Smellmylife

What’s up everyone?  I’ve taken a couple of weeks off from blogging, but now I’m back.  I frankly was too busy to worry about blogging!  I’ll try to keep things fresh here for the summer.

• Enjoying summer so far
• “The Happening” is the dumbest movie EVER!
• Why is money (not having any) always a problem at Church?
• Continuing the “OnePrayer” series tonight.  It’s going well thus far.
• Our Flag Football Tournament is fast approaching.
• Just got my first “Moleskin”!
• I have a serious book addiction.
• I have alot of good new music….will be posting soon on some of my favorites.
• Can’t wait for “The Dark Knight”!
• Been struggling with headaches/fogginess (pray for me if you think about it)
• The NFL season is fast approaching, so is the release of Madden ‘09.
• UFC Fight Night is tonight!  The Ultimate Fighter Finale!
• Had a great Fathers day.  I love my boys so much.

My biggest fear is that I get to the end of my life and find out that I’ve gotten it all wrong.  Not about God or who Jesus is….I’m very confident of that, but that I’ll have gotten this whole church thing wrong.  I mean are we as the church in the world’s richest country getting it right?  Are we as pastors getting it right?  I find that so many pastors nowadays (is that a word?) are doing less and less pastoring and more and more “leading the leaders”.  Let’s face it, being a leader of leaders is sexier than just sheperding a flock of people.  Some pastors I know spend more time traveling, speaking at conferences and writing book than actually doing the work of a pastor.  I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I wish that I could be recognized, well known, traveling and speaking, writing…a leader of leaders.  But is that a pastors calling?  It’s hard work (and certainly not glamorous) to pastor people, to put yourself out there for people, to get your hands dirty with the sin and shame in people’s lives.  And my fear is that we as the church in America are missing the boat.  Jesus meant for us to love and help people, to meet needs, to give of ourselves until we are empty, but we’ve become so consumed with church growth, leadership, conferences, seminars, being relevant to pop culture, etc.  Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for all of that, and I believe that we need those things, but we need to be loving people by giving until it hurts.  The church should outgive the Salvation Army or the Red Cross or any other organization that helps people.  Earthquake victims in China, Cyclone victims in Myanmar…we should be helping these people…we should be the church God intended us to be.  Maybe, I’m ranting here because I’m dissatisfied with my own brand of Christianity. Simply put, we need more of Jesus and we need to be more about what He did.  I’ll shut up now.

This is my last week as a staff member at Arundel Bay.  It makes me sad to go from this place because I have really enjoyed working here for the past 2 years (and the previous 4 at Riverdale).  I really have never worked with a greater group of people.  It’s hard to imagine that I won’t be coming in to work anymore and hanging out with Steve, Monica, Ryan, Syd, Alyce, Wini, Mel, Kristi-Anna, Lisa, Roland, Kelly, Joy, Vicki, Crystal, Stacy, Joy G., Stephanie, Penny, Amy, Sherry, Renee,  Kristi, Melissa,  Kim, Jody, Schavonne and the best principal in the world, Tammie.  I’ve worked alot of places and have never felt the closeness and family feeling that exists at ABCA.    It’s hard to leave kids that have become such a part of your daily life. Great kids that I won’t name because I don’t want to forget anybody.  I Love you guys!  You  helped me love kids again (I had lost that before I came here).  I wish all of you the best. I will truly miss all of you, but you will see me…I promise.  Change is hard.  Change is scary.  Change is uncomfortable.  Change is necessary. I know that God has been calling me to make this change.  Let’s face it, I’ve been comfortable.  I’m no P.E. teacher, I’m a pastor.  I needed to step out and work closer to my church.  Step out and work amongst those who need to hear about Jesus.  I am willing God to step out, not knowing the outcome, not knowing the future, but trusting you to provide simply because you are God.  You can only do great things through me if I make myself available to be used.  Use me up God.  I waste myself on you…I want more of you and more of your kingdom coming to earth.  I want to be obsessed.