September 20, 2012

This week has felt off.
It's one of those things where you just can't quite put your finger on it, but you know it's there.
Which in some ways can make it even more frustrating than knowing what is wrong.

I like clear cut things in my life.
If I'm given too many choices or my life is too loose than I revert to stagnation.
Yet, on the other hand if I'm too busy or things are too rigid I want to rebel against those as well.

Is finding balance in life a continual practice?
I think so...
And as I type that I'm a little disheartened knowing that I will always be testing, evaluating, etc... to make sure that my life is balanced right. It's not finding the balance and then it's always good. It takes constant work and effort.

September 17, 2012

One of the great things about being an Associate Pastor is the fact that you don't have to preach every Sunday. I have really enjoyed this on a few different levels.

The first being that I don't have to prepare a sermon every week. I get at least 2 weeks every time. This helps in the preparation, marination?, and overall delivery of the sermon in my opinion.

Second, I get to hear someone else (Senior Pastor) preach. I get to share in the knowledge and work that he has put in, the words that God has given him that week.

Some notes from this last week's sermon:

"You just can't keep us from Jesus." - I really liked this quote.

Spiritual Growth doesn't happen by accident.

Develop good spiritual habits. Don't focus on the mess, focus on Christ.

Praise the Lord for not having to preach every Sunday!

September 11, 2012

Lord,

I thank You for the cool breeze this morning.
For the warmth of the sunshine.
And how they offset each other.

Thank You for coffee.
For Your love for me.

Help me Lord to continue to seek after You when things get difficult or I get busy.
You are my rock.
Yet, often times instead of standing on the Rock, I choose to swim alone,
and then I wonder why I am struggling or getting tired.
Don't let me lose sight of You.

Amen.

September 08, 2012

God has been bringing the theme of "family" more and more into the forefront of my life lately. Granted, it has been within some of the books that we are reading for the Master's Program, but also just in life.
Seeing how much affect we can have in our families, and the fact that if we all took care of our families 1st, quite a few of the "bigger" problems within society would take care of themselves because our families would be strong.
I guess my mindset has shifted some reading Crouch's "Culture Making". The realization that the places we have the most influence are the smaller ones. Individuals, families, small groups, close friends, Church.
Moving from the inside out rather than make a huge push and focus for something grandios only to have it fail or not reach it's potential because the infrastructure of individuals and families isn't there.

September 1, 2012

In the "Good and Beautiful Community" this week we read about doing peculiar acts for someone. Something out of the ordinary and generally nice. Something that isn't really expected by our standards of living for today. I have been racking my brain all week as to what to do that would be "really good".
Not really the point of the exercise. Chalk it up to humanity, vain-glory, wanting to be the best, etc... but I really wanted to be able to say I did this amazing thing for someone! Not necessarily because of my love for them, or out of my time spent with Jesus, but because I wanted to "win" at this training exercise.
And reflecting back on this week today, I'm glad that God didn't allow me to think of that thing. That I was humbled before Him. I did pick up the dishes when I was a guest at someone's home. They weren't expecting that.

August 27, 2012

Met with my new mentor/partner for the apprenticeship section of class today. I'm guessing I'm the only one in the cohort who has had a different one each time? It is what it is I guess. Well, the meeting went good and it was an honor to share some time with my partner.
One of the things that stuck out to me in the 1st chapter of Good & Beautiful Community was the soul training exercise. Doing something peculiar for someone. Audrey's parents just came to visit and gave us a book called "Love Does" by Bob Goff. I'd heard of the book and wanted to read it ever since it came out, but with ALL the reading for my Master's I hadn't purchased it. The premise of the book is exactly what the soul training exercise is for this week. Let your love do something. Marry the faith in Christ with the actions of Christ.

I will be on the lookout this week as how to fulfill this!

August 20, 2012

As Dave Williams says, "Back in the saddle." This phrase actually applies to me in 2 ways. 1. Starting up my 2nd year/3rd Semester of my Master's Program. and 2. I am back working as a full time Associate Pastor in a Church. I was hired at Meridian Friends Church in Meridian, Idaho on July 15, 2012. I'm not going to lie and say everything about moving, getting back into full time ministry, and everything else that comes when you uproot and leave a place you have been for a while was easy. There have been some definite rough patches in the last month and half. Yet, at the same time, we know that God has called us here for a purpose.
Starting up the Master's again brings on its own set of emotions separate from the rest of life. I am excited about the reading, and also dreading the reading. Excited about our weekly discussions and not knowing how I'm going to fit it all in. Mostly ups and downs concerning it all.

So I guess my first post is to new beginnings?