Last Sunday I preached a sermon on James 3 on Taming the Tongue. I did a children's moment for the kids where they held their tongue and receited a Bible Verse "Keep Your Tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Later I preached on watching what you say, gossip, lying, saying hurtful things.
This is the second time I have preached this sermon and I like the first time, I got feeback. I found it interesting that several parents came up to me and said this is what their kids needed to hear. While that is true, I wonder if either we as adults don't recognize where we need to watch our mouths or we just are so careful not to hurt anyone that we have learned to say things in private or that it is true, our kids really need to watch the things they say. We are in a in-your-face, air-your-feelings culture and too often we just let loose without thinking through what we say.
I read our Bishop's Column yesterday in the Call (Holston Conference Newspaper) where he quoted Bill Easom:
I’m convinced that one of the main sins of the established church is that we have taught ourselves to be nice instead of being Christian. In spite of aspiring to be a disciple of Jesus, we teach that the essence of Christianity is to be nice. Where do we get such a notion? Certainly not from the actions of Jesus. Jesus taught us that being nice has nothing to do with being Christian. Being nice is often nothing more than a lack of compassion for people.
Click here for full article.
So, our challenge is knowing when and what to speak. For some of us that means speaking less. For others it means speaking up more. We need wisdom to know the difference (James 3:13-17).
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Bionicle 3: Revenge of the Sith
As many of you know, Max is a big bionicle fan and found this on YouTube. He thought you might enjoy how they took the bionicles and put star wars voices over the video.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Why is there a Psalm 23?
This week I went to a district ministers retreat at Buffalo Mountain in Johnson City. It was a good chance to get away briefly and get focused. I was not feeling that at the time. With Labor Day and this retreat, it has given me a weeks worth of work to do in 2 days rather than four. I was not really looking that forward to it but it was really good. Sometimes I get caught up with all the things I have to do and I miss enjoying life. This retreat had worship, teaching and a chance to talk to other ministers.
In One of the worship services, the retreat leader preached "Why is there a Psalm 23?" I never heard a sermon like that before. She had heard that question from a former professor. He said there is a psalm 23 because there is a psalm 22. Psalm 22 is the psalm Jesus quoted from the cross when he felt forsaken from God. From time to time we feel like God forgets about us. Sometimes folks think God isn't on their side. That is why Psalm 23 reminds us that God is with us.
Psalm 23 is used a lot of funerals but it really is a psalm for the living rather than for the dead. Hear it from the Message:
"God, My Shepherd! I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
You find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction."
I need quiet pools to drink from. I need to find places to refresh myself. After that talk, I went to see fellow Beeson Buddy Aaron Wymer who lived 12 minutes from the mountain to talk and visit. It was a refreshing pool.
This weekend Kate went with the kids to see her brother Kevin in Atlanta. They come back tomorrow night. I am alone in the house. Yesterday after I worked on the house, I watched a couple movies and read some. This morning I played my guitar and spend some time with God. I feel refreshed.
What pools of refreshment do you have, do you need to take. That is why we have Psalm 23; to encourage us that God is with us and that he is all we need.
In One of the worship services, the retreat leader preached "Why is there a Psalm 23?" I never heard a sermon like that before. She had heard that question from a former professor. He said there is a psalm 23 because there is a psalm 22. Psalm 22 is the psalm Jesus quoted from the cross when he felt forsaken from God. From time to time we feel like God forgets about us. Sometimes folks think God isn't on their side. That is why Psalm 23 reminds us that God is with us.
Psalm 23 is used a lot of funerals but it really is a psalm for the living rather than for the dead. Hear it from the Message:
"God, My Shepherd! I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
You find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction."
I need quiet pools to drink from. I need to find places to refresh myself. After that talk, I went to see fellow Beeson Buddy Aaron Wymer who lived 12 minutes from the mountain to talk and visit. It was a refreshing pool.
This weekend Kate went with the kids to see her brother Kevin in Atlanta. They come back tomorrow night. I am alone in the house. Yesterday after I worked on the house, I watched a couple movies and read some. This morning I played my guitar and spend some time with God. I feel refreshed.
What pools of refreshment do you have, do you need to take. That is why we have Psalm 23; to encourage us that God is with us and that he is all we need.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Briding the Gap
I couldn't sleep this morning (or night), whichever it is and I was surfing blogs. On fellow BP Bryan's blog had a link to First Christian Church in Chattanooga. http://www.firstchristian-chat.com/
I found their motto (mission) very compelling.
Bridging the Gap between doubt and faith through friendship. I found this very entincing. First off, they acknowledge the gap we often have in our faith between trusting God and doubting. It seems like a place where people can feel safe to struggle through their doubts and not have their faith wrapped up in a neat little package.
I also like the emphasis on Friendship. This bridging takes time and conversation. I can see this community having lots of conversations in people's homes and over coffee. I see people willing to move to a living active faith that reaches out. In fact they offer their service opportunities by exclaming, "If you have been searching for a church of Service -- Not Lip Service, you may find it by clicking here"
I wonder how comfortable we are talking about our faith and doubts in the circles we run in. If you are like me, I like to have everything thought through and catagorized. But as Mother Teresa's are still fresh in my mind, it seems to me faith is about progressing forward in spite of doubts.
Yesterday a person from church told me about a nine year old girl who two weeks ago was diagnosed with stage four cancer and is receiving treatment in California. She will be in treatment for a year! Her mom has a one year old and is pregnant as well. Can you imagine? How do you explain why little girls get cancer? Why do some people in life seem to get the brunt?
I don't know. I guess it goes back to my post a couple days ago, that all of our life is such a gift. That this moment, this day is a gift meant to be enjoyed and savored, not just gone through. Aiden is now 10 yrs old. I realized in four years he will be in high school. I'm not ready for that. I want to enjoy all the moments I have with them while I can. A lot of older people have told me over the years to enjoy the moments with my kids because they slip away so fast. I can affirm that. I don't want them to end. I want to enjoy reading stories at night. Having movie nights with too much popcorn. Taking time to ride the water rides at Dollywood even when I don't want to get wet. Life is a gift. While it is not meant to be focused on ourselves, I believe that it is meant to be enjoyed. I encourage you to live life today!
I found their motto (mission) very compelling.
Bridging the Gap between doubt and faith through friendship. I found this very entincing. First off, they acknowledge the gap we often have in our faith between trusting God and doubting. It seems like a place where people can feel safe to struggle through their doubts and not have their faith wrapped up in a neat little package.
I also like the emphasis on Friendship. This bridging takes time and conversation. I can see this community having lots of conversations in people's homes and over coffee. I see people willing to move to a living active faith that reaches out. In fact they offer their service opportunities by exclaming, "If you have been searching for a church of Service -- Not Lip Service, you may find it by clicking here"
I wonder how comfortable we are talking about our faith and doubts in the circles we run in. If you are like me, I like to have everything thought through and catagorized. But as Mother Teresa's are still fresh in my mind, it seems to me faith is about progressing forward in spite of doubts.
Yesterday a person from church told me about a nine year old girl who two weeks ago was diagnosed with stage four cancer and is receiving treatment in California. She will be in treatment for a year! Her mom has a one year old and is pregnant as well. Can you imagine? How do you explain why little girls get cancer? Why do some people in life seem to get the brunt?
I don't know. I guess it goes back to my post a couple days ago, that all of our life is such a gift. That this moment, this day is a gift meant to be enjoyed and savored, not just gone through. Aiden is now 10 yrs old. I realized in four years he will be in high school. I'm not ready for that. I want to enjoy all the moments I have with them while I can. A lot of older people have told me over the years to enjoy the moments with my kids because they slip away so fast. I can affirm that. I don't want them to end. I want to enjoy reading stories at night. Having movie nights with too much popcorn. Taking time to ride the water rides at Dollywood even when I don't want to get wet. Life is a gift. While it is not meant to be focused on ourselves, I believe that it is meant to be enjoyed. I encourage you to live life today!
Pierson's Bday
Kate's family has a website picture sharing service that enables the family to post pictures on the internet. I was checking it out this morning and found some from Pierson's Bday party about 3 weeks ago. Since I can't post pictures yet, I thought you would enjoy them.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
A Report from the Weekend
This weekend my mom came to visit. I have some good pictures but still can't figure out how to email them to myself. THe joys of technology. She got to see where we live and the church. It was good for the kids to see her and play with her. Anna particularly connected with mom and as a father who worries whether his kids will connect with his mom since she lives so far away, it made me feel good.
I must say, I told our band members today, that Sunday's service was as good since I have been here. We have made a lot of progress and all of the elements of worship made me worship God better. It is fun seeing new people involved. A couple weeks ago our worship leader Charles put an add in the newspaper advertising for a drummer. Two responded and one was a 16 year old student named Matt. He and his family have been looking for a church and it was great to have them on Sunday. Matt did a good job as well. We have been praying for a drummer and God provided.
On a personal note, these short weeks are a mixed blessing. A blessing to have another day off on Monday. THe mixedness is going back and still having a boatload to do that week but one less day to do it in. If your life is like mine, there is always something going on, always busy with work or the kids. The Key for me is to enjoy the moment and not worry about all that needs to happen. As a perfectionist, I get overwhelmed. As of this writing, my desk and my office needs a makeover if you know what I'm saying. I am trying to be this day, this moment in the flow of God's Spirit and enjoying life. Yesterday as I drove my mom back to the airport and as I was walking back to my car, I had the overwhelming feeling of how blessed I was, with my family, all of my life. Sometimes we can complain about life but reality is that we are blessed beyond measure.
I must say, I told our band members today, that Sunday's service was as good since I have been here. We have made a lot of progress and all of the elements of worship made me worship God better. It is fun seeing new people involved. A couple weeks ago our worship leader Charles put an add in the newspaper advertising for a drummer. Two responded and one was a 16 year old student named Matt. He and his family have been looking for a church and it was great to have them on Sunday. Matt did a good job as well. We have been praying for a drummer and God provided.
On a personal note, these short weeks are a mixed blessing. A blessing to have another day off on Monday. THe mixedness is going back and still having a boatload to do that week but one less day to do it in. If your life is like mine, there is always something going on, always busy with work or the kids. The Key for me is to enjoy the moment and not worry about all that needs to happen. As a perfectionist, I get overwhelmed. As of this writing, my desk and my office needs a makeover if you know what I'm saying. I am trying to be this day, this moment in the flow of God's Spirit and enjoying life. Yesterday as I drove my mom back to the airport and as I was walking back to my car, I had the overwhelming feeling of how blessed I was, with my family, all of my life. Sometimes we can complain about life but reality is that we are blessed beyond measure.
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