How much is your job worth?

Really - have you ever thought about that? How much is your job worth - not just the position but you and what you do in your job.

Well a young minor leaguer found out exactly that when he was traded for 10 $65 baseball bats! I kid you not! Check it out...here.

Baptism on Trinity Sunday

I share this wonderful story about worship this morning.

Today we celebrated Trinity Sunday and we had a baptism. This was the third baptism that I have done - so the uniqueness of the tri-nature of it all was great.

The baby boy is a precious one who for the first month or so of life was fussy, fussy, fussy - but within the last month or so he seems to have found a smile, the giggles, and a sense of humor.

So...we are in the midst of the baptismal service and I am leading a prayer just before I present him to the congregation. It is all quiet as I pause to catch a breath and add a dramatic pause in the prayer. And the dear little one let's one rip! He just farts SO loud that I started to giggle. I tried to compose myself and I kept going on with the prayer, looking down at the book while holding onto him and not bust out laughing. And I could hear the giggles in the congregation and when I turned to the parents the dad was laughing.

It was perfect timing - at the quietest time in the entire service he just lets it go. His granddad later said, "Pastor really scared the devil out of that boy!"

Well I wouldn't say that - but it was a great moment of lightness and humanity amidst the presence of the fullness of the Triune God.

Mission is a new thing?

Over the past few months I have been in conversations regarding the vision and mission of the church and specifically what the congregation I serve is discerning. Additionally I have just registered for a two-year cohort bit called, "Missional Leaders for a Missional Church" and have been talking with several folks about this.

But here's the interesting piece. In conversations inside and outside of my congregation I have heard the following statement, "This new mission focus in the church is great."

New!?! Really?

I wonder what the meaning of mission is? Some people hear "mission statement", some people hear service work, some people hear call of a community.

But mission is not a new thing - in fact mission has been (and should have continued to be) central in our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus' mission here on earth was to proclaim and fully reveal God's love, grace, and forgiveness to a fallen, broken, and sinful people. This same mission was passed on to the first disciples and the early Christian community. This same mission has been passed on since.

I don't know, maybe we received the mission and put in on the shelf with all the other administrative, and at times, distracting things - budgets, sexuality, church structure debates, council minutes, and reports, etc... Maybe we have "reclaimed" this mission or are in the process of realigning ourselves and our lives with this mission. But mission is not something new to the faithful of God.

Let it be known that our mission as disciples, and the Church of Jesus Christ isn't a new thing. But I thank God that we have rediscovered it and are diligently endeavoring to dive into this mission - to proclaim and live the love, grace, and forgiveness of God in the world - the whole world, all of God's creation.

Raining Down

We have heard about quite a few natural disasters related to weather and the fierce power of the natural elements. We continue to pray for all those who are affected by these disasters and for the continue stirring of us to action and care for our neighbors.



It has been a downpour here lately and just recently I saw the effects of the water that has been raining down. This street - Dale Blvd. is just down the road from my congregation. This photo was sent to me by our youth director. Let us continue to pray for those affected by natural disasters and be reminded of our piece in some of the destruction, and call us to help preserve and protect all of God's creation.

Mapping the views...

Have you ever noticed that map at the bottom right hand corner of my blog? This map "tracks" where folks check in from. This map has intrigued me, not for number counting but location.

Technology has enabled the world, to literally, be connected through words, images questions, etc...

So my question now...what's up South America? What are you looking for? Yours is the only continent that hasn't yet checked in and I wonder why? What made folks from Australia, Africa, Europe, and Asia check in and you haven't?

Ah - the questions that get stirred through community. :-)