Exiled Community

It’s the week before Christmas and all through the church, every staffer was busy…ok, so I don’t have the creative time to finish the story. But we are 5 days before Christmas…and we have 4 Christmas Eve services looming large. We’ll see about 1,000 people on Christmas Eve, which is so exciting to share the message to that many people.

Andrea and I celebrated our 5th anniversary this past Friday (Dec. 16th). We had a perfect celebration…we went out to Big Fish Grille and had a great dinner. I suprised with a diamond bracelet. It was great.

I am reading a good book right now. It is called Walk On, and it follows U2 through their birth and talks about the faith. I am only about a quarter of the way through the book, but it is really interesting (especially as a U2 fan, and a Pastor). I believe that church (especially the American church) has done who huge disfavor to future generations by not investing in arts, music, etc.

The western church also has in place huge contradictory standards. For instance…if you show up at church once a week, control your language, etc. you are a mature Christian. But if you take your faith outside the church, engage the culture to be the salt of the earth–then there is a different standard for that. Seems that U2 was told by their home church that they should break up back in the early 80’s because of the evils of the rock and roll culture. Certainly there are evils..and I would be naive to think that U2 doesn’t sometimes struggle with things that are not Godly (f-bomb on TV comes to mind), but shouldn’t we as a church, as ministers of the gospel be taking it to the streets, the slums, the clubs, etc.? Why do we constantly expect that people are going to come into our doors and sit to hear a message?

I think I struggle with that as a pastor working in a church. I have enough work on most days that I could never step out of my office to go into the world where there are hurting people who need Jesus (just like I do).

I believe there will be more thoughts on this book coming in the days ahead. In the meantime..Merry Christmas!

Below are sermon notes from the November 27th sermon I preached at the H2O Gathering.
It had a Chronicles of Narnia tie in, which is why the title includes Turkish Delights!

Tempting Turkish Delights

1. Temptation is from our own evil desires.

Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, evil actions lead to death. James 1:16(NLT)

2. The Downward Spiral of Temptation
a. Desire
b. Evil Action/Sin
c. Death- “The Wages of sin is death…” Romans 3:23

Our Response

1. Recognize Temptation

2. Embrace Truth
a. It is not God who tempts me.
When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. James 1:16-17 (NIV)

b. You’re not alone
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15(NIV)

3. Accept God’s Escape Plan
“And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

It’s Tuesday before Thanksgiving and probably my last time on the internet until Sunday, so I thought I would post. I am leaving for the holiday today. Andrea and I are going to Pennsylvania where it is to snow the next 5 days! We’ll be with my family for Thanksgiving. We’ll also celebrate Christmas with them since we head the other direction in December.

So what am I Thankful for this year??

10. A Warm House to Come Home To: Although with gas and electric prices, it won’t be quite as warm…but it is still warmer than the alternative.

9. A Great Church to Minister In: I am blessed to be apart of Avenue. There are flaws of course, but God has really stretched and helped me grow in the last 4 1/2 years here.

8. Great Family: Both sides of family are great. It’s a blessing to have parent’s and in-laws who are Christians and who pray for us every day.

7. Mama Maria’s Pizza: Nothing better than a slice of Sicillian Pizza when I am hungry!

6. DSL Internet Connection: DSL has saved many a headache and long night on dial-up. Thank you Verizon!

5. My Salvation: I cannot describe how much God has done for my life or how much I have felt and seen his hand in my life over the last 12 years especially. I am thankful that God can love a sinner like me, and desire to provide a way for me to experience his love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Thank you Jesus for dying on the Cross for me!

4. The United States: Sure, it’s the “cool” thing to do right now…to bash our president and our country and look at all our flaws and shortcomings…but come on…how cool is it that we can say what we want (even when we should keep our mouth shut), worship in freedom, have food on our shelves, gas in our cars, electric 24/7, etc., etc., etc.! It is a blessing to live in the ‘ol USA.

3. Good Friends: In the 4 1/2 years that we’ve been in Milford, this is the first year that we’ve had some really good friends. You have all been such a blessing and encouragement to both Andrea and I.

2. The iPod: Could this be the greatest invention of all-time? Well, ok, maybe not…but it is certainly the coolest. Andrea got me an iPod mini for my birthday, and I love it. No more listening to whole CD’s or buying a $18 CD for 2 songs! Thank you Steve Jobs for this slice of heaven.

1. My wife, Andrea: Ok, I won’t get too mushy, but I am really thankful for Andrea and our marriage. You are the best thing that has happened in my life…and everyday I am thankful for you.

That’s it! Have a great weekend. Until next time…”Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His love endures forever.”

I talked with my friend today who lives near Lititz, where David shot his girlfriend’s parents. We are both involved in Youth Ministry and kinda in shock by the whole thing. Some of the questions we have are; What was going through his head? What role did Kara play (hopefully, a bystander)? I think it is her story that i really want to hear as this story develops.

I sometimes look over the students in my ministry and wonder what will become of them. Like the two in Lititz, our students are all-american kids. But once in a while you hear whispers of some of the things they do and it makes you wonder what they are thinking.

Lititz, and those invovled, you are in my prayers.

Today was a good day. Nothing exciting this week. I need to finish up some stuff for the November 27th service…like getting ahold of our college students. Until later, many blessings.

I couldn’t believe it when I read the story of the Lancaster teen who shot his girlfriend’s parents over curfew. Read story here. It is a terribly tragic story. I was reading both teens blogs and they had just been at a Christian concert (Audio Adrenaline and Pillar) over the weekend. The girls blog talked about her love for Jesus. They were both involved in church and youth groups. They knew each other from church and home school group (insert home school slam here.) Apparently, the guy is being charged with murder and kidnapping.

How does something like this happen? What makes a kid freak out and kill two people like this? I can see why the parents were upset when the guy kept their daughter out all night, but is that reason to kill? Certainly not!

What will happen to this family? What will happen to the churches and home school group the belong to? This will be an interesting story to follow. My prayers to both teens and their families.

It’s Friday, and I am ‘off’ today, which means that I was with students today doing a service project, met with a volunteer, and I am taking some guys to a soccer game/concert tonight. Some day off!

I’ll have more to post on Monday.

I am on my way to meet my mentor for lunch. I actually was suppose to meet him yesterday, but he forgot. Way to go!

Andrea is in Lancaster today and tomorrow at a teacher’s convention, which means that I will work long hours to offset the time at home alone.

I really need to start putting together some stuff for my Advent Sermon series. I will be posting that information on this site. It will contain sermon notes and other insight that I might have…and some purely random thoughts, as usual.

One of our senior students has felt God calling her to become a missionary. She has a great heart, and you can hear her passion when you speak with her. It is really exciting to see someone willing to step away from the multitudes and to follow where God is leading. Isn’t that what Simon, Andrew, James, and John did when Jesus called them to follow? They left everything that was known to them, they left their jobs, their security, even their families to follow Jesus.

Isn’t that what we are to do as followers? As disciples? I know I am guilty of staying where things are comfortable. Staying where I am secure. I need to work on moving out of my comfort zone on a daily basis to be the man of God He desires me to be.

The picture above is me and my friend Dave as we were at the National Youth Workers Convention in Pittsburgh back in October. We are standing in front of what is left of the outfield fence at Forbes Field where Bill Mazeroski hit the game/series winning, ninth inning homerun to defeat the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. Pretty cool to see this place.

The weekend worship services went pretty well. I have found some more people to serve in our audio-visual ministry. That is a blessing. At Fusion, we had our meeting for the 2006 mission trip to Paraguay. It was pretty exciting to see some of the students who game and their excitement for the trip. We won’t be taking a large group, but it will be a good group.

Was reading Voyage of the Dawn Treader this weekend. In it, there is a character named Eustace. He is a selfish, whinning, idiot of a boy in the book. As Eustace, Edmund, Lucy, Caspian, and others travel, they came to Dragon Island. Eustace goes exploring by himself and gets lost, and eventually turns into a dragon. He becomes as physically ugly and repulsive as he is repulsive on the inside.

Long story short, Eustace meets Aslan who is the King of all creation. Aslan tells Eustace that he must undress (take off the old) and redress (putting on the new). Eustace finds that he can’t undress by himself, so Aslan the Lion digs his claws in and pulls the scales away from Eustace. Eustace is then reclothed as he is returned back to human form.

This chapter really spoke to me about taking off the old and putting on the new. I need to continually take off the old, the sinful, the unholy and allow God to dress me in what is righteous, holy, and just.

It is a beautiful day today…I don’t feel like staying in the office today, but as always, there is work to get done. But at least I will be outside later to see some of our middle school students play football.

Just a catch up on the photo…that is me making my pilgramage journey to the mecca of football, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, on this ill-fated visit, Tommy Maddox threw the game away.

I am preparing a sermon series for advent with it’s roots in C.S. Lewis book, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Pretty cliche since the movie is getting ready to come out, but I have always loved the book. I have recently re-read the book (as well as the whole series) and it just fascinates me to see the spiritual metaphors and images that are used in the book. Of course, I knew it was retelling the story of Jesus and our faith, but I had never read it with these open eyes.

Here is the tentative low-down for the four week message:

Week One: Eating Some Turkish Delight: When What We’re Consumed With Leaves
Us Empty and Unsatisfied.

Week Two: Always Winter and Never Christmas: Bring Life to a lifeless world.

Week Three: Is He Safe? (Following a God of Danger, Adventure, and Justice)

Week Four: ***Not Quite Sure Yet***

Christmas Eve: Long Live The King! (Celebrating the Birth of The King)

Have any suggestions? Leave a comment. Otherwise, I am out.

Just a quick thought to start off with…iPods are really awesome. Ok, so I know that I am behind the curve, but I love mine!

Church went pretty well on Sunday. There was a real sweet spirit during worship (the singing part of worship, anyway). I think if there is a prayer of mine for worship, it is that I would be free to express my love of God. If it meant to jump, then I’d jump, to cry out..then I would cry out. Along with that, I pray that those in the congregation would begin to be free to worship and express their hearts to God.

The weekend was good. Mom and Dad came down for the award banquet on Saturday night. Andrea and I got to hang out on Friday night, which was much needed. We have both been so busy. It will be really nice when she is done with graduate school…of course I will probably start then!

Andrea is supposed to hear back from a Elementary school today about a job. It would be a real blessing if she was hired. But we also know that God has already provided for us.

Tonight is Halloween. It will be fun because we’ll have around 150 kids come to our house in our neighborhood. Alot of people from church stop by to let us see their kids costumes. It will be fun!

Steelers and Ravens tonight…Steve’s fearless prediction….Steelers 24 Ravens 10