Hi, My Name Is...Prince of Peace

Top 10 Musical Releases of 2012

I know, mine is the list that matters the most in the top 10 lists, aren't they?  It feels awkward calling it a top 10 CD list because I don't buy CD's anymore...And there may come a time when I'm not buying music at all!   But, I have had some releases on rotation this year... These are not in order, but in random order!  I'm also totally open to suggestions if you have any! (Please be aware that many of these have explicit language and are not all child friendly...Truth be told even some of the music today that doesn't contain any profanity is not child friendly...I listen to this music not necessarily intentionally, but because some of my students listen to it (as do some of the people that I encounter who are not necessarily connected with a church (and some that are!)...).



1.) The Truth About Love by P!nk
I always, always love P!nk...From her incredible, breath-taking, live performances to the singles that she releases...Whenever she releases something new, I remember just how much I love her.  I love her honesty & vulnerability that she displays through her lyrics...And while we are not in the same life position, many of her songs could be my story as well...There were a few times that I sat listening to these songs just crying because I couldn't figure out how she knew exactly what I needed to hear...I adore her music.
Songs to Listen to: Try, Just Give Me A Reason, How Come You're Not Here

2.) Stronger by Kelly Clarkson
I did not watch American Idol the year Kelly was on...Well, I watched the episode announcing her the winner...She has been a little hit or miss for me throughout her career in terms of songs, but one thing is clear...This woman can SING.  She has a voice that is amazing & if you ever hear any of the covers that she does...Whew!  There is a reason she won AI & that she continues to release hits!  Most of the time, with her music, I don't like it until a song has been on the radio for a million years (and then I like her whole album...). This was a pretty similar situation...In fact, I debated whether or not to get the whole thing!  But again, her voice is amazing.
Songs to Listen to: Dark Side, I Forgive You, Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

3.) Beautiful Things by Gungor
The very first time I heard the song Beautiful Things by Gungor, I knew I would absolutely love everything that was released...I have not been disappointed.  Beautiful Things is a song that continues to sing my soul over & over...It's a song that sings my soul even when I don't want it to be true...I love this so much because it helps to remind me of what I believe when I just can't...
Songs to Listen to: Beautiful Things, Please Be My Strength, Dry Bones

4.) Overexposed by Maroon 5
I kind of love Adam Levine...I know, a million people do...and he's a little dirty...But I kind of love him.  Maroon 5 is usually awesome, but it takes me awhile to warm up to them...I think because I became obsessed with Adam Levine on The Voice, it didn't take quite as long!  I love the poppy sound And the higher quality of Adam Levine's voice...I totally wish that I could see them live, but maybe someday?
Songs to Listen to: Daylight, Beautiful Goodbye, Love Somebody

5.) Babel by Mumford & Sons
I know, how #hipster to put Mumford & Sons on my list...But I really do adore them so much...The folksy vibe...The deep lyrics...The faith content...Oh, so good...Every song hits me in a different way at a different time...The only thing I will say is I can't listen to this without wanting to wax poetic or think deeply...This is not dancing around my house music.  But I love it.
Songs to Listen to: I Will Wait, Hopeless Wanderer, Ghosts That We Knew

6.) Brokenness Aside by All Sons & Daughters
I saw All Sons & Daughters at the Story Conference this year & loved them so much...Such beautiful sound...Now, the conference itself spoke so deeply to my spirit, so I know that I attach much to them as well...But I love the music & can't wait to hear more from them!
Songs to Listen to: Brokenness Aside, All the Poor & Powerless, Alive

7.) Some Nights by Fun.
After We Are Young kind of exploded, I was kind of sick of them...I'm not going to lie...I was thinking-- this was going to be the only thing we would hear from them...But I decided to give them a chance...Thank God I did!  I can listen to them and want to think or I can listen to them & turn my brain off...Nice either way!
Songs to Listen to: Stars, Some Nights, All Alone


8.) The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
One of my newest obsessions...I stumbled on them with the song Thrift Store...It was just before they appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show & I had heard so much buzz around them, I figured I should check them out!  It reminds me a little bit of rap meets ska (but not really)...Some really great hooks & some deep lyrics as well!  I know I'm just getting to know their music, but I'm really liking what I'm hearing so far!
Songs to Listen to: Same Love, Thrift Store, Can't Hold Us

9.) Blown Away by Carrie Underwood
I have never wanted to like Carrie Underwood...I didn't like her when she was on AI...I didn't want her to win...I don't want to like her...But guess what...I usually do.  I always fight it so hard when she releases something...In my mind, I'm like "no..So gross, right?" and then all of the sudden, I'm singing along! Truth is, she really can sing & she's come a long way in terms of stage presence...Maybe I'm a fan?  Maybe I won't go that far yet...
Songs to Listen to: 2 Black Cadillacs, Blown Away, Who Are You

10.) Channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean
This might be the only controversial one in my mind on here...I can't decide what I think about it...But it was on heavy rotation for awhile...I loved Frank Ocean on SNL when he was the musical guest...I think most of the time this was on, I was not paying attention...Which is ok...But the songs that would grab me, I could just lose myself in...It was mostly the hooks that snagged me & while I wouldn't necessarily say that I could find myself in the lyrics, I certainly found ones that I could sing along with or just be lost in...So, it's a toss up for me on this one...On the one hand I don't know that I've listened closely enough to it to judge...But, on the other hand, I listened to this constantly!  So...Here it is!
Songs to Listen to: Thinkin Bout You, Pyramids, Lost

Hi, My Name is... Prince of Peace

Praying with CT

Hi, My Name is...Everlasting Father

Also known as the sermon I threw glitter everywhere.

Love, Sex, & Relationships: Habits that Hurt, Habits that Heal

Also known as, the sermon I introduced improv.

Back to Basics: Mission

Just Keep Swimming?

The movie Finding Nemo is such a delightful little film...Pixar usually does quality work & there is often much to ponder in Disney movies!

There's a line that Dory says that I'm sure I've often quoted... "Just keep swimming"...Now, there are indeed many times that this line & motto makes sense & needs to be applied...And there are times that I'm discovering that it's just not appropriate...

What do you do when you're just too tired to go on?  What do you do when you need a chance to catch your breath?  What happens when "Just keep swimming" damages you?

Because "Just keep swimming" will only take us so far before we need to catch our breath...And sometimes we need to trust that there's someone that can swim for us when we're just not able...

So, catch your breath...Trust someone...And then, just keep swimming...

2 Days with Rob Bell (notes)

My notes from the conversations that happened during the 2 days with Rob Bell...Some of them may not make sense (except in the context of conversations)...But this is what I captured...

2 days with Rob Bell

Matthew 3

Principle of 1st mention

            Descending like a dove (fluttering like the wings of a bird...occurs in Genesis)

                        Spirit hovering over the waters of the deep

                                    descends into chaos & brings order & beauty

                                                New creation happening (Matthew)

With him, I am well pleased-- JC hasn't done anything...and yet God is still pleased

            Divine unconditional embrace that rest upon him before he has done anything.

                        This is my son, who sticks his foot in his mouth a lot & I am well pleased with him          

                        This is my daughter who screws things up a lot & with her I am well pleased

If you do this, then...

            Gospel says-- nope...Announced already

                        upside down

Gospel announces that there is no point system

We have a board that evaluates us on how effective we are at telling people that God loves them no matter how effective they are.

We signed up for a revolution, but end up running a spiritual business

Courage/bravery/innovation comes from-- "I may fail & it's ok."

JC brings a fresh announcement of who we actually are

            I will be in you & you will be in me

            JC takes us into our true self

            We don't need the next...We need you.

            JC doesn't come to lead you into someone else, but the best possible version of who you are

           

The Divine in full humanity is bringing you into your full humanity. 

JC doesn't tell them anything unless he believes they can actually do it...And then he lives

            "I/m going to show you how to do, then you'll do it & I'll leave & you'll really do it."

The job of a congregation/church is to keep everyone small because then we don't have to answer their own call

Blessing raises as much questions as suffering

            Why do people get cancer/die/natural disaster

            Why do you get  mic/why do you have X

We don't have questions about blessing...

There's the why me?  but there's also why me?

The gospel is not an announcement of who you aren't, but who you are.

In Christ-- Live in the blessing

People live being pushed from the back-- the past pushes us forward

The NT pulls us from the front-- pulled into new identity/true self

Guilt trip is not Gospel

When you learn who you are, now you know what to do.

Now, live into who you truly are

What you aren't isn't interesting

There is always someone smarter/can work harder/with a tougher constitution/theologically concerned/holier/make a more clever youtube video

John 20-- the "other disciple"-- (John)--outran Peter/reached the tomb first

John-- identifies himself as "the disciple JC loves"

John 21

            Peter-- "what about him?"

There's a church around the corner that's bigger than yours-- what is that to you?

There's someone you went to school with who makes more $$-- What is that to you?

What is that to you?

            We're talking about you...not someone else

            You'll be judged on your path, not someone else's

            Why were you not like you?

Matthew 16

You can't confront the entrenched ruling systems without paying for it

Martin Buber-- there are yes & no positions to life

I have given myself 100% to this

Don;t hold back

People who inspire/mentor you-- don't hold back

 Information architect

            the creative organization of information creates new information

innovation is the clarification of an existing pattern & making it more understandable

Invention is different than innovation

We don't throw ourselves into it full because we think it's not new enough

"How will you know that you've gotten revenge" (most don't know)

Simple/complex-- confused simplicity with being the other side of complexity

            The simplicity after complexity...pushing through the complexity to reach through to the thing behind the thing

            The real art is simplicity after complexity

            "It may not be simple enough"

            The best ideas are the most simple

Who am I is a shame question-- comes from what you aren't/used to be

            Who amn't I?

Chris Martin-- we can do the best with what we've got...so that's what we do & we go for it.

John 6--too hard/don't follow

John 8:48-- have you been misunderstood?

Luke 22:47--Have you been betrayed

Matthew 28:16-- Have you been doubted?

You throw yourself into it & you have to surrender the outcomes

            You are not in control

Does a leader ask you to respond in a way that validates the whether this leader is a good leader?

Once you surrender the outcomes, you can help people

Can have goals, but you may not meet them

The JC Gospel has seeds of destruction sown into it

My worth is not tied up in your expectations

How people respond is out of my control.

Ambition drives the journey & not the destination

____

JC didn't come w/ a menu, he came with a meal

JC didn't come for wine connoiseur, but for those who are thirsty

__

Seeker service-- isn't everyone? (do we have a "founder" service?)

___

if you know all the details, it's not a leap

___

Surround yourself with people who will tel you the worst criticism before the critics actually get it.

___

throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks

____

the exhausting thing that's not exhausting

___

How are you going to spend your energy?

____

Three tiered world view

            Up = God

            Middle = us

            Down = bad

                       

                        We still talk in 3 tiered world even though that's not really what we think/know

___

Spiral dynamics

PRE CONVENTIONAL

EGOCENTRIC

Archaic (beige)

            Material

            Survival

Magical/mystical (Purple)

            Forces

            chant/song/dance

            immaterial

            dis-empowered (at the mercy of the gods--the gods are/aren't angry)

            blood

CONVENTIONAL

TRIBAL CENTRIC

ego/power (red)

            dominate

            will

            Make my own destiny/not wait for forces

            sexuality/guns

            dictatorship

            urge/drive/desire

traditional (blue)

            code/law/text/scripture

            given some sort of governing document that rules them

            military

            loves hierarchy (everything has it's proper place)

            1 story-- narrative myth that drives everything

            "What's the good book say?"

            Belief

POST CONVENTIONAL

WORLD CENTRIC

modern (orange)

            logical

            reason

            rational

            Someone from blue says-- "our laws don't make sense"

            Data

            Merit

Postmodern (green)

            stories

            eco

            PETA

            Occupy

            All stories matter

            STORIES

            earth care

            Toms shoes

            Everything is connected

            (rebellion against blue)

            Flat hierarchy

            problem-- every story matters

            Tolerant of everything but intolerance

            U2-- way ahead

            Behavior       

1st tier consciousness

            means bump up against  each other

            Look backwards with disdain

            look forward with fear

           

           

In order to lose/die to your ego, you have to have one

Joel Osteen-- re-parenting; re-devolping ego

            giving ego development to those who missed it

Bill Hybels-- Willow Creek is data driven (orange)

            Mega churches

2nd tier consciousnesses

integral (yellow)

            help people be healthy where they are at

           

 How do we communicate/love/shepherd people in the way they need to be?

Don Beck

Integral Institute--Ken Wilbur

The Bible is a book of self-critique

            when you have power/wealth/blessing-- what do you do with it?

We don't ___ enough---> dis-empowering

country club church--> got stuck at tribal; not moving beyond itself

Team leadership-- still hierarchy

Even if you don't name the power, it's still there

pre/post fallacy

            pretends it's in green, but actually hiding in red

______

Entertain vs. amuse

Be really good at celebrating every movement that you see & put it on display

            You will begin to realize-- that the spirit is moving

            For this person-- that was a really big deal

           

Capture every story

            They are telling me this story for some reason...why?

Incarnation-- the word takes on flesh

            don't just use words

            If you can show it.....

           

Become a master at celebrating those stories

            doesn't have to be in person-- video

If you capture this stuff, you begin to tell these stories as they're normal

Normative language

            "You ready to learn a new song?"-- assume that everyone does

            where there is spirit-- there is adventure

            We love stories here

            I love about the JC stories-- the surprise & twist (you just made it normative for the stories of JC to be surprising & have a twist)

Think through language that you used that didn't work

            we can smell if from a mile away

What is the melody/hook?

            Come as you are...

            creating a culture

            this is how we talk

Great leaders have figured out an impulse & work at finding a way to work at it

Eucharist/Baptism

            Anything you can do that is an experience-- moved out of you talking

            People should tell their stories (baptism)

What should I say that hasn't been said?

            That's a cue-- why limit to words?

If you think people would never do that-- how do you know?

            Create situations that seem crazy & see what people do

This passage isn't meant to be read, but experienced

Ask questions in such a way that no one would say no.

Lent series-- leaving Egypt

            what bondage/darkness do you need to leave?

            Good Friday-- bring whatever it is and leave it at the altar

Move from me talking-- to trying stuff

People do want to be a part of something bigger than themselves

If it doesn't work...You know what not to do again

What is the measure of success?

            emotional response? (what if it doesn't happen?)

            people thinking about it for years after?

If I fail in front of these people-- what happens?

You change the macro through the micro

            people remember how you handle it

Come to terms with the world failure

            failure assumes there was a way to do something right

           

Failure stories are powerful

For a reason, for a season

            we only have X amount of energy....

            This is how we see things

Henry Cloud-- energy around letting things end

______

Marriage as an adventure

friendships are based on mutual need; ministry is based on giving more

Loving yourself is where it starts

Most people need to know how to play

What does a healthy, sustainable life look like? 

            create the boundaries

            Stick to them

            People will learn

Intentionality of starting something new

Blessing of the skinned knee (book)

Blessing of the B- (book)

Every good leader has sacred rituals

            always involves exercise

The greatest gift you give your congregation is to be rested & grounded

-----------

Criticism

2 Samuel 16:5-

Shimi--from same clan as saul's family

            previous regime/system as it used to be worked well for him

            knew how thing worked/had power

            Has a lot invested in how it was

           

David is a disrupting agent

            could have been anyone else

David has an ear to listen for what is true

            Non-reactive presence

I don't have to respond if I don't want to

2 Samuel 19

15--brown noser committee

16-17--shimei hurried/rushed/crossed before

19--calls him king 3 times

22--What does this have to do with you?

1 Kings 2 5:-9

8--I made a promise not to kill him

9--But...do what you want (but you should kill him)

David never forgot what Shimei did...

Confusifying

            It's natural & normal to have varied reactions

Psalms

            praying your murderous impulses-- helps them to decrease

            voices every impulse to God-- then it loses its power

I'm a pastor that means I'm polite/nice

            becomes volcanic inside

The sooner that you can get to the "walk away" place

            the sooner you can work through it

We all have a shadow-- that which what we're most afraid it true about us

            Find someone who is that & project it

Leaders-- the more you develop your public image, the shadow just keeps growing

Churches-- shadow management

Go into your own depths

If you can go through a Friday...a Sunday is coming

Taking up the cross-- pain of leading people into new places where they don't want to go

Acting in the world

            if you're looking to avoid criticism...too late

            setting yourself up to be talked about

           

Indirect-- what's in the room?

            question behind the question

            wound behind the wound

            fear behind the fear

            Ask questions until you find what the real thing is

You may have punched first

Explicit critique

            straightforward...here's what I don't like

Implicit critique

            When you do something differently, you may be critiquing the old way

Blood guilt ---> returning home from exile

Exodus---> freedom from slavery

            slave to so many things in culture

Live it for awhile before you ever preach it

            Let yourself live with it

            let it become incarnate in you

            see if it sticks or not

            find your own shadow

New/novel  ---> Normal/natural

            It takes awhile for a new idea to become natural

            Law written on your hearts (Jeremiah)

                        You don't need it written on the wall because you know it

The goal isn't having a statement of faith written, but lived

Know what you're for

            "why don't you do an altar call?"---> "We're inviting people to trust JC where they are...Recognize we all need salvation--individually & corporately"

literally vs. literately

It is ok to have boundaries with toxic people who drain the life out of you

Being a leader is not a license to be a punching bag

JC wasn't just tea & cookies

you are a precious resource

Use governing bodies to work for you

            make a log

            this is my job description & this is what is keeping me from doing it

            Turn them into co-conspirators

Passion wins

            whoever lays their heart on the table is who wins

            the church is ultimately mystical

What happens in church meetings--

            everyone is waiting to hear what we're here for

            start meetings with Eucharist

no greater pain the the birth of a new idea (which is usually a reconfiguration of old ideas)

_____

Adrenaline/Brainwaves/Rhythm

It will take about 6 hours for your body to recover from adrenaline rushes (chemically speaking)

What are the times throughout the week that the adrenaline is pumping?

            work backwards

What are the natural rhythms?

            hours/weeks/days/seasons

What does a year look like that looks like something you can do

Get away before you're in trouble

Theta waves

            rest/relax/sleep

           

Beta waves

            Action/doing stuff/brain is firing

Your brain can overheat

SMR--Beta/Theta in perfect harmony

            awake, fully present, fully aware, not burning energy

            yoga

            breathing

Alpha waves

            Creativity

            If I rev fast enough, I can get stuff done

Take good care of yourself--like an Olympic athlete

Neuro feedback

Symphony of the mind/brain

 ________

Law-- coupons-- you have to spend $100 to get $50 off/ Blessing-- gift card in the mail

Ephesians begins w/ 3 chapters of who you are

Ask the elephant in the room

Where is this already present in this world?

What is going on in the text?

What's the thing behind the thing?

Proverbs-- conventional wisdom

Ecclesiastes--wisdom after wisdom-- comes when conventional wisdom has blown up in your face; did everything right& it still blows up in your face

how does conventional wisdom fail?

Is this all there is?

I got everything I wanted....Is this all there is?

Everything blew up in my face...is this all there is?

How do you set up this book so everyone knows how to read it?

Everything is temporal-- and that's ok

Hope is born from struggle

            hope is not an emotion

courage--acting in the face of your fear

What's the thing behind the thing behind the thing

The power of a great communication is that it disrupts all the right htings

I am not here to help you go around it, but right into the heart of if

The pilgrim has to crawl across the devil's loins to understand that down is up & up is down (Dante)

Some people need permission to be sad/angry

We acknowledge the full spectrum of human experience as natural & normal...God has a way of showing up in some of the most unexpected ways & traumas...Not going to resolve/fix, but creeate space to be in it

Incarnation-- God's impulse is solidarity

Sometimes there is no conclusion...some pain is unresolved

Is there anyway I'm rushing to the next season before letting this season end?

Change is a form of loss & loss is a form of change

1 john 3:8

            Devil

                        hasatan

            in development in the Scripture (not in Genesis)

            identify an existing pattern

            play with cultural notions of devil

You are a beloved child of God--this is who you belong to

Some sort of split/ruckus happening/turmoil that we don't know

            we only get one side

The funnier & more absurd you make it, the more people are with you

Centralize/aggregized force against our flourishment

Movement affects how we hear things

Think through what your body is doing & block it

what are the pictures/images/songs?

How do I destroy the 4th wall?

How do I involve the people?

What does this look like?

It all begins with the fresh word

            some insight

            some truth

Find the 2 best commentaries

Is there more to the story?

What has been said about this passage?

Stephen Fowl--> philippians

NT Wright-- New Testament series

What are the key words?

            is there any preaching gold?

            look for the hook

anything that strikes you, right it down

            no edit button

sometimes you have a metaphor before you know what it means

you can teach or you can be a teacher

you can preach or be a preacher

Keep your eyes open

Where will people be at the end of each section?

Know what's happening in the room

The more you know the structure, the more free you are to be spontaneous

people want to know if they're in good hands

the real gift you give is the ability to be surprised in the moment

Deconstruct

Respect the medium for what it is

hold content loosely because some of it might have to go

resonating interval-- everyone breathes at the same time

            why music is unifying

_____

If you;re cooked--- talk about being cooked

If you have writer's block, talk about writer's block

            tell them stories about the week

Do you have a teaching just sitting there?

What are we trying to do here?

____

Dancing with the waves

As I have said before, the water holds some mystical properties to me...As I shared the experience I had in the ocean on my first day in California, there were certainly more...

On an extra long lunch break from the event that brought me out here in the first place...Many were going surfing, but I decided to just spend the time on the beach & wandering around town.

I came to a familiar beach...it was one that I visited with my family on one of the many beach tours that we've done.  It was a somewhat familiar place in as much as I've been there before...But not in the way that I knew the terrain.

So, I stood next to the ocean, holding my long dress so it wouldn't get drenched (as had been a regular occurrence over the past few days.  I stood in prayerful meditation...no song came across my lips...just a call to pay attention...And so, pay attention, I tried!

Here's what happened....I stood on the beach with the waves flowing in...As they crashed on the shore, some crashed a little closer to me than I wanted....I mean, I was still going back to the event...I didn't want to spend the afternoon with a wet dress!

And so, the ocean & I did this little dance with one another...I would stand and step back when the waves seemed to be too close or move in closer when they seemed further away...It was a beautiful little dance that we were doing...And it was a dance that I was getting to be pretty good at...I knew where the steps were & I could anticipate when to move & when not....Until, well...I didn't...And a wave came in fast and yes, caught me off guard and soaked the bottom of my dress.

Well, the truth is...if you're going to dance with the waves of the ocean, that's one of the possible outcomes, right?  You might get a little wet...And truth be told, if you don't get a little wet...were you really dancing at all?

Pay attention...Those were the words in my soul...Pay attention.  Was it to pay attention to not get wet?  No, I don't think so...Pay attention.

What if the waves are metaphorical?  Are there any waves in your life that you're dancing with or maybe even dancing in?  Are there any situations that you're avoiding either out of fear or sadness or maybe for another reason?  What is the wave that you're dancing with? Is it better to know in the dance that you're going to get a little wet?  And it's ok...The sun will shine and dry you...

The dance can only go so long before someone gets tired...And the ocean doesn't seem to tire very easily...So, join the dance & don't be afraid to get a little wet.

And Are We Yet Alive?

Water has magical, mystical, healing powers for me...Whenever I feel myself depleted, I know that I need to find a body of water to breathe next to...It's the place that I can block everything else out and just simply listen for that still, small voice that whispers sweet words of grace to my soul.

As I stood on the beach the first day I arrived in California, I could immediately feel a warmth (that wasn't just the sun) and presence that was offering healing to my soul that for the last year has been ripped & torn apart in ways that I'm still discovering.

The very first day, I sat staring out at the waves and feeling the sand, a hymn came to my mind & it took me awhile to figure out the words to go with the tune...But soon I began to sing, "And Are We Yet Alive?" It's a hymn that I'm not altogether too familiar with (in the fact that I don't really know all of the words...)...But the words began to ring in my spirit & flow out of my mouth... "And are we yet alive? la la la ...Glory & praise & honor be as that above...What trials have we known since we assembled last? And are we yet alive?" Those are the only words that were able to be found...I'm not even sure if some of them are right! But, it was the song that was in my soul...It was the song that needed to find it's way to my mouth...

I remember talking with Jonette often about life...She would often tell me, "When you move to California, I just know that everything will just fall into place." Now, I'm not moving to California tomorrow...But her words rang in my spirit...And the truth is, everything in life seems to make sense when I'm here in California. Life just makes sense. I just make sense. Is it because I'm away from normality? Is it because of the mystical powers of the ocean? Is it a state of mind? I can't answer that...As I stood in the ocean, I can tell you that life just made sense. And in a mystical, spiritual way, Jonette was standing next to me whispering, "Everything will just fall into place."

The question that is ringing in me....And are we yet alive? I have been in the process of just holding on this past year...My soul has been shattered in so many ways & I feel like this trip, I've been finding the broken pieces of my soul in various & surprising places throughout California...But truthfully, not all...I feel like I'm on a journey to find the rest of them...And I'm committed to this journey.

October Newsletter

Dear Friends,

                Like much of the world, on September 12, 2012, I was waiting with my breath held for the announcement coming from Apple’s new CEO about the newest technology bursting forth, ready to change the world again.  And after the newest hardware & software was rolled out (including the new iPhone 5), the world was faced with the question… Am I an early adopter (and waiting in virtual line now for my new phone)…Am I a middle adopter (I’ll get it pretty soon, but I want to see how if it works first)…Am I a late adopter (I’ll get it once just about everyone else has and I don’t have a choice anymore.)?  Of course there’s the late, late adopter (Isn’t apple something you pick off a tree & dip in caramel?)…

                Let’s be really honest—there was a lot happening in the world during September & not everyone cared all that much about the new Apple announcement…Some people were fighting for their jobs, some fighting for their lives, and some were fighting for things that they weren’t even sure about…

                Everywhere, people are looking for a message of hope…And they’ll look for it anywhere & everywhere they can...As the Church, we have a message of hope & love that the world is craving to hear.  How are we sharing it?  In words?  In actions?  In big press conferences?  In sharing a cup of coffee with a stranger?

                The truth is…all of those ways.  Faith United Methodist Church is working on sharing the message of God’s love & a message full of hope that the world is aching to hear… We do this through worship, education, mission, & fellowship.  There are some very exciting ways to get involved at any age!  We have a great new children’s ministry program on Sunday mornings called Grow with some exciting (and excited!) teachers who want our children to learn about Jesus…We have a great new class for young adults (20-40) exploring their faith, asking questions, and looking to get to know one another better…We have a great youth group where we work hard, play hard, & pray hard…Small groups that connect you with God, the church, and to one another…

                There are many ways for you, personally, to get connected and ways for you to hear a message of God’s love & a message full of hope…And there’s some ways for you to invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, family to hear a message of God’s love & a message full of hope.  They may just be waiting for you to ask them!

                                                                

I Blew a Tire

I was on my way to a meeting this morning when my whole day changed... One of my tires blew... Yeah, not exactly what I was planning for the day.  After a few tears shed, I got to work...getting ready to change my tire.

I went into the trunk of the car & pulled out the spare, the jack, & the crowbar thing to take off the lug nuts...I put the jack underneath the car & then realized that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing...So, I cried a little bit more... Then googled "roadside assistance"... (A friend of mine was also looking for help for me, too!)  And I discovered that the state of IL has roadside assistance ( dial *999)... So, I called & waited.

When the truck arrived, I told the guy that I decided I didn't know what I was doing, so I should call someone who did...Not only did he not judge me...He told me I got an A for effort...And then he told me how to change the tire (BTW-- the jack that I put underneath the car?  It was wrong...Good thing I stopped.)...And of course, using his own tools, he was finished in less than 5 minutes and I was on my way...

Here's the thing...I was back on the road within about an hour and a half, all told...But, I had to miss my meeting & then go to get a new tire...Not exactly my favorite part of the day!  There were also a few other things that happened which helped to make this a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day...

But...there were some things that I thought about in the midst of this...

I had all of the tools that I needed & a general understanding of how they worked...And yet, I didn't quite know how to use them.  And I think that relates to issues of faith at times...We have all the right tools, but just don't know how to use them...I know what Scripture says...I think I know how to pray...But I'm not so sure how to put it all together.  And it takes someone who does it well to show us exactly how it works...

Having a blown tire had a hand in making this an awful day!  (there were other things too...)...But it also provided a chance for me to stop, breathe, & think...

I need to do more...

I have not blogged for awhile...I wasn't super regular at it anyway...And I'm not the kind of blogger that does hours of research before posting...I tend to pontificate for awhile & throw something out there!

But...I want to be more regular.  I have a lot of things running in my head & I need an outlet to get them out! And yet, not everything is blog-worthy if we're being honest!  (and we should be...)

So, I want to blog something everyday...Even if it means staring at a blank screen for a few minutes (or hours) before I can put a complete thought together...I need to get some of these things out before they're gone!

What DO you do?

I have had a myriad of conversations recently pertaining to what I do for a living...There are quite a few people who are really curious...Truthfully, somedays I am too!

Let's be honest for a few minutes here...This conversation comes up for me a lot in terms of dating... Now, dating as a pastor is a whole other blog post that I'm ruminating on (and have before as well)...But, trying to explain what I do to someone who is outside of the United Methodist tradition or outside of the Protestant tradition...Or heck, even outside of the church at all!!  It proves to be challenging... Outside of the title... What do you actually do?

When I've boiled it down in simplest of terms, that seems completely inadequate.. "Oh, a little preaching, a little teaching, a little counseling...a little bit of other things."  And if I were to go into too many specifics, I think I might cry because I'd be so overwhelmed!  And some of the mundane doesn't necessarily need to be reported.... "I test markers...Clean up pop spills...Make sure doors are locked..."  And the too philosophical... "I get to think about behavior styles of teenagers...I pontificate on the role of the Eucharist in contemporary culture..."

What do you do all day?  I do a lot all day...many times not what I had in my head would happen for the day...And many times my mental to do list takes a back seat...

For other clergy-- how do you answer the question?

Growing in the Garden

September Newsletter

Dear Friends,

   As you've probably already heard & will see throughout the newsletter, there are a lot of new things starting! Some things are brand new programs like the young adult study group on Sunday afternoons & some are new twists on familiar programs, like the change from Sunday school to Grow. There are some exciting things happening in our children, youth, & young adult ministries. Make sure that you check out the newsletter to see everything that's kicking off on September 9th! If there are ways that you'd like to be involved in any of these programs, please let me know & we'll find a place that matches your gifts & passion!

Someone asked me recently, why do we need to change anything?  Are we just trying to sound hip & cool? Both of which are really good questions!  If we're changing anything just to be hip & cool, then yes...we've lost the point.  But if we change things in order to speak the language of younger generations, while also remaining faithful to the Gospel, that's what we're called to do! 

Every year, Beloit College publishes the mindset list.  This is the list of world & cultural events that are normal in the life of the incoming college freshman classes.  There are always events that surprise me & sometimes even some that remind me that I'm too old to be a college freshman! But this year there were a couple that made me think about what this means for the Church... The 3rd item on the list-- "Biblical sources of terms like 'forbidden fruit', 'Good Samaritan', and 'the promised land' are unknown to them." How does the church need to respond to this? In a generation (and world) that is becoming increasingly Biblically illiterate, what does the Church have to say (and do) to share the message of the Gospel?  Several of the other items on the list dealing with technology weren't all together surprising, but important to remember... Technology items like radio, television, CDs, floppy discs have little to no importance to them...but they have always grown up in the digital age where they can get their music streaming or downloaded or can catch a TV episode they missed on YouTube or another place on the web...oh, and of course phones aren't just phones! In fact, many don't use phones as what many of us would consider a phone for--but phones are for texting, taking pictures, surfing the web, Facebooking, tweeting, or any number of things that phones can do!  Again the question is---what does the Church do in response to this?

Our children, youth, and young adult programs are continuing to wrestle with questions like these...how do we share the Gospel, the Good News, in ways that's engaging & relevant to a generation that, in many cases, has never heard it!  We keep experimenting & trying & never giving up!

If you'd like to talk more about our new programs, or about some of the cultural changes of younger generations, or about the new fall TV season! I'd love to talk with you...I have office hours at Panera (on LaGrange next to Pier 1) on Tuesdays from 5-7pm & would love to chat with you there! If that doesn't work, we can always try & find a time that does!

                   Blessings,

Young Adult Study Group

Young Adult Study Group Beginning September 9th, following the Oasis service, our young adults will gather for lunch, fellowship, & a time of study & conversation together! From noon until 2pm, we’ll meet in Room 14-16…Bring your lunch (or have it delivered here!) & be ready to connect with one another & grow together. (Childcare will be available) This group is open to young adults age 20-40. Full class listing is available on our website or contact Pastor Melissa (pastormelissa@faithumcop.org) for more information! 

To see some samples for our first study, visit http://animate.wearesparkhouse.org/.

 September
2—No Meeting
9—Animate—God: Faith is a Quest
16 –Animate—Religion: Spirituality is not enough
23— Animate—Jesus: The Revolution of Love
30—Visit Brookfield Zoo (Adult tickets are $15; Children’s tickets 3-11 are $10.50) 
October
 7—Animate—Salvation: Abundant Life Now
14—Lunch (We’ll go out for lunch together—Location TBA)
21—Animate—Cross: Where God is
28—Animate—Bible: A Book Like No Other

 

When is it a year?

So, my birthday was a few weeks ago & it has left me with a lot to think about... When I'm really honest with myself, this was one of the worst years ever...Oh, don't get me wrong there were some really great moments too & things that I wouldn't trade for the world...But overall, not a great year.

But I'm stuck wondering...When do I consider a year a year?  It wasn't necessarily about being 30 that was the difficulty for me...But more along the lines of 2012... So, to say I'm starting fresh with a new year doesn't feel completely accurate.  Because 2012 is still looming over my head (and weighing heavy on my heart.)

I had a friend (I can't remember who...) who would get their calendars when school started because that meant it was a new year.  So, a year was virtually August-August.  (which conveniently coincides with my birthday!) ...But even that doesn't feel quite accurate.

And when I've thought about this in depth & detail...A year from January through January doesn't seem to fit either....Because some of the things that I've found particularly challenging & difficult this year, technically won't hit a year at that point.

So, it's starting to feel more fluid than sometimes I even think that it should be...Will I still make promises & resolutions when it comes to be New Years?  Probably (#betterlifechoices2012).  Am I thinking differently about my life in a new year of life?  Yes.  When anniversaries of difficult times/events roll around, will they still hurt. I'm guessing so.

I don't know when a year is up...My life is calculated by so many different measurements of time.  As corny as it may sound, the question from the musical Rent rings in my head... "How do you measure a year?"  In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee?  In inches, in miles?  Measure in love.  I'm going to try that...Even though I'm not completely sure what that looks like.  It's got to start sometime, right?  Why not start now?

Sharing Faith with NOLA

August Newsletter

Dear Friends,

    This has been quite the summer! We've had a great Vacation Bible School, incredible mission trip, & several opportunities for service & fellowship together. As programming has completed in some places, there has been good time of evaluation & planning for the upcoming year. We have a lot of exciting things happening in our children & youth ministries this year!

    A brand new Sunday school program called Grow--where we've taken stock of the last 2 years & made changes & adaptations to our program. Some experiments have paid off in ways that we expected & all were great lessons for us. I'm so excited for this year to see what God will do with us & in us!

    The youth ministry a schedule is still being finalized as I comb through our school districts' calendars. Did you know that we relate to 10 different school districts? (and that doesn't include private schools or sports/drama/music schedules.) Scheduling aside, this is going to be an exciting year in youth ministry as we work hard, play hard, & pray hard. Many of our lessons & activities have come by request of our students & I'm looking forward to a year of growth & learning for everyone involved! If you are looking for ways to serve, youth ministry is an area that we are in need of people who want to work with, mentor, & get to know our students. If you are interested in something all year or even 1 particular type of event (ie--I can drive students to an event; I'd love to chaperone a retreat; or I am great at baking cookies!); please come & talk with me.

     Planning for young adult activities is also underway in conjunction with our own young adults, as well as other churches in our communities, & with our annual conference. There are some exciting ideas that are being brainstormed & fleshed out & our schedule should be finalized for many items by the end of the month!

     So much happening & so many pieces still in motion! I'm excited for what this year will bring & would love for you to find ways to get involved! Please contact me to set up a time to talk about your passions or meet me at Panera (on LaGrange next to Pier 1) on Tuesday nights from 5-7pm.

 

    Thank you for the ways you've supported & served with our ministries with younger generations! I'm looking forward to a great new year!

                           Blessings,

                             ~Pastor Melissa   

Philippians

Corinthians: We Found Love in a Hopeless Place

Faith UMC Enote

Yesterday on Facebook, several friends posted a similar status, “If no one reads my wall, this should be short. This is a Facebook game to see who reads posts, and who just scrolls. So, if you read this, leave one word on how we met. Only one word, then copy this to your wall so I can leave a word for you.” Now, I rarely participate in these kinds of memes (An image, video, etc. that is passed electronically from one Internet user to another.), but I decide to participate in this one! It was fun to watch my friends’ statuses & see how different relationships began. When I posted on mine, it was fun to reminisce with friends about how we met & in some cases, had lost touch! On Saturday night, I was grateful for friendships again when I called a friend of mine at 1 in the morning trying to finish my sermon for Sunday morning…There was just one piece that wasn’t feeling right & it hadn’t all week. I was so grateful for my friend taking time to process through things with me& helping me to find the words that were inside the whole time. There are a lot of definitions for a “true friend”, but for a preacher—a true friend puts up with your theological ramblings after midnight… We all crave to be in relationship with someone…It’s part of human nature! Many people on my Facebook status said we had met at Church. We have so many ways for you to be connected at Faith…Maybe it’s with a Circle through the United Methodist Women or a small group or the Upper Room Bible study or the choir…Or many other ways! If you’re looking for ways to be connected, we’d love to help you! Then, maybe you can post on someone else’s status… We met at church! Blessings, ~Pastor Melissa

Faith UMC Enote

The first day home from a mission trip is always a little awkward. It’s incredible to sleep in your own bed & not have the noises of an unfamiliar place & sometimes not well known people. Then there’s the showering situation! No one to time the showers or paint to scrape off your scalp can be a good thing! It’s always good to come home! But yet…You’re in your own bed while you know there’s so much work to be done…The shower feels great until you remember the homeowners you were working with can’t yet get into their home. And as much as the early morning wake up calls were less than exciting, you grow to kind of miss them (a little)… I find that no matter where I’ve been on a mission trip, a piece of my heart is left behind, sometimes calling me back & sometimes just calling me to remember what I’ve seen & experienced & how it’s made me a different person. I’m sure that each member of our mission team will share with you a slightly different picture of what it’s like to come home after our experience in New Orleans, but one thing that is sure—we’ve all been changed by what we’ve seen & experienced. Sunday afternoon, I got a notification of a new friend on Facebook. This isn’t always something that stops me in my tracks, but this notification was from Jalen. Jalen lived across the street from the house we were working on & helped our team out throughout the week…He became part of our team! And now a piece of New Orleans was a lot closer than it had been through the wonderment that is social media. Jalen’s life was changed by our presence & our care…And our lives were changed by his smile & even his prayers for & with us. Who are you sharing faith with this week? Where is your life being changed? Whose life are you changing? It may seem like something small to you, but to someone else, it’s huge. Our call as Christians is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I’m grateful to be a part of a church that shares Faith in many different areas of our community, nation, and even our world. May we always find ways to share Faith with others & change the world. Blessings, ~Pastor Melissa

July Newsletter

Dear friends, The month of June was incredibly packed with so much happening with our children & youth ministries. Between confirmation, Vacation Bible School, & the Mission Trip to New Orleans--there is so much happening here!! Confirmation was June 10th & hopefully you were there to hear the speeches from our newest members at Faith! I spent all year with these students in classes, retreats, & field trips & I was blown away by what they shared! At least 2 of our students vocalized that they weren't sure they believed in God before confirmation, but now not only believe in God, but have claimed God's love for themselves! Having been in many conversations with these students, this wasn't an overnight realization, but one that came with much thought, prayer, and honest conversations. It was truly my honor & privilege to walk this journey with these students & I'm excited to continue to see what unfolds! Thank you to the parents and family who walked this journey with dedication & faithfulness! Thank you to the mentors who gave of their time & energy to build relationships with these young people. Confirmation is only a step in a larger faith journey, but it is a significant one! Congratulations to Alec Cardinal, Allison drechney, Alex Gray, Katie Krell, Brandon Matthews, Jesse Matthews, & Katie Stoaks! Vacation Bible School was another fantastic week! We dove deep into God's love & learned about Jesus through music, crafts, science, and even snacks! It was so exciting to hear the kids talking excitedly about what they were learning & what they were experiencing. The first day, parents who brought their children to Vacation Bible School asked their son if he wanted to come this year and his response was, "Of course! I LOVE VBS!" I think so many people have that reaction...we had more than 50 volunteers during the week & that doesn't include those who prayed, purchased supplies, or invited their neighbors. THANK YOU for all that you have done to make this another successful year! A special thanks to those who served as coordinators of an area-- Stephanie Roque, Kelly Lang, David Notestein, Patrick Matchen, Diane Barnett, Werner Steenvoorden, Amanda Steenvoorden, joselyn Daher, Kelly Matchen, Brittany White, Christy Claus, April Pruim, Tanya Mack, Mary Kough....and so many shepherds & helpers!! Your service is inspiring!!! As I write this, our mission trip hasn't left, but we are looking towards another incredible week of being the hands & feet of Jesus in New Orleans. It will be a joy to share our stories with you when we return! I have felt this month that I have rushed from place to place in preparation & in working at each of these events, that I'm not sure in the moment that I've treasured every moment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you all have done to make a difference in the lives of our children & youth. The seeds that are being planted in their hearts & minds will grow beautiful & amazing fruit as we all continue to water & nurture them! I am constantly reminded by the articles & books that I read, the conversations that I have & overhear that the world has changed dramatically. As if experiencing the changes firsthand weren't enough...the world is different & it takes learning a different language to reach out to those that are not yet here. As we as a church continue to learn how to reach them, we will always be learning how best to speak...whether its through social media, image rich curriculum, and continuing to build & develop relationships. We'll have more conversation in the upcoming weeks & months about how we as a church will live out our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in the 21st century. It's a huge task, but one that we take with faithfulness & commitment to sharing the good news of God's love & grace to all we encounter! Blessings, ~Pastor Melissa

The Gospels: Luke

I only raised my gun...

The History Channel recently aired a miniseries that completely captured my attention...I honestly would have missed it because The History Channel is not something I usually watch (I'm more of a Bravo girl)... But I've gotten addicted to Pawn Stars since all of the shows that I watch/have on in the background are on hiatus...

The Hatfields & McCoys was a mini series depicting the epic feud between these two families...I was captured by this!  There was so much rich storytelling & pieces that are telling to the human condition...Did I mention, I loved it?  There may be a few posts coming from it (no promises...), but one character that captured my attention was Johnse Hatfield.

Let's get it out there first...The actor who played Johnse, Matt Barr, is incredibly good looking...In all honesty, that was probably the reason that my attention was captured.  Well, that and the Romeo & Juliet love story between Johnse & Roseanna McCoy.

Johnse was someone who never seemed to fit in with his family...He was a lover and not a fighter...He was angry at the McCoys only because his family was...He was far too trusting...He just didn't quite fit, even though he tried so hard to.

In several instances where McCoys were murdered at the hands of Hatfields, when Johnse was present, he argued over and over... "I only raised my gun, I didn't shoot." or "I missed on purpose."

It seems like that should be a good enough explanation or a cleansing of wrongdoing... But of course, it isn't.  As Martin Luther King Jr. has famously said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

I think there are times when we are all victim to this..."I didn't actually participate...I was only there."  "They did all the talking...I didn't agree with them."  But the truth is, our presence & our silence speaks volumes even if we don't want it to.

Does Johnse saying, "I didn't shoot" or "I missed on purpose" make him feel better?  It might...It might make us feel better to say those things too.  But it doesn't make those who have been wronged feel better...

May we all find the courage to be able to not raise our guns at all...Or to tell others to knock it off...May our silence not be a form of oppression.