Art “Storage”

A friend on Facebook recently shared about how her six-year-old son caught her throwing away some of his artwork.  Several other parents commented about how their kids had caught them doing the same thing.

So what’s a parent to do?

Since my daughter just turned one last month, right now I can’t imagine ever throwing away any of her artwork.  After all, she’s only done two paintings so far: one is front and center on our fridge, and the other is in a frame with a custom-made plaque.  So the throwing-away-art days are in the distant future.

But considering how much artwork a kid produces throughout childhood, it’s inevitable that we can’t keep everything without violating fire code and having to rent some storage units.

So here’s my question: When the day comes where a parent must decide that some great masterpiece has to go, how do you chuck it on the sly?

Seriously, I’m looking for some creative ideas.  I don’t want to have to post on Facebook some day about how Laura Marie caught me tossing her latest creation.  Please hook a brother up with some ideas!

Published in: on July 30, 2010 at 12:29 pm  Comments (5)  

Three Years at CrossWay Church

Three years ago today was my first Sunday at CrossWay Church.  It’s the longest I’ve been on staff at a church.  (I was on staff at two other churches for almost three years.)  At the other two churches where I was a staff pastor, I could feel the end of my time approaching.  It’s kind of funny, because even though I’ve been here the longest, I feel like I’m just getting started.  And the time has flown–it seems like it’s been six months.

Published in: on May 6, 2010 at 1:29 pm  Comments (4)  

Right Where He Wants Me

You ever have those days where you just feel like you’re right where God wants you?  Yesterday was one of those days for me.

There was some kind of pastors deal at Salisbury Christian School.  We have two boys in our church, a fourth-grader and a second-grader, who go to SCS, and they invited me to come.

I took a wrong turn on the way and ended up getting there half an hour later than I’d planned.  But like I started out saying, I think I was right where God wanted me even as I was driving around Salisbury (on the wrong side of Rt. 50, I might add).

When I got there, I was met in the parking lot by Christi, who is one CrossWay‘s long-time members.  She works at SCS and her two sons are the ones who attend there.  She showed me to her oldest son’s classroom, where I visited for about 10 minutes.  Then she led me to her younger son’s class, where again I only had a few minutes since I’d gotten there late.

At 10:30 we headed to an all-school assembly.  Wow.  It was excellent!  The first thing I noticed was the setup in their gym.  They had turned it into a top-notch auditorium, complete with what looked like an orchestra pit!  There was a huge screen that had cool visuals on it.  I got to meet some other pastors as I sat waiting for the assembly to begin.

When it started… wow, I loved the worship time!  After an interpretive movement by some younger kids, a  youth praise band led us in a couple songs and did a great job leading us into an awareness of God’s presence.  I felt so refreshed!  They were followed by a couple songs performed by the chorus.  “Performed” isn’t even the right word, because like the praise band, they were leading us in worship.

The last part of the worship service–I’m giving up on calling it an assembly, because it was a worship service–was a very challenging message by one of Salisbury’s pastors.  Again, I was totally caught off guard.  Sorry to sound cynical, but when I heard there was going to be a speaker, I expected one of the school’s administrators to give some spiel about the value of Christian education.  Instead we were given an obviously anointed preacher who gave us the Word of God!  It totally rocked.  His message was so challenging and convicting, and I’ve already been able to incorporate his teaching into my prayer life.

It kept getting better.  One of the highlights for me, probably the highlight, was during the pastor’s message.  There were several hundred people in the room, lots of kids and lots of adults.  Seated on the floor in front of me was a large group of younger children, including the second-grader from CrossWay.  I was in the second row of chairs behind this group, so he didn’t know I was there.  When the pastor was talking, at one point he asked rhetorically, “So how do you become a Christian?”  Right in front of hundreds of people, this second-grade boy immediately shot up his hand!  He was ready to tell the whole world how to become a Christian!  It was one of those moments where my heart jumped in my chest and I said, “God, thank You for letting me be a pastor.”

(Don’t get me wrong: This boy is so wise and bold not because I’m his pastor, but because his parents are sincere and passionate in their own faith, which they have incorporated into their parenting with amazing success.  But to see him raise his hand like that, ready to tell the world how to find salvation in Christ…wow… I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.)

After the worship service I went to the cafeteria, which again really impressed me.  It was large, clean, efficient, and…well… souped up.  It made me wish I went to school there!  I sat with the fourth-grader while he ate.  He cracked me up, by the way.  All his friends were talking around him, while he just sat there eating his lunch.  At one point I said something to him about how he seemed to take his food pretty seriously, and he smiled wryly and said, “Recess is for socializing.”  Kid’s got his priorities!

Having lunch with him was one reason I’m glad I got there late.  If I’d arrived on time, I would have left after the worship service.  Instead, I felt obligated to stick around.  I know the word “obligated” doesn’t sound pretty, but that’s how I felt.  You know what, though?  It taught me something.  There are times I do something begrudgingly, out of obligation, and it turns out to be a huge blessing.  I’m so glad I shared lunch with that fourth-grader.  It was very much a blessing, a blessing  that I wouldn’t trade for anything else I could’ve done during that time.  There are incredible blessings that God has for us in the things that we initially do out of obligation.

My day still was not done.  As I was leaving, I went to sign out.  But there was a dude leaning over the signout sheet, talking to someone in the office. I almost just left, figuring it didn’t really matter if I signed out, and I didn’t want to interrupt the guy’s conversation over it.  Kinda awkward, you know?  I turned to go, but then felt like I should just say a loud, “Excuse me” and sign out.

So I did.  And I made a friend.  Half an hour later we were praying for each other out in the parking lot.  Turns out this guy knows everyone I know.  We had a great talk and then prayed.  As he prayed for God to pour out His blessings on CrossWay, it started raining.  It was a very encouraging conversation and a new friend made, and I would have missed both if I had not been late and if I had not stuck around for lunch.

I’m trying to do a better job of being in tune with the Holy Spirit, going where He wants me to go and doing what He wants me to do.  (Interestingly, that was a big part of what the pastor preached about at the school.)  When I listen to God’s quiet nudges, it can make a big loud difference!

Published in: on April 22, 2010 at 11:51 am  Comments (2)  

Jesus Broke My Schedule

“How many loaves do you have?”

That’s what Jesus asked His disciples when they wanted to know how they were supposed to follow up on His suggestion that they feed 4,000 families.  (See Mark 8:1-10.)

Obviously they didn’t have enough food to feed what amounted to a small city.  They must have felt a little awkward as they looked at the huge crowd, did a quick inventory of their bread supply, and answered Jesus: “Seven.”  Seven loaves of bread (which, by the way, were much smaller than what we get at Panera Bread or Food Lion) were entirely insufficient to feed so many people.  At least, they were insufficient until they were placed in the hands of Jesus.

One of the struggles that’s been very stressful for me the past few months is time.  There never seems to be anywhere near enough of it!  Yesterday when I was reading this passage, it struck me that my time is like the disciples’ loaves.  I can hear Jesus asking, “How many hours do you have?”  In my control it will never be enough.  But if I turn it all over to Jesus, without trying to be sneaky and shove a few hours in my pocket, then it will be more than enough.  After all, the disciples started out with seven loaves, gave it all to Jesus, fed thousands of people, and still had seven basketfuls left over!

By the way, notice that after the disciples gave the bread to Jesus, He broke it and gave it back to them.  So I’m giving Him my schedule, letting Him break it, and receiving it back from Him to do His work.

What’s this look like in real time (literally)?  I prayerfully revamped my schedule.  I wrote down what I believe are God’s priorities for me and what He has called me to do.  Then I blocked off time for each one.  On paper, it’s still not nearly enough.  But it’s in His hands, and everything we place in His hands to be broken and blessed always proves to be more than enough.

Published in: on April 8, 2010 at 1:58 pm  Leave a Comment  

Half

Today Laura Marie is half a year old.  Six months ago Carolyn woke me up about 6:00 a.m. and told me her water broke.  Our lives have never been the same since.  We knew that having a baby would be awesome, but Laura Marie is so much more wonderful than anything we ever could have imagined.

Once she was born, one of the things I most looked forward to was seeing her smile.  She didn’t disappoint.  Her smile is just unbelievable.  If I got hit by a car and broke every bone in my body, then saw her smile at me, I’d probably forget that I’d even been hit by a car.

Our daughter is now 1/2.  Another six months and she won’t be zero anymore!  What an incredible blessing.

Published in: on December 7, 2009 at 11:20 am  Comments (2)  

Why I Love Going to the Dentist

Seriously, I really do.  Our dentist, Dr. Landsman in Ocean Pines, has the best motto of any dentist anywhere: “All Gentle Dental.”  Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Carolyn and I joke about how if we ever get too down on ourselves, all we have to do is go to the dentist.  Dr. Landsman is always so cheerful and optimistic.  “Chipper” is the word that comes to mind.  He goes on about how beautiful our teeth are and what great patients we are.  We always leave there feeling very positive about ourselves!

Dr. Landsman gets the job done, too.  My previous dentist saw that I still had a wisdom tooth, so she was going to send me to an oral surgeon.  Then I switched to Dr. Landsman, and my first visit there, he asked if I wanted the wisdom tooth to come out.  I said yeah, sure.  He snapped on a pair of gloves.  That’s when I realized he meant, “Do you want the wisdom tooth to come out… right now.”  Sure enough, a few minutes later it was all done.  I like a dentist that doesn’t mess around.

To top it all off, his staff is always so courteous, warm, and professional.  Yesterday one of his assistants said that Carolyn and I are a “cute couple.”  Usually people think I’m Carolyn’s dad, so that was quite a compliment.

Yesterday when I went to the dentist I saw a dental product in its box, and its little promotional blurb boasted that it helps you “fight plaque and calculus.”  What a Nobel-deserving invention!  However, it turns out that “calculus” is just the proper dental word for tartar.  That wasn’t quite as exciting.  Now if they would only come out with something that helps you fight algebra–now there’s something I could have used in high school.

But one of my very favorite reasons for going to the dentist is that they always seem to ask me the funniest questions.  Yesterday the dental technician asked: “Do you smoke?”  Um… that would be a negative.  Apparently drinking coffee and smoking can have the same appearance to the dentist.  Good thing I only engage in one of those vices.  Another time the technician asked: “Do you floss?”  That one wouldn’t be so bad except that I’ve been a daily flosser for years.  I was tempted to tell her that I used to floss, but wouldn’t anymore if it didn’t make any difference!

The best one, though, came my first visit.  After looking at the X-rays they’d just taken of my mouth, the technician asked me: “Have you ever taken a severe blow to the face?”  No kidding–that’s a direct quote.

But don’t worry, Dr. Landsman came out and rebuilt my self-esteem, and I left–as always–cheerfully whistling through my clean, shiny teeth.

Published in: on November 18, 2009 at 10:34 am  Comments (2)  

10 Years–And 11

Last Saturday marked two significant anniversaries in my life that I didn’t blog about.  It marked 11 years since I became a follower of Jesus Christ and 10 years since I preached my first sermon.  October 17 is always a significant double milestone for me. 

Thank You, Jesus!

Speaking of anniversaries and thanking Jesus, tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of Carolyn and I getting engaged.

Published in: on October 23, 2009 at 1:19 pm  Comments (6)  

Stuff

Stuff:

  • We’re almost halfway through the series “Revealed” at CrossWay.  It’s going well, but I wish I had another two or three months to prepare for it!  Guess I’ll always feel that way.  Sermons are like paintings–it’s hard to reach a point where I can say, “It’s finished.”
  • Laura Marie is eating “solid” food!  Doesn’t look that solid to me, but I guess it’s solid compared to milk.  She really likes the peas, green beans, and carrots, but the sweet potatoes seem to be her favorite so far.  It’s so cute to watch her eat with a spoon!
  • I’m really pulling for a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.  That’s the classic matchup, and it hasn’t happened in 28 years.  Unfortunately the Phillies don’t seem like they’re keen on the idea.  And the Angels aren’t exactly one step away from elimination.  We’ll see.
  • Cheez-its rock.  And now they have some made with whole grain, which are even better.
  • Greg Cooper, the youth pastor at Ocean City Worship Center, is leaving soon to become the pastor of a church in Columbia (Maryland, not South America).  I’m sad.  Happy for Greg and his wife Heather, but sad for the community, the Worship Center, and me.  Greg is such a tremendous asset to our community.  His absence will leave a hole in our ministry to the teenagers in this area.  He’s also a lot of fun to hang out with and very encouraging.  Today we’re having our last hurrah at Plaza Tapatia, which I think is the only place we’ve ever met for lunch except for one time in D.C.  God bless you, Greg and Heather!  (Sniff sniff.)
  • Autumn is totally the best.  I love the smell.  If I ever took two months off, I think I’d take all of October and November and just sit on the back porch watching the trees, drinking Vanilla-Macademia coffee, and listening to the wind.  And maybe reading a 19th-century Russian novel.
  • A couple days ago I finished reading Monster by Frank Peretti.  It was really a great read.  I’d forgotten what an amazingly talented writer Peretti is.
  • About a month or so ago, Carolyn and I started having a community group at our house.  We talk, pray, read the Bible (we’re going through the Gospel of Mark), and eat.  It’s wonderful.
  • Speaking of Mark, I’ve been studying it for a couple months.  It’s been great to slow down and really spend time in Mark.  It’s been spiritually invigorating.
Published in: on October 20, 2009 at 9:51 am  Comments (4)  

Coaching…But At What Cost?

The apostle Paul was imprisoned in a dungeon a short time before he was to be executed.  He sat down to write one last letter.  He’d written many letters to many churches and individuals over his long ministry.  This final letter was written to Timothy, a younger man that Paul had coached as Timothy began his own journey in gospel ministry.

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul instructed his protégé: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”  In other words: Just as I have invested in you and trained you, so you must invest in others and train them–let’s keep this thing going.

How disappointing, then, to see the greedy and carnal route that so many pastor-coaches are taking.  Instead of discipling younger pastors as a ministry, the new trend is for pastors of large churches to mentor younger pastors as a business.  They charge a hefty fee for their services: One website I saw today charges $4,500 for six coaching sessions!  No wonder the church is struggling the way it is today, when pastors are becoming parasites leeching onto other pastors.  It makes me sick.

I’d love to see some of these pastor-customers take what they’ve learned through these mentoring businesses and turn around and coach others for free–in other words, as a ministry.  Now that would be a biblical movement!

If one pastor is going to charge another for coaching him, the price should be a promise that the student will then become the teacher and take someone else under his wing to pass along what he has learned.  Then we can be faithful to the instruction in 2 Timothy 2:2–found in many other places in Scripture, as well–instead of taking advantage of younger pastors of smaller churches.  Then the gospel will spread and God will be glorified… even if no one makes a big buck from it.

Just had to get that off my chest.

Published in: on September 10, 2009 at 12:36 pm  Leave a Comment  

New

Today marks the start of a new year: preschool begins at the Training Station and Carolyn starts her new teaching job.  She’s teaching three-year-olds three afternoons a week.  A new school year also means more time in the office and more interaction with preschool families.  It’s always exciting to enter a new season!

This morning I was hanging out with some of the preschool parents after school started.  One of them has a one-year-old daughter, and she took her first steps while she was there!  It was pretty cool.  It’s exciting to be there for something like that.  She kept walking and walking and walking–she’s enjoying her new skill!

Two other exciting things that mark the coming of a new year: One is that we’ll soon be back into a Bible book sermon series.  The first Sunday in October we’ll begin a seven-week series on Revelation.  I’m looking forward to that one!  The second new thing is a new community group that Carolyn and I are starting at our house.  It’s been a few months since we’ve been in a community group, and it will be so nice to get back into that.

Hopefully another new thing will be the resuscitation of this blog….

I love fall!

Published in: on September 9, 2009 at 10:08 am  Comments (2)  
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