Wonderings and Wanderings

I’ve been home sick pretty much for the past 5 days. I tried a couple of times to go to work but then came home.  Partly because I get going and the fevers and chills get going. Mostly because I don’t want to infect others. So many folks have been sick in the past few weeks and some of that is due to the fact that people who are sick don’t stay home. I don’t think I have it nearly as bad as what I’ve heard from others.  I’ve had the fever and chills, some ear aches and headaches, some nausea. 

I’ve not really done a lot with my time.  Mostly sat and worked on the computer which is frustrating because I had a lot I could be doing here.  I have a couple of comp days next week for recent events and hopefully I’ll be feeling much better and will be ready to get busy and do some house projects.  I want to finish up the final details on the guest bedroom and work on my home office.

I did make an online purchase yesterday (to make me feel better, of course).  It is a great little bag from Feedprojects.org.  When you buy the bag, you feed a child for a year.  Keep that in mind when you purchase the bag.  I found mine for $59.00 with no shipping cost through Amazon.com.  Clearly, the bag isn’t much but when you realize a child is fed for the year, it is well worth the $59. Plus, it is a walking advertisement when you use it.

TOMS Shoes also sells the bags but they are a little higher from their site. TOMS is another great site.  For every pair of shoes you buy, the company gives a pair of shoes to a child in need. I’ve thought about buying a pair but am not sure of their comfort level. My friend, Kate, speaks highly of them.  She and her husband, Ross, gave them to relatives for Christmas this year and said the shoes got rave reviews after a day of shopping.  That is a pretty good test!

In other conversations, I mentioned a few days ago that our church is doing a church-wide study called "It’s Time". The curriculum’s goal is to help believers think about what it means to be "missional" – a sending church that sends out believers to be the presence of Christ in the world and community around them rather than expecting (and waiting) for people to come to the church.  I’ve been very excited about this study and the potential it has for moving our congregation out of our comfort zone and into the messy-yet-blessed relationships that we are called to be in. I’m hearing some very, very exciting feedback from some of the groups.  Ideas that are already being discussed among small groups.  Challenges that are being thrown out. Confessions and repentance for missing the point.  One of my prayers is that the leadership of the church, especially myself, will not stifle things by trying to control them.  Much of it is unintentional but nevertheless, structures and organizations can be the biggest roadblock in the pursuit of believers to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We’ve seen this over and over throughout the history of religion. So, pray for me that I can step back and let things go and that I can defend that approach to those who think it is poor leadership.

I’m weeping and heart-broken tonight. Heart-broken from a story of what evil in the heart can lead one human to do to another. Weeping over innocence stolen and lives ended because of hatred.

I’m weeping and heart-broken tonight. Weeping for children robbed of a life by men who have sold their own. Heart-broken for the child alone and frightened by her inability to understand why someone would hurt her this way.

I’m weeping and heart-broken tonight. Grieving for the young boy who decides to hate himself because he doesn’t know who else to blame. Weeping for the young girl who faults herself for the bad done to her because no other reason makes sense.

I’m weeping and heart-broken tonight. Broken for the parent who stands helpless to protect her child from evil in the world as she swore she would do the first time she held her baby in her arms. Weeping for the dad who taught his son to be to the world what the world was not to him.

I’m weeping and heart-broken tonight. Heart-broken with the realization that the grief I feel tonight is so minute in comparison to the grief felt by God.  Weeping because my tears are a mere drop in the ocean of God’s own.

I’m weeping and heart-broken tonight. Weeping because at this very moment similar stories are being written. And all I’m doing is weeping.

If you live in Jefferson City, we have the opportunity to have a city-wide, single-stream curbside recycling program here on a permanent basis.  This is a great program!  One bin, all your recyclables picked up once a week right at your house.  A recent pilot program in the area was a huge success and law-makers are currently deciding what to do next. 

If you want to make a difference, go to www.jeffersoncityrecycles.com to take the survey and lend your voice to the cause.

Last night I saw the movie Atonement based on the book by author Ian McEwan. Atonement is up for several
awards and has won a few already including the Academy Award’s Best Drama.  Keira Kneightly and James McAvoy star in this powerful drama based in Britain in the years leading into World War II.  It is an incredibly powerful and well-done film with a story that left me crying and heart-broken which is a testimony to the story-telling ability of McEwan.

Stories like these make me marvel at the creative writing abilities of individuals who create such powerful stories and rich characters that you continue to care for them long after the movie has ended. If you have the chance, you should see the film. I’m planning to read the book soon . . . after I finish the current pile of books that I’ve purchased to read.

I’m beginning Persuasion by Jane Austen to prepare for a book club meeting this Thursday. I’ve not read this class so hoping it will be a rich and interesting story.

120 adults at my church, not including our youth, are starting a new study called "It’s Time". It is a curriculum created by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to help churches make the journey towards becoming a missional church. What is a missional church?  Well, there is an endless supply of conversations and discussions about the term "missional".  Overall, the idea of a missional church is that it is a sending church.  A missional church seeks to be the presence of Christ outside the walls of the church building.

I’m incredibly excited about the study and the future for First Baptist.  We have 10 small groups studying the material for the next eight weeks and the conversations that will be happening around those tables are needed desperately.  I sense that many in our congregation are hungry for this challenge and to add depth and movement to their faith.  My passion is great in this area and now it is also my responsibility at the church as pastor of missions as well as youth.

My small group met for the second time tonight and the conversation has been good.  Many share the same heart of a mixture of desiring to answer the call but not completely ready to jump. It is a very honest response.

Have any of you done the study?  Are any readers currently in the study at FBC?  What are your thoughts and experiences so far?

On a side note, I’m beginning Brian McLaren’s book Everything Must Change which has been on my list for quite sometime. I’m really excited about it having loved McLaren’s previous works and having heard many positive things from others.

We are in the final countdown to our 30-Hour Famine weekend at Refuge. I have 37 youth signed up for the Friday – Saturday event where we fast for 30 hours to raise money and awareness regarding world hunger.  I did an interview today with a reporter from our local newspaper.  They are featuring the story for this Friday’s Religious Section.  Hopefully, it will encourage others to host a similar event at their churches and to check out World Vision to learn about their wonderful ministries around the world.  We did this last year and the kids did a great job. Young people are natural activist.  The challenge is to help them connect it to their faith rather than a feel-good band wagon movement.

I’ve been reading some follow-up articles from the New Baptist Covenant gathering as people get home and continue to process all that they heard and experienced in Atlanta.  The challenge has been put to all of us to think of the next practical steps we take.  It is very easy to come home and be distracted by all the obligations and responsibilities of life and ministry.  One of the things happening at church that will help me to keep the conversation going is the beginning of our "It’s Time" study groups.  It is a great study in missional living and helping the church be the presence of Christ in their communities.  To date we have 107 individuals signed up for small groups which is a great response! After we finish the study, we have a day of serving planned in the community along with another follow-up brainstorming session to share dreams and empower the church to active service. I’m beyond excited about what that might look like!

On another note, tomorrow is Election Day here in Missouri.  Make sure to exercise your right to vote!