Smoky Mountain Hoosier

A New Blog

2009-11-25T17:28:00.001-08:00

This will be the last post to Smoky Mountain Hoosier. Please join me as I continue my journey at:

http://wheretheriverruns.blogspot.com/

Thank you for being a part of my journey!

Random Thoughts on the Move

2009-11-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

Moving is stressful. I must admit, driving around Oak Ridge with my vacuum cleaner in the front passenger seat of my car is a little strange. Also, I don't really enjoy having all of my clothes on display through the hatch-back window. It was a bit irritating to have to go out in the dark last night to my car and try to find a pair of socks to wear. This is a weird time of change and transition for me.
I am so grateful for my friend Joe who is letting me crash on his futon for a couple of nights. We watched Judge Judy and Antique Roadshow last night before turning in. I don't think I've ever seen Judge Judy before. I can't say that I'm a big fan.
Today was my last day of working at Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County. It was a day of good-byes. I am blessed to have so many wonderful people cross my path through the work and ministry of Habitat. I walk away from this position feeling as if I gave my best to help end poverty housing in Anderson County. The work will continue and I know God has wonderful things in store for this vital mission.
I look forward to traveling to Cincinnati tomorrow morning. I hope to beat some of the holiday weekend traffic. I will hopefully be able to set up my new blog when I arrive and I will provide the link for you in my final entry of Smoky Mountain Hoosier.
As always, I am grateful for your presence along my journey!

Transition

2009-11-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm officially a gypsy. I turned in my apartment keys a little while ago and now all of my earthly possessions are either in Cincinnati, on their way to Cincinnati, or in my car. I have just enough room in my car to get in and drive. I can't really see much out the back window because stuff is piled almost to the ceiling.
I woke up this morning feeling kind of stiff and thought that I was really getting old. I rolled over and tried to pull the covers over me and it was painful. I wondered what was going on. Then I realized as I woke up a bit more that my air mattress had deflated and I was sleeping right on the floor. That was around 5:30 AM so I have been up for a while.
I am grateful to my friend Joe who is letting me crash at his place for a couple of nights. I have one more day to work tomorrow here in Tennessee. I will be headed to Cincy on Wednesday. I am hoping to get ahead of some of the holiday weekend traffic.
I had fun at my friend Amanda's home last night. We had chili made with venison. It was quite tasty. Amanda's husband Vaughn hunts and so we feasted on the fruits of his labors. I also got to try Wii for the first time. I must say that I think I finally got the hang of the bowling game. It was pretty fun. I did not like tennis. I couldn't figure out how to make my little guy hit the ball. I wasn't much better at baseball. I wonder if they have Wii dodge ball. That would be cool. Of course, I would have flashbacks to gym class when the bully of our class would hit me really hard with the ball as I cowered in the corner of the gym. Okay, so maybe it wouldn't be cool.
It was good to see Harold and Sherry last night. We laughed and caught up a bit. They are such good friends and I will miss them very much after I move. They have been such wonderful gifts from God to me. I am ever grateful that our paths have crossed.
I think I am going to head to my favorite used book store in Knoxville for one last visit for a while. I want to try to find an audio book for the drive to Cincinnati on Wednesday. I may try to take in a movie also. I'm not sure that there is anything that I really want to see playing right now so I may hold off until this weekend because I'm sure there a lot of new movies coming out for Thanksgiving.
I have finally settled on a name for my new blog. I will wait to reveal it with a link to the new blog later this week once I get it set up. It took me a long time to figure out what to call it, but I think the new name will speak to my faith and life. I am excited about sharing this new part of my journey with you.
I hope you have a great day. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Full Day Ahead

2009-11-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

Today is a pretty full day for me.

This my last day of dog sitting. I think Schatze and I finally have figured out how to co-exist. We have both enjoyed sleeping and eating a lot this week. I think she will be glad to have things back to normal in her life when Harold and Sherry return home.
I'm off to church in a few hours. This will be my last Sunday at my church home here in Tennessee. I serving as a greeter. I hope I don't mess up the offering again. It's a lot more complicated than I ever imagined. This will be a worship service that will be bittersweet for me. I want to offer God my best praise and thanksgiving for what has been and what will be in my life.
I'm having lunch with my family at 5 Guys. Looking forward to a good burger and those wonderful fries.
I have a little time this afternoon to finish getting my apartment ready for my walk-through on Monday. I might even be able to sneak in a nap. That would really be wonderful.
After this, I'm off to my friend Amanda's home for dinner and Wii bowling. I got a "C" in bowling at Ball State so I'm not sure that is going to be a pretty sight.
Tonight will be my last night in my apartment. It will be just me and my air mattress. I told my parents yesterday that I think I have enjoyed this apartment the most out of all of the places that I have lived. It's been a good place for me to live and call home.

I hope you have a wonderful day. Again, I don't know how much I'll get to blog in the next few days. I will do my best to share with you what's going on in my life. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Another Step Closer

2009-11-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

I am another step closer to making my move to Cincinnati. My parents came over to my apartment this morning and we loaded up their truck again. They head out on Monday for Cincinnati. I did some final cleaning at my apartment today and it's just about ready for me to do my walk-through on Monday. I will be a nomad for a few days while I wait to complete my last day of work in Tennessee on Tuesday. All of my earthly possessions in Tennessee will reside in my car until I leave for Cincinnati on Wednesday.
I don't know if it has really all sunk in yet. I feel a real peace in making this move. More than any other time in my life I feel as if this is where God needs me to be and to serve. I don't know why, but it seems clear to me. Now, this is not to say that I completely know what to expect in my new job. I don't. However, I just feel like God will work all of that out and my real job is simply to be ready to go where God needs me.
I still have a hard time figuring out why they would choose me out of all of the other candidates who applied. The thought of this deeply humbles me. While I have the same position now, I know they will have different ways of doing things in Cincinnati. I will have a lot to learn. However, I know that it is more than a coincidence that the exact same position I have now became available in Cincinnati just a few miles from my sister Stacey and my brother-in-law Rob's home. This is a God thing and God is up to something new and good in my life. God's grace floods my life at this moment and I am forever grateful.
I may not be able to blog in the midst of my transition over the next few days. I will do my best to get to a computer to share with you my amazing journey as it unfolds. I spent some time today trying to get some ideas about what to call my new blog. I still haven't settled on a name but I will have one for my first blog entry in Cincinnati. I'm still open to any suggestions you may have. Stay tuned for that announcement.
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Time Keeps Flying By

2009-11-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

This time in my life has been like a whirlwind. I am having a hard time keeping focused with all of the stuff involved in my transition and move to Cincinnati. Tomorrow my parents are coming over to my apartment to load up the last of my stuff and help me clean. I think we will be able to squeeze everything into my parents' truck and my car. On Sunday I am greeting at church for the last time and then having lunch with my family and dinner with friends. On Monday I have my walk through with my apartment manager. On Tuesday I'll work my last day at Habitat in Oak Ridge and am having dinner with more friends. On Wednesday I leave for Cincinnati.
It's hard to believe this all has happened so fast. My head is spinning. I keep thinking about all of the stuff I need to do before I leave and then once I get to Cincinnati: say goodbye to good friends, get a new drivers license, get my car licensed in Ohio, get my insurance switched over, get my new room set up, hit the ground running in my new job, buy some more winter clothes, go to Meijer, eat turkey . . . . The list goes on and on. Some things will be more fun than others.
I ask for your continued prayers as I go through this time of transition. I am grateful for your presence along my journey!

Busy Day

2009-11-19T04:27:00.000-08:00

I am taking a vacation day today to try to finish packing up and cleaning my apartment. I'm think I'm at the point of just putting things in boxes without much sense of order or organization. I know it will be fun when I unpack. I'm sure I'll wonder later on why I packed my microwave with my CD's. I also have to finish making some phone calls regarding my utilities and insurance. That should be fun.
While this move has gone relatively smoothly, I am still not a big fan of moving. I'm not sure how nomadic people do it. While I've downsized and gotten rid of a lot of stuff (including a few office supplies), I still feel like I have too much stuff and I need to really do more to purge in the future.
Glee was wonderful last night. I can't decide which I liked best: Endless Love with all the voice-overs, Having My Baby (which I was singing in the shower this morning), or the wonderfully touching finale of Lean on Me. You can check out last night's episode on http://www.hulu.com/ if you missed it.
I hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Happy Birthday Stacey!

2009-11-18T16:24:00.001-08:00

I want to wish my sister Stacey a very happy birthday today. I am blessed to have her as my sister. I am grateful for her hospitality as I make my transition to Cincinnati. I am looking forward to being able to spend more time with her in the future.
Happy birthday Stacey! I love you!

In Anticipation of Glee

2009-11-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

I am very excited. I have access to cable this week and I looked on the television schedule for tomorrow night and it says Fox will be airing Glee. I am so very excited. This will be the first time that I have ever gotten to watch Glee when it aired on TV. I usually watch it the next day on www.hulu.com
Now, if Fox even thinks about pre-empting Glee tomorrow to cover a sports event, I may be forced to bring legal action against the company. There had better be a meteor headed right toward earth if they think they want to interrupt the program for some breaking news. On the other hand, if a meteor is headed toward earth, I can't think of anything I'd rather be watching when it hits than Glee. At least all of the Gleeks like me would die happy.
By the way, if you didn't get a chance to watch last week's episode of Glee, check it out on www.hulu.com The final musical number in which all the choir members are in wheelchairs is pure joy to watch. There needs to be more entertainment like this on television. It inspires and entertains all at the same time.
I hope you are having a great week. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

A Dog's Life

2009-11-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

I'm dog-sitting again for my friends' dog. Schatze is a dachshund who is in her twilight years. While she can't see, hear, or move around very well, she does enjoy a pretty good life. I'm amazed that a dog that seems to hobble around most of the time, springs to life when it's meal or treat time. She is almost like one of those folks on those faith healing shows. She usually limps around and yet when food comes her way, a miracle takes place and she dances around with joy and excitement. In fact, she almost seems to float around the room like a high-powered hovercraft. I guess she saves all of her energy up for those times.
I was thinking today as I was doing some more packing and cleaning my bathroom in preparation for moving out of my apartment that a dog's life would not be so bad. Here are some things that are pretty cool about being Schatze:

She gets a treat after each time she goes potty.
When she is not sleeping she is eating.
When she is not eating she is sleeping.
Whenever she whines, there's a good chance she will get fed.
She has at least three afghans with which to cover up.
She gets words of encouragement (in addition to a treat) whenever she goes potty outside.
She gets to take anti-stress tablets before going to bed.

I hope you are having a good week so far. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

The Man in the Mirror

2009-11-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change

-Man in the Mirror, lyrics by Michael Jackson

I experienced another awesome worship service at my church today. The music absolutely rocked my socks off again. We had a guest violinist who played beautifully. We began singing what I grew up singing every week as the Doxology: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. There were verses I had not sung before and it was an amazing way to begin worship as the people of God.
For the offertory, the band did Man in the Mirror. I must say that I think this is the first time I've ever heard a Michael Jackson song in worship but it completely fit with the theme of the service. The pastor challenged us in his sermon to look examine our lives and our priorities. He shared with us stories about how the human heart has a deep need for sharing with others. He reminded us that we need to stop walking around with clenched fists of greed and instead open our hands for service and the very healing of the world.
As I left the auditorium in the high school where we are meeting, I realized that next week will probably be my last Sunday in worship with this church for quite a while. I do want to try to join them for worship when I visit Knoxville in the future. However, once I move to Cincinnati, I will find a new church home and a new community in which to serve and grow in my relationship with Christ.
I thank God that I was led to Cokesbury Church. They have helped me to find community. They helped me to heal and to experience grace beyond my wildest dreams. They challenged me to serve in new ways. The pastors spoke Truth into my life. The musicians helped me to come into the presence of God when all I felt like I had to give God was an ugly broken messed up failure of a life. The church provided a Bible study that allowed me to connect with other Christians. They helped me to find hope and life after parish ministry.
So, tonight, I'm giving God thanks and praise for Cokesbury United Methodist Church. They helped me to experience once again the amazing grace of God in my life. The man I look at in the mirror today is one who has been transformed by this incredible community of faith.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

I Have a Problem

2009-11-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

I have a problem. I'm not really sure when it started. I'm not sure how many years it's gone on. I'm not really sure what is at the root of my problem. However, I have a real problem. My problem is that I have way too many office supplies.

Now, those of you who know me were probably thinking I was talking about one of my many other issues. However, I think this problem somehow got really out of control and I didn't even realize it. As I've been packing, I realize that some where along the way I have accumulated boxes and boxes of office supplies that I couldn't possibly use in my lifetime. My Mom also pointed out to me how many office supplies I have. Until she did, I'm not sure I realized what I had.

I have enough paperclips that I could link them together and wrap around the earth seven times. I have enough pens, pencils, markers, gel pens and Sharpies to give one to everyone in Anderson County so they would have something with which to write. I have a huge box of pushpins and I don't even have a bulletin board. I have envelopes and fancy stationary that would allow me to send a letter to everyone in America each month for a year. I have boxes of staples and mailing labels. I have computer disks and endless supplies of tape. I could leave myself a note on a Post-It every day for the next hundred years and still not use them all up. If you can't tell, I have a problem.

Like I said, I'm not sure when it all started. When I was in the local church, I often bought my own office supplies because most of the churches I served could only afford the basics. So, I would treat myself to some special pens that I really liked to write with. I also accumulated a lot of office supplies when I was working to start a new church in South Bend. I guess I thought I needed all of this stuff because I was both the pastor and the secretary. I remember making lots of runs to Staples during those days. Evidently I didn't realize that I was hoarding office supplies like someone who lived through the Great Depression hoards canned goods.

I think it also doesn't help that I really like to go to office supply stores. I love to browse through the pens. I like looking at latest colors of Post-It notes. I sometimes find myself in a trance when look at the specialty paper. I don't know why, but I could spend hours looking at binder clips and filing products. It's sick. I know. But I guess at least now I've admitted that I have a problem. Also, since I've been trying to be more fiscally responsible, I rarely ever go to office supply stores any more.

So, one thing I'm definitely going to try to do is get rid of some of these office supplies as I prepare to make my move to Cincinnati. I'm sure there are folks who could use them. Be watching your mailbox. I may just send everyone in America a letter.

Thanks for being a part of my very strange journey!

Purging

2009-11-13T17:52:00.000-08:00

I'm purging and it feels really good. As I prepare for my big move to Cincinnati, I have been getting rid of a lot of stuff. Some stuff has been relocated to the dumpster. Other items have made their way to the Habitat Home Store. Tomorrow, my Dad and my nephew Michael are coming over to help me get rid of my washer and dryer.
I'm really trying to free myself of stuff. I want to be mobile and ready to go where God leads me. I also want to be able to fit all the rest of my stuff in the back of my car and in my Mom and Dad's truck. I am avoiding renting a trailer if at all possible and I really don't want to have to make another trip to Oak Ridge to haul more stuff to Ohio. I am pretty close to having most of my stuff ready to go. I am now trying to go through boxes of stuff and throw more stuff out.
I am amazed at how much stuff I accumulate. I don't think I have very much stuff and yet it seems to multiply.
I really hope to have almost all of my packing done by the end of this three day weekend so I can schedule my apartment walk-through before I go. Then I can just get in the car and head to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving. That's the plan anyway. I guess we'll see how it goes.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

From the Same Mouth Come Blessing and Cursing

2009-11-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

With [the tongue] we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.

- James 3:9-10, NRSV

As James reminds us, the tongue can be a very dangerous thing. I know that in my life, my tongue has gotten me into big trouble. I often speak out of emotion rather than take the time to think about the impact of what I am saying. In the heat of the moment, I would rather spout off some sarcastic comment than to try to speak words of grace and mercy. I misuse my tongue in idle chatter about things I know little or nothing about. I have been known to like to hear and repeat juicy gossip. I feel like I am the one that James is speaking directly to when he wrote the words above.
At the same time, my tongue can cause me to sin for what it doesn't do. Too often I remain silent when I should speak out against injustice. There are too many times when I bite my tongue rather than share how I really feel about something. There are too many times when I am a witness to evil and hatred and intolerance and I refuse to speak the truth because I'm more worried about what people might think about me.
The sad reality of my day is that there were moments when I heard others spewing poison from their mouths and I kept quiet. There were opportunities for me to stand up for those who are made in the likeness of God as they were being demeaned, degraded, and belittled, and I chose the safe, quiet path of least resistance. There were moments when I could have offered grace to the least of these with whom I work and instead I chose to be a smart-mouthed idiot.
James' words cut right to my heart and have silenced my tongue this evening. The voice that God has given me is a wonderful gift and a huge burden. It is the treasure by which I can praise my Creator or the terror by which I can inflict pain and brokenness on the world.
The Good News is that tomorrow is another day. I have a chance to start anew with a tongue that is created to praise my God. I hope and pray that when those moments of temptation come, I will speak when I need to speak and I will be silent when I need to be silent.
I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Prayer for Veterans Day

2009-11-11T19:26:00.000-08:00

Please join me in this prayer for Veterans Day:

Gracious God, we ask for blessings on all those who have served their country in the armed forces. We ask for healing for the veterans who have been wounded, in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe. We pray especially for the young men and women who are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with injured bodies and traumatized spirits. Bring solace to them, O Lord; may we pray for them when they cannot pray. We ask for an end to wars and the dawning of a new era of peace, as a way to honor all the veterans of past wars. Have mercy on all our veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Bring peace to their hearts and peace to the regions they fought in. Bless all the soldiers who served in non-combative posts. May their calling to service continue in their lives in many positive ways. Give us all the creative vision to see a world which moves to affirming the life of every human being. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

New Beginnings

2009-11-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.
- vs. 4, This Is a Day of New Beginnings, lyrics by Brian Wren

I share this hymn verse with you because this is a day of new beginnings for me in my journey. I have some exciting news to share you today. I have accepted a new position as the Family Services Coordinator with TriState Habitat for Humanity in Cincinnati, Ohio. I will begin my new duties on November 30. I found out last week but wanted to wait to share this with the world wide web once the news had been shared with my fellow staff members at Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County Tennessee which it was this morning at our weekly staff meeting.
I must admit that when I applied for the position, I didn't think I had much of a chance at being hired. It was truly a God thing that I even applied for the position. A friend encouraged me to check out the Habitat for Humanity International website and I happened to see in the job listings a Family Services Coordinator position in Cincinnati. This got my attention because my sister Stacey lives in Cincinnati. I clicked on the listing, read the position description and felt compelled to apply. I did not expect to hear back from them. I figured there were many more qualified people out there and my application would be one among many. However, almost right away I received a phone call and scheduled an interview.
I will be the very first paid staff person in this position. It has been handled in the past by volunteers. I feel that I will bring good experiences and practices to my work there from what I have learned in Anderson County. While I want to be good at listening to what has already been done, I think that I can bring some positive experience and new ideas to this affiliate.
I am truly inspired by the forward-looking perspective of the leadership of TriState Habitat for Humanity. They currently build about ten houses per year and are looking to expand and grow in their work. The affiliate works in eight counties that surround Cincinnati in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. When I heard this, I was excited by the challenge of this large service area and the opportunities that await me.
The reason that my parents and I went up to Cincinnati this past weekend, was to take the first load of my stuff up to my sister Stacey and brother-in-law Rob's home. They are graciously allowing me to stay with them until I find an apartment. I am also using this time to purge and get rid of more stuff. I want to start fresh and leave some stuff behind that I've been hanging onto for far too long.
While I will really miss the friends I've made in Tennessee and wish I could be a bit closer to my sister Shelly and nephews Paul and Michael, I am glad that I will be able to be a part of my nephew Cameron's life in a bigger way. I also know that God is already preparing new friends for me to meet in Cincinnati. I am also very grateful that I will be a little closer to my friends in Northern Indiana. I am hoping that we will be able to connect more often.
Cincinnati is a wonderful city with many things to do and see. I am anxious to explore my new home. I am also grateful that I will be back in the land of Meijer stores. I have really missed them. In fact, I will be about a mile away from a Meijer store when I live with Rob and Stacey. I also am really grateful that I will be one exit north on the Interstate from Ikea.
I am really looking forward to this new stage in my life. I ask for your prayers as I pack and move and begin a new job. I also ask for your prayers and I say goodbye to friends and my church home that I have enjoyed so much in Knoxville. While I know that God has a new church waiting for me in Cincinnati, it is going to be hard to let my current church go.
There's one more thing I invite you to pray about. Nearly three years ago before I set out on this amazing journey, I started this blog and named it Smoky Mountain Hoosier in honor of my Indiana heritage and my adopted home. Well, I feel like I need to create a new blog with a new name. I would very much appreciate your suggestions for a new blog name. I have been racking my brain and I just can't think of what to call my new blog. Feel free to make a comment with your suggestions for a name. I am open to all opinions.
Well, that's my good news. God continues to be faithful to me. While I don't know what the future holds, I know Who holds the future and I am so grateful for God's presence in my life and heart. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had and will have to work to end poverty housing in the world. I am grateful for the ministry of Habitat for Humanity. I am honored to be a part of it. I am also most grateful that whether I'm in Oak Ridge or Cincinnati, you are a part of my amazing journey!

Candles and Prayers

2009-11-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

My parents and I made it back safely from Cincinnati. It was a good trip. I always enjoy seeing my nephew Cameron. We even got to squeeze in a quick game of Uno this morning before he left for school. I am grateful for the time with my family.

I was listening to a wonderful report today about the fall of the Berlin Wall on this the twentieth anniversary of that historic event. It is in many ways the symbolic fall of Communist totalitarianism. I remember well watching the images of people rushing from East Berlin into West Berlin through those once well-guarded checkpoints in the wall. I also remember so vividly those folks dancing on top of the wall and celebrating the end of an entire era. I don't know if I totally understood the significance of what was about to happen to the political power structures of the world, but I knew when I saw those people dancing and celebrating that the world had somehow changed on that day.

The report I heard today on National Public Radio, is an interview with Rev. Christian Fuhrer, a Lutheran pastor whose congregation of St. Nicholas Church began holding prayer meetings in the East German city of Leipzig that eventually grew into massive demonstrations demanding peaceful change. You can listen to the full story at this link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120251039

During those very tense days as the Iron Curtain was crumbling, Communist officials in Leipzig came very close to using massive force to put down public demonstrations. Those demonstrations began as prayer meetings across the city. Many if not most of those who prayed in the churches and then walked the streets with lighted candles to express opposition to communist policies were not committed Christians. But they found in the church a place where opposition to oppression could be voiced. Rev. Fuhrer acknowledged that the church was open to nonbelievers as well as believers.
On one occasion, the pews were filled with government officials and university students who had been sent to foil the demonstration. But the pastor shrewdly “reserved” the balconies for the demonstrators.
On the night of October 9, 1989, more than 70,000 citizens mobilized in the streets of Leipzig. Before the march, the St. Nicholas pastor admonished the demonstrators to be nonviolent: “Put down your rocks.”
Meanwhile, security officials waited for instructions from Moscow and Berlin on using force to subdue the demonstrators. The orders never came, and the police gave up. A month later the Berlin Wall fell. The security chief who wanted to subdue the rebellion is quoted as saying when he looked out over the crowd of demonstrators in front of his headquarters: “We planned everything,” he says. “We were prepared for everything, except for candles and prayers.”

What a testimony this is to the power of the church in the world. So many Christians and congregations feel helpless in the face of evil in our world. Yet, the congregation of St. Nicholas joined with believers and non-believers alike in the name of Christ to stand up to oppression. With candles and prayers they changed the world forever. People now live a Berlin without walls because these people stood up in the name of Christ. People are free today because this congregation of believers put their faith into action. What a wonderful legacy they have left for the world.

I hope you had a great start to your week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

We Made It to Cincinnati

2009-11-08T18:53:00.000-08:00

I made it to Cincinnati with my parents. It was a beautiful day to travel. We had very little traffic until we reached the bridge crossing the Ohio River. That was when we realized that the Cincinnati Bengals (which I'm told is a football team) game had just let out and all of the fans were headed home and traffic was backed up for miles. There was also a wreck on the Interstate and so it probably added another hour to our travel time today.
I am glad we made it safely to Rob and Stacey's home. I was very excited to find that my nephew Cameron decided to decorate the house for my arrival. He put up yellow streamers in different areas of the house: over the fireplace mantel, on the kitchen cupboard doors, over the dining room light fixture, around the kitchen sink faucet (this one got a little soggy). It was fun and really made me smile. It was so good to see Cameron. He is growing fast and doing very well in school. He also has a very busy social life. He attended three birthday parties this weekend. The party today was at Pump It Up where he had his party a few years ago. It's the place where screaming children jump around on big inflatable things. My nervous tick resurfaced when I began to think about it.
We are headed back to Tennessee tomorrow. I hope that the weather is as nice. I hope you have had a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

On the Road Tomorrow

2009-11-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

I'm headed to Cincinnati tomorrow with my parents. I'm looking forward to visiting with my sister Stacey, brother-in-law Rob, and nephew Cameron. It looks like we will have good weather for the trip.
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Cavemen Rule!

2009-11-06T18:32:00.001-08:00

Let me remind you, if you haven't already figured it out, I really don't know anything about sports and don't really like sports. In fact, I'm still mad that Fox pre-empted Glee for the World Series. However, I just got a call from my sister Stacey who told me that my high school Alma mater the Mishawaka Cavemen were victorious in football again over the Penn Kingsmen tonight.
This time it was a post-season sectional play-off game which means the Mishawka Cavemen are the 2009 Sectional Champions. I really don't exactly what that means. I suppose they'll get a trophy or something.
What makes my heart leap for joy is that the Cavemen once again stomped all over our arch-rival the Penn High School Kingsmen. This is always a cause for celebration in every Caveman's life.
In honor of this historic victory, once again, here are the lyrics to the Mishawaka High School Fight Song. Feel free to sing along if you like.

March, march on down to fame.
We’re out to win this game
Our coach and all the team are just what they seem.
So give a loud cheer for Mishawaka
Hear all those Boosters talk!
Penn High may fight to the end.
But we will win!
Rah! Rah! Rah!

Fight on Mishawaka;
Live up to your name
Raise high all your standards,
Spread ‘round you all your fame.
We’re marching to Victory.
Won’t stop till we’re there.
So fight, Mishawaka, fight,
And win this game!

Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Is that Jesus in that Pickup Truck?

2009-11-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

Because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

- 2 Corinthians 4:18, NRSV

Jim Stevens, a resident of Jonesborough, Tennessee has found himself the center of attention in his hometown. Well, I guess it's not him that's the center of attention but his pickup truck. More specifically the window of his pickup truck is said to have the image of Jesus on it.
I'm never sure what to really make of these things. Images of Mary on a piece of toast, weeping icons, and Jesus' face appearing in cloud formations seem to really strengthen people's faith. It's not that I don't believe that God can't do these things. God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. God spoke through a burning bush and gave Isaiah and John visions of heaven. God can do whatever God wants. It's just hard to understand if God is sending these messages or we are just seeing things that aren't really there. I also wonder if it would be against God's will for Jim Stevens to eventually wash the windows of his truck. I guess I'll have to wait until I get to heaven to ask God about all of this.
I want to thank my sister Shelly for calling this article to my attention. You can read the article about Jesus' face on the pickup truck and see a picture of it at: http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?ID=72125 I'd be interested in knowing what you think. I think Jim sums it up best in the article: “Why it happened to me, I don’t know,” he said. “I have no idea.”
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

The Journey

2009-11-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan.

- Genesis 12:1-5, NRSV

I have been watching the final season of Battlestar Galactica this week through my Netflix subscription. I'm half-way through the season and I am anxious to see how it all ends. I continue to believe this is one of the best written television shows I've ever seen. The themes are powerful and the storytelling is wonderful.

If you're not familiar with the story, Battlestar Galactica is set in a distant part of the galaxy, where a civilization of humans live on a series of planets known as the Twelve Colonies. In the past, the Colonies had been at war with a cybernetic race known as the Cylons. With the unwitting help of a human named Gaius Baltar, the Cylons launch a sudden ambush on the Colonies, laying waste to the planets and devastating their populations. The handful of human survivors flee into space aboard any spacecraft they can reach. Of all the Colonial Fleet, the Battlestar Galactica appears to be the only military ship that survived the attack. Under the leadership of famed military leader Commander Adama, the Battlestar Galactica and its crew take up the task of leading the small fugitive fleet of survivors into space in search of a fabled refuge known as Earth.

The entire series is about the journey of this little ragtag fleet of space ships to find a new home on Earth. They find roadblocks along the way. They get off track. They make an extended stop on a planet they name New Caprica. They struggle with all of the things that human beings struggle with as they try to survive and find their way home.

As I've been watching this series, I've been thinking a lot about the journey that Abram made. He stepped out in faith and left the only home he had ever known to travel to a land that God promised to him. He did not exactly know where he was going. He knew that the journey would be difficult. He did not know exactly what to expect once he arrived. However, he just knew he had to make the journey.

I often feel this same way about my journey of life and faith. When many look at the path that I've traveled it simply doesn't make sense to them. It's full of twists and turns and places where I've really gotten off track. I have not always made the best decisions. I have relied too much on my own sense of what I wanted to do rather than what God wanted for my life. Yet, all along this journey, God continues to be faithful. God shows me the path and lights the way. God gives me strength when I can't seem to go on. God puts wonderful people in my path who help me, teach me, and love me. I am ever mindful that my journey is one that is overflowing with the grace of God. I continue to be amazed that God has brought me this far and God continues to promise to lead me home.

So, tonight, I'm feeling grateful to God for this grace-filled journey. It doesn't always make sense, but I have no doubt that God is with me and will never ever let me walk this path alone. I am also very grateful that you are a part of my journey!

Be Still

2009-11-03T20:03:00.000-08:00

Be still, and know that I am God!
Be still, and know that I am
Be still, and know
Be still
Be
- Elizabeth J. Canham, A Table of Delight

The above meditation was a part of my e-devotional today. It spoke to my life's circumstances and heart in deep and comforting ways. I love how God uses things like these e-devotionals to give me encouragement and peace when I am feeling anxious about many things.
This reading so impacted me that I printed it off and taped it to the edge of my computer monitor today. I often looked at it and prayed these words as a prayer. They offered me comfort and were words of grace to me. I felt as if God was pouring out refreshing water on the dry and weary land that is my soul.
I continue to have a difficult time being still and trusting God. I have a hard time being still and listening to God's voice in my life. I have a hard time being still and shutting out the noise of the world. I am ever challenged to simply be rather than always trying to do in my life.
I need constant reminding that my value is not determined by what my social status is or what my educational training is or what my production level at work is. Instead, I am as God made me. I am loved by a God Who knows me from the inside out. I am alive because God wills it. I am here because God took the time to knit me together in my mother's womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I am called to be still and know that God is God and I am not.
I hope these words will speak to your heart and life this day as well. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Cumberland Gap

2009-11-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

My friend Joe and I drove up to Cumberland Gap National Park today. It was a beautiful fall day for the drive. The sun was shining and the air was crisp. While most of the fall color is past the peak, we still saw some wonderful examples of God's creation.

I have been to Cumberland Gap National Park before but I'm glad I went back. It is a beautiful area. The highlight for me was going up to the Pinnacle Lookout. From there you can see the ridge where the boundaries of the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia come together. You can also see the actual Cumberland Gap pass through the mountains. It has been restored to what it looked like when the first pioneers crossed the Cumberland Mountains on their westward journey under the guidance of Daniel Boone. I was amazed to learn that it is estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 immigrants passed through the gap on their way into Kentucky and the Ohio Valley before 1810. As one who has done some genealogical research, it's even more amazing to know that some of my ancestors probably traveled through the Cumberland Gap from Virginia in the 1700's.

I hope you have had a great start to your week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

All Saints Day

2009-11-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

- For All the Saints, lyrics by William W. How

I must admit, even though I grew up in a heavily Catholic region, All Saints Day was not ever really on my radar screen when I was growing up. It was not something that my home church ever celebrated. We did do a service of remembrance each year on Memorial Day weekend, but never celebrated the Christian feast day of All Saints Day. I don't know if this was because it was considered "too Catholic" which was a response I often got whenever I tried to do things that were more liturgical in nature in several of the churches I served. For whatever reason, I'm sorry that I never got to celebrate this day with Christians around the world.
Whenever I reflect on All Saints Day, I think about the twelfth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)
I'm not exactly sure what the author of Hebrews is talking about here when he writes about "a great cloud of witnesses", but I'd like to think that included in that "great cloud" are the saints. In my Christian tradition, these are not just people who get the stamp of approval by church leaders, they are the people who have gone before me in the faith. Many are dead and experiencing the joy of heaven. I would also like to think that some still live among us. They are those special people whose faith is a living example to everyone. It doesn't mean that they are not sinners or are somehow not quite human. Instead, they are what John Wesley called people who have been made perfect in love.
So, this day, I'm thanking God for that great cloud of witnesses. I'm grateful for those who have run the race and are now in the presence of their Creator. I'm also grateful for those who continue to be my companions along this journey of life. They teach me, inspire me, humble me, hold me accountable, call me to faithfulness, and remind me again and again of who I am and Whose I am.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Reformation Day

2009-10-31T13:50:00.001-07:00

With everyone celebrating Halloween on this day, unfortunately, a watershed in the history of Christianity gets overshadowed. Today is not only Halloween or All Hallow's Eve which is so named because it is the day before All Saints Day, it is also Reformation Day.
For those who are interested, here's a little Reformation Day history from Wikipedia:

In 1516–17, Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar and papal commissioner for indulgences, was sent to Germany by the Roman Catholic Church to sell indulgences to raise money to rebuild St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Roman Catholic theology stated that faith alone, whether fiduciary or dogmatic, cannot justify man; and that only such faith as is active in charity and good works (fides caritate formata) can justify man. The benefits of good works could be obtained by donating money to the church.
On 31 October, 1517, Martin Luther wrote to Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, protesting the sale of indulgences. He enclosed in his letter a copy of his "Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences," which came to be known as The 95 Theses. Hans Hillerbrand writes that Luther had no intention of confronting the church, but saw his disputation as a scholarly objection to church practices, and the tone of the writing is accordingly "searching, rather than doctrinaire." Hillerbrand writes that there is nevertheless an undercurrent of challenge in several of the theses, particularly in Thesis 86, which asks: "Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?"
Luther objected to a saying attributed to Johann Tetzel that "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory [also attested as 'into heaven'] springs." He insisted that, since forgiveness was God's alone to grant, those who claimed that indulgences absolved buyers from all punishments and granted them salvation were in error. Christians, he said, must not slacken in following Christ on account of such false assurances.
According to Philipp Melanchthon, writing in 1546, Luther "wrote theses on indulgences and posted them on the church of All Saints on 31 October 1517", an event now seen as sparking the Protestant Reformation. The 95 Theses were quickly translated from Latin into German, printed, and widely copied, making the controversy one of the first in history to be aided by the printing press. Within two weeks, copies of the theses had spread throughout Germany; within two months throughout Europe.

So, tonight when you're headed off to a costume party or begging for candy at your neighbor's home, take a moment to remember that over 500 years ago, a German priest stepped out in faith and sparked an entire Christian revolution in the name of grace.
Happy Reformation Day and Happy Halloween! Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Big Ed's

2009-10-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

My friend Rodney and I ate at Big Ed's Pizza in Oak Ridge. Big Ed's is an Oak Ridge tradition. The restaurant is housed in an old, dark, high-ceilinged storefront in Oak Ridge's original buildings built by the Army during the Manhattan Project era. Under founder "Big Ed" Neusel, the restaurant served up pizza, beer, and soft drinks; jobs for generations of local high school students (many of whom considered Big Ed a second father); support for local high school sports; and local color for myriad U.S. and foreign visitors to the city.
Nothing much has changed since Big Ed's death. The restaurant is still operated by members of the Neusel family, still serves the same food and drink, and still is decorated with an eclectic mixture of sports artifacts, memorabilia from past visitors to the restaurant, and photos and caricatures of the over sized figure of Big Ed himself.
I like the atmosphere of Big Ed's although I could have done without the screaming children. I have had much better pizza than you can get at Big Ed's. I don't think people in Tennessee really know what good pizza is. I was trying to explain to Rodney that Chicago style pizza is really the only kind of pizza that's worth eating. I don't think he agreed.
I was telling Rodney about Bruno's Pizza in Indiana as the standard by which all pizza is judged. I was describing the thick crust, the piled on toppings, and the atmosphere right out of a scene from The Godfather. I have often wondered whenever I ate at the original Bruno's if I might get whacked by the old woman who sat near the entrance of the restaurant and "greeted" customers with a grunt.
Then I started thinking about Rossini's Pizza just a few blocks from the home in which I grew up in Mishawaka. Then I thought about Pasquale's Pizza that is also located in my hometown. Then this got me thinking about Bonnie Doon Ice Cream and I then started to feel really homesick.
I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

I Need a Price Check on a . . . Casket!

2009-10-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the news? Wal-Mart has gotten into the funeral business. Well, sort of. Here's an article that says that Wal-Mart is now selling caskets and urns: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33519190/ns/business-retail/ I have read in the past that Costco sold caskets but I guess it only makes sense that the world's largest retailer could not be outdone or undersold in life or in death. I actually am glad that Wal-Mart has made this move. I worked for a funeral home for a short time and I also dealt with many different funeral homes during my years in parish ministry and I must say that these businesses often charge a lot of money and take advantage of people when they are at their most vulnerable.
While the article states that you can only buy caskets or urns online through the Wal-Mart website, my mind is already filled with all kinds of scenarios if they ever decide to start selling them in their stores.

"I'm sorry sir, the fitting rooms are for clothing only, not caskets."
"No, I'm sorry, we don't carry UT orange colored urns. However, if you head on over to the paint department, you could maybe make it a do-it-yourself project."
"We're rolling back prices on . . . death!"
Automated recording: "Customer needs assistance in funeral supplies. Customer needs assistance in funeral supplies."
At the customer service desk: "I'm sorry, there are no returns on caskets once they have been used."
Would they let you take your casket through the self-check-out lane?
"Don't forget the flowers! Stop by our floral department and pick up an arrangement on your way out."
"Our deli department can also help you with your funeral dinner for the entire family."
"Wal-Mart: We are the death of high prices."
"Save at Sam's Club. Buy your caskets in bulk!"

I'm sure there are more, but that's all I can dream up right now.
I hope you are having a good week. I'm feeling thankful that tomorrow is Friday and the weekend is almost here. Thanks for putting up with my strange sense of humor and thanks for being a part of my journey!

I'm Glum - No Glee

2009-10-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

On the one Wednesday night that I have access to cable television, I found out this afternoon that Glee is not going to be on tonight due to some silly baseball game. This is just another reason why I don't like sports.
I was looking forward to being able to watch an episode of Glee on a real television rather than on my computer at home where my Internet connection stinks and the picture is more like watching a slide show than a video. Of course, I don't see anything else that's on tonight that remotely interests me. I guess I will spend the evening reading.
I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Long Day

2009-10-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here tonight typing this blog entry and I am feeling really tired and it's only about 8:00 PM. Today seemed like a very long day to me. I think Tuesdays always seem longer for me because they are my first day back to work after a three day weekend. However, besides today being a Tuesday, it just felt like a very long day to me. It could have been the fact that it has rained all day here in Oak Ridge and it was cloudy and gloomy. It could be that I was reminded today as I looked at the calendar that I'm not even half-way through our current application period at Habitat for Humanity and I have a lot of work ahead of me. It could be that I don't seem to be getting enough sleep at night and feel really tired lately. It could just be that some days it feels like time moves slower than others and today was one of those days. Whatever it is, for me, today was a long day.
What this reminds me of is that I need to be grateful for days that seem long and days that seem to zoom by. Each day is a gift from God. God gives me air to breathe and God is the One who allows my heart to beat. God is the One Who gives me food to eat and God is the One Who allows me to do the work that I do at Habitat. God provides for my every need and for this I am ever grateful. So, while today felt like a very long day, I know that my days are numbered and that each one is a precious gift of God. Even though I'm really tired this evening and feeling kind of grumpy, I am doing my best to thank God for the gift of this day.
I hope you have had a good day. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Then All the Trees of the Forest Will Sing for Joy

2009-10-26T17:17:00.000-07:00

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth.

- Psalm 96:11-13, NIV

There is no more beautiful time than autumn in East Tennessee. Spring is also beautiful, but fall is marvelous. The mountains become glowing gold and red. The trees literally seem to be crying out to the universe the glory of God.
I had the wonderful opportunity to be out driving today and I can honestly say that I heard with my eyes one of the best choirs ever. The trees of God's own making were praising the Creator of all life. There was no need for the rocks to cry out because God was honored this day in East Tennessee by the choir of trees upon the hillsides and mountaintops. They sang boldly and beautifully in perfect pitch.
What a day! What a gift! What a wonderful God we serve!
Thank you for being a part of my journey!

The Heart of the Matter

2009-10-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Ive been tryin' to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

- The Heart of the Matter by Don Henley

We heard the above lyrics sung in worship this morning at my church. It was a powerful moment. The pastors were finishing up a sermon series about life issues and today's topic was dealing with resentment and the importance of forgiveness. It was a message that went right to my heart.

Forgiveness is not something I'm good at. I am one who likes to hang onto old grudges like they are trophies in my life. Sometimes I get them down off the shelf and polish them up and show them off to people. I'm not sure if I'm looking for sympathy or for people to tell me that I was in the right in whatever situation I am talking about. Whatever it is, my heart is too often very hard. I would rather just cut people off and stop communicating with them because the pain is too great for me to bear.

However, even for a huge grudge holder like me, God continues to whisper words of grace into my ears. God sometimes uses a pastor's sermon or a song like the one above to hit me over the head and point out how stupid I am. God continues to forgive me even when I can't find it within myself to forgive others.

So, today, I'm giving thanks to God for allowing me to hear this song during worship and for the pastor's words which penetrated the hardened shell around my heart. I continue to be overwhelmed by God's amazing grace that seems to ambush me when I least expect it and when I need it most.

I hope you are having a good weekend. The weather is beautiful here in East Tennessee. The sky is blue. The autumn leaves are beautiful. The temperature was crisp this morning. It is a wonderful fall day.

Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Dog Sitting

2009-10-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm dog sitting for my friends Harold and Sherry's dog while they are on a mission trip with a group from their church. This is only day one but so far so good. The dog likes to sleep and eat which I can really relate to.
I sometimes think about getting a pet and if I did I would probably get a dog. I grew up with dogs as pets and I guess I'm more of a dog than a cat person. I think a dog would be good company for me but I also know they can be a lot of responsibility. So, maybe this week of dog sitting will either get my idea of getting a dog someday out of my system or convince me to explore getting a dog in the future.
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Remember for Whom You Work

2009-10-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

Remember for Whom you work: Whether you work for a private company, the government, a large corporation, or yourself, the true disciple understands that he or she ultimately is working for God in that place. “Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24).

- Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God

The above quote was a part of my e-devotion today. It was a good way to start my day by reading this as I am in the middle of an application period in at Habitat for Humanity.

I am honored when I get to be a part of a house dedication and feel great joy when I see a family receive the keys to their new home. I greatly enjoy encouraging families through the process as they work on their sweat equity hours and jump through all of the necessary hoops. I love when I get to tell a family that they have been accepted into the program as a Partner Family.

In contrast, it's hard to get too excited about making copies of W-2 forms or paycheck stubs. I find it a little tedious when I'm filing documents or trying to figure out monthly mortgage reports. Yet, when I read this e-devotion this morning, I was reminded again that this is truly God's work. While much of it is not very glamorous or exciting, I am a part of ending poverty housing in this world. I am a part of a life-changing ministry. For me, there is nothing more wonderful than this.

I was grateful for the ways in which God once again opened my heart and eyes to the ministry that I have the honor to be a part of every day. My hope and prayer is that you also find meaning in your life's work and remember for Whom you work.

I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Mash-Up

2009-10-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

I watched another episode of Glee on www.hulu.com tonight. I continue to be impressed and highly entertained by this show. The humor is edgy and the music is wonderful. I am truly amazed by the diversity of musical genres that are used in the series. Here's a list of songs in this week's episode:

Bust a Move
Thong Song
I Could Have Danced All Night
What a Girl Wants
Sweet Caroline

How's that for covering all bases?
I find the characters are getting more interesting and the plot continues to thicken in many different ways. One of the most interesting things about this week's storyline is that I was expecting to hear another musical mash-up which is a combination of two or more songs. However, no mash-up was ever sung in the show. Instead, the mash-up was really about the breaking down of boundaries between groups in McKinley High School as well as very different characters coming together in unique and wonderful ways. Although I really would have liked to hear the mash-up for I Could Have Danced All Night and Thong Song.
Anyway, I continue to really enjoy Glee.
I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Battlestar Galactica - Razor

2009-10-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

I'm continuing on watching the television series Battlestar Galactica through my Netflix subscription. I am now at the beginning of season four which is also the final season of the show. Tonight I watched Razor which actually takes the plot back in time and we get a lot of behind the scenes information which informs what we have seen so far and I think will inform what we will see in the rest of season four. Razor was originally aired as a two hour movie.
I continue to feel that Battlestar Galactica is one of the best written shows ever to be on television. For those who don't like science fiction, I know you would not be disappointed because while the genre is science fiction, the show is really about so much more. It wrestles with some of the most perplexing issues of our time: terrorism, war, morality, ethics, religion, philosophy, abortion, justice, substance abuse, murder, war crimes, organized labor, torture, racism, and the list goes on.
I just love shows like Battlestar Galactical that can both entertain me and challenge me to think. I find myself having to get up and move around after I've watched an episode to use up some of my nervous energy I gain while watching the show. I am very anxious to see how the story will end. Again, if you haven't ever watched it, I encourage you to pick up the original miniseries DVD. I warn you though, you may just get hooked as I have.
I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Gratitude for a Life of Faith

2009-10-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

I received an email yesterday from the President of my seminary informing me that one of Wesley Seminary's retired professors had died over the weekend. I was saddened to hear the news and at the same time know that there was a huge celebration in heaven when Dr. James Logan was welcomed into the loving arms of God.
Yesterday and today, I've thought several times about Dr. Logan and my experiences and interaction with him. He was a good professor. He was my professor for Methodist History and Doctrine and I must say that he helped to spark in me a love for my Methodist heritage and its amazing founder John Wesley. I remember when he gave his lecture explaining the four expressions of grace (Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying, and Perfecting) that Wesley helped to define and was a part of the DNA of the Methodist movement. He explained them with such passion and power that they still resonate in my mind to this day.
I also took a special elective from Dr. Logan focusing on evangelism. He helped me to understand that as Methodists we have always been an evangelical movement and that what so many define as evangelism is really only a very narrow understanding of the fullness of Christian evangelism. This was a small seminar class and it was wonderful to be able to ask questions and listen to his life experiences. It was clear that his life had been changed by a relationship with Jesus Christ and he wanted others to experience that life-changing relationship as well.
The other thing I remember about Dr. Logan is that he was a friend of the senior pastor of the church where I did my field education student internship. I remember that Dr. Logan and I were both invited to dinner at the pastor's home one Sunday. For some reason, I ended up driving to Arlington, Virginia where the church and parsonage were located and Dr. Logan decided to ride along with me. At that time, I had my parents' 1979 Ford Fairmont. It was battleship gray and to this day was the only 3-speed stick shift I have ever driven. The other thing about this car was that the adjustment mechanism on the front passenger seat was broken. Therefore, if the driver stepped on the break too hard, the seat rushed forward toward the dash. Whenever I had a passenger in the front seat, I would warn him or her before I even started the car that this might happen. While the seat wouldn't come off the track, it could be a bit scary for the passenger to come face to face with the glove compartment. Well, on this particular day when I was chauffeuring Dr. Logan over to Arlington, I forgot to mention the broken front passenger seat. We set out and at one point along the trip, I pressed on the brake pretty suddenly and poor Dr. Logan was hugging the dashboard.
I remember thinking, "Oh dear, there goes my grade for that class." In fact, he seemed so discombobulated that I wondered if he would allow me to graduate at all from seminary. Of course, in true Christian fashion, Dr. Logan was very gracious. After I kept apologizing he just kind of laughed it off.
As I've been thinking about Dr. Logan and all of the many pastors he helped to train over the years, I realize what a wonderful legacy he leaves behind. He will truly be missed by the seminary community and by his family and friends. I know that one day he and I will get to laugh together again in heaven about that day in the Ford Fairmont. Until then, I'm giving God thanks for what I learned from Dr. Logan and his faithful Christian witness in my life.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Trip to Rugby

2009-10-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

I went for a drive with my friend Joe this afternoon to the town of Rugby, Tennessee. We wanted to get out and see some fall foliage. We decided to drive to Rugby. Joe has been to Rugby before and I had heard some neat things about Rugby from my friends and family. The drive was beautiful and we got to see some colorful fall leaves. In another week, I think the leaves will be in their full glory.

Rugby is an interesting community. It is located in Morgan and Scott counties in Tennessee. Founded in 1880 by English author Thomas Hughes, Rugby was built as an experimental utopian colony. Rugby began partly as a community for the younger sons of the English gentry, who, because of the accepted system of the oldest son inheriting all their parents' wealth, would inherit little or no property. The community was named for Rugby, Warwickshire, England where Hughes had attended Rugby School, the institution which furnishes the setting for his book, Tom Brown's Schooldays. The community initially thrived, and by 1884, there were in excess of 65 buildings and 400 residents. However, the success of Rugby was short lived. It was plagued by financial problems and most of the transplants from England had no experience in farming and other skills needed to sustain the town. While Hughes' experiment largely failed, a small community lingered at Rugby throughout the 20th century. About half of the original homes and other buildings still stand. I was amazed to discover the church still has all of its original furnishings and the library has most of its original 7,000 books from the nineteenth century. While it's a bit out of the way, it was a neat place to visit and see the historic architecture.

You can read more about Rugby at http://www.historicrugby.org/

I hope you have had a great start to your week. I am taking a vacation day tomorrow and am extending my three day weekend to four days. I'm grateful to have a bit of a break. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Do You Appreciate Your Pastor?

2009-10-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today was another wonderful morning of worship at my church's new campus. We had a guest singer who led us in powerful music. I am ever grateful for the honor and privilege of being a part of this new thing that God is doing.
My Bishop in Indiana sent out the following email regarding Pastor Appreciation Month. I thought I would share Bishop Coyner's thoughts and ideas. I encourage you to join me in thanking your pastor for all the faithful ministry that he or she does. I know that when I was serving in the local church, I really appreciated it when people thanked me for my ministry.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

The month of October is “Pastor Appreciation Month” and it is a good time to show some appreciation to your pastor. Everyone needs a word of encouragement and appreciation from time to time, and pastors are no exception. In fact, most pastors report that they seldom receive such appreciation from their parishioners. Perhaps we all tend to think that since pastors are called by God and doing God’s work, they don’t need to be thanked or appreciated. Not true!
Being a pastor is hard work, it sometimes breaks your heart, and most pastors have times of wondering, “Does anybody really care? Is my ministry making a difference? Do my people know how much I care for them?”
Here are some ways you can show appreciation to your pastor:

Give you pastor a few gift cards (they can be for small amounts, but give enough to make it fun) to spend on food, ice cream, books, or something special.
If your pastor is married and has young children, offer to babysit those kids so you pastor and spouse can have an evening out together.
Write you pastor a kind note, poem, or prayer card – anything personal to say, “I appreciate you.”
Plan a brief time in a worship service for the lay leader or the worship liturgist to state publicly, “Pastor, we love you and appreciate you” – and then follow that with a round of applause (everyone likes to be applauded).
Offer to take your pastor (and spouse) out for dinner – and make it a nice place and pay for their meal as an expression of appreciation.
Tell your pastor you are praying for her/him – and then do it!
Surprise your pastor some month other than October with some expressions of appreciation.
Find a special date in your pastor’s life (birthday, wedding anniversary, anniversary of ordination, etc.) and recognize that special date with some notes of appreciation.
Tell your pastor’s spouse how much you appreciate her/his sacrifices for your pastor to be in ministry. Most spouses are willing to share their pastor/spouse, but they sure would like to know that we all notice their sacrifice.
Smile at your pastor and give him/her a big, appropriate hug, especially after a tough meeting, a difficult funeral, or a busy Sunday service. Sometimes it is the simple things – like a smile or an encouraging word or gesture – that mean the most.

I am sure that there are lots of other ways to show appreciation, but the list above includes some of the ways that people have shown appreciation to me over the years. October is good month to show appreciation to your pastor. So are the other 11 months of the year.

- Bishop Michael Coyner, Indiana Area, The United Methodist Church

Ghost Stories

2009-10-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

I watched the horror movie The Haunting in Connecticut. I DO NOT recommend it. I found the story to be lame. I think the writers were trying to communicate some redeeming story through the movie that is supposedly based on a true story. However, with the exception of a few times in which I was startled by a flash of a scary face, I was not impressed.

I wish makers of horror movies would understand that what makes a good story is not blood and guts or scary make-up but things that play on our primal fears. I remember being scared to take a shower for a month after the first time I saw Psycho. The amazing thing is that we never actually see Anthony Perkins stabbing Janet Leigh. Everything is cut away and it's all the power of suggestion. Yet, I think this is one of the most frightening scenes in the history of film. It involves something that people do every day (shower) and then combines it with the elements surprise and horror. While it's not a ghost story, it certainly is scary and very good story telling.

Two of the best ghost stories I've ever seen on film are The Shining and The Sixth Sense. Both are very different in the ways in which ghosts interact with people. In The Shining, the ghosts are just up to no good. They want to tear apart the Torrance family and tap into the extraordinary psychic power of little Danny Torrance.

In the case of The Sixth Sense, the ghosts seem to want to be helpful to the world of the living. What they seem to need also is the help of a little boy name Cole. The ghosts have unfinished business and people like Cole, who have a sixth sense, can help them complete that business.

Both movies are wonderful in different ways. In The Shining, Jack Torrance slowly goes insane trapped in the Overlook Hotel. You wonder if the ghosts are real or just in his head. In the case of The Sixth Sense, we also wonder if Cole is really seeing dead people or they are in his head and this little boy has some sort of mental illness. Both movies keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen to these two little boys. What makes these movies so wonderfully scary is that they tap into our primal fears. They seek to address our questions about life beyond this world and what happens to us after we are dead.

Probably the best ghost story I have ever heard was one that I was told when I was in sixth grade. Every year the sixth graders of my elementary school got to spend a week at a camp. It was a wonderful week full of lots of activities. One of my favorite memories is of sitting in a darkened lodge at the camp listening to one of our teachers tell us a story about a camper who died long ago and whose ghost still haunted the camp. I was both scared and excited as I listened to the story. It had me on the edge of my seat wondering if the ghost just might appear in our midst as try to scare us. However, when I think about it now, I'm thinking that a hundred eleven and twelve year old children pumped up on red Kool-Aid for the week would have been enough to scare away any ghost.

I must confess that, as a Christian, I do not believe in ghosts. I do believe that there is a spiritual nature to life. I do believe that there are evil spirits and demons that can do us harm. The Scriptures are pretty clear about that. In fact, Jesus spent significant portions of his ministry casting out demons and evil spirits. However, I do not believe that that souls of the dead wander the earth making trouble for human beings or trying to communicate with them. In Luke 16:26 Jesus says in his parable about Lazarus, Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us. I do not believe that houses can be haunted by their previous inhabitants. I simply see no evidence of this in the Bible. However, I suppose an unwanted house guest who has overstayed his or her welcome may seem demon-like in nature. I found this website that gives pretty balanced view about ghosts and Christianity: http://www.jameswatkins.com/ghosts.htm I encourage you to check it out.

So, given my beliefs, I suppose there is some irony in the fact that I really like a good ghost story. For me, I like the fantasy aspect of it all. I think it's a kind of escape for me. When I'm caught up in a good ghost story, then I don't have to deal with the real horror of poverty that I face in my work with Habitat for Humanity every day. When I'm distracted by a scary movie, I can take a break from worrying about my friend's health problems. When I'm on the edge of my seat wondering who might jump out and get the star of a thriller, I don't have to think about the frightening news about a faltering economy and the many people who are still without jobs. In the end, for me it's about entertainment rather than embracing the concept of ghosts. I suppose it's the same reason that people bungee jump or ride roller coasters. There's a thrill involved that is exhilarating.

So, if you've seen a good scary movie lately, I would love to hear your recommendation. I like stories that are short on blood and guts and instead full of twists and turns. I like any movie that will entertain me and give me a thrill.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Less Chatter

2009-10-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

I've noticed something lately in my life. I have less chatter at home. No, it's not because I talk to myself less. I still manage to do that quite often. Instead, I have less chatter from the television since I dumped my cable. What I so often used to do was walk in the door, pick up the remote control, and turn on the TV. When I first got home, I would turn on one of the news channels to catch up on what was going on in the world. I remember the near non-stop chatter of Wolf Blitzer blaring through my apartment. However, now when I come home, I don't usually turn on the TV. Without cable, I can only receive the CW channel with my rabbit ears and they don't usually have news on. So, instead, I just usually sit and enjoy the quiet for a while. Sometimes I sit and read for a while. Sometimes I will turn on my computer and check my email. I may read a few news articles on the web, but it's pretty quiet in my apartment while I do this. I will sometimes bring up my Pandora music and play that softly. I am really loving my new Glee channel on Pandora.
In fact, right now I'm just sitting here in the quiet of the evening enjoying a bit of peace. No television, no movies on DVD, no music - just quiet. I must say, it is wonderful. I enjoy these times of simple reflection. I enjoy not being bombarded with breaking news stories or stupid commercial jingles. I enjoy being able to hear the rain fall gently on the pavement. I enjoy hearing the laughter of children in my neighborhood. I enjoy being reminded that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image as I listen to the sounds of my own breath. I enjoy being ready to listen for God's voice in my life.
So, if you're a television junkie like me, I invite you to try something a bit different in your routine sometime. I invite you to unplug, turn off, tune out and enjoy the quiet. While it may take some time to get used to, you may discover how much you really enjoy time to listen and to be. You may just enjoy the opportunity to rest and renew after a long day's work. You may even open your ears and your heart to what God is saying to you.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

I'm Still Gleeful about Glee

2009-10-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

I watched the latest episode of Glee tonight. I think the music keeps getting better each week. The rivalry between the Glee Club coach and the cheer leading coach was in full force in the latest episode. It was a total hoot.
Much of the music from the show is on YouTube. I thought I would share one of my favorite songs from last night's episode. It's titled No Air and was originally sung by Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQxtq7iZifI

Also, here's a link to a really good article about Glee fans and their love of the music of Glee.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/217616

Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Boy Playing Football Tackled by Deer

2009-10-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's another reason why I don't play sports and I don't like to go outside.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33291020/ns/us_news-weird_news/?GT1=43001/from/ET

I am grateful that the boy is doing okay. I hope you enjoy this bit of mid-week humor. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

I'm a Gleek

2009-10-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

I've shared with you that I love to watch the new television show Glee. I find it to be really funny and entertaining. The humor is great. The characters are over the top and yet also express some depth. The plots are interesting enough to keep me wondering what will happen next. The music is wonderful. I've been listening to several of the songs on YouTube.

Over the weekend I was reading some articles about the development of the show. I also found some videos on YouTube of behind the scenes stuff of the show. I especially enjoyed watching a video about the auditions of the main characters of Glee. I now know that Lea Michele was in a car accident on her way to her audition. When she arrived at the audition she was still picking broken glass from the windshield of her car out of her hair. Also, they showed a clip of Cory Monteith's audition tape in which he pretended to play the drums on overturned Tupperware containers. I also found out that the part of Kurt was added to the cast of characters after Chris Colfer auditioned and they were so amazed by his performance.

I also become friends with several of the Glee characters on Facebook. They actually have Facebook pages for the characters and they post some hilarious stuff. I like to think they are posting these comments just for me since they are my "friends" on Facebook. For example, the Cheerios cheer leading coach Sue Sylvester, who hates the Glee Club, posted this on her Facebook page: "Health insurance is for the weak. I perform all my own medical procedures." Too funny!

As I was surfing the web over the weekend and learned more about Glee, I discovered that there is a term for someone like me who really is into Glee. They call us Gleeks. I guess this is a hybrid of the words Glee and geek. I wasn't sure if I really liked this name until one of my co-workers said today that Gleek is probably better than Glerd (Glee + Nerd). While Glerd may be more accurate, I will stick with Gleek.

I'm really looking forward to watching this week's new episode on http://www.hulu.com/ I know it's going to be a great one.

Thanks for being a part of my Gleeky journey!

Prayer Request

2009-10-12T18:40:00.001-07:00

I ask for your prayers. I am in discernment mode again. I have some important decisions to make and I really need guidance. I want to be on the path that God wants for me and not just the path that seems easiest to me. I need wisdom beyond my limited human understanding.
I appreciate your prayers and your presence along my journey!

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

2009-10-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

Today was another wondeful morning of worship and praise at my church's new campus. I helped to staff the welcome center. I wore my red T-shirt that says "Welcome" on the front and "Ask Me" on the back. I also get a little nervous about that because I'm afraid someone will ask me something and I won't know the answer.
The music continues to improve each week. We had guest muscians today. A local news reporter was a guest soloist. She has a beautiful voice and sang with such faith and conviction. We also had a woman playing the viola. I wasn't sure how the viola was going to fit in with the rest of the instruments but it was beautiful and helped me to experience God's presence and holiness in a deeper way. I'm so grateful to our music director for helping to make worship so wonderful.
During the offering, the special music was U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. What a wonderful song to sing in the context of worship. It was a good way to reflect on our worship theme today of discovering our life's purpose. I enjoyed it so much, I thought I would share a link to the song on YouTube with you. This is a great version of the song in which members of U2 sing with a church choir in Harlem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X7QGCmIZl0
I hope you enjoy the video and have had a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Cameron's Cub Scout Camp Out

2009-10-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

My sister Stacey posted this photo on Facebook of my nephew Cameron at his Cub Scout camp out. It sounds like Cameron is enjoying Scouts. He really got into selling popcorn and now it looks like he's having fun on the camp out. It sounds like the Scouts are keeping Rob and Stacey really busy.

I'm glad for Cameron. I was in Cub Scouts. I remember good times with my den and pack. I think I still have my Cub Scout uniform with all of my badges and pins on it. I hope Cameron continues to have fun and learn some new things through scouting.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

It's Festival Time!

2009-10-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

It's festival time here in Anderson County Tennessee. Every organization and business seems to be holding some kind of festival or event in October. I received a free newspaper in the mail this week there is a whole bunch of stuff happening. Some of the events sound really interesting and others sound just a little bit strange. It's hard to believe all of this is going on in my home county this month. Here's what's happening around the county:

The 9th Annual Clinch River Antique Festival - October 9-10
Museum of Appalachia Fall Homecoming - October 8-11 - http://www.museumofappalachia.org/
Grove Center Pumpkin Fest in Oak Ridge - October 31 (The Habitat Home Store and Offices are located in Grove Center and we will have a booth there.)
Hauntings of Historic Harriman - A Walking Ghost Tour - October 9-10
A Taste of Fall - Willow Ridge Garden Center - October 10
Arc of Anderson County Benefit Motorcycle Ride - October 17
Anderson County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event - October 10
First Wesleyan Church of Clinton Fall Festival - October 31
2nd Annual Taste of Oak Ridge - October 17
October Sky Fall Fest - Oliver Springs - October 23-24
Annual Street Painting Festival - October 17
59th Annual St. Mary's Church Fall Festival - October 8-10
Benefit Concert for Second Harvest Food Bank - October 17
6th Annual Secret City Film Festival - October 8-11
Feed the Need benefit for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties - October 22
Fall Plant Sale - UT Arboretum Society - October 10
2009 Fall ATV Jamboree - October 22-24
Owl Prowl - UT Arboretum - October 24

I could probably be persuaded to attend the Taste of Oak Ridge Festival since food is involved. I don't think I want to be prowling around anywhere there might be owls. That sounds like way too much nature for me. I don't think I'll be attending the festivities at the hazardous waste collection either. I'm exhausted just thinking about all these events.
I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee-ful Songs

2009-10-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

I watched last night's new episode of Glee tonight through http://www.hulu.com/. I thought it was another great episode. It feels like the characters are developing more. The comedy is great and the music is wonderful. Jane Lynch is a hoot and Jessalyn Gilsig's character is becoming quite the manipulative villain.
This week the whole boys vs. girls plot line worked well to showcase the wonderful talent of the actors. The two musical numbers were awesome. I think I enjoyed the boys' musical mash-up better. There's nothing like a little Bon Jovi mixed with Usher to get your toe tapping. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zkmkE6qiDM It was great to hear Kevin McHale featured in the song. His character emerged this week from a quiet wheel-chair-bound geek to a strong lead vocalist. I found some videos of his boy band NLT on YouTube. They really did a huge make-over on him for Glee.
I also saw an article online that proves that I am not the only one who likes Glee. http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/market-dispatches.aspx?post=1310957 The article reports that there have been more than 1.1 million downloads of Glee songs from iTunes. I've gone back and listened to some of the songs on YouTube and I really enjoy them. I also found out today that songs from Glee are on Pandora. I made my own Glee channel on Pandora today. It's wonderful! They also plan to come out with a CD of songs from the show.
I'm already looking forward to next week's episode of Glee. I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my Glee-ful journey!

Student Group

2009-10-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

We have another student group arriving tonight from Western Kentucky University. They will be volunteering with Habitat for Humanity through the weekend. They are on their fall break.
I always enjoy having the student groups working with us. They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to Habitat. They are truly a blessing as they help us to provide safe, decent, affordable housing for families in need in Anderson County, Tennessee.
I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

New Applications

2009-10-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

I just got home from a meeting for those interested in applying for Habitat for Humanity's home ownership program. We had a pretty good turnout and some families stayed after the meeting to get help filling out their applications.
While a new application period means some extra work for me, I always like the application periods at Habitat. I like meeting the applicants. I like talking with them and hearing their stories. I enjoy encouraging them through the process. I find great joy when I get to see someone go from applicant, to Partner Family, to homeowner. I am honored to know that I had a little part in their story as they seek to improve their lives and the lives of their families through home ownership.
I ask for your prayers for this most recent application period. I know God will allow me to have the pleasure of journeying with some very wonderful people through this process.
I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee

2009-10-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have a confession to make. I have a new guilty pleasure. It's the new television show Glee. I love it! It makes me laugh and brings back a lot of memories.
Glee is about a high school show choir. However, what the show is really about is our human need to find our niche. The characters are overly acted stereotypes and at the same time they reveal a whole lot about the human condition. There's the idealistic teacher who takes on leadership of the Glee Club in part to relive his high school days in the Glee Club and in part because he is a really good teacher who believes in these students. There's the "dumb jock" who selfishly wants to earn a scholarship into college and at the same time is truly alive when he is singing and dancing. There's the teenage diva who wants both to be famous for her talent and at the same time just wants to fit in with the popular people in the school. There's also the not-so-closeted boy who is still wrestling with his identity and yet works hard to express his true self. There's the quiet boy who is wheelchair bound and yet finds simple and beautiful ways to be included in the choreography of the choir. There's the pregnant cheerleader who is heart-broken by an uncertain future. There's the obsessive compulsive germophobic guidance counselor who tries to help students without realizing she's the one needing real guidance. There's the drill-sergeant-like cheerleader coach who does everything she can to increase her own power and status to hide her deep insecurities. There's the high school principle who you can tell once had a passion for teaching and now is an unhappy bureaucrat who is sometimes forced to scrape gum off the school's floor because there's no money in the budget for another custodian. And the list of characters goes on an on.
I was never in my high school show choir. Some of my friends worked hard to try to get me to join but I just don't have the dance skills. In one of my high school musicals, they had to choreograph a musical number around me because I just couldn't get my steps down right. At one point, I got tangled up in the wing curtains with my dance partner as we flew out of control off the main stage. However, as I watch Glee, I keep saying "I knew that person in high school" or "I was that person in high school." I remember living with all of the fears and anxieties of being a teenager in high school. I wanted desperately to just fit in and at the same time I was screaming on the inside to just be noticed and accepted. I wanted to blend in with the crowd and yet I sought out the choir, band, and theater that repeatedly put me in front of large groups of people and got me noticed. I remember at times feeling so totally alone that I didn't think I could breathe and then other times I felt like I was completely accepted and understood by my comrades in the the choir, band, and theater. Ah, those teenage years - I am so glad they are over.
Through lots of sarcasm and clever wit, Glee shines as great television entertainment. Like a mirror, it shows us what high school was for a lot of us and like a mystical revelation is shows us what high could and should be. I watched with joy as Glee's William McKinley High School football team danced to Beyonce's Single Ladies to come together as a team and psych out the opposing team. As I watched this wonderful expression of creativity, I wondered if my high school Alma mater's Mishawaka Cavemen football team might have triumphed over our arch rival Penn High School's football team many years earlier had they tried a similar dance on the gridiron.
The singing and dancing in Glee are wonderful. I love watching the hard driving song and dance numbers of the rival high school show choir as well as the somewhat rough-around-the-edges performances of the McKinley High School Glee Club. Both inspire me and at the same time can make me laugh. I think this is the real genius of the entire show. I continue to believe that if real life were like a Hollywood musical, the world would be a better place in which to live. We need more opportunities to break out into song and dance in life.
If Glee sounds like a show that you would like to watch, you can watch the first five episodes on www.hulu.com for free. That's what I did since I dumped my cable and can only receive the CW channel on my TV. I invite you to give it a chance even if musicals aren't your thing. It may just turn into your weekly guilty pleasure. Glee may also be for you a stroll down memory lane to a time when popularity and prom dates were all that seemed to matter in life.
I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

World Communion Sunday

2009-10-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

Today was another wonderful celebration for my church's new worship service at our third campus. It's hard to believe that this was our fourth Sunday. It continues to get better each week. God is doing an amazing thing. I was struck once again by how many children we are reaching. The elementary age children are with us in worship for the first half of the service and then they are dismissed to go to their own age-appropriate time together. This morning I would guess that there were around seventy-five children that got up to go to their class. This does not count the infants in the nursery nor the toddler class. God is truly doing an amazing thing as we reach out to young families with the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Along with today being the fourth Sunday we have been together for worship, today was also the very first Sunday that we have celebrated Holy Communion together as the Body of Christ. I can think of no more appropriate day for a new congregation to celebrate this great mystery of God.
I was wondering how they were going to handle Communion in this worship service. Because we are reaching many new people who have either never been to church before or have not been to church in many years, I wasn't sure how many people would participate. The pastor struck just the right tone and I think he helped people to understand what we were about to do before we received Communion. He issued the invitation and reminded people that we celebrate open Communion in the United Methodist Church and that all were welcome at the table. It was truly a celebration and not, as one of my seminary professors used to say, a sad and pitiful "funeral for Jesus". Joy filled my heart as I received the bread and drank from the cup in my new community of faith.
My pastor reminded us that on this World Communion Sunday, we were joining with Christians around the world to celebrate this sign and symbol of God's grace made real in Jesus Christ. This has always been one of the most powerful images for me as I've celebrated World Communion Sunday in the past and it continued to be a powerful image for me today. As I waited my turn to receive the elements, I thought about:

Christians in China meeting secretly in house churches celebrating Communion even though their lives are in danger of persecution.
Christian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan pausing in the midst of the chaos of war to celebrate this holy meal together.
Christians gathering in ancient cathedrals in Europe where so many have come before them to remember Christ in the bread and the cup.
Christians in the Sudan who live in fear for their lives openly proclaiming their faith in Christ Whose broken body and shed blood they remember in the Lord's Supper.
Christians in Samoa whose lives have been devastated by the recent tsunami gathering together in what remains of their towns and villages to share in this great feast of grace.
Christians gathering around the Communion table in inner-city neighborhoods who struggle each day to bring hope to people in great need.
Christians in small rural communities that have been devastated by the recession celebrating Communion with joy.

In spite of our language differences, cultural differences, political opinions, economic status, backgrounds, and family heritage, we all came to the table today to remember God's love made real in Jesus Christ. As I waited in line in that high school auditorium, I gave God thanks and praise for this gift that is so freely given by a God Who loves me and knows me by name. What a wonderful day of celebration it was indeed!
I hope you have had a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Mishawaka Cavemen - 26; Penn Kingsmen - 10

2009-10-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

I need to preface this blog entry by telling those of you who don't know this about me that I don't know anything about sports. I don't like watching sports. I don't follow sports. I don't really care about sports. It is an area of life that is a complete and total mystery to me. When I was in high school, I was in the marching band and I thought that football is something they did to entertain the crowd before and after the band played. With that said, I am reveling in the glow of an historic event that took place last night in my hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana. My Alma mater Mishawaka High School beat Penn High School in football 26-10.
Some background information will probably help you understand the context of this football win and why it even received my attention. There has long been a huge rivalry between these two schools. Penn High School used to be the country school that served the rural areas around my hometown of Mishawaka. Mishawaka High School is the city school. For many years the two schools were similar in size and had a healthy rivalry. However, in the late 1970's and early 1980's, farmers began selling off their land to developers who subdivided the land and began building houses like crazy. Most of these new developments were located in the Penn High School district. As a result, Penn High School's student body grew and Mishawaka High School's student body stayed about the same or even decreased a bit. In fact, my graduating class was one of the smallest in recent history at the time.
As Penn High School grew, they also began to excel in many ways. The larger student pool also allowed them to access more state educational funds. Along with this, Granger, Indiana, one of the most wealthy communities in Northern Indiana, is a part of the Penn High School district. And because schools are funded in part through property taxes in Indiana, Penn High School began to have a big advantage. The rivaly became a culture clash between between the white collar wealthy suburbs and blue collar city dwellers.
Along with this, parents living in Granger had high expectations for this growing educational institution. The Penn High School band has won numerous competitions. The drama program is excellent. The academic program continues to be one of the best in the nation among public schools. And, of course, the football program was a huge powerhouse. Penn High School became a Goliath in an area that had few rivals. The most recent statistics I was able to find online put Penn High School's enrollment at 3,243 students and Mishawaka High School's enrollment at 1,676 students.
The last time that Mishawaka beat Penn in football was in 1980. Along with this, Penn High School had until last night a 153 conference game winning streak. They had remained undefeated in regular season play since 1985. So, you can imagine that when I logged onto my Facebook account and saw that some of my Facebook friends were posting regular updates from their Blackberries from the stadium, I was more than a little interested. I wondered if it would really happen and it did. With what sounds like a lot of hard work and good team work, Mishawaka High School prevailed over Penn High School in front of a crowd of over 8,000 cheering fans for the first time in 28 years. I'm sure it was a site to see. I haven't been this excited about anything related to sports since I saw the movie Hoosiers.
So, in honor of this great victory in the history of my Alma mater, I thought I would share with you the lyrics to the Mishawaka High School Fight Song:

March, march on down to fame.
We’re out to win this game
Our coach and all the team are just what they seem.
So give a loud cheer for Mishawaka
Hear all those Boosters talk!
Penn High may fight to the end.
But we will win! Rah! Rah! Rah!

Fight on Mishawaka;
Live up to your name
Raise high all your standards,
Spread ‘round you all your fame.
We’re marching to Victory.
Won’t stop till we’re there.
So fight, Mishawaka, fight,
And win this game!

Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Joseph, Joseph, Mary and Jesus

2009-10-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

I have shared with you before about some of the interesting donations that our Habitat Home Store receives. This continues to be true and a source for great conversation. I found out the other day someone is going to donate a 23 foot boat. I'm not sure where we will put that or who will buy it, but I'm sure it will sell.
The other day I was walking through the store and I noticed that they had put out Christmas decorations. They have had the Christmas room open for some weeks now. However, now there is a Christmas tree set up near the register counter. I thought is was a little early to start promoting Christmas, but I guess all the other stores are doing it so why not Habitat as well.
As I headed toward the break room to get my lunch, I noticed that they had a nativity scene set up on a table just inside the main door of the store. It was the kind that lights up and you put out in your front yard. The Joseph and Mary figures were about 2 1/2 feet high. Again, I thought it seemed a little early for this, but I guess someone may buy it. As I passed by I noticed there were four figures in the set: Joseph, Mary, Jesus in the manger, and a shepherd. Jesus was in the middle, Mary was on one side, and Joseph and the shepherd were together on the other side.
I went into the break room to put my lunch in the microwave. As I was waiting for my lunch to heat up, I stepped back out into the hallway to look at the nativity scene again. That's when I realized I had not really noticed what was on display. What I thought was a shepherd was actually another Joseph figure from another nativity set. The two Joseph's looked similar, but they were not the same.
All kinds of things began going through my mind. I first thought about finding out who set up this scene and then telling them the story of the birth of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Obviously someone just didn't know the story and I would help him or her to know that there were not two Josephs. This might even be an opportunity to share my faith with someone who doesn't know Jesus.
I also thought that if the person who set this nativity scene up knew the story of the birth of Jesus, then I was going to sit him or her down and remind him or her of the details of the story again. Also, I would advise this person on the proper display of nativity scenes and product placement in general. The two Joseph's were placed right beside one another nearly touching and they didn't seem too interested in Mary or Jesus. Mary was turned away from both Jesus and the two Josephs on the other side of the manger. She seemed to despondently gaze out the glass entry doors of the Home Store looking to be delivered from this corrupted depiction of the birth of Jesus. Jesus was in the manger with his arms open looking as if he was wanted to say "Hey, someone pay attention to me!"
Now, here's the really weird thing. I later walked over to the Home Store and saw that this strange nativity display had been removed from the entry hallway. I thought that finally someone had come to his or her senses and removed this mockery of the Christmas story. However, when I inquired about it, Rodney, the Home Store Manager, informed me that someone had purchased the nativity scene. I questioned him to find out if the same person had bought all four figurines and he said "yes".
Now, I was really confused by all of this. I kept wondering all day (and still continue to wonder) who would buy two Josephs. Did the person think that the second Joseph was a shepherd as I first did? Or, does the person just not know the story and need to be educated? Or is this person going to make some sort of social commentary in his or her Christmas yard display this year? Will there be two Josephs on their lawn in support of non-traditional families? Will Mary simply be left out in the cold on the lawn by herself to take care of the baby as the two Josephs go out on the town together, not interested in raising the child? Will Mary have to turn to an inflatable snowman or an animated Santa for support? Who knows what might happen?
As I drive around this Christmas season, I am going to be on the lookout for Joseph, Joseph, Mary and Jesus. If I ever see them, I may just have to have a conversation with the homeowner. What an evangelism opportunity that might be.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Dinner with Mom and Dad

2009-10-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

My Mom and Dad made it back to Tennessee after spending some time in Ohio with my sister Stacey and her family. Mom and Dad came over last night and they brought dinner. It was great to have a home cooked meal and to spend time catching up. It was also really nice that I got to keep the leftovers. My parents will be here in Tennessee for a few weeks and then they plan to head to Florida for the winter.
I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Billy Elliot

2009-09-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

I just watched the 2000 movie Billy Elliot. I have been trying to add movies and shows to my Netflix subscription that I have heard good things about and have never seen. This movie did not disappoint. I laughed and cried. It is a great movie that I would highly recommend.
The movie received three Academy Awards nominations in 2001. It is set against the background of an increasingly bitter miners' strike that his elder brother and father are involved in, young Billy Elliot finds he prefers joining in the girls' ballet class at the local hall to the boxing he's there for. The ballet mistress soon realises he has real potential, but no-one, least of all his family, is likely to go along with a boy dancing ballet.
The movie spoke to me in a powerful way. I loved the theme of following your dreams in spite of your circumstances. The contrast of where Billy comes from to where he is headed is great. He faces many obstacles in life - the loss of his mother, a grandmother who shows signs of dementia, a father who has trouble showing love to his family, and cultural expectations. Billy rises above all these things to try to live out his dream of being a dancer. While I could have done without all of the cursing which garnered this movie an R rating, I guess that's how miners and their families talk in England. I don't really know since I've never been there.
I must admit, I am a huge fan of dancing. I love to watch people dance. It inspires me in a deeply profound way. I am in awe of what dancers do with their bodies. They are truly people of genuine devotion. It is wonderful to watch Billy develop as a dancer throughout the movie. There is a tap dance scene that is truly incredible.
So, here's another movie recommendation. Billy Elliot is a joy to watch.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Battlestar Galactica - Season 2

2009-09-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

I just finished up watching season 2 of the new Battlestar Galactica. I must say it is one of the best written shows I have ever watched. I am sorry that I never got into when it was on TV but I am so grateful that I can watch it now on DVD through my Netflix subscription.
What I think is so wonderful about the show is that the writers seem to both want to entertain the audience and make them think. The issues they tackle in some ways could be torn from the headlines of today's newspapers. However, they are set in the context of science fiction. Season two covered everything from abortion to child slavery to God's presence in our lives to forgiveness and mercy. I have never quite seen a show that is so unafraid to take on such varied subjects. I especially love that they don't skirt around religion and spirituality. They face it head on and recognize that we human beings are spiritual beings who long to be in a relationship with a loving God.
Along with this, the plots and story lines have more twists and turns than most Tennessee roads. Just when you think someone is a key character to the overall storyline, he or she gets killed off. Just when you think someone is a "good guy" or a "bad guy", the writers show you a different side of that person and then you end up not liking the "good guy" and feeling sorry for the "bad guy".
I already have season 3 in my Netflix queue and am looking forward to seeing what happens next. For anyone who enjoys science fiction, I think you will love Battlestar Galactica if you haven't seen it. For those of you who may not be interested in science fiction, I invite you to give it a try. The stories will amaze you, challenge you, shock you, and keep you on the edge of your seat.
I hope you have had a great start to your week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Healing Service

2009-09-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Today was our third worship service at the new campus in the Hardin Valley area of Knoxville. Once again, the service was awesome. Surprisingly, I wasn't scheduled to volunteer so I actually slept in a bit this morning and just showed up like a normal worshipper. I must say I really needed just to worship and be in God's presence. I have been rather anxious and feeling pretty fragile in the past week. What I needed most was to experience God's presence as I worshipped my Creator. I was not disappointed.
The theme of the service was dealing with our sins in life. The music, as always, was wonderfully powerful. The music included one of my favorite contemporary praise songs Blessed Be the Name of the Lord by Matt Redman. The song reminded me that I am called in all circumstances to give praise to God. After that, we sang a kind of hybrid version of Amazing Grace and another praise song. Again, those lyrics spoke to my heart in a powerful way. I could feel the arms of God lifting me up as I sang.
The pastor gave an excellent sermon. He talked about Paul's desire to have "the thorn removed from his flesh". He talked about how we all have thorns in our lives. He then when on to say that like Paul, God doesn't always remove those thorns from our flesh. Instead, God gives us the grace to endure those thorns. When I heard again God's Word reminding me that God's grace is sufficient for me, I began to feel the anxiety lift from my heart.
At the end of the sermon, the pastor played a clip from the movie The Mission which is one of my favorite movies. He showed the clip where the character played by Robert DeNiro tries to atone for his sins by carrying a large net filled with armor and weapons he used to attack and kill Indians in South America. With this net full of instruments of war symbolizing his sin he sets out with priests to an Indian village. He slips and stumbles and falls during this harrowing journey. Finally, he reaches the top of a mountain where the Indians live. They recognize him as one who has killed and brought horrors to their people through the slave trade. One Indian grabs a knife and runs over to Robert DeNiro and holds it at his throat. Then, in an act of pure grace, the Indian pulls the knife away and cuts the rope from DeNiro's body and the rope and the net and the armor and the weapons all fall into the river. In this moment, this character feels the power of forgiveness and grace in his life and heart. I highly recommend The Mission if you never seen it. Here's a link to part of the clip that they showed today in worship: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkzxdDy95rA
When this clip was done, I sat in the dark listening to the music as tears flowed down my cheeks. I was reminded again of the amazing grace of God in my life. Even when I mess up, God's grace is present. Even when I continue to do stupid things that harm myself and others, God's grace is present. Even when I try to run far away and hide from God because of shame and guilt, God's grace never, ever lets me go.
Today's service was truly a healing time for me. Not that any of my life's circumstances have changed. I still face huge obstacles and a very uncertain future. I still am prone to sin and selfishness. I continue to struggle and stumble and I will most likely find myself trying to carry burdens that I need to give to God. But for just a brief moment this morning, God's face shined upon me. It was more than just emotion overcoming me. It was truly the living God reaching out to touch my heart and wipe away my tears.
I hope you have had a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Dreary Day

2009-09-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Today has been a dreary day here in East Tennessee. A huge front has been slowly moving through. It was raining when I woke up this morning and it still seems to be raining a little bit this evening. My apartment has been dark and gloomy most of the day. I'm sure the rain is a bit of a nuisance to all of the UT football fans. However, rainy weather never seems to deter avid Vols fans from coming out to cheer on the team.
I've been working on my computer nearly all day. I did sneak in one episode of season two of Battlestar Galactic. I am really enjoying watching this show through my Netflix subscription.
I saw on Facebook that my friends Ian and Sheri are in our hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana for the dedication of Sheri's home church's new sanctuary. The building was hit by lightning back in 2006 and the sanctuary was destroyed. I'm hoping that all the festivities go well. I'm sure this will be a wonderful celebration for Albright United Methodist Church. You can read more about their journey and ministry at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/albright-mishawaka/
I hope you are having a great weekend and it's not so gloomy where you are. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Spiritual Practice

2009-09-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

The impact of our “spiritual life” … has to do with the spirit in which we approach people and events. That spirit displays itself as much in the moments of frustration as in the moments of inspiration. As we stew in reactive emotions, we are engaging in “spiritual practice,” however unhelpful, which affects our presence to ourselves and others. The way we live our life is our spiritual practice — no more, no less, nothing but, nothing else.

- Robert Corin Morris, Wrestling with Grace: A Spirituality for the Rough Edges of Daily Life

The above quote was a part of my e-devotional today. The author's words really spoke to my current circumstances and life. I was challenged by the idea that stewing in my reactive emotions is a form of spiritual practice just as prayer or fasting or worship are spiritual practices. I reveal to the world my true nature by how I react to and treat others. I say much more about my faith or lack of it by how I live from day to day.

This is especially true in my ministry. I say that I want to help people and be a servant to them. However, I also find myself judging people and questioning their life choices. It's easy for me to be condescending to the very people I say I want to help. I even find myself getting angry at them for making poor choices rather than offering them grace and unconditional love. I feel hurt when my help is rejected rather than remembering that my job is simply to offer help and serve others in the name of Jesus.

It's only when I completely and totally allow the love of God to guide me, fill me, and empower me that I can truly share God's love with others. When God's love fills my heart I can begin to understand and recognize God's infinite grace that permeates my life. It is only by God's amazing grace can I truly lead a holy life and attempt to serve others.

I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Swiveling in the Dark

2009-09-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

Warning: This blog entry deals with bodily functions and may not be suitable for those who have more delicate sensitivities.
During my lifetime there's one thing that I have come to understand: non-profit organizations have some of the worst restrooms in the world.
This was especially true when I was in the local church. I seriously often wondered how Jesus thought the gates of Hell would not prevail against the church when we can't even seem to fix our plumbing. To this day, I deeply admire any church I attend that has clean, well-functioning restrooms. This may be why I like my church so much and was a little concerned about the new worship service meeting in a high school. You can imagine what those restrooms can be like. However, this school keeps their restrooms pretty clean.
I can remember a time in the church I grew up in that there was a lot of rain that caused flooding in my hometown. Somehow all of this rain caused the plumbing in the church basement restrooms to back up. I will never get out of my mind seeing raw sewage spewing up out of the church's toilets and onto the basement floor and out into the Fellowship Hall. I remember getting out of there as fast as possible but I know there were some faithful souls who stayed behind to clean up that awful mess. God bless them for that!
When I was in college, at the Wesley Foundation building, I had a room next to the men's restroom. I remember there was a problem that caused the urinals to back up from time to time and I would find myself cleaning up a mess.
In one of churches I served I seemed to always be plunging toilets because people left a mess. In another one of the churches I served the pipes froze in one of the bathrooms and when it warmed up the building began to flood and I spent a better part of a day mopping up water. In nearly every one of the churches I served just finding the bathrooms clean was a huge problem.
I know that a big part of the challenge for most churches is that they don't really have the money to pay a plumber to fix things properly. In most churches that I served, we rarely called plumbers. Instead, someone on the Board of Trustees or just some guy in the church would try to fix it as best he could. Usually this really didn't fix the problem. Instead, it just prolonged the agony and eventually led to signs being posted. Some signs told you to jiggle the handle. Some signs informed you that there was no hot water in the sinks. Other signs simply read "Out of Order". Of course, often people would ignore these signs and use the broken fixtures anyway and then we would have a real mess to clean up.
So, I guess after all of these bad bathroom experiences in churches I should not be surprised that the Habitat affiliate where I work continues the trend of poor potties. The men's restroom has one toilet that is quite interesting to use. For some reason it is not secured to the floor so often times when you sit down it moves around. Actually, it can best be described as swiveling. I don't think it will completely swivel 360 degrees but I haven't tried it. This was quite disconcerting the first time I used it. However, now it can be kind of fun. I have suggested that we install a seat belt but this has been vetoed.
There's also a toilet in the men's restroom at Habitat that is very difficult to flush. (Oh, by the way, there are only two toilets in the men's room - swivel and non-swivel.) In order to flush the non-swiveling toilet properly you have to press very firmly on the handle. Of course, many people don't either have the strength or perseverance for this. So, you guessed it, they often just give up and leave without flushing.
In addition to this, there is a urinal in the men's room that has been backed up for nearly two years. Rodney, the Habitat Home Store Manager, has tried everything to unclog it. He's poured extra-strength drain stuff down there. He's poured acid down there. They had a plumber out once to snake out the pipes and he said they were too clogged up with minerals over the years that he couldn't get them to work.
The latest thing in the men's restroom is that the old ballasts in the overhead fluorescent lights are going out. Of course, this takes someone who knows how to fix this stuff and that would cost money which Habitat doesn't have. Sometimes the lights come on. Sometimes the lights don't work. Once when I used the restroom today I had light. The other time I used the restroom I didn't have any light. Let me tell you, this took some skill especially since I used the swiveling toilet. (Talk about trying to hit a moving target.) Later in the day, one of the Home Store employees did find a small clip-on desk lamp. She plugged it in and ran an extension cord along the wall above the urinals over to one of the stalls. It was not very bright. There was a kind of intimate glow in the room which I guess is sort of appropriate for a restroom. I am a little concerned about the extension cord running along the wall over the urinals. I hope they don't fall down while someone is using them because that could be rather disastrous. I'm wondering if having miners hats with lights on them outside the restroom wouldn't be better.
Well, anyway, that's all the poop on restrooms for now. (Sorry, I just had to write that.) I'll let you know if anything else exciting happens.
I hope you are having a good week and your plumbing is in good working order.
Thanks for being a part of my often-times very strange journey!

The Prestige

2009-09-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching the movie The Prestige tonight through my Netflix subscription. It stars Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Cane, Scarlett Johansson, and David Bowie. The story is about two rival magicians who engage in a competitive one-upsmanship that has tragic results. The story is set in London and Colorado Springs during the early part of the Twentieth Century.
I really enjoyed The Prestige. The plot twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. I had read some reviews of the movie before watching it and I knew that I would have to really pay attention. I found myself stopping the movie and rewinding it to make sure I caught everything. I really enjoyed the character of Nikola Tesla, the eccentric inventor who was a rival of Thomas Edison, played by David Bowie. After watching the movie, I looked up Tesla on Wikipedia to learn more about him. You can learn more about Tesla at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla I was amazed to learn Tesla really did move to Colorado Springs and perform experiments on Pike's Peak. I found this fascinating.
What I think I loved most about the movie is the many layers of the story. It both seeks to explain how these magicians do their tricks and at the same time reveals nothing. Of course, this is all much easier on film that in real life. The film returns over and over again to the idea that magic is something that everyone knows is not real but the audience suspends it's knowledge of reality and actually desires to be fooled. The best magicians know how to use this to genuinely wow their audiences.
The movie also explores the themes of human obsession, duality, rivalry, deceitfulness, jealousy, and commitment to one's life calling. Just when you think that one of the magicians has gotten the best of the other, the plot twists and instead the rivalry heats up. They can't stand each other and at the same time they won't let one another alone. In many ways, the movie reminds the viewer of the depravity of the human heart how we can completely misuse and abuse the wonderful gifts that God has given to us.
So, if you like suspenseful thrillers, I would highly recommend The Prestige. It will have you guessing until the very end.
I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Finally, the Sun Has Come Back!

2009-09-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, before I write what I'm going to write today, let me remind you up front that I am not really an outdoors person. Those of you who know me know that I really don't like to get out in nature at all. It's either too hot or too cold or there are bugs or dirt or other creatures that I would rather just not be exposed to. I would much rather stay inside in my climate controlled apartment. It just seems safer to me.
However, we have had rain here in East Tennessee every day for the past week. In fact, today started out gloomy and foggy. A mist hung over the main ridge that runs through the city of Oak Ridge. I'm guessing that there was a lot of fog rolling off the Clinch River this morning as well. As I drove to work, I noticed how saturated the ground was becoming from the rains last night. Of course, we don't have the kind of flooding that they have in Georgia. I couldn't believe the photo I saw online today of the roller coaster under water at the Six Flags amusement park in Georgia.
Again, while I don't want to go out and frolic in the sun or tan on a beach, I was kind of bummed out as I left for work this morning because I was hoping for a break in the weather pattern. Well, I got my wish this afternoon. Blue sky peeked out from behind the clouds and the sun started to shine. It was a wonderful thing to see. Of course, I saw it from the protected climate controlled Habitat office building. Nonetheless, I was still glad to see the sun.
As I sit and type this blog entry tonight, I think I am going to get to see a beautiful sunset over the Cumberland Mountains. This is one of the perks of living in Oak Ridge. Again, I'll watch the sunset from the comfort of my apartment, but it will still be beautiful. I will most definitely say a prayer of thanksgiving to the God of all creation Who sends the rains, formed the mountains, and set the sun in the heavens to shine upon the earth.
I hope you are having a good week. One ten hour day of work down for me and three more to go. I think I may finally be adjusting to ten hour days. Today seemed to move along pretty fast. Maybe seeing the sun appear again helped a little.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Centennial

2009-09-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

I've been reading the book Centennial by James Michener. After watching the mini-series through my Netflix subscription, I wanted to go back to the original text and compare the two. As is usually the case, the television version deviates from the book in some places. Also, there are whole sections completely left out of the mini-series that I have really enjoyed reading. I especially liked the great detail with which Michener writes about the period before humans lived in Colorado. He describes the life of dinosaurs, bison, and horses in ways that really helped me to understand new things about these amazing creatures.
I've made it through the first two sections of the book and have started to read about the folks who traveled from the Eastern United States to settle in the area that would become the fictional town of Centennial. So far, it's a really good story. While I really enjoyed the mini-series, I think I am enjoying the book much more. I like the details Michener writes about that there is just not enough time to convey through TV.
If you haven't read the book, I invite you to do so. It is a special treat for lovers of history such as me. It is helping me to understand the life and culture of Native Americans as well as the progression of westward expansion of the United States.
I hope you have had a good Monday and beginning to your week. It's raining here again for the seventh day in a row. It's rained nearly all day. I decided to stay in, watch movies, read Centennial, and found a little time to take a nap. It's been a pretty good day.
Thanks for being a a part of my journey!

Another Wonderful Worship Service

2009-09-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Today was the second worship service at the new west campus of my church. I served as a door greeter today which also meant that I got to pass the baskets for the offering. I did fine with the door greeting. I got a little anxious when passing the baskets. I was afraid we were going to send two baskets down the same row in opposite directions or send baskets down the same row twice. Thankfully, this never happened. However, the back row is broken up by a gap which is a space for wheelchairs. I passed the basket down the row and then didn't quite get to the gap in time to retrieve it. There was a bit of a pregnant pause while I stood there not quite clued in to what was happening. It turned out okay, but I was still nervous about it.
What I love most about this new service so far is the music. My church has hired a truly gifted worship leader. He is very talented and has a real passion for leading people in worship. What the Senior Pastor said about him is that he loves Jesus more than he loves his music.
I've been thinking a lot about this since my Senior Pastor said this. I know for many church musicians this is a constant struggle. While I think that most church musicians are deeply devoted people who love Christ, often times they can allow the music to overpower the message. They can sometimes allow ego and their desire to perform for the congregation rather than perform for God get in the way of truly authentic worship. When this happens, it's hard for musicians to invite people to join them in the worship of God.
During my days in the local church, music was something that brought many headaches to me. If I tried to introduce a new hymn that the congregation didn't know, I often got a lot of ugly looks and comments. Many were not even willing to try singing a song they didn't know. I think that some congregation members would have been happy had we sung the same three hymns every Sunday.
Along with this, there were church organists to had two speeds - slow and very slow. Some of them informed me that if they played too fast the congregation wouldn't be able to keep up. However, many congregation members complained to me about how slow and boring the music was. Other organists worried that playing a hymn too fast would somehow be irreverent or disrespectful to God. I could never quite understand this. When I read about worship in the Bible it seems to be anything but boring and I don't get the idea that people played as slow as humanly possible when worshipping God. I sometimes wondered if we sang some hymns much slower we might just stop.
I also remember the challenges of working with a variety of choir directors and choirs. There were some choir directors who were open to new things but couldn't convince their choirs to try them. There were some choirs who wanted to try new things but couldn't convince the directors to try them. There were soloists who should have saved their solos for their morning showers. There were some who sang with hearts full of joy for Jesus and yet couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. There were others who had beautiful voices and yet their solos were just empty words because they did not have a relationship with Jesus. There were people I never saw in worship except once a year when they sang a solo for Christmas Eve. There were others who faithfully gave hours and hours of their time each week and worked hard to praise the God of all creation with sincere hearts.
In one church I served, it was the debate over contemporary and traditional music that caused a huge rift in the congregation. Traditionalists were not open to new forms of Christian music and those who enjoyed contemporary music dismissed traditional hymns as irrelevant. Some people scolded me for picking certain hymns or songs as they left the sanctuary after worship. Some people boycotted services. Some actually disrupted worship services in selfish defiance because they didn't feel that they were getting their way. It was both sad and ugly and broke my heart in ways that still have not been completely healed. I can only begin to imagine how much it must have grieved God's heart.
So, as I sang praises to God in worship this morning, I offered up a prayer of thanksgiving. I thanked God for a worship leader who loves Jesus more than his music. I thanked God for muscians who offer their gifts and talents with humble hearts. I thanked God for pastors and congregational leaders who are willing to step out in faith and try new things. I thanked God for the opportunity to offer my praise in truly uplifting songs with other believers. It was a wonderful second service for our new west campus. I am ever grateful that God has led me to this community of faith at this time in my life.
I hope you have had a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom!

2009-09-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Today is my Mom and Dad's 45th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe but 45 years ago today they made promises to one another and to God and they continue to keep those promises. I know it hasn't always been easy. I'm know there have been days when life didn't go as they had planned. However, they have continued to hold onto their promises and to the love that they have for one another. For this I am ever grateful.
Happy anniversary Dad and Mom! Have a great day! I love you!

The Smartest Guys in the Room

2009-09-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

I recently rented through my Netflix subscription the documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. I had read some reviews of the movie when it first came out in 2005 and have been wanting to see it. I was interested in watching it because I was hoping that it would help me to understand what really happened in the collapse of Enron.
After watching the movie, I have found myself feeling deeply disturbed. I could not believe the utter corruption that the leaders of Enron were involved in on a daily basis. These people were pathological. Much of the documentary uses video clips of company meetings as well as taped phone conversations of employees who clearly knew that they were committing an economic rape of innocent people. They were a kind of financial Manson family. I could not believe that so many liars and cheaters could come together and continually get away with such practices.
I kept wondering why someone didn't speak out about what was happening. I wondered how all the of lawyers, accountants, and bankers could have been complicit in such a far-reaching fraud. What was even more chilling to me was when the narrator named the banks that helped to fund this fraud, they were many of the same banks that helped to create the mortgage crisis and who received government bailout funds. While I'm glad I watched the movie, I felt a bit sick to my stomach when it ended.
However, I've been thinking about it these past few days since I watched the movie and I realize that it really should not have surprised me. It should not have surprised me because I know the true status of the human condition. That status is one of sin and continual rebellion against God and God's plan for all creation. We human beings are broken and messed up and will look for any loophole in God's Law. We think that we are exempt from the rules and are more than willing to justify our bad behavior if we get caught. It started in the Garden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and it's not stopped.
What watching this movie did for me is remind me to give thanks to the God Who never seems to give up on we human beings. Even though we rebel over and over again, God won't let us go. That's God's nature. God loves us and seeks us out and calls us to new life in Christ. This is true for greedy Enron executives and it's true for you and me.
I do really recommend this movie if you get a chance to watch it. I learned a whole lot and it also made me think. I love it when films challenge me in this way.
I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

2009-09-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

The Executive Director of the Habitat for Humanity affiliate with which I work sent out an email today to our constituents. I thought I would share with you the text of that email so that you would know about some of the challenges that we have been facing recently. I would appreciate your prayers for Habitat for Humanity in Anderson County Tennessee as we seek to build safe, decent, affordable homes for our Partner Families. You can learn more about the Habitat affiliate I work with at http://www.hfhac.org/ Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

You may have heard in the media this week about our recent series of unfortunate events, with the most frustrating of them having occurred last weekend.
Someone broke into a locked house that we are currently rehabilitating so that it can be sold to a Partner Family - our first "rehab" - and stole 18 boxes of siding that had been purchased for the outside of the house. We have insurance on all of our properties. However, the deductible is higher than the actual replacement cost so we must absorb the loss, which is estimated at $960.
Just weeks ago, we had another unfortunate event occur when an uninsured driver struck and destroyed the City's electrical transformer located directly behind our building. The Habitat Home Store and Habitat offices had to be immediately evacuated and remained closed for the rest of the day while crews worked to replace the transformer and repair and reattach the wiring. We are immensely grateful for the efficient and hard work done by the Electrical Department of the City and Ridge Electric Company to restore power. Because of their efforts, we were able to reopen the next day. Unfortunately since the driver was uninsured, the repair costs of $1,800 became ours to pay, which were also lower than our deductible.
We work hard to be good stewards of the gifts we receive, and it is most frustrating when we have to spend funds on instances such as these that are beyond our control. Like many organizations, we too have been impacted by these troubling economic times. Contributions have been slower coming in and they are not at the same level as they have been in recent years. Yet we remain committed to moving forward and providing a hand-up to families in need of decent places to live.

It's Raining

2009-09-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday here in East Tennessee we had scattered showers. Today it rained most of the day. According to the weather forecast, it's going to rain every day through next Tuesday. After that we get one day's break and then they say it will start raining again. I will let you know if I start to build an ark.
I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

538

2009-09-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

I received an email from the worship leader for my church's new worship service. He shared in the email that 538 people attended worship last Sunday for our first worship service. I had guessed there were close to that many but receiving the email with the exact total was truly humbling. Of course, in that number are included the roughly 100 people who are a part of the core team. However, even if there were only 400 new people at the worship service, that is still a pretty amazing number.
As I began thinking about that first worship service and this remarkable number of people in attendance, I realized that 538 people heard the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed. I realized that among those 538 people, some heard this Good News for the very first time. Along with this, 538 people heard music that was powerful and spoke to many of their hearts. 538 people were invited to share their gifts, get involved in small groups, and mission and ministry opportunities in the life of the church.
Studies show that after about a month, this attendance number will drop off. Usually people will check out a new service to see if it's what they are looking for. Some will move on to look for another faith community. However, others will stay and continue to try this new church out as their church home. Along with this, some will check it out, like it, and then invite their relatives, neighbors, and friends to join them.
538 people is a lot of people. I am in awe of what God is doing through my church. I am humbled that God would lead that many souls to come together for worship and praise. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this new thing that God is doing. I am looking forward to this Sunday with great anticipation.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Day in the Dentist's Chair

2009-09-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Today is a day that I would rather forget. So, I'm going to tell you about it and get it off my chest and then from henceforth it shall be known as "the day that shall not be named."
In order to fully understand what happened, I have to start the story on Friday. On Friday afternoon I was looking forward to my three day weekend and the launch of the new worship service at my church. Other than that, I didn't really have too much planned. I wanted to read and watch some movies. Well, in the middle of the afternoon, my tooth started to hurt. I didn't think much of it. I took some Advil and went on with my evening. However, during the night on Friday, I woke up a couple of times because my tooth was hurting and so I took some more Advil.
When I woke up on Saturday, my tooth seemed to be doing better. It didn't seem to hurt as much. I went with my friend Joe to do some antiquing. As we were walking around, my tooth started to hurt more and I looked forward to getting home and taking more Advil which is what I did. I took a little nap and woke up again with my tooth hurting.
By now, I'm thinking this is not good. After my root canal last year, I was nervous about going through that whole process again. Of course, me being me, I kept thinking the worst. What if it's not a root canal? What if they need to pull the tooth? What if I have some rare disease? You get the idea.
The rest of Saturday, I laid low. I took lots of Advil and tried to rest. The pain became a constant throb and kept me up most of Saturday night. I was able to get a few hours sleep but I was dragging my tail by the time I got to the high school where my church is having the new worship service. I took some topical toothache stuff with me and kept sneaking the tube out and rubbing it on my gums during the worship service. I think it was dark enough that no one saw me.
The rest of Sunday, I again laid low and took lots of Advil and rubbed stuff on my gums. The pain now is almost bringing me to tears. I knew by then that I was going to have to break down and call the dentist on Monday morning. I tried to rest but only got about an hour's worth of sleep last night.
I set my alarm and woke up first thing and called the dentist. They weren't able to get me in until 1:30 PM. I tried to suck it up and figured I could somehow make it. However, my phone rang a few minutes later and it was the dentist's office again. They had a cancellation and wanted to know if I could be there by 8:00 AM. I said "sure" and got in the car and headed for Knoxville. When I arrived at the dentist's office, they told me that they wanted to do a cleaning on me since I'd not had that done in a while and then the dentist would look at my sore tooth. I must have turned a bit pale because the hygienist told me that she would be very careful and not hurt my sore tooth. Indeed, she did a good job and I survived the cleaning without any pain or newly discovered cavities.
At the end of the cleaning they moved me into another room and the dentist came into see me. He said that after looking at the x-ray of my tooth that it was abscessed and he would have to do a root canal. I'm sure my heart skipped a few beats. He told me though that there wasn't enough time in his schedule to do a root canal in the morning and therefore I would have to come back in the afternoon. He did take the time to numb me and then I went on my way.
On my drive back to Oak Ridge, I noticed that while my lip and cheek felt numb, my tooth still was hurting. However, it seemed a little less painful. So, I went back to my apartment and crashed for a few hours. I woke up from my nap in severe pain again even though my lip and cheek felt numb.
I headed back to the dentist's office and told him that my tooth was still hurting. He stuck me several more times with whatever they use to make you numb. However, my tooth still hurt. The dentist shook his head and told me that he had never encountered a case like this in all of his years. He said that he had numbed me in all of the places he knew to numb me and yet my tooth still was hurting.
So then he told me that he was going to have to stick a needle right into the nerve of my tooth to deaden it. This didn't sound pleasant, but I said "okay". So, he started drilling and it hurt like crazy. I guess this was to make a place to stick the needle. Then, when he stuck the needle in the nerve of my tooth, I nearly went through the ceiling. I yelled and squirmed in my chair. Pain shot through my tooth and I kept thinking about the movie the Marathon Man. The only thing missing was the dentist asking "Is it safe?" The dentist told me that my tooth should be numb any moment. However, we waited and it just kept throbbing. I was wincing and I think I might have called out for my Mommy.
Again the dentist said that in all his years of practice, he had never seen a case like me. I asked him if I would win an award for this. I don't think he was amused. I know I wasn't because I had shooting pain in my mouth. He then said that he could try it one more time and just go in there and get it. He said it would be painful, but that was the best he could do. So, again he drilled, stuck a needle in my tooth and I screamed. Now the pain was beyond anything I could handle. I literally shook in my chair and my heart was racing in my chest.
The dentist said that he was going to call a dentist who specializes in root canals and see if I could get in today. He seemed doubtful because it was getting to be so late in the day. However, he did find a specialist who would see me in Maryville, TN. So, he gave me a referral sheet, my x-rays, and directions to the other dentist's office and sent me on my way. He was very apologetic and even offered to have one of his assistants drive me to the other dentist's office. I declined, hopped my car and drove away.
As I'm driving to the other dentist's office, the numbness is starting to wear off. My tooth was throbbing from the needle injections along with just being really painful. In addition to this, I am disoriented and wondering if it would have been a good idea to have someone drive me. I was really convinced of this when I found myself lost somewhere in Knoxville. I kept looking at the map and it was definitely not to scale. I then made it about three quarters of the way there and got lost again because I missed a turn. I pulled into a Taco Bell parking lot nearly in tears and I called the dentist's office to which I was headed. The receptionist who answered the phone was very helpful and talked me through it. I finally found the office and headed in the door.
They were ready to go as soon as I got there. Of course, I was very nervous and afraid of more prodding and poking in my mouth. They took what seemed like a million more x-rays and then then dentist came in. He was nice and then told me he was going to try to numb me again. I'm not sure what he did, but he jabbed the needle in my jaw and it hurt like crazy. However, what I realized is that in just a few moments my tooth was starting to hurt less. He told me that I had an unusual jaw line and that's why it was so hard to numb me. (Thanks Mom and Dad for that little inheritance.) He walked out of the room and I sat there and shook. I was very afraid of what was going to happen next. However, as I sat there, I realized the pain in my tooth was finally going away.
The dentist came in and checked to make sure I was numb and then started on the root canal. I was scared but it went like the one I had last year and I was grateful for that. I still found myself flinching whenever the dentist drilled and poked me, but it was okay in the end.
After the root canal was finished, the dentist told me that two things made my case unique. He said that I am very hard to numb. Secondly, he said that I was very anxious and it was hard to work on me. I told the dentist that after having needles stuck into my nerve, I had thought I had a right to be anxious. He agreed.
So, now, I'm home. I'm really tired. I've eaten some soup. I've taken some Advil. I've put on my pajamas. I'm not far from bed. My dentist did call me to check on how I was doing. I appreciated that and he again apologized for causing me pain. I thanked him for his concern.
So, that's my day. The day that shall not be named. It was a very long day and I hope that there are not too many more days like this in my life. Whew! It feels good to get all of this off my chest. I appreciate you taking the time to read about my day.
I hope you've had a better day. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

A Wonderful First Service

2009-09-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much for your prayers! The first worship service of my church's new campus was awesome. I estimate that there were about 500 people in attendance. They had two sections in the auditorium of the high school we are meeting in roped off and had to take the ropes down to accommodate all of the people.
The music was incredible. The new worship leader has assembled an amazing team of gifted musicians. I am hoping that they will all be with us in the future. The acoustics in the auditorium are pretty good and the sound of everyone singing together was wonderful. I especially appreciate that the the worship leader has recruited a diverse team of people. I hope that this new congregation will reflect that diversity.
The senior pastor gave a powerful sermon entitled "Brand New Day". He not only talked about how this was a new day for our church but also how this could be a new day for all of us in Christ as we move forward together. It was indeed a brand new day for the many people who came to the front of the auditorium to kneel and pray around the stage at the end of the service.
I could see the Spirit moving through all of those servants who gave of themselves to set up for the service. Some arrived at 7:30 AM to begin the process. I also could hear the Spirit moving and working through the truly inspiring music. Along with this, I could feel the Spirit moving as people were inspired by God's Word and sent out into the world for service.
I cannot begin to tell you how honored I am to be a part of this new service. During my years in parish ministry, I tried several times to start new worship services and even to launch a new church start. I had neither the leadership skills nor the resources to sustain these endeavors. So, when I first heard that my church was going to launch a new worship service, I wanted to do whatever I could to make this new thing a success. While I don't have a leadership role in the new service and really don't want one, I feel like God has allowed me to be at this place at this time to help give birth to this new community of faith. I left the parking lot of the high school filled with the joy of knowing that God is up to something good in all of this.
Now, that the first service has come and gone, the really hard part begins. We need to work hard to assimilate new people into the life of the church. One way that I will be helping to do this is through small groups. I am helping to train and coach leaders for small groups so that people will have a chance to do life together in the context of a community in which they are known, supported, and loved. It's an overwhelming task, but I am trusting God to take the lead and raise up small group leaders and those who want to connect to the church in this way.
I ask for your continued prayers as we move forward in faith. Please pray for the pastors as they add this new service to their responsibilities. Please also pray for the worship leader and his team as they seek to invite people into the presence of God. Please also pray for our small groups and leaders as we help people to experience authentic Christian community. Also, please pray that God will use this service to help people know how much God loves them.
Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

First Worship Service Tomorrow

2009-09-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow my church will launch our new worship service. I ask for your prayers for our pastors, worship leaders, and all those involved in this exciting new thing. Please also pray for those who will step out in faith to attend the first service. I know that God is up to something good.
Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

Memories

2009-09-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

One of my Facebook friends posted some pictures of some of the plays in which I performed in high school. Looking at those photos brought back a lot of good memories. We all look so young. Of course it was the 1980's and the hair styles are a little embarrassing to look at. Still, it was so good to see those photos and to think about folks whom I haven't seen in years.
I had such a good time acting in those plays. There is a community theater group in Oak Ridge and I have thought a few times about auditioning for one of their plays. After seeing these photos, I may just do that. I think it would be fun. While I probably wouldn't get the same kind of parts as I did in high school, I would hope I could get just a small part. It would just be fun to be a part of the theater experience again.
I hope you have had a good weekend. I'm so glad it's Friday. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

Partnership

2009-09-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today I listened to a training conference call sponsored by Habitat for Humanity International. I have listened to several conference calls since I've been at Habitat and I always learn something new each time. I like the format that gives people listening a chance to ask questions and share their ideas. It's always amazing to hear what people are doing in Habitat affiliates across the country.
The conference call I listened to today was about strengthening the partnership relationship between affiliates and families. The main speaker reminded those of us who were listening that we need to constantly be striving to make the relationship a true partnership. He said that the challenge before Habitat affiliates is to constantly communicate to families the expectations of the program and at the same time make certain that families feel heard and supported.
After listening to this conference call, I got to thinking about the partnership that God invites us into each and every day of our lives. God could just have made the relationship with human beings a very one sided relationship. God could have been a dictator or a puppet master. Instead, God gives us the freedom to choose in this partnership. Knowing that we might even choose to ignore God, God still takes the risk to partner with us. While God clearly communicates God's expectations for living to us through the Scriptures, God never forces us to live in a certain way.
It is this partnership in my life that has made all the difference. God continuously reaches out to me for relationship with unmeasurable love. Too many times, I want to selfishly go my own way and yet God always calls me back to relationship. No matter how far away I go, no matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what I feel, God calls me again again to a partnership of abundant life. This is the wonderful miracle that is God's grace.
So, tonight as I write this, I'm giving God thanks and praise for the gift of this wonderful partnership in my life and heart.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Germs All Around Me

2009-09-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

There are germs all around me and it's scaring me! One of my co-workers is out sick with bronchitis. One of my co-worker's son has strep throat. One our Partner Family members has Swine Flu. I'm running low on hand sanitizer at my office. I need to get some more before they run out.
I'm trying really hard to wash my hands, cover my cough, and not touch my mouth. I've got the first two down pretty good but the last one is harder. No matter how hard I try, I keep putting my hands up by my face.
I don't know what I'm going to do when I serve as a greeter at my church's new worship service. I don't think people would feel very welcome if I wore a mask and latex gloves as I greeted them. I guess I'll just have to run to the bathroom as soon as I'm done and wash my hands. Of course, we're meeting at a high school. I'm wondering how clean a high school bathroom is really going to be. Yikes!
Okay, now I've gotten myself all worked up. I'd better go and do some deep breathing exercises and maybe wash my hands again.
I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Labor Day

2009-09-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

I found this picture on Wikipedia. It's a photo taken in 1908 by Lewis Hine. He took this photo and many others like it on behalf of the National Child Labor Committee. The National Child Labor Committee is a private, non-profit organization in the United States that serves as a leading proponent for the national child labor reform movement. Its mission is to promote "the rights, awareness, dignity, well-being and education of children and youth as they relate to work and working.”
According to the 1900 US Census, a total of 1,752,187 (about 1 in every 6) children between the ages of five and ten were engaged in “gainful occupations” in the United States. This number represents a fifty percent increase from the 1,118,356 children working for wages in 1880. This trend alarmed Americans who, while supporting the traditional role of children in agriculture, found the idea of American's youth laboring for meager wages in industrial factories appalling. From 1909 to 1921 the NCLC capitalized on this moral outrage by making it the focal point of the NCLC campaign against child labor.
In 1908 the The National Child Labor Committee hired Lewis Wickes Hine, a sociology professor who advocated photography as an educational medium, to document child labor in American industry. Over the next ten years Hine would publish thousands of photographs designed to pull at the nation's heartstrings.
Hine's subjects included both boys and girls employed by mills and factories all over the United States. For the average American, Hine provided an otherwise unavailable window into the somber working conditions facing America's youth. When asked about his work on the subject Hine simply stated that he “wanted to show things that had to be corrected.” Hine's work resulted in a wave of popular support for federal child labor regulations put forward by the NCLC. In effect, Hine's photographs became the face of the National Child Labor Committee, and are among the earliest examples of documentary photography.
What struck me about this photo is that it was taken at a glass factory in my home state of Indiana. It's entitled "Midnight at the Glassworks" which is even more shocking to know that these kids were working the night shift at this and other factories. I Googled Hines and found more of his pictures including photos of children who worked at the Singer factory in South Bend. These buildings still stand in South Bend and I have driven past them many times. In fact, I'm pretty sure my Dad worked in one of the old Singer buildings for a while.
It was rather humbling for me to learn about this period of our history which is really not all that long ago. It gave a whole new meaning to Labor Day to me and I wanted to share it with you. On a holiday that for so many people is about a day off from work and backyard barbecues, it's important to take the time to remember all those who have gone before us in the struggle for justice and the rights of workers and children in our country.
I hope you are having a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Practice

2009-09-06T20:32:00.001-07:00

Tonight, we got to practice setting up and taking down all of the stuff at the high school where my church is going to launch a new worship service next Sunday morning. We had orientation for our various jobs. I am going to be serving on the Connections Team which includes greeters, ushers, hospitality, and parking lot guides. I thought about signing up for the audio visual team but was glad that I didn't when I found out that that team has to show up at 7:30 AM on Sunday mornings to set up the equipment.
We also had a worship service. The senior pastor again cast the vision for what we hope this new campus to be. He also reminded us of the miracles that God has worked to take us to this point. The worship band did a great job. The new worship leader is a gifted man of God who brings much talent to leading worship.
I continue to thank God that I have a part in this new thing that God is doing. I hope you are having a good holiday weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

In a Cleaning Mood

2009-09-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

This doesn't strike me very often so I'm taking full advantage of it. I am in a cleaning mood. I woke up early this morning (5:00 AM - which is way too early for me) and couldn't go back to sleep. I started looking for something in one of my boxes that I still haven't unpacked since moving over a year ago. As I went through the box, I realized I needed to throw stuff away and give some stuff away. I've already dropped four bags of clothes off at the Salvation Army and filled two bags with trash and it's only 9:30 AM. It's going to be a long day but this cleaning mood may not be back for a while so I'm doing as much as I can.
I hope you are having a great weekend. I probably won't get back to blogging for a few days. The library is closed this weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Blogging

2009-09-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

I found myself wondering exactly why I enjoy blogging so much. There are a few blogs that I follow and they are all so different in content than my blog. One blog I follow includes recipes and craft ideas. Another blog I follow offers a lot of commentary on politics and society. Still another blog that I follow focuses on theology and life in the local church. Yet, if I had to put in one sentence what my blog is about or what I focus on, I don't think I could do it.
This got me wondering if I need to be more focused in what I write. Maybe I need to focus less on myself and more on poodles wearing costumes. (See yesterday's post.) Or, maybe I should focus less on my spiritual journey and try to use this blog to give reviews of movies I've watched through my Netflix subscription. Or, maybe I should write more about issues of poverty and housing as they relate to my work and the mission of Habitat for Humanity.
All of these topics are worthy and I know that I could come up with a long list of themes or topics for this blog. However, what I've been doing is just writing about what's on my mind and my heart. Sometimes this means that something at work inspires me. Sometimes this means that an article I read or a movie I watch speaks to my life. Sometimes that means that I don't have a whole lot to say because sometimes life is just like that - nothing too exciting going on.
I began this blog as a way to share my journey with others as I made the move from Indiana to Tennessee. A lot has happened in my life since then. You may have been with me since the very beginning. Or, you may have joined me since then. I'm grateful for all of those who take the time to read my ramblings. I often say that blogging is a cheap form of therapy for me. It allows me to get things off my chest and to communicate with others. It allows me to share the ups and downs of a life of faith. I'm always grateful whenever I receive a comment or an email from someone in response to what I've written.
So, all that to say, I think I'm going to continue on blogging about my journey (even though the poodle thing might be fun for a while). I don't know that I have much that is profound to say. I certainly don't have much wisdom to pass along. However, what I hope that you have found is that this blog is written by someone who continues to walk a journey that is faith and life and who is ever grateful that you are my companion along the way.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Poodles Gone Wild

2009-09-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes poodles just want to have fun or at least their owners do. The poodles actually don't look very happy. In fact, some of them look embarrassed. Check out these wonderful poodle pictures: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32581670/from/ET/?beginSlide=1 They have had me laughing all day. I especially like the Jackson Paw-llock poodle - very avant garde.
I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I did. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Hardly Comfortable

2009-09-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

If believing in God is what you’re interested in, I feel obligated to tell you that it’s hardly comfortable. In fact, it’s dangerous and exhilarating, exciting and threatening, crazy and logical, because it’s far better than anything I could cook up on my own.

- Jo Kadlecek, Woman Overboard: How Passion Saved My Life

The above quote was a part of one of my e-devotions this week. I sometimes save these e-devotions in my inbox for a while and go back and read them again. I have been doing just that with this particular devotion. It's caused me to reflect upon my own faith in God.
I completely embrace the notion that believing in God is hardly comfortable. In fact, my faith in God has made me completely and totally uncomfortable in my life. Because of my relationship with God, I went off to seminary not knowing what to expect or how I was going to pay for it. Because of my faith in Christ, I became a pastor rather than an architect. Because of my belief in God, I tried to help start a new church and am now helping to launch a new worship service at my church. Because of my faith, I choose to honor God in worship on Sunday mornings rather than sleep in which I really love to do. Because of my faith, I have chosen vocations that have allowed me to make a difference in people's lives rather than just trying to make a lot of money. Because of my faith, I have tried to speak out on behalf of the poor against injustice instead of remaining silent and going with the flow. Because of my faith, I have wrestled with God late into the night. Because of my faith, I have tried to offer love and grace to those who don't love me or even like me. Because of my faith, I have spoken truth to power. Because of my faith, I have repeatedly stepped out of my comfort zone to share the love of Christ with others.
Because of my faith, I have been hardly comfortable. It has not been a easy road. It has caused me to worry and feel anxious and question my choices. However, in the end, I realize that I can do nothing else. God has a claim on my life and God will not let me go. While I hardly deserve it, God over and over again offers me love and grace beyond my wildest dreams. God forgives. God renews. God listens. God heals. God fills. God sacrificed Jesus upon a cross. God loves me and you that much. So, in response to these wonderful acts of God, I am willing to be uncomfortable.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

At the Library Again

2009-09-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

My blogging has been hit and miss lately because I can't seem to get a good wireless Internet signal at my apartment again. So, I've had to break out of my cocoon and come to the library. I can be such a hermit sometimes. When I go home after work, I don't want to leave. I think the ten hour days may have something to do with it. It seems like I just get home and it's time to go to bed so that I can get up and go to work again. I am really loving my three day weekends though. They are a wonderful gift. So, I guess I'll just keep enduring the ten hour days.
Anyway, I'm blogging from the library tonight. I was a bit worried about finding an available computer terminal, but the library doesn't seem to be very busy this evening. I'm grateful for that. Also, coming out to the library reminds me of the public library in my hometown when I was growing up. It has the same smell. I'm not sure what that smell is. I guess it's the books or maybe all libraries are required by law to use the same cleaning supplies. Who knows? Whatever it is, as I type this, I'm smelling that library smell.
I read someplace that smells can be one of the strongest triggers for memories. I don't know if that is true for everyone, but it certainly is true for me tonight. I remember all of those book reports we had to do when I was in school and I would head down to the public library to find a book. I remember the term papers we had to write and the research that I did at my hometown public library. I remember looking at the gigantic atlases that were splayed out on stands. I also remember researching my family history at the public library. I would spend hours looking at microfilm records of old newspapers and census reports. I remember flipping through the card catalogue with its small drawers jammed with those little cards with all kinds of information on them about all the books in the library. I remember librarians who wouldn't hesitate to shush us if I and my friends got too loud or rowdy. I remember all of this and more about the public library in Mishawaka because of that library smell I'm smelling tonight. I remember and give thanks for those memories. I also am feeling a bit a homesick as I remember and smell that library smell.
Well, I think I'm going to check my email and do a little more Internet surfing before I head for home. I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Commissioned

2009-08-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

Today during one of the worship services at my church, they commissioned the group of people, including me, who will be the core group to help launch the third campus of the church. We were asked to come forward and stand before the congregation. The pastor prayed for us and for what we are about to undertake. It was truly a holy moment.
I continue to be grateful that God has put me in this place at this time to be a part of this new thing. I am honored to witness the work of the Spirit in so many ways as we work together to reach out to a whole new community with the love of God.
I continue to ask for your prayers as we prepare for the first worship service on September 13. Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

That We May All Be One

2009-08-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

I was doing some web research today about churches in Anderson County. I have been trying to update our database and make sure that we have all of the correct contact information for churches in the county. While doing this research, I found the following quote on one church's website:

In 1935, a small group of Baptists living in the Orchard View community and surrounding area established a church. Land was donated for a building site, but like the rest of the country struggling through the depression, they didn't have enough money to start building right away.
Up until this time the Baptists had been meeting with the Jonesville United Methodist Church for worship and fellowship. The Methodists shared not only their sanctuary, but allowed the Baptist minister, Reverend Eli Brown, to alternate preaching duties with the Methodist minister.
They continued to meet with the Methodist group and work hard raising money and gathering materials for their first sanctuary. Their efforts paid off in 1936 when they were able to build a small frame building to start their church.

I am grateful that I found this information about the interconnectedness of these two congregations. I think it is so wonderful that the Methodists and Baptists were able to co-exist and that the Methodists were able to offer such wonderful hospitality to their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Unfortunately, this kind of thing doesn't happen often enough. So many churches seem to exist in isolation from one another. They go off and do their own thing and never stop to think about how they might work together.
What is even more discouraging is that this go-it-alone attitude doesn't just exist between churches of different denominations but also between churches within the same denomination. I remember how often there was a kind of competitiveness between United Methodist churches within the same community. Often times turf wars would flare up and it felt like church leaders would form circular firing squads.
So, when I came across this information about a Baptist church and a Methodist church sharing with one another, it helped me to get a glimpse of what the church could and should be. It reminded me again of how much we need to come together around our common faith and celebrate God's love made real in Christ. I was reminded of Jesus' prayer that we may all be one. I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Obsolete Technology

2009-08-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

I read an article today that focused on obsolete technology. The author came up with a list of 40 things that have gone or are going the way of the dinosaurs in the world of technology. You can read the full article at this link: http://tech.msn.com/products/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=21159559
After reading this article, I began a trip down memory lane. I thought about how much of this technology was an important part of my life experience. I picked ten items on the list that seemed to really stand out for me.

1. Getting a Busy Signal - I didn't really think about it until I read this article, but I can't remember the last time I got a busy signal when I tried to make a call. With the increase of voicemail and call waiting, a busy signal is a fast-disappearing sound. However, I remember how busy signals could either make me feel irritated or hopeful. On the one hand, if I got a busy signal I was irritated not to get through to the person I wanted to talk to. On the other hand, whenever I heard a busy signal I knew I could keep dialing and almost always catch the person at home. Now, many people screen their calls and often don't answer their phones if the caller ID display shows the number of someone they don't want to talk to.

2. Paying for Long Distance - I remember how my long distance bill was something I would dread each month. I remember trying to limit the length of my phone calls to save myself money. Now, with a cell phone, I haven't had to pay for long distance calls in about three years. I especially love the fact that my whole family uses the same cell phone company and it doesn't cost me minutes or any money to call them any time.

3. Getting Fuzzy TV Reception - With the switch to digital TV, there's no more snow on my TV. Of course, I can only receive one channel right now where I live but at least I don't get snow. I remember I had a portable black and white TV in my room when I was growing up. There were times when the reception was really bad. I would move the antenna around and get a good picture. Then, just as I let go of the antenna, the picture would turn to snow again. Now, I can only watch whatever is on the CW. I guess this is progress.

4. Hearing the Sound of a Modem Connecting - I wrote over the weekend about my memories of my first computer and connecting to the Internet through a dial-up modem. I remember quite well that annoying screeching sound coming from my computer. It was always a blessing when I was finally connected.

5. Typing on a Typewriter - I still find it hard to believe I used a typewriter to type most of my term papers throughout my seminary days. I was grateful to receive as a high school graduation gift an electric typewriter from my grandparents. It even had a built-in white-out correction key. That was cool! However, there's no substitute for a computer for people who type as poorly as I do.

6. Checking Your Answering Machine - I remember when answering machines became increasingly common. I told myself that I would never own one. I just thought that people could reach me when I was home and that was it. However, when I was serving in the local church, answering machines were a vital necessity for communication. I remember I liked being able to go out of town and still being able to check my answering machine remotely. I'm sure they must still sell answering machines, but I'm sure they don't sell too many.

7. Using a Public Phone Booth - I can't tell you the last time I used a public phone. I remember it was always a little scary to use a public phone for a germaphobe like me. It often looked like someone had smeared salad dressing or some other unknown substance on the earpiece. Thank heaven for cell phones.

8. Dialing a Rotary Phone - I can't remember the last time I used a rotary dial phone. My parents had one for a number of years down in their basement in Mishawaka. That may have been the last time that I used a rotary dial phone. I wonder how many minutes of my life were taken up waiting for the dial to return so that I could dial the next number. I still laugh whenever I see people making calls on rotary dial phones in movies.

9. Putting in a Video Tape to Watch a Movie - I had a combination DVD/VHS player until last year when it stopped working. I bought a new DVD player and got rid of all my old VHS movies. Remember having to adjust the tracking? Those were fun times.

10. Looking up Telephone Numbers in a Telephone Book - Think of all of the forests of trees that were destroyed to make all of those phone books throughout the years. I can't tell you the last time I looked anything up in a phone book. With online resources that allow you to look up people and businesses any where in the country, I'm thinking phone books are soon to be a thing of the past.

I hope this list has helped you to walk down memory lane as it did me. It continues to amaze me how many things have changed during my lifetime. Technology marches forward and what is new an innovative today will be tomorrow's antique.
I hope you're having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Cameron's First Day of School

2009-08-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today was my nephew Cameron's first day of school. My sister Stacey posted his picture on Facebook. He looks so grown up and ready for a great day. He has been very excited about being a first grader. I know he will have a great year. I am very proud of him. I'm sure there will be stories to tell.
I hope you're having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

500 Movie Limit

2009-08-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I discovered something very interesting the other day. I found out that you can have no more than 500 movies in your Netflix queue. I discovered this because I tried to add a 501st movie and it wouldn't let me do it. I didn't realize how many movies I had added to my queue until then.
Now, I must tell you that my queue includes more than just movies. I have been watching some television series and they always include several discs. In fact, one PBS documentary is on 10 discs. On the other hand, I will admit that 500 discs is a huge number of movies. I have no idea how long it will take me to watch that many movies and TV shows. I watch about 5 Netflix DVD's each week so at that rate I estimate it will take me about two years to watch all 500 DVD's. I could probably watch more if I had a faster Internet connection and could watch some of the movies streaming on my computer. However, for now, I am locked into watching just DVD's.
I really do love my Netflix. I've gotten to watch movies and TV shows that I would never have watched otherwise. I've been watching some classic movies that I've never taken the time to see until now. I also have been watching the HBO series Entourage which I have really enjoyed. The characters are over the top and the writing is excellent. For me, Netflix has been a wonderful thing.
I hope you are having a wonderful week. Thanks for being a part of my movie-filled journey!

Miracles

2009-08-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

I attended a gathering and worship service for those who will be a part of the core group of the new campus that my church is starting on September 13. My senior pastor took some time to cast the vision and share the amazing things that God has done so far. He talked about the miracles that God has blessed our church with as we have stepped out in faith to make this new worship service and third campus a reality.
The first miracle happened long before the vision ever came to our senior pastor about starting a new campus. The Hardin Valley area is one of the fastest growing regions of Knoxville. Land all along the main road through Hardin Valley was being purchased at a fast rate. In fact, there was only one large piece of property left in a prime location near the proposed new high school. The Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church was able to convince the owner of this 22 acre parcel of land to the Conference for the use of a new church.
The second miracle happened when the Senior Pastor of my Church submitted a proposal to the Annual Conference to use this property to begin a third campus of Cokesbury Church rather than try to start a new church from scratch. The Annual Conference does not have a very good history of starting and sustaining new churches. My Senior Pastor thought that it would make better sense to transfer the healthy DNA of Cokesbury to a third worship service in Hardin Valley. He thought that the Annual Conference leadership would say "no" because they had never started a new faith community in this way. However, they Conference leadership said "yes" and gave our church approval to move forward with plans to start a third campus.
The third miracle happened with two different families gave a total of $130,000 to help launch this new campus. The staff had figured out that they needed about $125,000 and God blessed us with a little more than we needed. The other amazing thing about this is that neither of these families will be attending this new worship service. They simply wanted the church to succeed and help reach people for Christ.
The fourth miracle happened when the Knoxville School Board redrew the school district lines and one of our associate pastors' home fell within the boundaries of the district for the new Hardin Valley High School. His boys will attend this school. However, this also allowed this pastor to begin making connections and building relationships in the district. He is now serving as the chaplain for the football team and helping to coordinate and coach youth sports in the community. He is reaching out to many unchurched people in this community through his efforts.
The fifth miracle happened when the Church leadership began to pray for a worship leader to be the point person for the new campus and worship service. They did a nation-wide search and ended up finding someone who is originally from Knoxville and was serving in Ohio at one of the largest United Methodist Churches in the country. He is a wonderful worship leader and has helped to launch new worship services in the past. I know he's going to do a great job.
So, as you can see, God is up to some wonderful things in the life of my church. There is much excitement and I can feel the Spirit moving in powerful ways as we seek to reach a whole new community with the love of God.
I ask for your prayers for my church and its leadership. There is much yet to do before we launch the new campus.
Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

The Internet

2009-08-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

My Internet connection was not working again last night so I didn't get to post. It made me realize how much I really depend on the Internet in my life. I like to check my email regularly. I enjoy just being able to Google a random thing or to look something up on Wikipedia.
I am really amazed when I think about the fact that fifteen years ago I didn't have a computer and didn't know what the Internet was. I remember the first computer I bought and the dial-up connection I had. Of course, when my wireless Internet signal is not working, I long for dial-up. I still remember that horrible noise it made when it was dialing into the Internet. I also remember how I used to read every single email that was forwarded to me and then forwarded them on to ten of my friends so I wouldn't break the chain. Oh, those were the days.
I think about how much the world has been transformed by the Internet. It is essential to how we communicate and how we conduct commerce. It is truly a wonderful gift that has helped me to reconnect with old friends and stay in touch with my family. While I acknowledge that there many who use it for all kinds of bad things, I also think of all the good things that have been enabled by the Internet.
So, as my wireless connection is working right now and I'm able to communicate with you, I'm very grateful for the gift of the Internet. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

All Things English

2009-08-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

I must admit, I'm an Anglophile. I love all things English. I especially enjoy reading about the history of English royalty. These people were the ultimate dysfunctional family. They had their relatives killed. Sometimes they married their relatives. They do all kinds of things to tick off the Pope. They are a mess. Yet, I am amazed at what they do as leaders. Some of them really rise to the occasion and seem to really care about their people's welfare.
One of my favorite English monarchs is Queen Elizabeth I. I think Queen Elizabeth I is truly an amazing person. She led her people in a time of great turmoil. Her life was constantly under threat. She had to continually work to get people behind her as a woman in a male-dominated culture. She lives her whole life never knowing who she can really trust.
I've been watching an HBO mini-series from a few years ago through my Netflix about Elizabeth I. It's an amazing story. I like how she uses humor as a leader. I also like the ways in which she is portrayed as struggling in her personal life about marriage. She seems to find men that she loves but for whatever reasons they are not suitable for her to marry and so she remains single throughout her life. She says that she is "married to England".
If you get a chance to see this mini-series, I highly recommend it. It won several Emmy awards including Best Actress for Helen Mirren and Best Actor for Jeremy Irons. They both do a wonderful job.
I hope you are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Long Day

2009-08-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a long day. I was busy all day at work with a lot of different things. Tuesdays still seem like Mondays to me. I'm just not quite used to this new work schedule of four ten hour days. I never seem to know what day it is.
In the midst of all of my work and confusion over what day it is, God continued to bless me and surprise me. For this, I am truly grateful. In all that I do and in all that I am, God is always the constant, faithful Presence in my life.
I'm not far from bed. I am hoping to get a good night's sleep. I hope you do the same. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Puzzles

2009-08-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

I just completed a jigsaw puzzle. I bought it a few weeks ago at the store. I'm not sure why I picked it up except that I happen to walk by the shelf and see the puzzles and thought to myself that I haven't worked on a puzzle for a very long time.
It took me a little over two weeks to complete it. I didn't work on it every day. In fact, I went for two or three days in a row and never touched it. On some mornings, I would try to find the right spot for just one piece before I went to work. On the weekends, I would work on the jigsaw puzzle for hours at a time.
I rediscovered how much I really like working on puzzles. For me, they are probably like what people get out of crossword puzzles or Sudoku or crafts or scrapbooking. It also keeps my hands busy and out of the potato chip bag or the refrigerator. Also, I think it helps to sharpen my mind. I also enjoy seeing the finished product. It gives me a sense of accomplishment even if it is only for a very short time until I dismantle the puzzle and put it back in the box.
I like the metaphor of a puzzle. I've heard it expressed before that the church is like a puzzle and each individual is one piece. It's only when we come together for a common purpose that we reveal the glory of God. It's only when we bring our unique gifts to the table that we are truly the Body of Christ.
I also feel like my life is a puzzle. Many days I feel like some of the pieces are missing. However, I know that God knows what the whole picture of my life looks like. I know that God's plan for my life is to make something beautiful from it. So, this gives me hope that some day all the pieces will come together for me. That very well may be when I stand before the throne of heaven. Until then, somedays it feels like the big picture is not clear to me.
I guess I really liked working that puzzle because over the weekend I picked up another one. I just started working on it today. It doesn't look like much now, but hopefully in a few weeks it will all make sense.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Nearly Perfect Day

2009-08-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

Today was for me a nearly perfect day.

I got to sleep in a little.
I attended a wonderful worship service at my church.
I went to my favorite used book store.
I went to a movie.
I read another chapter in the book I've been reading.
I worked on a jigsaw puzzle.
I visited a friend who is recovering from surgery in the hospital.
I ate a wonderful home cooked meal.
I laughed with good friends who love me.

God is so good to me!
I hope you've had a wonderful day. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Salamander

2009-08-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

I discovered a small salamander had gotten trapped inside my apartment today. I'm not sure how it got in but it sure was scrambling to get out. It was very tiny and seemed disoriented. When I found it, it was trying to crawl into the hall closet. I wasn't sure how to catch it. I don't think I ever saw a salamander in Indiana. However, they are everywhere here in East Tennessee. There are several salamanders that live outside one of the doors at the Habitat Office (which, by the way, thankfully didn't blow up after the transformer accident yesterday). After several tries, I finally caught it in a Tupperware container and set it free. I hope it doesn't find it's way back. I don't think there's anything in my apartment that it would want to eat.
This was about all the nature I can handle for a while. I think I'm going to stay in for the rest of the day.
I hope you are having a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Dramatic Day at the Office

2009-08-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

Just when I think that I've experienced everything in my work with Habitat for Humanity, I find myself being dumbfounded by things that happen at the office. I thought the raccoon in my office was a big deal. Today, we all got to leave early because we had to evacuate the building. Someone ran into the main transformer that provides power to the building. At first the lights flickered. Later on the power went out completely. The driver of the car was thankfully not injured; however, I think her car was pretty messed up. When she hit the transformer, some kind of very toxic and flammable liquid started spewing out all over the car and the ground. My understanding is that the driver tried to move her car while all this stuff was shooting out of the transformer. She was stopped from doing this by the fire department and pulled from the car. I guess if she had started the car, the whole building could have blown up.
By the time I went out to take a look, the parking lot was filled with police cars, an ambulance, and people from the city utility company. I guess they had to completely replace the transformer which involved a backhoe and other heavy machinery. The last I heard was that the utility folks were working along with an electrician to get all of the power hooked back up to the building. My boss said that there was at least $10,000 worth of damage done.
I just never know what's going to happen when I come into work. This was definitely not a part of my plan. It was an interesting way to start the weekend.
I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

31 Days of Prayer

2009-08-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Today my church begins 31 days of prayer in preparation for the launch of our third campus. They handed out prayer guides last Sunday in worship. We are all asked to pray each day for the new thing that God is doing through our church and through this new worship service.
I am really looking forward to the launch of this worship service. I am helping to support the small group ministry for this third campus. I am grateful for the opportunity to help give birth to this new community of faith that will be an extension of our church. I know that God is up to something good.
I ask for your prayers as I go about my work with the small groups. I also ask for your prayers for my pastors and church leaders as they work hard to make this third campus a reality. Please also pray for the new community of faith that will launch on September 13.
Thanks for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

Thunderstorms

2009-08-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

We have had thunderstorms nearly every day this week. It's really amazing how they seem to just come out of nowhere. It looks like they pop up on the radar like magic. They are often very strong for a short time and then the sun comes out and they move on. It feels like I'm living in Florida.
One of the things I've noticed since I've lived in Tennessee is that many people here really get freaked out by thunderstorms. In fact, they often get freaked out whenever it rains. It seems to immobilize people in a way that I don't remember people reacting when I was in Indiana. I do remember some folks not liking storms in Indiana, but here it seems like the prediction of rain throws everyone into an anxious froth. I could be exaggerating a bit, but I really do think there's something different about how native Tennesseans respond to thunderstorms.
In contrast, I really like thunderstorms. I love to listen to the rain falling on the pavement. I enjoy seeing the lightening streak across the sky. I am amazed when I hear the thunder rumble. I am grateful for the way a storm seems to wash away the grime and dust that builds up on buildings, cars, and streets. I love to walk out after a storm and take in deep breaths of the air that is thick with moisture and freshness. I am humbled at God's handiwork as I watch the sky transform from darkness to light as the clouds pass overhead. For me, there's just something about a thunderstorm that seems to make all things new.
I love that God made thunderstorms. I know they sometimes do damage and create havoc. I know that they can sometimes develop into tornadoes or hail storms. However, I think that thunderstorms can remind us of God's power and majesty. Thunderstorms can be a reminder that we are not in charge - God is. Thunderstorms can also illuminate the truth that God has the power to make all things new just as God can do in our hearts through a relationship with Christ.
So, tonight I'm giving God thanks for thunderstorms. I'm thankful that God is the God of the storm and God is the God of the clear sky. I'm thankful that God is a God Who continues to remind us of God's presence and power and love in our world.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Life Experience

2009-08-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

The following quote was a part of my e-devotional today. It spoke to me and so I thought I would share it with you. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

All of us have life experience in our hands. Of course, this life experience differs vastly from one person to another. It usually includes lessons we have learned while growing up, the work we have done, the mistakes we have made, the successes we have achieved, and, perhaps most importantly from God’s perspective, the painful things we have suffered. Our life experience represents a huge resource for God’s use in healing a hurting world. As we learn from many Bible stories, the way God uses us is often related to the ups and downs we have gone through.

- Trevor Hudson, Questions God Asks Us