Christ, Church and Chicken!

listen

2009-03-05T22:28:00.002-05:00

Day 9

I'm preparing to preach from the book of Ruth on Sunday. I have never preached directly from the book of Ruth and I have only mentioned Ruth in passing. Yet the story of Ruth is a profound story for so many reasons! Of all of the many themes in Ruth, I am moved by how God often uses the unlikeliest of ways to convey a message. It's striking that in Ruth, a Non Jew (Ruth) emerges as the hero of the story and she displays an integrity that hadn't been displayed by the average Israelite. She displays the message of God's goodness and faithfulness.

God is always speaking, are we always listening? Or are we not listening because its not coming from the right sources? During this season, I feel called to put up the extra antennas of my heart and try to pick up the signals from God and not to dismiss the message, when it transmits from an unlikely source. Or something like that!

Tonight's Menu: Kristy's Birthday Dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse

The Final Rose

2009-03-03T23:11:00.002-05:00

Day 7

So I will confess, I watched "The Bachelor" last night and tonight! I didn't watch any episode this season, just the finale and tonight's follow up episode. It was great TV. The bachelor chose one girl over another and then six weeks later decided he was in love with the girl we rejected. It was kind of funny! I really don't like that show, but that was entertaining stuff! It was painful at times to watch this guy make such a gut wrenching decision. He cried and he struggled a great deal.

How gut wrenching of a decision did Jesus make for me! Death on a cross vs. relief from pain. Painful humiliation vs. painful payback to his accusers. It's this simple... Thank you Jesus for giving me a rose and choosing me!

Tonight's Menu: Fried Chicken, Fried Potatoes and Corn on the Cob

Randy, Paula or Simon

2009-03-02T21:48:00.002-05:00

Day 6

I really wish I could go into why I missed posting yesterday. Safe to say, my plan to blog daily through Lent has been derailed. But I'm not guilty. To put it plainly, I've been involved in a dire attempt to minister to two of my friends and family in Christ!

The situation I find myself in got me to thinking about a weird question. Who would you rather your church be made up of - a bunch of Randy Jacksons, Paula Abduls or Simon Cowells? I hope you recognize these names as the judges of American Idol, one of my favorite shows. If you're a fan, you know that each judge has their own personality that has been the subject of ridicule and caricature in the media. Randy is the hefty likable rah rah guy! He often refers to the contestants as "dogs" and tries to use "hip" language as a way of expressing his comments! Paula is the sensitive, heart warming judge who rarely says anything negative! She is often hard to understand leaving viewers with the task of trying to make sense of her comments. And then there is Simon Cowell who is without question the most honest judge. he doesn't hold back. His comments are often the source of much laughter while simultaneously causing a collective cringe. His comments can sometimes come across as insensitive and outright rude!

So which Judge would you like your church to be full of? Would you like it to be full of hip guys who go to great lengths to sound cool and be a rah rah figure? Or would you like it to be full of people who shy away from being real honest because they don't want to hurt anyone's feelings? Or do you want a church full of people who just tell it like it is, even if it it comes across rude and insensitive?

After going through what I have gone through in the past 3 days, I realize that it all depends on the day! There are days, I wish church was full of the rah rah hip dude! Then there are days that I wish I was surrounded by the super sensitive always positive Pollyanas! And there are days that I want brutal honesty and I want the harsh truth givers!

And when all is said and done, the truth is we need Randys, Paulas and Simons in our churches. (BTW - I'm watching the Bachelor 13 and this is jacked up!) What makes the American Idol judging component such a success is how the personality of the Judges work together in harmony despite the high contrast in personality and tact. Why would it be any different in church?

Tonight's Menu: Pizza

Wah Wah

2009-02-28T23:50:00.002-05:00

Day 4

It's 11:49, and I have already missed a day. But I did that on purpose to see how many people would notice. Yeah, that's it! I wanted to see how many people were watching to see if I would mess up. Isn't that how life is? We wait for people to mess up so we can say ha ha look at you, you messed up! It's so unlike us as people to always hope for the best in people. We marvel and bask in the failures of others and we do this because it takes the focus off of our own failures!

It's human nature for us to focus on the missteps of others because we have so many missteps of our own and rather than deal with our own missteps, we would much rather focus on someone Else's! So that's why I intentionally skipped a day!

Just kidding, I screwed up! but I'll make up for it! Look for day 2 and day 5 tomorrow. I guess!

I'm ready to preach on Judges tomorrow! It will be an interesting sermon as Judges has proven to be a gory and disappointing account of the unfaithful Israelites! I can't believe how soon they forgot about God and how easily they turned to other gods! I am so glad we don't do that today! We are so much better than those Israelites. We witness so much of what God has done and we never turn away! We stay 100 % faithful! Not like those non-thankful Israelites.

Just kidding again! We screw up all the time and we can certainly identify with the plight of our spiritual ancestors. I can only hope and pray that God will be as patient with us as He was with the ancient Israelites!

Forgive us Lord when we are more prone to turn away than to run passionately toward you!

Tonight's Menu: Dinner at Max and Erma's

An Orange T-Shirt

2009-02-26T19:22:00.002-05:00

Day 2

In eigth grade, circa 1988, I played on the school basketball team. While our school colors were gold and blue, our basketball uniforms were orange and white. I think we voted for those colors. many of us on the basketball team were Syracue Orangemen fans. Our basketball uniforms were SWEEET! WE had our regular basketball jerseys and shorts along with orange T-shirts that went underneath the jerseys.

Even though the season had ended in the spring of 1988, I continued to wear my orange T-shirt on occasion. On a Wednesday night at church, I remmeber sitting in the second row from the front, wearing my orange T-shirt. I remember the preacher extending an invitation to become a Christian by being baptized into Christ. I remember walking forward as we sung, "O why not tonight!" I professed my belief in Christ and m good friend Bennie baptized me. I will never forget that day!

It's funny how I remember that orange T-shirt. I even remember the hard underarms in the t-shirt from excess deoderant I used. Yet while that orange T-shirt is so vivid there were other things about that day that I remember but would much rather forget. Like the argument my mother and I had at home an hour before my baptism. Or like the constant bickering I experienced in my own mind regarding becomeing a Christian. I didn't know if I was really ready to live the life demanded of a follower of Jesus!

Oddly, what I don't remember was being overwhelmed with the reality of being buried with Jesus Christ. I was happy of course. I was excited of course, but the overwhelming reality of being in Christ would come much later. As a result, I just simply forget.

I've been reading through the Old Testament with our church and one of the prevailing narratives was the Israelites constant forgetting. They forgot what the Lord had done for them. They forgot how the ord saved them! They forgot what the Lord taught them! And before I get to critical of the Israelites, I would like to confess my own forgetfulness.

Dring this season of Lent, I am calling myself to a period of remembering! A period of remembering the overwhelming presence of Jesus in my life. My experience in the orange T-shirt constitutes but a small piece of this journey that I am on, but I will never forget it! My orange t-shirt moment is part of the narrative of God's saving power in my life! I will not forget.

Tonight's Menu: Smothered Meatballs, Amish Noodles and Corn

40 Days

2009-02-25T10:52:00.003-05:00

Day 1

So it would be customary for me to explain why I haven't touched this blog in over a year. I could bore you with excuses like me forgetting my password or losing my hard drive to a crash! I could plead with you to pray for me to be more dedicated and structured. I could go on and on how my life is so busy and I just couldn't find time to write. You don't want to hear excuses and you don't want to hear promises that I will post daily or weekly, or even yearly!

What I intend to do for the next 4o days is a practice of discipline for myself. Hopefully, my friends and family who read this blog will help keep me accountable. If you could please refrain from the boisterous laughter as I explain what I want to do, I would appreciate it.

For many in the world of Christendom, today is Ash Wednesday. This day marks the first day of lent in which the church enters a 40 day period of reflection, repentance and refrain in preparation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. AS Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, Christians commit to "give up" something for 40 days. Many of us have mocked this practice, even by our "participation." Some of us went out yesterday and bought Paczki (pronounced poonch key) which are 1200-2000 calorie, jelly filled doughnuts that are normally only sold prior to Ash Wednesday. Well if you eat a Paczki the day before Lent begins, you can just give that up for lent. Sounds fair huh? (In rejection to this horrific mockery, I will eat my Paczki today! The apple ones are the best and... oops my bad!) If lent is not mocked in that way, I suppose we mock others who attempt to give up their chocolate, soda pop, or soap operas for 40 days. What a sacrifice, no Days of our lives or All my Children for over a month!

O.K. let me be clear, I'm not accusing any of you of mocking the practice, I'm admitting my own mocking of the practice. Here I go mocking someones attempt to reflect, remember, repent, reaffirm and refrain in the name of Jesus! What's wrong with that? What's wrong for me is that it takes dedication and resolve to enter into a period of constant reflection, repentance and refrain. Maybe the reason I have been the perpetrator of such mocking is because I just don't want to do that!

Rather than give up something "per se" for 40 days, i want to take up a challenge. For the next 40 days, I am going to write in this blog. While it may seem trite for many, this is a major task for me. For one, I am not a disciplined person. Secondly, I have a strong desire to express myself in writing. And lastly, I will enjoy watching you watch me miss a day!

There it is in a nutshell, my 40 Days of Lent Blogging Experiment! Would love for you to journey with me over the next 40 days and beyond! Wish me luck or just pray for a brutha!

Tonight's Menu: Sausage and Potato Soup with Kale Greens

The Return!

2008-01-30T13:43:00.000-05:00

You see, I figured that if I wait so long between posts, it makes any new post that much more exciting. My long awaited return to the Blogosphere makes for compelling news. Already, the news of my return will make waves among my family and friends. So this pause between posts was contrived and planned. I did it on purpose... Naw! I'm just Lazy!

So much has happened since my last post. A new year has emerged. Like many I have made resolutions about weight loss, more prayer, more this and that, and less this and that! But here are some highlights in my life.

I'm preaching through the gospel of John. At the beginning of each year, I decided to preach through an entire book while encouraging the body to read through the book on a daily basis. Several are participating in this journey while several are not participating. It all illuminates an ill in our churches... we don't read scripture like we used to. Maybe we know it all and it seems so redundant. Maybe it's boring and mundane. I have been re energized reading John because the gospel of John is about life! I love reading an re-reading the emphasis that Jesus put on LIFE!
I'm participating in a Crown Financial Small Group. This was a stretch for me because I hate talking about and I hate dealing with money and my money problems. I must admit that my heart has been challenged to the core. Kristy and I have mapped out a plan to be completely debt free in 7-8 years. It might take less time than that if we stay dedicated and focused. I have been overcome with a sense of urgency to address our money issues because in many ways, our money issues have provided much resistance to our goals in life, family and ministry.
My girls are growing up. Kaitlynd and Kyra continue to amaze me. I thank God for these incredible gifts. They are so funny and so talented. I am proud to announce that my girls know every word to both High School Musicals and Hairspray!
I am continuing to grow more in love with my wife. Some would say I'm reporting on this to get brownie points from my wife... True! But in addition, I have been reminded over and over that I just love this woman. That's my boo! She completes me! DIDO! She's my air! She's everything in the world to me! She's the sunshine in my life! She's still the one! She's always on my mind! She's so beautiful! And Nothing Compares To her!

Stay Tuned for tomorrow's post (stop laughing)!

Shalom!

Tonight's menu: Homemade Chicken Soup!

I'm Back (and Black)

2007-10-11T12:50:00.001-04:00

You know, after you come out of a coma, I would suspect there is a lot of rehabilitation and therapy that is needed to completely recover. I've had neither after my blog coma. Nonetheless, here is my attempt again to give you a peek at my mind and my heart. It's a bit dangerous to get in my mind because there is so much (or maybe so little) in there. Thanks to everyone who actually visits this blog and constantly remind me that I haven't written in it! Way to make me feel guilty. Seriously, thank you.

I began this blog as a way to become more disciplined in my life. I just returned from the Zoe Worship and Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tn. I was reminded in many forms that one of the troubles I have in my life, my family and my ministry is my lack of discipline, rhythm and order. I so passionately desire to be more disciplined that it is driving me crazy to be so out of sync.

As such, I am beginning (restarting) a plan I had devised a while a go but didn't stick to it. O wrote down a list of goals and separated them into 4 categories. The four categories were: (1) personal goals (2) family goals (3) ministry goals and (4) business goals. Consequently, each set of goals has elements of discipline. Take for instance my personal goals listed below:
1. Daily Lectio or Bible reading & Prayer
2. Read One Book a week
3. Get my diabetes under control
4. Exercise daily
5. Eat Better
6. Write in Blog regularly (Yeah right!)
7. Be Honest

What a tough list for me. Given my busy and hectic schedule, how do I find time to do all this? I don't know! But, I need to do it. I have to find rhythm in my life. I want to model discipline and rhythm to my family and to my church. I desire to be authentic and honest in my calling (as husband, father and minister. And I need to be honest. In all four lists of goals, "being honest" is included. In order to be an effective man of God in my personal life in my family family, in my church and in my business, I have to be honest. Honest enough to say no when I want to say yes. Honest enough to set priorities. Honest enough to not to make excuses for my laziness.

Honest enough to lay bare and broken before God and to admit "I need You O GOD!"

Tonight's Menu: Chicken in Cream Sauce, Rice and Peas w/carrots

A Blog Coma

2007-04-16T12:23:00.000-04:00

That's my story! I was in a blog coma for five months. I was just unconscious and I have come out of the coma thanks to the grace of God. I want to thank everyone who prayed for me to come out of this blog coma. If not for your prayers... I don't want to think about where I would be if not for your prayers. I would be in blog heaven I suppose. I would be surrounded by the heroes of blog faith. We would be exchanging blog stories and blog experiences. Surely I would be the junior member having only blogged a few times before going in to a blog coma. But I would be in great spiritual blog company. But I'm back. I have come to blog conscientiousness and I am blog happy! It's kind of like McHappy, but better!

Do you catch my drift? I stink at blogging! But I am back to give it a try. Thanks to all of you who reminded me that I haven't blogged since October! Funny thing is that it's about the same temperature today in April than it was in October when I last wrote. I won;t bore you with the old "I'm going to be more disciplined this time!" I'll just say I'm back for now, and let's see what happens!

What better time to start than today because last evening, the CHURCH youth group met at my house last night. For dinner we had fried CHICKEN and we talked about... you guessed it... CHRIST! It was as if the Spirit was preparing me to re-enter the blogosphere! Isn't funny how the Spirit works? But in all seriousness, that fried chicken was good!

I re-enter my blog journey by posing some questions for deep reflection:

Who framed Roger Rabbit?
Are you lonesome tonight?
What's Eating Gilbert grape?
Who's Johnny?
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?
Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway?
What happened during pre-toilet tissue days?

And finally...

10. Who let the dogs out? Wooh... Wooh...

I pose questions because that seems to be what my life is full of... questions. Who, what when, where and how are the favorite words of my daughters. Hourly and minute by minute, Kaitlynd and Kyra are asking questions. And while this persistent questioning sometimes bothers me to death, i have come to realize that they are doing nothing more than acting like mommy and daddy. you see, mommy and daddy are always asking questions too. Why did that happen to that innocent little girl or boy? Why did Katrina happen? Why did 9/11 happen? Why does racism exist? When will this war end? When is the weather going to get better? Do you love me?

These and other questions I ask the Lord repeatedly during the day. I wonder if He gets bothered with my questions. Or does he smile because of all the people or powers that I could ask a question, I chose Him? Do you think my questions come before the Lord as evidence that we are in relationship with each other? Look at me, I have more questions. And the more questions I have, the more I have to go to God. And that's alright by me because I have a blessed assurance in God in that with all the questions I have, ultimately, God will have the answer!

Tonight's Menu: Tacos, Mexican Rice & Kool-Aid

Yellow goo and wishing I was Jesus

2006-10-21T23:48:00.000-04:00

How about that? Posting daily is a challenge. I have had some technical issues and some lazy issues. But I won't beat myself up. Thanks to everyone for reading. Please continue to leave comments and e-mail me!

I ordered two eggs over medium with hash browns and he ordered a western burger with fries. It has been a long time since I have eaten at Denny's. I remembered quickly why I used to love eating at Denny's. I have this new love for eggs over medium. I used to gag at the thought of eating that yellow uncooked goo from an egg. But now, I just can't wait to get a piece of toast smothered with jelly and sop that yoke!

While sopping that goo, he (a loved one) said, "I really wish Jesus would intervene!" You see, my loved one has diabetes and it has taken it's toll on him. He's a double amputee, and his eyesight is badly damaged. He expressed his frustration over dinner about not being able to see. He said he would do anything to get his eyesight back. So right there I took some of the goo from the egg and put it over his eyes and said, "In the name of Jesus, open your eyes and see once again!" He opened his eyes, with that yellow goo dripping from his eyes and he shouted, "I once was almost blind, but now I can see!"

That's how I pictured it. That's what I wanted to happen. But instead of that happening, I just sat there sopping my egg and listening him all but in tears talking about his physical struggle. His physical struggles are apparent, but then he went into talking about his spiritual pain. He hasn't been to church in months. He doesn't know what to pray for. He doesn't know if he's praying the right prayer. How do I respond to that?

Now arises the temptation to say, have you read, "Ten keys to effective prayer," or "The Prayer of Jabez," or "The power of a praying husband," or "Too busy not to pray," or some other answer book on prayer or how to achieve spiritual breakthrough. And another temptation arises in me wanting to say, just have faith! You know, if you pray but don't believe that God is going to answer, it's not going to be answered.

When faced with the temptation to respond with a wise answer and say something "spiritual" I responded with... SILENCE! I just kept eating. In my mind, he wasn't asking for spiritual advice, he was asking for his eyesight and although he didn't come out and say it, he wanted his legs back. Was I to respond to him, that's ridiculous to wish for. God can save your soul, but getting your legs back is out of the question. As far as your eyes are concerned, you need to consult your physician. And then it hit me, why shouldn't he ask for his legs back and his sight back? Didn't the people who Jesus healed come asking for physical healing. not all, in fact the majority of those who came to Jesus came with a physical request primarily. Some experience spiritual healing as well but...

Oh I wish I was Jesus... I wish I could have touched my loved one and gave him the menu and said here, read it yourself. I wish I could have touched his thighs and set get up and walk! Oh I wish I was Jesus... I wish I was Jesus, because I would go into that poor family's home and touch there refrigerator and watch it fill up with steak and CHICKEN and fruit and milk. I would touch their furnace and they would have free heat! I wish I was Jesus so I could go to Children's hospital and touch all the sick kids and play a game of freeze tag in the park with them. I wish I was Jesus...

I only have this to go on, Jesus lives in me and maybe I don't have the power to affect nature, or sickness or death, but I have His love and compassion. And somehow, I have got to find a way to love my loved one with the physical disability and overwhelm him with all the love and compassion I have. That will include begging Jehovah to do the impossible. To give him his sight back and his legs back. I wish I was Jesus... No I wish I could be more like Jesus, who opened himself up to listen to God in all circumstances. What I can say at this point is that I am still listening. It took my new found love for the yellow goo that gave me a temporary reason to be silent and not respond so quickly with a prepared answer that would have done nothing to address the pain my loved one was in. I'm still listening and I am resolved to be faithful to God's voice in this.

Do You Like Me?

2006-10-18T10:36:00.000-04:00

Do you remember the first note you gave to that hot girl or boy in your class? You know the one that contains that infamous phrase: Do you like me? In addition there are the three words following the request to circle one. The three words were yes, no and maybe.

Her name was Sonya. She was beautiful, well as beautiful as a 1st grader could be. I did everything I could do to get her to notice me. I put on my older brother's cologne. I made sure I had on my best clothes. I tried to make her laugh. I loved her and I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with her or at least the rest of the 1st grade. So I mustered up enough strength to pop the question. At home, I got that fat brown pencil without the eraser and a piece of yellow construction paper (I really don't remember the paper type - just stay with me). I wrote as neatly as a 1st grade boy could. I wrote those magical words on the paper:

Sonya

DO YOU LIKE ME?

YES NO MAYBE

LOVE DION

I folded the paper and was determined to give my note to my new found love. The next day I went to school, P.S. #90. I had an extra splashing of my brother's cologne my best shirt and best pair of jeans. I walked into class saw my beauty and... I didn't give her the note. I waited for the right time, and I never gave her the note. I was too chicken to give her the note. I mustered up enough courage to write the note but not enough courage to give her the note. What if she circled no and laughed at me. More than my desire for her to be mine, I had a desire NOT to be disliked. That desire overcame my desire to give Sonya that note!

What it all comes down to is that ever since I was a young child, I had a strong desire for people to like me. This is a desire that has long lived into my adulthood. In the words of the great prophet, Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along!" I had a conversation with a colleague in ministry who shares this desire and struggle. Deep down in our souls, we want people to like us. This can be so debilitating. In my career in "professional" ministry, I have often had to bite my tongue, so people would like me. When I prepare to teach or preach or even lead worship, I often become consumed with wondering what will I say that will make this person or that person not like me. And then I am faced with the reality of God's call. God has not called me to be liked but to be faithful. Nonetheless, I struggle.

When all is said and done, God has called me to ministry. God has called others in the past and their ministry and message was not judged by how well they were liked. The harsh reality is that in most cases, those who God call were hated. Why am I surprised? Jesus said the world hated Him and they would hate us (John 15).

I'm growing and that's what counts. And my existence is not rooted in my being liked by others but being loved by God. As I grow, I can only pray that I will find rest in that Blessed Assurance!

Last night's Menu: Leftover Soup
Tonight's Menu: Meatloaf, Garlic Mash Potatoes and Green Beans With Bacon!

Cream of Potato Soup with Chicken For The Soul

2006-10-15T22:46:00.000-04:00

As usual from start to finish, this was a jammed packed day. Sundays and Wednesdays are the longest days because I am moving non-stop from the early morning deep into the late night. But all in all, I have to admit that most of the time, I enjoy these days! There is something about seeing my church peeps (translation - my brothers and sisters in Christ) that makes me feel alright. I fully accept God's invitation to the community of Christ. Time and time again, I am reminded that to live outside of the community would stink!

My wife Kristy and I have two wonderful children. Kaitlynd and Kyra are simply two funny kids. They are constantly telling jokes and making us laugh. I wonder where they get that from. We are so thankful for these gifts but from time to time, I can't help and and think about the gifts that chose to keep. Kristy had two miscarriages within a span of about 5 months. It was such a time of hurt, pain and anger. I remember yelling at God! I remember thinking what have I done to deserve this. It had to be me, because Kristy is such a saint! She's the most honorable and dedicated woman in my life. Surely if we were being punished, it was because of me. And as much as we were hurting, I couldn't help but reflect on those who were going through the same thing we were going through minus a community. how do people get along in life outside the context of community?

The pain was there... The pain is there... But the pain we have is shared in our Christ community. I thank God for community and I ache for those who go through pain without a Christ community. From time to time, we don't see eye to eye in our Christ community, but at least there are other sets of eyes. There were other sets of eyes to cry with. There were other sets of eyes to look us in the eye and tell us of similar pains they experience. There were other sets of eyes that stared at us and listened to our story. Thank God for the community.

I may never know every answer in this journey with Christ. I do however think it will be more fun searching for answers and understanding in community. I will continue to celebrate my invitation by God into community with him and other believers. I will also pray we will spend more time inviting those without a community of their own into the Christ community!

Tonight's Menu: Homemade Cream of Potato Soup With Chicken

Saturday Night Life

2006-10-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

On a typical Saturday night, I would be running around crazy trying to solidify everything for Sunday. This includes making sure my sermons good to go, making sure my class is ready to go, making sure I'll be able to find socks that match. I am telling you the truth, there is a sock-napper in our house. My mind is so focused on Sunday, that I often to get to sleep until around 3:00 in the morning. I usually wake up at about 5:30-6:00 AM. You do the math, not much sleep! But tonight it's different.

I made sure that I completed all that I need to yesterday. When I got home yesterday, it was complete family time. We (the family and I) went to Longhorn Steakhouse, where I enjoyed a succulent T-Bone Steak with asparagus. We returned home and watched TV together and went to bed early. That felt so good!

This morning I woke up and helped the girls clean their room. We went to Cracker Barrel for a late breakfast (eggs over medium, bacon and apple covered pancakes). I watch a little football and we capped the day by going to a church member's house for a Harvest Party complete with a wiener roast, hay ride and smores!

We just returned home not to long ago and I am ready for bed, early! I will probably have a late night cup of tea, read a few pages in this book I'm reading and end my night by reading my text for tomorrow and talk to God for a bit. All in all, a pretty boring but refreshing day. And for this week, that;s my Saturday Night Life!

You may have wondered why the title, "Christ, Church and Chicken". Well if you know me, you know my life is dominated with Christ in the context of Church. Furthermore if you know me, you know I love chicken! I mean, I will destroy a piece of Chicken. You can bake it, fry it, saute it, broil it, barbecue it. There's chicken soup, chicken Marsala, cashew chicken, poppy seed chicken,, stuffed Chicken, KFC Chicken, Boston Market Chicken, Popeye Chicken, Chicken wings with Buffalo sauce... I love Chicken. Although this may sound cheesy (I love Chicken Parmesan, marinara sauce with lots of mozzarella Cheese), when I think of food, I think of family. I think about my Mom's chicken. I think about my dad eating chicken. Eating with family and friends is definitely my favorite pastime. It's no surprise to me that one of the marks of the early church was the frequency of eating meals together. I think my love for cooking can be directly tied to my desire to eat with people and enjoy all the things that come with eating together like conversation, laughter and story telling!

So stay tuned to my rants, thoughts and recipes! god Bless!

Tonight's Menu: Wiener Roast Potluck With All The fixins'

Here I Go!

2006-10-13T10:41:00.000-04:00

Call me the absent-minded professor or a procrastinator or a scatter brain or lazy or forgetful or undisciplined or unorganized or... I guess you get the point. My life in many ways has been defined as a life of being wired and careless at the same time. Surprisingly I am not really that interested in becoming more organized, less of a scatter brain or less forgetful. O.K. maybe I do desire to be a little less forgetful, I'll have to up my doses of Ginko Bolba or Ginka Balboa - whatever! But I do have a strong desire to become more disciplined.

In fact, there was a time that I had a very disciplined spiritual life and that has fallen by the wayside. I mean there are only 24 hours in the day and most of those hours are spent being a father & husband (translation: Taxi-cab; cook; lover; understander; listener; decoder; disciplinarian; tutor; entertainer; guider and like Bush - "The Decider!"), and a "professional" minister (translation: Secretary, pastor, media consultant, gopher, perfect christian, guru, sage, the great example, preacher, youth minister, search and rescue!). I find myself not being able to stick to routine or when I seem to be on a routine, my mind wanders to something else in the evolving circumstances of the day.

Call me crazy (everyone else does!) but I have decided to blog to bring me back to routine. I have decided to blog daily. now trust me, having said that, there might not be another post for three weeks! Because just as soon as I began my journey down this routine, my mind will wander off to something else. But "I gotta do something!"

My entrance into the blog culture will hopefully help me in two ways. One, I want to get on a routine that will call for me to be committed to something voluntarily. I don't have to blog so there will be a great temptation for me to just not do it, like exercise. Secondly, I need a place to mentally release, share and vent. I am very protective of my thoughts and feelings and although this is a risky place to express, "I gotta do something!"

I think what it all comes down to is that because my life has been defined as being wired, I feel so pressured to "do something" That's probably why I don't get many things done, because I'm trying to do so much. I'm busy! Jesus was busy too. So busy that he often took time to rest with God (See The Gospel of Luke 5:16). I was reminded when reading a friend's blog that sometimes, we just have to "BE STILL" I know I am "Be Still" challenged because I am so wired, but nonetheless, I feel called to rest and Be Still! What I will not do is conclude that closeness to God is defined by how much rest I get. Instead, I am determined to grow in the understanding that my activity or inactivity doesn't draw me close to Him. Instead it is His working to draw close to meet and He is willing to meet me in the quietness or the noise! So whether I am still or active, I desire more an awareness of his Presence!

Tonight's Menu: Longhorn's Steakhouse!