Fun with David Crowder

OK, seriously, this is funny...

A Week Off

It was great to have a week off doing a whole lot of nothing, but as I'm settling back into the office, I am finding a large stack of messages from people asking for financial assistance.

Wouldn't it be nice if bills and payments took a week off? Wouldn't it be nice if everyone had a job that paid the bills! Wouldn't it be nice if everyone felt a strong need to work for a paycheck?

Times are hard. Speaking with another local pastor, our discussion quickly went to how many people are coming to us for assistance. I don't think many have a clue. The numbers are truly overwhelming. My heart goes out to those needing help...and those who have become dependent upon handouts (even as they admittedly frustrate me).

God I pray for a week off from financial debts and burdens for those in need. Be their provider. Be our God. Thank you for work. Thank you for the generosity of those who give that others might have food on their table, running water, and electricity. Thank you for your love. Amen.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen IMAX

Wow. Talk about eye candy...and, no, I'm not talking about Megan Fox.

To be honest, I'm not sure eye candy even works...It was more like eye frappe! Once the previews were over, Transformers never stopped moving. I'm fairly sure the entire movie was shot by a cocaine addict. From the actual camera angles moving constantly, to the lack of a central focusing point, the screen was buzzing with motion.

A few points that struck me in this movie:

1. Doing the right thing is often costly, but always is the best thing. From Optimus' sacrifice to Sam's choices, it was good to see a movie advocating that we choose the better option for others.
2. The Pyramids are still one of the greatest engineering feats of human history. So much so that we moderns want to believe that aliens did it to make us feel better about building crappy stuff with all the technology and power equipment we have.
3. There are way too many wimpy "boy" male lead-roles in Hollywood. Come one Shia, get some chest hair and be a man!
4. I'll never look at wrecking balls the same way ever again...
5. While denouncing violence, the movie spends over two hours using violence to rake in millions...as a critic said, "There was enough firepower used in the special effects to take over a small country."
6. Overall, it was OK. It was incredibly shallow in thought, coherence, and plot. I'm not sure there was any character development, but, wow, the special effects were spectacular.

Mountain T.O.P., Isaiah, & Beyond

Mountaint T.O.P. mission trip with our youth went really well. Stephanie and I, both, were able to go, and we enjoyed the experience. It was a refreshing experience for us as a couple as well as a great way to spend time with our youth.

Sometimes, when you live in a golden castle, you forget the value of gold. Living with such a wonderful wife, it's easy to take her for granted. My personal experience from the trip was a renewed appreciation for my beautiful wife and her heart.

Yesterday was Isaiah's 4th birthday, too! Such a big man! I took some time to spend with family. We ate at a McDonald's playplace (Isaiah's vocal request whenever we eat out), and we played during the afternoon. For the party we went to Chucky-Cheese's, and Mommy had made a birthday cake with Spiderman on it. He told us repeatedly "Thank you" and that he enjoyed his birthday. As a parent that melts your heart...to have your child truly appreciate gifts and love. It was a great day.

My hope is to get some pics up soon, too!

Ephesians 4:1-6

Working with the churches of the Winchester community this week for Vacation Bible School has been a blessing.

With an average of 151 children per day attending, we were busy! It was a beautiful week sharing the love of God to children of which 1/3 had no church affiliation! What an amazing outreach to have 5o children with no church affiliation coming back 5 days in a row!

The spirit of the week was mostly one of love and getting along, which instantly came to mind as I read Ephesians 4:5-6...

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is
over all and in all and living through all.

Ephesians 3:19

To know or know?

St. Paul says,

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to fully understand."

What a fantastic verse that we too often miss. Love is experiential not understandable. Love is something to be felt, joined in, participated in, given, received...but never understood.

Seth Godin is Talking to the Church!

See his statments here.*





*disclaimer: Seth Godin isn't really talking TO the Church, yet what he's saying applies to our churches...specifically many of the UMC's I've visited.