upward & inward

Although the "Sunday" reference isn't accurate, it's a fun way to learn the Top Ten.

Today is Marty Huttenlocker's birthday - #46. He and I ran around together growing up. With a name like his, you'd think he'd be easy to find on the net, but he's not. My oldest son is getting back from his first visit to a college tonight. I look forward to talking with him about his time there. By the way, the friend of mine who had the heart attack was released from the hospital 8 days after he was admitted. He's slowly recovering and, although dealing with a few complications, doing well. Praise God.

I was prepared to post at oldtruth.com in answer to the question: Is Christ incarnate in popular culture? However, the posting rules prohibited the size of the posting and special requirements are made for pastors. So, I decided that my response on my blog would have to suffice for now.

Christ being incarnate in pop-culture. That's the big question at this blog . Reading through the blog, the writers are predominately of one mind with regard to their answer to this statement. And, when a differing opinion comes in, I haven't seen a whole lot of grace demonstrated in the response. Before I respond (if I do), though, I wanted to get my thoughts down on my own. The question comes from Tim Steven's new book, "Pop Goes The Church", which I have reviewed. In the book, Tim asserts that above statement is true. So, is it? First, what does the statement mean: Christ being incarnate in pop-culture? As I read the statement, it asserts that Christ can be found in pop-culture. In other words, if we look for Him there, we will find Him. This statement does not imply that He has somehow "come back" through popular culture. Instead, I take it to mean that as I can look at creation and see the hand of God, so I should be able to see Him in popular cult...

Here's the first billboard for the church. The idea for the billboards is to get people to think or laugh or both. The next one will be funny, but this one is for thinking.

An "outsider can smell a fake a mile away." Is that what I've missed? Are we in some way in-authentic about who we are? That is, are we trying to be a church we're not? It's soooo easy to get caught up in the programs, excellence, quality, facilities, organization, etc. that is required for "church" to function and lose sight of this: we are God's ambassadors and His ministers of reconciliation in order to change lives . If we understand this, grasp this, and live this, then we not only honor the One who has called us to ministry, but we also "smell" to the outsider with the authentic fragrance of Christ. I don't believe for a moment, that we're inauthentic about Who has called us to ministry and His Hand upon this church. Not for a moment. However, if we lose sight of the purpose, the goal as described above, and instead focus our intentions on the mechanics of ministry, then we unintentionally have an odor that sends an unfort...

I'm reviewing Tim Stevens ' book "Pop Goes the Church" and it is definitely challenging my thinking and integrity with regard to my approach to the popular culture: how I approach it, when I embrace it, what I consider to be acceptable, and what part of it I allow to filter in to my church. It's a good book so far (I'm about half way through). Last week was interesting in that, for the first time since taking this new role, I struggled with stress. Seriously. Was it the experience of watching a friend endure a heart attack? I don't know. However, it has driven me to my knees in earnest pleas to God for His wisdom and strength. I know I'm not going to deal with it on my own. The true height, weight, and girth of the organism at Central is becoming more clear - and daunting. I will work with the team this week to ensure I'm on the right priorities. Currently, the list includes: volunteer experience/leadership, mission/vision emphasis, administrative ...

Found out today that I get to help an up and coming author review his just finished book. It's a great (and unexpected) honor.

Last week, I was invited at the last minute to have lunch with a guy from church. 10 minutes later, he and I are in line at a local deli ordering our meals. 10 minutes after that we're sitting down waiting on our food to arrive and he begins rubbing his upper chest toward his left arm. I ask him if his left arm hurts (because we're both thinking heart attack symptoms) and it doesn't hurt but he's steadily feeling worse. 10 minutes later he's on the floor with his tie/shirt loosened and his feet elevated with the paramedics enroute to the deli. 10 minutes after that, he's in an ambulance in the parking lot receiving nitro, IVs, etc. And, 20-30 minutes later, he's in the emergency room on his way to a heart catheterization procedure where they discover that he has indeed had a heart attack and will require a triple bypass (which is happening today as I write this) to fix blockages of 100, 98, and 78 percent, respectively. This guy was 55 years old and in prime...

So... I had signed up for a free trial on typepad and then discovered that there was a way to remove that "next blog" option from the nav-bar. Actually, the option I discovered was to remove the entire nav bar! You can find it in http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/2007/08/blocking-navbar-next-blog-link.html . Reading the posts, it appears to be a real problem for which I hope blogspot will offer a better option than removing the Navbar. Until then, I'll remain on blogspot using the above solution to the "next blog could be porn" problem.

(originally posted January 6, 2008) Studying Matthew 16 this morning... "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. And there shall no sign be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah." How does one seek confirmation without seeking a sign? What's the difference? I think it's the motivation of the heart. The Pharisees/Sadducees were approaching Jesus with a "prove me wrong" attitude. Aren't we called to come to Jesus with a "I've seen enough signs" attitude? In other words, "I don't need to see another sign to believe - because I already do."

(originally posted on January 5, 2008) After reviewing the blogspot page I setup, I realized that it offered some 'features' that I wasn't happy with. One, in particular. In the top left hand corner, there is this "Next Blog" link. I selected it and was greeted by a soft porn blog. Because it changes day-to-day, a later selection showed a very nice Christian woman offering her thoughts on a good number of good topics. In other words, I can't control that link. It could go to a good site or a not-so good site or a terrible site. I want people to read this (for the purposes listed in another post ). But, I don't want to lead anyone to a site that may cause them to "stumble" in their walk with Jesus - or their walk toward Jesus. So, I checked out a blog I enjoy reading and that led me to typepad. We'll see how it works as I blog through my first 14 days of a free-trial. For now, my garage door opener isn't working and it appears that I have ...

(originally posted on blogspot January 4, 2008) Had an interesting conversation today - one that I wish someone would have had with me when I was younger. Leadership, accountability, and relationships. Leadership is a great many things both subjective and objective. For example, getting people to follow you as a leader is difficult. It becomes more difficult when the followers aren't paid to follow, of course. The sub-topic around leadership today, though, was assertion. That is, thinking ahead and asserting oneself to help others understand where you think you're going and how they can help us all get there. It's more than understanding and seeking excellence in the mechanics of whatever you might be doing - it's asserting a leadership role in the conversation and activity such that the committed ones gathered around you understand what's expected and expect to be held to account. Accountability, therefore, is a natural outflow of the expectations already set and c...

(originally posted on blogspot on January 3, 2008) When it comes to consistent journal keeping or writing, I haven't excelled. The "tyranny of the urgent" takes hold and I don't take the time to shake loose from it. However, in the role that I've been blessed with, it may just be time to use this media for a few purposes: Express myself Communicate my thoughts to others who may care Offer others an opportunity to express themselves as they respond to my ramblings Strengthen whatever creative writing muscle God has blessed me with Connect with other bloggers, multiply perspectives, and grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally I wonder what lessons other bloggers could offer that might help me (and others) keep up the consistency. Or, is it as simple as: "the two things you need to do when you sit down and write a blog is to 1) sit down and 2) write a blog?"