). That's a preeminent reason why you dare not decide that you don't need the church. Christ's church is called his bride (11 Con 11:2), and his love for her makes him faithful to her even when she is not faithful to him.
Through the ages, God has used the church to keep alive and pass down the story of what Christ has done for us. It is the church's witness that has kept the world aware that Christ is alive today, offering help and strength to those who trust in him. The story of Christ would have been lost during the Dark Ages if the church had not sustained it in monasteries where the Scriptures were laboriously hand-copied while barbarians were tearing down the rest of Western civilization. Church councils have protected Christianity from heresies by examining new theologies. Today, it is against two thousand years of church tradition that our modern-day interpretations of Scripture are tested. In short, it is the church that has preserved the Gospel and delivered it into our hands.
Where would most of us be without the church? Most Evangelicals have the church to thank for the Sunday-school classes that taught us what the Bible says and paved the way for our eventual decisions to commit our lives to Christ. Stop and consider the importance of the church's worship and liturgical functions. Even if we Evangelicals aren't likely to call them sacraments, as the Roman Catholics do, we still recognize the importance of certain ceremonial rituals. For instance, baptism is an important public declaration of faith that initiates new members into the fellowship our churches. In baptism, new Christians become part of a body of fellow believers who are called to spiritually encourage one another and hold one another responsible for consistent Christian living. The extent which churches live up to such obligations varies from congregation to congregation.
Holy Communion is another ritual of our church that cannot be taken for granted. Even if most Evangelicals view the bread and wine as only symbolic of the body and blood of Christ—and there are many Evangelicals who view them as more than that—the role that those symbols play in our lives cannot and should not be minimized. Holy Communion focuses our faith Christ's sacrificial death, which delivered us from our sins and signaled his conquest over the demonic forces of the universe.
My earliest memories of church services involve the sacred specialness of Communion Sundays. Before I understood any of the theological underpinnings of Communion services, I sensed that there was some kind of mysterious blessing in the air on these days. I felt an awe and reverence falling upon the congregation, and I was aware that something special, something with inklings of the supernatural, was happening. I realized early on that there was a sacred meaning to the bread and wine that demanded a hushed solemnity from everyone present.
Sitting with my parents at a Communion service when I was very young, perhaps six or seven years old, I became aware of a young woman in the pew in front of us who was sobbing and shaking. The minister had just finished reading the passage of Scripture written by Paul that says, "Whosoever shall eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27). As the Communion plate with its small pieces of bread was passed to the crying woman before me, she waved it away and then lowered her head in despair. It was then that my Sicilian father leaned over her shoulder and, in his broken English, said sternly, "Take it, girl! It was meant for you. Do you hear me?"
She raised her head and nodded—and then she took the bread and ate it. I knew that at that moment some kind of heavy burden was lifted from her heart and mind. Since then, I have always known that a church that could offer Communion to hurting people as a special gift from God.
Some claim that they can worship alone, and I do not question their claims. Indeed, those who cannot be alone with God are not fit for community. But the positive experience of worshipping alone does not contradict my argument that something different happens when Christians come together in corporate worship. The sociologist Emile Durkheim recognized that at such a gathering a unique feeling of oneness often emerges—he called it "collective effervescence." He meant that there is some kind of shared emotion and psychic power that can be experienced only in communal worship. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, those who share in this ecstasy keep coming back for more.
I belong to an African American church, and on those special days when the congregation "really gets down, and the Spirit breaks loose," as my pastor says—those are days when that collective effervescence is especially evident people say afterward, "Oh, we had church today, didn't we?" For them, on those days the church becomes something more than a gathering of people in a sanctuary. It becomes a happening. But such happenings would never happen if there weren't "an earthen vessel," as Paul called it, to contain them. That's what the church is. In spite of all of its flaws and shortcomings, it is the "earthen vessel" that can serve as a home for sacred happenings and the special fellowship that the Greek New Testament calls koinonia.
At Eastern University, where I teach sociology, we have weekly chapel services. Attendance is voluntary, but students have been showing up in such large numbers over the past few years that we have had to move our weekly worship services from the school chapel to the gym. It's not the speakers that draw the crowds, but the worship. These worship services feature "praise music." As an old guy, I have difficulties with this new praise/worship music, but the students love it. I see them with their hands lifted up and tears running down their cheeks as they sing love songs to God, and I realize that they are experiencing God in a way that transports them from the gym bleachers into a mystical community of holiness. I become aware of that collective effervescence wherein God's presence becomes uniquely real. There and then, I am grateful for the corporate worship that makes such things possible.
There is another reason that the church should play an important role in your lives: the church is Christ's primary instrument for bringing about social change and transforming the institutions of society to conform with his will. It is through the church that Christ has chosen to bring all principalities and powers into submission to himself (Ephesians 1:21-22).
When the apostle Paul used the phrase principalities and powers, he was referring to all of the suprahuman forces that influence what we think and do. Some Christians limit the meaning of these words and think that Paul was referring only to evil spirits (i.e., demons). Undoubtedly, that is part of what Paul meant. Evangelicals, especially in this postmodern age, are ready to affirm that there are demonic forces fostering havoc and evil in the world. It should be noted, however, that modern scholars such as Walter Wink and John Howard Yoder have pointed out the phrase's broader meaning. Principalities and powers, say many Biblical scholars, also include such social constructions as television, government, economic systems, and the arts. These and all other social institutions, they argue, should be understood as superhuman forces that influence human behavior. What Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 is that we members of the church are supposed to wrestle with these principalities and powers so that they might be transformed into institutions that enact God's will.
Allow me to give you some examples of how ordinary Christians are doing extraordinary things as they work to bring the principalities and powers under the lordship of Christ through the church. Christians in England, working together across denominational lines, have seriously influenced international policies regarding Third World debts. When the heads of the G8 nations held a summit in the city of Birmingham in 1998, Christians mobilized tens of thousands of church members to hold a prayer vigil in front of the convention hall where the meetings were held. Clare Short, who was then Britain's secretary of State for international development, told me that it was that church-sponsored prayer vigil that moved the world leaders to make the first efforts toward debt cancellation.
The collapse of apartheid in South Africa offers another dramatic example of the church's bringing principalities and powers into submission to God's will. Archbishop Tutu, the leader of the Anglican church in that country, was able to make the church into a force for justice. There can be no question as to the crucial role the church played in challenging the racism that had made black Africans into less than second-class citizens.
As young people rebelled against the oppression of the South African police, they found in Tutu a spokesperson and leader for their movement. American author (and my friend) Jim Wallis describes how, on one occasion, Tutu met with thousands of freedom-seeking young people in the cathedral of Cape Town. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as Tutu took his place in the pulpit. He pointed to the policemen who had positioned themselves along the walls of the cathedral to intimidate the crowd. Then he lovingly spoke to the police: "Come join us! You know we will win, so why not be part of the victory?" Then he led the thousands of young people in singing freedom songs. The congregation rose to its feet, swayed to the music, and started dancing in the aisles. There was no containing these young people, who were celebrating the coming end of apartheid. The dancing spilled onto the streets, and passersby joined in. Thus, a revolution was fueled by a church that was willing to challenge oppressive principalities and powers that had once seemed unshakable.
In addition to such direct campaigns for social change, there are a host of other ways in which the church has been a powerful force for positive societal transformation. Consider what has been accomplished because of missionary work in developing nations.
Schools created by missionaries have educated most the significant leaders in Africa, Latin America, and Asia The professional elites in developing countries—the doctors, lawyers, engineers, and entrepreneurs—almost all owe their training to church-sponsored education. Kofi Annan is one example. In Latin America, even Marxists have to give credit to church schools for training their leaders. Fidel Castro readily testifies that his revolutionary ideas came from his childhood training in Jesuit schools. And I haven't even mentioned all the incredible work missionaries have done in the fields of medical care and agriculture in developing countries
Some people mock the missionary efforts of the church and claim that they have been destructive of indigenous cultures. There is some truth in what these critics say; missionaries have often made the mistake of imposing Western values and lifestyles on native peoples. But today's missionaries are much more cross-culturally sensitive than were their predecessors, and they are often trained in cultural anthropology so that they can contextualize the Gospel in ways that both employ and preserve the best of native cultures.
While I think that cultural sensitivity is essential, l don't believe that every cultural practice should be tolerated simply because it is indigenous. For instance, certain cultures allow the ceremonial sacrificing of children, and others call for the circumcision of girls upon entering puberty. I believe unequivocally that such practices should be eliminated, and I think you will, too. Likewise, I have no qualms when it comes to challenging the treatment of women in Islamic countries governed by sharia law or what remains of the caste system in India. If the work of missionaries undermines cultural patterns that are cruel and dehumanizing, I'm all for it. The sooner, the better.
There is little doubt that the tentacles of Western technology, and the social changes that come with it, sooner or later will reach out and affect every tribe and nation on earth. Given that expectation, I would prefer that preliterate societies first encounter the West via missionaries, who have the best interests and salvation of indigenous people at heart, rather than via commercial forces whose only concern is the maximizing of profits.
There is one scary thing about our desire to change the world into a societal system that is ever more like the kingdom of God. This is the triumphalist tendency, increasingly evident among us Evangelicals, to use political power to impose our will on the rest of the nation and even the rest of the world. I see this happening especially among Evangelicals identified with the Religious Right who exercise their significant influence to try to force their agenda on others. There is incredible danger in this. I hope you can understand that Evangelicals' God-ordained identity as a servant people is compromised when we adopt coercion as our means for bringing others into compliance with God's will.
Young people often tell me that they are wary of the institutional church because they believe it is filled with hypocrites. Well, it is. What these people fail to understand, however, is that it is because the church is filled with hypocrites that they'll be right at home in it. If they don't think their own lives are filled with hypocrisies, then they are blind to the truth. We in the church mad no bones about it. We acknowledge our hypocrisy. We believe that everyone is a hypocrite, if by "hypocrite" we mean someone who does not live up to his or her declared ideals and does not practice what he or she preaches. Most of us in the church recognize that we fall short of our goals, but we acknowledge our shortcomings and have come together to help one another overcome our failures. As the old saying goes, "We're not what we ought to be, but then we're not what we used to be." The apostle Paul spoke for all of us in Philippians 3:13-14 when he acknowledged that he wasn't perfect but was still striving to become what God wanted him to be. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is the same thing I'd tell anyone else: if you ever find the perfect church, don't join it—because your joining will ruin it!
In spite of all its flaws and shortcomings, I still believe that the church is filled, for the most part, with decent and caring people who will be there when you need them. The loving fellowship that the church often provides is exemplified in a story that a Presbyterian pastor once told me about his early days of ministry at a small country church. One day, a young woman came to the church to present her child for baptism. She had given birth to the child out of wedlock; in a small rural community, a woman who has done this can easily find herself shunned. The day of the baptism, the woman stood alone before the congregation, holding her child in her arms. The pastor hadn't recognized the awkwardness of the situation until he asked, as is customary in a baptismal service, "Who stands with this child to assure the commitments and promises herewith made will be carried out? Who will be there for this child in times of need and assure that this child is brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?" At that moment, he realized that there was no godmother or godfather on hand to answer the question. But, as though on cue, the entire congregation stood and with one voice said, "We will!"
Those who think that church people are all bad should have been around on that Sunday, when they would have had a chance to see the church at its best. They would have seen the church as a nurturing community. That kind of church is worth your time.
Sincerely,
Tony
Monday, August 20, 2007
Restoration Church First Service
It was so easy and so much fun. Everything was smooth and I believe God worked in some very cool ways in people's lives. I know the inevitable question is "how many?" and to be honest I intentionally did not count. We have an estimate but frankly I don't care how many. I know the Lord showed up and we worshipped. There were some innovative things that we implemented and people really responded well to them. I was able to share my heart for ministry and I believe those in attendance share that same vision. We will continue to meet and do ministry in these communities.
I will say that one of the cooler things is the diversity of people in attendance. We had every age group from infant to senior adult represented. That is very unusual in church plants. Normally you will only have one segment represented. Right away it looked as though we had been meeting for awhile.
So, all in all I would consider it a HUGE success. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Our next date is September 23rd and the topic is "Is there more to faith?" I am excited to explore this topic and challenge the way we view our faith life and hopefully come to a greater understanding of what it means to have faith.
I will say that one of the cooler things is the diversity of people in attendance. We had every age group from infant to senior adult represented. That is very unusual in church plants. Normally you will only have one segment represented. Right away it looked as though we had been meeting for awhile.
So, all in all I would consider it a HUGE success. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Our next date is September 23rd and the topic is "Is there more to faith?" I am excited to explore this topic and challenge the way we view our faith life and hopefully come to a greater understanding of what it means to have faith.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Tayler's friends Birthday and Turkey Run
This was last weekend (yes, I am late in posting! sorry, blogger friends) This first picture reminds me of Lord of the Flies or more current, but not a book, Kid Nation. I love it! (the picture) The birthday cake was very cool in the eyes of our tweens considering the recent book release and all. It was a fun weekend. Enjoy the pics!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Good quote
“We would never give Picasso a paint brush and only one color of paint, and expect a masterpiece…yet we limit our Creator in Just these ways! Though our Christian experience is blandly monochromatic, God intends for us to live in dynamic, multihued communities that embody HIS vibrant creativity!!”
-by Randy Woodley (author of: “Living in Color”)
-by Randy Woodley (author of: “Living in Color”)
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Awesome time of prayer and fellowship!
Tonight was our second launch team meeting but within that so much more.....we had an awesome time of prayer, fellowship, and experiencing God together. My dear friend, Alice, came along with one of her close friends from California. God showed up and really ministered to each of us..specifically Brian, myself, and another friend. We were prayed over in a powerful way and God not only spoke to us but showed us a glimpse of His glory. Thank you Lord for great friends in you. Thank you for thinking enough of us to show us more of You. You are more than we could ever think or imagine, more than we could ever dream, more than we could ever dare to hope or ask. Jesus you are our everything! Let us go out and glorify you doing for others what You have done for us tonight. We want to share with others just what they can have in You....intimacy, mercy, deliverance, peace, understanding, LOVE...
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Good article
Raising the Water Level
Yesterday, while I was still in Chicago, I had an opportunity to meet one of the local pastors in Evanston. I really didn’t know what to expect because from the last couple of meetings with other pastors and church leaders, I did not receive a warm welcome - to put it bluntly, they were a bit aloof, stand-offish and cold. Many of these pastors were trying to say to me in so many words, “We don’t need another church here because there are so many in the Evanston area.” My flesh wanted to go through this mentality exercise: 1) How many people are in the Evanston area? 2) How many of those people are churched or even believers? 3) How many of them go to your church? 4) Who will reach out to the rest of the __% of people? 5) Do you feel that one church or the churches that are in Evanston can do it all alone?
But the Spirit of God put a check on me and reminded me that this would not help with unity, and it would not be a good way to start a church in the area. :-)
This is the reason why I was so blessed to meet a fellow pastor who had a Kingdom vision and a Kingdom heart. One of the first things he said to me as we were talking was, “I wanted to say ‘Welcome,’ and it is great that you are starting a church here!” I was a bit taken aback since I did not get that kind of reception from my last few meetings with other pastors. As we were talking, it dawned upon me that there are so many pastors who are territorial for their own kingdom. Usually churches do not go very far when this is the pervasive thought, especially in the minds of the leaders.
It was refreshing to talk with this pastor about raising the water level in Evanston. Lord, help us to build YOUR Kingdom and not our own.
sidenote: Let our lives be simply about expanding God's glory in whatever way He chooses to do so.
Habakkuk 2:14 -- For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the LORD. (NLT)
Yesterday, while I was still in Chicago, I had an opportunity to meet one of the local pastors in Evanston. I really didn’t know what to expect because from the last couple of meetings with other pastors and church leaders, I did not receive a warm welcome - to put it bluntly, they were a bit aloof, stand-offish and cold. Many of these pastors were trying to say to me in so many words, “We don’t need another church here because there are so many in the Evanston area.” My flesh wanted to go through this mentality exercise: 1) How many people are in the Evanston area? 2) How many of those people are churched or even believers? 3) How many of them go to your church? 4) Who will reach out to the rest of the __% of people? 5) Do you feel that one church or the churches that are in Evanston can do it all alone?
But the Spirit of God put a check on me and reminded me that this would not help with unity, and it would not be a good way to start a church in the area. :-)
This is the reason why I was so blessed to meet a fellow pastor who had a Kingdom vision and a Kingdom heart. One of the first things he said to me as we were talking was, “I wanted to say ‘Welcome,’ and it is great that you are starting a church here!” I was a bit taken aback since I did not get that kind of reception from my last few meetings with other pastors. As we were talking, it dawned upon me that there are so many pastors who are territorial for their own kingdom. Usually churches do not go very far when this is the pervasive thought, especially in the minds of the leaders.
It was refreshing to talk with this pastor about raising the water level in Evanston. Lord, help us to build YOUR Kingdom and not our own.
sidenote: Let our lives be simply about expanding God's glory in whatever way He chooses to do so.
Habakkuk 2:14 -- For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the LORD. (NLT)
Monday, July 30, 2007
Rachel comes to visit, Part I
Rachel decided at the last minute to make a trip up here with her two little ones, Julia and Jackson. We were so elated to say the least. Here are a few pics of day one. We will post more later.
ps and yes, those are Star Wars characters Brian and Jackson are playing with...training the Jedi!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Go vegetarian to save money (article)
By Scott McCredie
What visitor to Whole Foods (aka "Whole Paycheck") hasn't stared in slack-jawed wonder at bluefoot mushrooms imported from Europe ($39.99 per pound), off-season organic grapefruit from Texas ($2.49 per softball-size fruit), organic almond butter ($14.99 a pound) or pine nuts ($13.99 a pound)?
In a world of $1 double cheeseburgers, it's no wonder that many people suspect that a vegetarian diet is more expensive than one that includes meat.
But that's generally not true. And though it's difficult to tally the savings of illnesses or diseases avoided with a plant-based diet, the financial worth of good health is unquestionable.
Vegetarianism could extend your life by several years, as well as lower your risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia. It's better for the planet, reducing water usage and global-warming gases. And it certainly improves the health of the cow or pig you would have devoured.
The cost depends largely on what course of vegetarianism you choose to follow:
* Many people keep a diet that's known as mostly vegetarian -- a typical American diet minus the red meat. Vegetarians drop poultry and seafood.
* A lacto-vegetarian eats dairy products.
* An ovo-vegetarian eats eggs.
* A pescetarian eats fish.
* A vegan eats no animal products at all.
* A fruitarian eats only fruit.
Basics are easy on the wallet
Most of the staples of a vegetarian diet are cheap. In fact, most of the world's people eat a mostly vegetarian diet made up of inexpensive commodities such as beans, rice and corn.
If you drop red meat, poultry and fish from your diet, you'll find plant proteins cheaper than the equivalent amount of animal protein. The cheapest cuts of beef, such as ground round, average $3 per pound in U.S. cities (lean and extra lean); boneless chicken breasts cost $3.40 a pound; and canned tuna is about $2 per pound.
* Talk back: Are your grocery costs climbing?
Contrast that with dried beans and lentils at less than $1 a pound and rice well below $1 per pound. (Although Whole Foods offers expensive wild rice at $6.99 a pound, it also has basic brown rice for 69 cents per pound. And though pine nuts are exorbitant, you can get sunflower seeds, with nearly the same amount of protein, at a fraction of the price.)
Even tofu, the chicken of the vegetarian world, is usually well under $2 a pound.
But when you try to dress up plants as meat, costs skyrocket. Soy hot dogs, for example, cost $5 a pound; turkey hot dogs are less than half that.
More from MSN
Cheap dining © Corbis
* MSN Health & Fitness: Are vegetarians healthier?
* MSN City Guides: Own a piece of a local farm
* MSN Lifestyles: Recipes for vegetarian meals
* Take the brown-bag challenge
* MSN Real Estate: Start your first vegetable garden
Fresh, canned, frozen or organic
Produce is little trickier to compare, largely because vegetarians consume a much greater volume. (Most Americans now eat only three servings a day, on average, compared with the seven to nine servings recommended for optimum health.)
The prices of fruits and vegetables vary widely with the season and source. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are sometimes cheaper than those imported from far away and can be much cheaper in summer when there's an abundance. Of course, canned and frozen varieties are available year-round.
* Video: Nutrition tips for vegetarians
If you take the plunge into organics, the price may double or triple compared with nonorganic produce. Why does organic produce cost so much more? The answer is that organic fruits and veggies are usually not grown on an industrial scale, so efficiencies aren't as great. There are also significant costs involved in switching farmland from nonorganic to organic status. And there's a lot more manual labor involved, such as weeding by hand.
A payoff in better health
In the long run, no matter how much you spend on a vegetarian or semivegetarian diet, you'll likely see a payoff in better health, lower risk of chronic disease and reduced health-care costs compared with someone who eats a typical American diet.
"Years of poor nutrition habits can lead to chronic disease," said Ryan Andrews, a dietitian and exercise physiologist with the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore. "These chronic diseases can have tremendous costs leading into old age. A bypass surgery or angioplasty procedure can cost nearly $60,000."
Health insurance carriers have begun urging lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of chronic disease -- and, not incidentally, soaring health-care costs. Those are estimated to be climbing 6% a year, an "unsustainable level," said Scott Forslund, the communications director for Premera Blue Cross, which serves Washington state and Alaska.
Heart disease is the major target of this effort, so Premera is starting a program to educate the people it insures about the importance of controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and blood sugar. Research shows that a more plant-based diet improves all of these key health indicators.
"The connection between a vegetarian diet and reducing the costs of these high-impact health conditions is clear as a bell," Forslund said.
But there are no discounts for practicing vegetarianism under the current system.
* Talk back: Are your grocery costs climbing?
If your healthful habits prevent a chronic disease, your insurance company or employer saves money. What about you? Well, savings may come your way in the form of pocketing the co-insurance fees you would have paid for doctor visits or medication. If you have a health savings account or individual catastrophic plan, you'll definitely save by staying healthier.
More from MSN
Cheap dining © Corbis
* MSN Health & Fitness: Are vegetarians healthier?
* MSN City Guides: Own a piece of a local farm
* MSN Lifestyles: Recipes for vegetarian meals
* Take the brown-bag challenge
* MSN Real Estate: Start your first vegetable garden
Better quality of life
Dollars and cents aside, how much is it worth to live without heart disease, cancer or diabetes for the last decades of your life? How much is it worth to lower your risk of dying?
Life insurance companies actually put a figure on it. Most companies require a fairly extensive physical exam before issuing a private policy. Although they don't ask about diet, they look at cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index, blood pressure, family history and tobacco use. People they consider the healthiest -- those at the least risk of dying -- will be charged roughly half the annual premium of someone on the other end of the scale. For a 54-year-old man with a $1 million policy over 20 years, that would amount to $2,500 a year versus $5,000.
With this kind of savings, you could afford to buy a few ounces of bluefoot mushrooms -- or an occasional organic, grass-fed, beef tenderloin at $26.99 a pound.
* Video: Nutrition tips for vegetarians
Here are a few practical tips on how to save money with a vegetarian or mostly vegetarian diet:
* If you include an occasional piece of flesh (of whatever kind) in your diet, try to limit yourself to four or five ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards.
* If you want to buy private life insurance, wait until you've been on a vegetarian diet long enough to improve your key health indicators (body mass index, cholesterol, etc.). It could save you thousands of dollars when an insurer reviews the results of your physical.
* Buy vegetable protein in bulk. Dried beans, rice, oatmeal and other similar commodities last a long time if properly stored, and they are far cheaper in larger quantities.
* If you get discouraged by the blandness of a vegetarian diet, buy cookbooks that explore Indian, Malaysian, Chinese or South American cuisines. Mixing novel spices and ingredients may perk up your taste buds and make the transition easier.
* If you can't afford or prefer not to buy organic produce, remember that most experts think the nutritional benefits of eating conventionally grown fruits and vegetables outweigh the possible negative effects of pesticide residues.
Published July 24, 2007
What visitor to Whole Foods (aka "Whole Paycheck") hasn't stared in slack-jawed wonder at bluefoot mushrooms imported from Europe ($39.99 per pound), off-season organic grapefruit from Texas ($2.49 per softball-size fruit), organic almond butter ($14.99 a pound) or pine nuts ($13.99 a pound)?
In a world of $1 double cheeseburgers, it's no wonder that many people suspect that a vegetarian diet is more expensive than one that includes meat.
But that's generally not true. And though it's difficult to tally the savings of illnesses or diseases avoided with a plant-based diet, the financial worth of good health is unquestionable.
Vegetarianism could extend your life by several years, as well as lower your risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia. It's better for the planet, reducing water usage and global-warming gases. And it certainly improves the health of the cow or pig you would have devoured.
The cost depends largely on what course of vegetarianism you choose to follow:
* Many people keep a diet that's known as mostly vegetarian -- a typical American diet minus the red meat. Vegetarians drop poultry and seafood.
* A lacto-vegetarian eats dairy products.
* An ovo-vegetarian eats eggs.
* A pescetarian eats fish.
* A vegan eats no animal products at all.
* A fruitarian eats only fruit.
Basics are easy on the wallet
Most of the staples of a vegetarian diet are cheap. In fact, most of the world's people eat a mostly vegetarian diet made up of inexpensive commodities such as beans, rice and corn.
If you drop red meat, poultry and fish from your diet, you'll find plant proteins cheaper than the equivalent amount of animal protein. The cheapest cuts of beef, such as ground round, average $3 per pound in U.S. cities (lean and extra lean); boneless chicken breasts cost $3.40 a pound; and canned tuna is about $2 per pound.
* Talk back: Are your grocery costs climbing?
Contrast that with dried beans and lentils at less than $1 a pound and rice well below $1 per pound. (Although Whole Foods offers expensive wild rice at $6.99 a pound, it also has basic brown rice for 69 cents per pound. And though pine nuts are exorbitant, you can get sunflower seeds, with nearly the same amount of protein, at a fraction of the price.)
Even tofu, the chicken of the vegetarian world, is usually well under $2 a pound.
But when you try to dress up plants as meat, costs skyrocket. Soy hot dogs, for example, cost $5 a pound; turkey hot dogs are less than half that.
More from MSN
Cheap dining © Corbis
* MSN Health & Fitness: Are vegetarians healthier?
* MSN City Guides: Own a piece of a local farm
* MSN Lifestyles: Recipes for vegetarian meals
* Take the brown-bag challenge
* MSN Real Estate: Start your first vegetable garden
Fresh, canned, frozen or organic
Produce is little trickier to compare, largely because vegetarians consume a much greater volume. (Most Americans now eat only three servings a day, on average, compared with the seven to nine servings recommended for optimum health.)
The prices of fruits and vegetables vary widely with the season and source. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are sometimes cheaper than those imported from far away and can be much cheaper in summer when there's an abundance. Of course, canned and frozen varieties are available year-round.
* Video: Nutrition tips for vegetarians
If you take the plunge into organics, the price may double or triple compared with nonorganic produce. Why does organic produce cost so much more? The answer is that organic fruits and veggies are usually not grown on an industrial scale, so efficiencies aren't as great. There are also significant costs involved in switching farmland from nonorganic to organic status. And there's a lot more manual labor involved, such as weeding by hand.
A payoff in better health
In the long run, no matter how much you spend on a vegetarian or semivegetarian diet, you'll likely see a payoff in better health, lower risk of chronic disease and reduced health-care costs compared with someone who eats a typical American diet.
"Years of poor nutrition habits can lead to chronic disease," said Ryan Andrews, a dietitian and exercise physiologist with the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore. "These chronic diseases can have tremendous costs leading into old age. A bypass surgery or angioplasty procedure can cost nearly $60,000."
Health insurance carriers have begun urging lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of chronic disease -- and, not incidentally, soaring health-care costs. Those are estimated to be climbing 6% a year, an "unsustainable level," said Scott Forslund, the communications director for Premera Blue Cross, which serves Washington state and Alaska.
Heart disease is the major target of this effort, so Premera is starting a program to educate the people it insures about the importance of controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and blood sugar. Research shows that a more plant-based diet improves all of these key health indicators.
"The connection between a vegetarian diet and reducing the costs of these high-impact health conditions is clear as a bell," Forslund said.
But there are no discounts for practicing vegetarianism under the current system.
* Talk back: Are your grocery costs climbing?
If your healthful habits prevent a chronic disease, your insurance company or employer saves money. What about you? Well, savings may come your way in the form of pocketing the co-insurance fees you would have paid for doctor visits or medication. If you have a health savings account or individual catastrophic plan, you'll definitely save by staying healthier.
More from MSN
Cheap dining © Corbis
* MSN Health & Fitness: Are vegetarians healthier?
* MSN City Guides: Own a piece of a local farm
* MSN Lifestyles: Recipes for vegetarian meals
* Take the brown-bag challenge
* MSN Real Estate: Start your first vegetable garden
Better quality of life
Dollars and cents aside, how much is it worth to live without heart disease, cancer or diabetes for the last decades of your life? How much is it worth to lower your risk of dying?
Life insurance companies actually put a figure on it. Most companies require a fairly extensive physical exam before issuing a private policy. Although they don't ask about diet, they look at cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index, blood pressure, family history and tobacco use. People they consider the healthiest -- those at the least risk of dying -- will be charged roughly half the annual premium of someone on the other end of the scale. For a 54-year-old man with a $1 million policy over 20 years, that would amount to $2,500 a year versus $5,000.
With this kind of savings, you could afford to buy a few ounces of bluefoot mushrooms -- or an occasional organic, grass-fed, beef tenderloin at $26.99 a pound.
* Video: Nutrition tips for vegetarians
Here are a few practical tips on how to save money with a vegetarian or mostly vegetarian diet:
* If you include an occasional piece of flesh (of whatever kind) in your diet, try to limit yourself to four or five ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards.
* If you want to buy private life insurance, wait until you've been on a vegetarian diet long enough to improve your key health indicators (body mass index, cholesterol, etc.). It could save you thousands of dollars when an insurer reviews the results of your physical.
* Buy vegetable protein in bulk. Dried beans, rice, oatmeal and other similar commodities last a long time if properly stored, and they are far cheaper in larger quantities.
* If you get discouraged by the blandness of a vegetarian diet, buy cookbooks that explore Indian, Malaysian, Chinese or South American cuisines. Mixing novel spices and ingredients may perk up your taste buds and make the transition easier.
* If you can't afford or prefer not to buy organic produce, remember that most experts think the nutritional benefits of eating conventionally grown fruits and vegetables outweigh the possible negative effects of pesticide residues.
Published July 24, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Restoration Church Update
We will be meeting at the Lizton Lion's Club on Sunday, August 19th at 6 p.m. We were hoping to meet at the school but our request was never mentioned at the last school board meeting. So, we went to our back-up plan and it actually seems to fit better. We want to have a casual atmosphere and meeting on Sunday nights can provide that more naturally than a Sunday morning service.
This worship gathering will give people an idea of who we are and how we envision Restoration Church. The theme for the gathering is "Is there more to Life?" So, come join us if you can, help us spread the word and pray for God to be glorified and people to be ministered to.
This worship gathering will give people an idea of who we are and how we envision Restoration Church. The theme for the gathering is "Is there more to Life?" So, come join us if you can, help us spread the word and pray for God to be glorified and people to be ministered to.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Harry Potter: Midnight Madness
Well if you have young children or even if you follow the internet/news, it shouldn't be too hard to guess the meaning behind the title of this post. Last night was the midnight book release of the final Harry Potter book. (All the buzz is who dies in this book.) Brian, Tayler, Jake, and myself went to Barnes and Noble for the release. They had a cool setting inside with stations for kids to play games, face painting, magic shows, etc. A lot of people dressed up. It was quite a sight. (The party was from 7:00 until 12:00, so I had a lot of Starbucks and lots of time reading magazines I so can not afford right now!) We had already ordered the book and it should be here today in the mail. However, Tayler still wanted to go and be part of the excitement. He had a blast!
All of the staff were dressed up as characters and the kids were given a map with directions to attend each station thus getting a sticker for completion. This is great for boys-conquer! They also took free pics of the kids and put them in a frame that said, Harry Potter Book release with the date....cool souvenior(and it was free, you can pay up to $20 for souveniors like this!) Everyone who participated in the evening got those "cool" white Harry Potter glasses that Tayler is sporting. Tayler's face painting is of a phoenix and he had another tattoo on his arm of Voldemort's symbol. There are a few pics below...
Side note: Jake isn't in any b/c he doesn't like having his picture taken. But, if you follow the blog, he is Tayler's best friend and has made appearances here (they were baptized together)
All of the staff were dressed up as characters and the kids were given a map with directions to attend each station thus getting a sticker for completion. This is great for boys-conquer! They also took free pics of the kids and put them in a frame that said, Harry Potter Book release with the date....cool souvenior(and it was free, you can pay up to $20 for souveniors like this!) Everyone who participated in the evening got those "cool" white Harry Potter glasses that Tayler is sporting. Tayler's face painting is of a phoenix and he had another tattoo on his arm of Voldemort's symbol. There are a few pics below...
Side note: Jake isn't in any b/c he doesn't like having his picture taken. But, if you follow the blog, he is Tayler's best friend and has made appearances here (they were baptized together)
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
I'm a Cautious Inventor
I (Brian) took this personality test and it was pretty accurate personality DNA It's always fun to see if these tests affirm what you believe true about yourself.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Don't Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
A good word for all today who face the challenges of this life...and if you aren't being challenged, THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
A good word for all today who face the challenges of this life...and if you aren't being challenged, THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Friday, July 13, 2007
The Battle is the Lord's! (much needed encouragement from a friend)
When troubles threaten to overwhelm you, you may feel as though you don’t have the strength to withstand them. I know what that feels like, and the Bible tells us that King Jehoshaphat also knew that feeling. In II Chronicles 20, he was faced with three different armies that were coming to destroy his kingdom. Hopelessly outnumbered, it looked as though there was no chance of survival.
So what did he do? The Bible says, Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord (v. 3).
Sometimes in overwhelming situations when I don’t know what to do, I have to ask, Have I set myself to seek the Lord? When I "set myself," that means I quit running around, I stand still, and I look to God. I can’t stand still when I’m in fear-I can stand still only when I’m in faith.
Notice what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat after he and the people sought God: "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.... You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (vv. 15,17 nkjv).
The battle you’re going through isn’t your battle-it’s the Lord’s! He said He would fight for you! Your part is to seek Him and position yourself by standing on His Word in faith. Then He can work a miracle for you!
So what did he do? The Bible says, Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord (v. 3).
Sometimes in overwhelming situations when I don’t know what to do, I have to ask, Have I set myself to seek the Lord? When I "set myself," that means I quit running around, I stand still, and I look to God. I can’t stand still when I’m in fear-I can stand still only when I’m in faith.
Notice what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat after he and the people sought God: "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.... You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (vv. 15,17 nkjv).
The battle you’re going through isn’t your battle-it’s the Lord’s! He said He would fight for you! Your part is to seek Him and position yourself by standing on His Word in faith. Then He can work a miracle for you!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Veggie Lovers unite!
I am in major need of cheap, easy recipes to accomodate my vegetarian lifestyle. I have not been true to that label- vegetarian - as I have not been eating many veggies lately. I am feeling pretty crappy b/c I haven't been eating healthy or drinking enough water, or exercising for that matter!! I need quick and easy b/c I work and am only home four hours before it is time for bed again, so simple is a blessing!So, if you have cheap, easy recipes and have a love for veggies, please leave a comment below. I will try to get out of my laziness to make it and even take a picture for you to see it!!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A healthy Portion for the Day!
Psalm 111 "Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord, they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever. He has CAUSED HIS WONDERS TO BE REMEMBERED; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; He remembers His covenant forever. He has shown His people the power of His works, giving them the lands of other nations. The WORKS OF HIS HANDS ARE FAITHFUL AND JUST; all His precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. He PROVIDED REDEMPTION for His people; He ordained His covenant forever-HOLY AND AWESOME IS HIS NAME. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise."
This is such a good scripture. If you take the time to read it a few times over, it begins to really sink in. Meditate on this today if you can.
Lord God, we ask that you cause your wonders to be remembered. We thank you that all of your work is faithful and just. We thank you that you provide redemption for your people and ask that you do that for the people in our area that are crying out to you...and those who aren't but need to. We thank you Father that Holy and Awesome is your name. Make yourself Holy and Awesome in this land. Thank you God that if we follow your precepts, your word says we will have "good understanding" Help us to understand and to walk in your ways. Remove the scales from our eyes and help us to see your plans for your people...your plan to restore your people, to show yourself in power, and to offer forgiveness that is so undeserved. Thank you God for who you are! We do indeed praise your name, for ever and ever. We love you Lord!
This is such a good scripture. If you take the time to read it a few times over, it begins to really sink in. Meditate on this today if you can.
Lord God, we ask that you cause your wonders to be remembered. We thank you that all of your work is faithful and just. We thank you that you provide redemption for your people and ask that you do that for the people in our area that are crying out to you...and those who aren't but need to. We thank you Father that Holy and Awesome is your name. Make yourself Holy and Awesome in this land. Thank you God that if we follow your precepts, your word says we will have "good understanding" Help us to understand and to walk in your ways. Remove the scales from our eyes and help us to see your plans for your people...your plan to restore your people, to show yourself in power, and to offer forgiveness that is so undeserved. Thank you God for who you are! We do indeed praise your name, for ever and ever. We love you Lord!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Our journey to children!
Well, those of you who know us, know that we have always wanted a large family. When we got married, we said we wanted biological, foster, and adopted children....how we would support all these children we didn't know:) Anyway, over a year ago, we started looking at adoption (domestic and international) At the time, China had a good program so we investigated that. Unfortunately, however, things changed in January and China put many new restrictions along with increasing the wait times. This was an obvious closed door. So, in February, we decided to pursue having a biological child. We have been in this process since.
However, that door has also closed. This has brought us back to our "first love" of fostering. We are now, (5 years to the month of first beginning classes) going to attend training in early August. This is scary but also exciting (like a lot of things in our life right now:) But, we are only committing to attending the classes at this point. It has been wonderful working in the area of Therapeutic Foster Care at Bethany over the last year and we have learned so much in the last five years. We have such a heart to help hurting kids, so this is a natural fit for us. Over the next few months, we will be training and getting all of the necessary paperwork together. Please pray for us and for the children God will be bringing into our lives very soon.
Stay along for the journey! It is an interesting one for sure!:)
However, that door has also closed. This has brought us back to our "first love" of fostering. We are now, (5 years to the month of first beginning classes) going to attend training in early August. This is scary but also exciting (like a lot of things in our life right now:) But, we are only committing to attending the classes at this point. It has been wonderful working in the area of Therapeutic Foster Care at Bethany over the last year and we have learned so much in the last five years. We have such a heart to help hurting kids, so this is a natural fit for us. Over the next few months, we will be training and getting all of the necessary paperwork together. Please pray for us and for the children God will be bringing into our lives very soon.
Stay along for the journey! It is an interesting one for sure!:)
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Yippee-ki-yay
I'm not sure if it's just been too long since I've seen an action movie but I went to see Die Hard yesterday and it was awesome. I started thinking that it's been a long time since I've seen an action movie without mythical creatures or based on a comic book or toy. So, this was a nice change of pace. After all I grew up watching Arnold, Jean-Claude, Steven Segal, Sly, Sigourney Weaver and Bruce Willis save the world several times over from every possible bad guy imaginable.
A good friend of ours gave me a gift certificate to the movies for my birthday. So, I went out to this theater that I have not been very impressed with in the past. However, yesterday changed my impression. I walked in to a theater with the biggest screen I have ever seen besides IMAX. But then when the previews started it got even bigger. Within the first ten minutes of the movie the action started and never let up. It was really a fun movie (IMHO). I told Karin that I might have to take Tayler to see it and now she wants us to all go as a family. It can be Taylers first "adult" action movie. I guess this is kind of a review so I would say that if you like pure action with a viable story then go see this movie. Justin Long (the "Mac" in apples commercials) did a nice job as Willis' co-star.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Happy Birthday to me...
Yes, today is my birthday. I turned 33. NBD- Just wanted to share. We saw "Evan Almighty" yesterday and went shopping with a gift certificate. I got a really cool "Inspi(red)" shirt. Today I went to lunch with some friends. They gave me a great idea to use for my research proposal to finish my Masters program. Yes, I am in my last class and have a 3.9 GPA. In seven short weeks I will be done and a lot will change in the next seven weeks-including my ordination and our first service. Tayler starts football camp and seventh grade. Karin celebrates being at Bethany Christian Services for a year. We have a lot to be thankful for in our lives.
Anyway, it was a good day- they hydroseeded our backyard- which they were supposed to do in the spring. I'll post pics tomorrow. I went out and got straw to put down which who even knows if I'm supposed to but it was cathartic. We have done nothing with our yard and very little with the interior of our house (if you remember some of our grandiose plans from waaaay back in the beginning of this blog http://indyhumes.blogspot.com/2006/11/shutters-and-designer.html). We have slowly begun this process but it is taking much longer than we had hoped.
That's all for now. I'm gonna go party like it's my birthday...not really, but you know.
Anyway, it was a good day- they hydroseeded our backyard- which they were supposed to do in the spring. I'll post pics tomorrow. I went out and got straw to put down which who even knows if I'm supposed to but it was cathartic. We have done nothing with our yard and very little with the interior of our house (if you remember some of our grandiose plans from waaaay back in the beginning of this blog http://indyhumes.blogspot.com/2006/11/shutters-and-designer.html). We have slowly begun this process but it is taking much longer than we had hoped.
That's all for now. I'm gonna go party like it's my birthday...not really, but you know.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thank you and more updates
We are so grateful for everyone's encouragement and support. There are times when we start questioning the sanity of what we are doing but then someone will come along and say or do something exactly that we needed. We have only been working on the church now for a couple of months and have seen God's hand in this clearly. People are joining our launch team, offering prayers and signing on as financial partners.
Some people have asked about making a one-time donation for the church and wondered if there was anything specific we needed for start-up costs. I will list a couple of things and if you would like to help with any of them please contact us. The first thing that we need to do is become a legal entity. We want to work with a company that helps church planters get their churches running. The cost to become incorporated, get a Federal Employee Identification Number, 501c3 and a constitution drafted is $850. There are a couple of extra fees that we pay separate: $30 to the state of Indiana and $750 to the IRS. We can become incorporated and have a FEIN within a couple of weeks but the 501c3 could take up to six months but will be retroactive to the date of our incorporation. Once we are incorporated we will be a legitimate entity and can start accepting tax-deductible donations for the church.
The second item is the cost of our website. It is $40/ month to operate or $400 for the year. This has already been visited over 500 times in a little over two weeks with over 6,000 hits on it. It will be an effective ministry tool for reaching out beyond Sunday mornings.
I also wanted to address some questions people have about sending us monthly support. First, you will make the checks out to myself (Brian) and/or Karin. These are not tax-exempt and will be used for personal expenses (groceries, bills, etc...) Once we become incorporated the church will have an account and donations will be accepted separately for it. Those donations made out to "Restoration Church" will be tax-deductible and will be used to meet the church budget.
There are lots of things going on right now and we are praying for God's spirit to start preparing hearts for what he wants to do in these communities through Restoration.
Some people have asked about making a one-time donation for the church and wondered if there was anything specific we needed for start-up costs. I will list a couple of things and if you would like to help with any of them please contact us. The first thing that we need to do is become a legal entity. We want to work with a company that helps church planters get their churches running. The cost to become incorporated, get a Federal Employee Identification Number, 501c3 and a constitution drafted is $850. There are a couple of extra fees that we pay separate: $30 to the state of Indiana and $750 to the IRS. We can become incorporated and have a FEIN within a couple of weeks but the 501c3 could take up to six months but will be retroactive to the date of our incorporation. Once we are incorporated we will be a legitimate entity and can start accepting tax-deductible donations for the church.
The second item is the cost of our website. It is $40/ month to operate or $400 for the year. This has already been visited over 500 times in a little over two weeks with over 6,000 hits on it. It will be an effective ministry tool for reaching out beyond Sunday mornings.
I also wanted to address some questions people have about sending us monthly support. First, you will make the checks out to myself (Brian) and/or Karin. These are not tax-exempt and will be used for personal expenses (groceries, bills, etc...) Once we become incorporated the church will have an account and donations will be accepted separately for it. Those donations made out to "Restoration Church" will be tax-deductible and will be used to meet the church budget.
There are lots of things going on right now and we are praying for God's spirit to start preparing hearts for what he wants to do in these communities through Restoration.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Restoration Church Update
We have opened our website. It is www.restorationchurch1.org We want to keep the forum active and the newsite up to date with interesting news stories and devotional thoughts. You will see that we have tentative dates for our preview services, themes that will be developed and meeting dates for the launch team. See our blog on this website if you would like to be a part of the launch team.
Log onto the website and register as a user. You can leave prayers, answer the polls, engage in the forum discussions and let us know you were there. We are excited about this new tool for ministry.
Log onto the website and register as a user. You can leave prayers, answer the polls, engage in the forum discussions and let us know you were there. We are excited about this new tool for ministry.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Happy Father's Day!
I just have to make a shout out to one of the best dads I know....my husband, Brian. Brian is a wonderful father who lives his life as an example to many but today I want to acknowledge his leadership in the life of his son, Tayler. On a daily basis, Brian leads with gentleness, mercy, humility, humor, forgivness, sacrifice... the list could go on and on. (within sacrifice includes the fact that he does most of the cleaning and ALL of the cooking!)...can I get an Amen from Tayler's future wife?:) Most of all he leads with the example of Christ. I couldn't ask for a better father for my son.
I think back on the memories we have had with Brian and they amaze me. He taught Tayler how to tie his shoes (when his mother didn't have the patience), how to ride his bike, how to swim, has done countless school projects with Tayler, is in a father/son bowling league, has been an assistant coach for sports teams since Tayler began playing in kindergarten, collects Star Wars and goes on mad hunts for characters, been on the news a few times with Tayler (for the aforementioned statement:), took Tayler to see his first Star Wars movie at the theatre when Tayler was just four years old (gotta train the Jedi's young:), gone sledding, played flashlight tag, been at camp with Tayler, gone on spiritual retreats with Tayler, had the "talk" among many other talks.....the list could go on and on.
Although the above things are wonderful, the most important thing he has taught our son are spiritual truths through the venue of discipleship at church and at home. Again this has come through example not just words. That is one thing I love about Brian....he does what he says he believes. Since Tayler was six years old, he has sat on the sidelines watching his dad lead others, reach out in mercy, start a hip hop club in the inner city (what kid can say that about their very white dad?:) pray over and cry with hurting teens and adults, house over a dozen hopeless and homeless children, all of this in obedience to God's call on his life. I can't think of a better way for Tayler to learn about faith and what it means to be a man than from his own father.
Happy Father's Day, Brian!! Really, it would take many posts to say everything we would want to say to you, but I hope this is sufficient. WE love you!
Happy Father's Day, Brian!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
A New Direction and An Explanation
Restoration Church will be interdenominational and not a Wesleyan church. Karin and I started this process with the intent of being church planters within the Wesleyan denomination. However, we became more and more uncomfortable with this direction. There are many things that we like about the denomination but there are many things we like about several denominations. We felt that as we communicate to people who we are that it would be important for us to be as inclusive as possible while remaining orthodox in our beliefs.
While in the short-term it would have been far more beneficial (from a human standpoint) to remain in the Wesleyan denomination I believe that in the long-run this is the best direction for us. It will require more work, more people, more money and ultimately more faith. Karin and I believe that if God does not show up in this thing then I will be looking for a new job by the end of the year. But, we do believe God is in this and "where God guides, God provides".
I talked with one of the leaders in the Wesleyan church and explained what was going on with us. I explained that I did not want to commit to the Wesleyan process and then a couple of years down the road become interdenominational. I did not feel that was showing much integrity- even though I know many people take advantage of denominations that way.
I will be honest and say that this whole endeavor is exhilirating, scary and humbling. We continue to see God's hand leading us and people joining us weekly. It is our desire that people will consider Restoration as one of their church families.
We are in the process of putting together a launch team. The requirements will be:
1. An active faith life in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior
2. A heart to minister in the Church and community
3. A commitment to participating in the monthly preview services beginning in August
4. Participation in Launch Team Meetings beginning in July to pray and help plan the worship gatherings
5. A commitment to Restoration church for six to twelve months after the weekly services begin in January
If you would be interested in being a part of the launch team then you can contact either myself or Karin (who will be one of the launch team leaders).
Our launch date is set for January 13th, 2008 with five monthly preview services beginning in August. We will have our website up and fully functioning in the next week or so. There will be launch team meetings beginning in July and finish in January. Once we launch our weekly gatherings the launch team will disban and can go on to serve in other areas of the church.
We are looking to associate with other churches perhaps through Willowcreek Association or some other network. We believe this will be important for accountability, training, encouragement and friendships.
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.
While in the short-term it would have been far more beneficial (from a human standpoint) to remain in the Wesleyan denomination I believe that in the long-run this is the best direction for us. It will require more work, more people, more money and ultimately more faith. Karin and I believe that if God does not show up in this thing then I will be looking for a new job by the end of the year. But, we do believe God is in this and "where God guides, God provides".
I talked with one of the leaders in the Wesleyan church and explained what was going on with us. I explained that I did not want to commit to the Wesleyan process and then a couple of years down the road become interdenominational. I did not feel that was showing much integrity- even though I know many people take advantage of denominations that way.
I will be honest and say that this whole endeavor is exhilirating, scary and humbling. We continue to see God's hand leading us and people joining us weekly. It is our desire that people will consider Restoration as one of their church families.
We are in the process of putting together a launch team. The requirements will be:
1. An active faith life in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior
2. A heart to minister in the Church and community
3. A commitment to participating in the monthly preview services beginning in August
4. Participation in Launch Team Meetings beginning in July to pray and help plan the worship gatherings
5. A commitment to Restoration church for six to twelve months after the weekly services begin in January
If you would be interested in being a part of the launch team then you can contact either myself or Karin (who will be one of the launch team leaders).
Our launch date is set for January 13th, 2008 with five monthly preview services beginning in August. We will have our website up and fully functioning in the next week or so. There will be launch team meetings beginning in July and finish in January. Once we launch our weekly gatherings the launch team will disban and can go on to serve in other areas of the church.
We are looking to associate with other churches perhaps through Willowcreek Association or some other network. We believe this will be important for accountability, training, encouragement and friendships.
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Unspoken prayer request
If you are reading this, you may very well know what this prayer request is. If not, please pray all the same. Monday is a BIG day for us. Please pray for God's hand to be with us and HIS will to be accomplished. Also pray that He keeps our hearts in perfect peace. Thank you so much blogger friends!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
One Chapter Ends...
I have been wanting to write this blog for a while but there are some very strong emotions behind it. I think I have gone through all the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The truth is that I could write a book about all my experiences and I have a fear that everything I have to say will be taken the wrong way or feel detatched. My hope is that this post will be both cathartic and celebratory.
I began serving in youth ministry when I was eighteen and a freshman in college. I first felt a call to ministry when I became a Christian and soon believed I was going to be a youth pastor. My youth pastor (and personal hero) took me under his wings and gave me a lot of wisdom and strength.
I entered college pursuing a degree in youth ministry and quickly got involved in a large youth ministry in town. I served there for a year doing whatever I could to help. I learned a lot and stepped out to become a youth minister in the fall of my sophomore year.
I remember that first church and some of the kids that attended. As a matter of fact I still have a follow-up post-it in my Bible of a kid that attended. While I was at that church I got my first taste of what it could be like to lead a youth group and I liked it. I loved seeing students go from being apathetic or hostile towards Christianity to becoming curious to eventually growing Christians.
Through fifteen years I have served in various capacities in youth ministry from leading breakfast Bible clubs,volunteer, internships, co-youth leader and full-time ministry. My ministry has spanned from west Tennessee to east Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana. I have served in rural, inner-city and suburban churches. They have all had their unique ups and downs. The experiences I have had have shaped me into a better person and minister.
I have been on innumerable overnight trips, have heard the same fart jokes over and over, been to dozens of concerts, stayed up at all-nighters, created a night club, organized a rap festival, gone on ski-trips, lead small groups, worn make up and dresses, licked peanut butter off of a friends foot, swallowed goldfish (live), introduced "Ramone" to hundreds of kids, served on mission trips,lead fifth quarters,brought students to summer camps, disciple nows, have lived on pizza and mountain dews, dove off of bridges, gone through muddy caves, rapelled off of cliffs, snow skied, water skied, camped, hiked, lead worship, played paintball and laser tag. I have been with students and families in their darkest hours, have heard students talk about suicide, cutting, running away, problems with parents and friends, drugs and sex. I have seen students at the point of desperation and turn to God. I have seen God grab hold of a student that everyone else had written off and change their life. Youth ministry is heart-wrenching, usually thankless and often times a labyrinth of politics. But, it can also be rewarding, fun, and life changing.
My time serving as a youth pastor ended without much fanfare. As a matter of fact it ended on a night when not many students were present. There were times throughout that last night when the enormity of the moment would overwhelm me as I thought of the lives I have been a part of over the years. The joys, laughter, stories that will be told for years to come, tears, silence, prayers and friendships. Even as I write this I think of the impact student ministry has had on me.
I did not leave this calling lightly. I did not leave it because I was tired of it or had lost my passion for it. I left because I feel a burden from God for the lost and unchurched in the Northwest Hendricks County area. I believe God is leading me in a new and exciting direction and has a wonderful plan for our lives. Karin asked me on my first Sunday night without youth group if I was happy to not have it. I responded by saying that I loved youth group and being with the students. The question was not the right one. Am I happy to be following God's will and am I excited about the road ahead? Yes. But, I am sad to be leaving students and families that I have poured my life into for almost four years. Outside of college I have never been a part of a community for so long.
To everyone that has served with me, allowed me to be their youth pastor or their student's youth pastor, or has supported my ministry over the years in any number of ways (from being chaperones, volunteers, cheerleaders, providing meals, scholarships and general encouragement)- thank you. It is humbling to think of how God has used me and has used youth ministry to grow me up. I know God is going to continue to do amazing things and I am looking forward to what this next chapter will include.
Finally, and this is a shameless plug for comments, if you have ever been involved in a ministry that I have lead or been a part of could you leave a comment of a memory or something you have gotten out of it. Thanks.
I began serving in youth ministry when I was eighteen and a freshman in college. I first felt a call to ministry when I became a Christian and soon believed I was going to be a youth pastor. My youth pastor (and personal hero) took me under his wings and gave me a lot of wisdom and strength.
I entered college pursuing a degree in youth ministry and quickly got involved in a large youth ministry in town. I served there for a year doing whatever I could to help. I learned a lot and stepped out to become a youth minister in the fall of my sophomore year.
I remember that first church and some of the kids that attended. As a matter of fact I still have a follow-up post-it in my Bible of a kid that attended. While I was at that church I got my first taste of what it could be like to lead a youth group and I liked it. I loved seeing students go from being apathetic or hostile towards Christianity to becoming curious to eventually growing Christians.
Through fifteen years I have served in various capacities in youth ministry from leading breakfast Bible clubs,volunteer, internships, co-youth leader and full-time ministry. My ministry has spanned from west Tennessee to east Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana. I have served in rural, inner-city and suburban churches. They have all had their unique ups and downs. The experiences I have had have shaped me into a better person and minister.
I have been on innumerable overnight trips, have heard the same fart jokes over and over, been to dozens of concerts, stayed up at all-nighters, created a night club, organized a rap festival, gone on ski-trips, lead small groups, worn make up and dresses, licked peanut butter off of a friends foot, swallowed goldfish (live), introduced "Ramone" to hundreds of kids, served on mission trips,lead fifth quarters,brought students to summer camps, disciple nows, have lived on pizza and mountain dews, dove off of bridges, gone through muddy caves, rapelled off of cliffs, snow skied, water skied, camped, hiked, lead worship, played paintball and laser tag. I have been with students and families in their darkest hours, have heard students talk about suicide, cutting, running away, problems with parents and friends, drugs and sex. I have seen students at the point of desperation and turn to God. I have seen God grab hold of a student that everyone else had written off and change their life. Youth ministry is heart-wrenching, usually thankless and often times a labyrinth of politics. But, it can also be rewarding, fun, and life changing.
My time serving as a youth pastor ended without much fanfare. As a matter of fact it ended on a night when not many students were present. There were times throughout that last night when the enormity of the moment would overwhelm me as I thought of the lives I have been a part of over the years. The joys, laughter, stories that will be told for years to come, tears, silence, prayers and friendships. Even as I write this I think of the impact student ministry has had on me.
I did not leave this calling lightly. I did not leave it because I was tired of it or had lost my passion for it. I left because I feel a burden from God for the lost and unchurched in the Northwest Hendricks County area. I believe God is leading me in a new and exciting direction and has a wonderful plan for our lives. Karin asked me on my first Sunday night without youth group if I was happy to not have it. I responded by saying that I loved youth group and being with the students. The question was not the right one. Am I happy to be following God's will and am I excited about the road ahead? Yes. But, I am sad to be leaving students and families that I have poured my life into for almost four years. Outside of college I have never been a part of a community for so long.
To everyone that has served with me, allowed me to be their youth pastor or their student's youth pastor, or has supported my ministry over the years in any number of ways (from being chaperones, volunteers, cheerleaders, providing meals, scholarships and general encouragement)- thank you. It is humbling to think of how God has used me and has used youth ministry to grow me up. I know God is going to continue to do amazing things and I am looking forward to what this next chapter will include.
Finally, and this is a shameless plug for comments, if you have ever been involved in a ministry that I have lead or been a part of could you leave a comment of a memory or something you have gotten out of it. Thanks.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Surprise Party!!
30 never felt so GOOD!! Just when I thought it couldn't get better than the post below....Brian threw me a surprise party! I was completely surprised! We had soccer tournaments all day, so today was the last day I would've suspected. I went to Starbucks with one of my bestest, Christy and she totally had me convinced. After spending some time together, her hubby called to say her son was sick. She was so convincing, we left in a dash to get home.
She even had me thinking I might catch the bug!! We got home and after a few minutes talking in the car, she pulled out of the driveway to rush home to her little one. I walked in only to find a room full of my lovely friends. Christy, of course, pulled back in and came inside. I came in to find not only a room full of people, but lots of food prepared by these very friends. Each person brought an appetizer and my friend Shirley made lots of vegetarian friendly cuisine and a cake. My friend Christy also prepared a cake with pink icing and mocha filling.....doesn't get much better than pink and mocha!
The house was decorated and I even had a tiera, a sash, and barbie napkins (Thanks Rich!) It was so nice seeing all of my close friends in one room. There were several other friends who couldn't make it and some not pictured that came late....(Griblers, Rutherfords, Weese's, Holly) don't worry I know you love me:) All joking aside, I felt very loved and valued. I have the bestest friends ever (Thanks guys)I have received affirmation from Brian and from my friends, and there is not a better feeling than that!
And Brian, your not too bad either!..and really...your beginning to make other husbands look bad:)
Friday, June 01, 2007
Happy Birthday to my wife...
In honor of Karin's 30th birthday- here are thirty things I LOVE about her:
1. Her passion for God and desire to follow His plans
2. Her focus and determination
3. She makes people comfortable
4. She supports me with words and actions
5. She is encouraging
6. She inspires lots of people
7. She has a strong prayer life
8. She allows me to have a Star Wars room and doesn't get embarrassed when I talk about Star Wars endlessly
9. She loves to learn
10. She speaks her mind (see the post two down from this one!)
11. She loves all different cultures
12. She has a passion for mission work
13. She has overcome a lot of hardships
14. She embraces people from all backgrounds
15. She is willing to step out on faith
16. She likes being fashionable
17. She loves her children
18. She is high maintenance but thinks she's low maintenance
19. She loves her family
20. She has a lot of wisdom
21. She pushes me to grow in my faith
22. She supports my education endeavors
23. She's always willing to meet new people
24. She loves the Church
25. She is a great listener
26. She's my smokin' hot wife
27. She tries to be interested in sports
28. She trusts me and believes in my leadership
29. She is not satisfied with mediocrity
30. She said "i do".
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