A dear friend sent me a birthday card in which she said, "Birthdays are really about the mothers, you know." She and my mother were good friends and she knows that I've now had 15 birthdays since my mother passed away.
I had been managing this approach to 40 fairly well until I read that.
So I'm thinking about my mother today. Thinking that she would have enjoyed seeing me turn 40. Remembering how I foiled her attempt at throwing me a surprise party when I turned 16 and how if it weren't for the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I'd probably have to rot in hell for ruining that for her!
I think I will long to hear her voice for as long as I live. And I'm grateful for the hope and promise that I will one day.
Still there are no regrets. No need to wonder if she'd be proud. And I'm going to enjoy today (and this entire year) because I know that's what she would want me to do.
But my friend was right. Today is about her. My story begins with a husband and wife who conceived a child. Then at 12:28am, March 28, 1972, in a hospital room in McKinney, Texas, Phil and Donna became dad and mom.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Reflections from Joplin
I'm still here. I thought that I would be making daily reports from the front lines of our church's mission trip to Joplin, MO each day, but due to hit and miss internet access and other factors, that proved to be more difficult than I had planned.
Many of our folks have been posting updates and photos on Facebook via smartphone, so I know that some of the story has been told. We are packing up to come home today. And while there is much I could write about, there is one significant highlight for me.
Yesterday, we took our sack lunches into a fast-food restaurant to eat. (The houses we worked on have no electricity or water, so we always had to break strategically.) We were dirty from a hard-morning's work, and in need of a break. As we sat down and started eating, I was aware of the looks and glances we were getting from other patrons. No doubt our little group stood out in this crowd, but it wasn't a sight the people of Joplin hadn't seen before. They knew exactly who we were and what we were doing.
They didn't know our names and they didn't know where we were from, but they knew we were volunteers who had come to their town to help. Some even approached members of our team to say thanks. The people of Joplin endured the most destructive and deadliest tornado in American history, and there is still much work to be done. They are capable of helping themselves, but the work is just too much for one community. They know that and they are grateful to have the help and support of fellow Americans who show up and lend a hand.
I don't often feel heroic, but I think I got to experience a little of that this week. The good people of Joplin gave that gift to us.
I wonder what might happen if followers of Christ were known in our own communities simply by the evidence of kindness, mercy, grace, and love we showed to other people. I wonder how it might change our world if total strangers recognized the presence of Christ in the things we say and do. Jesus said something about us being the light of the world...what if that's really true?
Thoughts?
Many of our folks have been posting updates and photos on Facebook via smartphone, so I know that some of the story has been told. We are packing up to come home today. And while there is much I could write about, there is one significant highlight for me.
Yesterday, we took our sack lunches into a fast-food restaurant to eat. (The houses we worked on have no electricity or water, so we always had to break strategically.) We were dirty from a hard-morning's work, and in need of a break. As we sat down and started eating, I was aware of the looks and glances we were getting from other patrons. No doubt our little group stood out in this crowd, but it wasn't a sight the people of Joplin hadn't seen before. They knew exactly who we were and what we were doing.
They didn't know our names and they didn't know where we were from, but they knew we were volunteers who had come to their town to help. Some even approached members of our team to say thanks. The people of Joplin endured the most destructive and deadliest tornado in American history, and there is still much work to be done. They are capable of helping themselves, but the work is just too much for one community. They know that and they are grateful to have the help and support of fellow Americans who show up and lend a hand.
I don't often feel heroic, but I think I got to experience a little of that this week. The good people of Joplin gave that gift to us.
I wonder what might happen if followers of Christ were known in our own communities simply by the evidence of kindness, mercy, grace, and love we showed to other people. I wonder how it might change our world if total strangers recognized the presence of Christ in the things we say and do. Jesus said something about us being the light of the world...what if that's really true?
Thoughts?
Monday, March 19, 2012
Yesterday was a great day.
Faith's new building was opened for Sunday school and worship for the first time. We were calling it a "soft opening," saving the "grand opening" for another day, but it was pretty grand to me!
The Sunday school rooms were filled with children, youth, and adults. The connection center was buzzing with conversation, and the worship space was packed with people singing praises to God.
Things ran very smoothly thanks to lots of time and preparation from our teams. And we found a few areas where we can make the experience a little better. Overall, I'd say it was a smashing success.
But in true Faith style, we didn't sit around the rest of the day and pat ourselves on the back. No, instead we sent a team of adults on a spring break mission trip to Joplin, MO. My wife and I are with them.
For the past few months, I've been asking for prayer and writing reports for Faith's building project. For the next few days, I'll be reporting work of another kind- and still asking for prayers.
Prayers today for Faith's staff who will be "holding down the fort" back home, and prayers for our team in Joplin who are helping total strangers rebuild their lives following last year's devastating storms.
Personally speaking, thank you for making yesterday such a special day. And thanks for making Faith UMC such an incredible church. I'm really looking forward to seeing the next things that God will do through us.
Faith's new building was opened for Sunday school and worship for the first time. We were calling it a "soft opening," saving the "grand opening" for another day, but it was pretty grand to me!
The Sunday school rooms were filled with children, youth, and adults. The connection center was buzzing with conversation, and the worship space was packed with people singing praises to God.
Things ran very smoothly thanks to lots of time and preparation from our teams. And we found a few areas where we can make the experience a little better. Overall, I'd say it was a smashing success.
But in true Faith style, we didn't sit around the rest of the day and pat ourselves on the back. No, instead we sent a team of adults on a spring break mission trip to Joplin, MO. My wife and I are with them.
For the past few months, I've been asking for prayer and writing reports for Faith's building project. For the next few days, I'll be reporting work of another kind- and still asking for prayers.
Prayers today for Faith's staff who will be "holding down the fort" back home, and prayers for our team in Joplin who are helping total strangers rebuild their lives following last year's devastating storms.
Personally speaking, thank you for making yesterday such a special day. And thanks for making Faith UMC such an incredible church. I'm really looking forward to seeing the next things that God will do through us.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Customer Service in the Church
I enjoy being challenged by people who are always looking ahead. Seth Godin is one of those people. I especially enjoyed his blog post today and I wanted to share it. You can read it here. Below are my thoughts about how his understanding of "delightful customer service" might apply to the ways we receive guests in our church.
Basically, if "customer service" is merely a place where people who are frustrated just become more frustrated, how does that help? Our church is experiencing this with a certain service provider right now and it's maddening. On the other hand, if we think of customer service as an opportunity to impress or delight, we can turn something negative into something positive.
Delightful customer service, as Seth describes, is simply letting people who care handle the customer. (It's true that in the corporate world, they may receive certain incentives to care, but if the customer hangs up the phone and is satisfied, even happy, isn't that the goal?) If an hourly-wage employee in a call center somewhere doesn't care whether or not a customer actually gets their issue resolved...well, we all know what that feels like.
So, let me ask the church...
Do you care if a guest's first impressions of the church are positive?
Do you care if they find it easy to park; if they are warmly welcomed and treated as honored guests; if they discover that some of the best seats in the worship space are still open; if they have the chance to meet new people and get connected; if their children receive excellent care?
If the answer is yes-- and I hope it is-- then here's my challenge. Every member is a minister. Every member is an ambassador for Christ and the church. Every member is called to care. No one in the church gets to say, "it's someone else's job to care."
We'll have teams of people who are specifically trained in "guest services," but we're also counting on each individual to care enough about the one who is not yet part of the church family to take the initiative to delight our guests with memorable hospitality and Christ-like care.
Basically, if "customer service" is merely a place where people who are frustrated just become more frustrated, how does that help? Our church is experiencing this with a certain service provider right now and it's maddening. On the other hand, if we think of customer service as an opportunity to impress or delight, we can turn something negative into something positive.
Delightful customer service, as Seth describes, is simply letting people who care handle the customer. (It's true that in the corporate world, they may receive certain incentives to care, but if the customer hangs up the phone and is satisfied, even happy, isn't that the goal?) If an hourly-wage employee in a call center somewhere doesn't care whether or not a customer actually gets their issue resolved...well, we all know what that feels like.
So, let me ask the church...
Do you care if a guest's first impressions of the church are positive?
Do you care if they find it easy to park; if they are warmly welcomed and treated as honored guests; if they discover that some of the best seats in the worship space are still open; if they have the chance to meet new people and get connected; if their children receive excellent care?
If the answer is yes-- and I hope it is-- then here's my challenge. Every member is a minister. Every member is an ambassador for Christ and the church. Every member is called to care. No one in the church gets to say, "it's someone else's job to care."
We'll have teams of people who are specifically trained in "guest services," but we're also counting on each individual to care enough about the one who is not yet part of the church family to take the initiative to delight our guests with memorable hospitality and Christ-like care.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Where to Start?
Our church staff all "went to the office" for the first time yesterday. We traded our 10-second commutes for 10-minute ones. And we had to put on "respectable" clothes. I don't know that I'm ready for this new reality!
Things are still quite messy at our new church building and we found that it was hard to know where to start. Talk about having "a case of the Mondays." It's like when you move into a new house, and you're surrounded by boxes and random furniture, and you don't know where everything is supposed to go yet. You feel a little stuck.
It's also frustrating because we all have our regular weekly responsibilities to deal with as well. We'll get there and everything will be great, but there were times yesterday when I thought I'd rather be at Starbucks!
I think the key through times like this is in small accomplishments. Instead of looking at the big pile of things that need to be put away or looking at the long list of things that still need to be done, focus on doing one thing. Then when it's done, give yourself a minute to enjoy an accomplishment then use that momentum to take on the next thing.
Dave Ramsey talks about this technique with his "debt snowball." I think the same thing happens when we start to face the big tasks that challenge us.
I'm betting we will make enormous progress today. And we'll make even more progress tomorrow. And by the end of the week, we'll be ready for our first Sunday in our new building. And it will be awesome!
Things are still quite messy at our new church building and we found that it was hard to know where to start. Talk about having "a case of the Mondays." It's like when you move into a new house, and you're surrounded by boxes and random furniture, and you don't know where everything is supposed to go yet. You feel a little stuck.
It's also frustrating because we all have our regular weekly responsibilities to deal with as well. We'll get there and everything will be great, but there were times yesterday when I thought I'd rather be at Starbucks!
I think the key through times like this is in small accomplishments. Instead of looking at the big pile of things that need to be put away or looking at the long list of things that still need to be done, focus on doing one thing. Then when it's done, give yourself a minute to enjoy an accomplishment then use that momentum to take on the next thing.
Dave Ramsey talks about this technique with his "debt snowball." I think the same thing happens when we start to face the big tasks that challenge us.
I'm betting we will make enormous progress today. And we'll make even more progress tomorrow. And by the end of the week, we'll be ready for our first Sunday in our new building. And it will be awesome!
Monday, March 12, 2012
New Perspective, New Identity
December 18, 2003.
June 25, 1994.
March 12, 1998.
What are the significance of these dates?
I graduated from college.
I married Jennifer.
Noah was born.
What do those dates have in common?
They don't seem to be related, except for being significant dates in my life, but they are. On each of those dates, I ceased to be one thing and became something else.
I was no longer a student. I became a college graduate.
I was no longer single. I became a husband.
I was no longer sane(!). I became a dad.
Yesterday afternoon marked another transition for me. At 11:30am, I was no longer the pastor of a church that met in a school cafeteria. That may not seem like a big deal, but that's been a big part of my identity for the past 451 weeks. And it's really the only kind of church my kids know- our oldest was 5, our middle child was 3, and our youngest hadn't even been born when Faith Church started worshiping in the school.
This is new territory for us, but the change didn't happen overnight.
Just like with college, where it took several years of classwork and credits to earn the right to receive a degree; or with my wedding day, which arrived after more than a year of dating; or with the birth of our first child, which came after nine months of planning and preparing, this transition for the church from the high school to a building of our own has been over months of construction and years of development.
I think our faith journey works the same way. While there are dates and milestones along the way, we are constantly being shaped and molded into the person that God created us to be. The transitions that happen are necessary to move us from one perspective to the next. Each new perspective opens our eyes and our minds to exciting new possibilities and challenges.
I'm looking forward to seeing what God will do next.
June 25, 1994.
March 12, 1998.
What are the significance of these dates?
I graduated from college.
I married Jennifer.
Noah was born.
What do those dates have in common?
They don't seem to be related, except for being significant dates in my life, but they are. On each of those dates, I ceased to be one thing and became something else.
I was no longer a student. I became a college graduate.
I was no longer single. I became a husband.
I was no longer sane(!). I became a dad.
Yesterday afternoon marked another transition for me. At 11:30am, I was no longer the pastor of a church that met in a school cafeteria. That may not seem like a big deal, but that's been a big part of my identity for the past 451 weeks. And it's really the only kind of church my kids know- our oldest was 5, our middle child was 3, and our youngest hadn't even been born when Faith Church started worshiping in the school.
This is new territory for us, but the change didn't happen overnight.
Just like with college, where it took several years of classwork and credits to earn the right to receive a degree; or with my wedding day, which arrived after more than a year of dating; or with the birth of our first child, which came after nine months of planning and preparing, this transition for the church from the high school to a building of our own has been over months of construction and years of development.
I think our faith journey works the same way. While there are dates and milestones along the way, we are constantly being shaped and molded into the person that God created us to be. The transitions that happen are necessary to move us from one perspective to the next. Each new perspective opens our eyes and our minds to exciting new possibilities and challenges.
I'm looking forward to seeing what God will do next.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Furniture
Much of the furniture for the new church building arrived yesterday, including 400 chairs to be used in the worship space.
For the past few weeks, we have watched the building take shape and transform from a construction project into a useful (and beautiful!) facility. But until late Tuesday afternoon, it had still be empty. With the addition of furnishings, those empty rooms will actually become functional- capable of serving the purpose for which they were intended.
Sometimes furniture gets a bad rap. We sometimes say of people who blend in and don't really do much that they "are just part of the furniture." But without furniture, where would people sit? Would we really expect guests to our building to sit on the floor and be content? It's true that some religious centers in other settings are able to do this, but in suburban Dallas we know that furnishings are a necessary aspect of transforming our building from a structure with walls and flooring to an operational ministry center.
I think we are going to enjoy having chairs, couches, tables, and such in our new building. We sometimes take these simple amenities for granted, but these are the things that our guests will find comforting and inviting about their new church home.
God bless the chairs on which we will sit. May they provide us with a comfortable place to be while we bask in your presence, giving us necessary Sabbath rest so that we can do the work that you are calling us to do. Amen.
For the past few weeks, we have watched the building take shape and transform from a construction project into a useful (and beautiful!) facility. But until late Tuesday afternoon, it had still be empty. With the addition of furnishings, those empty rooms will actually become functional- capable of serving the purpose for which they were intended.
Sometimes furniture gets a bad rap. We sometimes say of people who blend in and don't really do much that they "are just part of the furniture." But without furniture, where would people sit? Would we really expect guests to our building to sit on the floor and be content? It's true that some religious centers in other settings are able to do this, but in suburban Dallas we know that furnishings are a necessary aspect of transforming our building from a structure with walls and flooring to an operational ministry center.
I think we are going to enjoy having chairs, couches, tables, and such in our new building. We sometimes take these simple amenities for granted, but these are the things that our guests will find comforting and inviting about their new church home.
God bless the chairs on which we will sit. May they provide us with a comfortable place to be while we bask in your presence, giving us necessary Sabbath rest so that we can do the work that you are calling us to do. Amen.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A Fun Phone-Call
Yesterday I had the pleasure of making a call that I've been wanting to make for a long time. I called Barbara Fischer, the principal at Guyer High School to let her know that this Sunday would be our church's last Sunday to rent the high school. I thanked her for her hospitality and cooperation and I assured her that just because our church was moving out of her school, we would not be moving away from our commitment to serve the community around us.
On Sunday, we will have a card for our congregation to sign- thanking the staff at Guyer for the past five years. Please consider signing more than just your name. Tell Mrs. Fischer how our little church at the school has made a difference in your life. She will appreciate knowing how she played a part in building God's kingdom through the ministry of our faith community.
God, we give thanks for the ways you opened doors and worked through your servants like Mrs. Fischer and others on her team to allow our church to meet at Guyer for the past five years (and Crownover Middle School for over three years.) We thank you for the teachers whose rooms we borrowed and the custodial staff who unlocked the doors for us. We pray that you will continue to open doors of partnership for us that we might reach our community with the love of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
On Sunday, we will have a card for our congregation to sign- thanking the staff at Guyer for the past five years. Please consider signing more than just your name. Tell Mrs. Fischer how our little church at the school has made a difference in your life. She will appreciate knowing how she played a part in building God's kingdom through the ministry of our faith community.
God, we give thanks for the ways you opened doors and worked through your servants like Mrs. Fischer and others on her team to allow our church to meet at Guyer for the past five years (and Crownover Middle School for over three years.) We thank you for the teachers whose rooms we borrowed and the custodial staff who unlocked the doors for us. We pray that you will continue to open doors of partnership for us that we might reach our community with the love of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Important Building Information
Our building team leader just called. The city inspector had just left after what was supposed to be our final walk-through. John said to me, "There is one issue." I waited nervously for John to continue. "We need furniture."
Translation: We have the Certificate of Occupancy and will start bringing in tables and chairs as early as Tuesday afternoon. (Be looking information on opportunities to help out.)
We will gather on Sunday, March 11 at 10:30am for a special "My Faith is Moving OUT!!!" celebration at Guyer High School- our last Sunday in the high school. We will then have "soft launch" services in our new building on March 18 and March 25 before our Grand Opening on Sunday, April 1.
Get the word out. Share this link. Text and tell your friends. Post a comment. This is a day to celebrate and praise God!
Translation: We have the Certificate of Occupancy and will start bringing in tables and chairs as early as Tuesday afternoon. (Be looking information on opportunities to help out.)
We will gather on Sunday, March 11 at 10:30am for a special "My Faith is Moving OUT!!!" celebration at Guyer High School- our last Sunday in the high school. We will then have "soft launch" services in our new building on March 18 and March 25 before our Grand Opening on Sunday, April 1.
Get the word out. Share this link. Text and tell your friends. Post a comment. This is a day to celebrate and praise God!
Keep Going
I was pretty sore when I woke up this morning. Yesterday's run had lingered a little bit. It would have been easy to take a day off. I'm proud to say that I put on my running shoes again.
I was rewarded for my persistence by a stiff headwind that greeted me right out of the blocks. My legs weren't very happy with me, but that's what we do when things get harder, we keep going.
Perseverance is an honorable characteristic. Perseverance doesn't automatically mean that we always get exactly what we want, but I've learned that when we press on, we often reach the place that God wants us to be and discover the blessings that God intended to give us.
I was slower today on my run by one minute, but I finished. There's honor in that.
God, thank you for providing that inner strength within each of us that allows us to persevere, to press on until the race is over. Guide us today and help us to fight through our challenges, trusting that you are with us every step of the way. Amen.
I was rewarded for my persistence by a stiff headwind that greeted me right out of the blocks. My legs weren't very happy with me, but that's what we do when things get harder, we keep going.
Perseverance is an honorable characteristic. Perseverance doesn't automatically mean that we always get exactly what we want, but I've learned that when we press on, we often reach the place that God wants us to be and discover the blessings that God intended to give us.
I was slower today on my run by one minute, but I finished. There's honor in that.
God, thank you for providing that inner strength within each of us that allows us to persevere, to press on until the race is over. Guide us today and help us to fight through our challenges, trusting that you are with us every step of the way. Amen.
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Change of Pace
When I broke my hand last fall, I fell behind on my exercise regimen.
I tried to keep going- to at least keep doing cardio exercises, but it
was not my best effort. Finally, around Christmas, I quit going to the
gym altogether. I wasn't proud of that decision, but I promised myself I
would get my exercise in other ways. But honestly, there was always an
excuse not to.
That changed this morning.
I
didn't go back to the gym, but I did put on my running shoes and
completed a 3-mile loop from my house to Crownover Middle School and
back in 31 minutes. (Not too shabby for a guy about to turn 40 later
this month.)
So what changed?
The
truth is that I was inspired. I've been inspired by the commitment and
joy I've seen from our church's "Faith in Action" running team. I've
been inspired by the hard work and dedication of those in our church who
have been putting our building together. And I was inspired after
yesterday's worship experience by the spirit of love and excitement
demonstrated by our congregation.
I went to bed last
night with the feeling that I wanted to hit the ground
running...literally! I woke up with a spring in my step. Then the good
Lord blessed me with PERFECT weather and a groovin' setlist on Pandora's
Mark Knopffler channel!!
It was a good run and I'm
glad I did it, though I confess that I somehow missed out on that
"runner's high" that people like to talk about. Still, I'm ready to
renew my commitment to my physical health, but I could use your help.
Keep me accountable. Offer words of encouragement. Kick me in the pants
if need be. But above all else, keep inspiring me to offer my very best
for God each day.
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