This Sunday

We're leaving in the morning for Camp Meeting. It will be a spiritually refreshing time for me and my family, and I've done my best to provide for your Sunday experience.

Rev. Bob Strader from World Christian Outreach will be our guest speaker. I know you'll give Bob a warm welcome. Other than that, Robin and her team will take care of everything else. I'm confident you'll enjoy a wonderful sense of God's presence.

We'll miss you and look forward to our return the end of next week. In the mean time, I am reachable by cell phone in case of emergency.

North American Convention

In about thirty-six hours we leave for the North American Convention of the Church of God in Anderson, Indiana at Anderson University. The convention (to me it still feels like Camp Meeting) is six days of great worship services (in the Kardatzke Wellness Center as shown here), informative and inspiring conferences, mingling with friends, youth activities for our kids, and the General Assembly (in the GA meeting we honor pastors who have died in the last year, receive information on the state of the church from our national leaders, elect new leaders as needed, and take care of other church business), which meets in Reardon Auditorium (center).

I've been going to Anderson since I was a kid. Even though my parents were not in ministry, they occasionally took their vacation time to attend Camp Meeting. When I was about eight years old my brother Dave started attending college at AC (Anderson College--now Anderson University--is our church's primary center of higher education), and my family would go out for homecoming weekend. When I was 17 I also headed for AC, which is where I met Janelle (Labor Day 1978). Now as a pastor, it is my responsibility to represent my congregation each year in the General Assembly. Years later I returned to Anderson University School of Theology (pictured below) to pursue my Masters Degree.

I'll be blogging from the convention to keep you informed of what's going on. Don't forget you can watch the worship services live at www.chog.org by clicking the "Watch It Live" link. Services are 7 p.m. Friday through Wednesday, and 10:30 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday. Until you can actually attend North American Convention, the live feeds and my blog will do a pretty good job of keeping you up to date.

Why Do I Blog?

Blogs started in the 90s as an online place for computer geeks to talk programming code with other computer geeks. The word comes from the phrase web log, or blog for short. As time went by others discovered blogging and started talking about other things--things normal people actually care about. On 9/11 much information was disseminated by bloggers via their own personal blogs. In 2002 the mainstream media only gave cursory attention to Trent Lott's questionable comment at Strom Thurmand's 100th birthday party. It was bloggers that spread the word, and fifteen days after his initial comment, Lott resigned his role as Republican Leader. In the 2004 presidential election, CBS News Anchor Dan Rather ran a story about President Bush not fulfilling his National Guard duty. In the ensuing days, bloggers questioned the authenticity of the evidentiary documents--questions CBS couldn't answer. Twelve days after the report aired, CBS retracted it, saying the network shouldn't have used those documents as they could not coroborate their authenticity. Shortly after George W. Bush won reelection, Dan Rather announced his retirement. [1]

Whereas only techies and other geeks had even heard of blogging, even into the new century, in 2004 the editors of Merriam-Webster announced blog was their "top word of 2004."

Blogs are an incredible communication tool for churches and pastors. Whereas most of the time someone has to actually attend a church service to get a copy of the bulletin, anyone with Internet access (before long this will mean just plain anyone) can log on and instantly know what's happening. Bulletins come out only once a week, but blogs can be updated several times a day if needed. What's more, blog technology is absolutely free. Sure, you can pay for blog services and software, but you don't have to. Blogger (www.blogspot.com) is the service I use, and it allows me to do everything I want to do with my blog.

Blogs are great for families separated by time and distance. Imagine being able to upload pictures of your baby's first visit to the zoo, and that evening Grandma and Grandpa seeing their precious grandbaby laughing at the elephant. And then the baby's grandparents can give immediate feedback via the comments tool at the bottom of the post. Or, if it's a true family blog they could make their own post and upload their own pictures.

Blogs are great for businesses, teachers, political campaigns (Howard Dean's blog fueled his 2004 bid for the Democrat presidential nomination, and whether or not Fred Thompson gets in the race this year as expected, he has already launched his blog: I'm With Fred.), or anyone else needing a platform from which to communicate ideas and convictions.

But the question was, "Why do I blog?" The answer comes in a couple parts. 1) I blog to better the preaching experience. A classic explanation of preaching is: First, tell them what you're going to tell them; second, tell them; and third, tell them what you told them. My blog sometimes allows me to share a preview of what's coming Sunday. Other times I might have a you should have said moment. In the past there wasn't really anything I could do about those you should have said moments. Now I can blog about it. And what's great is that those who don't really want to go any deeper don't have to, but those who do can.

2) I blog to better church communication. This is a great forum where I can talk about what's happening in the church, what's already happened, or what needs to happen. Sometimes people ask me questions, and I wonder, "If one person is asking, could other people be wondering the same thing?" I can address the issue in my blog, and even those who didn't voice the question can read the discussion.

3) I blog to be more transparent. Many people only know what they see on Sunday morning, nothing more. Hopefully I'm the same person through the week as I am on stage, but come on; I only have 30+ minutes on Sunday. I don't have time to come clean about every struggle I'm facing (pastors sometimes have doubts and frustrations, too), about my thought processes that led me to preach what I did (no, God does not write my sermons), or about whatever else happened in the 166 hours since we were together last. My blog helps you know me better, with anything from a theological discussion, to pictures from a family vacation, to rants and raves about my favorite TV show.

4) Finally, I blog as a spiritual discipline. I believe in journaling, which I've been doing off and on for the last few years. This year, I've transitioned some of my journaling to blogging. In effect, I'm taking my journal (at least part of it) public. Some of what I write is only for me, but if I'm wrestling with it, I share it with you.

[1] Brian Bailey, The Blogging Church (San Francisco: Wiley and Sons, 2007), 3ff.

Father's Day and the Lost Son

Sunday was a good day. Our Vacation Bible School kids sang a couple songs from Take the Plunge, this year's VBS theme. I sang one of my favorite songs, Cat's In the Cradle--the old Harry Chapin hit from the 70s. He wasn't a Christian, but certainly wrote a compelling sermon with that song.

I taught from Luke 15:11-24, which is the Parable of the Lost Son. I want to share a brief observation, which actually came to me as I was on stage teaching. Matthew 3:13-17 is the narrative of Jesus' baptism. As our Savior came up out of the water and the Spirit rested upon him, God spoke: This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.

One of my core values is that God is on our side. The story of the lost son illustrates this in a way I had not really expected. The son came to the conclusion that he would never be a son again, but he thought maybe there was a chance his father would hire him as a day laborer. In Parables as Subversive Speech, William Herzog writes that day laborers lasted an average of about five years. They ate when they could find work. Growing weaker from hard work and lack of nourishment, they were prone to injury and illness. Before long their inevitable end was death from starvation, or hunger related disease. There were plenty where they came from. As far as landowners were concerned, day laborers were disposable. In hoping for a day laborer position with his father's estate, the son was acknowledging his belief that he was disposable.

His father saw things differently. When the son came into view, the father was waiting. He ran to his son, and called for a robe, a ring, and sandals. These were the signs of sonship. He ordered his servants to bring the fattened calf and prepare a celebration feast. The father was illustrating the same love for his lost son that God the Father communicated for his Son the Lord Jesus Christ. His gifts of the garment, the ring, the sandals and the celebration said, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)."

What kind of love is this?

The Day I Don't Golf

As I've mentioned before I play in a golf league on Monday evenings. At least I think I do. The last time I was able to golf was two weeks ago, when a brief, but powerful rainstorm interrupted our round. We were leaving the first green when the rain started and by the time we teed off on #2 it was really coming down. We left our drives where they were and headed for the clubhouse. About 20 minutes later our foursome (minus one) returned and completed our round. I shot the best round I'd shot in league play and racked up some pretty good points. Later I found out so many people left when it started raining, they weren't counting the few rounds that did get finished. My good score was for nothing!

Last week was when I got stuck driving to our church's state office for a meeting that had been cancelled. By the time Janelle and I got back to town, our schedules were conflicting and I was unable to golf.

My meeting was re-scheduled to this Monday. I made sure I got out of there in time to get back for golf, but as I approached the course I was being chased by a thunder-storm. They had called all golfers into the clubhouse, and said it would probably take 30 minutes for the storm to pass.

I was doubtful, plus that would have gotten me started kind of late. I decided I'd pass. Playing in the rain is one thing; lightning is some-thing else altogether.

So, from now on Monday is officially the day I don't golf (unless, of course, I get a chance).

Because of Winn-Dixie

Last night was the final night of Vacation Bible School. This was the first year we offered an adult class, and Janelle and I served as its facilitators. Each night we watched a movie and then spent about 30 minutes discussing it together.

From Sunday evening through Wednesday evening, we watched The End of the Spear, Signs, Radio, and Facing the Giants. While the first and last films were overtly Christian in nature, the films for Monday and Tuesday were not. All four films have a very positive, uplifting message. I wanted to be a little more daring and previewed a couple other films, but I just couldn't bring myself to show them. They were Bruce Almighty and Million Dollar Baby. I've heard both given rave reviews by other pastors for their overall message. While I agree the films had positive things to say, I felt the language and sexual humor disqualified them for us in our setting. And while I'm aware other churches use such films as regular fare (and I think that's great), those are not the kinds of illustrations I'm comfortable using.

We worshiped at NewSong Community Church in Nashville for a few months while we were between ministry assignments. Pastor Dale Evrist called the room where they gathered for worship their Family Room. They would not only worship there, but enjoy church family dinners and various forms of entertainment all in the same room. He taught that whatever one did at home in one's family room should be okay in the church Family Room, but also that the things one would not do in the church Family Room should not be done in one's family room at home.

I'm sure some of the same people who wouldn't think twice about watching Bruce Almighty at home would be the first to scream, "Blasphemy!" if it were screened at church. But that's not really my point.

Last night our concluding film was Because of Winn-Dixie. It is a delightful family film, with nothing to be embarrassed over, and certainly nothing that pushes the church envelope. It's about a little girl, a pastor's daughter, who is relieved from her burning loneliness through the intervention of a scruffy dog she names Winn-Dixie. There was plenty to talk about following the film including the sources of and remedies for loneliness, the labels we give people and the effect that has on how we treat one another, the life-changing power of a listening ear, and whether or not the sad things of life disqualify its sweetness.

At one point in the film Winn-Dixie runs off, and the little girl decides to print up posters including ten things about her dog, which will help people to recognize him. I asked our group to imagine they were lost, and that "Lost Person" posters were going to be distributed around town to aid in their recovery. I asked them to imagine ten good things that could be written about them, and requested they share just one of those things with the group.

I was surprised that the first response was a question: "Isn't that bragging?" I replied that it most assuredly was not. I reminded each one there that God is on our side. If it were not so, there would have been no incarnation, no cross, no substitutionary atonement. God would have just wiped the universe clean of humanity and started over. I believe with all my heart that if God were introducing us, God would begin, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased," or, "This is my beloved, precious daughter, in whom I am well pleased." This in no way means we don't have room for improvement; just that God accepts us as we are. Luke 15:10 says it all.

Our problem is that we don't understand love like that.

God, on this Father's Day weekend please give us a glimpse of your love for your children. Let us bask in your love for us, and share that love with others. When those around us don't recognize your love for them, allow us to share your grace, so that they will. Amen.

Will (Part Two)

Will had his abdominal surgery Tuesday, and we came home Wednesday afternoon, arriving home in Connellsville a little before 5:30.

While the doctor didn't find anything definitive in the surgery, he did say Will's appendix was a little unusual. Most appendices hang down in front of the large intestine, but Will's hung down behind his intestine. Doctor Cain said they see that in about 20% of their patients, so it's not extremely rare, but might account for the pain Will's been suffering. We have to wait for a couple weeks and the surgery to heal before we can know if Will's still having the original pain.

The trip home, coupled with going too long between pain pills, was really hard on Will. After we got him medicated, he felt a little better. Then it was right with the clock, a pill at midnght, 4:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. and noon. We'll see how he's doing tonight to decide whether to wake him for his 4:00 a.m. dose, or let him sleep.

Keep him in your prayers. Janelle also had it rough spending the night in the hospital. Those recliner-beds aren't that comfortable... just barely a step above sleeping in a chair. She's a good mom.

We absolutely love Children's Hospital. From the doctors to the nurses to the cafeteria employees, virtually everyone was a delight. Only the traffic and parking challenges caused us concern, and those things were manageable. All in all, Children's made a difficult time a great experience.