life in a bar

I've often wondered what it is about bars that encourage an openness in people. In fact my mind has quite often pondered the idea of doing life, ministry, CHURCH in a bar because I love the connectedness that can be created there.

I was talking with another Pastor friend today and he was telling me about his interesting experiences at a local bar lately in town. He has created this friendship with a guy that he met in the community and most of the encounters he has with him has been at this local bar. So he goes and has lunch with him. He was sharing about how crazy it is that all of this guys friends always want to buy him a diet coke.


They think it's exciting to buy the Pastor a coke I guess. But he was commenting on the level of respect they had from him - as when he came to the bar one night in celebration of his friends birthday and a girl "lost her pants" on the table. He said that one minute something was happening and the next his head was being turned toward a wall and he was told to stay there. The bar owner even kicked the girl out which was rare without a warning. They told my friend that the owner only did that because he was there.

What RESPECT!

To think that they would care enough about him to protect him from those things even though they themselves didn't hold the same views. That is the kind of friend I desire in my life! I would feel that regardless what came they would have my back.

I remember a few year back entering into the bar to eat because the restaurant was closed. Myself and a few Pastor friends had just came from a Conference next door. It was late and we were hungry! I don't remember what I had or if the food was even good but I will never forget the conversations I had that night. We 3 were sitting at the bar waiting for our food when we struck up a conversation with the bartender. She was a lady in her late 30's. At first it was just small talk - the weather, where we were from, etc...

but very quickly it turned into a deep conversation about life, respect and love.

This lady was dealing with an abusive situation in her life and was hopeless and at her wits end. We were able to be Jesus in her life by loving and encouraging her humanity and providing direction for her life.

In the midst of the conversation another gentleman found his way a few seats from mine. It seemed that after a few informal greetings that guy began to unload about his life as well. I had a great opportunity to speak encouragement into his life.

So we came back the next night and found ourselves in the same conversations with different people. I will never forget those nights.

So what is it about a bar that allows people to open up? It like Cheers - a place where everybody knows your name. Some might say it's the alcohol. And let's be honest that certainly would loosen some people up. Others might say that it's just to go and find someone to hook up with. But I would challenge the thought that I think it's much more than sex or "loosing yourself."

Totally random thought that is connected but not - At the core of sexuality is connectedness.

I think most people go to bar to escape the current reality they are in and in that process deeply desire to Find themselves. I've seen this so many times that while in the process of conversing with people it seems that that very reality they are trying to escape comes pouring out...

when someone is willing to listen.

So maybe it’s the simple fact that people feel at a bar there are people that will listen to you and won't judge you. There are people that just see your humanity and realize that they are just as human as you and have just as many problems as the person beside them.

So maybe it all comes down to RESPECT.

Maybe it's the fact that when we show people respect - they find ways to respect us back. I am not naive enough to think this is always true. I understand that there are hurtful people out there that don't give a second thought about you or I but I honestly believe that most people

are just looking for... a little RESPECT (Man it would be great to break out into a song now...just a little bit..just a little bit. R E S P E C T...OK I'll spare you the rest.)

Until next time...thanks.

Reflection of Humanity

I know it 's been forever since I have last blogged. The holidays were amazing and hectic at the same time. Lately it seems if the winter blues have set in with me so I am praying for sunshine and many opportunities to get out in it.

Anyway, I hope all of you are doing well and staying warm on this historic occasion in our Nation’s history as the 44 President takes office. An Incredible and exciting event happened today! We have definitely come a long way in this nation to now have a African American and someone of an immense variety of background as President of our great nation.

How cool is that!!

However I am aware that it may not be as cool for others. I had to laugh today as I thought about calling a good friend and joking with her that the world only has 666 days left and it will end. She enjoyed and was possibly gripped with curiosity with this crazy idea that Obama was the Anti-Christ.

I laughed.

But today I was reminded of the great need of humanity with the situation today. I've been reading SexGod by Rob Bell which has been rocking my word and truning some of my perspectives upside downa dn inside out.

Because whether you voted for (which I did not) or even like Obama, the truth of the matter is that he is still now - Our President. But even moreso he is human and therefore carries the very image of God. Catch what it says in Genesis – God said that He has created all men/women “in His Image.” Meaning that thought we are definitely not God and will not be God - human beings of all the creatures on Earth are special. Because we ALL carry part of God in us connecting us to the Amazing God and Creator of the Universe.

IN HIS IMAGE - We are of God.

Obama is of God's Image.

So regardless of how you like his views or politics I hope that you will show him the respect, acceptance, support and love that all human beings Need and Deserve. And that we can only find encouraging words to say of this new administration loving lifting them up to God asking that their decisions and steps be directed in wisdom and by God hand.

God use Barack Obama to help this nation bless You!

Until next time..thanks.

lights in the window

Well it's that time of year again and Christmas is just around the corner. It's amazing to see the shelves being wrapped with Santas, stockings, and snowmen and that was before Halloween. I think it's true that Christmas seems to get earlier each year.

With all decorations already hitting the shelves I was especially surprised to see some lights up already. Seeing the lights reminded me of house I saw last year.

It was a cute house off the main drag and had a beautiful tree in the window along with lite candles that line the windows. I always slowed when I drove by the house. It pulled you into the warmth of Christmas and the holiday cheer.

Time Passes. And then it was May.

But the tree in the window and Christmas lights adorning the house all of sudden didn't look as appealing. But it did cause my mind to wonder.

Why were the lights and tree still up. It was obvious the lights were on a timer. So my mind shifted to occupants of the house. Were they on vacation all winter and spring. Did they just enjoy Christmas that much. Or maybe it was a reminder of something.

Then I began to have worst scenario thoughts. What if something happened to them and no one knew about it. What if they had no one to live life with. No one to call and check on them if they didn't hear or see them in a while. No one to show that they care and how much they matter in this world. Someone to share in their dreams, celebrations and sorrows.

I can't imagine living like that.

But fortunately those were just my thoughts as far as I know. But it does cause me to stop and think about the relationships that surround my life. I don't know where I would be today without people in my life that who cared enough to show me love and speak truth into my life.

I have learned that for me Life truly is best lived surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Imagine what it would be like if everyone believed and lived like that. If we were all encouraging each other to be the best we can be and then doing whatever we can to help each other achieve our dreams - what an incredible world that would be.

My one hope is that everyone will find caring people to live life with and that no one will be left in a beautiful house decorated carefully with warm holiday cheer and have no one to share it with. Thanks.

breath taking

I had an incredible experience today!

The first happened while I was outside with the girls. It's not very often in my life that I am in a sense surrounded by silence. There always seems to be crying, TV shows, music, video games, groups of people talking....all of which I have found memories connected with.

However, today seemed to be a little different. At least for the few moments outside. I was out doing all I could to build a support for the table on the awesome play set that my in laws bought the girls for their birthday. I was measuring the length for the board as my wife was playing with our oldest, Emma.

Then everything happened so quickly but its as if I continue to replay the moment in my mind. There was this cool silence, seemingly like that moment before a storm blows through.

Silence.

Then of what seems like out of nowhere suspended in time flew hundreds of birds moving so swiftly they were gone in the blink of an eye. Now I know what you’re thinking. Birds….oh..wow.

But Have You Ever Heard….
hundreds of birds slicing through their wings through the air leaving only a void in space and a memory behind of what was with a repetitive

Swoosh…..Swoosh…..Swoosh……Swoosh…..Swoosh

My family and I, we all stood in complete and total ... AWE.

Did you hear that?! My wife exclaimed. It was incredible! I thank God for what seems like a normal, happen to stumble upon moment for reminding me of how incredible He is through His creation. I only wish that my words could truly do justice to what we experienced in that moment. It will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.
God I truly stand in AWE of You!

saw dust

We all have the moments when we realize that our parents were right and they actually knew what they were talking about after all. I had one of many of those times today.

I was working on our outdoor play set. I needed to cut two boards. So I grabbed my trusty power saw and as luck would have – batteries dead. So I conceded that I would have to do it the old fashion way WITH A HAND SAW!! dun dun dum

dramatic pause.

So as I was working on the first board and my arm was getting weary – I really need to work out more – I was trying to recall what my dad had taught me about cutting boards. I remember him saying something to the effect of not pressing too hard on the saw.

Yes. More accurately he said Let the saw do all the work.

OK good idea, I guess, when you have a lot of cutting to do and you want to preserve yourself. But I’m about the here and now. Besides my incredible wife told me supper would be ready soon so I know I didn’t have much time.

First board. I laid into it! There was no mercy. It was personal. LIKE A MAN IN THE WILD!! MORE POWER!! ARF ARF ARF Tim the tool man would have been proud. However I did notice that the board split some on the ends and the cut wasn’t that smooth. Having moved pretty quickly in positioning and zipping in the screws. I move on.

Second Board. I had some time so I thought I would try it my ole’ pops way. Sure it might take longer, but maybe I’ll save some energy so I thought.

You know what happened.

Do I really need to finish the story. You already know that I ate my words BIG TIME! Sorry Dad.

Not only did it give a great smooth even cut but I believe that I cut through the board in less time with half the effort. I was PWNED as my friends in the gamer world would say.

So the lesson for today is charge the battery before you need it.
I Love You Dad. Thanks for teaching me about love, life, faith and cutting boards.

redefining spiritual growth

It's been a while since I have logged any thoughts since the creation of the church blog, but with a chapter closing there I will be able to focus more time here.

A question was asked to a group of youth workers this past weekend that I thought was somewhat of a profound question to ponder.

“What does it mean to be spiritual deep?”

I have often thought about this. I hear it so much in the church. I have heard the same comment in every church I have ever served in.

“I am looking for something deeper.”

And I have always asked myself – what exactly does that mean? What is the standard of being spiritually deep? Furthermore who is qualified to set that standard? As far as my mind will allow me to go, I can’t remember the prophets, disciples, Jesus or God ever talking about making sure you are spiritual deep.

So is it a mass of knowledge - To say that you know all the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic roots of all these passages, or that you can quote whole books of the Bible? By no means am I saying that these are not admirable. In fact I would say the opposite. I believe these are great disciplines to work towards. But the question I am asking is does mass of knowledge equal spiritual depth?

I am not convinced that to be truth. I have known people who know so much in their head and yet it often fails to penetrate their heart. And in my understanding of God, He seems to be more concerned with the state of our hearts.

So again I am left with what does it mean to have spiritual depth?

If I take an honest look at things – I was always taught that being spiritual deep meant that I spent time praying, studying, fasting… time in the spiritual disciplines. If I did that then I would have achieved some since of arrival in being spiritual deep. Yet it didn’t seem to matter how much I time spent time in prayer and in studying the Word – I still felt as if I was lacking something. I didn’t necessarily feel that joy of Christ and thought I wouldn’t have admitted it at the time I always felt like there had to be something more.

As I was growing up – those were things you just didn’t admit because it meant there must be something inherently wrong with you if you do not feel spiritual after having spent time in the Word and in prayer.

But I honestly still felt…

incomplete.

So this past weekend the question of what is spiritual depth was followed by an exercise that I encourage every family and group of friends to try together. We were asked to think about what it means to grow spiritually. And then we were asked to do something that every person in the room could identify with…

“Share your stories. What are your defining moments? We all have defining moments that cause our faith to move from one point to another place. In one or 1 to 2 sentences share with your group.”

It was amazing the stories that were shared. It became a God moment for every person in that room remembering how he has moved in our lives. I encourage you all to try this with your family or group of friends and see what you come up with. What similarities do you see and what is different.

The stories from our large group of about 200 people seemed to fall into 5 different areas. I’m not saying that these are the only 5 areas you can fall into but the more we shared and the more I think back on it – I believe that we are on to something that is rocking my world view of “spiritual” growth.

Let me know what you come up with and in the near future we’ll dive in to what we discovered.

Until then…enjoy living life!!

Thanks.