Sunny Sunny Day - Almost

Had I great day yesterday, the boys and I took our first try at mountain biking together in West Bragg. Nate always asks to go when I head out, so I said I would take him out on something he would like. So Jonah on the Trailabike and Nate on his Spidy bike we headed out on some double track. When Nate bailed on a downhill section and was crying Jonah from the back of the trail a bike said "Just talk to Jesus Sano'". It makes me think that our kids program is actually working. Which brings me to our kids program and other ministries of the church. We are having the Ministry Mall this next Sunday highlighting the different ministry opportunities, but I am a little conflicted about it. I could just be going through some PMS (Pastors Monday Syndrome). Check out bobblog for a good example of this pastor inflicting disease. bobblog
But back to my thoughts I'm a little pessimistic that it wont do anything. I was talking to some of the people involved in ministry and I really don't think it is a question of not knowing some life giving ministries to get involved in. I think it is a issue of not caring or greater yet not sacrificing. It's a heart issue not an informational one. And in those cases I get a little discouraged as a pastor. Listen, we have some awesome ministry happening that the church is involved in. And the people who are currently involved are doing great jobs. But if we loose sight of mission we get into a mode of we want... we need... and yet unwilling to be the ones that sacrifice to get things started. We are going through some growing pain right now which is good, but also messy. We have been pruned back to be more efficient and it is time that we step up through the mess and make some steps forward. If we are afraid of the mess or worse yet unwilling to get our hands dirty, then we will never be a church that is succeeding in mission and living up to the people God called us to be. Lets not talk about it anymore and do it. And maybe we should rethink giftedness. God equips us for the ministry at hand, and we/you are part of this community for today not tomorrow. I am not gifted as a brick layer, but if it means being part of the mission God will give me strength, equip me with the gifts and resources to get it done in the moment. So lets jump into the ministry at hand. And as we look at serving through our relationships this Sunday, what is God calling you too or what have been some barriers that stop you from ministry?

Your Nieborhood

How much space do you have? A friend of mine is always joking about how he needs to make room in his friend book. For instance he talks about his new best friend and that means the others just got moved down the list. Or he says he likes hanging out with someone he just met and how that means someone will have to go. I'm sure most of it is to keep me a little on edge about the possibility of being dumped. Even though we can have fun with some of that, there is a real concern that some of us have on merging or deepening relationships. Both within families and out side the family unit. (Some are still dealing with deepening our marriage relationship.) If we are called to live in community, true loving community, how do we keep everything in balance? How do we go about deepening and maintaining relationship? When our families are being stretched for time, how much energy do we put to “others” especially in relationship to “and the second is equally important to love your neighbor as yourself.”? What are some of your thoughts?

On a completely different note take a good look at http://www.tapestrycalgary.com/blog/ because it is a great read.Nick gives us some inspiring thoughts about dreaming, the future and breaking out of our mold. in Quotes and Creativity.

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On the Lighter Side

Nothing profound this week. Hope everyone had a great day with family and friends. Well I think we will be starting the fall off a little lighter than what we have been hitting for a while. We will taking a look at family relationships over the next month, it was either that or a study in Leviticus. I’m not quite ready to start that one. I have a bit more to study left to do, but it’s coming (what does laws of skin ailments and sacrifices have to do with today?). Anyway, instead we will talk about the rash that doesn’t leave, sometimes referred to as family. For some of us this actually might be more difficult to work through than the skin diseases of Leviticus, but I hope we can have fun with it. I would love to hear some comments about family. Is family more of a liability to the gospel or a benefit? How do we balance ministry and serving others with being a good steward of our family? Do we struggle with idolatry or neglect in our family relationships? How can we really make it work?
Blessings.