Statistic

"80% of pastors' wives said that they wish their husbands would choose another profession." [Time Magazine, April 9]

"One of the realities that a pastor must face is that the church is the only mistress that he can commit adultery with and not be looked down upon. The church will cheer the hard working pastor, the one who is at every meeting and does it all…and then that same church will throw stones at the one they hailed as a hero when his marriage falls apart or his kids become hellions."

Perry Noble, pastor
New Spring Church

am8ture

If anyone is interested, I started a flicker account a while back... I'm trying to post more pictures there than here.

I wish I could figure out how to link to other sites and blogs on blogger... can't seem to find that feature.

am8ture

Picnic pictures

Some pictures from our small group leader's picnic. More to come

"All we want to do is eat your brains..."

My 2 year old walks around with her arms flapping in front of her... saying... "Braaaains....braaaains..."

Kevin and Patrick... this is for you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear mdog!
Happy Birthday to you!

I'm glad I'm a man

So we had a discussion tonight at our church that I won't get into here. I thought it was well done and the panel did an excellent job. I respect each of the women on that panel tremendously and think they all love God and are biblically grounded. I also believe there is room for disagreement on issues in the body of Christ.


With that said (and because this is my blog and a place for me to voice my thoughts and struggles in a way I would not do from the platform), for those who were there, I will say this:

I'm glad I'm a man. Based solely on my gender, no one questioned my calling tonight. No one put limits on what I can or cannot do. No one restricted me. No one told me I was "equal," but then quickly put limits on my role. (Question: If we are equal but different, what are the "limiting roles" of men that make us different?).

Because I'm a man, I can serve God as I wish...

Because I'm a man.

And I went home, pulled my 2-year-old daughter out of bed, put my hands on her head, and prayed that she would be a women who found her sufficiency, identity and leading from God and God alone. And that she would be a passionate follower of Jesus who would live out her calling in whatever ways God was leading her.

I'm glad I'm a man.

And my daughter would be quick to say, "Actually, I'm 2 1/2"

life...

I can tell when I have been working too much and it is starting to affect me. It is something I have learned about myself over the years. When this area of my life is out of balance, I notice a couple of signs:

1. The phone rings and, no matter who it is, I just tense up. It's almost like I become resentful for someone intruding on my life. Of course, this "someone" could be my wife or best friend. Even people I enjoy talking to, even people I want to talk to... the sound of my phone just makes me tense during these times.

2. I don't really enjoy the things I normally enjoy. This includes my job, but it also includes being with my family, eating out with my wife, spending time with friends, etc. And again, it's not that I don't "enjoy" these people or things... it's that I'm unable to enjoy them or be fully present much of the time.

I have been aware for several months that my life was going out of balance. To be clear, this is through no fault but my own. I have said "yes" too many times and haven't managed my calendar well. To be clear, my calendar is filled (largely) with things I want to do and people I want to meet with. But it doesn't matter...and that is part of my point. It is a matter of boundaries and my desire at times not to want to set them.

Just this week I noticed bright light at the end of the tunnel. But here is the thing (and for you observant folks, the reason I pulled the first version of this post and changed it)....

I feel I "missed" a lot of the last couple of months.

There, but not fully present. Does that makes sense?

I have been more on edge, less filled with joy and just enjoyed life less... I have probably been a pain to be around and not as much fun to work with. When I am doing one thing I can't give myself fully to it...

And I regret that.

I know (and am discovering more and more) that much of my inability to enjoy life is due to pace and workload. But I also need to return to some practices that are a part of who I am... that I have let go of.. and I need to learn some new habits.

So you, my dear readers, get to hear my list (I can sense the excitement in the blogosphere).

Here are some things I am working to embrace (actually re-embrace)

1. Fasting. I used to fast very regularly. Within the last 2 years I have let that discipline slide and only recently have begun again. But this is one of those disciples that sharpen me and actually help me enjoy life more. Go figure.

2. Days with God. Up until the past two years (timed with the birth of my daughter), I would regularly take a day a month and go away to just read and pray and write. I have the time, the place... why don't I do this? Well... there is always one more ministry thing to do, one more person to meet with, one more teaching to write.

3. Reading. I read a lot. But as only one who preaches week in, week out can tell you, there is something very different about random reading ("oh, I feel like reading") and disciplined (an hour a day) reading. For the past couple of nights, I sat down and read Dallas Willard (big surprise to any of my readers?) for an hour or so. Just me on my couch. It was really, really nice. And I felt my soul grow.

4. "Werewolf" - I like being with groups of my friends and playing interactive games. I find it very relaxing. The key for me is to plan it so I know it's coming and I can build a buffer in my life so I actually have the evening free. Not just free from commitments, but "free" in that I can give attention to the moment.

5. Early mornings. Now, there is nothing spiritual about mornings... but I used to get up at 4 or 5... and I really miss that.

Things I need to give up to make this happen...

To be continued

"The real issue relating to exclusiveness is whether the Christian actually has a relationship with God, a presence of God, that non-Christians do not have. Apart from Christian spiritual formation as described here, I believe there is little value in claiming exclusiveness for the Christian way.

The realization of this may be what is reflected in the current mass abandonment of the exclusiveness of Christianity that is going on among Western Christians now, especially in its academic centers. Why should one insist on the exclusiveness of Christianity if all it is is one more cultural form? But let the reality of the Christian spiritual formation come to its fullness, and exclusiveness will take care of itself. If the witch and the warlock, the Buddhist and the Muslim, can truly walk in holiness and power equal to that of Jesus Christ and his devoted followers, there is nothing more to say. But Christ himself, and not Christianity as a form of human culture, is the standard by which "we" as well as "they" are to be measured. (Acts 17:31)"

Dallas Willard, "The Great Omission"

Age

So I have had some meetings this week with folks in which I was keenly aware of how old I was. And this is not an, "I feel old post," this is a, "man, I remember when I thought like that" post.

It's funny how much time gives you perspective on issues.

Things that used to bother me that now don't.

Situations where I used to know it all... and now realize how little I knew.

It's tough being in a town where the majority of people are 1/2 your age... but you know... I think there are some advantages to age.

I know the feeling...

Cat Herding

My quote of the week...

"Science can be a joyless monster sometimes, even though it has its moments. I know [my non-Christian friend] believes in his book learnin' every bit as much as I believe in my God, but textbooks don't romance your soul. You're right ... it is hard to fathom why some people don't want to believe that there is a God that aches to be loved and to love."


For the context of this, visit Laura's blog.

Humph

No

Sin

"What always drives us, at the soul level, is that if I believe that I cannot trust God to care for the satisfaction of my soul, then I will take my soul's satisfaction into my own hands."

John Ortberg, "My Holy of Holies"



“Failure to attain a deeply satisfying life, always has the effect of making sinful actions look good.”

Dallas Willard, "The Spirit of the Disciplines"



"To the extend at which you have authentic joy, then temptation (which is always the offer of the illusion of joy) is just not going to be very tempting."

Some pastor

You ought to go.

So all of my readers ought to break out their calendars. Go ahead, I'll wait.

[Waits patiently]

Okay, mark out these dates on there - November 28-December 5, 2007. And write over those dates, "I'm going to Honduras with Paul."

Great, 'cause I know you want to go. Or maybe you are like me and don't want to go... which is why you should.

What will you do?
Work hard.
Hug kids.
Meet Jesus.

What better things do you have to do with your time?