Not all Lance Armstrong or Michael Phelps

I am just amazed at the skill and accomplishment of athletes like Micheal Phelps and Lance Armstrong. They are almost superhuman. One commentator said that they did not believe that Michael was from another planet(alien) but that he was from the future. Let's remember that the individual is great, but there is a training table, a schedule, a regimen that most of us are not wanting or disciplined to follow.

I just read Lance's team director's book, We Might As Well Win but Johan Bruneyl. Lance is directly quoted as saying he might not have won any Tours De France without Bruneyl and the team that he put around Lance. Not to take away from any star, but this is seldom done solo. It is never done without sacrifice.

You and I are not Lance or Michael. But we can enjoy the achievement and celebrate the big goals and victories they accomplish. We can, through Jesus Christ and his friends, have the heart of a champion and do what we are called to do. Let's also remember to not let good get in the way of great. (collins)

Press on to the upward call of Christ.

A Franciscan Blessing

I ran across this quote from A Franciscan Blessing and felt that it spoke to my heart.

• May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

• May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitations of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

• May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

• And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

This was quoted by a man named Craig Groschel at the Leadership Summit. So I lay it out here for my memory bank and for sharing. Let's get riled up somtimes. Let's bang on the doors of heaven in prayer. And let's be fools for Christ who expect to make a difference through Him is some way each and every day.

Frog foibles

On vacation last month we were at the Jones Falls locks on the Rideau Canal in Ontario Canada. I was talking to the upper lock master. We had just met up with the Wards and Allens who were downbound in a houseboat. As I talked with the lockmaster I noticed a medium sized frog hopping by my feet. It was in the grass and bounce, hop, bounce and then it bounded over the edge of the lock into the waters of the lock below. They had been lowered to receive the upbound boats. I laughed as it flew over and interrupted my conversation to see how it had fared in the 25 foot flight to the bottom. It had managed fine. On many days it would have swam to shore and done whatever frogs do. But, alas, one of the fish in the pool of the lock made it lunch and the last I saw of Mr. frog it's powerful hind legs were dangling out of the mouth of a bass.

Why was the frog hopping that direction? Was it afraid of me? Had it done this death defying leap before and liked it, coming back for more? Did it just not see what was ahead (the frog view is very limited by it's position on the ground in the grass)? We'll never know.

Life lessons? Frog has limited viewpoint, but it hops anyway. Having seen the frog trajedy would that remind me not to take risks? NO! I'll bet it was a glorious flight over the side of that lock wall. God gave me legs, that is what I do.... I jump.

The trouble with Tiger

I was watching the interview with Tiger Woods about his knee right after his victory. Did your knee hurt? Yes. Did you go against Dr's orders? No answer. Why? Because golf is what I do.

Why I do many of the ministry things I do is because it is what I do. More correctly it is what I am called by God to do. Funerals, weddings, hospitals, meetings, meetings and visits as well as some crazy schedules. It is what I do.

Now Tiger gets a better payday and he is extremely skilled and obsessively practiced and coached. He will get a break to get the torn tendon and the stress fractured bones fixed up. But it will not be easy because "It is what I do." It is the game, the competition, the pursuit of excellence.

After a board meeting last night I was around wondering what we as a church were going to do. I was seeking God (and I was watching the Celtics humiliate the Lakers) Okay, God, what next? And the answer was sure to come - "pray like never before" and if I had thought that was a fluke or a mishearing I was hit this morning with Col 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." And if that message was not clear enough I was finishing the book Just Walk Across the Room and got hit with Col 4:2 again in the final chapter "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." let me finish the rest
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

So, I got the message. You shall find me more in prayer. IT IS WHAT I DO!
Please pray for BUMC and the Childcare program as well as the next Uganda mission trip departing October 19th. 2 weeks, 3 or 4 graduations and of course hours and hours on the planes.

Ripping up bushes

Sometimes you have energy to use that needs to be burned off. Many times I have come upon a serious loss(death) or frustrating life situation. The parsonages I have lived in have had bushes in front that were beyond their prime. I "take it out" on the bushes. When you have to pry and cut and dig and strain to get the bushes out and the roots dug you can burn some calories and drip with sweat. But, the job gets done and you have safely sent your frustration into a safe place.

My son in law's sister was hit by a truck and killed accidentally while walking last week. Total accident. A beautiful and spirited young Christian woman is now with the Lord. She was taken too soon and you have to feel bad. But that is life. We celebrated her life and shared some comfort in North Carolina with family and friends.

I have taken out bushes in Frewsburg, Henrietta - Bob Caskey. Fillmore - Angela Cockle. Hornell - too many funerals there and cannot remember which one. Now here in Brewerton.

What do you do with your stuff? Have you found a safe way to get it out?

The good news is that I can now paint the front of the house without working around them. We also then take the time to carefully select new bushes and give new life to the landscape in front of our domiciles.

Shalom, Truly Shalom.

LeadNow Conference

I have been to the LeadNow conference which focused on ministry by and with Young Adults. I returned yesterday and was privileged to go with Louise and the Allens. Now I must reflect and then implement some course changes to be more user friendly to our 20-30 somethings. I don't know much but here is the first blush on my experience last week.

By the way I love to go to the emerging generations conference because of the energy, creativity and life that I find there.

Need to do more dialogue with this age group. Need to build relationships. Need to plan things which are active and hands on. Need to seek connecting points. Need to have worship be less predictable, less preachy and more dialogical. Engaging metaphors and stories are important and I can certainly use story more. So this coming week and for the Sundays this month I am working with the metaphor of "Baggage" We all have it. What we do with it counts. What's in your suitcase?

Economic Stimulus Check

What it? 100 people in the church tithed their stimulus checks. That would be $6,000 for God's work hear or somewhere needed. (If you get a $600 check)

Everybody is on that bandwagon now. Use it for a downpayment on a new car. You'll look good in that new suit. Take a break at the spa. 2 words.... home repairs. me, me, me, me ....

I am happy to get the check. Many people and places want to help me spend it. But let's all remember God's portion in the middle of this "bonus" from the fed.